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EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - KIWA BIO-TECH PRODUCTS GROUP CORPv308218_ex32-1.htm

 

 

 UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011

 

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

For the Transition Period from ______ to ______

 

Commission file number: 000-33167

 

KIWA BIO-TECH PRODUCTS GROUP CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware       77-0632186

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

      (I.R.S. Employer Identification
No.)
   

310 N. Indian Hill Blvd., #702

Claremont, California 91711

   
   

(Address of principal executive

offices)

   
    (626) 715-5855    
   

(Registrant’s telephone number,

including area code)

   

Securities registered pursuant to

Section 12(b) of the Act:

     

Securities registered pursuant to

Section 12(g) of the Act:

(Title of Each Class)

None      

Common Stock, $0.001 par

value

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.¨Yes xNo

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.¨Yes xNo

 

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.xYes¨No

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨Yes xNo

 

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

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). oYes xNo

 

The aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based upon the closing bid quotation for the registrant’s common stock, as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board quotation service, as of June 30, 2011, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $1,600,000.

 

The number of shares of registrant’s common stock outstanding as of March 30, 2012 was 400,000,000.

 

 
 

 

Annual Report on Form 10-K

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2011

INDEX

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Part I     1
ITEM 1. Business   1
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors   9
ITEM 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments   20
ITEM 2. Properties   21
ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings   21
ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosure   22
Part II     23
ITEM 5. Market for Registrants’ Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchasers of Equity Securities   23
ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data   23
ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   24
ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data   32
ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure   32
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures   33
ITEM 9B. Other Information   34
Part III     35
ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance   35
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation   38
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters   40
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence   41
ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services   42
Part IV     44
ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules   44
Signatures   46
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements   47

  

 
 

 

Part I

 

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

On one or more occasions, we may make forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K regarding our assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events.  Words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “targets,” “will likely result,” “will continue” or similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are only our predictions and involve numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to those listed below and those business risks and factors described elsewhere in this report and our other Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

 

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  However, your attention is directed to any further disclosures made on related subjects in our subsequent annual and periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and Proxy Statements on Schedule 14A.

 

References herein to “we,” “us,” “our” or “the Company” refer to Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries unless the context specifically states or implies otherwise.

 

ITEM 1.  Business

 

The Company

 

We are the result of a share exchange transaction completed in March 2004 between the shareholders of Tintic Gold Mining Company (“Tintic”), a corporation originally incorporated in the state of Utah on June 14, 1933 to perform mining operations in Utah, and the shareholders of Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Ltd. (“Kiwa BVI”), a company originally organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands on June 5, 2002.  The share exchange resulted in a change of control of Tintic, with former Kiwa BVI stockholders owning approximately 89% of Tintic on a fully diluted basis and Kiwa BVI surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tintic.  Subsequent to the share exchange transaction, Tintic changed its name to Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation.  On July 21, 2004, we completed our reincorporation in the State of Delaware.

 

We established two subsidiaries in China: (1) Kiwa Bio-Tech Products (Shandong) Co., Ltd. (“Kiwa Shandong”) in 2002 and (2) Tianjin Kiwa Feed Co., Ltd. (“Kiwa Tianjin”) in July 2006.  The following chart summarizes our organizational and ownership structure.

 

 

We develop, manufacture, distribute and market innovative, cost-effective and environmentally safe bio-technological products for agriculture.  Our main products are bio-fertilizers.  Our products are designed to enhance the quality of human life by increasing the value, quality and productivity of crops and decreasing the negative environmental impact of chemicals and other wastes.

 

1
 

 

Bio-fertilizers

 

We have developed a number of bio-fertilizers and are continuing to develop new products in this area.  In 2002, Kiwa BVI chartered Kiwa Shandong, a wholly-owned subsidiary organized under the laws of the PRC, as its offshore fertilizer manufacturing base to capitalize on low cost, high quality manufacturing advantages available in China.  In October 2003, Kiwa Shandong completed the first phase of construction of its manufacturing facility in Shandong Province, China.  In November 2003, Kiwa Shandong began shipping its bio-fertilizer products to the agricultural market in China.  Since then, we have been devoted to expanding our market share.

 

In June 2008, Kiwa Shandong received approval from the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC to sell fertilizer products of other manufacturers on a wholesale basis, including chemical fertilizers, complex fertilizers, and compound fertilizers.  Based on applicable tax laws in China, these products will be exempt from value-added tax.

 

Bio-enhanced Feed

 

On July 11, 2006, we entered into a joint venture with Tianjin Challenge Feed Co., Ltd. (“Challenge Feed”) to develop, manufacture, and market biologically enhanced feed for livestock.  Pursuant to the joint venture agreement between the Company and Challenge Feed, we formed Kiwa Tianjin, a company organized and operating under the laws of the PRC, and the Company invested $480,000 in cash in return for an 80% equity share of Kiwa Tianjin and Challenge Feed invested machinery and equipment used in one of Kiwa Tianjin’s two bio-enhanced feed production lines with an agreed value of $120,000 for the remaining 20% equity.  We also leased another production line from Challenge Feed.

 

On December 22, 2009, Kiwa Tianjin filed a lawsuit against Challenge Feed in the local court of Wuqing District, Tianjin, where Kiwa Tianjin is domiciled.  In the lawsuit, Kiwa Tianjin asserted that Challenge Feed unlawfully disposed of the assets held by Kiwa Tianjin, such assets include:

 

(1) Machinery and equipment. Challenge Feed entered into a settlement agreement with one of its creditors, in accordance with which Challenge Feed agreed to transfer title of the machinery and equipment, which had been assigned to Kiwa Tianjin in 2006 in connection with the establishment of Kiwa Tianjin as a joint venture between the Company and Challenge feed, to repay Challenge Feed’s debt. Challenge Feed did not obtain Kiwa Tianjin’s consent nor inform Kiwa Tianjin of such transfer.

 

(2) Inventories. Kiwa Tianjin had a long standing agreement to lease Challenge Feed’s factory facilities and warehouse for storage of its inventory. Challenge Feed disposed of Kiwa Tianjin’s inventories including raw materials, packages and finished goods stored in the factory to repay Challenge Feed’s debt without permission from Kiwa Tianjin.

 

The local court of Wuqing District ruled that the local court would not examine the lawsuit against Challenge Feed since Challenge Feed entered into bankruptcy proceedings and that all related matters would be solved during Challenge Feed’s bankruptcy proceedings.

  

At the end of 2009, Kiwa Tianjin could no longer use these assets, which included machinery and inventory, in the normal course of operations. In addition, because Kiwa Tianjin has no offices or assets it has not been able to register as a feed manufacturer with the applicable regulatory authorities and is also unable to meet the annual inspection requirements, which could result in a revocation of Kiwa Tianjin's business license. As a result, as of December 31, 2011, the Company classified its bio-enhanced feed business through Kiwa Tianjin as discontinued operations.

 

On December 27, 2011, Challenge Feed’s bankruptcy administrator informed the Company that the bankruptcy court granted the Company’s request to repossess the machinery and equipment and Kiwa Tianjin’s bio-enhanced feed production line that were held in Challenge Feed’s domicile. If the Company failed to repossess such machinery and equipment before December 31, 2011, the Company would then be responsible for losses resulting from any damages to the machinery and equipment after such date. Such equipment has not been maintained for over two years, and some of the components and parts are missing. On February 9, 2012, the Company sold such machinery and equipment for $8,000.

 

2
 

 

AF-01 Anti-viral Aerosol

 

On May 8, 2006, we entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement (“TTA”) with Jinan Kelongboao Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. (“JKB”), pursuant to which JKB agreed to transfer to the Company’s PRC subsidiary, its AF-01 anti-viral aerosol technology for veterinary medicine applications, including the exclusive production and other related rights to produce an anti-viral aerosol veterinary drug.  The AF-01 anti-viral aerosol technology is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent with potent inhibitory and/or viricidal effects on a variety of RNA viruses found in animals and fowls such as bird flu.  Pursuant to the payment schedule in the TTA, the transfer of the technology will be effective upon the full payment of the first installment of the purchase price in the amount of RMB 3,000,000.  As of December 31, 2011, the Company had paid one-third of the first installment or RMB 1,000,000.  The Company intends to use this technology to develop a commercialized aerosol for application in fowl houses and other animal holding facilities to prevent and cure viral-borne diseases.

 

In addition, pursuant to the TTA, JKB agreed to supply us on an exclusive basis the raw material for the AF-01 anti-viral aerosol, which must have an index of 200,000 zymolysis units per milliliter.  There is no alternative supplier if JKB fails to perform its supply obligations under the contract.

 

The TTA provides that in the event the Company fails to develop the AF-01 product or fails to sell veterinary medicine product within two years, JKB has the right to take back the development rights to such product in which case any products developed will belong to JKB.  The Technology Transfer Agreement expired on May 6, 2008.  However, the Company is negotiating with JKB a renewal of the TTA.  There can be no assurance that we can renew the TTA or successfully acquire the AF-01 anti-viral aerosol technology. As a result, the Company has determined to discontinue this project.  

 

Strategies

 

With the world’s largest population to feed, China’s demand for agricultural products is immense.  Problems with pollution and soil contamination have increased pressure on the Chinese government to conserve land and enhance environmental protection. Serious diseases such as H5N1 avian flu are spreading around the world and have threatened animal husbandry.  More critically, such diseases have threatened the health and safety of humans through possible bird to human and human to human transmission.  China thus faces an urgent need to improve unit land yield, prevent and treat such diseases, and reduce pollution.  We plan to address this need through the development of our ag-biotech inputs which may resolve many of these problems in environmentally friendly ways.  To exploit this opportunity, our core strategies are as follows:

 

General Operational Strategy

 

l

Build a platform for world-class biotechnological research and development results to be commercialized into products for applications in agriculture;

 

l Invest in mature technologies that will not require substantial research and development to commercialize;

 

l Utilize proprietary technology to supply ag-biotech inputs to the market at lower cost than our competitors;

 

l Construct or acquire new production facilities, and improve existing facilities to improve our manufacturing capability in China;

 

l Build and strengthen our “KIWA” brand which will increase our ability to become one of the leading companies in China’s “biological, safe and environment-friendly” agricultural inputs industry;

 

l Establish strategic alliances for research and development, sales and distribution and customer acquisition with complimentary entities in the biological-agriculture industry; and

 

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l Enhance our overall management systems, operational structure and corporate governance.

 

Sales Strategy

 

l Our sales strategy involves utilizing both a direct sales force and distribution networks. Our distribution efforts are expected to include the following:

 

  · Choosing green food/organic food planting bases or other demonstrative agricultural products producers, carrying out regional field tests, fanning out from a point to an area, cultivating market network;

 

  · Leveraging government and industrial organizations (such as “China Green Food Association”) to strengthen existing sales networks in rural areas, thereby reaching end-users in a more cost-effective manner; cut off selling expenses incurred during middle tiers of supply chain to boost end-user’s value;

 

  · Cooperating with special agricultural production materials distributors who also help farmers resell their products; focusing on large-to-medium size wholesalers of agricultural production materials at provincial and municipal levels;

 

  · Establishing a three-level distribution network consisting of a company-centralized sales office, prefectural representative offices, and direct distributors in villages and towns; and

 

  · Leveraging existing sales channels and network of affiliates’ products to save costs of building the network from scratch.

 

Strategy Regarding Customers

 

l Our targeted customers include major agricultural companies and growers that can realize significant financial benefits from using our products including:

 

  · Chinese agricultural products producers that provide high value-added agricultural products (such as fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs that meet the requirements of green food/organic food) ;

 

  · Agricultural products producers located in China who are exporting to Japan, Korea, Europe, US, and other regional markets of the world;

 

  · Chinese agricultural products producers who have generated internal needs of ag-biotech inputs to solve the problems of soil-caused diseases, anti-biotic drug tolerance, leftover and others; and

 

  · “Green” or organic growers throughout the world.

 

Given the global trend of customers favoring environmentally safe green food and organically grown food, producers’ needs for higher yields and better quality, and an increasing pressure of treating and preventing diseases such as H5N1 avian flu, we also foresee strong market needs in other international markets including East Asia and Southeast Asia.  We plan to explore these markets when the time is right.

 

Intellectual Property and Product Lines

 

Our goal is to build a platform to commercialize bio-technological research and development results for applications in agriculture and environmental protection.  In this respect, we are working on developing cooperative research relationships with several universities and institutions in China.  When our liquidity position improves, we also intend to continue to acquire technologies to reduce research and development costs and shorten commercialization cycles.

 

4
 

 

Bio-fertilizers

 

We have developed six bio-fertilizer products with bacillus spp and/or photosynthetic bacteria as core ingredients. Some of our products contain ingredients of both photosynthesis and bacillus bacteria.   Bacillus spp is a species of bacteria that interacts with plants and promotes biological processes.  It is highly effective for promoting plant growth, enhancing yield, improving quality and elevating resistances.  Photosynthetic bacteria are a group of green and purple bacteria.  Bacterial photosynthesis differs from green plant photosynthesis in that bacterial photosynthesis occurs in an anaerobic environment and does not produce oxygen.  Photosynthetic bacteria can enhance the photosynthetic capacity of green plants by increasing the utilization of sunlight, which helps keep the photosynthetic process at a vigorous level, enhances the capacity of plants to transform inorganic materials to organic products, and boosts overall plant health and productivity.

 

Our bacillus bacteria based fertilizers are protected by patents.  In 2004, we acquired patent no. ZL 93101635.5 entitled “Highly Effective Composite Bacteria for Enhancing Yield and the Related Methodology for Manufacturing” from China Agricultural University (“CAU”) for the aggregate purchase of $480,411, consisting of $60,411 in cash and 1,000,000 shares of our common stock, valued at $0.42 per share (aggregate value of $420,000).  Our photosynthetic bacteria based fertilizers are also protected by trade secret laws.

 

The patent acquired from CAU covers six different species of bacillus which have been tested as bio-fertilizers to enhance yield and plant health.  The production methods of the six species are also patented.  The patent will expire on February 9, 2013.  There are no limitations under this agreement on our exclusive use of the patent.  Pursuant to our agreement with CAU, the University agreed to provide research and technology support services at no additional cost to us in the event we decide to use the patent to produce commercial products.  These research and technology support services include: (1) furnishing faculty or graduate-level researchers to help bacteria culturing, sampling, testing, trial production and production formula adjustment; (2) providing production technology and procedures to turn the products into powder form while keeping live required bacteria in the products; (3) establishing quality standards and quality control systems; (4) providing testing and research support for us to obtain necessary sale permits from the Chinese government; and (5) cooperation in developing derivative products.

 

On January 5, 2011, the State Intellectual Property Office of the PRC (“Intellectual Property Office”) granted Kiwa Shandong two Certificates of Patent of Invention for (1) “A cucumber dedicated composite anti-continuous cropping effect probiotics and their specific strainswith related application” with patent number of “ZL 2008 1 0144492.6”; and (2) “Cotton dedicated composite anti-continuous cropping effect probiotics and their special strains with related application” with patent number of “ZL 2008 1 0144491.1” These two patents have been developed by Kiwa-CAU R&D Center. These two patents will expire on August 5, 2028.

 

We have obtained five fertilizer registration certificates from the Chinese government - four covering our bacillus bacteria fertilizer and one covering our photosynthetic bacteria fertilizer.  The five registration certificates are: (1) Microorganism Microbial Inoculum Fertilizer Registration Certificate issued by the PRC Ministry of Agriculture; (2) Photosynthetic Bacteria Fertilizer Registration Certificate issued by the PRC Ministry of Agriculture; (3) Amino Acid Foliar Fomular Fertilizer Registration Certificate issued by the PRC Ministry of Agriculture; (4) Organic Fertilizer Registration Certificate issued by Agriculture Department of Shandong Province; and (5) Organic Matter-Decomposing Inoculants Registration Certificate issued by the PRC Ministry of Agriculture on February 16, 2008.  Protected by these five fertilizer registration certificates and five trademarks under the names of “KANGTAN” (Chinese translation name for Kiwa), “ZHIGUANGYOU,” “PUGUANGFU,” “JINWA” and “KANGGUAN,” we have developed six series of bio-fertilizer products with bacillus spp and/or photosynthetic bacteria as core ingredients.

 

Kiwa-CAU Research and Development Center

 

In July 2006, we established a new research center with CAU through our subsidiary, Kiwa Shandong, which known as Kiwa-CAU Bio-Tech Research & Development Center (the “Kiwa-CAU R&D Center”).  Pursuant to an agreement between CAU and Kiwa Shandong dated November 14, 2006, Kiwa Shandong agreed to contribute RMB 1 million (approximately $157,818) each year to fund research at Kiwa-CAU R&D Center.  Under the above agreement, the Kiwa-CAU R&D Center is responsible for fulfilling the overall research-and-development functions of Kiwa Shandong, including: (1) development of new technologies and new products (which will be shared by Kiwa and CAU); (2) subsequent perfection of existing product-related technologies; and (3) training quality-control personnel and technicians and technical support for marketing activities.  The Company has spent $166,716 and $182,970 for its research and development activities during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  The costs incurred by Company’s research and development activities are not borne directly by customers.

 

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During fiscal 2011, Kiwa-CAU R&D Center concentrated on the following activities:

 

1. Screening of growth-promoting bacteria;

 

2. Screening of bio-control bacteria;

 

3. Screening of environmental microbiology; and

 

4. Studying on fermentation technology and related production process.

 

During fiscal 2011, Kiwa-CAU R&D Center had successfully isolated twenty-four strains of endophytic bacillus from plants. A number of strains had been observed to have the capability of boosting crop yield and dispelling chemical pesticide residual from soil.  These strains could be used for developing not only new biological preparation but also environmental protection preparation. 

 

During 2011, Intellectual Property Office granted Kiwa Shandong two Certificates of Patent of Invention for (1) “A cucumber dedicated composite anti-continuous cropping effect probiotics and their specific strains with related application” with patent number of “ZL 2008 1 0144492.6”; and (2) “Cotton dedicated composite anti-continuous cropping effect probiotics and their special strains with related application” with patent number of “ZL 2008 1 0144491.1” These two patents have been developed by Kiwa CAU R&D developed by Kiwa-CAU R&D Center. These two patents will expire on August 5, 2028.

 

Market Overview

 

Modern agricultural practices largely rely on heavy use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and veterinary drugs that can cause tremendous harm to the environment, soils and human health.  Such practices have been under an increasing public scrutiny across the world, leading to an increased consumer demand for agricultural practices that are more environmentally friendly.  China has only 9.26% of the world’s arable land but needs to feed over 1.3 billion people, or approximately 22.9% of the world’s population.  If the situation continues unchanged, the largest population in the world could potentially face severe food and water shortages and an increasingly polluted living environment.  One solution to the environmental problem is to develop environmentally friendly fertilizers, veterinary drugs and animal feed.

