Unassociated Document
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
(Mark
One)
FORM
10-K
x
|
ANNUAL REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
For the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
or
¨
|
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
For the
transition period from _____________to ______________
Commission
file number 333-101167
CHINA
EDUCATION ALLIANCE, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
North
Carolina
|
56-2012361
|
State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or organization
|
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
|
58
Heng Shan Road, Kun Lun Shopping Mall, Harbin, The People’s Republic of China
150090
(Address
of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code 011-86-451-8233-5794
Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title
of each class
|
|
Name
of each exchange on which registered
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities
registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act:
Common
Stock, $0.001 par value per share
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
¨ Yes x No
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. x Yes ¨ No
Note – Checking the box above
will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from their obligations under those
Sections.
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days.
x Yes ¨ No
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not
be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or
information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K
or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer o
|
Accelerated
filer o
|
Non-accelerated
filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
|
Smaller
reporting company x
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Act).
o Yes x No
State the
aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by
non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was
last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the
last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal
quarter.
Note.—If a determination as to
whether a particular person or entity is an affiliate cannot be made without
involving unreasonable effort and expense, the aggregate market value of the
common stock held by non-affiliates may be calculated on the basis of
assumptions reasonable under the circumstances, provided that the assumptions
are set forth in this Form.
The
aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock of the issuer
held by non-affiliates as of March 23, 2009 was
approximately $15,860,416 (12,688,333 shares of common stock held by
non-affiliates) based upon the closing price of the common stock as
quoted by OTC Bulletin Board on such date.
APPLICABLE
ONLY TO REGISTRANTS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
PROCEEDINGS
DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports
required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a
court. ¨ Yes ¨ No
(APPLICABLE
ONLY TO CORPORATE REGISTRANTS)
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common
stock, as of the latest practicable date.
As of
March 23, 2009, there are presently 21,892,631 shares of common stock, par value
$0.001 issued and outstanding.
DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
List
hereunder the following documents if incorporated by reference and the Part of
the Form 10-K (e.g., Part I, Part II, etc.) into which the document is
incorporated: (1) Any annual report to security holders; (2) Any proxy or
information statement; and (3) Any prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or
(c) under the Securities Act of 1933. The listed documents should be clearly
described for identification purposes (e.g., annual report to security holders
for fiscal year ended December 24, 1980).
FORM 10-K
INDEX
|
|
|
|
PAGE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cautionary
Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
PART I
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
1.
|
|
Business
|
|
2
|
|
Item
1A.
|
|
Risk
Factors
|
|
11
|
|
Item
1B.
|
|
Unresolved
Staff Comments
|
|
20
|
|
Item
2.
|
|
Properties
|
|
20
|
|
Item
3.
|
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
|
20
|
|
Item
4.
|
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PART II
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
5.
|
|
Market
for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities
|
|
21
|
|
Item
6.
|
|
Selected
Financial Data
|
|
23
|
|
Item
7.
|
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
|
24
|
|
Item
7A.
|
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
|
|
33
|
|
Item
8.
|
|
Financial
Statements and Supplementary Date
|
|
F-1 —
F-32
|
|
Item
9.
|
|
Changes
in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure
|
|
35
|
|
Item
9A.
|
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
|
35
|
|
Item
9B.
|
|
Other
Information
|
|
36
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PART III
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
10.
|
|
Directors,
Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
|
|
36
|
|
Item
11.
|
|
Executive
Compensation
|
|
39
|
|
Item
12.
|
|
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters
|
|
41
|
|
Item
13.
|
|
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence
|
|
42
|
|
Item
14.
|
|
Principal
Accounting Fees and Services
|
|
43
|
|
Item
15.
|
|
Exhibits,
Financial Statement Schedules
|
|
44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signatures
|
|
48
|
|
Cautionary
Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
The
discussion contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contains
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the United
States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section
21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the
Exchange Act. Any statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives,
assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be
forward-looking. These statements are often, but not always, made through the
use of words or phrases like “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plans,” “projects,”
“continuing,” “ongoing,” “target,” “expects,” “management believes,” “we
believe,” “we intend,” “we may,” “we will,” “we should,” “we seek,” “we plan,”
the negative of those terms, and similar words or phrases. We base
these forward-looking statements on our expectations, assumptions, estimates and
projections about our business and the industry in which we operate as of the
date of this Form 10-K. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number
of risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted, quantified or controlled
and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth
in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. Statements in
this Form 10-K describe factors, among others, that could contribute to or cause
these differences. Actual results may vary materially from those anticipated,
estimated, projected or expected should one or more of these risks or
uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect.
Because the factors discussed in this Form 10-K could cause actual results or
outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking
statement made by us or on our behalf, you should not place undue reliance on
any such forward-looking statement. New factors emerge from time to time, and it
is not possible for us to predict which will arise. In addition, we cannot
assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any
factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially
from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Except as required by
law, we undertake no obligation to publicly revise our forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date
of this Form 10-K or the date of documents incorporated by reference herein
that include forward-looking statements.
PART
I
History
of our Organization
We were
incorporated in North Carolina on December 2, 1996 under the name of ABC Realty
Co. to engage in residential real estate transactions as a broker or agent.
Following the September 2004 reverse acquisition described below, our corporate
name was changed to China Education Alliance, Inc. At the time of the reverse
acquisition, we were not engaged in any business activity and we were considered
to be a blank-check shell.
On
September 15, 2004, we entered into an agreement pursuant to which:
|
·
|
the
stockholders of Harbin Zhong He Li Da, Education Technology, Inc. (ZHLD) a
PRC corporation, transferred all of the stock of ZHLD to us and we issued
to those stockholders a total of 18,333,333 share of common stock,
representing 95% of our outstanding common stock after giving effect to
the transaction.
|
|
·
|
Duane
Bennett, who was then our chairman of the board and controlling
shareholder, caused 3,666,667 shares of common stock that were controlled
by him to be transferred to us for cancellation, for which ZHLD or its
stockholders paid $400,000, of which $300,000 was paid in cash and the
balance was paid by a promissory note, which has been
paid.
|
We
changed our corporate name to China Education Alliance, Inc. on November 17,
2004.
General
We are an
education service company that provides on-line education and on-site
training in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”). We were organized to meet
what our founders believe is an unmet need for educational resources throughout
the PRC. Based on the PRC government’s statistical yearbook for 2004, the
government invests more than $60 billion on education each year. According to
Chinese tradition, spending on education resources is one of the family’s major
expenditures. However, just as economic development is not even throughout the
PRC, there is an uneven allocation of educational resources in the PRC. In
general, only students who pass the numerous examinations which are given at
various stages of the educational process, can obtain better educational
opportunities at a higher level. We believe that the examination-oriented
education has created a market for products from companies that address this
need.
Our
principal business is the distribution of educational resources through the
internet. Our website, www.edu-chn.com, is a
comprehensive education network platform which is based on network video
technology and large data sources of elementary education resources. We have a
database comprised of such resources as test papers that were used for secondary
education and university level courses as well as video on demand. Our data base
includes more than 300,000 exams and test papers and courseware for college,
secondary and elementary schools. While some of these exams were given in
previous years, we engage instructors to develop new exams and a methodology for
taking the exams. We market this data base under the name “Famous Instructor
Test Paper Store.” We also offer, though our website, video on demand, which
includes tutoring of exam papers and exam techniques. We complement the past
exams and test papers with an interactive platform for students to
understand the key points from the papers and exams. Although a number of
resources are available through our website without charge, we charge our
subscribers for such services as the Famous Instructor Test Paper Store and
video on demand. Subscribers can purchase debit cards which can be used to
download material from our website.
We also
provide on-site teaching services in Harbin, which we market under the name
“Classroom of Famed Instructors.” We have a 36,600 square foot training facility
in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PRC, which has 17 classrooms and can
accommodate 1,200 students. These classes, which complement our on-line
education services, provide classroom and tutoring to our students. The courses
cover primarily the compulsory education curriculum of junior, middle and high
school. We charge tuition for these classes.
We have
also introduced a program to of on-line vocational training services. We
collaborated with the China Vocation Education Society to set up a website,
www.360ve.com ,
which is an internet platform for training agencies and schools to offer their
services. We launched www.360ve.com in
September 2007. We are calling this program our “Millions of College Students
Employment Crossroad” program. We offer job search capability and career
planning courses for university students. We developed this program in response
to the high jobless rate for PRC college graduates. Many college graduates
pursue vocational training after college education in order to find employment.
Our program is designed to establish a long-term training program for college
students to build connections with corporations and obtain educational programs
prescribed by the hiring corporations. We anticipate that we will constantly
revise our materials to meet changes in the market as well as the demands of
university students and graduates who enroll in our courses in order to meet
their changing needs.
On April
18, 2008, our wholly owned subsidiary, ZHLD entered into an agreement and
supplementary agreement with Harbin Daily Newspaper Group to invest in a joint
venture company, Harbin New Discovery Media Co., ZHLD contributed RMB 3,000 000
(approximately, $430,000) and Harbin Daily Newspaper Group contributed RMB
3,120,000 (approximately, $445,000) towards the registered capital of Harbin New
Discovery Media Co. In return for their respective contributions, ZHLD will own
49.02% equity interest and Harbin Daily Newspaper Group will own 50.98% equity
interest in Harbin New Discovery Media Co., Ltd. This joint venture will create
new educational material distribution channels in readable newspaper format in
the future. Pursuant to the terms of the supplementary agreement, Harbin Daily
Newspaper Group assigned all its rights in the “Scientific Discovery” newspaper
exclusively to the joint venture company. The transaction closed on July 7, 2008
and as a result, Harbin New Discovery Media Co. Ltd. is now a 49.02% owned
subsidiary of ZHLD and we are now in the publication and distribution of a
scientific newspaper business.
On April
27, 2008, we entered into a Share Transfer Agreement with Mr. Yuli Guo (“Guo”)
and World Exchanges, Inc. (“WEI”) to purchase from Guo seventy (70) issued and
outstanding common shares in WEI, representing 70% of the entire
issued share capital of WEI. In consideration for the said shares, we issued to
Guo 400,000 shares of our common stock. Guo will retain the remaining 30% of the
issued share capital of WEI. The sale transaction closed on April 29, 2008. As a
result of the transaction, WEI is now a 70% owned subsidiary of China Education
Alliance. We, through WEI, now provide English training programs, English test
preparation courses and overseas study and consulting services in the PRC
through five entities, namely, Beijing Weishi Success Education Technology Co.,
Ltd., Beijing World Exchanges English College, Yantai WECL English College,
Xiamen Siming District Weishi English Training School and the Private Qingdao
Weishi Education Training School in Beijing, Yantai, Xiamen and
Qingdao.
On
December 23, 2008, our subsidiary, WEI incorporated a wholly-owned company,
Beijing Wei Shi Yi Tong Education Technology Co., Inc. (“BJWSYT”) in the PRC.
WEI contributed US$ 100,000 towards the registered capital of BJWSYT, amounting
to a total registered capital of US$100,000. In return WEI now owns
100% equity interest in BJWSYT. BJWSYT was incorporated on December 23, 2008
with a business term of 30 years. The members of the board of
directors of BJWSYT comprise Mr. Xiqun Yu as the chairman, Mr. Yuli Guo and Ms.
Xuxin Dong. Mr. Xiqun Yu is the legal representative of
BJWSYT. BJWSYT will be involved in the English language training
business, in particular, in running the World Exchanges Colleges of Language in
the PRC.
On
January 4, 2009, our subsidiary ZHLD entered into an agreement with Mr. Guang Li
to jointly incorporate and invest in a joint venture company, Zhong He Li Da
(Beijing) Management Consultant Co., Ltd. (“ZHLDBJ”). ZHLD
contributed RMB 425,000 (approximately, $62,107), and Mr. Guang Li contributed
RMB 75,000 (approximately, $10,960) towards the registered capital of ZHLDBJ,
amounting to a total registered capital interest, and Mr. Guang Li will own 15%
equity interest in ZHLDBJ. ZHLD has authorized Mr. Xiqun Yu to hold 20% of its
equity interest of ZHLDBJ on its behalf.
ZHLDBJ
was incorporated on January 4, 2009 with a business term of 20
years. The registered capital of ZHLDBJ has been paid by the parties
concerned. Mr. Xiqun Yu is the legal representative and the managing
director of ZHLDBJ. ZHLDBJ will be involved in the vocational
training business, in particular, in running the “Million Managers Training
Program”. The “Million Managers Training Program” is the PRC’s first
management training program targeted to upgrade management skills.
Corporate
Structure
Our
present corporate structure is as follows:
Education Systems in
the PRC
Since 1949 when the PRC was founded,
the PRC government has considered education an important component of its
economic and social development. Recently, with the emergence of its
market economy, education has become a priority in the PRC.
According
to the National Bureau of Statistics of the PRC for 2003, the gross domestic
product ("GDP") of the country was calculated at $1.41 trillion, with an
annual rate of real GDP growth at 9.1%. The average PRC family sets aside
10% of its savings for education according to the United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization. We believe that many parents are
willing to invest in their children for better and higher education because it
is critical for their future opportunities and advancement. The
educational system in the PRC is under pressure to reform and develop. On
March 14, 2004, the second session of the 10th National People’s Congress
concluded that the PRC advocates “putting people first” as its development
model. The PRC government sets education as a strategic priority in the China
Agenda for Education.
The
central government in the PRC, through the Ministry of Education, manages
education in the PRC at a macro level, responsible for carrying out related
laws, regulations, guidelines and policies of the central government; planning
development of the education sector; integrating and coordinating educational
initiatives and programs nationwide; maneuvering and guiding education reform
countrywide. To a large degree, the provincial governments are left to
implement basic education through development of teaching plans to supplement
the required coursework from the central Ministry of Education and the funding
of basic education in poorer areas. Provincial level governments have the
main responsibilities for implementing basic education on a day to day basis.
Since 1978, the government in the PRC has promulgated a number of administrative
regulations relating to education.
Education
is funded by a variety of sources: schools directly controlled by the central
government are generally funded from the central financial pool; schools
controlled by local governments are supported by local governments, the central
government and fund raising projects initiated by these schools themselves;
schools sponsored by township and village governments and by public institutions
are mainly financed by the sponsor institutions and subsidized by local
governments; private schools are funded by sponsors (including collecting
tuition from students and soliciting contributions).
In the
PRC, primary and secondary education takes 12 years to complete. Primary
education generally is six years, middle school is three years, and high school
is three years. Children generally begin primary school at the age of six.
In 1986, the PRC passed the Compulsory Education Law, which dictates that
nine years of compulsory education (grades 1 through 9) is to become mandatory
and requires that provincial and local governments take the necessary steps to
ensure that all students receive at least the required nine years of education.
The goal of the Compulsory Education Law, as well as the subsequent guidelines,
was to universalize compulsory education and to eliminate illiteracy among the
PRC people. According to the Bulletin of Statistics on National Educational
Development in 1999 issued by the Ministry of Education, the nine-year
compulsory education has covered 80% of the PRC’s population since its
inception. In 2002, the PRC began to aggressively incorporate English into
its elementary school curriculum.
On March
3, 2004, the State Council approved and disseminated the 2003-2007 Action Plan
for Invigorating Education in the 21st Century, which was formulated by the
Ministry of Education. The plan recognizes the need to make the PRC
competitive in the world economy and provides a blueprint to speed up
educational reform and development in the PRC. The plan is based on two
fundamental concepts to “Rejuvenating China through Science and Education” and
“Reinvigorating China through Human Resource Development.” The objectives
of the plan are to establish a well-to-do society and perfect the socialistic
market economy in the PRC. The plan has goals to consolidate and
universalize the nine-year compulsory education program and eradicate
illiteracy, to continue educational reforms, to improve the quality of education
and to provide a system designed to enable the public to have access to quality
education. The plan emphasizes the use of information technology in education
and training.
Since
2000, the PRC government has been implementing reform in educational policy to
change the orientation of the education system from one based on memory learning
to a more individualized creative approach.
On-line
Education
Our core
business is the exam-oriented education in primary, middle, and high school. We
believe that our on-line education programs are in line with the government
policy of using information technology to make educational resources available
throughout the country. The reforms in education policy has created a demand for
new curriculum, updated educational materials and educational resources.
Our portal enables our customers to access the new curriculum created by
various levels of government and leading academic experts, which are endorsed by
the Ministry of Education. Our courses have the necessary certification or
registration with the Ministry of Education.
Our
website makes use of its internet network resources beyond the traditional
teaching methods and face-to-face constraints by providing students with access
to multi-media resources such as college, middle school and elementary school
test papers, courseware designed to prepare students for taking the exams, and
video on demand courseware. We market our website as a platform to offer
services like “Famed Instructors Test Paper Store” by offering prepaid
rechargeable learning debit cards that can be to purchase our products. The
learners can download materials for off-line education or study the material
on-line.
We
believe that through our website, we can help to change the uneven distribution
of education resources since our material is designed for nationwide exams and,
though the Internet, students can have access to our material nationwide. We
sell our exam papers, test papers, and video on demand through our website www.edu-chn.com. We
offer both exams that were previously given as well as copyrighted exams that
were developed by teachers who we hire for that purpose. These examinations
cover PRC primary, middle and upper school exams which are used by students who
are primarily in age range of seven to eighteen.
We have
developed some educational software and we own a database covering all levels of
basic education from primary school through high school. Our plans for expansion
of our business operations include the following:
|
·
|
Buildup the infrastructure to
ensure fast access and to satisfy the volume that would develop with
increasing demand.
|
|
·
|
Develop a nation-wide advertising
campaign to increase market awareness of our
products.
|
|
·
|
Engage or employ a staff to
enhance the materials that we
offer.
|
|
·
|
Open branch offices in key
cities. Even though our website is accessible from anywhere in the PRC,
course materials are not standardized throughout the PRC, and there are
many differences in both the course materials and the resources among the
different regions in the PRC. As a result, we believe that we can best
serve the students in a region by using our branch offices to employ local
teachers who understand the local educational system. In this manner, we
can customize our course materials to meet the local educational
requirements and develop face-to-face tutorial centers to further expand
our revenue.
|
Training
Center
We
provide on-site teaching services under the “Big Classroom of the Famed
Instructors,” our state-of-the-art training center in Harbin. At this center, we
offer both classroom training and one-on-one tutoring. The training center has
approximately 36,600 square feet, with 17 modern classrooms and a capacity for
1,200 students. The courses cover each phase of compulsory education, of which
junior, middle and high school as the key part. Our courses are complimentary
type with regular school classes, and will vary depending on the age of the
students as well as the progress of the class. Class subjects include math,
physics, chemistry, English, Chinese. We charge students for each class taken.
Thus, we determine our enrollment by the number of classes that were taken
during a given period of time, and not by the number of individual students.
Since the term of the classes vary, we do not schedule classes on a semester
basis.
Vocational
Training
We have
introduced a program of on-line vocational training services. We have
collaborated with the China Vocation Education Society to set up a website,
www.360ve.com,
which is an internet platform for training agencies and schools to offer their
services. We launched www.360ve.com in
September 2007. We called this program our “Millions of College Students
Employment Crossroad” program. We offer job search capability and career
planning courses for university students. We developed this program in response
to the high jobless rate for PRC college graduates. Our program is designed to
establish a long-term training program for college students to build connections
with corporations and obtain educational programs prescribed by the recruiting
corporations. We anticipate that we will constantly revise our materials to meet
changes in the market as well as the demands of university students and
graduates who enroll in our courses in order to meet their career
needs.
Through
our “Millions of College Students Employment Crossroad” program, we seek to
address two problems - one is the needs for the university students to find jobs
and the other is to satisfy the needs of businesses to hire qualified
candidates. We cooperate with businesses and other entities to enable us to
communicate to the students who enroll in this program the requirements of
potential employers, including the necessary skills, so that the students can
learn the needs of the businesses which they are at school and can develop
educational programs in the universities to enable them to meet the educational
requirements of the businesses at which they may seek employment after college
and to improve their job search activities.
The China
Vocational Education Society has a large number of institutional members,
including provincial education bureaus and more than 1,000 vocational training
schools across the PRC. We intend to expand our strategic cooperation with
training agencies, especially in the aspects of joint enrollment, the exchange
of resources and on-site training agencies facilities.
In this
program we work with the China Vocational Education Society, which certifies
vocational certification, and coordinate our programs with the government
agencies, including the education and labor ministries, to develop and evaluate
programs for vocational education. We have been authorized to provide on-line
vocational education and to administer the certification process for certain
vocations. However, we are not yet offering these services.
During
December 2006, we acquired all of the fixed assets and franchise rights of
Harbin Nangang Compass Computer Training School for approximately $1
million. The Nangang Compass Computer Training School provided classroom
education resources to computer vocational school students. As a result of this
acquisition, we became the exclusive partner of Beida Qingniao APTEC Software
Engineering within Heilongjiang Province in the PRC for vocational training. The
acquisition included materials and resources to provide on-site education
classes and patented course materials. The Nangang Compass Computer Training
School currently has two principal education programs focused on network
engineering and ACCP software engineering with 9 on-site classrooms and 9
multimedia/computer classrooms at two centers.
English
Training Programs
On April
27, 2008, we acquired a 70% equity interest in World Exchanges, Inc. (“WEI”).
WEI operates the World Exchanges College of Language (“WECL”) English Education
business and provides English training programs, English test preparation
courses and overseas study and consulting services in the PRC through five
entities, namely, Beijing Weishi Success Education Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing
World Exchanges English College, Yantai WECL English College, Xiamen Siming
District Weishi English Training School and the Private Qingdao Weishi Education
Training School in Beijing, Yantai, Xiamen and Qingdao. The WECL has been
providing English instruction to PRC students since 1988. WECL offers 1) a
Qualifying Program designed to help beginners who want to learn English as a
second language to develop competence in communication skills at an elementary
level; 2) a Combined Studies Program which is open to students with a College
degree or at least six years of high school; 3) a General English Studies
Program, which is the second year of the Combined Studies program or may be
taken by someone with 3 years of university courses and a minimum of 6 years of
English instruction. In addition, WECL recently started providing language test
preparation programs and overseas study and consulting services for students.
