Unassociated Document
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 10, 2011
Registration No. 333-174484
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 2
to
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
China Recycling Energy Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Nevada
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90-0093373
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
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12/F, Tower A
Chang An International Building
No. 88 Nan Guan Zheng Jie
Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province
China
+ 86-29-8769-1097
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
Guohua Ku, Chief Executive Officer
12/F, Tower A
Chang An International Building
No. 88 Nan Guan Zheng Jie
Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province
China
+ 86-29-8769-1097
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
Thomas Wardell, Esq.
Jeffrey Li, Esq.
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
303 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 5300
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
(404) 527-4000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
Large accelerated
filer ¨
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Accelerated
filer ¨
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Non-accelerated filer ¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting
company)
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Smaller reporting
company x
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Securities
To Be Registered
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Amount
To Be
Registered (1)
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Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share (1)
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Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price (1)
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Amount Of
Registration Fee (2)
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Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
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$ |
200,000,000 |
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N/A |
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$ |
200,000,000 |
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$ |
23,220 |
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TOTAL
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$ |
200,000,000 |
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N/A |
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$ |
200,000,000 |
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$ |
23,220 |
(3) |
(1)
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There are being registered under this Registration Statement an indeterminate number of shares of common stock of the Registrant with an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $200,000,000.
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(2)
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Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act.
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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 10, 2011
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
China Recycling Energy Corporation
$200,000,000
Common Stock
This prospectus relates to shares of China Recycling Energy Corporation common stock which may be offered and sold from time to time. The aggregate initial offering price of all common stock sold under this prospectus will not exceed $200,000,000. The common stock of China Recycling Energy Corporation is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “CREG.” As of November 1, 2011 the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $7.4 million based on 43,533,174 shares of outstanding common stock, of which 37,926,605 shares are held by affiliates, and a price of $1.32 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our common stock as quoted on NASDAQ Global Market on that date. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not offered any securities during the past twelve months pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3. You are urged to obtain current market quotations of the common stock.
Each time we sell shares of our common stock hereunder, we will attach a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the terms of the offering, including the price at which we are offering the shares to the public. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained or incorporated in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in shares of our common stock.
The shares of our common stock may be offered directly by us, through agents designated from time to time by us or to or through underwriters or dealers. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any of shares of our common stock, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the section entitled “About This Prospectus” for more information.
Investing in shares of our commons stock involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2 of this prospectus. In addition, see “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should carefully read and consider these risk factors before you invest in shares of our common stock.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is November 10, 2011.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
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THE COMPANY
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RISK FACTORS
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7
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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7
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USE OF PROCEEDS
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8
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
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8
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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
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8
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INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
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9
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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16
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LEGAL MATTERS
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EXPERTS
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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The distribution of this prospectus may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. You should inform yourself about and observe any of these restrictions. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this document are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this prospectus does not extend to you.
This prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered shares of our common stock to which they relate.
We have not authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about us that is different from, or in addition to, that contained in this prospectus, including in any of the materials that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, and any free writing prospectus prepared or authorized by us. Therefore, if anyone does give you information of this sort, you should not rely on it as authorized by us. You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.
You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus is delivered or securities are sold on a later date. Neither the delivery of this prospectus, nor any sale made hereunder, shall under any circumstances create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date hereof or that the information incorporated by reference herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such information.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell the shares of our common stock described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. The aggregate initial offering price of all the shares of our common stock sold under this prospectus will not exceed $200,000,000.
This prospectus provides certain general information about the shares of our common stock that we may offer hereunder. Each time we offer shares of our common stock hereunder, we will attach a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will contain the specific information about the terms of the offering. In each prospectus supplement, we will include the following information:
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the number of shares of common stock that we propose to sell;
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the public offering price per share of the common stock;
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the names of any underwriters, agents or dealers through or to which the shares of the common stock will be sold;
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any compensation of those underwriters, agents or dealers;
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any additional risk factors applicable to the shares of our common stock or our business and operations; and
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any other material information about the offering and sale of the shares of common stock.
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In addition, the prospectus supplement may also add, update or change the information contained or incorporated in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will supersede this prospectus to the extent it contains information that is different from, or that conflicts with, the information contained or incorporated in this prospectus. You should read and consider all information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement in making your investment decision. You should also read and consider the information contained in the documents identified under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “CREG,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” in this prospectus refer to China Recycling Energy Corporation, our subsidiaries and consolidated entities. “China” and the “PRC” refer to the People’s Republic of China , excluding, for the purposes of this prospectus, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan..
THE COMPANY
We currently engage in the recycling energy business, providing energy savings and recycling products and services. We are a leading developer of waste energy recycling projects for industrial applications in China, and we believe we are the only developer to use a Build-Operate-Transfer (“BOT”) model to provide energy saving and recovery facilities for multiple energy intensive industries. Our waste energy recycling projects allow customers who use substantial amounts of electricity to recapture previously wasted pressure, heat, and gas from their manufacturing processes to generate electricity. We currently offer waste energy recycling systems to companies for use in iron and steel, nonferrous metal, cement, coal and petrochemical plants. We construct our projects at our customer’s facility and the electricity produced is used on-site by the customer. While some of our competitors offer projects targeting one or two verticals, we serve multiple verticals.
We develop fully-customized projects across several verticals to better meet customer’s energy recovery needs. Our waste pressure-to-energy solution primarily consists of the Blast Furnace Top Gas Recovery Turbine Unit (“TRT”), a system that utilizes high pressure gas emitted from the blast furnace top to drive turbine units and generate electricity. Our waste heat-to-energy solution primarily consists of heat power generation projects for applications in cement, steel and nonferrous metal industries, which collect the residual heat from various manufacturing processes, e.g. the entrance and exit ends of the cement rotary kilns, to generate electricity. Our waste gas-to-energy solution primarily consists of the Waste Gas Power Generation system (“WGPG”) and the Combined Cycle Power Plant (the “CCPP”). A WGPG system utilizes flammable waste gas from coal mining, petroleum exploitation, refinery processing or other sources as a fuel source to generate electricity through the use of a gas turbine. A CCPP system employs more than one power generating cycle to utilize the waste gas, which not only generates electricity by burning the flammable waste gas in a gas turbine (as a WGPG) but also uses the waste heat from burning the gas to make steam to generate additional electricity via a steam turbine.
We provide a clean-technology and energy-efficient solution aimed at improving the air pollution and energy shortage problems in China. Our projects capture industrial waste energy to produce low-cost electricity, enabling industrial manufacturers to reduce their energy costs, lower their operating costs, extend the life of primary manufacturing equipment, and generate saleable emission credits under the Kyoto Protocol. Based on the differential between the cost to our customers of buying power from China’s national power grid and the cost to them of buying one of our projects, we believe our customers can recover the cost of our project within two to three years of operations. In addition, our waste energy recycling projects allow our industrial customers to reduce their reliance on China’s centralized national power grid, which is prone to black-outs or brown-outs or is completely inaccessible from certain remote areas. Our projects generally produce lower carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants, and are hence more environmentally-friendly than other forms of power generation.
Since 2007, we have primarily used the BOT model to serve our customers. For each project, we design, finance, construct and install the waste energy recycling projects for our customers, operate the projects for five to 20 years, and then transfer the projects to the owners. The BOT model creates a win-win solution for both our customers and us. We provide the capital expenditure financing in exchange for attractive returns on each project; our customers can focus their capital resources on their core businesses, do not need to invest additional capital to comply with government environmental regulations, reduce noise and emissions and reduce their energy costs. We in turn efficiently recapture our costs through the stream of lease payments.