 

China’s agricultural production has steadily increased for more than 20 years due to agricultural policy reform, improved agricultural technology and recent government support programs, including price supports, export incentives, direct payment and tax incentives.  The following table shows the increase in output of major agriculture products between 1970 and 2008:

 

Data item  2008   2007   2006   2005   2004   2003   2002   2001   2000   1999   1990   1980   1970 
Corn   165,910    152,300    145,482    139,365    130,287    115,830    121,310    114,094    106,001    128,084    96,821    62,600    33,030 
Cotton   7,492    7,624    6,746    5,714    6,324    4,860    4,916    5,324    4,417    3,829    4,508    2,707    2,277 
Early rice   N/A    31,515    31,868    31,873    32,217    29,484    30,288    34,002    37,623    40,973    51,649    49,140    37,410 
Late rice   N/A    33,513    34,669    34,614    32,959    31,903    35,244    41,754    41,423    48,120    50,438    36,710    26,320 
Middle rice   N/A    121,005    116,034    114,104    113,914    99,268    109,007    101,382    108,861    109,394    89,661    44,410    39,320 
Wheat   112,460    109,298    104,467    97,445    91,952    86,488    90,290    93,874    99,637    113,879    98,220    55,210    29,185 

(All in thousand tons)

 

Source: ERS-United States Department of Agriculture

 

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In response to the increasingly severe deterioration in food safety, environment pollution, rural area stability and other challenges, the Chinese government attaches high importance to the problems of farmers, rural areas, and agriculture.  On January 1, 2006, the agricultural tax was abolished.  Since 2004, the Central People’s Government of the PRC has continuously issued “Number One Document” regarding rural areas of China.  The latest “Number One Document” issued on January 31, 2010, contains a wide-range policies promoting the development of sustainable agriculture methods, for examples, improving the income level of hundreds of millions of farmers, strengthening supervision of farm inputs, and actively developing green-food and organic food production.

 

Bio-fertilizer Market

 

To increase overall crop yield, farmers in China use vast amounts of chemical fertilizers.  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the use of chemical fertilizers in China skyrocketed from 10,863,000 tons in 1979 to 52,390,000 tons in 2008, underpinning a compound annual growth rate of 5.58%.  However, notwithstanding the continuous growth of total fertilizer consumption, the way that Chinese farmers apply fertilizer is beginning to change.  From 1979 to 2008, the percentage of nitrogenous fertilizer application to total amount of fertilizer consumption decreased gradually from 76% to 43.9%.  Meanwhile, the percentage of phosphate fertilizer and potash fertilizer increased steadily.  More importantly, whereas in 1976, 100% of China’s fertilizer consumption was chemical fertilizer (including nitrogenous fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer and potash fertilizer); in 2008, the rate decreased to 69%. Other fertilizers, including bio-fertilizer, have begun to be accepted by Chinese farmers. (Source: ERS-United States Department of Agriculture)

 

The excessive use of chemical fertilizers in China is also reflected by the China-to-U.S. rate of chemical fertilizer application.  According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2005 Chinese farmers applied 2.05 times the nitrogen fertilizer and 1.8 times the phosphate fertilizer compared to their U.S. counterparts.

 

Use of chemical fertilizer in China is now higher than it has ever been.  This increase in use of chemical fertilizers has led to a series of severe problems including degradation of the soil structure, natural biodiversity, and ecological system instability.  Promoting the use of bio-fertilizer together with chemical fertilizer is one of the solutions to solve these problems.

 

Our serial commercialized products, with bacillus and/or Photosynthesis Biological Catalyst as core ingredients, capitalize on this market trend and we hope to become one of the leaders in developing green technologies for productive, more sustainable agriculture in China. 

 

Competition

 

Bio-fertilizer

 

The Company believes that there are about 400 producers of microbial fertilizers in China, most of which are small-scale, workshop producing enterprises with backward equipment and production processes and poor quality.  Some of the producers over-exaggerate product effectiveness, employ improper artifice and even produce fake and shoddy products, all of which have caused losses to farmers and lowered the reputation of bio-fertilizer.

 

Due to the unique products that we offer and the very early stage of the bio-fertilizer market in China, we believe there is a limited direct competition for our products in the Chinese marketplace.  We believe that we have product differentiation and cost advantages (cost to customer) which will enable us to be more profitable than our competitors for the following reasons, among others:

 

l Highly effective in boosting crop yield and quality while being environmentally friendly;

 

l Lower price point and higher return on investment to end users; and

 

l Complimentary to existing use of chemical fertilizer which will help minimize switching costs for end users.

 

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In addition, we face competition from large chemical fertilizer manufacturers in China.  These chemical fertilizer manufacturers have provided chemical fertilizers to farmers in China for more than twenty years and customers are more accustomed to using their established products as compared to our products. 

 

Raw Materials and Suppliers

 

The key raw materials used in manufacturing of our products are available from a wide variety of supply sources. Historically, we have not experienced any difficulties in procuring adequate quantities of raw materials for use in our bio-fertilizer and biologically enhanced livestock feed production. We do not have long-term agreements with our suppliers due to the availability of other numerous suppliers that have the ability to supply our required raw materials to us on fairly short notice. We typically place purchase orders when we need raw material supplies.

 

The major raw materials for our bio-fertilizer production can be divided into two categories: (1) growth media such as sodium acetate, glucose and turf for culturing bacillus spp., and (2) photosynthetic and bacillus bacteria, which are the core ingredients for our finished products.  Some other main ingredients include urea, aminophenol, humus, diammonium phosphate, and dipotassium hydrogen phosphate.  Prior to the completion of our bacillus manufacturing facility upgrade in Shandong, we had purchased semi-manufactured bacillus goods.

 

In fiscal 2011, we did not purchase any raw materials from any suppliers.

 

Customers

 

Our principal business generated no revenue during 2011, thus as of December 31, 2011, we had no customers. We had a total of 15 customers as of December 31, 2010.  A single customer accounted for 79.9% of our net sales for the year ended December 31, 2010.  No other single customer accounted for more than 7% of our revenues in this product line. 

 

Seasonality

 

Our operating results have been and are expected to continue to be subject to seasonal trends.  This trend is dependent on numerous factors, including the markets in which we operate, growing seasons, climate, economic conditions, and numerous other factors beyond our control.  Generally, we expect the second and third quarters to be stronger than the first and fourth quarters, primarily because the second and third quarters correspond with the growing seasons in our primary markets in China.  It is during those growing seasons when application of our products by our customers would be most beneficial and we therefore expect greater demand for our products during those periods.  There can be no assurance that these operating patterns will occur or continue. 

 

Employees

 

We currently employ 12 full-time employees in China, including seven management staff, and one employee in the United States.  

 

Available Information

 

The Company files or furnishes Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, registration statements, and other items with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Company provides access free of charge to all of these SEC filings, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing or furnishing, on its Internet site located at http://www.kiwabiotech.com/tuoziy.htm?eid=12. The Company will also make available to any stockholder, without charge, copies of its Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC.

 

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The public may read and copy any materials and files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549, on official business days during the hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. 

 

Regulatory Concerns

 

Our production must comply with bio-fertilizer, livestock feed production, and testing procedure standards promulgated by the PRC Ministry of Agriculture and local administrative authorities.  We have complied with the applicable PRC government standard production and testing procedures.   The amount of costs incurred in connection with compliance with environmental laws during fiscal 2011 and 2010 was immaterial. 

 

Environmental Matters


Our two manufacturing facilities, Kiwa Shandong and Kiwa Tianjin, have passed environmental impact assessments by local environmental authorities.  Photosynthesis bacteria, bacillus ssp, and actinomycetes are environmentally friendly and are not known to cause any environmental problems. 

 

Legal Proceedings

 

On December 22, 2009, Kiwa Tianjin filed a lawsuit against Challenge Feed in the local court of Wuqing District, Tianjin, where Kiwa Tianjin is domiciled.  In the lawsuit, Kiwa Tianjin asserted that Challenge Feed unlawfully disposed of the assets held by Kiwa Tianjin, such assets include:

 

(1) Machinery and equipment. Challenge Feed entered into a settlement agreement with one of its creditors, in accordance with which Challenge Feed agreed to transfer title of the machinery and equipment, which had been assigned to Kiwa Tianjin in 2006 in connection with the establishment of Kiwa Tianjin as a joint venture between the Company and Challenge feed, to repay Challenge Feed’s debt. Challenge Feed did not obtain Kiwa Tianjin’s consent nor inform Kiwa Tianjin of such transfer.

 

(2) Inventories. Kiwa Tianjin had a long standing agreement to lease Challenge Feed’s factory facilities and warehouse for storage of its inventory. Challenge Feed has disposed Kiwa Tianjin’s inventories including raw materials, packages and finished goods stored in the factory to repay Challenge Feed’s debt without any permission from Kiwa Tianjin.

 

The local court of Wuqing District ruled that the local court would not examine the lawsuit against Challenge Feed since Challenge Feed entered into bankruptcy proceedings and that all related matters would be solved during Challenge Feed’s bankruptcy proceedings.

 

On December 27, 2011, Challenge Feed’s bankruptcy administrator informed the Company that the bankruptcy court has granted the Company’s request to repossess the machinery and equipment and Kiwa Tianjin’s bio-enhanced feed production lines that was positioned in Challenge Feed’s domicile. If the Company fails to repossess such machinery and equipment before December 31, 2011, the Company would then be responsible for losses resulting from any damages to the machinery and equipment after such date. On February 9, 2012, the Company sold such machinery and equipment for $8,000.

 

ITEM 1A.Risk Factors

 

We operate in a market environment that is difficult to predict and involves significant risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control.  The following risk factors and other information included in this annual report should be carefully considered.  The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face.  Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations.  If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition, operating results, and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

 

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(1) Risks Related to Our Business

 

We have not yet generated any profits and if we do not become profitable or obtain additional funding to implement our business plan our ability to continue as a going concern is in doubt.

 

Overview of the Company’s Financial Condition as of December 31, 2011

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $20,362,032, of which, $1,691,319 and $2,275,783 were incurred during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2011, we had cash and cash equivalents of $16,307 and total current assets of $42,677; at the same time, we had current liabilities of $10,593,526, denoting a current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) of 0.004 and a quick ratio (cash divided by current liabilities) of 0.002.  At the end of fiscal 2011, we also had long-term liabilities of $1,814,911.

 

On June 29, 2006, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with six institutional investors (the “Purchasers”) for the issuance and sale of (1) 6% secured convertible notes, due three years from the date of issuance, in the aggregate principal amount of $2,450,000, convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock (the “6% Notes”), and (2) warrants to purchase 12,250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrants”).  As of December 31, 2010, the outstanding principal of 6% Notes was $1,518,171.  On June 29, 2009, the 6% Notes were due.  The Company has informed the Purchasers of its inability to repay the outstanding balance on the due date.  Therefore, the 6% Notes are in default.

 

On January 31, 2008, the Company entered into three Callable Secured Convertible Notes Agreements (“2% Notes”) with four of the Company’s 6% Notes purchasers converting their unpaid interest of $112,917 in total, into principal with an interest rate of 2% per annum, which fell due on January 31, 2011. Other terms of the 2% Notes are similar to the 6% Notes. No principal of the 2% Notes has been converted so far. The outstanding principal balance on the 2% Notes was $112,917 as of December 31, 2011. On January 31, 2011, the 2% Notes were due and the Company failed to make repayment for outstanding balances.  Thus, the 2% Notes are in default.

 

To the extent that we are unable to successfully raise the capital necessary to fund our future cash requirements on a timely basis and under acceptable terms and conditions, we will not have sufficient cash resources to maintain operations and repay our liabilities, and may have to curtail or cease operations and consider a formal or informal restructuring or reorganization.

 

Overview of the Company’s Operating Results for the Years Ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, our sales revenue from continuing operations was $nil and $88,056, respectively.  The Company’s gross profit was $nil and negative $9,466, respectively. During fiscal years 2011 and 2010, the Company’s net losses were $1,691,319 and $2,275,783, respectively.

 

Overview of the Company’s Cash flow Status for the Years Ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

 

During fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the net cash used in our operating activities was $499,807 and $983,280, respectively.  We also invested $nil and $424 in purchasing property and equipment for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Although the net cash provided by our financing activities was $448,880 and $1,070,998 in the fiscal years of 2011 and 2010, respectively, we had cash of only $16,307 and $32,816 on December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

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The Company’s Ability of Raising New Financing

 

Three factors have significantly impaired the Company’s ability to raise additional financing.  They are: i) no revenue, ii) continuous losses, and iii) a low share price. In addition, the Company does not have assets to secure the obligations of new debt. As of December 31, 2011, the closing price of our common stock reported by on the OTC Bulletin Board was $0.0003 and the market value of the Company was $120,000.  The Company’s obligations under the 6% Notes and the Warrants are secured by a first priority security interest in the Company’s intellectual property pursuant to an Intellectual Property Security Agreement with the Purchasers, and by a first priority security interest in all of the Company’s other assets pursuant to a Security Agreement with the Purchasers.  In addition, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer has pledged all of his common stock of the Company as collateral security for the Company’s obligations under the 6% Notes and the Warrants.  

 

Moreover, the 6% Notes require the Company to obtain the Purchaser’s consent to take certain actions including paying dividends, repurchasing stock, incurring debt, guaranteeing obligations, merging or restructuring the Company, or selling significant assets.  As a result of these restrictions, our ability to raise new financing is severely limited.

 

Conclusion

 

The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is in doubt. We expect to continue to have operating losses for the foreseeable future as we are still in the process of exploring new markets and conducting further research and product tests.  We will require additional capital to implement our business plan and continue operating.  To the extent that we are unable to successfully raise the capital necessary to fund our future cash requirements on a timely basis and under acceptable terms and conditions, we will not have sufficient cash resources to maintain operations, and may have to curtail or cease operations and consider a formal or informal restructuring or reorganization.

 

Our independent auditors have added an explanatory paragraph to their audit opinion issued in connection with our financial statements for the latest nine fiscalyears, which states that the financial statements raise substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern.  Our ability to make operations profitable or obtain additional funding will determine our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

We did not have any customers in 2011 and we used to depend on a few customers for a significant portion of our revenue and we are still in the initial stage of market development.

 

We do not have long-term contracts with any of our customers.  Generally, we sign an annual distribution agreement with each customer and purchases in most cases occur on an order-by-order basis.  Relationships exist as long as there is a perceived benefit to both parties.  A decision by a major customer, whether motivated by competitive considerations, financial difficulties and economic conditions or otherwise, to decrease its purchases from us or to change its manner of doing business with us, could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

 

During fiscal 2011, our principal business did not generate any sales revenue. We did not have any customers during that period. During fiscal 2010, one customer accounted for approximately 79.9% of our net sales in bio-fertilizer product line.  No other single customer accounted for more than 7% of our revenues in this product line.  The customer concentration in this production line has been increasing.  The loss of any of our significant customers would result in a material reduction in our sales and results of operations.

 

We are still in the initial stage of market development and need more time to construct a robust customer base.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to retain these customers.  Our inability to generate new customers and retain old customers could negatively impact our business and our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

Our business is subject to seasonal fluctuations.

 

Our operating results have been and are expected to continue to be subject to seasonal trends.  This trend is dependent on numerous factors, including the markets in which we operate, growing seasons, climate, economic conditions and numerous other factors beyond our control.

 

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Our operating results may fluctuate significantly, which may result in volatility or have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

 

We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, substantial variation in our net sales and operating results from quarter to quarter.  Our business is subject to seasonal fluctuations due to growing seasons in different markets.  We believe the factors that influence this variability of quarterly results include:

 

l the timing and size of orders from major customers;

 

l budgeting and purchasing cycles of customers;

 

l the timing of enhancements to products or new products introduced by us or our competitors;

 

l changes in pricing policies made by us, our competitors or suppliers, including possible decreases in average selling prices of products in response to competitive pressures;

 

l fluctuations in general economic conditions;

 

l the status of operating cash flow; and

 

l natural disasters and contagious animal diseases.

 

We may also choose to reduce prices or increase spending in response to competition or pursue new market opportunities.  Due to fluctuations in our revenue and operating expenses, we believe that period-to-period comparisons of our results of operations are not a good indication of our future performance.  It is possible that in some future quarter or quarters our operating results will be below the expectations of securities analysts or investors.  In that case, our stock price could fluctuate significantly or decline.

 

From January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011, the market close price for our common stock as quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board has ranged from a low of $0.0003 to a high of $0.0045 per share.  High volatility in the market price of our common stock may result in lower prices for our common stock, making it more difficult for us to obtain equity financing on terms and conditions which are favorable to us, if at all.  We expect to continue to incur losses in the future as we develop and market our initial products.  As a result, we will be dependent on additional debt or equity financing to fund our operations.  If such financing is not available on terms which are acceptable to us, we may have to delay development of new products and/or reduce sales and marketing efforts for our existing products.  Such actions may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.  In addition, uncertainties with respect to our ability to raise additional capital would make operational planning more difficult for management. 

 

Our success depends in part on our successful development and sale of products which are currently in the research and development stage.

 

Some of our product candidates are still in the research and development stage.  The successful development of new products is uncertain and subject to a number of significant risks.  Potential products that appear to be promising at early stages of development may not reach the market for a number of reasons, including but not limited to, the cost and time of development.  Potential products may be found to be ineffective or cause harmful side effects, fail to receive necessary regulatory approvals, be difficult to manufacture on a large scale or be uneconomical or fail to win market acceptance.  Our failure to develop and sell new products may delay or eliminate future acquisition plans and would most likely slow our development.  Our plans to introduce additional proprietary products may not be realized as expected, if at all.

 

As above mentioned, the China bio-fertilizer market is still in a very early stage and is very fragmented with many potential customers, but with no single producer or small group of producers dominating the market.  To some extent, however, we also face competition from large chemical fertilizer manufacturers in China.  These chemical fertilizer manufacturers have provided chemical fertilizers to farmers in China for over twenty years and customers are more accustomed to using their established products as compared with new products.  The livestock feed industry is fully developed in China.  We are new entrants to the livestock feed industry, and our production capacity is small relative to that of the whole industry.

 

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There can be no assurance that any of our intended products will be successfully developed or that we will achieve significant revenues from such products even if they are successfully developed.  Our success is dependent upon our ability to develop and market our products on a timely basis.  There can be no assurance that we will be successful in developing or marketing such products or taking advantage of the perceived demand for such products.  In addition, there can be no assurance that products or technologies developed by others will not render our products or technologies non-competitive or obsolete.

 

Failure to adequately expand to address expanding market opportunities could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

We anticipate that a significant expansion of operations will be required to address potential market opportunities.  There can be no assurance that we will expand our operations in a timely or sufficiently large manner to capitalize on these market opportunities.  The anticipated substantial growth is expected to place a significant strain on our managerial, operational and financial resources and systems.  While management believes it must implement, improve and effectively use our operational, management, research and development, marketing, financial and employee training systems to manage anticipated substantial growth, there can be no assurance that these practices will be successful.

 

Our success depends in part upon our ability to retain and recruit key personnel.

 

Our success is highly dependent upon the continued services of our executive officers, key product development and scientific personnel.  Given the intense competition for qualified management and product development personnel in our industry, the loss of the services of any key management or product development personnel may significantly and detrimentally affect our business and prospects.  We maintain employment agreements with all members of management or key personnel.  Pursuant to our joint agreement with CAU, it must make available at least six R&D staff to join the Kiwa-CAU R&D Center, at least three of which must have professor or doctorate degrees, and at least two must have master degrees.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to retain these personnel, and it may be time-consuming and costly to recruit qualified personnel replacement.

 

We currently do not have sufficient revenues to support our business activities, expect operating losses continue, and will require additional financing which we may not be able to secure.

 

We require substantial working capital to fund our business.  In the short term, we still need to continue building out our bio-fertilizer manufacturing facility, adjust our product formula to improve product stability and optimize our product offerings, expand our sales and marketing efforts in China, expand our distribution base in China, maintain the Kiwa-CAU R&D Centeroperation, introduce new veterinary drug products and acquire a small or medium sized biotechnology company or a factory with GMP qualification for this new product.  In the long term, we plan to become a commercialization platform for world-class biotechnological research and development results for applications in agriculture, natural resources conservation and environment protection, launch our products in the Southeast Asia, United States and other markets, continue our introduction of new products, create formal strategic alliances with selected United States companies to co-develop and/or co-market products in the United States and China, and form an international biotechnology research center in China for the research and development of agricultural, environmental and medical applications.