WECL has been working closely with well-known local universities to promote its
on-campus language instruction programs. The programs help to create a complete
English language environment in PRC universities to enhance practical English
skills and English examination skills for students. WECL hires native North
American English instructors from the United States and Canada who are certified
professional teachers with many years of multinational experience.
The
English language training market is very popular and is highly fragmented with
over 50,000 English language training institutes. According to the China
Education and Training Report, this market alone was estimated at about $1.9
billion in 2004, and is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)
of 12% to $3.7 billion in 2010.
The
strong demand for English language training is mainly attributable to the belief
that English language proficiency is essential for career development in the PRC
and the rapid growth in the number of PRC students that have traveled overseas
each year since 2002. As a result, there are an estimated 230 million people
currently receiving some form of English training.
WEI
operates five branches currently and has plans to establish another ten WECL
branches in the PRC by collaborating with universities or establishing its own
branches through existing educational networking resources by the end of fiscal
year 2008. In total, at full capacity these branches can accommodate about 4,000
full time students. Tuition for each student is about $4,000 for one year of
full time on-campus English language training courses. Other revenue will come
from its part-time language training program, test preparation program as well
as overseas study and consulting services for students.
The PRC
component of the WEI acquisition has not been completed as of December 31, 2008.
Due to pending PRC regulatory approval, the schools under WEI have not been
included with the WEI acquisition as of December 31, 2008. If government
approval for the acquisition of the schools is approved, we will include the
schools as part of their WEI operations.
In
accordance with the terms of the WEI acquisition, WEI established a wholly-owned
subsidiary in Beijing, PRC, Beijing Wei Shi Yi Tong Education Technology Co.,
Inc. on December 23, 2008 to function at its education operations headquarters
in the PRC.
Harbin
New Discovery Media Co., Ltd.
On April
18, 2008, our wholly-owned subsidiary, ZHLD entered into an agreement and
supplementary agreement with Harbin Daily Newspaper Group to invest in a joint
venture company, Harbin New Discovery Media Co., Ltd., ZHLD contributed RMB
3,000,000 (approximately, $430,000) and Harbin Daily Newspaper Group contributed
RMB 3,120,000 (approximately, $445,000) towards the registered capital of Harbin
New Discovery Media Co., Ltd. In return for their respective contributions,
ZHLD, Inc. will own 49.02% equity interest and Harbin Daily Newspaper Group will
own 50.98% equity interest in Harbin New Discovery Media Co., Ltd. Pursuant to
the terms of the supplementary agreement, Harbin Daily Newspaper Group shall
assign all its rights in the “Scientific Discovery” newspaper exclusively to the
joint venture company, Harbin New Discovery Media Co., Ltd. “Scientific
Discovery” was established in October 2001 to popularize scientific information
and knowledge with PRC citizens, and it has won strong brand recognition and a
loyal readership in Heilongjiang province. In 2007, the “Scientific Discovery”
circulation per week rose to approximately 60,000 sets, which generated total
revenues of $1.1 million during the year. Harbin New Discovery Media Co., Ltd.
plans to publish this newspaper twice per week, and expand distribution of the
publication on a national basis. The first publication will target primary and
middle school students by providing pertinent and authoritative after-school
tutorship materials, which will be synchronized with students’ syllabi. The
educational materials will be prepared by top-ranked educational experts and
professors. The second publication will target the general population by
providing scientific information and guidance in daily life.
“Million
Managers Training Program”
China
Education Alliance, along with The National Association of Vocational Education
of China and Beijing Huayu Education Foundation is dedicated to building PRC’s first
management training program, Million Managers Training Program, with the goal of
improving management skills and designing a complete solution for the
management, clients and suppliers. We have recruited some top experts in
several industries as our instructors, and specially invited speakers include
some of the PRC’s most respected gurus in the PRC such as Wen Yuankai,
Chen Fang, Ai Feng, Qu Limin, and Wang Zhongqiu. Program topics are aimed at
improving management skills, increasing corporate profitability and sustaining
development. The program, located
in Beijing, comprises 9 education modules:
|
·
|
Enterprise
surviving environment and operation
strategies
|
|
·
|
Enterprisers
management thought
|
|
·
|
Human
recourses management
|
|
·
|
Financial
management and capital management
|
|
·
|
Purchasing
and production management
|
|
·
|
Enterprisers’
self-management and improvements
|
The
program takes 60 days with tuition of RMB 30,000 (approximately $4,309) to
RMB80,000 (approximately $11,491) based on different learning
components.
Marketing
We employ
sales persons who market our products to the Ministry of Education and the
provincial education commissions. Although the government agencies do not
purchase our products, we need to obtain their approval of the use of our
programs in connection with the curriculums in the schools under their
jurisdiction. We also use these marketing calls to generate information to
assist us in developing new educational products and opportunities. Our
sales force is also actively involved with educators in developing curriculums
based on our products.
We intend
to use our web-based educational portal to assist us in marketing our
educational products. This portal provides data and other materials free but
charges users for download of our products.
We also
market our Training Center and Vocational products by way of the following
methods: (A) directly at conferences and events where we invite teachers,
students and their families to learn about our education materials; (B) through
various internet links and search engines; (C) by traditional media advertising,
such as TV and newspaper advertisements; and (D) through fliers or coupons
handed out to students in front of high schools and other major education
institutions. We are also able to attract users by reputation and referrals from
current students or users.
“Scientific Discovery,” a scientific
information newspaper with a focus on introducing scientific knowledge to
elementary and secondary students exclusively, will be marketed by the
joint venture company, Harbin New Discovery Media Co., Ltd. This joint venture will create new
educational material distribution channels in readable newspaper format and
promote our core businesses in the future. Harbin New Discovery Media
Co., Ltd. plans to publish this newspaper twice per week, and expand
distribution of the publication on a national basis. The first publication will
target primary and middle school students by providing pertinent and
authoritative after-school tutorship materials, which will be synchronized with
students’ syllabi. The educational materials will be prepared by top-ranked
educational experts and professors. The second publication will target the
general population by providing scientific information and guidance in daily
life.
Our
Million Managers Training Program is supported by the China
Industry-University-Research Institute Collaboration Association and the Asian
Brand China Committee, which both benefit economic development and employment.
China Education Alliance, along with The National Association of Vocational
Education of China and Beijing Huayu Education Foundation is dedicated to building the first
management training program in the PRC with the goal of improving management
skills and designing a total solution for management, clients and suppliers.
Specially invited speakers include some of the most respected gurus in the PRC
such as Wen Yuankai, Chen Fang, Ai Feng, Qu Limin, and Wang Zhongqiu.
Program topics are aimed at improving management skills, increasing corporate
profitability and sustaining development. The program is
advertised through newspapers, web portals, radio, and national TV programs in
the PRC. Through the program, we aim to increase our revenue and gain
recognition in the PRC.
We
expense advertising costs for outdoor spots at the time they are aired and for
all other advertising the first time the respective advertising takes place.
These costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. The
total advertising expenses incurred for the years ended December 31, 2008 and
2007 were $892,724 and $1,181,187, respectively.
Competition
We
compete with a number of PRC and international companies that sell educational
materials in the PRC market. Many of our competitors are larger, more
established companies, many of which have diverse businesses and are better
capitalized. In some cases, these are new companies that are entering the
educational market in the PRC and may offer products and services at lower costs
to build up market share.
Government
Regulations
The
education industry in the PRC is heavily regulated at all levels - national,
provincial and local. Our business is subject to numerous PRC rules and
regulations, including restrictions on foreign ownership of Internet and
education companies and regulation of Internet content. Many of the rules and
regulations that we face are not explicitly communicated, but arise from the
fact that education and the Internet are politically sensitive areas of the
economy. We believe that PRC practices and policies tend to restrict
the operations of non-PRC entities in the education industry, and that the
Ministry of Education and the provincial education commissions prefer to
contract with domestic PRC companies in the education industry. As a
result, all of our PRC subsidiaries are staffed with PRC nationals. All of
our revenue is derived from our PRC subsidiaries, and our success is dependent
on the skill and experience of the employees of our subsidiaries.
Intellectual
Property
The exams
and other materials on our websites include material which is generally
available, such as exams that were previously given, and exams and other
material that was developed for us. We engage authors, who are teachers,
university professors or experts in their fields, to develop materials for our
websites. Under the terms of our contracts, we own the copyright on all
materials produced for us by these authors. We pay each author a fixed fee and
certain percentage of sales as royalty. We also enter into agreements to use and
publish educational materials developed by others, for which we pay for the use
right.
Employees
As
of March 23, 2009, we have approximately 413 employees, consisting of
5 executives, 15 administrative and finance employees, 185 marketing and sales
personnel, 23 research and development staff, 8 information technicians, 9
designers, 119 teaching and education administrative staff, and 49 other
employees engaged in security, planning, human resources and other activities.
We have no collective bargaining agreements, and we believe that we have good
relations with our employees.
.
The
reader should carefully consider each of the risks described below. If any of
the following risks described below should occur, our business, financial
condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected and
the trading price of our common stock could decline significantly.
An
investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should
carefully consider the risks described below and the other information contained
in this prospectus before deciding to invest in our common stock.
Risks
Associated with our Business
Our business is dependent
upon the PRC government’s educational policies and programs.
As a
provider of educational services, we are dependent upon governmental educational
policies. Almost all of our revenue to date has been generated from the sale of
test papers and materials relating to courses at different educational levels.
To the extent that the government adopts policies or curriculum changes that
significantly alter the testing and course materials used in the PRC educational
system, our products could become obsolete, which would affect our ability to
generate revenue and operate profitably. We cannot assure you that the PRC
government agencies would not adopt such changes.
We are subject to numerous
PRC rules and regulations which restrict the scope of our business and could
have a material adverse impact on us.
We are
subject to numerous rules and regulations in the PRC, including, without
limitation, restrictions on foreign ownership of Internet and education
companies and regulation of Internet content. Many of the rules and regulations
that we face are not explicitly communicated, but arise from the fact that
education and the Internet are politically sensitive areas of the economy.
We are not aware that any of our agreements or our current organizational
structure is in violation of any governmental requirements or restrictions,
explicit or implicit. However, there can be no assurance that we are in
compliance now, or will be in the future. Moreover, operating in the PRC
involves a high risk that restrictive rules and regulations could change.
Indeed, even changes of personnel at certain ministries of the government
could have a negative impact on us. The determination that our structure
or agreements are in violation of governmental rules or regulations in the PRC
would have a material adverse impact on us, our business and on our financial
results.
Our business may be subject
to seasonal and cyclical fluctuations in sales.
We may
experience seasonal fluctuations in our revenue in some regions in the PRC,
based on the academic year and the tendency of parents and students to make
purchases relating to their education just prior to or at the beginning of the
school year in the autumn. Any seasonality may cause significant pressure
on us to monitor the development of materials accurately and to anticipate and
satisfy these requirements.
Our business is subject to
the health of the PRC economy.
The
purchase of educational materials not provided by the state educational system
is discretionary and dependent upon the ability and willingness of families or
students to spend available funds on extra educational products to prepare for
national examinations. A general economic downturn either in our market or a
general economic downturn in the PRC could have a material adverse effect on our
revenue, earnings, cash flow and working capital.
We depend on our senior
officers to manage and develop our business.
Our
success depends on the management skills of Mr. Xiqun Yu, our chief executive
officer and president and his relationships with educators, administrators and
other business contacts. We also depend on successfully recruiting and
retaining highly skilled and experienced authors, teachers, managers, sales
persons and other personnel who can function effectively in the PRC. In
some cases, the market for these skilled employees is highly competitive.
We may not be able to retain or recruit such personnel, which could
materially and adversely affect our business, prospects and financial condition.
We do not maintain key person insurance on these individuals. We do
not have employment contracts with Mr. Yu or any other officers or employees.
The loss of Mr. Yu would delay our ability to implement our business plan and
would adversely affect our business.
We may not be successful in
protecting our intellectual property and proprietary rights.
Our
intellectual property consists of old test papers, which are contained in our
library, and courseware which we developed by engaging authors and educators to
develop these materials. Our proprietary software products are primarily
protected by trade secret laws. Although we require our authors and
software development employees to sign confidentiality and non-disclosure
agreements, we cannot assure you that we will be able to enforce those
agreements or that our authors and software development employees will not be
able to develop competitive products that do not infringe upon our proprietary
rights. We do not know the extent that PRC courts will enforce our proprietary
rights.
Others may bring defamation
and infringement actions against us, which could be time-consuming, difficult
and expensive to defend.
As a
distributor of educational materials, we face potential liability for
negligence, copyright, patent or trademark infringement and other claims based
on the nature and content of the materials that we publish or distribute.
Any claims could result in us incurring significant costs to investigate
and defend regardless of the final outcome. We do not carry general
liability insurance that would cover any potential or actual claims. The
commencement of any legal action against us or any of our affiliates, whether or
not we are successful in defending the action, could both require us to suspend
or discontinue the distribution of some or a significant portion of our
educational materials and require us to allocate resources to investigating or
defending claims.
We depend upon the
acquisition and maintenance of licenses to conduct our business in the
PRC.
In order
to conduct business in the PRC, we need licenses from the appropriate government
authorities, including general business licenses and an education service
provider license. The loss or failure to obtain or maintain these licenses
in full force and effect will have a material adverse impact on our ability to
conduct our business and on our financial condition.
Our growth may be inhibited
by the inability of potential customers to fund purchases of our products and
services.
Many
schools in the PRC, especially those in rural areas, do not have sufficient
funds to purchase textbooks, educational materials or computers to use our
web-based educational portal. In addition, provincial and local
governments may not have the funds to support the implementation of a curriculum
using our educational products or may allocate funds to programs which are
different from our products. Our failure to be able to sell our products and
services to students in certain areas of the PRC may inhibit our growth and our
ability to operate profitably.
Changes in the policies of
the government in the PRC could significant impact our ability to operate
profitably.
The
economy of the PRC is a planned economy subject to five-year and annual plans
adopted by the government that set down national economic development goals.
Government policies can have significant effect on the economic conditions
of the PRC generally and the educational system in particular. Although
the government in the PRC has confirmed that economic development will follow a
model of market economy under socialism, a change in the direction of government
planning may materially affect our business, prospects and financial
condition.
Inflation in the PRC could
negatively affect our profitability and growth.
While the
economy in the PRC has experienced rapid growth, such growth has been uneven
among various sectors of the economy and in different geographical areas of the
country. Rapid economic growth can lead to growth in the money supply and rising
inflation. If prices for our products rise at a rate that is insufficient to
compensate for the rise in our costs, it may have an adverse effect on
profitability. In order to control inflation in the past, the government has
imposed controls in bank credits, limits on loans for fixed assets purchase, and
restrictions on state bank lending. Such an austerity policy can lead to a
slowing economic growth which could impair our ability to operate
profitably.
If we make any acquisitions,
they may disrupt or have a negative impact on our business.
If we
make acquisitions, we could have difficulty integrating personnel and operations
of the acquired companies with our own. In addition, the key personnel of the
acquired business may not be willing to work for us. We cannot predict the
affect expansion which may have on our core business. Regardless of whether we
are successful in making an acquisition, the negotiations could disrupt our
ongoing business, distract our management and employees and increase our
expenses. In addition to the risks described above, acquisitions are accompanied
by a number of inherent risks, including, without limitation, the
following:
|
·
|
the difficulty of integrating
acquired products, services or
operations;
|
|
·
|
the potential disruption of the
ongoing businesses and distraction of our management and the management of
acquired companies;
|
|
·
|
the difficulty of incorporating
acquired rights or products into our existing
business;
|
|
·
|
difficulties in disposing of the
excess or idle facilities of an acquired company or business and expenses
in maintaining such
facilities;
|
|
·
|
difficulties in maintaining
uniform standards, controls, procedures and
policies;
|
|
·
|
the potential impairment of
relationships with employees and customers as a result of any integration
of new management personnel;
|
|
·
|
the potential inability or
failure to achieve additional sales and enhance our customer base through
cross-marketing of the products to new and existing
customers;
|
|
·
|
the effect of any government
regulations which relate to the business
acquired;
|
|
·
|
potential unknown liabilities
associated with acquired businesses or product lines, or the need to spend
significant amounts to retool, reposition or modify the marketing and
sales of acquired products or the defense of any litigation, whether of
not successful, resulting from actions of the acquired company prior to
our acquisition.
|
Our
business could be severely impaired to the extent that we are unable to succeed
in addressing any of these risks or other problems encountered in connection
with these acquisitions, many of which cannot be presently identified, these
risks and problems could disrupt our ongoing business, distract our management
and employees, increase our expenses and adversely affect our results of
operations.
Our operations and assets in
the PRC are subject to significant political and economic
uncertainties.
Government
policies are subject to rapid change, and the government of the PRC may adopt
policies which have the effect of hindering private economic activity and
greater economic decentralization. There is no assurance that the government of
the PRC will not significantly alter its policies from time to time without
notice in a manner which reduces or eliminates any benefits from its present
policies of economic reform. In addition, a substantial portion of productive
assets in the PRC remains government-owned. For instance, all lands are state
owned and leased to business entities or individuals through governmental
granting of state-owned land use rights. The granting process is typically based
on government policies at the time of granting, which could be lengthy and
complex. The government of the PRC also exercises significant control over its
economic growth through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of
foreign currency and providing preferential treatment to particular industries
or companies. Uncertainties may arise with changing of governmental policies and
measures. In addition, changes in laws and regulations, or their interpretation,
or the imposition of confiscatory taxation, restrictions on currency conversion,
imports and sources of supply, devaluations of currency, the nationalization or
other expropriation of private enterprises, as well as adverse changes in the
political, economic or social conditions in the PRC, could have a material
adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial
condition.
Price controls may affect
both our revenues and net income.
The laws
of the PRC provide the government broad power to fix and adjust prices. We need
to obtain government approval in setting our prices for classroom coursework and
tutorials. Although the sale of educational materials over the Internet is not
presently subject to price controls, we cannot give you any assurance that they
will not be subject to controls in the future. To the extent that we are subject
to price control, our revenue, gross profit, gross margin and net income will be
affected since the revenue we derive from our services will be limited and we
may face no limitation on our costs. As a result, we may not be able to pass on
to our students any increases in costs we incur, or any increases in the costs
of our faculty. Further, if price controls affect both our revenue and our
costs, our ability to be profitable and the extent of our profitability will be
effectively subject to determination by the applicable PRC regulatory
authorities.
Our operations may not
develop in the same way or at the same rate as might be expected if the PRC
economy were similar to the market-oriented economies of most developed
countries.
The
economy of the PRC has historically been a nationalistic, “planned economy,”
meaning it functions and produces according to governmental plans and pre-set
targets or quotas. In certain aspects, the PRC’s economy has been making a
transition to a more market-oriented economy, although the government imposes
price controls on certain products and in certain industries. However, we cannot
predict the future direction of these economic reforms or the effects these
measures may have. The economy of the PRC also differs from the economies of
most developed countries including with respect to the amount of government
involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and
allocation of resources. As a result of these differences, our business may not
develop in the same way or at the same rate as might be expected if the economy
of the PRC were similar to those of other developed countries.
Because our officers and
directors reside outside of the United States, it may be difficult for you to
enforce your rights against them or enforce United States court judgments
against them in the PRC.
Our
directors and our executive officers reside in the PRC and all of our assets are
located in the PRC. It may therefore be difficult for United States investors to
enforce their legal rights, to effect service of process upon our directors or
officers or to enforce judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil
liabilities and criminal penalties of our directors and officers under federal
securities laws. Further, it is unclear if extradition treaties now in effect
between the United States and the PRC would permit effective enforcement of
criminal penalties of the federal securities laws.
We may have limited legal
recourse under PRC law if disputes arise under contracts with third
parties.
All of
our agreements, which are made by our PRC subsidiaries, are governed by the laws
of the PRC. The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written
statutes. Accordingly decided legal cases have little precedential value. The
government of the PRC has enacted some laws and regulations dealing with matters
such as corporate organization and governance, foreign investment, commerce,
taxation and trade. However, these laws are relatively new and their experience
in implementing, interpreting and enforcing these laws and regulations is
limited. Therefore, our ability to enforce commercial claims or to resolve
commercial disputes may be uncertain. The resolution of these matters may be
subject to the exercise of considerable discretion by the parties charged with
enforcement of the applicable laws. Any rights we may have to specific
performance or to seek an injunction under PRC law may be limited, and without a
means of recourse, we may be unable to prevent these situations from occurring.
The occurrence of any such events could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
Because we may not be able
to obtain business insurance in the PRC, we may not be protected from risks that
are customarily covered by insurance in the United States.
Business
insurance is not readily available in the PRC. To the extent that we suffer a
loss of a type which would normally be covered by insurance in the United
States, such as product liability and general liability insurance, we would
incur significant expenses in both defending any action and in paying any claims
that result from a settlement or judgment.
Because our funds are held
in banks which do not provide insurance, the failure of any bank in which we
deposit our funds could affect our ability to continue in
business.
Banks and
other financial institutions in the PRC do not provide insurance for funds held
on deposit. As a result, in the event of a bank failure, we may not have access
to funds on deposit. Depending upon the amount of money we maintain in a bank
that fails, our inability to have access to our cash could impair our
operations, and, if we are not able to access funds to pay our suppliers,
employees and other creditors, we may be unable to continue in
business.
Failure to comply with the
United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act could subject us to penalties and
other adverse consequences.