Our current business is primarily conducted through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Sifang Holdings, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Huahong New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (“Huahong”) and Shanghai TCH, Shanghai TCH’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, Xi’an TCH Energy Technology Company, Ltd (“Xi’an TCH”) and Xingtai Huaxin Energy Tech Co., Ltd. (“Huaxin”), and Xi’an TCH’s subsidiary Erdos TCH Energy Saving Development Co., Ltd (“Erdos TCH”), in which 93% of the investment is from Xi’an TCH, a joint venture between Xi’an TCH and Erdos Metallurgy Co., Ltd. Shanghai TCH was established as a foreign investment enterprise in Shanghai under the laws of the PRC on May 25, 2004, currently with registered capital of $29.80 million. Xi’an TCH was incorporated in Xi’an, Shannxi Province under the laws of the PRC on November 8, 2007. Huaxin was incorporated in Xingtai, PRC in November 2007. Erdos TCH was incorporated in April 2009. Huahong was incorporated in February 2009.
Our Projects
We design, finance, construct, operate and eventually transfer waste energy recycling projects to meet the energy saving and recovery needs of our customers. Our waste energy recycling projects use the pressure, heat or gas, which is generated as a byproduct of a variety of industrial processes to create electricity. The residual energy from industrial processes, which was traditionally wasted, may be captured in a recovery process and utilized by our waste energy recycling projects to generate electricity without burning additional fuel and without additional emissions. Among a wide variety of waste-to-energy technologies and solutions, we primarily focus on waste pressure to energy systems, waste heat to energy systems and waste gas power generation systems. We do not manufacture the equipment and materials that are used in the construction of our waste energy recycling projects. Rather, we incorporate standard power generating equipment into a fully integrated onsite project for our customers.
Waste Pressure to Energy Systems
TRT is a power generating system utilizing the exhaust pressure and heat from industrial processes in the iron, steel, petrochemical, chemical and non-ferrous metals industries, often from blast furnace gases in the metal production industries. Without TRT power systems, blast furnace gas is treated by various de-pressurizing valves to decrease its pressure and temperature before the gas is transmitted to end users. No electricity is generated during the process and noise and heat pollution is released. In a TRT system, the blast furnace gas produced during the smelting process is directed through the system to decrease its pressure and temperature. The released pressure and heat is then utilized to drive the turbine unit to generate electricity, which is then transmitted back to the producer. We believe our projects are superior to those of our competitors due to the inclusion of advanced dry-type de-dusting technology, joined turbine systems, and automatic power grid synchronization. We invested and built three TRT projects in 2007 (one for Shanxi Zhangzhi Steel Group, and two for Hebei Xingtai Steel Group). In addition, we have one project currently under construction and scheduled to be completed in 2011 for Zhongbao, Binhai.
Shengda Energy Technology Ltd Co. Project
On March 15, 2011, the Company incorporated a new wholly owned subsidiary Pingshan Xi’an Shengda Energy Technology Ltd Co. (“Shengda”). Xi’an TCH contributed cash of $4,559,271(RMB 30,000,000) into Shengda as initial capital. Shengda was set up in order to undertake waste energy recycling projects from a steel and chemical company in Pingshan county as to a Recycling Economy Projects Cooperative Framework Agreement that has been developed by the parties but the final terms for the projects have not been reached and entered, and Shengda is not currently operational.
Hebei Xingtai Steel Group Project
On April 8, 2007, our Board of Directors approved and made effective a TRT Project Joint-Operation Agreement (“Joint-Operation Agreement”) which was conditionally entered into on February 1, 2007 between Shanghai TCH and Xi’an Yingfeng Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (“Yingfeng”). Under the Joint-Operation Agreement, Shanghai TCH and Yingfeng jointly pursued a project to design, construct, install and operate two TRT systems for Xingtai Iron and Steel Company, Ltd. (“Xingtai”). Shanghai TCH provided various forms of investments and properties into the project including cash, hardware, software, equipment, major components and devices. In return, Shanghai TCH obtained all the rights, titles, benefits and interests that Yingfeng originally had under the Project Contract, including but not limited to the regular cash payments made by Xingtai and other property rights and interests. On October 31, 2007, Shanghai TCH entered an asset-transfer agreement with Yingfeng to transfer from Yingfeng to Shanghai TCH all electricity-generating related assets owned by Yingfeng. According to the transferred contracts, Shanghai TCH installed and owns two TRT systems and leases them to Xingtai for five years, from January 25, 2007 to January 25, 2012. During the lease, Xingtai will pay Shanghai TCH monthly rent of RMB 0.9 million ($0.13 million) to use the systems. Assuming all amounts due under the lease have been paid, Shanghai TCH will transfer the title of the systems to Xingtai free of charge.
Shanxi Zhangzhi Steel Group Project
Under the Joint-Operation Agreement discussed above, Shanghai TCH and Yingfeng also jointly pursued a project contract, which was entered into between Yingfeng and Zhangzhi Iron and Steel Company, Ltd. (“Zhangzhi”) on June 22, 2006, to design, construct, install and operate a TRT system for Zhangzhi Iron. Shanghai TCH provided various forms of investments and properties into the project including cash, hardware, software, equipment, major components and devices. In return, Shanghai TCH obtained all the rights, titles, benefits and interests that Yingfeng originally had under the Project Contract, including but not limited to the regular cash payments made by Xingtai and other property rights and interests. On October 31, 2007, Shanghai TCH acquired this contract as part of its asset-transfer agreement with Yingfeng as discussed above. According to the transferred contracts, Shanghai TCH installed and owns a TRT system and leases it to Zhangzhi for 13 years, from July 25, 2007 to July 25, 2020. During the lease term, Zhangzhi will pay Shanghai TCH a monthly rent of RMB 1.1 million ($0.16 million). After the term is over and all due rents are paid, Shanghai TCH will transfer the title of the system to Zhangzhi free of charge.
Waste Heat to Energy Systems
Waste heat to energy systems utilize waste heat generated in industrial production to generate electricity. The waste heat is trapped to heat a boiler to create steam and power a steam turbine. Our waste heat to energy systems have used waste heat from cement production and from metal production. We invested and have built two cement low temperature heat power generation systems. One (Tongchuan) was completed at the end of 2008 and the other (Jinyang) was completed in June 2009. These projects can use about 35% of the waste heat generated by the cement kiln, and generate up to 50% of the electricity needed to operate the cement plant.
Shengwei Group – Tongchuan Project
In November 2007, Shanghai TCH signed a cooperative agreement with Shengwei Group to build two sets of 12MW cement low temperature heat power generation systems for Shengwei’s two 2,500-tons-per-day cement manufacturing lines in Jin Yang and for a 5,000-tons-per-day cement manufacturing line in Tong Chuan. At the end of 2008, construction of the cement low temperature heat power generation in Tong Chuan was completed at a cost of approximately $6,191,000 (RMB 43,000,000) and put into operation. Under the original agreement, the ownership of the cement low temperature heat power generation systems would belong to Shengwei from the date the projects were put into service. Shanghai TCH is responsible for the daily maintenance and repair of the projects, and charges Shengwei a monthly electricity fee based on the actual power generated by the projects at 0.4116 RMB per KWH for an operating period of five years with the assurance from Shengwei of a properly functioning 5,000-tons-per-day cement manufacturing line and not less than 7,440 heat hours per year for the electricity generator system. Shengwei Group collateralized the cement manufacturing line in Tong Chuan to guarantee its obligations to provide the minimum electricity income from the power generator system under the agreement during the operating period. At the end of the five year operating period, Shanghai TCH will have no further obligations under the cooperative agreement. On May 20, 2009, Shanghai TCH entered into a supplementary agreement with Shengwei Group to amend the timing for title transfer to the end of the lease term. In addition, the supplementary agreement provided that Shanghai TCH will charge Shengwei based on actual power usage subject to a minimum of $0.31 million (RMB 2.1 million) per month during the operating period.