 

During fiscal 2011, our sales revenue was $nil, and we are continuing to experience losses.  We currently do not have sufficient revenues to support our business activities and we expect operating losses to continue.  We will require additional capital to fund our operations and finance our research and development activities.  Funding, whether from a public or private offering of debt or equity, a bank loan or a collaborative agreement, may not be available when needed or on favorable terms.  Further, any significant equity or debt financing will require us to give priority to holders of the 6% secured convertible notes (“6% Notes”) under the terms of a securities purchase agreement dated June 29, 2006, which may raise the difficulty level of completing a financing. (For more details regarding the 6% Notes see Note 8 to consolidated financial statements under Item 8, Part II.) If we are unable to obtain necessary financing in the amounts and on terms deemed acceptable, we will have to limit, delay, scale back or eliminate our research and development activities or future operations.  Any of the foregoing may adversely affect our business and cause us to discontinue as a going concern.

 

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The risks associated with raising capital through collaborations and licensing agreements could adversely affect our business.

 

We will be required to raise additional capital to fund our operations and finance our research and development activities through collaborative and/or licensing agreements.  Under these agreements, we may be subject to various restrictive covenants which could significantly limit our operating and financial flexibility and may limit our ability to respond to changes in our business or competitive environment.  If we are unable to obtain necessary financing in the amounts and on terms deemed acceptable, we may have to limit, delay, scale back or eliminate our research and development activities or future operations.  Any of the foregoing may adversely affect our business.

 

Restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to effectively receive and use our revenue.

 

Since most of our future revenues may be in the form of China Renminbi, any future restrictions on currency exchanges may limit our ability to use revenue generated in Renminbi to fund our business activities outside China or to make dividend or other payments in U.S. Dollars.  Although the Chinese government introduced regulations since 1996 to allow greater convertibility of Renminbi, for current account transactions, significant restrictions still remain, including primarily the restriction that foreign invested enterprises may only buy, sell and/or remit foreign currencies at those banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange business after providing valid commercial documents.  In addition, conversion of Renminbi for capital account items, including direct investment and loans, is subject to governmental approval in China, and companies are required to open and maintain separate foreign exchange accounts for capital account items.  We cannot be certain that the Chinese regulatory authorities will not impose more stringent restrictions on the convertibility of Renminbi, especially with respect to foreign exchange transactions.

 

We may also be subject to foreign exchange risk and foreign ownership restrictions.  The Chinese government is loosening its control on foreign exchange transactions, and has steadily appreciated Renminbi relative to the U.S. dollar since July 2005.  However, there can be no assurance that this policy will continue.  More liberal foreign exchange policies will reduce our foreign exchange risk by increasing the liquidity of revenues generated in Renminbi.  Fluctuations in the exchange rate of Renminbi against the U.S. Dollar could adversely affect our results of operations by affecting our reported earnings for any given period.  In addition, foreign ownership restrictions could also impact our ability to expand our business through investment and acquisition opportunities.  If we are unable to pursue such strategic opportunities due to foreign ownership regulations, the growth of our business could be limited.

 

Changes in China’s political, social, economic or legal systems could materially harm our business.

 

All of our manufacturing and production as well as the majority of our sales occur in China.  Consequently, an investment in our common stock may be adversely affected by the political, social and economic environment in China.  Under its current leadership, China has been pursuing economic reform policies, including the encouragement of private economic activities and greater economic decentralization.  There can be no assurance, however, that the Chinese government will continue to pursue such policies, that such policies will be successful if pursued, or that such policies will not be significantly altered from time to time.

 

Our business and prospects are dependent upon agreements and regulatory approval with various entities controlled by Chinese governmental instrumentalities.  Historically, our operations in China have received relatively favorable treatment from these instrumentalities as a result of the Chinese government’s policies of encouraging economic development and innovation, especially in underdeveloped regions.  However, our operations and prospects would be materially and adversely affected by a change in China’s economic policies, which could make it more difficult for us to obtain necessary approvals from governmental authorities and to obtain economic incentives from governmental authorities.  In addition, if the Chinese government elects not to honor certain contracts as a result of political change, it might be difficult to enforce these contracts against such governmental entities in China.  In addition, the legal system of China relating to foreign investments is both new and continually evolving, and currently there can be no certainty as to the application of its laws and regulations in particular instances.

 

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For example, in June 2002, we entered into an agreement with Zoucheng Municipal Government granting us the use of at least 15.7 acres in Shandong Province, China at no cost for 10 years to construct a manufacturing facility.  Pursuant to relevant Chinese laws and regulations, we had paid tenure tax on quarterly basis at the rate of approximately $1,660 per acre.  However, from January 1, 2007, China central government adopted a series of policies to strengthen land management, including doubling tenure tax to $3,320 per acre.  In February 2008, the Ministry of Land and Resources of China issued “Controlling Indexes of Construction Land Use for Industrial Projects,” which requires the building coverage should not be less than 30%.  Up to now, the current situation in Kiwa Shandong does not meet this requirement.  The Company is also considering plans to reduce the acreage that we lease and return part of the land to the local authority to lower taxes.

 

A slow-down in the Chinese economy may adversely affect our growth and profitability.

 

The growth of the Chinese economy has been uneven across geographic regions and economic sectors.  There can be no assurance that growth of the Chinese economy will be steady or that any recessionary conditions will not have a negative effect on our business.  To the extent that there is a slow-down in the Chinese economy, the agricultural industry may be adversely affected.  Consequently, the growth and profitability of our bio-fertilizer business and bio-enhanced feed business may slow down.  The financial meltdown has significantly slowed down the growth of the world economy.  There can be no assurance that Chinese economy and our growth and profitability will not be affected.

 

Any recurrence of SARS, avian influenza or another widespread public health problem, could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

A renewed outbreak of SARS, avian influenza, highly pathogenic blue-ear disease or another widespread public health problem in China, where most of our revenue is derived, could have a negative effect on our operations.  Our operations may be impacted by a number of health-related factors, including the following: (1) quarantines or closures of some of our offices and factories which would severely disrupt our operations, (2) the sickness or death of our key officers and employees, (3) a general slowdown in the Chinese economy, especially rapid decrease of stockbreeding.

 

Any of the foregoing events or other unforeseen consequences of public health problems could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

Our ability to generate revenues could suffer if the Chinese ag-biotechnology market does not develop as anticipated.

 

The agriculture-biotechnology market in China, the primary market in which we do business, is in the early stages of development.  While we believe the market opportunity looks promising, we expect that the market will take several years to develop.  While it is difficult to project exactly how long it will take to develop the ag-biotechnology industry in China, we anticipate that it will take at least ten years to reach a level of development that is similar to the current state of the industry in the United States.  Successful development of the ag-biotechnology market in China depends on the following: (1) continuation of governmental and consumer trends favoring the use of products and technologies designed to create sustainable agriculture; (2) educating the Chinese agricultural community and consumers about the uses of ag-biotechnology products; and (3) certain institutional developments such as governmental agricultural subsidies designed to promote the use of environmentally friendly ag-biotechnological products.

 

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There are no assurance that these trends will continue, governmental subsidies will be offered, or that the Chinese agricultural community and consumers will be successfully educated about the uses of ag-biotechnology products.  The conduct of business in the ag-biotechnology market involves high risks.  There can be no assurance that the ag-biotechnology market in China will develop sufficiently to facilitate our profitable operation.  While we believe that we will benefit from our first-mover advantage in a growing market, existing competitors and new entrants in the ag-biotechnology market are expected to create fierce competition in the future as the market evolves.  Competitors and new entrants may introduce new products into the market that may detrimentally affect sales of our existing products, and consequently our revenues.  We intend to fund operations through sales, debt and equity financings until such time as the ag-biotechnology market in China is sufficiently developed to support our profitable operation.

 

We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property rights, and may be exposed to infringement claims from third parties.

 

Our success will depend in part on our ability to obtain patent protection for our technology, preserve our trade secrets, and operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of third parties.  We have several trademarks registered in China, which will be protected by the trademark laws in China for ten years and are renewable at the expiration of the initial ten-year term.  

 

We may also file patents with the PRC Intellectual Property Bureau and/or the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as we deem appropriate, or buy other patents such as the above mentioned anti-viral aerosol technologies.  There can be no assurance that the patents applied for will be reviewed in a timely manner, that any additional patents will be issued or that any patents issued will afford meaningful protection against competitors with similar technology or that any patents issued will not be challenged by third parties.  There also can be no assurance that others will not independently develop similar technologies, duplicate our technologies or design around our technologies whether or not patented.  There also can be no assurance that we will have sufficient resources to maintain a patent infringement lawsuit should anyone be found or believed to be infringing our patents.  There also can be no assurance that the technology ultimately used by us will be covered in any additional patent applications that we may file.  We do not believe that our technology infringes on the patent rights of third parties.  However, there can be no assurance that certain aspects of our technology will not be challenged by the holders of other patents or that we will not be required to license or otherwise acquire from third parties the right to use additional technology.  The failure to overcome such challenges or obtain such licenses or rights on acceptable terms could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

The processes and know-how of importance to our technology are dependent upon the skills, knowledge and experience of our technical personnel, consultants and advisors and such skills, knowledge and experience are not patentable.  To help protect our rights, we require employees, significant consultants and advisors with access to proprietary information to enter into confidentiality and proprietary rights agreements.  There can be no assurance, however, that these agreements will provide adequate protection for our trade secrets, know-how or proprietary information in the event of any unauthorized use or disclosure.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain a license for any technology that we may require to conduct our business or that, if obtainable, such technology can be licensed at a reasonable cost.  The cost of obtaining and enforcing patent protection and of protecting proprietary technology may involve a substantial commitment of our resources.  Any such commitment may divert resources from other areas of our operations.  We may be required to license or sublicense certain technology or patents in order to commence operations.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain any necessary licenses or to do so on satisfactory terms.  In addition, we could incur substantial costs in defending ourselves against suits brought by other parties for infringement of intellectual property rights and there can be no assurance that we will have the resources to do so.

 

We may become involved in intellectual property litigation, the defense of which could adversely impact our business operations.

 

Currently we have three patents in China (1) “Highly Effective Composite Bacteria for Enhancing Yield and the Related Methodology for Manufacturing”(Patent Number ZL93 101635.5), which covers six different species of bacillus which have been tested as bio-fertilizers to enhance yield and plant health as well as the production methods of the six species.  The patent will expire on February 19, 2013. (2) “A cucumber dedicated composite anti-continuous cropping effect probiotics and their specific strains with related application” (Patent Number: ZL 2008 1 0144492.6), which will expire on August 5, 2028; and (3) “Cotton dedicated composite anti-continuous cropping effect probiotics and their special strains with related application” (Patent Number: ZL 2008 1 0144491.1), which will expire on August 5, 2028.

 

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While we have not received any allegations, complaints or threats of litigation relating to any intellectual property rights, we may, from time to time, become involved in litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights.  From time to time, we may receive notices from third parties of potential infringement and claims of potential infringement.  Defending these claims could be costly and time consuming and would divert the attention of management and key personnel from other business issues.  The complexity of the technology involved and the uncertainty of intellectual property litigation increase these risks.  Claims of intellectual property infringement also might require us to enter into costly royalty or license agreements.  However, we may be unable to obtain royalty or license agreements on terms acceptable to us, or at all. In addition, third parties may attempt to appropriate the confidential information and proprietary technologies and processes used in our business, which we may be unable to prevent and which would harm the businesses and our prospects.

 

We face technical risks associated with commercializing our technology which could have a material adverse impact on our business results and operations.

 

A key to our future success is the ability to produce our planned animal flu disinfector, livestock feed and bacillus series of products at lower costs than our competitors.  Although we are currently utilizing our proprietary technology to produce such products at lower costs, our method for producing such products on a commercial basis has only recently begun.  Further, although results from recent independent tests and our early production results have been encouraging, the ability of our technology to commercially produce such products at consistent levels is still being evaluated.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to produce products at lower costs than our competitors, or that our technology will be able to commercially produce such products at consistent levels.

 

We have no business insurance coverage.

 

We do not have any business liability insurance coverage for our operations. Any business disruption, litigation or natural disaster might result in substantial costs and diversion of resources.

 

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results. As a result, current and potential stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm our business and the trading price of our stock.

 

As a public company, we are subject to report on our internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting in our annual reports on Form 10-K, as a requirement of Section 404 of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  The report must contain an assessment by management about the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting.

 

As required by Section 404 of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act, our management has concluded that our internal controls over our financial reporting are ineffective as of December 31, 2011.  Any failure to implement and maintain improvements in the controls over our financial reporting, or difficulties encountered in the implementation of any improvements in our controls, could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations.  Any failure to improve our internal controls to address these identified weaknesses could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative impact on the trading price of our stock. 

 

(2) Risk Related to Our Common Stock

 

If an active trading market for our securities does not remain in existence, the market price of our securities may decline and stockholders’ liquidity may be reduced.

 

Our common stock is quoted on the OTC QB; however, trading volume is very limited.  We cannot guarantee that we will develop sufficient trading volumes to sustain a regular trading market.  The OTC Bulletin Board is an inter-dealer, over-the-counter market that provides significantly less liquidity than the NASDAQ’s automated quotation system.  Market prices for our common stock will be influenced by a number of factors, including but not limited to: (1) the issuance of new equity securities; (2) changes in interest rates; (3) competitive developments, including announcements by competitors of new products or services or significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments; (4) variations in quarterly operating results; (5) change in financial estimates by securities analysts; (6) the depth and liquidity of the market for our common stock; (7) investor perceptions of our company and the ag-biotechnology industry generally; and (8) general economic and other conditions.

 

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The designation of our common stock as “penny stock” could impact the trading market for our common stock due to broker-dealer requirements imposed by the designation of our common stock as “penny stock.”

 

Our common stock is a “penny stock” as defined in Rules 15g-2 through 15g-6 promulgated under Section 15(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as it meets the following definitions: (i) the stock trades at a price less than $5.00 per share; (ii) it is not traded on a “recognized” national exchange, or even if so, has a price less than $5.00 per share; and (iii) is issued by a company with net tangible assets less than $2.0 million, if in business more than a continuous three years, or with average revenues of less than $6.0 million for the past three years.  The principal result or effect of being designated as a “penny stock” is that securities broker-dealers cannot recommend the stock but must trade in it on an unsolicited basis.

 

Section 15(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 15g-2 promulgated thereunder by the SEC require broker-dealers dealing in penny stocks to provide potential investors with a document disclosing the risks of penny stocks and obtain a manually signed and dated written receipt of the document before effecting any transaction in a penny stock for the investor’s account.

 

Potential investors in our common stock are urged to obtain and read such disclosure carefully before purchasing any shares that are deemed to be “penny stock.”  Moreover, Rule 15g-9 requires broker-dealers in penny stocks to approve the account of any investor for transactions in such stocks before selling any penny stock to that investor.  This procedure requires the broker-dealer to (i) obtain from the investor information concerning his or her financial situation, investment experience and investment objectives; (ii) reasonably determine, based on that information, that transactions in penny stocks are suitable for the investor and that the investor has sufficient knowledge and experience as to be reasonably capable of evaluating the risks of penny stock transactions; (iii) provide the investor with a written statement setting forth the basis on which the broker-dealer made the determination in (ii) above; and (iv) receive a signed and dated copy of such statement from the investor, confirming that it accurately reflects the investor’s financial situation, investment experience and investment objectives.  Compliance with these requirements may make it more difficult for holders of our common stock to resell their shares to third parties or to otherwise dispose of them in the market or otherwise.

 

Provisions in our charter and the corporate law of our state of incorporation could deter or prevent an acquisition or change of control.

 

Provisions of our certificate of incorporation may deter or prevent a change in control of management.  Specifically, our certificate of incorporation allows our Board of Directors to issue 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, in one or more series and with such rights and preferences including voting rights, without further stockholder approval.  In the event that the Board of Directors designates additional series of preferred stock with rights and preferences, including super-majority voting rights, and issues such preferred stock, the preferred stock could make our acquisition by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, more difficult, and could also make the removal of incumbent officers and directors more difficult.  As a result, these provisions may have an anti-takeover effect.  The preferred stock authorized in our certificate of incorporation may inhibit changes of control.

 

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In addition, we are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.  That section provides, with some exceptions, that a Delaware corporation may not engage in any of a broad range of business combinations with a person or affiliate, or associate of the person, who is an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years from the date that the person became an interested stockholder unless: (i) the transaction resulting in a person becoming an interested stockholder, or the business combination, is approved by the Board of Directors of the corporation before the person becomes an interested stockholder; (ii) the interested stockholder acquires 85% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation in the same transaction that makes it an interested stockholder, excluding shares owned by persons who are both officers and directors of the corporation, and shares held by some employee stock ownership plans; or (iii) on or after the date the person becomes an interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by the corporation’s Board of Directors and by the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock at an annual or special meeting, excluding shares owned by the interested stockholder.  An “interested stockholder” is defined as any person that is (a) the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation or (b) an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether the person is an interested stockholder.

 

These provisions could also limit the price that future investors might be willing to pay in the future for our common stock.  This could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our Company and/or a change in the members our Board of Directors.  The issuance of preferred stock could also effectively limit or dilute the voting power of our stockholders.  Accordingly, such provisions of our certificate of incorporation, as amended, may discourage or prevent an acquisition or disposition of our business that could otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.

 

Investors should not rely on an investment in our common stock for dividend income as we do not intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.  We intend to retain any earnings to finance the growth of our business.  We cannot assure you that we will ever pay cash dividends.  Therefore, investors should not rely on an investment in our common stock if they require dividend income.  The only income in the foreseeable future such investors will receive from an investment in our common stock will come from increases in the market price of our common stock.  There can be no assurance that the market price of our common stock will increase or continue to increase, and such increases will most likely be uncertain and unpredictable.  Whether we pay any cash dividends in the future will depend on the financial condition, results of operations and other factors that the Board of Directors will consider.

 

Entering into equity or debt financings could result in dilution to existing stockholders.

 

We will be required to raise additional capital to fund our operations and finance our research and development activities through a public or private offering of debt or equity securities.  Any equity financing could result in dilution to the existing stockholders as a direct result of our issuance of additional shares of our capital stock.  Debt financings will result in interest expense and likely subject us to negative covenants that would limit our operational flexibility, and if convertible into equity, could also dilute then-existing stockholders.

 

For example, we issued $2,450,000 of convertible notes (6% Notes) in 2006, of which $931,829 of principal have been converted into 318,398,409 shares and the balance of $1,518,171 and unpaid balance of 2% Notes of $112,917 may be converted into an estimated 9,061,600,000 shares of our common stock based on the average price of three lowest prices within 20 trading days before December 31, 2011.  We also have outstanding 6% Note Warrants to purchase 12,250,000 shares of common stock.  The conversion ratio of the 6% Notes and 2% Notes is based on the market price of our stock at any given point in time.  Consequently, the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the outstanding 6% Notes and 2% Notes and certain of our other outstanding convertible notes will increase if the market price of our stock declines.  Such debt financings may cause immediate and substantial dilution to our existing stockholders.

 

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The shares of common stock allocated for conversion of the 6% Notes are not adequate and we are required to amend our certificate of incorporation to increase our authorized shares of common stock.  We may incur substantial costs in connection therewith.  Since the annual meeting of stockholders did not approve a proposed amendment to our certificate of incorporation, we cannot repay the 6% Notes by issuing shares of common stocks.