We are
subject to the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which generally
prohibits United States companies from engaging in bribery or other prohibited
payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining
business. Foreign companies, including some that may compete with us, are not
subject to these prohibitions. Corruption, extortion, bribery, pay-offs, theft
and other fraudulent practices occur from time-to-time in the PRC. We can make
no assurance, however, that our employees or other agents will not engage in
such conduct for which we might be held responsible. If our employees or other
agents are found to have engaged in such practices, we could suffer severe
penalties and other consequences that may have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
Fluctuations in the exchange
rate could have a material adverse effect upon our business.
We
conduct our business in the Renminbi. The value of the Renminbi against the U.S.
dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other
things, changes in political and economic conditions. On July 21, 2005, the PRC
government changed its decade old policy of pegging its currency to the U.S.
currency. Under the current policy, the Renminbi is permitted to fluctuate
within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies.
This change in policy has resulted in an approximately 17% appreciation of the
Renminbi against the U.S. dollar between July 21, 2005 and March 23, 2009.
However, there remains significant international pressure on the PRC government
to adopt an even more flexible currency policy, which could result
in a further and more significant appreciation of the RMB against the U.S.
dollar. To the extent our future revenues are denominated in currencies other
the United States dollars, we would be subject to increased risks relating to
foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations which could have a material adverse
affect on our financial condition and operating results since our operating
results are reported in United States dollars and significant changes in the
exchange rate could materially impact our reported earnings.
Recent recalls of PRC
products may affect the market for our stock.
Although
we do not sell consumer products in the international market, the recent recalls
of PRC products in the United States and elsewhere could affect the market for
our stock by causing investors to invest in companies that are not based on the
PRC.
Certain of our stockholders
control a significant amount of our common stock.
Approximately
57.9% of our outstanding common stock is owned by our chief executive officer,
Mr. Xiqun Yu. Mr. Yu presently has the voting power to elect all of the
directors and approve any transaction requiring stockholder
approval.
The terms on which we may
raise additional capital may result in significant dilution and may impair our
stock price.
The terms
of our recent private placement and the number of outstanding warrants and the
exercise price and other terms on which we may issued common stock upon exercise
of the warrants, may make it difficult for us to raise additional capital if
required for our present business and for any planned expansion. We are
prohibited from (i) issuing convertible debt or preferred stock until the
earlier of May 2012 or until the investors have converted or exercised and sold
the securities issued in the private placement or (ii) having debt in an amount
greater than twice our EBITDA until May 2010 or until 90% of the securities have
been converted or exercised and sold. The investors in the private placement
also have a right of first refusal on future financings. We cannot assure you
that we will be able to get additional financing on any terms, and, if we are
able to raise funds, it may be necessary for us to sell our securities at a
price which is at a significant discount from the market price and on other
terms which may be disadvantageous to us. In connection with any such financing,
we may be required to provide registration rights to the investors and pay
damages to the investor in the event that the registration statement is not
filed or declared effective by specified dates. The price and terms of any
financing which would be available to us could result in both the issuance of a
significant number of shares and significant downward pressure on our stock
price and could result in a reduction of the conversion price of the series A
preferred stock and exercise price of the warrants held by the investors in our
May 2007 private placement.
We have paid liquidated
damages and we may be required to pay additional liquidated damages if our board
does not consist of a majority of independent directors and our audit committee
does not consist of at least three independent directors.
The
purchase agreement relating to the May 2007 private placement requires us to
appoint and maintain such number of independent directors that would result in a
majority of our directors being independent directors, that the audit committee
would be composed solely of at least three independent directors and the
compensation committee would have a majority of independent directors by August
6, 2007. Liquidated damages are payable at the rate of 12% per annum, with a
maximum of 12% of the purchase price, payable in cash or shares of series A
preferred stock, as the investors may request. The maximum amount of liquidated
damages which may be paid under this provision is $408,000. Our failure to
comply with these requirements resulted in our payment of liquidated damages
through the payment of $77,128 or the issuance of 208,456 shares of series A
preferred stock as of October 15, 2007. The shares of series A preferred stock
are convertible into 69,484 shares of common stock. The number of shares of
series A preferred stock issued was based on the liquidation value of one share
of series A preferred stock, which is $.37 per share. Although further
liquidated damages for failure to comply with these provisions have been waived
through December 31, 2007, if we are not in compliance with these provisions
subsequent to December 31, 2007, we may be obligated to pay additional
liquidated damages. Pursuant to the securities purchase agreement, as amended,
the shares of series A preferred stock are valued at the liquidation value,
which is $0.37 per share of series A preferred stock. Since the market price for
our common stock on October 15, 2007 was $4.00 per share, the market value of
the shares issued to the investors was approximately $277,944. If we are
required to issue any additional shares of series A preferred stock pursuant to
the securities purchase agreement, we are to issue the shares at the $0.37 per
share liquidation value. If we are required to issue additional shares pursuant
to the liquidated damages provisions of the securities purchase agreement and
the market price of our common stock at the time the determination is made is
greater than $1.11, which is the common stock equivalent of the liquidation
value of the series A preferred stock, the investors will receive more shares of
series A preferred stock than they would receive if the number of shares were
based on the market value at the time of issuance. Since January 1, 2008, we
have not been in compliance and are currently not in compliance with these
provisions. As of December 31, 2008, unless otherwise waived by the investors,
we are obligated to pay liquidated damages to the investors in an amount equal
to approximately $130,056 or, issue approximately 351,503 shares of series
A preferred stock (which are convertible into 117,168 shares of our common
stock) to the investors, at the option of the investors. Such liquidated damages
have been accrued as of December 31, 2008 and is included in accrued
expenses. Assuming the investors elect to take the liquidated damages
in stock and do not waive their right to receive such damages, and based on the
market price for one share of our common stock on December 31, 2008, which was
$1.20 per share, the market value of the shares which may be issued to the
investors is approximately $140,602. Thereafter, if we are required to issue any
additional shares of series A preferred stock pursuant to the securities
purchase agreement, we are also to issue such additional shares at the $0.37 per
share liquidation value. If we are required to issue additional shares pursuant
to the liquidated damages provisions of the securities purchase agreement and
the market price of our common stock at the time the determination is made is
greater than $1.11, which is the common stock equivalent of the liquidation
value of the series A preferred stock, the investors will receive more shares of
series A preferred stock than they would receive if the number of shares were
based on the market value at the time of issuance.
If we do not maintain the
effectiveness of the registration of the shares of common stock being sold
pursuant to this prospectus in a timely manner, we will be required to issue
additional shares of series A preferred stock as liquidated
damages.
The
registration rights agreement which we executed in connection with the sale of
the convertible notes initially required us to issue additional shares of series
A preferred stock if we failed to file a registration statement by July 7, 2007,
and have the registration statement declared effective by November 5, 2007, and
keep the registration statement current and effective thereafter. The
registration rights agreement was amended to eliminate liquidated damages for
failure to file this registration statement when required and to waive any
liquidated damages due as a result of our failure to have the registration
statement declared effective through December 31, 2007. The agreement provides
that the liquidated damages are a maximum of 2,130 of series A preferred stock
per day, up to a maximum of 900,000 shares of series A preferred stock. However,
since, pursuant to the SEC’s rules relating to secondary offerings, we are not
able to register all of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of
the series A preferred stock or exercise of the warrants, the number of shares
is reduced to a fraction of 2,130 shares, of which the numerator is the number
of shares being registered (2,250,000) and the denominator is the number of
shares issuable upon conversion of all of the series A preferred stock
(3,063,063), which is 1,565 shares per day. Since our registration statement was
declared effective on December 28, 2007 and our post-effective amendment was
declared effective on October 24, 2008, we were not obligated to pay any
liquidated damages pursuant to the registration rights agreement. The
registration rights agreement also provides for additional demand registration
right in the event that the investors are not able to register all of the shares
in the initial registration statement. The investors have a right of
first refusal on future financings.
Risks
Associated with Investing in our Common Stock
The rights of the holders of
common stock may be impaired by the potential issuance of preferred
stock.
Our board
of directors has the right, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred
stock with voting, dividend, conversion, liquidation or other rights which could
adversely affect the voting power and equity interest of the holders of common
stock., which could be issued with the right to more than one vote per share,
could be utilized as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change
of control. The possible impact on takeover attempts could adversely affect the
price of our common stock. Although we have no present intention to issue any
additional shares of preferred stock or to create any new series of preferred
stock other than issuances required pursuant to liquidated damages provisions
arising for the agreements we signed in connection with the May 2007 private
placement, we may issue such shares in the future.
Failure to achieve and
maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have a material adverse effect on our business and
operating results and stockholders could lose confidence in our financial
reporting.
Internal
controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and
effectively prevent fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or
prevent fraud, our operating results could be harmed. Under the current SEC
regulations, we will be required to include a management report on internal
controls over financial reporting in our Form 10-K annual report for the year
ended December 31, 2008, and we will be required to include an auditor’s report
on internal controls over financial reporting for the year ended December 31,
2009. Failure to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment,
regardless of whether we are required to maintain such controls, could also
cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which
could have a material adverse effect on our stock price. Although we are not
aware of anything that would impact our ability to maintain effective internal
controls, we have not obtained an independent audit of our internal controls,
and, as a result, we are not aware of any deficiencies which would result from
such an audit. Further, at such time as we are required to comply with the
internal controls requirements of Sarbanes Oxley, we may incur significant
expenses in having our internal controls audited and in implementing any changes
which are required.
Because of our cash
requirements and restrictions in our preferred stock purchase agreement as well
as potential government restrictions, we may be unable to pay
dividends.
We are
prohibited from paying dividends on our common stock while our series A
preferred stock is outstanding. In addition, payment of dividends to our
shareholders would require payment of dividends by our PRC subsidiaries to us.
This, in turn, would require a conversion of Renminbi into US dollars and
repatriation of funds to the United States. Although our subsidiaries’
classification as wholly-owned foreign enterprises under PRC law permits them to
declare dividends and repatriate their funds to us in the United States, any
change in this status or the regulations permitting such repatriation could
prevent them from doing so. Any inability to repatriate funds to us would in
turn prevent payments of dividends to our shareholders.
Because we may be subject to
the “penny stock” rules, you may have difficulty in selling our common
stock.
Because
our stock price is less than $5.00 per share, our stock may be subject to the
SEC’s penny stock rules, which impose additional sales practice requirements and
restrictions on broker-dealers that sell our stock to persons other than
established customers and institutional accredited investors. The application of
these rules may affect the ability of broker-dealers to sell our common stock
and may affect your ability to sell any common stock you may own.
According
to the SEC, the market for penny stocks has suffered in recent years from
patterns of fraud and abuse. Such patterns include:
|
·
|
Control of the market for the
security by one or a few broker-dealers that are often related to the
promoter or issuer;
|
|
·
|
Manipulation of prices through
prearranged matching of purchases and sales and false and misleading press
releases;
|
|
·
|
“Boiler room” practices involving
high pressure sales tactics and unrealistic price projections by
inexperienced sales persons;
|
|
·
|
Excessive and undisclosed bid-ask
differentials and markups by selling broker-dealers;
and
|
|
·
|
The wholesale dumping of the same
securities by promoters and broker-dealers after prices have been
manipulated to a desired level, along with the inevitable collapse of
those prices with consequent investor
losses.
|
As an issuer of “penny
stock” the protection provided by the federal securities laws relating to
forward looking statements does not apply to us.
Although
the federal securities law provide a safe harbor for forward-looking statements
made by a public company that files reports under the federal securities laws,
this safe harbor is not available to issuers of penny stocks. As a result, if we
are a penny stock we will not have the benefit of this safe harbor protection in
the event of any based upon an claim that the material provided by us contained
a material misstatement of fact or was misleading in any material respect
because of our failure to include any statements necessary to make the
statements not misleading.
Our stock price may be
affected by our failure to meet projections and estimates of earnings developed
either by us or by independent securities analysts.
Although
we do not make projections relating to our future operating results, our
operating results may fall below the expectations of securities analysts and
investors. In this event, the market price of our common stock would likely be
materially adversely affected.
The volatility of and
limited trading market in our common stock may make it difficult for you to sell
our common stock for a positive return on your investment.
The
public market for our common stock has historically been very volatile. Over the
recent years, the market price for our common stock has ranged from $0.26 to
$6.40. Any future market price for our shares is likely to continue to be very
volatile. Further, our common stock is not actively traded, which may amplify
the volatility of our stock. These factors may make it more difficult for you to
sell shares of common stock.
The registration and
potential sale, either pursuant to a prospectus or pursuant to Rule 144, by
certain of our selling stockholders of a significant number of shares could
encourage short sales by third parties.
There may
be significant downward pressure on our stock price caused by the sale or
potential sale of a significant number of shares by certain of our selling
stockholders pursuant to this prospectus, which could allow short sellers of our
stock an opportunity to take advantage of any decrease in the value of our
stock. The presence of short sellers in our common stock may further depress the
price of our common stock.
If the
selling stockholders sell a significant number of shares of common stock, the
market price of our common stock may decline. Furthermore, the sale or potential
sale of the offered shares pursuant to a prospectus and the depressive effect of
such sales or potential sales could make it difficult for us to raise funds from
other sources.
Item
1B.Unresolved Staff Comments.
|
Not
applicable. |
|
|
Item
2.
|
Properties.
|
All land
in the PRC is owned by the government and cannot be sold to any individual or
entity. Instead, the government grants landholders a "land use right" after a
purchase price for such "land use right" is paid to the government. The "land
use right" allows the holder the right to use the land for a specified long-term
period of time and enjoys all the incidents of ownership of the land. The
following are the details regarding our land use
rights with regard to the land that we
use in our business.
Our main
office is located at 58 Heng Shan Road, Kun Lun Shopping Mall Harbin,
Heilonjiang Province, PRC 150090, which has a total area of 4,177 square feet.
This space is adequate for our present and our planned future operations. No
other businesses operate from this office. We have no current plans to occupy
other or additional office space.
We also
have a 3,700 square meter (36,600 square foot) building in the Harbin which we
use for our educational training center and our vocational training
center.
Harbin
New Discovery Media Co., Ltd. is located at 399 You Yi Road, Dao Li
District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PRC, which has a total area of 120
square meters. The annual rent is RMB140, 000 (approximately
US$20,108).
Beijing
Wei Shi Yi Tong Education Technology Co., Inc. is located at Suite 1106,
Building No. 11, No. 13 Hai Dian Nan Road, Hai Dian District, Beijing, PRC,
which has a total area of 95 square meter s with annual rental of RMB 18,000
((approximately US$2,585).
Item
3. Legal
Proceedings.
We know
of no material, active, pending or threatened proceeding against us or our
subsidiaries, nor are we, or any subsidiary, involved as a plaintiff or
defendant in any material proceeding or pending litigation.
Item
4. Submission of
Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
None.
PART
II
Item
5. Market
for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases
of Equity Securities.
Market
for Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Our
common stock is traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under the trading symbol
CEUA.OB. The table below presents the high and low bid for our common stock for
each quarter from January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2008. These prices
reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail markup, markdown, or commission, and
may not represent actual transactions. We obtained the following information
from Yahoo Finance.com, adjusted for our one-for-three reverse
split.
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31,
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st
Quarter
|
|
|
2.49
|
|
|
1.35
|
|
2nd
Quarter
|
|
|
1.95
|
|
|
0.78
|
|
3rd
Quarter
|
|
|
3.00
|
|
|
1.38
|
|
4th
Quarter
|
|
|
6.40
|
|
|
2.40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31,
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st
Quarter
|
|
|
5.15
|
|
|
1.85
|
|
2nd
Quarter
|
|
|
3.35
|
|
|
1.99
|
|
3rd
Quarter
|
|
|
2.95
|
|
|
1.85
|
|
4th
Quarter
|
|
|
1.85
|
|
|
1.08
|
|
As of
March 23, 2009, we had 21,892,631 shares of common stock
outstanding and held of record by 389 stockholders. Within the holders of record
of our common stock are depositories such as Cede & Co. that hold shares of
stock for brokerage firms, which, in turn, hold shares of stock for beneficial
owners. On March 23, 2009, the closing price of our common stock on the OTC
Bulletin Board was $1.25 per share.
We have
not declared or paid any dividends on our common stock and presently do not
expect to declare or pay any such dividends in the foreseeable future. Our
securities purchase agreement relating to our May 2007 private placement
prohibits us from paying dividends while our series A preferred stock is
outstanding.
Securities
Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans.
We have
not adopted any equity compensation plans and have no securities authorized for
issuance under any such plans.
Registrar
and Stock Transfer Agent
Our stock
transfer agent is Florida Atlantic Stock Transfer, Inc., 7130 Nob Hill Road,
Tamarac, FL 33321.
Dividends
We have
not declared or paid any dividends on our common stock and presently do not
expect to declare or pay any such dividends in the foreseeable future. We have
not yet formulated a future dividend policy in the event restrictions on our
ability to pay dividends are created. Payment of dividends to our stockholders
would require payment of dividends by our PRC subsidiaries to us. This, in turn,
would require a conversion of Renminbi into US dollars and
repatriation of funds to the United States. Under current PRC law, the
conversion of Renminbi
into foreign currency generally requires government consent. Government
authorities may impose restrictions that could have a negative impact in the
future on the conversion process and upon our ability to meet our cash needs,
and to pay dividends to our stockholders. Although, our subsidiaries’
classification as wholly-owned foreign enterprises under PRC law permits our
subsidiaries to declare dividends and repatriate their funds to us in the United
States, any change in this status or the regulations permitting such
repatriation could prevent them from doing so. Any inability to repatriate funds
to us would in turn prevent payments of dividends to our
stockholders.
Penny
Stock Regulations
Our
shares of common stock are subject to the "penny stock" rules of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and various rules under this Act. In general terms, "penny
stock" is defined as any equity security that has a market price less than $5.00
per share, subject to certain exceptions. The rules provide that any equity
security is considered to be a penny stock unless that security is registered
and traded on a national securities exchange meeting specified criteria set by
the SEC, issued by a registered investment company, and excluded from the
definition on the basis of price (at least $5.00 per share), or based on the
issuer's net tangible assets or revenues. In the last case, the issuer's net
tangible assets must exceed $3,000,000 if in continuous operation for at least
three years or $5,000,000 if in operation for less than three years, or the
issuer's average revenues for each of the past three years must exceed
$6,000,000.
Trading
in shares of penny stock is subject to additional sales practice requirements
for broker-dealers who sell penny stocks to persons other than established
customers and accredited investors. Accredited investors, in general, include
individuals with assets in excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding
$200,000 (or $300,000 together with their spouse), and certain institutional
investors. For transactions covered by these rules, broker-dealers must make a
special suitability determination for the purchase of the security and must have
received the purchaser's written consent to the transaction prior to the
purchase. Additionally, for any transaction involving a penny stock, the rules
require the delivery, prior to the first transaction, of a risk disclosure
document relating to the penny stock. A broker-dealer also must disclose the
commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative,
and current quotations for the security. Finally, monthly statements must be
sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stocks. These rules may
restrict the ability of broker-dealers to trade or maintain a market in our
Common Stock, to the extent it is penny stock, and may affect the ability of
shareholders to sell their shares.
Purchases
of Equity Securities by China Education Alliance and Affiliated
Purchasers
During the fourth quarter of our fiscal
year ended December 31, 2008, neither we nor any "affiliated purchaser" (as
defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act) purchased any shares of our
common stock, the only class of our outstanding equity securities registered
pursuant to section 12 of the Exchange Act.
Recent Sales of Unregistered
Securities
On March
7, 2007, we issued 10,000 shares of restricted common stock to Taylor Raferty
Associates Inc. for public relations services in reliance upon Section 4(2)
under the Securities Act of 1933.
On May 8,
and May 31, 2007, we sold, 3% convertible subordinated notes in the aggregate
principal amount of $3,400,000 to three investors, Barron Partners, LP, Eos
Holdings LLC and Hua-Mei 21st Century Partners, LP. The following table sets
forth the investment made by each investor, the principal amount of the notes
issued to each investor, the number of shares of series A preferred stock which
the notes were automatically converted into in October 2007 upon the filing of a
certificate of amendment to our Articles of Incorporation, and the number of
shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants that were also issued
to the investors upon conversion of the notes. The issuance of the shares of
series A preferred stock and the warrants was exempt from registration pursuant
to Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933.
|
|
Note
|
|
Series A
Preferred
Stock
|
|
Common
Stock Issuable
on Exercise of Warrants
|
|
Barron
Partners, LP
|
|
$
|
3,175,000
|
|
8,581,081
|
|
|
4,208,335
|
|
Eos
Holdings LLC
|
|
$
|
125,000
|
|
337,838
|
|
|
170,020
|
|
Hua-Mei
21st
Century
Partners, LP
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
270,270
|
|
|
136,018
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
3,400,000
|
|
9,189,189
|
|
|
4,514,373
|
|
In
connection with the May 2007 private placement, we paid Brean Murray Carret
& Co. a fee of $60,000 and issued to Brean Murray a three-year warrant to
purchase 83,334 shares of our common stock at $2.25 per share, and paid cash
fees of $48,000 to Huang Jun and $24,000 to Liu Zongbo.
In August
2007 we entered into a consulting agreement for investor relation services with
CCG Elite. In connection with such arrangement we issued to CCG Elite a
three-year warrant to purchase 100,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise
price of $1.89 per share in reliance upon Section 4(2) under the Securities Act
of 1933.
As a
result of our failure to have a majority of our board of directors composed of
independent directors as of October 15, 2007, we issued 208,456 shares of series
A preferred stock to our May 2007 private placement investors. The issuance of
such shares was exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the
Securities Act of 1933.
Repurchase
of Equity Securities
None.
Item
6. Selected
Financial Data.
Our net
cash provided by operating activities was $9,753,315 for the year ended December
31, 2008, an increase of $925,690 or 10.5% from $8,827,625 for the same period
in 2007. This increase was due to an increase in net income of $6,813,629 along
with non-cash charges related to an increase of depreciation and amortization of
$623,154, an increase of prepaid expense of $1,533,396, an increase of account
receivables of $469,607, and a decrease in deferred revenue of $953,842 as
compared to the year ended December 31, 2007.