Shengwei Group – Jinyang Project
On June 29, 2009, construction of the cement low temperature heat power generation system in Jin Yang was completed at a cost of $7,318,000 (RMB 50,000,000) and put into operation. Shanghai TCH charges Shengwei a technical service fee of $336,600 (RMB 2,300,000) monthly for the sixty months of the lease term. Shengwei has the right to purchase the ownership of the cement low temperature heat power generation system for $29,000 (RMB 200,000) at the end of lease term. Shengwei is required to provide assurance of properly functioning 5,000-tons-per-day cement manufacturing lines and not less than 7,440 heat hours per year for the cement low temperature heat power generation. Shengwei Group collateralized the cement manufacturing lines in Jin Yang to guarantee its obligations to provide the minimum electricity income from the waste energy power generator system under the agreement during the operating period. Effective July 1, 2009, Shanghai TCH outsourced the operation and maintenance of the cement low temperature heat power generation systems in Tong Chuan and JinYang to a third party for $732,000 (RMB 5,000,000) per year.
Erdos Projects
On April 14, 2009, the Company incorporated the JV between Xi’an TCH and Erdos Metallurgy Co., Ltd. (“Erdos”) to recycle waste heat from Erdos' metal refining plants to generate power and steam, which will be sold back to Erdos. The name of the JV is Inner Mongolia Erdos TCH Energy Saving Development Co., Ltd (“Erdos TCH”) with a term of 20 years, and initial registered capital of $2,635,000 (RMB 18,000,000). As of June 30, 2011, total registered capital was increased to $17.55 million (RMB 120 million), of which $16.37 million (RMB 112 million) was contributed by Xi’an TCH and $1.18 million (RMB 8 million) was from Erdos Metallurgy. Total investment for the project is estimated at approximately $76 million (RMB 500 million) with an initial investment of $17.55 million (RMB 120,000,000). Erdos contributed 7% of the total investment of the project, and Xi’an TCH contributed 93% of the total investment. Xi’an TCH and Erdos will receive 80% and 20% of the profit from the JV, respectively, until Xi’an TCH has received a complete return on its investment. Xi’an TCH and Erdos will then receive 60% and 40% of the profit from the JV, respectively. The profits to be distributed will be computed based on Chinese generally accepted accounting principles. The principal difference between US GAAP and Chinese GAAP with regards to the Erdos TCH project is that a sales-type lease under US GAAP is treated as an operating lease under Chinese GAAP. When the term of the JV expires, Xi’an TCH will transfer its equity in the JV to Erdos at no additional cost.
At the end of 2009, Erdos TCH completed the first 9MW power station of Phase I of the project and put it into operation. At the end of March 2010, Erdos TCH completed the construction of Phase I through completion of the second 9MW power station and delivery of it for operation. Phase I includes two 9MW systems for a combined 18MW power capacity. Pursuant to the Co-operation Agreement and the supplement agreements signed between Erdos and Erdos TCH, Erdos shall purchase all the electricity and steam to be generated from the JV’s power generation systems. Erdos TCH leased the two 9 MW systems to Erdos and is responsible for their operation and maintenance. For each phase of the project, the lease term is 20 years starting from the date of completion of the phase. Erdos agreed to pay a fixed minimum of $0.22 million (RMB 1.5 million) per month for each 9MW capacity power generation system. In addition Erdos will pay the actual amount if the actual sale of the electricity generated is more than $0.22 million (RMB 1.5 million) monthly per unit. Effective January 1, 2010 and April 2010 respectively, Erdos TCH outsourced to an independent third party the operation and maintenance of the two 9MW power generation projects for $922,000 (RMB 6.27 million) each per year. After 20 years, the units will be transferred to Erdos without any charge.
During the fourth quarter of 2010, Erdos power generation system Phase II two 9MW capacity electricity power generation systems were completed and put into operation. During the first quarter of 2011, Erdos power generation system Phase II the 3rd 9MW capacity electricity power generation system was completed and put into operation through sales type lease with terms similar to the Phase I project. At June 30, 2011, the Company paid approximately $18.19 million for Phase III of the Erdos TCH power generation system projects. The Company currently expects to complete Phase III in the third quarter of 2011.
Waste Gas to Energy Systems
Our Waste Gas to Energy Systems primarily include Waste Gas Power Generation (“WGPG”) systems and Combined Cycle Power Plant (“CCPP”) systems. WGPG uses the flammable waste gases emitted from industrial production processes such as blast furnace gas, coke furnace gas, and oil gas, to power gas-fired generators to create energy. A CCPP system employs more than one power generating cycle to utilize the waste gas, which is more efficient because it not only generates electricity by burning the flammable waste gas in a gas-fired generator (WGPG) but also uses the waste heat from burning the gas to make steam to generate additional electricity via a steam generator (CCPP).
Shenmu Project
On September 30, 2009, Xi’an TCH delivered to Shenmu County Jiujiang Trading Co., Ltd. (“Shenmu”) a set of three 6 MW capacity waste gas power generation systems pursuant to a Cooperative Contract on Coke-oven Gas Power Generation Project (including its Supplementary Agreement) and a Gas Supply Contract for Coke-oven Gas Power Generation Project. These contracts are for 10 years and provide Xi’an TCH will recycle coke furnace gas from the coke-oven plant of Shenmu to generate power, which will be supplied back to Shenmu. Shenmu agreed to supply Xi’an TCH the coke-oven gas free of charge. Under the contracts, Shenmu will pay us an annual “energy-saving service fee” of approximately $5.6 million in equal monthly installments for the life of the contracts, as well as such additional amount as may result from the supply of power to Shenmu in excess of 10.8 million kilowatt hours per month. We are responsible for operating the projects and will do so through an unrelated third party. Shenmu guarantees that monthly gas supply will not be less than 21.6 million standard cubic meters. If gas supply is less, Shenmu agrees to pay Xi’an TCH the energy-saving service fee described above for up to 10.8 million kilowatt-hours per month. Xi’an TCH maintains the ownership of the project throughout the term of the contracts, including the already completed investment, design, equipment, construction and installation as well as the operation and maintenance of the project. At the end of the 10-year term, ownership of the projects transfers to Shenmu at no charge. Shenmu gave a lien on its production line to guarantee its performance under the Contracts. Shenmu’s three major stockholders provided an unlimited joint liability guarantee to Xi’an TCH for Shenmu’s performance under the Contracts and the Yulin Huiyuan Group, an independent third party, provides a guarantee to Xi’an TCH for Shenmu’s performance under the Contracts.
Biomass Project
On January 20, 2010, Xi’an TCH entered into a Technical Reconstruction Letter of Intent with Xueyi Dong (“Dong”) a natural person with Chinese citizenship for Xi’an TCH reconstructing and transforming a Thermal Power Generation Systems owned by Dong into a 12MW Biomass Power Generation Systems (“Biomass Systems” or “BMPG”) for RMB 15 million ( $2.2 million), of which, RMB 7 million ( $1.03 million) was payable to Dong, and RMB 8 million ( $1.18 million) was payable to one of the Company’s shareholders, who had previously paid that amount to Dong on behalf of the Company.