 

Pursuant to the securities purchase agreement in connection with the 6% Notes, we must reserve for purposes of issuance a number of shares of common stock that is no less than 110% of the number of shares of common stock issuable upon full conversion of the 6% Notes based on the average conversion price of the 6% Notes and full exercise of the 6% Note Warrants based on the average exercise price of the 6% Note Warrants.  Based on our current market price and the potential decrease in our market price as a result of the issuance of shares upon conversion of the 6% Notes, we have made a good faith estimate as to the amount of shares of common stock that we are required to allocate for conversion of the 6% Notes.  The annual meeting of stockholders of the Company for 2011 did not approve a proposed amendment of certificate of incorporation increasing the authorized shares from 400,000,000 to 800,000,000.  Given the fact that as of December 31, 2011, the Company had issued 400,000,000 shares of common stock, the Company could not repay outstanding 6% Notes by further issuing shares of common stock.  As of December 31, 2011, the amount of authorized shares does not meet the requirements as set forth by the security purchase agreement in connection with the 6% Notes.

 

In the future, we may have to further amend our certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized common stock, which could incur substantial costs.

 

Future sales by our stockholders may negatively affect our stock price and our ability to raise funds in new stock offerings.

 

Sales of our common stock in the public market could lower the market price of our common stock.  Sales may also make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that our management deems acceptable or at all.  As of December 31, 2011, we had 400,000,000 shares of common stock outstanding, most of which we estimate have been held more than two years and are freely tradable under Rule 144.  In the Form SB-2 declared effective on October 30, 2006, we registered up to 27,685,365 shares of common stock for resale, which may be sold without restriction under securities laws.  In November 2007, the SEC adopted significant amendments to Rule 144, pursuant to which holding period of non-affiliates before resale of restricted shares of a reporting company has been shortened to six months.  The sale of these shares may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

 

The sale of our stock under the Securities Purchase Agreement could encourage short sales by third parties, which could contribute to the future decline of our stock price.

 

In many circumstances, the provision of financing based on the distribution of equity/convertible notes for companies that are quoted on the OTC QB has the potential to cause a significant downward pressure on the price of common stock.  Since the registration statement for this offering is effective, the number of freely tradable shares will significantly increase, thus there is a possibility that the balance of sell side pressure would overwhelmingly exceed that of the buy side.  Consequently, the price of shares will drop considerably.  This is especially the case if the shares being placed into the market exceed the market’s ability to take up the increased stock or if we have not performed in such a manner to show that the equity funds raised will be used to grow our business.  Such an event could place further downward pressure on the price of our common stock.

 

During fiscal 2011, the lowest trading price of our common stocks was $0.0003.  There is no assurance that the share price will not further decrease.

 

If there are significant short sales of stock, the price decline that would result from this activity will cause the share price to decline more so which in turn may cause long holders of the stock to sell their shares thereby contributing to sales of stock in the market. If there is an imbalance on the sell side of the market for the stock, the price will decline significantly and quickly.  It is not possible to predict if the circumstances exist under which short sales could materialize or to what level our stock price could decline.  In some cases where companies have been subjected to short sales, their stock prices have dropped to near zero. 

 

ITEM 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments

 

None. 

 

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ITEM 2.  Properties 

 

In June 2002, Kiwa Shandong entered into an agreement with Zoucheng Municipal Government granting us the use of at least 15.7 acres in Shandong Province, China at no cost for 10 years to construct a manufacturing facility.  Under the agreement, we have the option to pay a fee of approximately RMB 480,000 ($72,478) per acre for the land use right at the expiration of the 10-year period.  We may not transfer or pledge the temporary land use right.  In the same agreement, we have also committed to invest approximately $18 million to $24 million for developing the manufacturing and research facilities in Zoucheng, Shandong Province.  As of December 31, 2011, we had invested approximately $1.91 million in plant and equipment for the project.  The Company is in negotiation with Zoucheng Municipal Government to renew the agreement.  However, there is no assurance that the Company will successfully renew the agreement with Zoucheng Municipal Government.  In the future, the Company may consider moving the primary location of Kiwa Shandong’s operation to other locations in China.

 

From January 1, 2007, China central government adopted a series of policies to strengthen land management, including doubling the tenure tax to $3,320 per acre.  In February 2008, the Ministry of Land and Resources of China issued “Controlling Indexes of Construction Land Use for Industrial Projects,” which requires that the building coverage be not less than 30%.  Up to now, the current situation in Kiwa Shandong does not meet this requirement. As a company operating ag-biotech business, the building coverage may differ from that of typical manufacturers in other industries.  However, there is no assurance that local authorities would not take back a portion of the land granted to us.

 

The core ingredient of our bio-fertilizer products is bacillus spp.  Photosynthetic bacteria isone of the ingredients used in some of our products.  However, the upgrade of bio-fertilizer production facilities was not fully completed due to capital shortage. 

 

ITEM 3.  Legal Proceedings

 

On December 22, 2009, Kiwa Tianjin filed a lawsuit against Challenge Feed, the Company’s 20% joint venture partner in Kiwa Tianjin, in the local court of Wuqing District, Tianjin, where Kiwa Tianjin is domiciled.

 

In the lawsuit, Kiwa Tianjin asserted that Challenge Feed unlawfully disposed of the assets held by Kiwa Tianjin, such assets include:

 

(1) Machinery and equipment.  Challenge Feed entered into a settlement agreement with one of its creditors, in accordance with which Challenge Feed agreed to transfer title of the machinery and equipment, which had been assigned to Kiwa Tianjin in 2006 in connection with the establishment of Kiwa Tianjin as a joint venture between the Company and Challenge Feed, to repay Challenge Feed’s debt.  Challenge Feed did not obtain Kiwa Tianjin’s consent nor inform Kiwa Tianjin of such transfer.

 

(2) Inventories.  Kiwa Tianjin had a long standing agreement to lease Challenge Feed’s factory facilities and warehouse for storage of its inventory.  Challenge Feed has disposed Kiwa Tianjin’s inventories including raw materials, packages and finished goods stored in the factory to repay Challenge Feed’s debt without any permission from Kiwa Tianjin.

 

Kiwa Tianjin is seeking damages against Challenge Feed in the amount of approximately RMB 2.2 million in total.

 

The local court of Wuqing District has informed the Company that it will not examine the lawsuit against Challenge Feed since Challenge Feed has entered into bankruptcy proceedings.  Related matters will be solved during Challenge Feed’s bankruptcy proceedings.

 

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On December 27, 2011, Challenge Feed’s bankruptcy administrator informed the Company that the bankruptcy court has granted the Company’s request to repossess the machinery and equipment and Kiwa Tianjin’s bio-enhanced feed production line that was positioned in Challenge Feed’s domicile. If the Company failed to repossess such machinery and equipment before December 31, 2011, the Company would then be responsible for losses resulting from any damages to the machinery and equipment after such date. On February 9, 2012, the Company sold such machinery and equipment for $8,000.

 

ITEM 4.  Mine Safety Disclosure

 

Not applicable.

 

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Part II

 

ITEM 5. Market for Registrants’ Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchasers of Equity Securities 

 

Market Information

 

The Company’s common stock has been quoted on the OTC OB of the NASD under the symbol “KWBT.OB” since March 30, 2004.  During fiscal 2011, the market price for our common stock has ranged from $0.0003 to $0.0045.

 

The following table sets forth the high and low bid quotations per share of our common stock as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board for the periods indicated.  The high and low bid quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.

 

Fiscal Year 2010  High   Low 
First Quarter  $0.004   $0.002 
Second Quarter  $0.0023   $0.001 
Third Quarter  $0.0041   $0.0011 
Fourth Quarter  $0.0045   $0.0025 

 

Fiscal Year 2011  High   Low 
First Quarter  $0.0045   $0.0021 
Second Quarter  $0.004   $0.0022 
Third Quarter  $0.0042   $0.0015 
Fourth Quarter  $0.0027   $0.0003 

 

Holders

 

As of March 30, 2012, there were approximately 435 shareholders of record of our common shares. 

 

Dividend Policy

 

We have not paid any dividends on our common shares since our inception and do not anticipate that dividends will be paid at any time in the immediate future. 

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The information required by Item 5 regarding securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans is included in Item 12 of this report. 

 

ITEM 6.  Selected Financial Data 

 

Not required. 

 

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ITEM 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements that include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” or similar expressions.  These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements concerning our expectations regarding our working capital requirements, financing requirements, business, growth prospects, competition and results of operations, and other statements of expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends, and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts.  The forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors (described in “Business-Risk Factors” under Item 1) that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. 

 

Overview

 

The Company took its present corporate form in March 2004 when the shareholders of Tintic Gold Mining Company, a Utah public corporation (“Tintic”), entered into a share exchange transaction with the shareholders of Kiwa BVI, a privately-held British Virgin Islands corporation that left the shareholders of Kiwa BVI owning a majority of Tintic and Kiwa BVI a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tintic, see“Business - The Company” under Item 1.  For accounting purposes this transaction was treated as an acquisition of Tintic Gold Mining Company by Kiwa BVI in the form of a reverse triangular merger and a recapitalization of Kiwa BVI and its wholly owned subsidiary, Kiwa Shandong.  On July 21, 2004, we completed our reincorporation in the State of Delaware.

 

We have established two subsidiaries in China: (1) Kiwa Shandong in 2002, a wholly-owned subsidiary, and (2) Kiwa Tianjin in July 2006, our 80% subsidiary.  At the end of 2009, Kiwa Tianjin discontinued its business operations, because it lost possession of its primary assets including machinery and inventory, necessary to its business operations due to an unsettled dispute.  See “Legal Proceedings under Item 3. As a result, the Company has classified the bio-enhanced feed business as discontinued operations.

 

We generated $nil and $88,056 in revenue from continuing operations in fiscal years 2011 and 2010, respectively.  We incurred a net loss of $1,691,319 and $2,275,783 during fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

Due to our limited revenues and continuous losses, we have relied on the proceeds from the sale of our equity securities and loans from both unrelated and related parties to provide the resources necessary to fund the development of our business plan and operations. Our financing activities generated $448,880 and $1,070,998 during fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively. These funds are insufficient to execute our business plan as currently contemplated, which may result in the risks described in “Risk Factors” under Item 1-Business. 

 

Going Concern

 

Overview of the Company’s Financial Condition as of December 31, 2011

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $20,362,032, of which, $1,691,319 and $2,275,783 were incurred during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2011, we had cash and cash equivalents of $16,307 and total current assets of $42,677; at the same time, we had current liabilities of $10,593,526, denoting a current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) of 0.004 and a quick ratio (cash divided by current liabilities) of 0.002.  At the end of fiscal 2011, we also had long-term liabilities of $1,814,911.

 

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On June 29, 2006, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with six institutional investors (the “Purchasers”) for the issuance and sale of (1) 6% secured convertible notes, due three years from the date of issuance, in the aggregate principal amount of $2,450,000, convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock (the “6% Notes”), and (2) warrants to purchase 12,250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrants”).  As of December 31, 2010, the outstanding principal of 6% Notes was $1,518,171.  On June 29, 2009, the 6% Notes were due.  The Company has informed the Purchasers of its inability to repay the outstanding balance on the due date.  Therefore, the 6% Notes are in default. On January 31, 2011, the 2% Notes were due and the Company failed to make repayment for outstanding balances.  Thus the 2% Notes are in default.

 

To the extent that we are unable to successfully raise the capital necessary to fund our future cash requirements on a timely basis and under acceptable terms and conditions, we will not have sufficient cash resources to maintain operations and repay our liabilities, and may have to curtail or cease operations and consider a formal or informal restructuring or reorganization.

 

Overview of the Company’s Operating Results for the Years Ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, our sales revenue from continuing operations was $nil and $88,056, respectively.  The Company’s gross profit was $nil and negative $9,466, respectively. During fiscal years 2011 and 2010, the Company’s net losses were $1,691,319 and $2,275,783, respectively.

 

Overview of the Company’s Cash flow Status for the Years Ended December 31, 2011 and 2010

 

During fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the net cash used in our operating activities was $499,807 and $983,280, respectively.  We also invested $nil and $424 in purchasing property and equipment for the fiscal years of 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Although the net cash provided by our financing activities was $448,880 and $1,070,998 in the fiscal years of 2011 and 2010, respectively, we had cash of only $16,307 and $32,816 on December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

The Company’s Ability of Raising New Financing

 

Three factors have significantly impaired the Company’s ability to raise additional financing.  They are: i) no revenue, ii) continuous losses, and iii) a low share price. As of December 31, 2011, the closing price of our common stock reported by on the OTC Bulletin Board was $0.0003 and the market value of the Company was $120,000.  The Company’s obligations under the 6% Notes and the Warrants are secured by a first priority security interest in the Company’s intellectual property pursuant to an Intellectual Property Security Agreement with the Purchasers, and by a first priority security interest in all of the Company’s other assets pursuant to a Security Agreement with the Purchasers.  In addition, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer has pledged all of his common stock of the Company as collateral security for the Company’s obligations under the 6% Notes and the Warrants.  As a result, the Company does not have assets to secure the obligations of new debt.

 

The 6% Notes require the Company to obtain the Purchaser’s consent to take certain actions including paying dividends, repurchasing stock, incurring debt, guaranteeing obligations, merging or restructuring the Company, or selling significant assets.  As a result of these restrictions, our ability to raise new financing is severely limited.

 

Conclusion

 

The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is in doubt.  We expect to continue to have operating losses for the foreseeable future as we are still in the process of exploring new markets and conducting further research and product tests.  We will require additional capital to implement our business plan and continue operating.  To the extent that we are unable to successfully raise the capital necessary to fund our future cash requirements on a timely basis and under acceptable terms and conditions, we will not have sufficient cash resources to maintain operations, and may have to curtail or cease operations and consider a formal or informal restructuring or reorganization.

 

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Our independent auditors have added an explanatory paragraph to their audit opinion issued in connection with our financial statements for the latest nine fiscal years, which states that the financial statements raise substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern.  Our ability to make operations profitable or obtain additional funding will determine our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

Trends and Uncertainties in Regulation and Government Policy in China

 

Foreign Exchange Policy Changes

 

China is considering allowing its currency to be freely exchangeable for other major currencies.  This change will result in greater liquidity for revenues generated in Renminbi (“RMB”).  We would benefit by having easier access to and greater flexibility with capital generated in and held in the form of RMB.  The majority of our assets are located in China and most of our earnings are currently generated in China, and are therefore denominated in RMB. Changes in the RMB-U.S. Dollar exchange rate will impact our reported results of operations and financial condition. In the event that RMB appreciates over the next year as compared to the U.S. Dollar, our earnings will benefit from the appreciation of the RMB.  However, if we have to use U.S. Dollars to invest in our Chinese operations, we will suffer from the depreciation of U.S. Dollars against the RMB.  On the other hand, if the value of the RMB were to depreciate compared to the U.S. Dollar, then our reported earnings and financial condition would be adversely affected when converted to U.S. Dollars.

 

On July 21, 2005, the People’s Bank of China announced it would appreciate the RMB, increasing the RMB-U.S. Dollar exchange rate from approximately US$1.00 = RMB8.28 to approximately US$1.00 = RMB8.11.  So far the trend of such appreciation continues; the exchange rate of U.S. Dollar against RMB on December 31, 2011 was US$1.00 = RMB6.3364. 

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

We prepared our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  The preparation of these financial statements requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Management periodically evaluates the estimates and judgments made.  Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various factors that are believed to be reasonable under current circumstances.  Actual results may differ from these estimates as a result of different assumptions or conditions.

 

The following critical accounting policies affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.  In addition, you should refer to our accompanying audited balance sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the audited statements of operations, equity movement and cash flows for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related notes thereto, for further discussion of our accounting policies. 

 

Accounts Receivable

 

The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts when amounts are not considered fully collectable.  According to the Company’s credit policy, the Company generally provides a 100% bad debt provision for the amounts outstanding over 365 days after the deduction of the amount subsequently settled after the balance sheet date, which management believes is consistent with industry practice in the China region.

 

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Terms of our sales vary from cash on delivery to a credit term of up to three to twelve months.  Ordinarily, we require our customers to pay between 20% and 60% of the purchase price of an order placed, depending on the results of our credit investigations, prior to shipment.  The remaining balance is due within twelve months, unless other terms are approved by management.  As stated in the “Business - Risk Factors” under Item 1, the agriculture-biotechnology market in China is in the early stages of development and we are still in the process of exploring the new market.  We may also distribute our bio-products to special wholesalers with favorable payment terms with a focus on the future.  We maintain a policy that all sales are final and we do not allow returns.  However, in the event of defective products, we may allow customers to exchange the defective products for new products within the quality guarantee period.  In the event of any exchange, the customers pay all transportation expenses.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined on the weighted average method, and net realizable value.  Work in progress and finished goods are composed of direct material, direct labor and a portion of manufacturing overhead.  Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less estimated costs to complete and dispose.

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

Our long-lived assets consist of property, equipment, and intangible assets.  As of December 31, 2011, the net value of property and equipment and intangible assets was $20,322 and $nil, respectively, which represented approximately 32.3% and 0% of our total assets, respectively.

 

We periodically evaluate our investment in long-lived assets, including property and equipment, for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the net carrying amount may not be recoverable.  Our judgments regarding potential impairment are based on legal factors, market conditions and operational performance indicators, among others.  In assessing the impairment of property and equipment, we make assumptions regarding the estimated future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of the respective assets.

 

Based on our analysis, we charged $nil and $219,118 as loss from impairment of long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. 

 

Fair value of warrants and options

 

We have adopted ASC Topic 815, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” to recognize warrants relating to loans and warrants issued to consultants as compensation as derivative instruments in our consolidated financial statements.

 

We also adopted ASC Topic 718, “Share Based Payment” to recognize options granted to employees as derivative instruments in our consolidated financial statements.

 

We calculate the fair value of the warrants and options using the Black-Scholes Model. 

 

Revenue Recognition

 

We recognize revenue for our products in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition.” Sales represent the invoiced value of goods, net of value added tax, supplied to customers, and are recognized upon delivery of goods and passage of title.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes under the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes”, which requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements or tax returns.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequence attributable to the difference between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rate expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  The Company establishes a valuation when it is more likely than not that the assets will not be recovered. 

 

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Major Customers and Suppliers

 

Bio-fertilizer products

 

During 2011, our principal business did not generate any sales revenue, thus we had no customers. We had 15 customers during fiscal 2010 and a single customer who accounted for 79.9% of our net sales for the year ended December 31, 2010.   No other single customer accounted for more than 7% of our revenues.

 

During 2011, we did not purchase any raw materials; hence we had no suppliers for 2011. In fiscal 2010 we had a single supplier.  Historically our existing suppliers have met our needs.  The Company does not believe that the loss of its sole supplier would impact the Company’s ability to produce its products because the raw materials used in our bio-fertilizer products are widely available from a variety of alternative sources.

 

Results of Operations

 

Net Sales

 

Net sales were $nil and $88,056 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company had not been able to sell any of our products during fiscal 2011 and during 2010, a one-time sales transaction of $78,787 was recorded during the first quarter of 2010.

 

Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales was $nil and $97,522 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  The decrease in cost of sales was primarily due to a decrease in net sales.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company charged losses resulting from the disposal of obsolete inventory in the amounts of $nil and $42,721 into cost of sales, given that decisions about the timing, method,and pricing of dispositions of inventory generally are considered to be normal, recurring activities integral to the management of the ongoing business. Cost of sales excluding losses resulting from the disposal of obsolete inventory was $54,801.