As a
result of the foregoing, we had net income of $9,918,536, or $0.46 per share
basic and $0.40 diluted, for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared with
net income of $3,104,907 or $0.16 per share basic and $0.14 diluted, for the
year ended December 31, 2007.
Item
7. Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.
The
following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of
operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements and the notes
thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which have
been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States. The preparation of such financial statements requires us to make
estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities,
revenues and expenses. On an on-going basis, we evaluate these estimates,
including those related to useful lives of real estate assets, cost
reimbursement income, bad debts, impairment, net lease intangibles,
contingencies and litigation. We base our estimates on historical experience and
on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the
circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about
the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from
other sources. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ
from those estimates. The analysis set forth below is provided pursuant to
applicable SEC regulations and is not intended to serve as a basis for
projections of future events. See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward
Looking Statements” above.
Overview
Our
principal business is the distribution of educational resources in the PRC
through the Internet. Our website, www.edu-chn.com, is a
comprehensive education network platform which is based on network video
technology and large data sources of education resources. We have a data base
comprised of such resources as test papers for secondary education courses as
well as video on demand. Our data base includes more than 300,000 exams and test
papers and courseware for secondary and elementary schools. We also offer,
though our website, video on demand, which includes tutoring of past exam papers
and exam techniques.
We also
provide on-site teaching services in Harbin, where we have a 36,600 square foot
training facility with 17 classrooms that can accommodate 1,200 students. These
classes complement our on-line education services. The courses cover primarily
the compulsory education curriculum of junior, middle and high school. We charge
tuition for these classes.
We
generate revenue through our website by selling prepaid debit cards to our
subscribers. These debit cards permit the subscriber to download materials from
our website over a specified period, usually one year. We recognize revenue from
the debit cards when the students use the debit cards to purchase our products.
To the extent that the debit cards expire unused, we recognize the remaining
balance of the debit card at that time. We also recognize revenue from our
on-line education business through the sale of advertising on our website. We
recognize revenue from the classes conducted at our training centers ratably
over the term of the courses, and we recognize revenue from face-to-face
tutorials to students in our training center and face-to-face information
technology training courses.
PRC laws
give the government broad power to fix and adjust prices. We need to obtain
government approval in setting our prices for classroom coursework and
tutorials, which affects our revenue in our training center business. Although
the sale of educational material over the Internet is not presently subject to
price controls, we cannot give you any assurance that they will not be subject
to controls in the future. To the extent that we are subject to price control,
our revenue, gross profit, gross margin and net income will be affected since
the revenue we derive from our services will be limited and we may face no
limitation on our costs. Further, if price controls affect both our revenue and
our costs, our ability to be profitable and the extent of our profitability will
be effectively subject to determination by the applicable PRC regulatory
authorities.
Prepaid
expenses account for a significant portion of our current assets - $3,437,506,
or 13% of our current assets at December 31, 2008. Prepaid expenses are
primarily comprised of advance payments we make to teachers for their services
in preparing on-line materials and video, prepaid rent, and prepaid outdoor
advertising. At December 31, 2008, prepayment of advertising for outdoor
advertising was $1,939,736, prepayment to teachers for the development of
educational materials was $456,137, prepayment of rent expense was $312,343,
prepayment of printing fee was $633,188, prepaid consulting fees were $66,529
and other prepaid expenses were $29,573. We amortize the prepayments to teachers
over three months, which is the estimated life of the testing materials. The
prepaid rent relates to our Beijing office and dormitory rental for our training
center. The prepayment to teachers decreases as the materials are delivered and
the prepaid rent decreases ratably during the terms of the leases.
As a
result of both the manner in which we recognize revenue and the manner in which
we expense the cost of our materials, there is a difference between our cash
flow and our revenue and cost of revenue.
In our
on-line education business, the principal components of cost of sales are the
cost of obtaining new material to offer students as we increase the available
material as well as depreciation related to computer equipment and software and
direct labor cost. Our on-line education business generates a relatively high
gross margin, which was 84.2% for the year ended December 31, 2008. The gross
margin is affected by the payments we have to make to the teachers for the
materials. In our training center business, the principal components of cost of
sales are costs of the faculty and the amortization of intangible assets. This
business generates a lower gross margin than the on-line education business,
which was 65.4% for the year ended December 31, 2008. The tuition that we charge
our students at our training center is subject to government approval. As a
result, we may not be able to pass on to our students any increases in costs we
incur, including increased costs of faculty. Our gross margin in the training
center is also affected by the size of our classes.
Our
on-line products and our training services are dependent upon the government’s
education policies. Any significant changes in curriculum or testing methods
could render all or a significant portion of our library of test papers and our
training center obsolete and we may have to devote substantial resources in
adapting to the changes.
We have
recently added a platform for training agencies and schools to offer their
services, and we offer job search guidance and career planning courses to
college students and graduates. This business is part of our on-line education
business, since it is presently largely an Internet-based activity.
Because
the purchase of both our on-line and our training center programs is made from
discretionary funds, our business is dependent upon both the PRC economy and the
perception of students that they will benefit from improving their ability to
perform well on standardized entrance exams for middle school, high school and
university.
In
December 2006, we acquired, for approximately $1.0 million, all of the fixed
assets and franchise rights of Harbin Nangang Compass Computer Training
School (“Compass Training School”), which was engaged in the business of
providing on-line education resources to computer vocational training school
students. As a result of this acquisition, we became the exclusive partner of
Beida Qingniao APTEC Software Engineering within Heilongjiang Province in the
PRC for vocational training. The acquisition included materials and resources to
provide on-site education classes and patented course materials. Compass
Training School currently has two principal education programs focused on
network engineering and ACCP software engineering with 9 on-site classrooms and
9 multimedia/computer classrooms at two centers.
We own
70% of Beijing Hua Yu Hui Zhong Technology Development Co., Ltd, which was
formed on September 30, 2006. At the time of its organization, we transferred a
30% interest in this subsidiary to The Vocational Education Guidance Center of
China, a non-profit, quasi-government entity, for no consideration in order to
enable us to work with the Guidance Center’s network to expand our business. The
value of this 30% interest, which is based on our cost, is treated as
goodwill.
We are in
the process of introducing new services aimed at students who want
to attend vocational school. These students include high school students
who do not continue their education at universities and university graduates who
are not able to find employment. The core business for our vocation education
will be in three main areas: vocation education enrollment, vocational
certification, and career development for college graduates. We have
collaborated with the China Vocation Education Society in setting up www.360ve.com, which
provides information regarding vocation training schools and vocation training
both on-line and on-site.
On April
18, 2008, ZHLD entered into an agreement and supplementary agreement with Harbin
Daily Newspaper Group (“Newspaper Group”) to invest in a joint venture company,
Harbin Harbin New Discovery Media Co., Ltd. Media Co., Ltd. ZHLD contributed RMB
3,000 000 (approximately, $430,000) and Newspaper Group contributed RMB
3,120,000 (approximately, $445,000) towards the registered capital of Harbin New
Discovery Media Co., Ltd.. In return for their respective contributions, ZHLD
will own 49.02% equity interest and Newspaper Group will own 50.98% equity
interest in Harbin New Discovery Media Co., Ltd.. The parties are prohibited,
for the duration of the joint venture from retiring or transferring their equity
interests. This joint venture will create new educational material distribution
channels in readable newspaper format in the future. The value of this
investment as of December 31, 2008 is $342,357.
Pursuant
to the terms of the supplementary agreement, Newspaper Group assigned all their
rights in the “Scientific Discovery” a scientific information newspaper with a
focus on education to introduce scientific knowledge to elementary and secondary
students exclusively,
to the joint venture company, Harbin New Discovery Media Co., Ltd.. In the event
that the rights to “Scientific Discovery” expire because of reason other than a
change in government policies and an inability to defend against or resist such
changes, Newspaper Group is liable to ZHLD for twice the latter’s registered
contribution in the joint venture in liquidated damages. The transaction closed
on July 7, 2008 and as a result, Harbin New Discovery Media Co., Ltd. is now a
49.02% owned equity investment of ZHLD, referred to as a long term investment in
the accompanying balance sheet.
On April
27, 2008, we entered into a Share Transfer Agreement with Mr. Yuli Guo (the
“Vendor”) and World Exchanges, Inc. (“WEI”) to purchase from the Vendor seventy
(70) issued and outstanding ordinary shares in WEI, representing 70% of the
entire issued share capital of WEI (the “WEI Acquisition”). WEI is incorporated
under the laws of Canada and was organized on December 19, 1991. WEI
has been registered at 30 Denton Avenue, Apartment 2216, Toronto, Canada. In
consideration for the said shares, we issued to the Vendor 400,000 shares of its
common stock, with a market value of $2.33 per share. The Vendor retained the
remaining 30% of the issued share capital of WEI. The Vendor has agreed not to
transfer the shares of China Education Alliance to a third party for fifteen
(15) years and to grant us a right of first refusal in the event the Vendor is
desirous of selling such shares.
WEI
provides English training programs, English test preparation courses and
overseas study and consulting services in the PRC. WEI primarily operates the
World Exchanges College of Language (“WECL”) English Education business. The
WECL has been providing English instruction for PRC students since 1988. WECL
offers 1) a Qualifying Program designed to help beginners who want to learn
English as a second language to develop competence in communication skills at an
elementary level; 2) a Combined Studies Program which is open to students with a
College degree or at least six years of high school; 3) a General English
Studies Program, which is the second year of the Combined Studies program or may
be taken by someone with 3 years of university courses and a minimum of 6 years
of English instruction. In addition, WECL recently started providing language
test preparation programs and overseas study and consulting services for
students.
The PRC
component of the WEI acquisition has not been completed as of December 31, 2008.
Due to pending PRC regulatory approval, the schools under WEI have not been
included with the WEI acquisition as of December 31, 2008. If government
approval for the acquisition of the schools is approved, we will include the
schools as part of their WEI operations.
In
accordance with the terms of the WEI acquisition, WEI established a wholly-owned
subsidiary in Beijing, the PRC, Beijing Wei Shi Yi Tong Education Technology
Co., Inc. on December 23, 2008 to function at its education operations
headquarters in the PRC.
As a
result of the WEI acquisition, WEI is a 70% owned subsidiary of China Education
Alliance. We will absorb any losses attributable to the minority interest, or
the Vendor, as the minority interest has no basis in WEI. As the WEI acquisition
has not been fully completed with regards to the PRC component, the transaction
has been classified as an advance on acquisition as of December 31,
2008.
Results
of Operation
Comparison of Years Ended
December 31, 2008 and 2007
The
following table sets forth information from our statements of operations for the
years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
|
|
(Dollars)
|
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$ |
24,851,017 |
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
$ |
17,323,534 |
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
Cost
of sales
|
|
|
4,964,939 |
|
|
|
20.0 |
% |
|
|
3,541,309 |
|
|
|
20.4 |
% |
Gross
profit
|
|
|
19,886,078 |
|
|
|
80.0 |
% |
|
|
13,782,225 |
|
|
|
79.6 |
% |
Income
from operations
|
|
|
10,018,437 |
|
|
|
40.3 |
% |
|
|
6,274,307 |
|
|
|
36.2 |
% |
Interest
expense
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.0 |
% |
|
|
3,603,097 |
|
|
|
20.8 |
% |
Other
income
|
|
|
664,627 |
|
|
|
2.7 |
% |
|
|
914,968 |
|
|
|
5.3 |
% |
Income
before income taxes
|
|
|
10,587,733 |
|
|
|
42.6 |
% |
|
|
3,586,178 |
|
|
|
20.7 |
% |
Provision
for income taxes
|
|
|
669,197 |
|
|
|
2.7 |
% |
|
|
481,271 |
|
|
|
2.8 |
% |
Income
before minority interest
|
|
|
9,918,536 |
|
|
|
39.9 |
% |
|
|
3,104,907 |
|
|
|
17.9 |
% |
Net
income
|
|
|
9,918,536 |
|
|
|
39.9 |
% |
|
|
3,104,907 |
|
|
|
17.9 |
% |
Our net
cash provided by operating activities was $9,753,315 for the year ended December
31, 2008, an increase of $925,690 or 10.5% from $8,827,625 for the same period
in 2007. This increase was due to an increase in net income of $6,813,629 along
with non-cash charges related to an increase of depreciation and amortization of
$623,154, an increase of prepaid expense of $1,533,396, an increase of account
receivables of $469,607, and decrease in deferred revenue of $953,842 as
compared to the year ended December 31, 2007.
We
operate in one business segment, that of education, in which we operate in three
revenue areas of online education, education training centers and on-line
advertising. The following table sets forth information as to the gross margin
for our three revenue areas for the years ended December 31, 2008 and
2007.
|
|
(Dollars)
|
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Online
Education:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$ |
16,706,917 |
|
|
$ |
11,505,336 |
|
Cost
of sales
|
|
|
2,859,593 |
|
|
|
2,227,196 |
|
Gross
profit
|
|
|
13,847,324 |
|
|
|
9,278,140 |
|
Gross
margin
|
|
|
82.9 |
% |
|
|
80.6 |
% |
Training
center:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
|
5,552,969 |
|
|
|
3,699,827 |
|
Cost
of sales
|
|
|
1,922,841 |
|
|
|
1,147,364 |
|
Gross
profit
|
|
|
3,630,128 |
|
|
|
2,552,463 |
|
Gross
margin
|
|
|
65.4 |
% |
|
|
69.0 |
% |
Advertising:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
|
2,591,131 |
|
|
|
2,118,371 |
|
Cost
of sales
|
|
|
182,505 |
|
|
|
166,749 |
|
Gross
profit
|
|
|
2,408,626 |
|
|
|
1,951,622 |
|
Gross
margin
|
|
|
93.0 |
% |
|
|
92.1 |
% |
Revenue. Revenue increased by
$7,527,483 or 44% in 2008 to $24,851,017 as compared to $17,323,534 in 2007,
resulting in gross profit of $19,886,078 for fiscal year 2008 as
compared to gross profit of $13,782,225 in fiscal year 2007. The increase in
revenue reflected increases of $5,201,581 from our on-line education area,
$1,853,142 for our training center area, and $472,760 from our advertising
income. Advertising income increased as the result of the increased awareness of
our website, which resulted in more viewers coming to our website, thus enabling
us to increase our advertising income to $2.6 million, an increase of $0.5
million from the year
ended December 31, 2007. During fiscal years 2008 and 2007, we added several new
programs for vocational studies and certification programs, which provided new
sources of income for our on-line education area.
Cost of sales. Our overall
cost of sales increased by $1,423,630 to $4,964,939 in fiscal year 2008 as
compared to $3,541,309 in fiscal year 2007. The increase in cost of sales
reflects a $632,397 increase in our cost of sales for our on-line education
segment while the remaining $775,477 was for an increase in cost of sales from
our training center segment, and $15,756 from our advertising segment. The
on-line training area gross margin increased to 82.9% in fiscal year 2008 from
80.6% for fiscal year
2007 due to the fact that on-line education costs are somewhat fixed and margins
increase with volume. Our training center segment’s gross margin decreased to
65.4% in fiscal year
2008 from 69% in fiscal
year 2007 due to an increase in payments to our lecturers. Our advertising
segment’s gross margin increased to 93.0% in fiscal year 2008 from 92.1% in
fiscal year 2007 due to the fact that advertising cost are somewhat fixed and
margins increase with volume.
Selling expenses. Selling
expenses increased by $2,269,107, or 43.7%, to $7,467,118 in fiscal year 2008
from $5,198,011 in
fiscal year 2007. The increase in selling expenses includes increased agency
fees associated with increased sales of our debit cards.
Administrative expenses.
Administrative expenses decreased by $318,853, or 17.5%, to $1,506,411 in fiscal
year 2008 as compared to $1,825,264 in fiscal year 2007. The
decrease in administrative expenses was due to the decrease in professional fees
and office expenses.
Depreciation and amortization.
Depreciation and amortization increased by $409,469, or 84.5%, to $894,112 in
fiscal year 2008 as compared to $484,643 in fiscal year 2007. This increase was
due to depreciation and amortization associated with increases in fixed assets
and amortization of intangible assets.
Interest income (expense).
Interest expense decreased by $3,603,097, or 100% to $0 in fiscal year 2008 as
compared to $3,603,097 in fiscal 2007. This reflects the conversion of the notes
payable to stock during 2007. Interest income in 2008 was $127,751 as compared
to 2007 which was $54,931, which related to earnings on our cash
balances.
Income Taxes. Under current
PRC tax law, a wholly foreign owned enterprise has a 100% tax exemption or
“holiday” for the first two years after it so qualifies, and thereafter, a 50%
tax “holiday” for three years. Since Harbin Zhong He Li Da became a wholly
foreign owned enterprise in 2005, we benefited from a 100% tax holiday in 2006.
Under the present law, we benefited from a 50% tax holiday for 2007 and will
benefit from a 50% tax holiday in 2008 and 2009. As a result, we paid no income
tax in 2006, and our income tax for 2007 reflects income tax at 50% of the tax
rate of 15%, which is subject to changes in tax rates implemented in 2007 that
go into effect commencing January 1, 2008. These changes will have the effect of
increasing the enterprise tax rate by 2% per year until it reaches an effective
tax rate of 25%.
Net income. As a result of the
foregoing, we had net income of $9,918,536, or $0.46 per share basic and $0.40
diluted, for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared with net income of
$3,104,907 or $0.16 per share basic and $0.14 diluted, for the year ended
December 31, 2007.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
As of
December 31, 2008, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Our
current assets primarily consist of cash, account receivables, and prepaid
expenses. We do not have inventory. Our account receivables are primarily from
our advertising business on our websites. Our prepaid expenses are primarily
advance payments made to teachers for on-line materials, prepaid advertisement
fee and prepaid rent.
At
December 31, 2008, we had cash and cash equivalents of $23,418,098, an increase
of $11,639,144, or 99%, from $11,778,954 at December 31, 2007. This increase
reflected principally the net income generated by our business during 2008, as
well as exercises of warrants for common stock of approximately $2.7 million
during the year ended December 31, 2008.
Our net
cash provided by operating activities was $9,753,315 for the year ended December
31, 2008, an increase of $925,690 or 10.5% from $8,827,625 for the same period
in 2007. This increase was due to an increase in net income of $6,813,629 along
with non-cash charges related to an increase of depreciation and amortization of
$623,154, an increase of prepaid expense of $1,533,396, an increase of account
receivables of $469,607, and increase in deferred revenue of $953,842 as
compared to the year ended December 31, 2007.
At
December 31, 2008, we had working capital of $25,438,719, an increase of
$13,607,066 from working capital of $11,831,653 at December 31, 2007. We
consider current working capital and borrowing capabilities adequate to cover
our planned operating and capital requirements.
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses at December 31, 2008, were $800,692, an increase of
$377,583, or 89.2%, from $423,109 at December 31, 2007, resulting from the
increased level of business during the year.
We
believe that our working capital, together with our cash flow from operations
will be sufficient to enable us to meet our cash requirements for the next 12
months. However, we may incur additional expenses as we seek to expand our
business to offer services in other parts of the PRC as well as to market and
continue the development of our vocational training activities, and it is
possible that we may require additional funding for that purpose. Although we do
not have any current plans to make any acquisitions, it is possible that we may
seek to acquire one or more businesses in the education field, and we may
require financing for that purpose. We cannot assure you that funding will be
available if and when we require funding.
The
securities purchase agreement relating to our May 2007 private placement
prohibits us (i) from issuing convertible debt or preferred stock until the
earlier of five years from the closing or until the investors have converted or
exercised and sold the securities issued in the private placement or (ii) from
having debt in an amount greater than twice our EBITDA until three years from
the closing or until 90% of the securities have been converted or exercised and
sold. The investors in the private placement also have a right of first refusal
on future financings. These provisions may make it difficult for us to raise
money for our operations or for acquisitions.
Significant
Accounting Estimates and Policies
The
discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is
based upon our financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation
of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we
evaluate our estimates including the allowance for doubtful accounts, the
salability and recoverability of our products, income taxes and contingencies.
We base our estimates on historical experience and on other assumptions that we
believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form our
basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities
that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from
these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Property
and equipment are evaluated for impairment whenever indicators of impairment
exist. Accounting standards require that if an impairment indicator is present,
we must assess whether the carrying amount of the asset is unrecoverable by
estimating the sum of the future cash flows expected to result from the asset,
undiscounted and without interest charges. If the recoverable amount is less
than the carrying amount, an impairment charge must be recognized, based on the
fair value of the asset.
Intangible
assets and capitalized software, which we acquired from third parties, are
amortized over the lives of the rights agreements, which is two to five years.
We evaluate the carrying value of the franchise rights during the fourth quarter
of each year and between annual evaluations if events occur or circumstances
change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the intangible
asset below its carrying amount. There were no impairments recorded during the
year ended December 31, 2008.
As part
of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are
required to estimate our income taxes. This process involves estimating our
current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting
from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These
differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. We must then assess
the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future
taxable income, and, to the extent we believe that recovery is not likely, we
must establish a valuation allowance. To the extent that we establish a
valuation allowance or increase this allowance in a period, we must include a
tax provision or reduce our tax benefit in the statements of operations. We use
our judgment to determine our provision or benefit for income taxes, deferred
tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against our net
deferred tax assets. We believe, based on a number of factors including
historical operating losses, that we will not realize the future benefits of a
significant portion of our net deferred tax assets and we have accordingly
provided a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets. However,
various factors may cause those assumptions to change in the near
term.
We cannot
predict what future laws and regulations might be passed that could have a
material effect on our results of operations. We assess the impact of
significant changes in laws and regulations on a regular basis and update the
assumptions and estimates used to prepare our financial statements when we deem
it necessary.