After the successful transformation of the systems, Xi’an TCH entered into a Biomass Power Generation Asset Transfer Agreement (the “Transfer Agreement”) with Dong on June 29, 2010. Under the Transfer Agreement, Dong transferred the Biomass Systems to Xi’an TCH, and Xi’an TCH will pay Dong RMB 100,000,000 ($14,705,900) for the systems, including RMB 20,000,000 in cash and RMB 80,000,000 in shares of the Company’s common stock. The stock price will be the same as in the Company’s first public offering, expected to occur later this year or in 2012, but in no circumstance will the stock price be less than $4 per share. The exchange rate between U.S. Dollar and Chinese RMB in connection with the stock issuance is 1:6.8. As of September 29, 2011, the Company paid the cash portion in full; however, the shares to be issued in connection with this transaction, valued at $11.78 million as of June 30, 2011, have not been issued.
As of June 30, 2011, the Company has a contingent gain of $5.8 million which is the difference between the payable to Dong of $11.78 million and the fair value of the 2,945,000 minimum number of shares to be issued based on the June 30, 2011 market price of CREG’s shares.
On June 29, 2010, Xi’an TCH entered into a Biomass Power Generation Project Lease Agreement with PuCheng XinHengYuan Biomass Power Generation Co., Ltd., (“XHY”). Under this lease agreement, Xi’an TCH leased this same set of 12MW biomass power generation systems to XHY at a minimum of RMB 1,900,000 per month ($279,400) for 15 years. The leasing fee will increase proportionately with the biomass generated electricity fee in China during the term of this lease agreement.
Zhongbao Project
On September 30, 2010, Xi’an TCH delivered to Zhongbao Binhai Nickel Co., Ltd. (“Zhongbao”) a set of 7 megawatt capacity On September 30, 2010, Xi’an TCH delivered to Zhongbao Binhai Nickel Co., Ltd. (“Zhongbao”) a set of 7 megawatt capacity Waste Heat Power Generation (“WHPG”) systems, which are integral parts of the facilities designed to produce 80,000 tons of nickel-alloy per year according to the recovery and power generation of the waste heat agreement with Zhongbao, an agreement that was transferred from China Zhonggang Binhai Enterprise Ltd. (“Zhonggang”) in July 2009. Zhongbao is a nickel-alloy manufacturing joint venture between Zhonggang and Shanghai Baoshan Steel Group established in June 2009. Total investment in this project was approximately $7.8 million (RMB 55 million). The Contract is for 9 years and provided that Xi’an TCH will recycle waste heat from the nickel-alloy rotary kilns of Zhongbao to generate power and steam, which will be supplied back to Zhongbao, and help to reduce over 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year. By the end of the term, the system shall be transferred to Zhongbao at RMB 1. Under the Contracts, Zhongbao will pay the Company a monthly “energy-saving service fee” based on the volume of the electricity and steam generated from the WHPG system in the prior month within the first five days of each month at a pre-agreed price, but no less than the minimum monthly payment of $224,000 (RMB 1.5 million). Zhongbao agrees to supply Xi’an TCH the nickel-alloy rotary kilns gas, water and compressed air free of charge, except salty water at RMB 6.3 per ton. Zhongbao also guarantees to continuously supply not less than 6,800 heat hours per year for the WHPG, or the operating term will be extended accordingly. Xi’an TCH outsourced its operation and maintenance works to a third party for annual payments of RMB 2.4 million ($352,000) for the whole operation period. In addition, Xi’an TCH shall be responsible for applying the Clean Development Mechanism (“CDM”) and the net proceeds from CDM will be distributed between Zhonggang and Xi’an TCH at 60% and 40%, respectively. The CDM work has not commenced as of June 30, 2011.
Shannxi Datong Coal Group Power Generation Projects
In February 2011, Xi’an TCH signed a contract with Shannxi Datong Coal Group Steel Ltd Co (Shannxi Datong) to recycle gas and steam from groups of blast-furnaces and converter of Shannxi Datong’s metal refining plants to generate power. According to the contract, the Company will install two 3MW TRT and one 15MW WGPG and two 1MW steam power generation systems, with a total of 23MW power capacity for an estimated total investment of $27.45 million (RMB 180 million). The lease term is 30 years. During the lease term, Shannxi Datong will be responsible for operating the projects and paying a monthly service fee to the Company. The service fee is based on an average of 8,000 electricity-generating hours per year and RMB 0.33 per kilowatt hour (“Kwh”) for the first 5 years from the completion of each power generation station. For each of the leases, at the 6th year, 11th year and 21st year thereafter, the rate will be RMB 0.3 Kwh, 0.27 Kwh and 0.25 Kwh, respectively. After 30 years, the units will be transferred to Shannxi Datong without any charge.
Shenqiu Yuneng Thermal Power Generation Projects
On May 25, 2011, Xi’an TCH entered into a Letter of Intent with ShenQiu YuNeng Thermal Power Ltd Co., (“ShenQiu”) for Xi’an TCH to reconstruct and transform a Thermal Power Generation System owned by ShenQiu into a 75T/H Biomass Power Generation System for approximately RMB 22.5 million (approximately $3.5 million). The project commenced in June 2011, and is expected to be completed in 90 days. Xi’an TCH will purchase the Biomass System from ShenQiu 10 days after completion of the transformation.
We are headquartered in China. Our principal executive offices are located at 12/F, Tower A, Chang An International Building, No. 88 Nan Guan Zheng Jie, Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, China, and our telephone number at this location is +86-29-8769-1097. Our website address is www.creg-cn.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this prospectus.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in shares of our common stock involves risk. Before making any investment decision, you should carefully consider the risk factors set forth below, under the caption “Risk Factors” in any applicable prospectus supplement and under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well as in any applicable prospectus supplement, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
These risks could materially affect our business, results of operation or financial condition and affect the value of our common stock. You could lose all or part of your investment. For more information, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Risks Related to Our Common Stock and the Offering
Future sales or other dilution of our equity could depress the market price of our common stock.
Sales of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could negatively impact the price of our common stock. We have a number of institutional shareholders that own significant blocks of our common stock. If one or more of these shareholders were to sell large portions of their holdings in a relatively short time, for liquidity or other reasons, the prevailing market price of our common stock could be negatively affected.
In addition, the issuance of additional shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus, or issuances of securities convertible into or exercisable for our common stock or other equity-linked securities, including preferred stock or warrants, will dilute the ownership interest of our common shareholders and could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities.
We may need to seek additional capital. If this additional financing is obtained through the issuance of equity securities, debt convertible into equity or options or warrants to acquire equity securities, our existing shareholders could experience significant dilution upon the issuance, conversion or exercise of such securities.
Our management will have broad discretion over the use of the proceeds we receive from the sale of shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus and might not apply the proceeds in ways that increase the value of your investment.
Our management will have broad discretion to use the net proceeds from any offerings under this prospectus, and you will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of these proceeds. Except as described in any prospectus supplement or in any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you, the net proceeds received by us from our sale of the common stock described in this prospectus will be added to our general funds and will be used for our general corporate purposes. Our management might not apply the net proceeds from the offering of our common stock in ways that increase the value of your investment and might not be able to yield a significant return, if any, on any investment of such net proceeds. You may not have the opportunity to influence our decisions on how to use such proceeds.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and may involve material risks, assumptions and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “might,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and which may cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revision or update of these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. If we do update or correct one or more forward-looking statements, you should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements. A detailed discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from our forward-looking statements is included in our periodic reports filed with the SEC and in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus.
Except as may be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, repayment of debt, repurchases of common stock, capital expenditures, the financing of possible acquisitions or business expansions, increasing our working capital and the financing of ongoing operating expenses and overhead.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following is a summary of our capital stock and certain provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of our Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws and applicable provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes.
See “Where You Can Find More Information” elsewhere in this prospectus for information on where you can obtain copies of our Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, which have been filed with and are publicly available from the SEC
Our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
As of November 7, 2011, there were 43,533,174 shares of our common stock outstanding, held by approximately 2,749 stockholders of record.