 

Due to the unique nature of bio-fertilizer products, some of our raw materials have a shorter shelf life than chemical substances.  The Company continues to adjust its product mix.  As a result, some of its raw material inventories have become obsolete and cannot be used.  We had decided to dispose of these raw materials as obsolete inventory.

 

Gross Profit/Loss

 

Gross profit for fiscal 2011 was $nil,the Company had not been able to recognize any sales revenue during 2011.

 

The Company’s principal business generated gross loss of $9,466 during 2010, resulted from (1) gross profit of $33,255, the margin of net sales over cost of sales; and (2) during 2010, due to decrease of market price of our products, we charged $42,721 as provision for obsolete stocks into cost of sales.

 

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General and Administrative

 

General and administrative expenses were $1,256,073 and $1,622,603 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, a decrease of $366,530 or 22.6%.  General and administrative expenses include consulting and professional fees, officers’ compensation, depreciation and amortization, salaries, travel and entertainment, rent, office expense, telephone expense and insurance costs.  The decrease mainly resulted from the reduction of our operating activities, which led to a decrease in rent, salaries, travel expenses and office expenses.  We also charged $547,835 and $491,038 of liquidated damages in connection with the 6% Notes and 2% Notes to general and administrative expenses during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively  (see Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

Selling Expenses

 

During 2011 and 2010, selling expenses were $nil and $3,626, respectively.  Resulting from the reduction of operating activities, the Company incurred no selling expenses during 2011.

 

Research and Development

 

Research and development expenses decreased by $16,254 or 8.9% to $166,716 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to $182,970 for the prior comparable period.  The research and development expense mainly consists of the expenses of maintaining Kiwa-CAU R&D Centre, which began operation in July 2006 (see “Business-Intellectual Property and Product Lines- Kiwa-CAU R&D Center” under Item 1 in Part I).

 

Loss From Impairment of Long-lived Assets

 

At the end of fiscal years 2011 and 2010, we tested the recoverability of long-lived assets.  Based on our evaluation, the Company charged $nil and $219,118 to loss from impairment of long-lived assets in fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

Net Interest Expenses

 

Net interest expense was $268,530 and $242,606 in the fiscal years of 2011 and 2010, respectively, representing an increase of $25,924 or 10.7%.  The increase in interest expenses was due to (1) an increased rate of interest on the 2% Notes from 2% per annum to 15% per annum when it became due on January 31, 2011, and (2) an increased amount of interest on credit cards and bank charges.

 

Other Income

 

Other income during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $nil and $4,606, respectively.  This income was generated by our bio-fertilizer business.

 

Net Loss

 

Net loss for fiscal 2011 and 2010 was $1,691,319 and $2,275,783, representing a decrease of $584,464 or 25.7%.  This decrease resulted from the net effect of the following factors: (1) the gross profit for fiscal 2011 was $nil and the Company realized gross loss of $9,466 during 2010; (2) the decrease in operating expenses of $605,528 or 29.9% for the fiscal year of 2011 compared to the fiscal year 2010; (3) the increase in interest expenses of $25,924 or 10.7% for the fiscal year of 2011 compared to the fiscal year of 2010; (4) other income of $nil and $4,606 in the fiscal years of 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

Comprehensive Loss

 

Comprehensive loss decreased by $467,685 or 19.2% to $1,972,668 for the year ended December 31, 2011, compared to $2,440,353 for the comparable period of 2010. The decrease was due to a decrease of $584,464 in net loss offset by an increase of $116,779 in other comprehensive loss. 

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Since inception of our ag-biotech business in 2002, we have relied on the proceeds from the sale of our equity securities and loans from both unrelated and related parties to provide the resources necessary to fund our operations and the execution of our business plan.  During fiscal 2011, we raised $5,824,484 in total from related parties and repaid $5,375,604 to related parties.  To some extent, these advances improved our short-term liquidity; however as of December 31, 2011, our current liabilities exceeded current assets by $10,550,849, reflecting a current ratio of 0.004:1, whereas current liabilities exceeded current assets by $8,662,240, reflecting a current ratio 0.01:1, as of December 31, 2010. The sharp downturn in our short-term liquidity was mainly due to continuous losses, which resulted in a decrease of $63,345 of current assets and an increase in current liabilities of $1,825,264 as of December 31, 2011 compared to the comparable period of 2010. During the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, we did not issue any shares resulting from the conversion of principal of the 6% Notes and 2% Notes into our common stock.  Since the Company does not have sufficient financial capability to repay the 6% Notes and 2% Notes and had issued all of its 400,000,000 authorized shares, the Company cannot issue additional shares to repay the 6% Notes and 2% Notes, unless the Company can obtain stockholder approval to amend its certificate of incorporation to increase the authorized shares of common stock (see Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, we had cash of $16,307 and $32,816, respectively.  The change is outlined as follows.

 

During the fiscal year of 2011, the net cash used in our operating activities was $499,807,compared to $983,280 for the comparable period of 2010. Such cash was mainly used for maintaining operations of a public company and working capital for our bio-fertilizer business.

 

During the fiscal years of 2011 and 2010, our investing activities utilized $nil and $424 in acquiring property and equipment, respectively.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2011, we generated cash inflow of $448,880 from financing activities, consisting of proceeds from related parties of $5,824,484, which was offset in part by repayment of $5,375,604 to related parties. During the year ended December 31, 2010, we generated cash inflow of $1,070,998 from financing activities, consisting of proceeds from related parties of $1,338,637, which was offset in part by repayment of $259,902 to related parties and long-term borrowings of $7,737.  

 

As of December 31, 2011, we had an accumulated deficit of $20,362,032, which was made up in part of a net loss of $1,691,319 during 2011 and $2,275,783 during 2010. We do not anticipate generating sufficient positive operating cash inflow to fund our planned operations.

 

In 2012, we plan to focus on expanding our bio-fertilizer sales.  We will concentrate on (1) adjusting our product mix to increase the proportion of high-margin products, (2) improving our current equipment, and (3) setting up new production lines.  

 

Currently we have insufficient cash resources to accomplish our objectives.  We will need to seek additional funding to sustain our operations.  In the next year, we intend to raise additional capital through the issuance of debt or equity securities to fund the development of our planned business operations, although there can be no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining this financing.

 

Given the facts that:

 

(1) Extremely low share price.  The price of the Company’s our common stocks ranged from $0.0003 to $0.0045 per share during fiscal 2011;

 

(2) Continuous losses. As of December 31, 2011, we had an accumulated deficit of $20,362,032, which was made up in part of a net loss of $1,691,319 during 2011 and $2,275,783 during 2010;

 

(3) Deteriorating financial situation.  As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had total assets of $62,999 and $131,944, respectively, and total liabilities of $12,408,437 and $10,504,714, respectively; and

 

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(4) Outstanding 6% and 2% Notes.  As of December 31, 2011, the amount of outstanding 6% and 2% Notes was $1,518,171, and $112,917, respectively.  The 6% Notes and the 2% Notes have been in default since June 2009 and January 2011, respectively.  The Company had also accrued $1,634,150 as a penalty in connection with the 6% Notes and 2% Notes.

 

To the extent that we are unable to successfully raise the capital necessary to fund our future cash requirements on a timely basis and under acceptable terms and conditions, we will not have sufficient cash resources to maintain operations, and may have to curtail operations and consider a formal or informal restructuring or reorganization. 

 

Contractual Obligations

 

The following table describes our loan obligations as of December 31, 2011: 

 

   Payments due by Period 
   Total   Less than 1 year   1-3 years   3-5 years   More than 5 years 
Loans from related parties  $4,067,262   $4,067,262   $-   $-   $- 
Convertible note payable with 2% rate (1)   112,917    112,917    -    -    - 
Convertible note payable with 6% rate (2)   1,518,171    1,518,171    -    -    - 
                          
   $5,698,350   $5,698,350   $-   $-   $- 

  

(1)On January 31, 2011, the 2% Notes were due and in default. The default interest rate of 15% per annum was charged on the 2% Notes.

 

(2)On June 29, 2009, the 6% Notes were due and in default.  The default interest rate of 15% per annum was charged on the 6% Notes.

 

Operating lease commitments

 

The Company leased an office in Beijing on July 15, 2007. The operating lease agreement will expire at January 14, 2012. The monthly rental payment for the office is RMB 80,324 (approximately $12,000). Rent expense under the operating lease for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $105,247 and $159,574, respectively. Although the operating lease agreement expires by its term on January 14, 2012, the parties elected to terminate the lease in June 30, 2011.

 

On June 30, 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with Kangtai pursuant to which Kangtai will sublease a portion of its offices to the Company for a monthly rental of $1,000. The sublease expires on June 30, 2012.

 

The Company’s commitments for minimum lease payments under the operating lease for the next five years and thereafter as of December 31, 2011 are as follows:

 

Fiscal Year   Amount 
 2012   $6,000 
 Total   $6,000 

 

Operation of Kiwa-CAU R&D Center

 

Pursuant to the agreement on joint incorporation of the research and development center between CAU and Kiwa Shandong dated November 14, 2006, Kiwa Shandong agrees to invest RMB1 million (approximately $157,818) each year to fund research at the R&D Center.  The term of this agreement is ten years starting from July 1, 2006.  Prof. Qi Wang, who became one of our directors in July 2007, has acted as Director of Kiwa-CAU R&D Center since July 2006.

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Investment in manufacturing and research facilities in Zoucheng, Shandong Province in China

 

According to the Project Agreement with Zoucheng Municipal Government in 2002, we have committed to investing approximately $18 million to $24 million for developing the manufacturing and research facilities in Zoucheng, Shandong Province. As of December 31, 2011, we had invested approximately $1.91 million for the project. 

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

At December 31, 2011, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.  As such, we are not exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise had we engaged in such relationships.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8, Part II. 

 

ITEM 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 

 

The full text of our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 begins on page F-1 of this annual report. 

 

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

 

Effective June 16, 2011, the Company dismissed Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited (“Crowe Horwath”), the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. The decision to change accountants was approved by the Company's Board of Directors.

 

Crowe Horwath has been our independent registered public accounting firm since July 19, 2010. The report of Crowe Horwath on our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 was modified to include an explanatory paragraph expressing concern about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, but did not contain any other adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.

 

In connection with the audit of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and through the Current Report Form 8-K which was filed with the SEC on June 16, 2011 (the “Form 8-K”), there were: (i) no disagreements between the Company and Crowe Horwath on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Crowe Horwath would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in their reports on the Company’s financial statements for such years, and (ii) no reportable events within the meaning set forth in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

The Company has also provided Crowe Horwath a copy of the disclosures in the Form 8-K, and has requested that Crowe Horwath furnish it with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not it agrees with the Company’s statements in the Form 8-K. A copy of the letter dated June 16, 2011, furnished by Crowe Horwath in response to that request was filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the Form 8-K.

 

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ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures 

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in SEC Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report.  Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management including our CEO and CFO, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.  Based on their evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that, as of December 31, 2011, our disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective.

 

Management Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f).  Our internal control over financial reporting was designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company’s management and board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published consolidated financial statements.  Internal control over financial reporting is promulgated under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the Company’s 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.  Internal control over financial reporting, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations and may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Therefore, even effective internal control over financial reporting can only provide reasonable assurance with respect to the financial statement preparation and presentation.

 

Our management has conducted, with the participation of our CEO and CFO, an assessment, including testing of the effectiveness, of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31,2011.  Management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting was conducted using the criteria in Internal Control over Financial Reporting - Guidance for Smaller Public Companies issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on such evaluation, management identified deficiencies that were determined to be a material weakness.

 

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.  Because of the material weakness described below, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was ineffective as of December 31, 2011.

 

The specific material weakness identified by the Company’s management as of December 31, 2011 is described as follows:

 

  The Company did not have sufficient and skilled accounting personnel with an appropriate level of technical accounting knowledge and experience in the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America commensurate with the Company’s financial reporting requirements, which resulted in a number of internal control deficiencies that were identified as being significant.  The Company’s management determined that the number and nature of these significant deficiencies, when aggregated, constituted a material weakness.

 

  The Company lacks qualified resources to perform the internal audit functions properly.  In addition, the scope and effectiveness of the Company’s internal audit function are yet to be developed.

 

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  We currently do not have an audit committee.

 

Remediation Initiative

 

  We are committed to establishing the internal audit functions but due to limited qualified resources in the region, we were not able to hire sufficient internal audit resources before the end of 2011.  However, internally we established a central management center to recruit more senior qualified people in order to improve our internal control procedures.  Externally, we are looking forward to engaging an accounting firm to assist the Company in improving the Company’s internal control system based on COSO Framework.

 

  We intend to establish an audit committee of the board of directors as soon as practicable.  We envision that the audit committee will be primarily responsible for reviewing the services performed by our independent auditors, evaluating our accounting policies and our system of internal controls.

 

Conclusion

 

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

 

This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.  Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the SEC that permit the Company to provide only management's report in this Annual Report.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. 

 

ITEM 9B. Other Information 

 

None.

 

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Part III

 

ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

Set forth below are the names of our directors and executive officers, their ages, their offices with us, if any, their principal occupations or employment for the past five years.  The directors listed below will serve until the Company’s next annual meeting of the stockholders:

 

Name   Age   Position   Director Since
Wei Li   51   Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer (from January 4, 2009 to February 17, 2009) and Chairman of the Board of Directors   2004
Steven Ning Ma   55   Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer (from February 18, 2009)    
Lianjun Luo   42   Director   2004
Xucheng Hu   49   Director   2008
Qi Wang   45   Director and Vice President - Technical   2007
Yvonne Wang   33   Corporate Secretary    
Dianyuan Song   52   Vice President - Marketing    

 

Wei Li became our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors on March 12, 2004.  Mr. Li was appointed as Chief Financial Officer on January 4, 2009 by the Board of Directors.  From January 1, 2004 to the time of the Tintic/Kiwa merger, Mr. Li was the acting Chief Executive Officer of Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Ltd.  Mr. Li founded Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Ltd. to capitalize on the growth of the ag-biotechnology industry in China.  Prior to founding Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Ltd., Mr. Li founded China Star, an entity which provides integrated financial services and/or venture investments to growth businesses in China.  Mr. Li served as President of China Star from June 1993 to January 2004. In 1989, Mr. Li founded Xinhua International Market Development Co. Ltd., a company which engaged in investing in China’s high tech, pharmaceutical, medical device, media, entertainment and real estate industries. Mr. Li holds a B.S. in Finance from Hunan Finance and Economics University.  Mr. Li has a wealth of experience in running businesses in China, with broad management expertise and a knowledge and understanding of business issues in China, and is able to provide the Board of Directors with his insights and experience in running businesses in China.

 

Steven Ning Ma became our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer on February 18, 2009.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Ma served as Managing Director of SAS Conserve de Provence from 2006 to 2008.  Prior to that, Mr. Ma was the Senior Managing Partner of HJV (Hejun) Consulting (Ltd.) from 2004 to 2005.  Mr. Ma received his Master degree in Economics/Finance from the Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences.  He is also a Ph.D. Candidate in Financial Economics from Wageningen University, Netherlands.

 

Lianjun Luo became our Chief Financial Officer on March 12, 2004, and one of our directors on March 27, 2004 and served in that capacity until the expiration of his employment agreement as the Company’s CFO on December 31, 2008.  Mr. Luo served as the Chief Executive Officer of Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Ltd. from October 2002 to December 2003.  From January 2002 to October 2002, Mr. Luo served as the Chief Financial Officer of China Star.  From August 2000 to December 2001, Mr. Luo served as manager of Security Department and Assistant to President at Jilin Hengfa Group Ltd., a Chinese drug manufacturing company, responsible for the company’s preparation for an aborted IPO and for merger and acquisition activities.  From May 1998 to July 2000, Mr. Luo worked as manager of Investment Department and Associate General Manager for Hongli Enterprise Ltd., a Chinese investment company on merger and acquisition transactions.  Mr. Luo obtained his law degree from China University of Political Science and Law in 1993. Mr. Luo is a certified public accountant and lawyer in China. Mr. Luo’s expertise in the field of accounting and law enables him to provide the Company’s Board of Directors with insight and information related to the Company’s financial, accounting and SEC reporting issues.

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Xucheng Hu has been serving as one of our directors since December 30, 2008.  Since August 2003, he has been the Executive Director of New Capital International Investment Limited, a listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.  Prior to that engagement, Mr. Hu acted as Executive Director of China Property Development (Holdings) Limited and Asia Director of ING Real Estate.  Over the past 10 years, he has been working with the Beijing International Trade Association and the Beijing International Trade Research Institute, during which period his responsibilities included performing financial and economic research and providing professional advice on the Beijing municipal government’s cross-provincial investments and foreign investments, participating in the decision-making process for granting export rights to Beijing government-owned enterprises, evaluating investment proposals, and supervising sino-foreign investments in Beijing.  Mr. Hu graduated with a bachelor degree in economics from Beijing Economics College in 1983. Mr. Xu’s experience working with public companies in China enables him to provide the Board with an understanding of the operation of other boards of directors.

 

Qi Wang became our Vice President - Technical on July 19, 2005 and was elected as one of our directors of the Company on July 18, 2007. Prof. Wang has also acted as Director of Kiwa-CAU R&D Center since July 2006. Prof. Wang served as a Professor and Advisor for Ph.D. students in the Department of Plant Pathology, China Agricultural University (“CAU”) since January 2005. Prior to that, he served as an assistant professor and lecturer of CAU since June 1997. He obtained his master degree and Ph.D. in agricultural science from CAU in July 1994 and July 1997, respectively. Prof. Wang received his bachelor’s degree of science from Inner Mongolia Agricultural University in July 1989. He is a committee member of various scientific institutes in China, including the National Research and Application Center for Increasing-Yield Bacteria, Chinese Society of Plant Pathology, Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine. Prof. Wang’s unique expertise in the field of agriculture offers significant knowledge and experience to the Board of Directors when making critical operational decisions.

 

Yvonne Wang became our Secretary in September 2005. Prior to that, she served as an executive assistant and a manager of the Company’s U.S. office between April 2003 and September 2005. She obtained her B.S. degree of Business Administration in July 2001 from University of Phoenix. She is also a California Realtor, and a certified Notary Public.

 

Dianyuan Song became our Vice President-Marketing in February 2008, prior to that Mr. Song served as Marketing and Sales Director of Kiwa since he joined Kiwa in October 2007. Mr. Song served as a member of senior management of HuaKen Group of China, which is a large enterprise group specializing in marketing and distributing of fertilizer in China. Mr. Song holds a Bachelor’s degree from Agriculture University of Shenyang. 

 

Family Relationships

 

There are no family relationships among our directors or executive officers. 

 

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

None of our directors or executive officers has, during the past ten years: 

 

(a)  Had any bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time;

 

(b)  Been convicted in a criminal proceeding or subject to a pending criminal proceeding;

 

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(c)  Been subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction or any federal or state authority, permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities, futures, commodities or banking activities; and

 

(d)  Been found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended, or vacated.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our officers, directors and certain persons holding more than 10 percent of a registered class of our common stock to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of our common stock.  Officers, directors and certain other shareholders are required by the SEC to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.  To the best of the Company’s knowledge, based solely upon a review of the copies of such reports. The Company’s annual report on Form 10-K was filed with the SEC on April 15, 2011, all other required filings were made on a timely basis. 

 

Code of Ethics

 

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) that is applicable to all employees, consultants and members of the Board of Directors, including the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary.  This Code embodies our commitment to conduct business in accordance with the highest ethical standards and applicable laws, rules and regulations.  We will provide any person a copy of the Code, without charge, upon written request to the Company’s Secretary.  Requests should be addressed in writing to Ms. Yvonne Wang; 310 N. Indian Hill Blvd., #702 Claremont, California 91711. 