We have
determined the significant principles by considering accounting policies that
involve the most complex or subjective decisions or assessments. Our most
significant accounting policies are those related to revenue recognition and
deferred revenue.
Revenue
is recognized in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue
Recognition, which states that revenue should be recognized when the following
criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) the
service has been rendered; (3) the selling price is fixed or determinable; and
(4) collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. We believe
that these criteria are satisfied upon customers’ download of prepaid study
materials. Prepaid debit cards allow our subscribers to purchase a predetermined
monetary amount of download materials posted on our website. Prepaid service
contracts are amortized to income on a straight line basis over the length of
the service contract. These service contracts allow the user to obtain materials
for a designed period of time. At the time that the prepaid debit card is
purchased, the receipt of cash is recorded as deferred revenue. Revenue is
recognized in the month when services are actually rendered. Unused value
relating to debit cards is recognized as revenue when the prepaid debit card has
expired. Revenue from advertising on our website is recognized when the
advertisement is run. Since advertising customers are billed monthly, there are
no unearned advertising revenue.
The
Company engages an advertisement agency to manage its on-line advertisement
revenue. Per the contract with this agency, upon posting of an on-line
advertisement on the Company’s website, the Company is entitled to share with
the agency 50% of the amount charged to the on-line advertiser. The Company
recognizes revenue upon posting of an advertisement on their web-site. The
agency is responsible for collection of all ad revenue from advertisers. The
agency is required to make their remittance for on-line advertising six months
after on-line ads are posted on their website.
Prepaid
expenses are primarily comprised of advance payments made for services to
teachers for on-line materials and video and prepaid rent.
Deferred
revenue includes subscriber prepayments and education fee prepayments.
Subscriber prepayments represents deferred revenue for the purchase of debit
cards used to pay for the on-line downloading of education materials, including
testing booklets, supplemental materials and teaching video clips. We value the
sales based on the actual occurrence of customer download. Therefore, the spare
time between the purchase of debit cards and actual download is recorded under
advances on accounts as deferred or unearned revenue. Once the download takes
place, the amount is then transferred from advances on accounts to sales.
Education fee prepayments represent tuition payments and payments for service
contracts which are amortized over their respective terms.
We do not
have any stock option or other equity-based incentive plans for our officers,
directors or key employees. To the extent that we do adopt such plans in the
future, such grants will be valued at the granting date and expensed over the
applicable vesting period as required by Statement of Financial Accounting
Standard No. 123(revised 2004), “Share-Based Payments.”
New
Accounting Pronouncements
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business
Combinations” (“SFAS 141(R)”). SFAS 141(R) will change the accounting for
business combinations. Under SFAS No. 141(R), an acquiring entity will be
required to recognize all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a
transaction at the acquisition-date fair value with limited exceptions. SFAS No.
141(R) will change the accounting treatment and disclosure for certain specific
items in a business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) applies prospectively to
business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the
beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December
15, 2008. SFAS 141(R) will impact us in the event of any future
acquisition.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Non-controlling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin
No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 establishes new accounting and reporting
standards for the non-controlling interest in a subsidiary and for the
deconsolidation of a subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years
beginning on or after December 15, 2008. We do not believe that SFAS 160 will
have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In March
2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“FAS 161”). FAS
161 changes the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging
activities. Entities are required to provide enhanced disclosures about (a) how
and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments
and related hedged items are accounted for under Statement 133 and its related
interpretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items
affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows.
The guidance in FAS 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal
years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early
application encouraged. This Statement encourages, but does not require,
comparative disclosures for earlier periods at initial adoption. We are
currently assessing the impact of FAS 161.
In May
2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff
Position (“FSP”) APB 14-1, Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May
Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement. FSP APB
14-1 clarifies that convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash
upon either mandatory or optional conversion (including partial cash settlement)
are not addressed by paragraph 12 of APB Opinion No. 14, Accounting for
Convertible Debt and Debt issued with Stock Purchase Warrants. Additionally, FSP
APB 14-1 specifies that issuers of such instruments should separately account
for the liability and equity components in a manner that will reflect the
entity’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate when interest cost is recognized in
subsequent periods. FSP APB 14-1 is effective for financial statements issued
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within
those fiscal years. We will adopt FSP APB 14-1 beginning in the first quarter of
fiscal 2009, and this standard must be applied on a retrospective basis. We are
evaluating the impact the adoption of FSP APB 14-1 will have on our consolidated
financial position and results of operations.
In May
2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No.
162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. This standard is
intended to improve financial reporting by identifying a consistent framework,
or hierarchy, for selecting accounting principles to be used in preparing
financial statements that are presented in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States for non-governmental entities. SFAS
No. 162 is effective 60 days following approval by the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s
amendments to AU Section 411, The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity with
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. We do not expect SFAS No. 162 to have
a material impact on the preparation of our consolidated financial
statements.
On
September 16, 2008, the FASB issued final Staff Position (FSP) No. EITF 03-6-1,
“Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are
Participating Securities,” to address the question of whether instruments
granted in share-based payment transactions are participating securities prior
to vesting. The FSP determines that unvested share-based payment awards that
contain rights to dividend payments should be included in earnings per share
calculations. The guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2008. We are currently evaluating the requirements of (FSP) No.
EITF 03-6-1, as well as the impact of the adoption on our consolidated financial
statements.
On
October 10, 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(“SFAS”) No. 157-3, Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the
Market for That Asset Is Not Active. This FASB Staff Position (FSP) clarifies
the application of FASB Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, in a market
that is not active and provides an example to illustrate key considerations in
determining the fair value of a financial asset when the market for that
financial asset is not active. Statement 157 was issued in September 2006, and
is effective for financial assets and financial liabilities for financial
statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and
interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted SFAS 157-3 and determined
that it had minimal impact, if any, as of December 31, 2008 and for the year
then ended. We will continue to evaluate the impact, if any, of SFAS 157-3 on
our financial statements.
A variety
of proposed or otherwise potential accounting standards are currently under
study by standard setting organizations and various regulatory agencies. Due to
the tentative and preliminary nature of those proposed standards, management has
not determined whether implementation of such proposed standards would be
material to our consolidated financial statements.
Item
7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Not
Applicable.
CHINA
EDUCATION ALLIANCE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December
31, 2008
INDEX
|
PAGE
|
|
|
|
F-1
|
|
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
|
F-2
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
|
F-3
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
|
F-5
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
|
F-6
|
|
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
F-8 - F-32
|
Item
8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
REPORT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the
Stockholders and Directors
China
Education Alliance, Inc.
We have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of China Education
Alliance, Inc. and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and the
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash
flows for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. These consolidated
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial
statements based on our audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not
required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal
control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal
control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that
are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purposes of expressing an
opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining,
on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the
financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the
overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our
opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of China Education Alliance, Inc. as
of December 31, 2008 and 2007 and the results of its operations and its cash
flows for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
/s/ Sherb & Co.,
LLP
|
|
Certified Public
Accountants
|
|
New York,
New York
March 30,
2009
China
Education Alliance, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
23,418,098 |
|
|
$ |
11,778,954 |
|
Advances
to related parties
|
|
|
142,006 |
|
|
|
108,536 |
|
Accounts
receivables
|
|
|
469,607 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
|
|
3,437,506 |
|
|
|
1,612,779 |
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
27,467,217 |
|
|
|
13,500,269 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property
and equipment, net
|
|
|
6,136,252 |
|
|
|
6,186,824 |
|
Intangibles
and capitalized software, net
|
|
|
864,089 |
|
|
|
623,560 |
|
Advance
on acquisition
|
|
|
932,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Long
term investment
|
|
|
342,357 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
35,741,915 |
|
|
$ |
20,310,653 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
|
$ |
800,692 |
|
|
$ |
423,109 |
|
Deferred
revenues
|
|
|
1,227,806 |
|
|
|
1,245,507 |
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
2,028,498 |
|
|
|
1,668,616 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders'
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
stock ($0.001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, of 7,597,645 and
9,397,645 issued and outstanding, respectively, aggregate liquidation
preference of $2,811,129 and $3,383,152, respectively)
|
|
|
3,010,144 |
|
|
|
3,677,944 |
|
Common
stock ($0.001 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized, 21,892,631 and
19,409,830, issued and outstanding, respectively)
|
|
|
21,893 |
|
|
|
19,410 |
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
10,751,732 |
|
|
|
6,378,110 |
|
Statutory
reserve
|
|
|
1,990,238 |
|
|
|
1,151,885 |
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
|
|
2,688,080 |
|
|
|
1,243,541 |
|
Retained
earnings
|
|
|
15,251,330 |
|
|
|
6,171,147 |
|
Total
stockholders' equity
|
|
|
33,713,417 |
|
|
|
18,642,037 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
35,741,915 |
|
|
$ |
20,310,653 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
China
Education Alliance, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Online
education revenues
|
|
$ |
16,706,917 |
|
|
$ |
11,505,336 |
|
Training
center revenues
|
|
|
5,552,969 |
|
|
|
3,699,827 |
|
Advertising
revenues
|
|
|
2,591,131 |
|
|
|
2,118,371 |
|
Total
revenue
|
|
|
24,851,017 |
|
|
|
17,323,534 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of Goods Sold
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Online
education costs
|
|
|
2,859,593 |
|
|
|
2,227,196 |
|
Training
center costs
|
|
|
1,922,841 |
|
|
|
1,147,364 |
|
Advertising
costs
|
|
|
182,505 |
|
|
|
166,749 |
|
Total
cost of goods sold
|
|
|
4,964,939 |
|
|
|
3,541,309 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
Profit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Online
education gross profit
|
|
|
13,847,324 |
|
|
|
9,278,140 |
|
Training
center gross profit
|
|
|
3,630,128 |
|
|
|
2,552,463 |
|
Advertising
gross profit
|
|
|
2,408,626 |
|
|
|
1,951,622 |
|
Total
gross profit
|
|
|
19,886,078 |
|
|
|
13,782,225 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling
expenses
|
|
|
7,467,118 |
|
|
|
5,198,011 |
|
Administrative
|
|
|
1,506,411 |
|
|
|
1,825,264 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
894,112 |
|
|
|
484,643 |
|
Total
operating expenses
|
|
|
9,867,641 |
|
|
|
7,507,918 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
Income (Expense)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
Income
|
|
|
536,876 |
|
|
|
860,037 |
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
127,751 |
|
|
|
54,931 |
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(3,603,097 |
) |
Investment
loss
|
|
|
(95,331 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Total
other income (expense)
|
|
|
569,296 |
|
|
|
(2,688,129 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Income Before Provision for Income Tax
|
|
|
10,587,733 |
|
|
|
3,586,178 |
|
Provision
For Income Taxes
|
|
|
669,197 |
|
|
|
481,271 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Income
|
|
$ |
9,918,536 |
|
|
$ |
3,104,907 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
Earnings Per Share
|
|
$ |
0.46 |
|
|
$ |
0.16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
|
|
|
21,549,381 |
|
|
|
19,325,872 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
Earnings Per Share
|
|
$ |
0.40 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
|
|
|
24,662,830 |
|
|
|
22,549,837 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Components of Other Comprehensive Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Income
|
|
$ |
9,918,536 |
|
|
$ |
3,104,907 |
|
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
1,444,539 |
|
|
|
965,708 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive
Income
|
|
$ |
11,363,075 |
|
|
$ |
4,070,615 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
China
Education Alliance, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders' Equity
|
|
Preferred Stock
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
of
|
|
|
|
|
|
of
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paid-In
|
|
|
Statutory
|
|
|
Comprehensive
|
|
|
Retained
|
|
|
Stockholders'
|
|
|
|
shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Reserve
|
|
|
Income
|
|
|
Earnings
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
19,312,041 |
|
|
$ |
19,312 |
|
|
$ |
2,657,480 |
|
|
$ |
355,754 |
|
|
$ |
277,833 |
|
|
$ |
3,862,371 |
|
|
$ |
7,172,750 |
|
Common
stock issued for services
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
15,890 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
15,900 |
|
Warrants
issued for services
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
264,401 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
264,401 |
|
Issuance
of warrants with convertible debt
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,887,600 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,887,600 |
|
Beneficial
conversion feature with convertible debt
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,512,400 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,512,400 |
|
Conversion
of notes payable to preferred stock
|
|
|
9,189,189 |
|
|
|
3,400,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
40,427 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3,440,427 |
|
Issuance
of preferred stock for liquidated damages
|
|
|
208,456 |
|
|
|
277,944 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
277,944 |
|
Cashless
exercise of warrants
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
87,789 |
|
|
|
88 |
|
|
|
(88 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
965,708 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
965,708 |
|
Appropriation
to staturoty reserve
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
796,131 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(796,131 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Net
income
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3,104,907 |
|
|
|
3,104,907 |
|
Balance
at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
9,397,645 |
|
|
|
3,677,944 |
|
|
|
19,409,830 |
|
|
|
19,410 |
|
|
|
6,378,110 |
|
|
|
1,151,885 |
|
|
|
1,243,541 |
|
|
|
6,171,147 |
|
|
|
18,642,037 |
|
Exercise
of warrants
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,482,801 |
|
|
|
1,483 |
|
|
|
2,666,076 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2,667,559 |
|
Conversion
of preferred stock
|
|
|
(1,800,000 |
) |
|
|
(667,800 |
) |
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
600 |
|
|
|
667,200 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Common
stock issued for Advance an acquisition of World Exchanges
Inc
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
|
400 |
|
|
|
931,600 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
932,000 |
|
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,444,539 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,444,539 |
|
Stock
based compensation
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
5,326 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
5,326 |
|
Warrants
issued for services
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
103,420 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
103,420 |
|
Appropriation
to staturoty reserve
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
838,353 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(838,353 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Net
income
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
9,918,536 |
|
|
|
9,918,536 |
|
Balance
at December 31, 2008
|
|
|
7,597,645 |
|
|
$ |
3,010,144 |
|
|
|
21,892,631 |
|
|
$ |
21,893 |
|
|
$ |
10,751,732 |
|
|
$ |
1,990,238 |
|
|
$ |
2,688,080 |
|
|
$ |
15,251,330 |
|
|
$ |
33,713,417 |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
China
Education Alliance, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Cash
flows from operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Income
|
|
$ |
9,918,536 |
|
|
$ |
3,104,907 |
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
1,598,624 |
|
|
|
975,470 |
|
Amortization
of loan discount - warrants attached to loans
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,969,163 |
|
Beneficial
conversion feature
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,512,400 |
|
Warrants
issued for services
|
|
|
103,420 |
|
|
|
264,401 |
|
Stock
issued for services
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
15,900 |
|
Preferred
stock issued for liquidation damages
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
277,944 |
|
Interest
on convertible note accounted for as capital contribution
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
40,427 |
|
Stock
based compensation
|
|
|
5,326 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Loss
on equity investment
|
|
|
95,331 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Net
change in assets and liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Account
receivables
|
|
|
(469,607 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Other
receivables
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
54,723 |
|
Prepaid
expenses and other
|
|
|
(1,824,727 |
) |
|
|
(291,331 |
) |
Advances
to related parties
|
|
|
(33,470 |
) |
|
|
(244,480 |
) |
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
|
377,583 |
|
|
|
211,960 |
|
Deferred
revenue
|
|
|
(17,701 |
) |
|
|
936,141 |
|
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
9,753,315 |
|
|
|
8,827,625 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases
of fixed assets
|
|
|
(996,434 |
) |
|
|
(1,722,718 |
) |
Acquisition
of intangibles and capitalized software
|
|
|
(792,147 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Long-term
investment
|
|
|
(437,688 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Net
Cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(2,226,269 |
) |
|
|
(1,722,718 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants
exercised
|
|
|
2,667,559 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Proceeds
from loans
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
3,400,000 |
|
Payments
on loans
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(1,530,000 |
) |
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
2,667,559 |
|
|
|
1,870,000 |
|
Effect
of exchange rate
|
|
|
1,444,539 |
|
|
|
965,708 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
increase in cash
|
|
|
11,639,144 |
|
|
|
9,940,615 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
|
|
11,778,954 |
|
|
|
1,838,339 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of year
|
|
$ |
23,418,098 |
|
|
$ |
11,778,954 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
disclosure of cash flow information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
paid
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
297,838 |
|
Taxes
paid
|
|
$ |
550,938 |
|
|
$ |
408,749 |
|
Value
of equity granted and issued
|
|
$ |
108,436 |
|
|
$ |
280,301 |
|
Value
of preferred stock issued for liquidation damages
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
277,944 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-cash
investing and financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion
of preferred stock to common
|
|
$ |
667,800 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Conversion
of notes payable to preferred stock
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
3,400,000 |
|
Cashless
exercise of warrants
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
88 |
|
Common
stock issued for advance of acquisition
|
|
$ |
932,000 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
China
Education Alliance, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
1.
|
Organization and Description of
Business
|
Nature of organization - China
Education Alliance, Inc. (the “Company”), formerly known as ABC Realty Co., was
originally organized under the laws of the State of North Carolina on December
2, 1996. ABC Realty Co.’s primary purpose was to act as a broker or agent in
residential real estate transactions. On September 15, 2004, ABC Realty Co. was
reorganized pursuant to the Plan of Exchange to acquire Harbin Zhong He Li Da
Education Technology, Inc. (“ZHLD”), a corporation formed on August 9, 2004 in
the City of Harbin of Heilongjiang Province, the People’s Republic of China (the
PRC), with an authorized capital of $60,386 (RMB500,000).
On
September 15, 2004, ABC Realty Co. executed a Plan of Exchange with ZHLD and
Duane C. Bennett, the former Chairman of ABC Realty Co., pursuant to which the
shareholders of ZHLD exchanged all of their registered capital of $60,386 for
18,333,334 shares of common stock of the Company, or approximately 95% of the
Company’s common stock. On November 17, 2004, ABC Realty Co. changed its name to
China Education Alliance, Inc. On December 13, 2004, China Education Alliance,
Inc. consummated the Plan of Exchange with ZHLD and ZHLD’s shareholders. As a
result of the Plan of Exchange, the transaction was treated for accounting
purposes as a recapitalization of ZHLD.
ZHLD is a
technology company engaged in the online education industry in China. Its
mission is to promote distance learning development in China, to improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of elementary education, higher education,
vocational education, skill education, continuing education, and professional
training programs, and to integrate with the international education
system.
ZHLD
subsidiary Heilongjiang Zhonghe Education Training Center (“ZETC”) was
registered in the PRC on July 8, 2005 with a registered capital of $60,386 and
is a wholly owned subsidiary of ZHLD. ZHLD owns 99% of ZETC with 1% held in
trust by Xiqun Yu for the benefit of China Education Alliance, Inc.
ZHLD also
owns 70% of Beijing Hua Yu Hui Zhong Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“BHYHZ”).
BHYHZ was formed on September 30, 2006 in the PRC. The remaining 30% interest
was given to The Vocational Education Guidance Center of China for no
consideration. The 30% interest in BHYHZ that the Company transferred to The
Vocational Education Guidance Center of China for no consideration was treated
as an intangible asset. The minority ownership interest shares of operating
losses of BHYHZ are being absorbed by the Company as the minority interest
holdings have no basis in their investment. The minority losses absorbed by the
Company for their BHYHZ subsidiary for the year ended December 31, 2008 was
$90,963.
The
Company’s principal business is the distribution of educational resources
through the Internet. The Company’s website, www.edu-chn.com, is a
comprehensive education network platform which is based on network video
technology and large data sources of elementary education resources. The Company
has a data base comprised of such resources as test papers that were used for
secondary education and university level courses as well as video on demand. The
data base includes more than 300,000 exams and test papers and courseware for
college, secondary and elementary schools. While some of these exams were given
in previous years, new instructors are engaged to develop new exams and
methodologies for taking the exams. The Company markets this data base under the
name “Famous Instructor Test Paper Store.” Also offered, though the website, is
video on demand, which includes tutoring of exam papers and exam techniques. The
Company compliments the past exams and test papers by providing an interactive
platform for students to understand the key points from the papers and exams.
Although a number of the resources are available through the website without
charge, our subscribers are charged for such services as the “Famous Instructor
Test Paper Store” and the video on demand. Subscribers can purchase debit cards
which can be used to download material from the website.
The
Company also provides on-site teaching services in Harbin, which are marketed
under the name “Classroom of Famed Instructors.” The Company has a 36,600 square
foot training facility in Harbin, Heilonjiang Province, China, which has 17
classrooms and can accommodate up to 1,200 students. These classes, which
complement our on-line education services, provide classroom and tutoring to our
students. The courses primarily cover the compulsory education curriculum of
junior, middle and high school. The Company charges tuition for these
classes.
On April
18, 2008, ZHLD entered into an agreement and supplementary agreement with Harbin
Daily Newspaper Group (“Newspaper Group”) to invest in a joint venture company,
Harbin New Discovery Media Co., Ltd. (“New Discovery”). ZHLD contributed RMB
3,000 000 (approximately, $430,000) and Newspaper Group contributed RMB
3,120,000 (approximately, $445,000) towards the registered capital of New
Discovery. In return for their respective contributions, ZHLD will own 49.02%
equity interest and Newspaper Group will own 50.98% equity interest in New
Discovery. The parties are prohibited, for the duration of the joint venture
from retiring or transferring their equity interests. This joint venture will
create new educational material distribution channels in readable newspaper
format in the future. The value of this investment as of December 31, 2008 is
$342,357.
Pursuant
to the terms of the supplementary agreement, Newspaper Group assigned all their
rights in the “Scientific Discovery” a scientific information newspaper, with a
focus on education to introduce scientific knowledge to elementary and secondary
students
exclusively to the joint venture company, New Discovery. In the event
that the rights to “Scientific Discovery” expire because of reason other than a
change in government policies and an inability to defend against or resist such
changes, Newspaper Group is liable to ZHLD for twice the latter’s registered
contribution in the joint venture in liquidated damages. The transaction closed
on July 7, 2008 and as a result, New Discovery is now a 49.02% owned equity
investment of ZHLD, referred to as a long term investment in the accompanying
balance sheet.