Our common stock is currently traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “CREG.” Prior to March 22, 2010, our common stock was traded on FINRA’s Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board under the symbol “CREG.” On August 6, 2004, we changed our name from Boulder Acquisitions, Inc. to China Digital Wireless, Inc. and changed our symbol from “BAQI” to “CHDW.” On March 8, 2007, we changed our name from China Digital Wireless, Inc. to China Recycling Energy Corporation, and changed our symbol from “CHDW” to “CREG.”
The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for election. The holders of outstanding shares of common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends declared by our board of directors out of assets legally available. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preference of any then outstanding shares of preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock.
All issued and outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. Any shares of common stock we offer under this prospectus will be fully paid and nonassessable.
Nevada Anti-Takeover Provisions
We are subject to the Nevada anti-takeover laws regulating corporate takeovers. With certain exceptions, this law provides that specified persons who, together with affiliates and associates, own, or within three years did own, 10% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation cannot engage in specified business combinations with the corporation for a period of three years after the date on which the person became an interested stockholder. The law defines the term “business combination” to encompass a wide variety of transactions with or caused by an interested stockholder, including mergers, asset sales and other transactions in which the interested stockholder receives or could receive a benefit on other than a pro rata basis with other stockholders. This provision has an anti-takeover effect for transactions not approved in advance by our board of directors, including discouraging takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of our common stock.
Nevada law also provides that, in certain circumstances, a stockholder who acquires a controlling interest in a corporation, defined in the statute as an interest in excess of a 1/5, 1/3 or 1/2 interest, has no voting rights in the shares acquired that caused the stockholder to exceed any such threshold, unless the corporation’s other stockholders, by majority vote, grant voting rights to such shares. Presently, we have not opted out of this provision. This law only applies to corporations that do business within the State of Nevada and have a significant number of stockholders with addresses in the State of Nevada.
INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
General
The following is a general summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders (as defined below) relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of our common stock, as of the date hereof. This discussion assumes that an investor will hold each share of our common stock purchased as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to an investor in light of that investor’s particular circumstances. In addition, this discussion does not address (i) U.S. federal non-income tax laws, such as estate or gift tax laws, (ii) state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences, or (iii) the special tax rules that may apply to certain investors, including, without limitation, banks, insurance companies, financial institutions, broker-dealers, taxpayers that have elected mark-to-market accounting, taxpayers subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code, tax-exempt entities, governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, U.S. expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States, investors that acquire, hold, or dispose of our common stock as part of a straddle, hedge, wash sale, constructive sale or conversion transaction or other integrated transaction, or persons that acquired our common stock pursuant to an exercise of employee stock options, in connection with employee stock incentive plans or otherwise as compensation. Additionally, this discussion does not consider the tax treatment of entities treated as partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes or of persons who hold our common stock through such entities. The tax treatment of a partnership and each partner thereof will generally depend upon the status and activities of the partnership and such partner. Thus, partnerships, other pass-through entities and persons holding our common stock through such entities should consult their own tax advisors.
This discussion is based on current provisions of the Code, its legislative history, U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code, judicial opinions, and published rulings and procedures of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), all as in effect on the date of this prospectus. These authorities are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. We have not sought, and will not seek, any ruling from the IRS or any opinion of counsel with respect to the tax consequences discussed below, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will not take a position contrary to the tax consequences discussed below or that any position taken by the IRS would not be sustained.
As used in this discussion, the term “U.S. person” means a person that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized (or treated as created or organized) in or under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust. As used in this discussion, the term “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of our common stock that is a U.S. person, and the term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of our common stock (other than an entity that is treated as a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is not a U.S. person.
U.S. Holders
Taxation of Distributions
A U.S. holder will be required to include in gross income as ordinary income the amount of any dividend paid on the shares of our common stock. A distribution on such shares will be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits generally will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common stock. Any remaining excess generally will be treated as gain from the sale or other disposition of the common stock and will be treated as described under “— Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock” below.
Dividends paid to a non-corporate U.S. holder in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013 generally will be subject to a reduced maximum tax rate of 15% provided certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied. Beginning January 1, 2013, the rate applicable to dividends is currently scheduled to return to the tax rate generally applicable to ordinary income. Dividends paid to U.S. holders that are corporations will be eligible for the dividends-received deduction if the U.S. holders meet certain holding period and other applicable requirements.
If PRC taxes apply to any dividends paid to a U.S. holder on our common stock, such taxes may be treated as foreign taxes eligible for a deduction from such holders’ U.S. federal taxable income or a foreign tax credit against such U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability (subject to certain limitations). In addition, a U.S. holder may be entitled to certain benefits under the treaty between the United States and the PRC. U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of a credit for any such PRC tax, the availability of the foreign tax credit to them and their eligibility for the benefits of the income tax treaty between the United States and the PRC.
Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock
In general, a U.S. holder must treat any gain or loss recognized upon a sale, taxable exchange, or other taxable disposition of our common stock as capital gain or loss. Any such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for the common stock so disposed of exceeds one year. In general, a U.S. holder will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition and (ii) the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock so disposed of. Long-term capital gain recognized by a non-corporate U.S. holder generally will be subject to a maximum tax rate of 15 percent for tax years beginning before January 1, 2013, after which the maximum long-term capital gains tax rate is currently scheduled to increase to 20 percent. The deduction of capital losses is subject to various limitations.
If PRC taxes apply to any gain from the disposition of our common stock by a U.S. holder, such taxes may be treated as foreign taxes eligible for a deduction from such holder’s U.S. federal taxable income or a foreign tax credit against such U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability (subject to certain limitations). In addition, such U.S. holder may be entitled to certain benefits under the U.S.-PRC Tax Treaty U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the deduction or credit for any such PRC tax and their eligibility for the benefits of the U.S.-PRC Tax Treaty Additional Taxes After 2012
For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, U.S. holders that are individuals, estates or trusts will be required to pay an additional 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on unearned income, including, among other things, dividends on and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, subject to certain limitations and exceptions. U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this legislation on their ownership and disposition of our common stock.
Non-U.S. Holders
Taxation of Distributions
In general, any distribution we make to a non-U.S. holder of shares of our common stock, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any dividend paid to a non-U.S. holder with respect to shares of our common stock that is not effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States, as described below, generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30 percent of the gross amount of the dividend, unless such non-U.S. holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN). Any distribution not constituting a dividend will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our common stock. Any remaining excess generally will be treated as gain from the sale or other disposition of the common stock, which will be treated as described under “— Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock” below.
Dividends we pay to a non-U.S. holder that are effectively connected with such non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if certain income tax treaties apply, are attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder) generally will not be subject to U.S. withholding tax, provided such non-U.S. holder complies with certain certification and disclosure requirements (usually by providing an IRS Form W-8ECI). Instead, such dividends generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax, net of certain deductions, at the same graduated individual or corporate tax rates applicable to U.S. persons. If the non-U.S. holder is a corporation, dividends that are effectively connected income may also be subject to a “branch profits tax” at a rate of 30 percent (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty).
Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock
A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock, unless:
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the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the non-U.S. holder within the United States (and, under certain income tax treaties, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder);
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the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other conditions are met; or
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we are or have been a United States real property holding corporation (“USRPHC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five year period ending on the date of disposition or the non-U.S. holder’s holding period for the common stock disposed of.
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Unless an applicable tax treaty provides otherwise, gain described in the first and third bullet points above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax, net of certain deductions, at the same tax rates applicable to U.S. persons. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of a non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30 percent rate (or a lower applicable income tax treaty rate). Any U.S. source capital gain of a non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point above (which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses during the taxable year of the disposition) generally will be subject to a flat 30 percent U.S. federal income tax (or a lower applicable income tax treaty rate).