 

Director Nominees Recommended by Stockholders

 

We have not implemented any changes to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to our board of directors since we last disclosed those procedures in our most recent proxy statement filed with the SEC on November 10, 2011. 

 

Board Composition; Audit Committee and Financial Expert

 

Our Board of Directors is currently composed of four members: Wei Li, Lianjun Luo, Xucheng Hu and Qi Wang.  All board actions require the approval of a majority of the directors in attendance at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

 

We currently do not have an audit committee. We intend, however, to establish an audit committee of the board of directors as soon as practicable.  We envision that the audit committee will be primarily responsible for reviewing the services performed by our independent auditors, evaluating our accounting policies and our system of internal controls.  Currently such functions are performed by our Board of Directors.

 

The Board has determined that at least one person on the Board, Lianjun Luo, qualifies as a “financial expert” as defined by SEC rules implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  Mr. Luo does not meet the definition of an “independent” director set forth in Rule 4200(a)(15) of the Market Place Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, which is the independence standard that we have chosen to report under.

 

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Board meetings and committees; annual meeting attendance.

 

During fiscal year 2011, the Board of Directors had three meetings in total.  All members of the Board of Directors attended all three meetings.  All members of the Board of Directors are required to attend the annual meetings of securities holders.  On December 16, 2011, all members of the Board of Directors attended the annual meetings of securities holders for 2011. 

 

ITEM 11. Executive Compensation 

 

We currently have no Compensation Committee. The Board of Directors is currently performing the duties and responsibilities of Compensation Committee.  In addition, we have no formal compensation policy.  We decide on our executives’ compensation based on average compensation levels of similar companies in the U.S. or China, depending on consideration of many factors such as where the executive works.  Our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation is approved by the Board of Directors.  Other named executive officers’ compensation are proposed by our Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Board of Directors.

 

Our Stock Incentive Plan is administered by the Board of Directors.  Any amendment to our Stock Incentive Plan requires majority approval of the stockholders of the Company.

 

The Company had no officers or directors whose total compensation during either 2011 or 2010 exceeded $100,000.

 

Currently, the main forms of compensation provided to each of our executive officers are: (1) annual salary; (2) non-equity Incentive Plan; and (3) the granting of incentive stock options subject to approval by our Board of Directors. 

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

Summary Compensation Table

Name and principal

position

  Year  

Salary

($)

 

Bonus

($)

 

Stock

Awards

($)

 

Option

Awards

($)

 

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)

 

Nonqualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings ($)

 

All Other

Compensation

($)

 

Total

($)

 
(a)   (b)   (c)   (d)   (e)   (f)   (g)   (h)   (i)   (j)  
Wei Li, CEO   2011   72,000   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil   72,000  
Wei Li, CEO   2010   72,000   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil   72,000  
Steven Ning Ma, CFO   2011   74,400   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil   74,400  
Steven Ning Ma, CFO   2010   74,400   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil   74,400  

 

Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change of Control Arrangements

 

On February 2, 2009, we entered into an employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Wei Li, for a three-year term, commencing on January 1, 2009.  Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Li receives a salary at the rate of $96,000 per annum, of which $72,000 will be paid in equal monthly installments of $6,000 during the period of employment, prorated for any partial employment period, and $24,000 is paid as an annual performance bonus in three months after each employment year.  Mr. Li may receive such annual increases in salary as may be determined by our Board of Directors at our annual meeting.  Mr. Li is also entitled to an annual grant of stock options under our employee stock option plan as determined by the Board of Directors.  Mr. Li is entitled to three-month’s severance if his employment is terminated without cause.

 

On February 18, 2009, the Company and Mr. Steven Ning Ma entered into an employment agreement with the Company.  Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Ma is entitled to annual salary of RMB636,000 (approximately US$93,000), among which RMB42,400 (approximately US$6,200) payable monthly and RMB127,200 (approximately $18,600) in one lump sum, as a performance bonus, three months following the anniversary of his employment provided that Mr. Ma meets all goals and objectives set by the Company.  Mr. Ma’s employment may be terminated at any time for cause or with thirty days’ written notice without cause.  The employment agreement is automatically terminated upon death or permanent disability.  Upon termination without cause, Mr. Ma is entitled to severance payment equal to three months’ salary including all non-cash benefits, if the termination is due to death or permanent disability; Mr. Ma is entitled to six months’ salary.  The employment agreement also contains confidentiality provisions and provisions against competition with the Company and solicitation of customers for 12 months following termination of employment.

 

38
 

 

On February 6, 2012, we entered into a new Employment Agreement between the Company and Mr. Wei Li, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company for a term of three years beginning January 1, 2012. Pursuant to the Agreement Mr. Li is entitled to an annual salary of $72,000 and a performance bonus of $24,000. If Mr. Li is terminated without cause, he is entitled to a lump sum payment equal to three months’ salary.

 

On February 6, 2012, we entered into a new Employment Agreement between the Company and Mr. Steven Ning Ma, Chief Financial Officer of the Company for a term of three years beginning January 1, 2012. Pursuant to the Agreement Mr. Ma is entitled to an annual salary of $70,000.

 

There are no compensatory plans or arrangements with respect to a named executive officer that would result in payments or installments in excess of $100,000 upon the resignation, retirement or other termination of such executive officer's employment with us or from a change-in-control. 

 

Stock Incentive Plan and Option Grants

 

2004 Stock Incentive Plan

 

On May 10, 2004, our Board of Directors approved equity incentive awards to our certain directors, officers and employees and/or consultants and adopted, subject to stockholder approval, our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).  Our stockholders approved the Plan on June 3, 2004, and an amendment to the Plan on September 12. 2006.  There are 3,047,907 shares reserved for issuance of options and other stock awards under the Plan.  The number of shares that may be granted to any participant in a fiscal year is 500,000.  Options issued under the Plan will expire not more than ten years from the date of grant.

 

The Plan is a key aspect of our compensation program, designed to attract, retain, and motivate the highly qualified individuals required for our long-term success.

 

Stock Option Grants

 

On December 12, 2006, our Board of Directors granted 2,000,000 options under the Plan, of which 823,700 shares were granted to the current executive officers and directors.  The exercise price was $0.175, equal to the closing price of our common stock on December 12, 2006.  Pursuant to the approval of Board of Directors, after each of the first and second anniversaries of the grant date, 33% percent of the options will become exercisable.  After the third anniversary of the grant date, 34% of the options will become exercisable.

 

No options were granted under the Plan during 2011.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2011 Fiscal Year-End

 

The following table sets forth the status of all outstanding equity awards of the Company as of December 31, 2011.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
Option Awards   Stock Awards
Name  

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options (#)

Exercisable

 

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Options (#)

Unexercisable

 

Equity

Incentive

Plan

Awards:

Number of

Securities

Underlying

Unexercised

Unearned

Options (#)

 

Option

Exercise

Price ($)

 

Option

Expiration

Date

 

Number

of

Shares

or Units

of

Stock

That

Have

Not

Vested

(#)

 

Value

of

Shares

or

Units

of

Stock

That

Have

Not

Vested

($)

 

Equity

Incentive

Plan

Awards:

Number

of

Unearned

Shares,

Units or

Other

Rights

That

Have Not

Vested

(#)

 

Equity

Incentive

Plan

Awards:

Market

or Payout

Value of

Unearned

Shares,

Units or

Other

Rights

That

Have Not

Vested

(#)

(a)   (b)   (c)   (d)   (e)   (f)   (g)   (h)   (i)   (j)
Wei Li     182,800   Nil     182,800     0.175   12/04/16   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil
Steven Ning Ma   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil   N/A   Nil   Nil   Nil   Nil

 

(1) See information contained in subheading entitled “Stock Option Grant” under heading “2004 Stock Incentive Plan.”

 

39
 

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

 

No stock options were exercised by any officers or directors during 2011 and 2010.  We did not adjust or amend the exercise price of any stock options previously awarded to any named executive officers during 2011 and 2010.

 

Option Exercises and Stock Vested  
    Option Awards     Stock Awards  
Name   

Number of Shares 

Acquired on 

Exercise (#)

   

Value Realized on 

Exercise ($)

   

Number of Shares 

Acquired on 

Vesting (#)

   

Value Realized on 

Vesting ($)

 
(a)   (b)     (c)     (d)     (e)  
Wei Li     Nil       Nil       Nil       Nil  
Steven Ning Ma   Nil     Nil     Nil     Nil  

 

Director Compensation for 2011

 

We currently have no policy in effect for providing compensation to our directors for their services on our Board of Directors, and did not compensate our directors in 2011 for services performed as directors. 

 

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

 

The following table sets forth as of December 31, 2011 certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock by (i) each of our executive officers, (ii) each person who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, and (iii) all of our directors and executive officers as a group.  Percentage ownership is calculated based on 400,000,000 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 30, 2012.  None of the shares listed below are issuable pursuant to stock options or warrants of the Company.

 

Title of class   Name and Address of Beneficial Ownership  

Amount and Nature of

Beneficial Owner

    Percentage of class  
Common Stock   Wei Li(1)     13,064,794       3.3 %
Common Stock   Steven Ning Ma     -       -  
Common Stock   Qi Wang     -       -  
                     
Common Stock   All officers and directors as a group     13,064,794       3.3 %

 

(1) Consists of 12,356,672 shares of common stock (3.1% of all shares outstanding) held by All Star Technology Inc., a British Virgin Islands international business company.  Wei Li exercises voting and investment control over the shares held by All Star Technology Inc.  Wei Li is a principal stockholder of All Star Technology Inc. and may be deemed to beneficially own such shares, but disclaims beneficial ownership in such shares held by All Star Technology Inc. except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.  Mr. Li has pledged all of his common stock of the Company as collateral security for the Company’s obligations under the 6% Notes (See Note 8 to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

40
 

 

Under the terms of the 6% Notes and 6% Note Warrants, the notes and warrants are exercisable by any holder only to the extent that the number of shares of common stock issuable pursuant to such securities, together with the number of shares of common stock owned by such holder and its affiliates (but not including shares of common stock underlying unconverted shares of callable secured convertible notes or unexercised portions of the warrants) would not exceed 4.99% of the then outstanding common stock as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.  Therefore, the table above does not include beneficial ownership information of the following holders of the 6% Notes and 6% Note Warrants of the Company: AJW Partners, LLC, AJW Offshore, Ltd., AJW Qualified Partners, LLC, New Millennium Capital Partners II, LLC, Double U Master Fund LP, and Nite Capital LP.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2011 about our equity compensation plans under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information  
Plan category  

Number of securities to be

issued upon exercise of

outstanding options,

warrants and rights

   

Weighted-average exercise

price of outstanding options,

warrants and rights

   

Number of securities

remaining available for future

issuance under equity

compensation plans

(excluding securities reflected

in column (a))

 
    (a)     (b)     (c)  
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders     1,232,600     $ 0.175       767,400  
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders     -       -          
Total     1,232,600       -       767,400  

 

Change in Control

 

None.

 

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

 

For description of transactions with related parties, see Note 6 to Consolidated Financial Statements under Item 8 in Part II.

 

Under the independence standard set forth in Rule 4200(a) (15) of the Market Place Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, which is the independence standard that we have chosen to report under, none of the members of the Board of Directors are independent.

 

The relationships between our directors and the Company are as follows:

 

41
 

 

Mr. Wei Li is a principal stockholder of All Star Technology Inc, which holds 12,356,672 shares of our common stock.  Mr. Li may be deemed to beneficially own such shares and exercises voting and investment control over such shares. Mr. Li is also Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

 

Prof. Qi Wang is the Director of Kiwa-CAU R&D center and also Vice President of the Company.

 

ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

Fees Paid to Independent Public Accountants for 2011 and 2010. 

 

Audit Fees

 

Paritz & Company, P.A. audited our financial statements for year-end 2011, and reviewed our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and June 30, 2011. Since we do not have a formal audit committee, our board of directors approved the engagement of Paritz & Company, P.A. before engaging its services. All of the services described below were approved by our board of directors prior to performance of such services.

 

The aggregate audit fees for 2011 paid and payable to Paritz & Company, P.A. were approximately $67,000. The amounts include: (1) fees for professional services rendered by Paritz & Company, P.A. in connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements for the 2011 fiscal year; (2) reviews of our quarterly reports on the Form 10-Q for the second and third quarters of 2011 fiscal year.

 

Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited (“Crowe Horwath”) audited our financial statements for year-end 2010, and reviewed our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2011, September 30, 2010 and June 30, 2010.

 

The aggregate review fees for 2011 paid to Crowe Horwath were approximately $13,000, which were fees for professional services rendered by Crowe Horwath in connection with review of our quarterly reports on the Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2011.

 

The aggregate audit fees for 2010 paid and payable to Crowe Horwath were approximately $88,000. The amounts include: (1) fees for professional services rendered by Crowe Horwath in connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements for the 2010 fiscal year; (2) reviews of our quarterly reports on the Form 10-Q for the second and third quarters of 2010 fiscal year and (3) fees for professional services rendered by AGCA, Inc. (“AGCA”) in connection with the review of quarterly report on the Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2010.

 

AGCA reviewed our quarterly financial statements for the first quarter of 2010.

 

The aggregate review fees for 2010 paid to AGCA were approximately $12,000. The 2010 amount includes fees for the review of our quarterly report on the Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2010.

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

Audit-related fees for 2011 and 2010 were $nil. 

 

Tax Fees

 

Tax service fees billed by a tax consultant for 2011 and 2010 were $4,500 in each year.

 

42
 

 

All Other Fees

 

During 2010, AGCA, Inc. has charged the Company $8,500 for reissuance of audit report for fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, which has been included in this annual report.

 

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors

 

Since we did not have a formal audit committee, our board of directors served as our audit committee.  We have not adopted pre-approval policies and procedures with respect to our accountants in 2011.  All of the services provided and fees charged by our independent registered accounting firms in 2011 were approved by the board of directors.

 

43
 

 

Part IV

 

ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

Exhibit

No.

  Description  

Incorporated by

Reference in

Document

 

Exhibit No. in

Incorporated

Document

3.1   Certificate of Incorporation, effective as of July 21, 2004   Form 8-K filed on July 23, 2004   3.1
3.2   Bylaws, effective as of July 22, 2004   Form 8-K filed on July 23, 2004   3.2
3.3   Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation, effective as of January 9, 2009   Filed herewith   3.3
10.1   Advance Agreement by and between Wei Li and the Company dated January 10, 2008   Form 8-K filed on January 11, 2008   10.01
10.2   Stock Purchase Agreement between Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation and Yuxin Zhou dated February 19, 2008   Form 8-K filed on February 22, 2008   10.01
10.3   Consulting Agreement between the Company and Robert Schechter dated January 10, 2008   Form 10-Q filed on August 11, 2008   10.1
10.4   Contract for Joint Venture between the Company and Hebei Huaxing Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. dated May 22, 2008   Form 8-K filed on May 27, 2008   10.1
10.5   Term Sheet for Redemption Convertible Notes dated September 25, 2008 between the Company and AJW Offshore Ltd., AJW Qualified Partners LLC, AJW Partners LLC, and New Millennium Capital Partners II LLC   Form 10-Q filed on November 12, 2008   10.3
10.6   Term Sheet for Redemption Convertible Notes dated September 25, 2008 between the Company and FirsTrust Group, Inc. dated October 7, 2008   Form 10-Q filed on November 12, 2008   10.4
10.7   2004 Stock Incentive Plan, amended in 2006   Form Pre 14A filed on July 28, 2006   Appendix A
10.8   Employment Agreement dated July 31, 2006, between the Company and Lianjun Luo   Form 8-K filed on August 7, 2006   10.02
10.9   Employment Agreement dated February 2, 2009 by and between the Company and Wei Li.   Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2009   10.1
10.10   Employment Agreement dated February 18, 2009 by and between the Company and Steven Ning Ma.   Form 8-K filed on February 19, 2009   10.1
10.11   Letter from Mao & Company, CPAs, Inc. dated June 7, 2009 to the Securities and Exchange Commission   Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2009   16.1
10.12   Letter of AGCA, Inc., dated July 19, 2010   Form 8-K filed on July 20, 2010   16.1
10.13   Letter of Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited, dated June 16, 2011   Form 8-K filed on June 16, 2011   16.1
10.14   Letter of Commitment  

Form 10-Q filed on

August 10, 2011

  10.1
10.15   Letter of Commitment  

Form 10-Q filed on

August 10, 2011

  10.2
10.16   Lease Agreement  

Form 10-Q filed on

November 8, 2011

  10.1
10.17   Employment Agreement dated February 6, 2012 by and between the Company and Wei Li.   Form 8-K filed on February 6, 2012   10.1
10.18   Employment Agreement dated February 6, 2012 by and between the Company and Steven Ning Ma   Form 8-K filed on February 6, 2012   10.2

 

44
 

 

14   Code of Ethics   Form 10-K filed on May 18, 2009   14.1
21   List of Subsidiaries   Form 10-KSB filed on April 2, 2007   21
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934   Filed herewith.    
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934   Filed herewith.    
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002   Filed herewith.    
45
 

  

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

 

Signatures

 

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

 

Date: April 6, 2012

 

 

KIWA BIO-TECH PRODUCTS GROUP

CORPORATION.

     
  By:  /s/ Wei Li
 

 Wei Li

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

     
  By:  /s/ Steven Ning Ma
 

Steven Ning Ma

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/s/ Wei Li   Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board of Directors
(Principal
Executive Officer)
  April 6, 2012
Wei Li         
         
/s/ Steven Ning Ma   Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting
Officer)
  April 6, 2012
Steven Ning Ma        
         
/s/ Xucheng Hu   Director   April 6, 2012
Xucheng Hu        
         
/s/ Lianjun Luo   Director   April 6, 2012
Lianjun Luo        
         
 /s/ Qi Wang   Director   April 6, 2012
Qi Wang        

 

46
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

 

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms F-1
Consolidated Balance Sheets F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Loss F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficiency F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-7

 

47
 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

 

To Board of Directors and the Stockholders of

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

as of December 31, 2011 and the related consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ deficiency and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation as of December 31, 2011, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As shown in Note 3 to the accompanying financial statements, the Company’s current liabilities substantially exceeded its current by $10,550,849 at December 31, 2011, has stockholders’ deficiency of $12,345,438 and has incurred net loss of $20,362,032 since inception. These circumstances, among others, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

/s/ Paritz & Company, P.A.

 

Hackensack, New Jersey

April 5, 2012

 

 

F-1
 

  

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation  (“Company”) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ deficiency and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has operating and liquidity concerns as it has suffered recurring losses from operations and incurred an accumulated deficit of $18,670,713 as of December 31, 2010. This condition raises substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of these uncertainties.