On April
27, 2008, the Company entered into a Share Transfer Agreement with Mr. Yuli Guo
(the “Vendor”) and World Exchanges, Inc. (“WEI”) to purchase from Vendor seventy
(70) issued and outstanding ordinary shares in WEI, representing 70% of the
entire issued share capital of WEI (the “WEI Acquisition”). WEI is incorporated
under the laws of Canada and was organized on December 19, 1991. WEI has been
registered at 30 Denton Avenue, Apartment 2216, Toronto, Canada. In
consideration for the said shares, the Company issued to the Vendor 400,000
shares of its common stock, with a market value of $2.33 per share. The Vendor
retained the remaining 30% of the issued share capital of WEI. The Vendor has
agreed not to transfer the shares of the Company to a third party for fifteen
(15) years and to grant the Company a right of first refusal in the event the
Vendor is desirous of selling such shares.
WEI
provides English training programs, English test preparation courses and
overseas study and consulting services in the PRC. WEI primarily operates the
World Exchanges College of Language (“WECL”) English Education business. The
WECL has been providing English instruction for PRC students since 1988. WECL
offers 1) a Qualifying Program designed to help beginners who want to learn
English as a second language to develop competence in communication skills at an
elementary level; 2) a Combined Studies Program which is open to students with a
College degree or at least six years of high school; 3) a General English
Studies Program, which is the second year of the Combined Studies program or may
be taken by someone with 3 years of university courses and a minimum of 6 years
of English instruction. In addition, WECL recently started providing language
test preparation programs and overseas study and consulting services for
students.
The PRC
component of the WEI Acquisition has not been completed as of December 31, 2008.
Due to PRC pending regulatory approval, the schools as of December 31, 2008 have
not been included with the WEI Acquisition. If government approval for the
acquisition of the schools is approved, the Company will include the schools as
part of their WEI operations. In accordance with the WEI Acquisition, WEI is to
establish a WOFE (“wholly foreign owned enterprise”), Beijing Wei Shi Yi Tong
Education Technology Co., Inc (BJWSYT)., in Beijing, PRC on December 23, 2008,
whereby the WOFE shall operate as the headquarters of WEI’s educational
operations in the PRC. WEI contributed US$ 100,000 towards the registered
capital of BJWSYT, amounting to a total registered capital of US$100,000. In
return for its contribution, WEI now owns 100% equity interest in BJWSYT. BJWSYT
will be involved in the English language training business, in particular, in
running the World Exchanges College of Language in the People’s Republic of
China. As a result of the WEI Acquisition, WEI is a 70% owned subsidiary of the
Company. The Company will absorb any losses attributable to the minority
interest, or the Vendor, as the minority interest has no basis in WEI. As the
WEI Acquisition has not been fully completed with regards to the PRC component,
the transaction has been classified as an Advance on acquisition as of December
31, 2008.
WEI
through BJWSYT operates five schools in the PRC; two schools in Beijing, and one
school in Yantai, Xiamen and Qingdao. These schools are either fully owned or
controlled by WEI. The following is a list of the schools and their related
percentage of ownership by WEI:
|
|
Percentage of
|
|
School Name
|
|
Ownership by WEI
|
|
Beijing
Weishi Success Education Technology Co., Ltd.,
|
|
|
100 |
% |
Beijing
World Exchanges English College
|
|
|
65 |
% |
Yantai
WECL English College
|
|
|
55 |
% |
Xiamen
Siming District Weishi English Training School
|
|
|
51 |
% |
Private
Qingdao Weishi Education Training School
|
|
|
55 |
% |
The
Company operates in one business segment, that of education, in which it
operates in two revenue areas of online education and education training
centers. With the Company’s equity investment in New Discovery the Company is
now invested in the business of publishing and circulating “Scientific
Discovery”, a scientific information newspaper, with a focus on
education.
2.
|
Basis of Preparation of Financial
Statements
|
The
accompanying financial statements differ from the financial statements used for
statutory purposes in the PRC in that they have been prepared in compliance with
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and reflect certain
adjustments, recorded on the entities’ books, which are appropriate to present
the financial position, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with
GAAP. The principal adjustments are related to revenue recognition, foreign
currency translation, deferred taxation, consolidation, and depreciation and
valuation of property and equipment and intangible assets.
These
notes and accompanying consolidated financial statements retroactively reflect a
reverse split that became effective October 12, 2007. Fractional shares were
rounded up resulting in the issuance of 216 shares in excess of the actual
conversion rate of 3-to-1.
3.
|
Summary of Significant Accounting
Policies
|
Principles of Consolidation -
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and its wholly subsidiaries (ZHLD and ZETC) and its majority owned subsidiary
(BHYHZ). All inter-company transactions and balances were eliminated. Minority
interest in the net assets and earnings or losses of BHYHZ have been absorbed by
the Company as minority interest holders in these subsidiaries have no basis in
their investment in these subsidiaries.
Use of estimates - The
preparation of these consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements and the
reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reported
periods.
Significant
estimates include values and lives assigned to acquired intangible assets,
reserves for customer returns and allowances, uncollectible accounts receivable
and stock warrant valuation. Actual results may differ from these
estimates.
Cash and cash equivalents -
The Company
considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity period of
three months or less to be cash or cash equivalents. The carrying amounts
reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash
equivalents approximate their fair value. Substantially all of the Company’s
cash is held in bank accounts in the PRC and is not protected by FDIC insurance
or any other similar insurance. The cash that the Company maintains in US banks
are insured up to $250,000 at each bank as of December 31, 2008. The Company’s
cash at their US bank is in excess of statutorily insured limits as of December
31, 2008.
Property and equipment -
Property and equipment are stated at the historical cost, less accumulated
depreciation. Depreciation on property, plant and equipment is provided using
the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets after
taking into account a 5% residual value for both financial and income tax
reporting purposes as follows:
Buildings
|
20
years
|
Communication
Equipment
|
10
years
|
Motor
vehicles
|
5
years
|
Furniture,
Fixtures, and Equipment
|
5
years
|
Expenditures
for renewals and betterments are capitalized while repairs and maintenance costs
are normally charged to the statement of operations in the year in which they
are incurred. In situations where it can be clearly demonstrated that the
expenditure has resulted in an increase in the future economic benefits expected
to be obtained from the use of the asset, the expenditure is capitalized as an
additional cost of the asset.
Upon sale
or disposal of an asset, the historical cost and related accumulated
depreciation or amortization of such asset are removed from their respective
accounts and any gain or loss is recorded in the Statements of
Operations.
The
Company reviews the carrying value of property, plant, and equipment for
impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of
an asset may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to
result from its use and eventual disposition. In cases where undiscounted
expected future cash flows are less than the carrying value, an impairment loss
is recognized equal to an amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair
value of assets. The factors considered by management in performing these
assessments include current operating results, trends and prospects, the manner
in which the property is used, and the effects of obsolescence, demand,
competition, and other economic factors. Based on these assessments there was no
impairment at December 31, 2008.
Intangibles and Capitalized
Software- Intangibles and capitalized software consist of franchise
rights on educational products ,software and the transfer of minority interest
in BHYHZ subsidiary for no consideration, that are amortized over the lives of
the rights agreements, or their respective useful lives, which is five years
..
The
Company evaluates the carrying value of intangible assets during the fourth
quarter of each year and between annual evaluations if events occur or
circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of
the intangible asset below its carrying amount. There were no impairment
recorded during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
Long-Lived Assets - The
Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment when changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be
recoverable. Long-lived assets under certain circumstances are reported at the
lower of carrying amount or fair value. Assets to be disposed of and assets not
expected to provide any future service potential to the Company are recorded at
the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. To the extent
carrying values exceed fair values, an impairment loss is recognized in
operating results.
Foreign Currency - The
Company’s principal country of operations is the PRC. The financial position and
results of operations of the Company are recorded in Renminbi (“RMB”) as the
functional currency. The results of operations denominated in foreign currency
are translated at the average rate of exchange during the reporting
period.
Assets
and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are
translated at the market rate of exchange ruling at that date. The registered
equity capital denominated in the functional currency is translated at the
historical rate of exchange at the time of capital contribution. All translation
adjustments resulting from the translation of the financial statements into the
reporting currency (“U.S. Dollars”) are recorded in accumulated other
comprehensive income, a separate component within shareholders’
equity.
Revenue recognition - Revenue
is recognized in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue
Recognition, which states that revenue should be recognized when the following
criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) the
service has been rendered; (3) the selling price is fixed or determinable; and
(4) collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. The Company
believes that these criteria are satisfied when customers download prepaid study
materials.
Prepaid debit cards allow the Company’s
subscribers to purchase a predetermined monetary amount of download materials
posted on its website. The Company tracks usage of the debit card and records
revenue when the debit card is used.
At the
time that the prepaid debit card is purchased, the receipt of cash is recorded
as deferred revenue. Revenues are recognized in the month when card is used.
Unused value relating to debit cards is recognized as revenues when the prepaid
debit card has expired.
Tuition
from courses is recognized ratably over the period fees are earned, typically
the life of the course. The Company offer credits to students if they should
withdraw, or be unable to complete their required courses. Historically the
issuances of credits have not been high with regards to tuition fees. The
Company offers cash refunds on a limited basis based on individual
circumstances.
The
Company engages an advertisement agency to manage its on-line advertisement
revenue. Per the contract with this agency, upon posting of an on-line
advertisement on the Company’s website, the Company is entitled to share with
the agency 50% of the amount charged to the on-line advertiser. The Company
recognizes revenue upon posting of an advertisement on their web-site. The
agency is responsible for collection of all ad revenue from advertisers. The
agency is required to make their remittance for on-line advertising six months
after on-line ads are posted on their website.
Deferred
revenue reflects the unearned portion of debit cards sold and tuition. Tuition
is recognized as revenue ratably over the periods in which it is earned,
generally the term of the program or as the debit card is used.
Accounts Receivables -
Included in accounts receivables are receivables from advertising on our
websites and from the sale of prepaid debit cards to resellers. The sales of
prepaid debit cards to resellers are recorded as deferred revenue until such
time as the cards are used to download material from the Company’s website.
Total accounts receivables as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $469,607 and $0,
respectively.
The
Company reviews its accounts receivables on a periodic basis and makes general
and specific allowances when there is doubt as to the collectability of
individual balances. In evaluating the collectability of individual receivable
balances, the Company considers many factors, including the age of the balance,
customer’s historical payment history, its current credit-worthiness and current
economic trends. Accounts are written off after exhaustive efforts at
collection. If accounts receivable are to be provided for, or written off, they
would be recognized in the consolidated statement of operations within operating
expenses. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company has not established an
allowance for doubtful accounts, in addition the Company has not provided for,
or written off, accounts receivable for the years ended December 31, 2008 and
2007.
Advertising - The Company
expenses advertising costs for outdoor spots at the time they are aired and for
all other advertising the first time the respective advertising takes place.
These costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. The
total advertising expenses incurred for the years ended December 31, 2008 and
2007 were $892,724 and $1,181,187, respectively.
Taxation - Taxation on profits
earned in the PRC are calculated on the estimated assessable profits for the
year at the rates of taxation prevailing in the PRC after taking into effect the
benefits from any special tax credits or “tax holidays” allowed in the
PRC.
The
Company does not accrue United States income tax on unremitted earnings from
foreign operations as it is the Company’s intention to indefinitely invest these
earnings in foreign operations. All Company revenues are generated in the PRC.
The Company’s US operations provide corporate and administrative functions for
the entire Company. The Company’s tax provisions for the years ended December
31, 2008 and 2007 are related to the Company’s PRC operations.
In July
2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation No
48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an Interpretation of FASB
Statement No 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 is intended to clarify the accounting for
uncertainty in income taxes recognized in a company’s financial statements and
prescribes the recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected
to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on de-recognition,
classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods,
disclosure and transition.
Under FIN
48, evaluation of a tax position is a two step process. The first step is to
determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be
sustained upon examination, including the resolution of any related appeals or
litigation based on the technical merits of the position. The second step is to
measure the tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not threshold to
determine the amount of benefit to be recognized in the financial statements. A
tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit where there is a
greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate
settlement.
The tax
position that previously failed to meet the more-likely-than-not recognition
threshold should be recognized in the first subsequent period in which the
threshold is met. Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the
more-likely-than-not criteria should be de-recognized in the first subsequent
reporting period in which the threshold is no longer met.
Based on
all known facts and circumstances and current tax law, the Company believes that
the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2008, is not
material to its results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. The
Company also believes that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of
December 31, 2008, if recognized, would not have a material effect on its
effective tax rate. The Company further believes that there are no tax positions
for which it is reasonably possible, based on current PRC tax law and policy,
that the unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease over
the next 12 months producing, individually or in the aggregate, a material
effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or cash
flows.
Enterprise income
tax
Under the Provisional Regulations of
the People’s Republic of China Concerning Income Tax on Enterprises promulgated
by the State Council which came into effect on January 1, 1994, income tax is
payable by Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprises at a rate of 15% of their taxable
income. Preferential tax treatment may, however, be granted pursuant to any law
or regulations from time to time promulgated by the State Council. ZHLD enjoyed
a 100% exemption from enterprise income taxes during 2006 due to its
classification as a “Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise.” This exemption ended on
December 31, 2006, at which time ZHLD qualified under the current tax structure
for a 50% reduction in the statutory enterprise income tax rates for the three years ended and ending
December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009. The Company’s income taxes for the years ended
December 31, 2008 and 2007 year reflect income taxes at 50% of the applicable
tax rate of 15%.
Deferred
tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences
attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of
existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax
assets, including tax loss and credit carry forwards, and liabilities are
measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the
years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or
settled. The effect of deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax
rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
Deferred income tax expense represents the change during the period in the
deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities. The components of the deferred
tax assets and liabilities are individually classified as current and
non-current based on their characteristics. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a
valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than
not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
The Company has no deferred tax assets or liabilities as of December 31, 2008
and 2007. In addition, the Company has not recorded a deferred tax expense for
the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
Value added
tax
The
Provisional Regulations of the PRC Concerning Value Added Tax promulgated by the
State Council came into effect on January 1, 1994. Under these regulations and
the Implementing Rules of the Provisional Regulations of the PRC Concerning
Value Added Tax, value added tax is imposed on goods sold in or imported into
the PRC and on processing, repair and replacement services provided within the
PRC.
Value
added tax payable in the PRC is charged on an aggregated basis at a rate of 13%
or 17% (depending on the type of goods involved) on the full price collected for
the goods sold or, in the case of taxable services provided, at a rate of 17% on
the charges for the taxable services provided, but excluding, in respect of both
goods and services, any amount paid in respect of value added tax included in
the price or charges, and less any deductible value added tax already paid by
the taxpayer on purchases of goods and services in the same financial
year.
Software
companies are eligible for a 14% VAT tax refund under PRC tax policy. The
Company applied for and received VAT refunds of $536,876 and $860,037 during the
years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Related party – A related party is a
company, or individual, in which a director or an officer has beneficial
interests in and in which the Company has significant influence. As of December
31, 2007 the Company has advanced to their CEO $108,536 to develop the Company.
The funds were expended within the year ended December 31, 2008. As of December
31, 2008, the Company has advanced $80,000 to the Company’s recently acquired
subsidiary, WEI. This advance was made to expand WEI’s operations outside of the
PRC. In addition, the Company contributed $62,006 to a new subsidiary, Zhong He
Li Da (Beijing) Management Consultant Co., Ltd, which was established on January
4, 2009.
All
advances to related parties are non- interest bearing and due upon
demand.
Stock based compensation - The
Company records compensation expense associated with stock-based awards and
other forms of equity compensation in accordance with FASB No. 123( R):
Share-Based Payment (“SFAS No. 123( R)”) as interpreted by SEC Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 107. As required by SFAS no. 123 ( R), the Company records the cost
resulting from all stock-based payment transactions including shares issued
under its stock option plans in the financial statements. The Company records
expense over the vesting period in connection with stock options granted. The
compensation expense for stock-based awards includes an estimate for forfeitures
and is recognized over the expected term of the award on a straight line
basis.
Fair value of financial instruments -
The carrying amounts of certain financial instruments, including cash,
accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expense and deferred revenues,
approximate their fair values as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 because of the
relatively short-term maturity of these instruments.
Reclassifications - Certain
reclassifications have been made to the prior periods’ financial statements to
conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect
on previously reported results of operations or the sum of retained earnings and
statutory reserve.
Recent accounting
pronouncements –
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS
No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141(R)”). SFAS 141(R)
will change the accounting for business combinations. Under SFAS No. 141(R), an
acquiring entity will be required to recognize all the assets acquired and
liabilities assumed in a transaction at the acquisition-date fair value with
limited exceptions. SFAS No. 141(R) will change the accounting treatment and
disclosure for certain specific items in a business combination. SFAS No. 141(R)
applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is
on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or
after December 15, 2008. SFAS 141(R) will impact the Company in the event of any
future acquisition.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Non-controlling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin
No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 establishes new accounting and reporting
standards for the non-controlling interest in a subsidiary and for the
deconsolidation of a subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years
beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Company does not believe that SFAS
160 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial
statements.
In March
2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133” (“FAS 161”). FAS
161 changes the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging
activities. Entities are required to provide enhanced disclosures about (a) how
and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments
and related hedged items are accounted for under Statement 133 and its related
interpretations, and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items
affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows.
The guidance in FAS 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal
years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early
application encouraged. This Statement encourages, but does not require,
comparative disclosures for earlier periods at initial adoption. The Company is
currently assessing the impact of FAS 161.
In May
2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff
Position (“FSP”) APB 14-1, Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May
Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement. FSP APB
14-1 clarifies that convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash
upon either mandatory or optional conversion (including partial cash settlement)
are not addressed by paragraph 12 of APB Opinion No. 14, Accounting for
Convertible Debt and Debt issued with Stock Purchase Warrants. Additionally, FSP
APB 14-1 specifies that issuers of such instruments should separately account
for the liability and equity components in a manner that will reflect the
entity’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate when interest cost is recognized in
subsequent periods. FSP APB 14-1 is effective for financial statements issued
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within
those fiscal years. The Company will adopt FSP APB 14-1 beginning in the first
quarter of fiscal 2009, and this standard must be applied on a retrospective
basis. We are evaluating the impact the adoption of FSP APB 14-1 will have on
our consolidated financial position and results of operations.
In May
2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No.
162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. This standard is
intended to improve financial reporting by identifying a consistent framework,
or hierarchy, for selecting accounting principles to be used in preparing
financial statements that are presented in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States for non-governmental entities. SFAS
No. 162 is effective 60 days following approval by the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s
amendments to AU Section 411, The Meaning of Present Fairly in Conformity with
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The Company does not expect SFAS No.
162 to have a material impact on the preparation of our consolidated financial
statements.
On
September 16, 2008, the FASB issued final Staff Position (FSP) No. EITF 03-6-1,
“Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are
Participating Securities,” to address the question of whether instruments
granted in share-based payment transactions are participating securities prior
to vesting. The FSP determines that unvested share-based payment awards that
contain rights to dividend payments should be included in earnings per share
calculations. The guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the requirements of (FSP)
No. EITF 03-6-1, as well as the impact of the adoption on our consolidated
financial statements.
On
October 10, 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(“SFAS”) No. 157-3, Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the
Market for That Asset Is Not Active. This FASB Staff Position (FSP) clarifies
the application of FASB Statement No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, in a market
that is not active and provides an example to illustrate key considerations in
determining the fair value of a financial asset when the market for that
financial asset is not active. Statement 157 was issued in September 2006, and
is effective for financial assets and financial liabilities for financial
statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and
interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted SFAS 157-3 and
determined that it had minimal impact, if any, as of December 31, 2008 and for
the year then ended. The Company will continue to evaluate the impact, if any,
of SFAS 157-3 on our financial statements.
A variety
of proposed or otherwise potential accounting standards are currently under
study by standard setting organizations and various regulatory agencies. Due to
the tentative and preliminary nature of those proposed standards, management has
not determined whether implementation of such proposed standards would be
material to the consolidated financial statements.
4.
|
Concentrations of Business and
Credit Risk
|
Substantially
all of the Company’s bank accounts are in banks located in the PRC and are not
covered by any type of protection similar to that provided by the FDIC on funds
held in U.S banks.
The
Company is operating in China, which may give rise to significant foreign
currency risks from fluctuations and the degree of volatility of foreign
exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the RMB.
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk
consist principally of cash and trade receivables, the balances of which are
stated on the balance sheet. The Company places its cash in high credit quality
financial institutions; however, such funds are not insured in the PRC. As of
December 31, 2008, The Company maintains cash in the US, in a financial
institution insured by the FDIS that has approximately $463,000 in funds in
excess of FDIC insured amounts. The Company sells its products to students who
purchase debit cards which can be used to download the Company’s products. Since
the Company is paid in advance, it has no receivables and no significant credit
risk.
For the
years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, no single customer accounted for 10% or
more of revenues.
As of
December 31, 2008 the Company had no insurance coverage of any kind. Accrual for
losses is not recognized until such time as an uninsured loss has occurred. The
Company has not accrued for any losses as of December 31, 2008.
Payments
of dividends may be subject to some restrictions.