In connection with the third bullet point above, we generally will be classified as a USRPHC if (looking through certain subsidiaries) the fair market value of our “United States real property interests” equals or exceeds 50 percent of the sum of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We believe that we currently are not a USRPHC, and we do not anticipate becoming a USRPHC (although no assurance can be given that we will not become a USRPHC in the future). Even if we are a USRPHC, a non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax solely because of our status as a USRPHC so long as our common stock is “regularly traded on an established securities market,” and such non-U.S. holder did not hold directly or indirectly more than 5% of our common stock at any time during the shorter of the five-year period preceding the date of the disposition or the holder’s holding period. If a non-U.S. holder owned directly or indirectly more than 5% of our common stock at any time during the applicable period then any gain recognized by a Non-U.S. holder on the sale or other disposition of our common stock would be treated as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business and would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at applicable graduated U.S. federal income tax rates and in much the same manner as applicable to U.S. persons.
Payments After 2012
Effective generally for payments made after December 31, 2012, a non-U.S. holder may be subject to a U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate with respect to dividends on, and the gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our common stock if certain disclosure requirements related to the U.S. accounts maintained by, or the U.S. ownership of, the non-U.S. holder are not satisfied. If payment of such withholding taxes is required, a non-U.S. holder that is otherwise eligible for an exemption from, or a reduction of, U.S. withholding taxes with respect to such dividends and proceeds generally will be required to seek a refund from the IRS to obtain the benefit of such exemption or reduction. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of such withholding taxes on their ownership and disposition of our common stock.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
We generally must report annually to the IRS and to each holder the amount of dividends and certain other distributions we pay to such holder on our common stock and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to those distributions. In the case of a non-U.S. holder, copies of the information returns reporting those distributions and withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. holder is a resident under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty or agreement. Information reporting is also generally required with respect to proceeds from the sales and other dispositions of our common stock to or through the U.S. office (and in certain cases, the foreign office) of a broker.
In addition, backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax, currently at a rate of 28 percent, generally will apply to distributions made on our common stock to, and the proceeds from sales and other dispositions of our common stock by, a non-corporate U.S. holder who:
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fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number;
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is notified by the IRS that backup withholding is required; or
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in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification requirements.
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A non-U.S. holder generally may eliminate the requirement for information reporting (other than with respect to distributions, as described above) and backup withholding by providing certification of its foreign status, under penalties of perjury, on a duly executed applicable IRS Form W-8 or by otherwise establishing an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the amount of any backup withholding will be allowed as a credit against a U.S. holder’s or a non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that certain required information is timely furnished to the IRS. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of backup withholding and the availability of and procedure for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding in their particular circumstances.
Material PRC Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion summarizes the material PRC income tax considerations relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of our common stock, as of the date hereof.
Resident Enterprise Treatment
On March 16, 2007, the Fifth Session of the Tenth National People’s Congress passed the EIT Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008. Under the EIT Law, enterprises are classified as “resident enterprises” and “non-resident enterprises.” Pursuant to the EIT Law and its implementing rules, enterprises established outside China whose “de facto management bodies” are located in China are considered “resident enterprises” and subject to the uniform 25.0% enterprise income tax rate on global income. According to the implementing rules of the EIT Law, “de facto management body” refers to a managing body that in practice exercises overall management control over the production and business, personnel, accounting and assets of an enterprise. Due to governmental support for our industry, however, we have enjoyed a preferential tax rate of 18.0% on our global income. The preferential tax rate is reviewed by the taxing authorities every three years and will expire for us in 2010. If the PRC tax authorities fail to extend our preferential tax rate, we will be subject to the enterprise income tax rate of 25.0% on our worldwide income.
On April 22, 2009, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Notice on the Issues Regarding Recognition of Enterprises that are Domestically Controlled as PRC Resident Enterprises Based on the De Facto Management Body Criteria, which was retroactively effective as of January 1, 2008. This notice provides that an overseas incorporated enterprise controlled by a PRC company or a PRC company group will be recognized as a “tax-resident enterprise” if it satisfies all of the following conditions: (i) the senior management responsible for daily production/ business operations are primarily located in the PRC, and the location(s) where such senior management execute their responsibilities are primarily in the PRC; (ii) strategic financial and personnel decisions are made or approved by organizations or personnel located in the PRC; (iii) major properties, accounting ledgers, company seals and minutes of board meetings and stockholder meetings, etc., are maintained in the PRC; and (iv) 50.0% or more of the board members with voting rights or senior management habitually reside in the PRC. Although the Notice only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises and not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the determining criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the State Administration of Taxation’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of offshore enterprises, regardless of whether they are controlled by PRC enterprises, individuals or foreigners. However, it remains uncertain how tax authorities will determine tax residency based on the facts of each case, given that the Enterprise Income Tax Laws are relatively new and ambiguous in terms of some definitions, requirements and detailed procedures.
Given the short history of the EIT Law and lack of applicable legal precedent, it remains unclear how the PRC tax authorities will determine the PRC tax resident treatment of a non-PRC company such as us. If the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a “tax-resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, a number of tax consequences could follow. First, we could be subject to the enterprise income tax at a rate of 25.0% on our global taxable income (assuming that our preferential tax rate is not renewed). Second, the EIT Law provides that dividend income between “qualified resident enterprises” is exempt from income tax. It is unclear whether the dividends we receive would constitute dividend income between “qualified resident enterprises” and would therefore qualify for tax exemption.
Although there has not been a definitive determination as to our “resident enterprise” or “non-resident enterprise” status, we believe that we are a “tax-resident enterprise”. However, since it is not anticipated that we will receive dividends or generate other income in the near future, we are not expected to have any income that would be subject to the 25.0% enterprise income tax on global income in the near future. We will consult with the PRC tax authorities and make any necessary tax payment if we were to have income in the future.
Dividends From PRC Operating Companies
If we are not treated as tax-resident enterprises under the EIT Law, then dividends that we receive may be subject to PRC withholding tax. The EIT Law and the implementing rules of the EIT Law provide that (A) an income tax rate of 25.0% will normally be applicable to investors that are “non-resident enterprises,” or non-resident investors, which (i) have establishments or premises of business inside the PRC, and (ii) the income in connection with their establishment or premises of business is sourced from the PRC or the income is earned outside the PRC but has actual connection with their establishments or places of business inside the PRC, and (B) an income tax rate of 10.0% will normally be applicable to dividends payable to investors that are “non-resident enterprises,” or non-resident investors, which (i) do not have an establishment or place of business in the PRC or (ii) have an establishment or place of business in the PRC, but the relevant income is not effectively connected with the establishment or place of business, to the extent such dividends are derived from sources within the PRC. Due to governmental support for our industry, however, we have enjoyed a preferential tax rate of 18.0% on our global income. The preferential tax rate is reviewed by the taxing authorities every three years and will expire for us in 2010. If the PRC tax authorities fail to extend our preferential tax rate, we will be subject to the enterprise income tax rate of 25.0% on our worldwide income.
Dividend income between qualified “tax-resident enterprises” is exempt from the 10.0% income tax described in the foregoing paragraph. However, as described above, the PRC tax authorities may determine the resident enterprise status of entities organized under the laws of foreign jurisdictions, on a case-by-case basis. We are a holding company and substantially all of our income may be derived from dividends. Thus, if we are considered as a “non-resident enterprise” under the EIT Law and the dividends paid to us are considered income sourced within the PRC, such dividends received may be subject to the 10.0% income tax described in the foregoing paragraph.