 

/s/ Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited

Hong Kong, China

April 15, 2011 

 

F-2
 

 

 

KIWA BIO-TECH PRODUCTS GROUP CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

   December 31, 2011   December 31, 2010 
ASSETS          
Current assets          
Cash and cash equivalents  $16,307   $32,816 
Deposits and other receivables   25,954    72,808 
Current assets of discontinued operation   416    398 
Total current assets   42,677    106,022 
Property, plant and equipment - net   20,322    25,922 
Total assets  $62,999   $131,944 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIENCY          
Current liabilities          
Accounts payable  $307,322   $319,299 
Advances from customers   14,125    13,514 
Construction costs payable   280,172    268,060 
Due to related parties - trade   552,364    422,788 
Due to related parties - non-trade   3,514,898    2,898,242 
Convertible notes payable   1,631,088    1,631,088 
Salary payable   919,875    707,712 
Taxes payable   242,120    166,255 
Penalty payable   1,634,150    1,086,315 
Interest payable   764,229    520,813 
Other payable   619,477    625,386 
Current liabilities of discontinued operation   113,706    108,790 
Total current liabilities   10,593,526    8,768,262 
           
Unsecured loans payable   1,814,911    1,736,452 
Total liabilities   12,408,437    10,504,714 
           
Stockholders’ deficiency          
Common stock - $0.001 par value Authorized 400,000,000 shares. Issued and outstanding 400,000,000 at December 31, 2011 and 2010   400,000    400,000 
Preferred stock - $0.001 par value Authorized 20,000,000 shares, none issued   -    - 
Additional paid-in capital   8,093,337    8,093,337 
Accumulated deficit   (20,362,032)   (18,670,713)
Accumulated other comprehensive deficiency   (476,743)   (195,394)
Total stockholders’ deficiency   (12,345,438)   (10,372,770)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficiency  $62,999   $131,944 

 

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

 

F-3
 

 

KIWA BIO-TECH PRODUCTS GROUP CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010 
Net sales  $-   $88,056 
Cost of sales   -    97,522 
Gross profit/(loss)   -    (9,466)
           
Operating expenses          
General and administrative   1,256,073    1,622,603 
Selling expenses   -    3,626 
Research and development   166,716    182,970 
Loss from impairment of long-lived assets   -    219,118 
Total operating expenses   1,422,789    2,028,317 
Operating loss   (1,422,789)   (2,037,783)
           
Interest expense   (268,530)   (242,606)
Other income   -    4,606 
Net loss before income tax   (268,530)   (2,275,783)
Income tax   -    - 
Net loss   (1,691,319)   (2,275,783)
           
Other comprehensive loss          
Translation adjustment   (281,349)   (164,570)
Total comprehensive loss  $(1,972,668)  $(2,440,353)
           
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted  $(0.005)  $(0.006)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted   400,000,000    400,000,000 

 

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

 

F-4
 

 

KIWA BIO-TECH PRODUCTS GROUP CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY

 

   Kiwa Stockholders         
   Common Stock     Additional
Paid-in
    Accumulated
    Other
 Comprehensive 
    Non-controlling       
    Shares      Amount     Capital       Deficits      Deficiency    interest       Total 
Balance, December 31, 2009   400,000,000   $400,000   $8,093,337   $(16,394,930)  $(30,824)  $-   $(7,932,417)
Net loss   -    -    -    (2,275,783)   -    -    (2,275,783)
Foreign currency translation adjustment   -    -    -    -    (164,570)   -    (164,570)
Balance, December 31, 2010   400,000,000   $400,000   $8,093,337   $(18,670,713)  $(195,394)  $-   $(10,372,770)
Net loss    -    -    -   $(1,691,319)   -    -   $(1,691,319)
Foreign currency translation adjustment   -    -    -    -   $(281,349)     $(281,349)
Balance, December 31, 2011   400,000,000   $400,000   $8,093,337   $(20,362,032)  $(476,743)  $-   $(12,345,438)

 

  

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

 

F-5
 

 

KIWA BIO-TECH PRODUCTS GROUP CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2011   2010 
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net loss  $(1,691,319)  $(2,275,783)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   6,771    27,228 
Impairment loss on long-lived assets   -    219,118 
Provision for doubtful accounts receivables   -    2,442 
Provision for penalty payable   547,835    491,038 
(Gain)/Loss on disposal of inventory   -    42,721 
Interest payable on convertible notes   243,416    229,984 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Inventories   -    (35,934)
Deposit and other receivables   50,144    61,146 
Accounts payable   (26,404)   (4,290)
Salary payable   180,186    208,344 
Taxes payable   68,353    75,971 
Due to related parties-trade   110,473    59,089 
Other payable   10,738   (84,354)
Net cash used in operating activities   (499,807)   (983,280)
           
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Purchase of property and equipment   -    (424)
Net cash used in investing activities   -    (424)
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Proceeds from related parties   5,824,484    1,338,637 
Repayment to related parties   (5,375,604)   (259,902)
Repayment of long-term borrowings   -    (7,737)
Net cash provided by financing activities   448,880    1,070,998 
           
Effect of exchange rate change   34,418    (83,243)
           
Cash and cash equivalents:              
Net (decrease)/increase   (16,509)   4,051 
Balance at beginning of year   32,816    28,765 
Balance at end of year  $16,307   $32,816 
           
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash flow Information:          
Cash paid for interest  $-   $540 
Cash paid for income taxes  $-   $- 

 

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

 

F-6
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1.Description of Business and Organization

 

Organization – Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation (“the Company”) is the result of a share exchange transaction accomplished on March 12, 2004 between the shareholders of Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Ltd. (“Kiwa BVI”), a company originally organized under the laws of the British Virgin Islands on June 5, 2002 and Tintic Gold Mining Company (“Tintic”), a corporation originally incorporated in the state of Utah on June 14, 1933 to perform mining operations in Utah. The share exchange resulted in a change of control of Tintic, with former Kiwa BVI stockholders owning approximately 89% of Tintic on a fully diluted basis and Kiwa BVI surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tintic. Subsequent to the share exchange transaction, Tintic changed its name to Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation. On July 21, 2004, the Company completed its reincorporation in the State of Delaware.

 

The Company has established two subsidiaries in China: (1) Kiwa Bio-Tech Products (Shandong) Co., Ltd. (“Kiwa Shandong”) in 2002 and (2) Tianjin Kiwa Feed Co., Ltd. (“Kiwa Tianjin”) in July 2006.  The following chart summarizes the Company’s organizational and ownership structure.

 

 

Business – The Company’s business plan is to develop, manufacture, distribute and market innovative, cost-effective and environmentally safe bio-technological products for agriculture markets located primarily in China. The Company has acquired technologies to produce and market bio-fertilizer. 

 

2.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 

 

Principle of Consolidation - These consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Kiwa BVI and Kiwa Bio-Tech Products (Shandong) Co., Ltd. (“Kiwa Shandong”), and also its majority-owned subsidiary, Tianjin Kiwa Feed Co., Ltd. (“Kiwa Tianjin”).  All significant inter-company balances or transactions are eliminated on consolidation.

 

Certain amounts included in the 2010 financial statement have been reclassified to conform to the 2011 financial statement presentation as follows:

 

(1)The expenses associated with obsolete inventory of $42,721 was classified in other expenses, separate from operating loss in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Loss for fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, which was included in 2010 annual reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2011. Given that decisions about the timing, method, and pricing of dispositions of inventory generally are considered to be normal, recurring activities integral to the management of the ongoing business, the Company has reclassified these amounts as a component of cost of sales. As a result, the gross profit of fiscal 2010 has changed from $33,255 to gross loss of $9,466.
(2)The consulting and professional fees of $180,871, officers’ compensation expense of $151,435 and depreciation and amortization expense of $27,228 were presented separately in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Loss for fiscal year December 31, 2010, which was included in 2010 annual reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2011. The Company has reclassified these amounts as components of general and administrative fees. After such reclassification, the general and administrative fees for 2010 increased to $1,622,603.

 

F-7
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(3)The impairment of long-lived assets of $219,118 was classified into other expenses, separate from operation loss in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Loss for fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, which was included in 2010 annual reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2011. The Company has reclassified these amounts as components of operation loss. As a result of such reclassification and the reclassified mentioned above, the loss from operations has changed from $1,775,944 to $2,037,783.

 

Basis of Preparation - Use of Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Significant accounting estimates include the bad debt provision, impairment of inventory and long-lived assets, depreciation and amortization of long-lived assets and fair value of warrants and options.

 

Certain of our estimates, including evaluating the collectability of accounts receivable and the fair market value of long-lived assets, could be affected by external conditions, including those unique to our industry, and general economic conditions. It is possible that these external factors could have an effect on our estimates that could cause actual results to differ from our estimates. We re-evaluate all of our accounting estimates annually based on these conditions and record adjustments when necessary.

 

Cash - Cash includes cash in hand and cash in time deposits, certificates of deposits and all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less.

 

The Company maintains cash with financial institutions in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) which are not insured or otherwise protected. Should any of these institutions holding the Company’s cash become insolvent, or if the Company is unable to withdraw funds for any reason, the Company could lose the cash on deposit with that institution.

 

Accounts Receivables - Accounts receivables represent customer accounts receivables. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on a combination of current sales, historical chargeoffs and specific accounts identified as high risk. Uncollectible accounts receivable are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts when all reasonable efforts to collect the amounts due have been exhausted. Such allowances, if any, would be recorded in the period the impairment is identified.

 

The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts when amounts are not considered fully collectable.  According to the Company’s credit policy, the Company generally provides a 100% bad debt provision for the amounts outstanding over 365 days after the deduction of the amount subsequently settled after the balance sheet date, which management believes is consistent with industry practice in the China region.

 

Inventories - Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined on the weighted average method, and net realizable value.  Work in progress and finished goods are composed of direct material, direct labor and a portion of manufacturing overhead.  Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less estimated costs to complete and dispose.

 

Property, plant and equipment - Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, if any. Gains or losses on disposals are reflected as gain or loss in the year of disposal. The cost of improvements that extend the life of property, plant and equipment are capitalized. These capitalized costs may include structural improvements, equipment and fixtures. All ordinary repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation for financial reporting purposes is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

 

   Useful Life 
   (In years) 
Buildings  30 - 35 
Machinery and equipment  5 - 10 
Automobiles  8 
Office equipment  2 - 5 
Computer software  3 
      

F-8
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets - The Company’s long-lived assets consist of property, equipment and intangible assets.  The Company evaluates its investment in long-lived assets, including property and equipment, for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the net carrying amount may not be recoverable.  Judgments regarding potential impairment are based on legal factors, market conditions and operational performance indicators, among others.  In assessing the impairment of property and equipment, the Company makes assumptions regarding the estimated future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of the respective assets.

 

Based on our analysis, the Company charged $nil and $219,118 as loss from impairment of long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

Fair value of warrants and options - The Company adopted ASC Topic 815, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” to recognize warrants relating to loans and warrants issued to consultants as compensation as derivative instruments in our consolidated financial statements.  The Company also adopted ASC Topic 718, “Share Based Payment” to recognize options granted to employees as derivative instruments in our consolidated financial statements.  The Company calculates the fair value of the warrants and options using the Black-Scholes Model.

 

Revenue Recognition – The Company recognizes revenue for our products in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition.” Sales represent the invoiced value of goods, net of value added tax, supplied to customers. Sales are recognized upon delivery of goods to customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, and no other significant obligations of the Company exist and collectability is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the relevant criteria for revenue recognition are satisfied are recorded as advances from customers.

 

Shipping and Handling Costs - Substantially all costs of shipping and handling of products to customers are included in selling. Shipping and handling costs for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 were $nil and $924, respectively.

 

Income Taxes - The Company accounts for income taxes under the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 740, “Income Tax,” which requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequence attributable to the difference between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rate expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company establishes a valuation when it is more likely than not that the assets will not be recovered.

 

ASC Topic 740.10.30 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. ASC Topic 740.10.40 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. We have no material uncertain tax positions for any of the reporting periods presented.

 

Foreign Currency Translation and Other Comprehensive Income - The Company uses United States dollars (“US Dollar” or “US$” or “$”) for financial reporting purposes. However, the Company maintains the books and records in its functional currency, Chinese Renminbi (“RMB”), being the primary currency of the economic environment in which its operations are conducted. In general, the Company translates its assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars using the applicable exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date, and the statement of income and the statement of cash flow are translated at average exchange rates during the reporting period. Equity accounts are translated at historical rates. Adjustments resulting from the translation of the Company’s financial statements are recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income.

 

F-9
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 represented foreign currency translation adjustments and were included in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

 

The exchange rates used to translate amounts in RMB into U.S. Dollars for the purposes of preparing the consolidated financial statements were as follows:

 

   As of December 31, 
   2010   2011 
Balance sheet items, except for equity accounts   6.6227    6.3364 

 

   Year ended December 31, 
   2010   2011 
Items in the statements of income   6.7695    6.4653 

 

Advertising Costs - The Company charges all advertising costs to expense as incurred.  The total amounts of advertising costs charged to selling, general and administrative expense were $nil and $770 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

Research and Development Costs - Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred.  During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, research and development costs were $166,716 and $182,970, respectively.

 

Net Loss Per Common Share - Basic loss per common share is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to Kiwa stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per common share includes dilutive effect of dilutive securities (stock options, warrants, convertible debt, stock subscription and other stock commitments issuable). These potentially dilutive securities were not included in the calculation of loss per share for the periods presented because the Company incurred a loss during such periods and thus the effect would have been anti-dilutive. Accordingly, basic and diluted loss per common share is the same for all periods presented. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, potentially dilutive securities aggregated 9,228,310,626 and 1,313,837,238 shares of common stock, respectively.

 

Fair value measurements

 

ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures, defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. This topic also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires classification based on observable and unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

 

Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2 - Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

 

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

 

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and payables, and short-term debts approximate their fair values due to their short maturities.

 

There were no assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

F-10
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Recent accounting pronouncements adopted

 

In April 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-02, Receivables (Topic 310), A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring Is a Trouble Debt Restructuring. Under the amendments of this ASU, in evaluating whether a restructuring constitutes a troubled debt restructuring, a creditor must separately conclude that both of the following exist: 1) the restructuring constitutes a concession; 2) the debtor is experiencing financial difficulties. The amendments also clarify the guidance on a creditor’s evaluation of whether it has granted a concession and on a creditor’s evaluation of whether a debtor is experiencing financial difficulties. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after June 15, 2011. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. Under the amendments of this ASU will result in common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. Consequently, the amendments change the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. This ASU is effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU.

 

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), Presentation of Comprehensive Income. Under the amendments of this ASU, an entity has the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In both choices, an entity is required to present each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income. In a single continuous statement, the entity is required to present the components of net income and total net income, the components of other comprehensive income and a total for other comprehensive income, along with the total of comprehensive income in that statement. In the two-statement approach, an entity is required to present components of net income and total net income in the statement of net income. The statement of other comprehensive income should immediately follow the statement of net income and include the components of other comprehensive income and a total for other comprehensive income, along with a total for comprehensive income. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU.

 

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Intangible – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), Testing Goodwill for Impairment. Under the amendments of this ASU, an entity has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, an entity determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, then it is required to perform the first step of the two-step impairment test by calculating the fair value of the reporting unit and comparing the fair value with the carrying amount of the reporting unit, as described in paragraph 350-20-35-4. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, then the entity is required to perform the second step of the goodwill impairment test to measure the amount of the impairment loss, if any, as described in paragraph 350-20-35-9. Under the amendments in this Update, an entity has the option to bypass the qualitative assessment for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to performing the first step of the two-step goodwill impairment test. An entity may resume performing the qualitative assessment in any subsequent period. This ASU is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption of this ASU.

 

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

 

F-11
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

3.Going Concern

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Company’s current liabilities substantially exceeded its current assets by $10,550,849. The Company had no sales during the year ended December 31, 2011, had an accumulated deficit of 20,362,032 and stockholders’ deficiency of 12,945,438. These circumstances, among others, raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. The financial statements also do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts, or amounts and classifications of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

4.Property, Plant and Equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment, net consisted of the following:

 

   December 31, 
  2011   2010 
Property, Plant and Equipment         
Buildings  $1,339,622   $1,281,711 
Machinery and equipment   609,660    583,304 
Automobiles   87,791    83,994 
Office equipment   107,317    102,670 
Computer software   22,830    21,842 
Property, plant and equipment - total  $2,167,220   $2,073,521 
Less: accumulated depreciation   (763,319)   (723,836)
Less: impairment on long-lived assets   (1,383,579)   (1,323,763)
Property, plant and equipment - net  $20,322   $25,922 

 

The building is on a piece of land the use right of which was granted to Kiwa Bio-Tech Products (Shandong) Co., Ltd. by local government free for 10 years and then for another 20 years on a fee calculated according to Kiwa Shandong's net profit.  Since Kiwa Shandong did not generate any net profit, no fee is payable.

 

Depreciation expense was $6,771 and $27,228 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

Impairment on long-lived assets was $nil and $219,118 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

All of our property, plant and equipment have been held as collateral to secure the 6% Notes (see Note 8). 

 

5.Construction Costs Payable

 

Construction costs payable represents remaining amounts to be paid for the first phase of construction of bio-fertilizer facility in Shandong.  The balance of construction costs payable as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $280,172 and $268,060, respectively. 

 

6.Related Party Transactions 

 

Amounts due to related parties consisted of the following as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

 

F-12
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Item  Nature   Notes   December 31, 
           2011   2010 
Mr. Wei Li ("Mr. Li")  Non-trade    (1)   $3,203,190   $2,710,605 
Kangtai International Logistics (Beijing) Co., Ltd.  ("Kangtai")  Non-trade    (2)    (12,792)   (46,863)
Ms. Yvonne Wang ("Ms. Wang")  Non-trade    (3)    324,500    234,500 
Subtotal           3,514,898    2,898,242 
                    
Kiwa-CAU R&D Center  Trade    (4)    552,364    422,788 
Subtotal            552,364    422,788 
Total           $4,067,262   $3,321,030 
                     

(1) Mr. Li

Mr. Li is the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

 

Advances and Loans

As of December 31, 2010, the balance due to Mr. Li for advances made was $2,710,605.  During the year ended December 31, 2011, Mr. Li advanced an additional $5,736,534 to the Company and was repaid $5,247,504.  As of December 31, 2011, the balance due to Mr. Li was $3,203,190.  Mr. Li has agreed that the Company may repay the balance when its cash flow circumstance allows.

 

Motor Vehicle Lease

In December 2004, the Company entered into an agreement with Mr. Li, pursuant to which Mr. Li leases to the Company a motor vehicle. The monthly rental payment is RMB15,000 (approximately $2,293). The Company and Mr. Li have agreed to terminate this contract at the end of June 2011.

 

Guarantees for the Company

Mr. Li has pledged without any compensation from the Company all of his common stock of the Company as collateral for the Company’s obligations under the 6% Notes (see Note 8 below).

 

(2) Kangtai

Kangtai, formerly named China Star Investment Management Co., Ltd., Kangtai International Logistics (Beijing) Co., Ltd., is a private company, 28% owned by Mr. Li. Mr. Li is the Chairman of Kangtai.

 

On December 31, 2010, the amount due from Kangtai was $46,863.  The balance due from Kangtai on December 31, 2011 was $12,792.

 

(3) Ms. Wang

Ms. Wang is the Secretary of the Company.

 

On December 31, 2010, the amount due to Ms. Wang was $234,500. Pursuant to a letter of commitment dated December 31, 2010, during the year ended December 31, 2011, Ms. Wang advanced $90,000 to the Company. As of December 31, 2011, the amount due to Ms. Wang was $324,500. Ms. Wang has agreed that the Company may repay the balance when its cash flow circumstance allows.

 

(4) Kiwa-CAU R&D Center

In November 2006, Kiwa and China Agricultural University (the “CAU”) agreed to jointly establish a new research and development center, named Kiwa-CAU R&D Center.  The term of the agreement was ten years commencing July 1, 2006.

 

  · Pursuant to the agreement, Kiwa agree to invest RMB 1 million (approximately $157,818) each year to fund research at Kiwa-CAU R&D Center.  Prof. Qi Wang, a director of the Company, is also the director of Kiwa-CAU R&D Center.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, $166,716 and $182,970 was charged to research and development expenses under the agreement with Kiwa-CAU R&D Center. The Company paid $111,666 and $47,345 to Kiwa-CAU R&D Center in the year 2010 and 2011, respectively.