5.
|
Cash and Cash
Equivalents
|
As of
December 31, 2008, Cash and cash equivalents consist of the
following:
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
on Hand — China
|
|
$ |
417 |
|
|
$ |
2,652 |
|
Bank
Deposits — China
|
|
|
22,705,067 |
|
|
|
11,353,793 |
|
Bank
Deposits — US
|
|
|
712,614 |
|
|
|
422,509 |
|
|
|
$ |
23,418,098 |
|
|
$ |
11,778,954 |
|
6.
|
Advance
to Related Parties
|
Advance
to related parties consist of the following:
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Advance
to WEI
|
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Advance
to ZHLDBJ
|
|
|
62,006 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Advance
to Mr. Yu Xinqu
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
108,536 |
|
|
|
$ |
142,006 |
|
|
$ |
108,536 |
|
As of
December 31, 2008, the Company has advanced $80,000 to the Company’s recently
acquired subsidiary, WEI. This advance was made to expand WEI’s operations
outside of the PRC. In addition, the Company contributed $62,006 to a new
subsidiary, Zhong He Li Da (Beijing) Management Consultant Co., Ltd, which was
established on January 4, 2009.
Accounts
Receivables are all unsecured and due upon demand:
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Mobi
Advertising
|
|
|
467,450 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Others
|
|
|
2,157 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
$ |
469,607 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
The Mobi
advertising is an agent for the company’s on-line advertising business with
six-month receivable period. Total accounts receivables as of December 31, 2008
and 2007 was $469,607 and $0, respectively.
Prepaid
Expenses consist of the following:
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid
rent
|
|
$ |
312,343 |
|
|
$ |
285,269 |
|
Prepaid
software development
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
633,562 |
|
Prepaid
teachers and online material
|
|
|
456,137 |
|
|
|
143,927 |
|
Prepaid
services and professional fees
|
|
|
66,529 |
|
|
|
109,589 |
|
Prepaid
outdoor advertising
|
|
|
1,939,736 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Prepaid
television advertising
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
401,918 |
|
Prepaid
printing fee
|
|
|
633,188 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Other
prepaid expenses
|
|
|
29,573 |
|
|
|
38,514 |
|
|
|
$ |
3,437,506 |
|
|
$ |
1,612,779 |
|
9.
|
Property and
Equipment
|
Property
and Equipment consist of the following:
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Buildings
|
|
$ |
3,562,826 |
|
|
$ |
3,434,247 |
|
Transportation
vehicles
|
|
|
191,427 |
|
|
|
179,737 |
|
Communication
equipment and software
|
|
|
3,176,340 |
|
|
|
2,613,573 |
|
Furniture
and fixtures
|
|
|
1,567,032 |
|
|
|
1,273,634 |
|
|
|
|
8,497,625 |
|
|
|
7,501,191 |
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
(2,361,373 |
) |
|
|
(1,314,367 |
) |
Net
|
|
$ |
6,136,252 |
|
|
$ |
6,186,824 |
|
For the
year ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, depreciation expense totaled $1,047,006
and $823,040, respectively. Allocated in the years ended December 31, 2008 and
2007 depreciation expenses totaling $296,356 and $215,507, respectively were
included in cost of goods sold, the remainder of depreciation expense for the
respective periods is included in operating expenses.
As of
December 31, 2008 the Company does not have any land use rights agreements with
the PRC for the office buildings owned by the Company. The Government owns the
land where the Company’s buildings are located and provide to the Company to use
for free.
In the
PRC land use rights are the legal rights for an entity to use lands for a fixed
period of time. The PRC adopts dual land tenure system under which land
ownership is independent of land use rights. The land is either owned by the
state (“State Land”) or by rural collective economic organization (“Collective
Land”).
10.
|
Intangibles and Capitalized
Software
|
Intangibles
and capitalized software of the Company consist of franchise rights, software
and the transfer of minority interest in the BHYHZ subsidiary for no
consideration.
Franchise
Rights
The
franchise rights owned by the Company consist of the following:
-
|
The
ACCP training course is an authority for training software engineers under
authorized training procedures with authorized
textbooks.
|
-
|
The
BENET training course is an authority for training internet engineers
under authorized training procedures with authorized
textbooks.
|
Capitalized
Software
The
Capitalized software of the Company consists of the following:.
-
|
The
Usage rights for job seekers is software to help university students to
search jobs, post their resumes, and communicate with potential
employers.
|
-
|
The
Usage right for learners is software to help elementary and secondary
students to do assignments, test papers, and get instructions from
teachers.
|
BHYHZ
intangible
In
connection with the organization of BHYHZ, the Company transferred to an
unrelated non-profit organization, a quasi-governmental entity for no
consideration a 30% ownership interest in the contributed capital of BHYHZ. The
value of the transferred ownership is reflected as an intangible asset, related
to their customer base, that is being amortized over four years. At December 31,
2008, the intangible asset relating to this transaction was $43,696 net of
amortization of $10,924. The minority ownership interest share of operating
losses of BHYHZ is being absorbed by the Company as the minority interest
holdings have no basis in their investment. The minority losses absorbed by the
Company for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $90,963. The Company is
amortizing this intangible over an estimated useful life of four
years.
Intangibles
and Capitalized Software consist of the following:
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACCP
training course
|
|
$ |
787,838 |
|
|
$ |
729,703 |
|
BENET
training course
|
|
|
58,358 |
|
|
|
53,826 |
|
Usage
rights — Job Seekers
|
|
|
437,688 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Usage
rights—Learner
|
|
|
291,792 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Minority
interest in BHYHZ subsidiary
|
|
|
43,696 |
|
|
|
43,696 |
|
|
|
|
1,619,372 |
|
|
|
827,225 |
|
Less:
accumulated amortization
|
|
|
(755,283 |
) |
|
|
(203,665 |
) |
Intangibles,
net
|
|
$ |
864,089 |
|
|
$ |
623,560 |
|
For the
year ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, amortization expenses totaled $551,618
and $152,430, respectively, and were recorded in cost of goods sold and
operating expenses.
Future
amortization of intangible and capitalized software assets is as
follows:
Year
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
$ |
305,068 |
|
2009
|
|
|
189,354 |
|
2010
|
|
|
172,867 |
|
2011
|
|
|
134,668 |
|
2012
|
|
|
62,132 |
|
|
|
$ |
864,089 |
|
Deferred
revenue includes subscriber prepayments and education fee prepayments.
Subscriber prepayments represent deferred revenue for the purchase of debit
cards used to pay for the online downloading of education materials. The Company
recognizes revenue when the card is used to download material. During the period
between the purchase and use of debit cards, the unused portion of the debit
card is treated as deferred revenue to the Company. Education fee prepayments
represent payments for tuition for the Company’s training schools, which are
amortized over the term of the course. As of December 31, 2008 and December 31,
2007, the Company had deferred revenue of $1,227,806 and $1,245,507,
respectively.
The
Company recorded the following equity transactions during the year ended
December 31, 2008:
|
-
|
On
June 27, 2008, the Company issued 400,000 common shares with a market
value of $2.33 per share to Mr. Yuli Guo, to acquire 70% of
WEI.
|
|
-
|
During
the year ended December 31, 2008 warrants for the purchase of 1,482,801
shares of common stock were exercised for proceeds of
$2,667,559.
|
|
-
|
During
the year ended December 31, 2008 a total of 1,800,000 Series A Preferred
Shares were converted into 600,000 shares of common stock valued at
$667,800.
|
|
-
|
On
March 17, 2008, the Company’s board of directors approved the repurchase
of up to 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock from time to time
in the open market at prevailing market prices. As of December 31, 2008 no
shares have been repurchased.
|
The
Company recorded the following equity transactions during the year ended
December 31, 2007:
|
-
|
On
October 4, 2007, following approval by the Company’s stockholders on
September 27, 2007, the Company’s Articles of Incorporation were amended
to:
|
|
-
|
Change
the Company’s authorized capital stock to 170,000,000 shares, of which
20,000,000 are shares of preferred stock, par value $.001 per share, and
150,000,000 are shares of common stock, par value $.001 per
share.
|
|
-
|
Give
the board of director’s broad authority to create one or more series of
preferred stock and to set forth the designations, rights, preferences,
privileges and limitations of the holders of each such
series.
|
|
-
|
Grant
the board of directors the authority to grant rights, warrants and options
which provide that such securities cannot be amended at all or cannot be
amended without the consent a specified percentage of stockholders or
classes or groups of stockholders, and such provisions would be prohibit
the Company from amending the rights, warrants and options unless the
requisite consents were obtained.
|
|
-
|
Affect
a one-for-three reverse split of the common stock so that each three
shares of common stock prior to the reverse split became one share of
common stock, with the Company issuing such fractional share as may be
necessary to enable the stockholders to hold a full share. These notes and
accompanying financial statements retroactively reflect this reverse
split. Fractional shares were rounded up resulting in the issuance of 216
shares in excess of the actual conversion rate of
1-to-3.
|
|
-
|
On
March 7, 2007, the Company issued 10,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock, valued at market, for $15,900 of
services.
|
|
-
|
In
September 2006 the Company raised gross proceeds of $1,530,000 from the
issuance and sale of secured promissory notes (“September 2006 Notes”).
The Notes had a maturity date of March 29, 2007. The notes were fully
repaid in the year ended December 31, 2007. Attached to the September 2006
Notes were warrants for the purchase of 510,003 shares of common stock at
an exercise price of $1.50 per share. The warrants were valued at $203,908
using a Blacks-Scholes valuation model, and were treated as a loan
discount. The following assumptions were used to calculate the fair value
of the warrants: dividend yield of 0%; expected volatility of 53%;
risk-free interest rate of 4.5%; an expected life of two years; stock
price of $1.29 and exercise price of $1.50. The discount was amortized to
interest expense over the life of the notes payable with amortization of
$81,563 and $122,345 in the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006,
respectively.
|
|
-
|
In
May 2007, the Company raised, in two installments, a total of $3,400,000
through the issuance of convertible debt in the aggregate principal amount
of $3,400,000 (the “May 2007 Notes”). A portion of these proceeds was used
to pay notes payable issued in September 2006 Notes as described above.
The May 2007 Notes accrued interest at 3% per annum, and had a due date of
September 30, 2007. In connection with the issuance, the Company’s board
of directors approved an amendment to the Company’s Articles of
Incorporation to create a class of preferred stock. The board also
approved the terms of a new series of preferred stock, designated as the
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock upon the filing of such amendment
with the Secretary of State of North Carolina. Included in the May 2007
Notes were automatic, optional and default conversion
features.
|
On
October 4, 2007, the shareholders approved the newly designated class of
Preferred Stock, and the May 2007 Notes were automatically converted into an
aggregate of (i) 9,189,189 shares of Series A preferred stock, which are
convertible into an aggregate of 3,063,062 shares of common stock, subject to
adjustment, and (ii) five-year common stock purchase warrants to purchase
735,634 shares of common stock at $1.50 per share, 2,833,335 shares of common
stock at $2.07 per share, 681,035 shares of common stock at $2.40 per share, and
264,369 shares of common stock at $3.00 per share.
With
regards to the Series A Preferred Convertible Stock, issued in the May 2007
Notes, the Certificate of Designation provides as follows:
|
-
|
Each
share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible into one
third of a share of common stock, subject to
adjustment.
|
|
-
|
If
the Company issues common stock at a price, or options, warrants or other
convertible securities with a conversion or exercise price less than the
conversion price (presently $1.11 per share), with certain specified
exceptions, the number of shares issuable upon conversion of one share of
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is adjusted to reflect a conversion
price equal to the lower price.
|
|
-
|
No
dividends are payable with respect to the Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock, and while the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is outstanding,
the Company may not pay dividends on or redeem shares of common
stock.
|
|
-
|
Upon
any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the
Company, the holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock are
entitled to a preference of $0.37 per share before any distributions or
payments may be made with respect to the common stock or any other class
or series of capital stock which is junior to the Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock upon such voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up. The Series A Preferred Stock has a liquidation
preference of $0.37 per share.
|
The
holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock have no voting rights.
However, so long as any shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock are
outstanding, the Company shall not, without the affirmative approval of the
holders of 75% of the outstanding shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
then outstanding, (a) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or
rights given to the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock or alter or amend the
Certificate of Designations, (b) authorize or create any class of stock ranking
as to dividends or distribution of assets upon liquidation senior to or
otherwise pari passu with the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, or any of
preferred stock possessing greater voting rights or the right to convert at a
more favorable price than the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, (c) amend
the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or other charter documents in breach of
any of the provisions thereof, (d) increase the authorized number of shares of
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, or (e) enter into any agreement with
respect to the foregoing.
|
With
regards to the warrants granted with the May 2007
Notes:
|
|
-
|
The
warrants have a term of five years, and expire in May 2012. The warrants
provide a cashless exercise feature; however, the holders of the warrants
may not make a cashless exercise during the twelve months following the
date of issuance and thereafter only if the sale by the holder of the
underlying shares is covered by an effective registration
statement.
|
|
-
|
The
warrants also give the Company the right to redeem the warrants for $.01
per share of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants if the
trading price per share of the common stock equals or exceeds the greater
of (a) $4.14 or 200% of the exercise price for the $2.07 warrants, (b)
$4.14 or 172.5% of the exercise price for the $1.50 warrants, (d) $4.14 or
172.5% of the exercise price for the $2.40 warrants, and (d) $5.25 or 175%
of the exercise price for the $3.00 warrants on each trading day in the 20
trading days ending on the date prior to the date on which the warrants
are called for redemption provided that the trading volume on each day in
the computation period is at least 1,000
shares.
|
|
-
|
In
order for the Company to exercise the right of redemption, a registration
statement covering the sale of the underlying shares must be current and
effective. In the event that, at any time subsequent to the date on which
the warrants are called for redemption, the shares of common stock
underlying the warrants are not subject to a current and effective
registration statement, the Company’s right to call the warrants for
redemption shall terminate with respect to all warrants that have not then
been exercised or converted prior to that
date.
|
|
-
|
Under
the securities purchase agreement and the Certificate of Designation,
relating to the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, it is prohibited for
warrants to be exercised ,or converted, if such exercise or exercise
should result in the holder and its affiliates having beneficial ownership
of more than 4.9% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 13d-3 thereunder. This
limitation may not be waived.
|
Upon
entering into the May 2007 Notes, the Company valued the warrants to their
maximum value in proportion to the entire of the May 2007 Notes. The warrants
were valued at $1,887,600 using a Black-Scholes valuation model and were treated
as loan discounts and amortized immediately to interest expense. The following
assumptions were used to calculate the fair value of the warrants: dividend
yield of 0%; expected volatility of 136.44%; risk-free interest rate of 4.55%;
an expected life of five years; stock price of $1.11. In addition to valuing the
warrants that would be granted upon the conversion of the notes, the Company
valued the beneficial conversion feature of the notes, in connection with the
Preferred Stock to be issued upon conversion of the notes, that is ultimately
convertible into shares of the Company common stock. This beneficial
conversion was valued upon issuance of the May 2007 Notes, it is valued to its
maximum proportional value factoring in the discount associated with the warrant
grant. The Company valued the beneficial conversion feature at $1,512,400, the
maximum value apportionable subsequent to the valuation of the warrants. This
beneficial conversion feature was fully amortized in the year ended December 31,
2007.
Upon the
conversion of the May 2007 Notes, the Company issued 9,189,189 shares of Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock and warrants based on the principal amount of the
notes. There was accrued interest of $40,427, accrued as per the agreement,
which terminated upon automatic conversion of the May 2007 Notes.
Upon
entering into the May 2007 Notes, pursuant to the securities purchase agreement,
the Company placed in escrow 2,833,333 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock and Mr. Xiqun Yu, the Company’s chief executive officer and principal
shareholder, placed in escrow 944,445 shares of common stock. The securities
placed in escrow were to be released, as described below, based on the formula
described below.
Under the
terms of the May 2007 Note if the Company’s pre-tax income for 2007 was less
than $0.19941 per share, on a fully-diluted basis (the “Target Number”), the
percentage shortfall was to be determined by dividing the amount of the
shortfall by the Target Number. If the percentage shortfall was equal to or
greater than 33 1/3%, then, with respect to the Company’s escrow shares, the
2,833,333 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was be delivered to the
investors and, with respect to Mr. Yu’s escrow shares, the 944,445 shares of
common stock was be delivered to the Company for cancellation. If the percentage
shortfall was less than 33 1/3%, the escrow agent was to be instructed
to:
|
(i)
|
with
respect to the Company’s escrow shares, deliver to the investors such
number of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock as would have
been determined by multiplying the percentage shortfall by 2,833,333 and
(ii) deliver to the Company the balance of such shares for cancellation;
and
|
|
(ii)
|
with
respect to the shares placed in escrow by Mr. Yu, deliver to the Company
such number of shares of common stock as would have been determined by
multiplying the percentage shortfall by 944,445 shares, and the Company
shall cancel such shares, and (ii) deliver to Mr. Yu the balance of such
shares.
|
Since the
Company has achieved the pre-tax income per share milestone set forth in the
securities purchase agreement, the Company’s escrow shares will be promptly
returned to the Company for cancellation and Mr. Yu’s shares will be promptly
released from escrow and returned to him.
The
warrant agreement provides terms whereby the exercise price of the warrants may
be reduced by up to 50% if the Company’s pre-tax income per share of common
stock, on a fully-diluted basis, is less than $0.19941 for the year ended
December 31, 2007. Since the Company achieved the pre-tax income per
share milestone, as set forth in the securities purchase agreement, no
adjustment in the warrant exercise price was made.
The
securities purchase agreement relating to the May 2007 financing, obligated the
Company to appoint by August 6, 2007 such number of independent directors that
would result in a majority of its directors being independent directors and to
establish an audit committee composed solely of independent directors and a
compensation committee comprised of a majority of independent directors.
Thereafter, the Company’s failure to meet these requirements for a period of 60
days for an excused reason, as defined in the purchase agreement, or 75 days for
a reason which is not an excused reason, will result in the imposition of
liquidated damages which are payable in cash or additional shares of Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock, at the election of the investor. The liquidated
damages are computed in an amount equal to 12% per annum of the purchase price
of the then outstanding shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, up to a
maximum of $408,000. The Company’s failure to comply with these requirements
resulted in liquidated damages of $77,128, which at a liquidation of $0.37 per
share resulted in the issuance of 208,456 shares of Series A Convertible
Preferred stock as of October 15, 2007. The investors elected to take payment in
stock, and the Company issued the shares in October 2007. As the Series A
Convertible Preferred stock are convertible at 3 for 1 share of common stock,
the liquidated damages of 208,456 Series A shares is 69,486 common shares with a
market value at $4 per share, or $277,944, as of October 15, 2007. The investors
waived the right to receive any further liquidated damages for the Company’s
failure to comply with these provisions from October 16, 2007 through December
31, 2007. The liquidation damages commence accruing subsequent to December 31,
2007. Since January 1, 2008, the Company has not been in compliance with these
provisions. As of December 31, 2008, unless otherwise waived by the
investors, the Company is obligated to pay liquidated damages to the investors
in an amount equal to approximately $130,056 or, issue approximately
351,503 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (which are convertible into 117,168
shares of our common stock) to the investors, at the option of the investors.
Such liquidated damages have been accrued as of December 31, 2008 and is
included in accrued expenses. Assuming the investors elect to take the
liquidated damages in stock and not waive their right to receive such damages,
and based on the market price for one share of our common stock on December 31,
2008, which was $1.20 per share, the market value of the shares which may be
issued to the investors is approximately $140,602. Thereafter, if the Company is
required to issue any additional shares of Series A preferred stock pursuant to
the securities purchase agreement, the Company is also to issue such additional
shares at the $0.37 per share liquidation value. If the Company is required to
issue additional shares pursuant to the liquidated damages provisions of the
securities purchase agreement and the market price of our common stock at the
time the determination is made is greater than $1.11, which is the common stock
equivalent of the liquidation value of the Series A preferred stock, the
investors will receive more shares of Series A preferred stock than they would
receive if the number of shares were based on the market value at the time of
issuance.
In
connection with the May 2007 Notes the Company and the investors entered into a
registration rights agreement pursuant to which the Company initially agreed to
file by July 7, 2007, a registration statement covering the common stock
issuable upon conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and the
exercise of the warrants. The Company was also initially required to have the
registration statement declared effective by the SEC not later than
November 5, 2007. If these conditions were not met, the agreement initially
provided for the payment of liquidated damages to the investors, at a rate of
2,130 of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock per day (which was
subject to adjustment based on the number of shares the Company was able to
register under the SEC’s rules relating to secondary offerings), with a maximum
of 900,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. The registration
rights agreement was amended to eliminate liquidated damages for failure to file
the registration statement when required and to waive any liquidated
damages due as a result of the Company’s failure to have the registration
statement declared effective through December 31, 2007. Since the Company’s
registration statement was declared effective on December 28, 2007, the Company
was not obligated to pay any liquidated damages pursuant to the registration
rights agreement. The registration rights agreement also provides for additional
demand registration rights in the event that the investors are not able to
register all of the shares in the initial registration statement. The investors
have a right of first refusal on future financings.
Except as
expressly provided in the Certificate of Designation or the warrants, included
in the May 2007 Notes, no investor may convert the shares of Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of common stock or exercise the warrants
to the extent that such conversion or exercise would result in beneficial
ownership by such investor and its affiliates of more than 4.9% of the then
outstanding number of shares of common stock on such date. Beneficial ownership
is determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and Regulation 13d-3 thereunder. This provision cannot be
modified.
|
-
|
On
December 6, 2007, the Company issued 87,789 shares of the Company’s common
stock in connection with cashless exercises of warrants to purchase
127,500 shares of common stock with an exercise price of
$1.50.
|
SFAS 128
requires a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the basic and
diluted earnings per share (EPS) computations.
For the
years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, dilutive shares include shares
attributable to convertible preferred stock, exercisable warrants and
exercisable option.