As of the date hereof, there has not been a definitive determination as to our “resident enterprise” or “non-resident enterprise” status. We will consult with the PRC tax authorities and make any necessary tax withholding if, in the future, our PRC subsidiaries were to pay any dividends and we (based on future clarifying guidance issued by the PRC), or the PRC tax authorities, determine that we are a non-resident enterprise under the EIT Law.
Dividends That Non-Resident Corporate Investors Receive From Us; Gain on the Sale or Transfer of Our Common Stock
If dividends payable to (or gains recognized by) our non-resident corporate investors are treated as income derived from sources within the PRC, then the dividends that non-resident corporate investors receive from us, and any such gain on the sale or transfer of our common stock, may be subject to taxes under PRC tax laws.
Under the EIT Law and the implementing rules of the EIT Law, PRC income tax at the rate of 10.0% is applicable to dividends payable to corporate investors that are “non-resident enterprises,” or non-resident corporate investors, which (i) do not have an establishment or place of business in the PRC or (ii) have an establishment or place of business in the PRC but the relevant income is not effectively connected with the establishment or place of business, to the extent that such dividends have their sources within the PRC. Similarly, any gain realized on the transfer of common stock by such corporate investors is also subject to 10.0% PRC income tax if such gain is regarded as income derived from sources within the PRC.
The dividends paid by us to non-resident corporate investors with respect to our common stock, or gain non-resident corporate investors may realize from sale or the transfer of our common stock, may be treated as PRC-sourced income and, as a result, may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 10.0%. In such event, we also may be required to withhold a 10.0% PRC tax on any dividends paid to non-resident corporate investors. In addition, non-resident corporate investors in our common stock may be responsible for paying PRC tax at a rate of 10.0% on any gain realized from the sale or transfer of our common stock after the consummation of this offering if such non-resident corporate investors and the gain satisfy the requirements under the EIT Law and its implementing rules. However, under the EIT Law and its implementing rules, we would not have an obligation to withhold income tax in respect of the gains that non-resident corporate investors (including U.S. corporate investors) may realize from the sale or transfer of our common stock from and after the consummation of this offering.
The State Administration of Taxation issued a circular, or Circular 698, on December 10, 2009, that reinforces taxation on transfer of non-listed shares by non-resident enterprises through overseas holding vehicles. Circular 698 applies retroactively and was deemed to be effective as of January 2008. Pursuant to Circular 698, where (i) a foreign investor who indirectly holds equity interest in a PRC resident enterprise through an offshore holding company indirectly transfers equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise by selling the shares of the offshore holding company, and (ii) the offshore holding company is located in a jurisdiction where the effective tax rate is lower than 12.5% or where the offshore income of its residents is not taxable, the foreign investor is required to provide the tax authority in charge of that PRC resident enterprise with certain relevant information within 30 days of the transfer. The tax authorities in charge will evaluate the offshore transaction for tax purposes. In the event that the tax authorities determine that such transfer is abusing forms of business organization and there is no reasonable commercial purpose other than avoidance of PRC enterprise income tax, the tax authorities will have the power to conduct a substance-over-form re-assessment of the nature of the equity transfer. A reasonable commercial purpose may be established when the overall offshore structure is set up to comply with the requirements of supervising authorities of international capital markets. If the State Administration of Taxation’s challenge of a transfer is successful, they will deny the existence of the offshore holding company that is used for tax planning purposes. Since Circular 698 has a short history, there is uncertainty as to its application. We and our foreign investors may become at risk of being taxed under Circular 698 and may be required to expend resources to comply with Circular 698 or to establish that we or our foreign investors should not be taxed under Circular 698 which could have a material adverse effect on our or our foreign investors’ financial condition and results of operations.
If we were to pay any dividends in the future, we would again consult with the PRC tax authorities and if we (based on future clarifying guidance issued by the PRC), or the PRC tax authorities, determine that we must withhold PRC tax on any dividends payable by us under the EIT Law, we will make any necessary tax withholding on dividends payable to our non-resident investors. If non-resident corporate investors (including U.S. investors) as described under the EIT Law realized any gain from the sale or transfer of our common stock and if such gain were considered as PRC-sourced income, such non-resident corporate investors would be responsible for paying 10.0% PRC income tax on the gain from the sale or transfer of our common stock. As indicated above, under the EIT Law and its implementing rules, we would not have an obligation to withhold PRC income tax in respect of the gains that non-resident corporate investors (including U.S. investors) may realize from the sale or transfer of our common stock from and after the consummation of this offering.
Penalties for Failure to Pay Applicable PRC Income Tax
Non-resident corporate investors may be responsible for paying PRC tax at a rate of 10.0% on any gain realized from the sale or transfer of our common stock after the consummation of this offering if such non-resident corporate investors and the gain classify as such under the EIT Law and its implementing rules, as described above.
According to the EIT Law and its implementing rules, the PRC Tax Administration Law (the “Tax Administration Law”) and its implementing rules, the Provisional Measures for the Administration of Withholding of Enterprise Income Tax for Non-resident Enterprises (the “Administration Measures”) and other applicable PRC laws or regulations (collectively the “Tax Related Laws”), where any gain derived by non-resident corporate investors from the sale or transfer of our common stock is subject to any income tax in the PRC, and such non-resident corporate investors fail to file any tax return or pay tax in this regard pursuant to the Tax Related Laws, they may be subject to certain fines, penalties or punishments, including without limitation: (1) if a non-resident corporate investor fails to file a tax return and present the relevant information in connection with tax payments, the competent tax authorities may order it to do so within the prescribed time limit and may impose a fine up to RMB 2,000 ($300), and in egregious cases, may impose a fine ranging from RMB 2,000 to RMB 10,000 ($300 - $1500); (2) if a non-resident corporate investor fails to file a tax return or fails to pay all or part of the amount of tax payable, the non-resident corporate investor will be required to pay the unpaid tax amount payable, a surcharge on overdue tax payments (the daily surcharge is 0.1% of the overdue amount, beginning from the day the deferral begins), and a fine ranging from 50.0% to 500.0% of the unpaid amount of the tax payable; (3) if a non-resident corporate investor fails to file a tax return or pay the tax within the prescribed time limit according to the order by the PRC tax authorities, the PRC tax authorities may collect and check information about the income items of the non-resident corporate investor in the PRC and other payers (the “Other Payers”) who will pay amounts to such non-resident corporate investor, and send a “Notice of Tax Issues” to the Other Payers to collect and recover the tax payable and impose overdue fines on such non-resident corporate investor from the amounts otherwise payable to such non-resident corporate investor by the Other Payers; (4) if a non-resident corporate investor fails to pay the tax payable within the prescribed time limit as ordered by the PRC tax authorities, a fine may be imposed on the non-resident corporate investor ranging from 50.0% to 500.0% of the unpaid tax payable; and the PRC tax authorities may, upon approval by the director of the tax bureau (or sub-bureau) of, or higher than, the county level, take the following compulsory measures: (i) notify in writing the non-resident corporate investor’s bank or other financial institution to withhold amounts from the account thereof for payment of the amount of tax payable, and (ii) detain, seal off, or sell by auction or on the market the non-resident corporate investor’s commodities, goods or other property in a value equivalent to the amount of tax payable; or (5) if the non-resident corporate investor fails to pay all or part of the amount of tax payable or surcharge for overdue tax payment, and cannot provide a guarantee to the tax authorities, the tax authorities may notify the frontier authorities to prevent the non-resident corporate investor or their legal representative from leaving the PRC.
The shares of our common stock that may be offered by this prospectus may be sold:
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to or through underwriters;
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to or through broker-dealers (acting as agent or principal);
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in “at the market offerings” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange, or otherwise;
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directly to a limited number of purchasers or to a single purchaser; or
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through a combination of any such methods of sale.