 

F-13
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

7.Unsecured Loans Payable

 

The balance of unsecured loans payable was $1,814,911 and $1,736,452 as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  The change in the balances at December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2010 arose from the effect of changes in the exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet dates.  Unsecured loans payable consisted of the following as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

 

   December 31, 
Item  2011   2010 
Unsecured loan payable to Zoucheng Municipal Government, non-interest bearing, becoming due within three years from Kiwa Shandong’s first profitable year on a formula basis, interest has not been imputed due to the undeterminable repayment date  $1,420,365   $1,358,962 
Unsecured loan payable to Zoucheng Science & Technology Bureau, non-interest bearing, it is due in Kiwa Shandong’s first profitable year, interest has not been imputed due to the undeterminable repayment date   394,546    377,490 
Total  $1,814,911   $1,736,452 

 

The Company qualifies for non-interest bearing loans under a Chinese government sponsored program to encourage economic development in certain industries and locations in China.  To qualify for the favorable loan terms, a company must meet the following criteria: (1) be a technology company with innovative technology or product (as determined by the Science Bureau of the central Chinese government); (2) operate in specific industries that the Chinese government has determined are important to encourage development, such as agriculture, environmental, education, and others; and (3) be located in an undeveloped area such as Zoucheng, Shandong Province, where the manufacturing facility of the Company is located.

 

According to the Company’s project agreement, Zoucheng Municipal Government granted the Company use of at least 15.7 acres in Shandong Province, China at no cost for 10 years to construct a manufacturing facility.  Under the agreement, the Company has the option to pay a fee of RMB480,000 ($75,753) per acre for the land use right after the 10-year period which expires in May 2012.  The Company may not transfer or pledge the temporary land use right.  The Company also committed to invest approximately $18 million to $24 million for developing the manufacturing and research facilities in Zoucheng, Shandong Province.  As of December 31, 2011, the Company invested approximately $2 million for the property, plant and equipment of the project and these assets were impaired as of December 31, 2011.

 

8.Convertible Notes Payable 

 

On June 29, 2006, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with six institutional investors (collectively, the “Purchasers”) for the issuance and sale of (1) 6% secured convertible notes, due three years from the date of issuance, in the aggregate principal amount of $2,450,000 (the “6% Notes”), convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, and (2) warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase 12,250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

In conjunction with the sale and issuance of the 6% Notes, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, amended in October 2006, the requirements of which the Company met by filing its registration statement on Form SB-2 on August 11, 2006 and subsequently amended on October 20, 2006 and June 29, 2007.

 

Closings for the sale of the 6% Notes occurred on June 29, August 15 and October 31, 2006 for $857,500, $735,000 and $857,500 principal amount, respectively. The Company received $2,450,000 in aggregate from the three sales of the 6% Notes.

 

F-14
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The conversion price of the 6% Notes is based on a 40% discount to the average of the trading price of the Company’s common stock on the OTC Bulletin Board over a 20-day trading period. The conversion price is also adjusted for certain subsequent issuances of equity securities of the Company at prices below the conversion price then in effect. The 6% Notes contain a volume limitation that prohibits the holder from further converting the 6% Notes if doing so would cause the holder and its affiliates to hold more than 4.99% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. In addition, each holder of the 6% Notes agrees that they may not convert more than their pro-rata share (based on original principal amount) of the greater of $120,000 principal amount of the 6% Notes per calendar month or the average daily dollar volume calculated during the 10 business days prior to a conversion, per conversion. This conversion limit has since been eliminated pursuant to an agreement by the Company and the Purchasers (see discussion below).

 

The exercise price of the Warrants is $0.45 per share, subject to anti-dilution adjustments pursuant to a broad-based weighted average formula for subsequent issues of equity securities by the Company below the trading price of the shares. The Purchase Agreement requires the Company to maintain a reserve of authorized common stock equal to 110% of the number of shares issuable upon full conversion of the 6% Notes and exercise of the Warrants. The Purchase Agreement imposes financial penalties in cash (equal to 2% of the number of shares that the Purchaser is entitled to multiplied by the market price for each day) if the authorized number of shares of common stock is insufficient to satisfy the reserve requirements. The 6% Notes and the Warrants also impose financial penalties on the Company if it fails to timely deliver common stock upon conversion of the 6% Notes and exercise of the Warrants, respectively.

 

To enable reservation of a sufficient amount of authorized shares that may be issued pursuant to conversion of the 6% Notes and exercise of the Warrants, the Purchase Agreement required the Company to amend its Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock. At the annual meeting for 2006, which was held on September 12, 2006, a proposal to amend the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock, from 100,000,000 shares to 200,000,000 shares was approved by the required vote of its stockholders. At the annual meeting held for 2008 on December 30, 2008 the Company further amended its Certificate of Incorporation by increasing the number of authorized shares of common stock from 200,000,000 to 400,000,000. At the annual meeting for 2009, which was held on December 28, 2009, the proposal of further amend the Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares from 400,000,000 to 800,000,000 was not approved by stockholders. At the annual meeting for 2010, which was held on December 15, 2010, the proposal of further amend the Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares from 400,000,000 to 800,000,000 was not approved by stockholders.

 

The Company incurs a financial penalty in cash or shares at the option of the Company (equal to 2% of the outstanding amount of the Notes per month plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes, prorated for partial months) if it breaches this or other affirmative covenants in the Purchase Agreement, including a covenant to maintain a sufficient number of authorized shares under its Certificate of Incorporation to cover at least 110% of the stock issuable upon full conversion of the Notes and the Warrants. Pursuant to the relevant provisions for liquidated damages in the Purchase Agreement, as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company has accrued a penalty of $1,634,150 and $1,086,315 respectively, of which $547,835 and $491,038 was included in general and administrative expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

The 6% Notes require the Company to procure the Purchaser’s consent prior to taking certain actions including the payment of dividends, repurchasing stock, incurring debt, guaranteeing obligations, merging or restructuring the Company, or selling significant assets.

 

The Company’s obligations under the 6% Notes and the Warrants are secured by a first priority security interest in the Company’s intellectual property pursuant to an Intellectual Property Security Agreement with the Purchasers, and by a first priority security interest in all of the Company’s other assets pursuant to a Security Agreement with the Purchasers. In addition, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer has pledged all of his common stock of the Company as collateral for the Company’s obligations under the 6% Notes and the Warrants. The Purchasers are accredited investors as defined under the Securities Act and the 6% Notes and the Warrants and the underlying common stock upon conversion and exercise will be issued without registration under the Securities Act in reliance on the exemption provided by Rule 506 under Regulation D under the Securities Act. The intellectual property pledged had a cost of $592,901 which carrying value of $179,897 was fully impaired during the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

F-15
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The fair value of the Warrants underlying the three sales of the 6% Notes (amounting to 4,287,500 shares, 3,675,000 shares and 4,287,500 shares respectively) at the time of their issuance was determined to be $545,477, $416,976 and $505,503 calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value was recorded as a reduction to the 6% Notes payable and was charged to operations as interest expense in accordance with effective interest method within the period of the 6% Notes. Significant assumptions used in calculating fair value of outstanding warrants are as follows.

 

Black and Scholes Model
Assumption
  Details of Outstanding Warrants
Expected
dividend
  Expected
volatility
   Risk-
free
rate of
interest
   Expected
term
(year)
  Exercise
price
   Underlying
Number of
shares
   Closing
price
December
31, 2011
   Fair value of
warrants/options
determined by
Black and 
Scholes model
 
-   71%   0.31%  1.5  $0.45    12,250,000   $0.0003     - 

 

The expected volatility was determined based on the historic quoted market price of the common stock over the last 12 months. Risk free interest rate was determined based on the quoted US treasury rate under the same expected term with each corresponding financial instrument. Based on the calculation, the fair value of outstanding warrants was zero.

 

The Purchasers of the 6% Notes and Warrants were introduced to the Company by an investment bank pursuant to an engagement letter agreement with the Company. Pursuant to the engagement letter, the investment bank received a cash fee equal to 8% of the aggregate proceeds raised in the financing and to warrants in the quantity equal to 8% of the securities issued in the financing. The Company recorded the cash fee and other direct costs incurred for the issuance of the convertible loan in aggregate of $30,000 as deferred debt issuance costs. Debt issuance costs were amortized on the straight-line method over the term of the 6% Notes, with the amounts amortized being recognized as interest expense. As of June 30, 2009 the debt issuance costs were fully amortized.

 

The warrants issued to the investment bank in connection with each tranche of the 6% Notes (amounting to 343,000 shares, 294,000 shares and 343,000 shares) are exercisable for three years and have an exercise price equal to $0.2598. The fair value of these warrants at the time of their issuance was determined to be $94,005, $60,324 and $77,214 calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option pricing model. As of June 29, 2009, warrants issued to the investment bank had expired.

 

On January 31, 2008, the Company entered into three Callable Secured Convertible Notes Agreements (“2% Notes”) with four of the Company’s 6% Notes purchasers converting their unpaid interest of $112,917 in total, into principal with an interest rate of 2% per annum, which fell due on January 31, 2011. Other terms of the 2% Notes are similar to the 6% Notes. No principal of the 2% Notes has been converted so far. The outstanding principal balance on the 2% Notes was $112,917 as of December 31, 2011.

 

On September 25 and October 7, 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with the Purchasers to redeem all of the 6% Notes and the 2% Notes. Under the redemption agreement, the Purchasers agreed to waive their participation right with respect to any new financing that closes before October 31, 2008, and suspend conversions of principal and interest under the 6% Notes and the 2% Notes from September 25 to October 31, 2008. The Company agreed to redeem the notes for a specified price if a new financing was completed before October 31, 2008. Under the redemption agreement, if the Company failed to redeem the notes by October 31, 2008, the 6% Notes and the 2% Notes would be automatically amended to remove limitations on the Purchasers’ right to convert under the 6% Notes and the 2% Notes no more than (1) $120,000 per calendar month; and (2) the average daily dollar volume calculated during the ten (10) business days prior to a conversion, per conversion.

 

F-16
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

On October 27, 2008, the Company had informed the Purchasers that the Company would not be able to redeem the 6% Notes and the 2% Notes due to failure to close an anticipated new financing. Therefore, the amendment to the 6% Notes and the 2% Notes took effect and the Purchasers resumed conversion.

 

On June 29, 2009, the 6% Notes were due. The Company informed the Purchasers of its inability to repay the outstanding balance on the due date. Therefore, the 6% Notes are in default and the default interest rate of 15% per annum is being charged on the 6% Notes.

 

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2011, the Purchasers converted nil principal and nil interest into shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2011, the face amount of the 6% Notes outstanding was $1,518,171.

 

During twelve months ended December 31, 2011, interest of $227,726 and $15,691 was accrued on the 6% Notes and the 2% Notes, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2010, interest of $227,726 and $2,258 was accrued on the 6% Notes and the 2% Notes, respectively.

 

Unpaid interest of $764,229 and $520,813 was included in other payable on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

On January 31, 2011, the 2% Notes were also due. The Company informed the Purchasers of its inability to repay the outstanding balance on the due date. Therefore, the 2% Notes are in default and the default interest rate of 15% per annum is being charged on the 2% Notes. 

 

9.Stock-based Compensation 

 

Summary of options issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 2010 and the movements during the years then ended are as follows:

 

F-17
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

    Number of
underlying
shares
  

Weighted- 

Average 

Exercise Price

 Per Share

  

Aggregate

 Intrinsic 

Value (1)

  

Weighted- Average 

Contractual Life 

Remaining in Years

 
                  
Outstanding at December 31, 2009    1,232,600   $0.175   $-    8 
Exercised    -    -         - 
Expired    -    -         - 
Forfeited    -              - 
Outstanding at December 31, 2010    1,232,600   $0.175   $-    7 
Exercised    -    -           
Expired    -    -         - 
Forfeited    -    -         - 
Outstanding at December 31, 2011    1,232,600   $0.175   $-    6 
Exercisable at December 31, 2011    1,232,600   $0.175   $-    6 
                       

(1) The market value of the Company’s common stock at December 31, 2011 was $0.0003 per share. The outstanding options had no intrinsic value at December 31, 2011.

 

The Company has adopted ASC Topic 718 effective as of January 1, 2006.  The fair value of the options granted at the grant date was determined to be $320,154 (approximately $0.16 per share), calculated pursuant to the Black-Scholes option pricing model.  The calculated fair value is recognized as expense over the applicable vesting periods, using the straight-line attribution method.  Unamortized fair value of stock options granted to those who separated from the Company has been charged to expense, while the options returned to the Company.  During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, $nil was charged to expense. 

 

10.Income Tax 

 

In accordance with the current tax laws in China, Kiwa Shandong and Kiwa Tianjin would normally be subject to a corporate income tax rate of 25% on its taxable income. However, after the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the PRC promulgated on March 16, 2007 took effect on January 1, 2008, Kiwa Shandong and Kiwa Tianjin have continued to be entitled to a preferential tax treatment: an EIT holiday for the two years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009 and a 50% reduction on the EIT rate for the three years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Fiscal years 2008 and 2009 will be regarded as the first and second profitable years for determining eligibility of these benefits even if Kiwa Shandong or Kiwa Tianjin have not been profitable in 2008 or 2009. Kiwa Shandong and Kiwa Tianjin have not provided for any corporate income taxes since they had no taxable income for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

No provision for other overseas taxes is made as the Company has no taxable income in the U.S.

 

In accordance with the relevant tax laws in the British Virgin Islands, Kiwa BVI, as an International Business Company, is exempt from income taxes.

 

A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes determined at the local income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate is as follows:

 

   Year ended December 31, 
   2011   2010 
         
Pre-tax loss  $(1,691,319)  $(2,275,783)
           
U.S. federal corporate income tax rate   34%   34%
Income tax computed at U.S. federal corporate income tax rate   575,048    773,766 
Reconciling items:          
Rate differential for PRC earnings   (51,608)   (106,034)
Loss not recognized as deferred tax assets   (477,945)   (609,645)
Non-deductible expenses and non-reportable income   (45,495)   (58,087)
Effective tax expense  $-   $- 

 

F-18
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The Company had deferred tax assets as follows:

   December 31
2011
   December 31
2010
 
         
Net operating losses carried forward  $5,314,283   $5,327,606 
Less: Valuation allowance   (5,314,283)   (5,327,606)
           
Net deferred tax assets  $-   $- 

 

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had approximately $17,500,000 and $17,880,000, net operating loss carryforwards available to reduce future taxable income, respectively.  Net operating loss of the Company could be carried forward and taken against any taxable income for a period of not more than twenty years from the year of the initial loss pursuant to Section 172 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The net operating loss of Kiwa Shandong and Kiwa Tianjin could be carried forward for a period of not more than five years from the year of the initial loss pursuant to relevant PRC tax laws and regulations. It is more-likely-than-not that the deferred tax assets cannot be utilized in the future because there will not be significant future earnings from the entity which generated the net operating loss. Therefore, the Company recorded a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets.

 

As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company has no material unrecognized tax benefits which would favorably affect the effective income tax rate in future periods and does not believe that there will be any significant increases or decreases of unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months. No interest or penalties relating to income tax matters have been imposed on the Company during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, and no provision for interest and penalties is deemed necessary as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

According to the PRC Tax Administration and Collection Law, the statute of limitations is three years if the underpayment of taxes is due to computational errors made by the taxpayer or its withholding agent. The statute of limitations extends to five years under special circumstances, which are not clearly defined. In the case of a related party transaction, the statute of limitation is ten years. There is no statute of limitation in the case of tax evasion. 

 

11.Concentration

 

A single customer accounted for 0% and 79.9% of our net sales for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

12.Commitments and Contingencies 

 

The Company has the following material contractual obligations:

 

 (1) Operating lease commitments

 

The Company leased an office in Beijing on July 15, 2007. The operating lease agreement will expire on January 14, 2012. The monthly rental payment for the office is RMB 80,324 (approximately $12,000). Rent expense under the operating lease for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $105,247 and $159,574, respectively. Although the operating lease agreement expires by its term on January 14, 2012, the parties elected to terminate the lease on June 30, 2011.

 

On June 30, 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with Kangtai pursuant to which Kangtai will sublease a portion of its offices to the Company for a monthly rental of $1,000. The sublease expires on June 30, 2012.

 

The Company’s commitments for minimum lease payments under the operating lease for the next five years and thereafter as of December 31, 2011 are as follows:

 

Fiscal Year   Amount 
 2012   $6,000 
 Total   $6,000 

 

F-19
 

 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

(2) Operation of Kiwa-CAU R&D Center

 

Pursuant to the agreement on joint incorporation of the research and development center between CAU and Kiwa Shandong dated November 14, 2006, Kiwa Shandong agrees to invest RMB1 million (approximately $157,818) each year to fund research at the R&D Center.  The term of this agreement is ten years starting from July 1, 2006.  Prof. Qi Wang, who became one of our directors in July 2007, has acted as the Director of Kiwa-CAU R&D Center since July 2006.

 

(3) Investment in manufacturing and research facilities in Zoucheng, Shandong Province in China

 

According to the Project Agreement with Zoucheng Municipal Government in 2002, we have committed to investing approximately $18 million to $24 million for developing the manufacturing and research facilities in Zoucheng, Shandong Province. As of December 31, 2011, we had invested approximately $1.91 million for the project.  

 

13.Discontinued Operation 

 

The consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2011 and 2010 reflected the assets and liabilities of the bio-enhanced feed business segment as a discontinued operation.  The following table summarizes the assets and liabilities of the discontinued operation, excluding intercompany balances eliminated in consolidation, at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively:

 

   December 31, 
  2011   2010 
Assets        
Cash and cash equivalents  $416   $398 
Total assets  $416   $398 
           
Liabilities          
Due to related parties-trade  $34,515   $33,023 
Salary payable   79,191    75,767 
Total liabilities  $113,706   $108,790 

 

The income statement for the year ended December 31, 20110 and 2010 reflected the bio-enhanced feed business segment as a discontinued operation.  The following results of operations of the bio-enhanced feed business are presented as a loss from a discontinued operation in the consolidated statements of operations:

 

F-20
 

 

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  

   Year Ended December 31, 
    2011    2010 
Net sales  $-   $- 
Gross profit    -     - 
Operating expenses    -    - 
Operating loss    -    - 
Interest expense    -     - 
Impairment on long-lived assets    -     - 
Loss from discontinued operation    -     - 
Non-controlling interest    -     - 
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to Kiwa stockholders  $-   $- 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2009, Challenge Feed, the 20% minority shareholder of Kiwa Tianjin, without our prior permission, transferred titles to machinery, equipment and inventory of Kiwa Tianjin to its own creditors to settle its own debts.  On December 22, 2009, Kiwa Tianjin filed a lawsuit against Challenge Feed in the local court of Wuqing District, Tianjin, where Kiwa Tianjin is domiciled.  In the lawsuit, Kiwa Tianjin asserted that Challenge Feed unlawfully disposed of the assets held by Kiwa Tianjin.  The local court of Wuqing District ruled that the local court would not examine the lawsuit against Challenge Feed since Challenge Feed entered into bankruptcy proceedings and that all related matters would be solved during Challenge Feed’s bankruptcy proceedings.

 

On December 27, 2011, Challenge Feed’s bankruptcy administrator informed the Company the bankruptcy court had agreed on the Company’s request of repossessing machinery and equipment and Kiwa Tianjin’s bio-enhanced feed production lines that were positioned in Challenge Feed’s domicile before December 31, 2011. On February 9, 2012, the Company sold such machinery and equipment for $8,000.

 

F-21