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Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the shares of our common stock. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us, from the purchasers of the shares of common stock or from both us and the purchasers. Any underwriters, dealers, agents or other investors participating in the distribution of the shares of common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters,” as that term is defined in the Securities Act, and compensation and profits received by them on sale of the shares of common stock may be deemed to be underwriting commissions, as that term is defined in the rules promulgated under the Securities Act.
Each time shares of our common stock are offered by this prospectus, the prospectus supplement, if required, will set forth:
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the name of any underwriter, dealer or agent involved in the offer and sale of the shares of common stock;
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the terms of the offering;
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any discounts concessions or commissions and other items constituting compensation received by the underwriters, broker-dealers or agents;
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any over-allotment option under which any underwriters may purchase additional shares of common stock from us;
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any initial public offering price;
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any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and
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the anticipated date of delivery of the shares of common stock.
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The shares of our common stock may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The distribution of shares of common stock may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, by means of one or more of the following transactions, which may include cross or block trades:
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transactions on the NASDAQ Global Market or any other organized market where the common stock may be traded;
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in the over-the-counter market;
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in negotiated transactions;
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under delayed delivery contracts or other contractual commitments; or
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a combination of such methods of sale.
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If underwriters are used in a sale, shares of our common stock will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions. Our common stock may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of shares of our common stock, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for the sale is reached. This prospectus and the prospectus supplement will be used by the underwriters to resell the shares of our common stock.
In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or “FINRA,” the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of the offering proceeds from any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. If 5% or more of the net proceeds of any offering of our common stock made under this prospectus will be received by a FINRA member participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA member, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121.
To comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus will be offered and sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements entered into with us to indemnification by us against specified liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments they may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. The prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their respective affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business. We will describe in the prospectus supplement naming the underwriter the nature of any such relationship.
The validity of the common stock offered in this prospectus will be passed upon us by McKenna Long & Alrdridge LLP. Certain legal matters relating to the PRC in connection with this offering have been passed upon for us by Kang Da Law Firm. McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP may rely on Kang Da Law Firm with respect to matters governed by PRC law.
The consolidated financial statements of China Recycling Energy Corporation and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2010, have been incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement in reliance on the report of Goldman Kurland Mohidin LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information about us and our financial condition to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC instead of having to repeat the information in this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. This prospectus incorporates by reference any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, between the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement and the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC:
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our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010;
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our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 and June 30, 2011;
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the portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on May 2, 2011 that were incorporated by reference in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010;
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our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 6, 2011, March 7, 2011, March 25, 2011, June 27, 2011, July 11, 2011, July 13, 2011, July 22, 2011 and October 4, 2011; and
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the description of our common stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form SB-2, dated November 12, 2004, File No. 333-120431, and any other amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
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We also incorporate by reference all documents that we file with the SEC on or after the effective time of this prospectus pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and prior to the sale of all shares of common stock registered hereunder or the termination of the registration statement. Nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished but not filed with the SEC.
Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
You may request a copy of the filings incorporated herein by reference, including exhibits to such documents that are specifically incorporated by reference, at no cost, by writing or calling us at the following address or telephone number:
China Recycling Energy Corporation
12/F, Tower A
Chang An International Building
No. 88 Nan Guan Zheng Jie,
Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, China
Attn: David Chong, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
+86-29-8769-1097
Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other documents are not necessarily complete, and in each instance you are referred to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference and the exhibits and schedules thereto.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended, that we filed with the SEC registering the shares of common stock that may be offered and sold hereunder. The Registration Statement, including exhibits thereto, contains additional relevant information about us and these shares of common stock that, as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, we have not included in this prospectus. A copy of the Registration Statement can be obtained at the address set forth below or at the SEC’s website as noted below. You should read the Registration Statement, including any applicable prospectus supplement, for further information about us and these shares of common stock.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC's website at http:/www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC's public reference room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room. Because our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market, you may also inspect reports, proxy statements and other information at the offices of the NASDAQ Global Market.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14.
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Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
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The following table sets forth all expenses payable by us in connection with the offering of our common stock being registered hereby. All amounts shown are estimates except the SEC registration fee.
SEC registration fee
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23,220 |
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Legal fees and expenses
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Accounting fees and expenses
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Printing and miscellaneous expenses
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Total expenses
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Item 15.
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Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
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With certain exceptions involving ouster, securities violations, commodities violations, receiving deposits in insolvent banks with knowledge of insolvency, and recovery by an insurer of profits realized from transactions made with unfair use of information, under Section 78.138 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, our directors and officers will not be individually liable to the Company, its stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act in their capacity as a director or officer unless it is proven that the act or failure to act breached fiduciary duties as a director or officer and such breach involved intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of law.
Pursuant to our Amended and Restated Bylaws, we are required to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by Nevada law, each officer and director of the Company who is made or is threatened to be made a party or are otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of ours or, while a director or officer of ours, is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, against all expenses, liabilities and losses (including without limitation attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, taxes, penalties, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person. Under Nevada law, any such indemnification is only available if such person is not liable under Section 78.138 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, as described above, or such person acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The indemnification provided by our Amended and Restated Bylaws is not exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any statute, provision of our Articles of Incorporation, agreement, vote of our stockholders or directors, or otherwise and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such person.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to our Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation, the Nevada Revised Statutes, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
We are entitled to purchase insurance on behalf of our officers and directors and we are required to do so pursuant agreements between us and each of our directors.
Item 16.
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Exhibits and Financial Schedule
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See the Exhibit Index attached to this Registration Statement and incorporated herein by reference.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act of 1933”);
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.
(2) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of a Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;
(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
(iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
(6) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(i) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(ii) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
The Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the indemnification provisions described herein, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Xi’an China, on the 10th day of November, 2011.
CHINA RECYCLING ENERGY CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ Guohua Ku
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Guohua Ku
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Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief
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Executive Officer
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SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Guohua Ku and David Chong as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement on Form S-3 and any subsequent registration statement the Registrant may hereafter file with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act to register additional securities in connection with this registration statement, and to file this registration statement, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/ Gouhua Ku
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Chairman of the Board of Directors
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Gouhua Ku
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and Chief Executive Officer
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November 10, 2011
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/s/ David Chong
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Chief Financial Officer, Principal
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David Chong
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Accounting Officer and Secretary
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November 10, 2011
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/s/ Nicholas Shao
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Nicholas Shao
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Director
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November 10, 2011
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/s/ Lanwei Li
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Lanwei Li
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Director
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November 10, 2011
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/s/ Dr. Robert Chanson
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Dr. Robert Chanson
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Director
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November 10, 2011
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/s/ Timothy Driscoll
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Timothy Driscoll
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Director
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November 10, 2011
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/s/ Julian Ha
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Julian Ha
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Director
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November 10, 2011
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/s/ Albert McLelland
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Albert McLelland
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Director
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November 10, 2011
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/s/ Yilin Ma
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Yilin Ma
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Director
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November 10, 2011
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/s/ Chungui Shi
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Chungui Shi
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Director
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November 10, 2011
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
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Description
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1.1
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Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
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3.1
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Articles of Incorporation (filed as Exhibit 3.05 to the Company’ s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001).
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3.2
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Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 25, 2009).
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4.1
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Common Stock Specimen (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 dated November 12, 2004; 1934 Act File No. 333-120431).
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5.1
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Opinion of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP.**
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23.1
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Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.**
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23.2
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Consent of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (included in legal opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).
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24.1
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Powers of Attorney (included on signature page).
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*To be filed by an amendment hereto or pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be incorporated herein by reference.
** Filed herewith