The
following reconciles the components of the EPS computation
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Net
income available to common shareholders
|
|
$ |
9,918,536 |
|
|
$ |
3,104,907 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding - basic
|
|
|
21,549,381 |
|
|
|
19,325,872 |
|
Effect
of dilutive securities
|
|
|
3,113,449 |
|
|
|
3,223,965 |
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding - diluted
|
|
|
24,662,830 |
|
|
|
22,549,837 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings
per share - basic
|
|
$ |
0.46 |
|
|
$ |
0.16 |
|
Earnings
per share - diluted
|
|
$ |
0.40 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
The
Company is required to make appropriations to reserve funds, comprising the
statutory surplus reserve, statutory public welfare fund and discretionary
surplus reserve, based on after-tax net income determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles of the People’s Republic of China (the
“PRC GAAP”). Appropriation to the statutory surplus reserve should be at least
10% of the after tax net income determined in accordance with the PRC GAAP until
the reserve is equal to 50% of the entities’ registered capital or members’
equity. Appropriations to the statutory public welfare fund are at a minimum of
5% of the after tax net income determined in accordance with PRC GAAP.
Commencing on January 1, 2006, the new PRC regulations waived the requirement
for appropriating retained earnings to the statutory public welfare fund. The
public welfare fund no longer requires the Company to contribute, but the
Company can’t dissolve it. As of December 31, 2007, the Company appropriated 50%
of its registered capital to statutory reserve for Heilongjian Zhonghe Education
Training Center. For the year ended December 31, 2008 and 2007,
statutory reserves activity is as follows:
|
|
Harbin Zhong He Li
Da Education
Technology, Inc
|
|
|
Heilongjiang
Zhonghe
Education
Training Center
|
|
|
Beijing Hua Yu Hui
Zhong Technology
Development Co.,
Ltd
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Balance
– December 31, 2006
|
|
$ |
252,437 |
|
|
$ |
103,317 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
355,754 |
|
Additional
to Statutory reserves
|
|
|
617,581 |
|
|
|
178,550 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
796,131 |
|
Balance
– December 31, 2007
|
|
|
870,018 |
|
|
|
281,867 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,151,885 |
|
Additional
to Statutory reserves
|
|
|
838,353 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
838,353 |
|
Balance
– December 31, 2008
|
|
$ |
1,708,371 |
|
|
$ |
281,867 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
1,990,238 |
|
15.
|
Commitments and
Contingencies
|
The
Company and its subsidiaries are self-insured, and they do not carry any
property insurance, general liability insurance, or any other insurance that
covers the risks of their business operations. As a result any material loss or
damage to its properties or other assets, or personal injuries arising from its
business operations would have a material adverse affect on the Company’s
financial condition and operations.
Warrants
Year
Ended December 31, 2008:
|
-
|
The
Company did not grant any warrants during the year ended December 31,
2008.
|
Year
Ended December 31, 2007:
|
-
|
In
connection with the conversion of the May 2007 into Series A Preferred
stock the Company granted warrants for an aggregate of 3,063,062 shares of
common stock. The warrants are subject to adjustment and have a life of
five years from the date of grant. The warrants have various exercise
prices as follows: 735,634 shares of common stock at $1.50 per share,
2,833,335 shares of common stock at $2.07 per share, 681,035 shares of
common stock at $2.40 per share, and 264,369 shares of common stock at
$3.00 per share.
|
|
-
|
On
November 22, 2006 the Company granted warrants, to non-employee
consultants, to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an
exercise price of $1.29 expiring in three years from the date of grant for
services to be rendered. These warrants were valued at $60,900 using a
Black-Scholes model with the following assumptions: dividend yield of 0%;
expected volatility of 217.29%; risk-free interest rate of 4.63%; an
expected life of 3 years; stock trading price of $1.29 on the date of
grant and exercise price of $1.29. The services for these warrants were
rendered in 2007 and the expense was record in
2007.
|
|
-
|
On
May 4, 2007 the Company granted warrants, to non-employee consultants, to
purchase 83,334 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price
of $2.25 expiring in three years from the date of grant for services
rendered. These warrants were valued at $63,900 using a Black-Scholes
model with the following assumptions: dividend yield of 0%; expected
volatility of 136.66%; risk-free interest rate of 4.59%; an expected life
of 3 years; stock trading price of $1.11 on the date of grant and exercise
price of $2.25.
|
|
-
|
In
August 2007 the Company entered into a consulting agreement for investor
relation services. This contract is for one year at $6,000 for the first
four months of the contract during the year ended December 31, 2007, and
then $8,000 per month for the remaining eight months to be performed in
the year ended December 31, 2008. In addition to cash payments, the
agreement granted warrants to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company
common stock at an exercise price of $1.89 per share, with a life of
three years from the date of grant. On the date of grant the market was
$1.65 per share. These warrants vest quarterly, at 25,000 shares per each
vest, on each of the grant dates of, November 1, 2007, February 1, 2008
and May 1, 2008. The initial batch of 25,000 warrants was vested on the
grant date. The Company has expensed $139,600 and $103,420 with regard to
the warrants granted in the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008,
respectively. These warrants were valued on each vest date. These warrants
were valued using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following
weighted assumptions for all vesting dates: dividend yield of 0%; expected
volatility of 116.88%; risk-free interest rate of 3.19%; an expected life
of 2.62 years.
|
Warrant
activity for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 is as
follows:
|
|
Shares
underlying
warrants
|
|
|
Weighted
average
Exercise Price
|
|
Outstanding
as of January 1, 2007
|
|
|
510,003 |
|
|
$ |
1.5 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
4,747,707 |
|
|
|
2.07 |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(127,500 |
) |
|
|
1.5 |
|
Expired
or cancelled
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Outstanding
as of December 31, 2007
|
|
|
5,130,210 |
|
|
|
2.03 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(1,482,801 |
) |
|
|
1.8 |
|
Expired
or cancelled
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Outstanding
as of December 31, 2008
|
|
|
3,647,409 |
|
|
$ |
2.12 |
|
The
following table summarizes information about stock warrants outstanding and
exercisable as of December 31, 2008.
Exercise
Price
|
|
Outstanding
December 31,
2008
|
|
|
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life in Years
|
|
|
Number
exercisable
|
|
$ 1.29
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
|
0.89 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
$ 1.50
|
|
|
413,156 |
|
|
|
3.16 |
|
|
|
413,156 |
|
$ 1.89
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
1.58 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
$ 2.07
|
|
|
2,055,516 |
|
|
|
3.34 |
|
|
|
2,055,516 |
|
$ 2.25
|
|
|
83,333 |
|
|
|
1.34 |
|
|
|
83,333 |
|
$ 2.40
|
|
|
681,035 |
|
|
|
3.34 |
|
|
|
681,035 |
|
$ 3.00
|
|
|
264,369 |
|
|
|
3.34 |
|
|
|
264,369 |
|
|
|
|
3,647,409 |
|
|
|
3.19 |
|
|
|
3,647,409 |
|
The
aggregate intrinsic value of the exercisable warrants as of December 31, 2008 is
approximately $7,700,000.
Options:
In June
2008 pursuant to the terms of an employment agreement with the CFO of the
Company, the Company granted an option for 10,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock at an exercise price of $3.05, the then market price on the date of grant.
These options have a one year life and expire on the first anniversary of the
date of grant. The options vest monthly in installments of approximately 833
shares per month. The Company has recorded the grant of these options in
accordance with SFAS 123 (R) as interpreted by SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No.
107. The Company recorded expense over the vesting period in connection with
these options granted.
The fair
value of the above granted option was estimated on the date of grant using the
Blacks-Scholes valuation model and the following assumptions: a risk free
interest rate of 2.17%, a weighted expected life of 0.75 year, a dividend rate
of 0.0%, and a weighted expected volatility of 86.53%. The Company recorded
$5,326 in compensation expenses, net of related tax effects, related
to this option grant for the year ended December 31, 2008. As of December 31,
2008, there is approximately $2,276 of total unrecognized
cost related to this option grant that is not vested as of December 31, 2008.
These costs are expected to be amortized in the first six months of the year
ended December 31, 2009.
Other
than the above June 2008 grant of an option for 10,000 shares of the Company’s
at an exercise price of $3.05 per share there are no other options outstanding
as of December 31, 2008. In addition, as of December 31, 2008, of the
approximate 5,833 shares that are vested and exercisable, none have been
exercised as of December 31, 2008.
As of
December 31, 2008, the Company has no registered, or approved, employee stock
option plans.
On
September 15, 2004, the Company executed a Plan of Exchange with ZHLD,
subsequently ZHLD applied to be as a foreign invested company immediately after
the merger, and a business license was approved for such qualification on April
8, 2005. According to PRC taxation policy, there is a 100% income tax exemption
or holiday for 2 years and a 50% tax exemption or holiday for 3 years applicable
to a foreign invested company, advanced technology company or software
development company. Because ZHLD falls
within these categories, it enjoys this income tax exemption or holiday from
April 8, 2005, the date it obtained approval as a wholly owned foreign
enterprise. The Company received a 100% tax holiday for the year ended December
31, 2006. Currently ZETC is exempt from PRC taxation as it operates a business
enterprise engaged in educational opportunities. The Company’s
BHYHZ subsidiary has incurred losses since inception. BHYHZ is taxed at the PRC
statutory rate and has not accrued for taxes since inception due to these loss.
As of January 1, 2007, The Company’s PRC tax exemption was reduced to 50% of the
prevailing 15% tax rate for ZHLD and will continue at this reduced rate until
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009, subject to changes in tax rates
implemented in 2007 that go into effect commencing January 1, 2008 which will
have the effect of increasing the enterprise tax rate by 2% per year until it
reaches and effective tax rate of 25%.
The
components of income (loss) before income tax consist of approximately
following:
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
U.S.
Operations
|
|
$ |
(782,000 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,694,000 |
) |
Chinese
Operations
|
|
|
11,370,000 |
|
|
|
8,280,000 |
|
|
|
$ |
10,588,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,586,000 |
|
The
components of the (benefit) provision for income taxes are approximately as
follows:
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Federal,
State and Local
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Peoples
Republic of China –Federal and Local
|
|
|
668,000 |
|
|
|
481,000 |
|
|
|
$ |
668,000 |
|
|
$ |
481,000 |
|
The table
below approximately summarizes the reconciliation of the Company’s income tax
provision (benefit) computed at the statutory U.S. Federal rate and the actual
tax provision:
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Income
tax (benefit) provision at Federal statutory rate
|
|
$ |
3,705,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,255,000 |
|
State
income taxes, net of Federal benefit
|
|
|
487,000 |
|
|
|
165,000 |
|
Permanent
differences
|
|
|
93,000 |
|
|
|
1,594,000 |
|
U.S.
tax rate in excess of foreign tax rate
|
|
|
(1,603,000 |
) |
|
|
(1,209,000 |
) |
Abatement
of foreign income taxes
|
|
|
(2,231,000 |
) |
|
|
(1,589,000 |
) |
Increase
in valuation allowance
|
|
|
217,000 |
|
|
|
265,000 |
|
Tax
(benefit) provision
|
|
$ |
668,000 |
|
|
$ |
481,000 |
|
The
Company has a U.S net operating loss carryforward of approximately $1,750,000 as
of December 31, 2008 which will begin to expire in 2025. Under IRC section 382,
certain of these loss carryforward amounts may be limited due to the more than
50% change in ownership which took place during 2005. The deferred tax asset
associated with these net operating loss carryforwards was fully reserved as of
December 31, 2008.
Had the
tax exemption not been in place for the partial year ended December 31, 2008 and
full exemptions for the year ended December 31, 2007 the Company estimates the
following proforma financial statement impact.
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(Proforma)
|
|
|
(Proforma)
|
|
Net
income before tax provision
|
|
$ |
10,588,000 |
|
|
$ |
3,586,000 |
|
Less
Tax provision not exempted
|
|
|
668,000 |
|
|
|
481,000 |
|
Less
Tax provision exempted
|
|
|
1,516,000 |
|
|
|
1,469,000 |
|
Net
income before minority interest
|
|
|
8,404,000 |
|
|
|
1,636,000 |
|
Less
Minority interest in loss of subsidiary
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Net
income
|
|
$ |
8,404,000 |
|
|
$ |
1,636,000 |
|
(a)
Country risk
Currently,
the Company’s revenues are mainly derived from sale of educational products and
services in the PRC. The Company hopes to expand its operations in the PRC,
however, there are no assurances that the Company will be able to achieve such
an expansion successfully. Therefore, a downturn or stagnation in the economic
environment of the PRC could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s
financial condition.
(b)
Products risk
The
Company competes with larger companies, who have greater funds available for
expansion, marketing, research and development and the ability to attract more
qualified personnel. There can be no assurance that the Company will remain
competitive with larger competitors.
(c) Exchange risk
The
Company can not guarantee that the current exchange rate will remain steady,
therefore there is a possibility that the Company could post the same amount of
profit for two comparable periods and because of a fluctuating exchange rate
actually post higher or lower profit depending on exchange rate of PRC Renminbi
(RMB) converted to U.S. dollars on that date. The exchange rate could fluctuate
depending on changes in the political and economic environments without
notice.
(d)
Political risk
Currently,
the PRC is in a period of growth and is openly promoting business development in
order to bring more business into the PRC. Additionally, the PRC allows a PRC
corporation to be owned by a United States corporation. If the laws or
regulations are changed by the PRC government, the Company’s ability to operate
in the PRC could be affected.
(e) Key
personnel risk
The
Company’s future success depends on the continued services of executive
management in China. The loss of any of their services would be detrimental to
the Company and could have an adverse effect on business development. The
Company does not currently maintain key-man insurance on their lives. Future
success is also dependent on the ability to identify, hire, train and retain
other qualified managerial and other employees. Competition for these
individuals is intense and increasing.
(f)
Non-compliance with financing requirements
The
Company might need to obtain future financing that require timely filing of
registration statements, and have declared effective those registration
statements, to register the shares being offered by the selling stockholders in
future financing. The Company might be subject to liquidated damages and other
penalties if they continue to obtain future financing requiring registration
statements, and not having those registration statements filed and declared
effective in a prompt manner.
On
January 4, 2009, China Education Alliance’s subsidiary, Harbin Zhong He Li Da
Education Technology, Inc (“ZHLD”) entered into an agreement with Mr. Guang Li
to jointly incorporate and invest in a joint venture company, Zhong He Li Da
(Beijing) Management Consultant Co., Ltd. (“ZHLDBJ”). ZHLD contributed RMB
425,000 (approximately, $62,107), and Mr. Guang Li contributed RMB 75,000
(approximately, $10,960) towards the registered capital of ZHLDBJ, amounting to
a total registered capital of 500,000 RMB (approximately, $73,067). In return
for their respective contributions, ZHLD will own 85% equity interest, and Mr.
Guang Li will own 15% equity interest in ZHLDBJ. ZHLD has authorized Mr. Xiqun
Yu, the Company CEO, to hold 20% of its equity interest of ZHLDBJ on its
behalf. ZHLDBJ will be involved in the vocational training
business, in particular, in running the “Million Managers Training
Program”.
Item
9. Changes
in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure.
None.
Item
9A. Controls
and Procedures.
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We
maintain a set of disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by us in our reports filed under the
Securities Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within
the time periods specified by the SEC's rules and forms. Disclosure controls are
also designed with the objective of ensuring that this information is
accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive
officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions
regarding required disclosure.
Based
upon their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report, our
chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our
disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information
required to be included in our periodic SEC filings is recorded, processed,
summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and
forms.
Management’s
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our
management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting. Our internal control system was designed to
provide reasonable assurance to our management and Board of Directors regarding
the preparation and fair presentation of published financial
statements.
Our
management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2008. In making this assessment, it used the
criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO) in Internal
Control—Integrated Framework. Based on its assessment, our management
believes that, as of December 31, 2008, our internal control over financial
reporting is effective based on those criteria.
This
annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered
accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. The
management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public
accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
No
changes in our internal control over financial reporting have come to
management's attention during our last fiscal quarter that have materially
affected, or are likely to materially affect, our internal control over
financial reporting.
Limitations
on Controls
Management
does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal
control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and fraud. Any
control system, no matter how well designed and operated, is based upon certain
assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that its
objectives will be met. Further, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute
assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all
control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within China Education Alliance
have been detected.
Item
9B. Other
Information.
None.
PART
III
Item
10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The
following are our officers and directors as of the date of this prospectus. All
our officers and directors are residents of the PRC and, therefore, it may be
difficult for investors to effect service of process within the U.S. upon them
or to enforce judgments against them obtained from the U.S. courts.
The following table sets forth certain
information concerning our directors and executive officers:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
|
|
|
|
|
Xiqun
Yu
|
|
41
|
|
Chairman
of the board, chief executive officer, president and
director
|
Susan
Liu
|
|
44
|
|
Chief
financial officer
|
James
Hsu 1,2
|
|
56
|
|
Director
|
Ansheng
Huang 2
|
|
62
|
|
Director
|
Liansheng
Zhang 1,2
|
|
67
|
|
Director
|
1
Member of the audit committee.
2
Member of the compensation committee.
Mr. Xiqun Yu has been our
chairman and chief executive officer since the organization of our subsidiaries
in 2001. He has more than 17 years of experience in senior management with
several Northern PRC-based enterprises. He was responsible for marketing,
strategic planning and designing for many of these corporations. Mr. Yu received
a degree in Business Administration from the Harbin University of Science and
Technology in 1989.
Ms. Susan Liu
graduated from the An Hui Finance and Trade University in 1985 with a Bachelor
of Economics with a major in Business Accounting. She also obtained a Diploma
from the English Language Institute, University of British Columbia in 2001.Ms.
Liu taught accounting at the Beijing No. 2 Commercial Bureau Adults College from
July 1985 to July 1988. From July 1988 to April 1992, she worked at the
Beijing-Olkaland Water Proof and Construction Material Company Limited as a cost
accountant. She then joined Meadow Gold Investment Company Limited as a finance
manager from May 1992 to June 1994. From July 1994 to January 1999, she was an
investment manager/monitor with the CMG (China) Investment Management Limited
and from February 1999 to February 2000, she was a financial analyst with Fortum
Power and Heat Oy, Beijing Representative Office. More recently, she was the
Finance Manager for Greater China for HyClone Biochemical China, Thermo-Fisher
Scientific from June 2005 to November 2006, Chief Financial Officer for Hendrx
Corp. from July 2007 to March 2008 and finally Chief Financial Officer for
Entech Environment in April 2008. She joined us as our chief financial officer
on June 2, 2008.
Mr. James Hsu has been a
director since October 2007. Mr. Hsu has been the president of Global Education
Initiatives, Inc., a company which develops higher education collaboration
programs between the U.S., Taiwan and the PRC, since 1997. He has also been the
chief executive officer of Greater New York Home Care Systems, Inc., a company
which provides infusion and other health care services to patients in their
homes, since 1998. He is a founder of HeritageEast, a company which promotes
cultural exchange between the U.S. and the PRC, and YYnet Communications, a
company which specializes in information system services. He received a B.A. in
Economics from Taiwan University, M.A in Management Science from Yale University
and Ph.D. in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of
Michigan.
Mr. Ansheng Huang has been a
director since October 2007. Mr. Huang has been the training director of
Vocational Education Equipment Commission at the Chinese Vocational Education
Association since 1996. From 1991 through 2006, Mr. Huang was the division
director of technology development at the China Education Instruction and
Equipment Corporation of the PRC Ministry of Education. Mr. Huang graduated from
the Department of Beijing Institute of Education with a Bachelor’s Degree in
Physics.
Mr. Lianzheng Zhang has been a
director since October 2007. Mr. Zhang currently serves as Pluralism Director at
the Heilongjiang provincial Base of Research and Experiment in Polymer Science
& Technology since July 1990. Mr. Zhang has also been appointed as a
People’s Representative during the 9th (1998) and 10th (2003) National People’s
Congress of the PRC for his extraordinary achievement in Polymer Science and
Technology. Mr. Zhang received a Bachelor’s Degree in Organic Chemistry from the
Heilongjiang University and Master’s Degree in Polymer Chemistry at the Jillin
University. Mr. Zhang was also a visiting scholar at the University of
Bradford.
The
directors will serve until our next annual meeting, or until their successors
are duly elected and qualified. The officers serve at the pleasure of the
Board.
Save as
otherwise reported above, none of our directors hold directorships in other
reporting companies.
Other
than Mr. Xiqun Yu, all our directors qualify as an “independent director” under
the Rules of NASDAQ, Marketplace Rule 4200(a)(15).
There are
no family relationships among our directors or officers.
To our
knowledge, during the last five years, none of our directors and executive
officers (including those of our subsidiaries) has:
|
·
|
Had a bankruptcy petition filed
by or against any business of which such person was a general partner or
executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years
prior to that time.
|
|
·
|
Been convicted in a criminal
proceeding or been subject to a pending criminal proceeding, excluding
traffic violations and other minor
offenses.
|
|
·
|
Been subject to any order,
judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of
any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining,
barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of
business, securities or banking
activities.
|
|
·
|
Been found by a court of
competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the SEC, or the Commodities
Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities
or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended or
vacated.
|
Committees
of the Board of Directors
Our board
of directors has two committees, which were formed in October 2007 - the audit
committee and the compensation committee. Prior to October 2007, our entire
board of directors acted as the audit and compensation committee for the purpose
of overseeing the accounting and financial reporting processes, and audits of
our financial statements.
The
members of the audit committee are James Hsu and Liansheng Zhang. The members of
the compensation committee are James Hsu, Ansheng Huang and Liansheng
Zhang.
The
securities purchase agreement for the May 2007 private placement required us to
have a board of directors with a majority of independent director by July 7,
2007, and to have an audit committee comprised solely of three independent
directors, as defined under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, and a
compensation committee a majority of whose members are independent directors.
Because we were in default of these requirements, we were required to pay
liquidated damages to the investors at the rate of 12% per annum based on the
$3.4 million purchase price. The maximum liquidated damages that we may be
required to pay under this provision is $408,000. Our failure to comply with
these requirements through October 15, 2007 resulted in our payment of
liquidated damages totaling $77,128 or the issuance of 208,456 shares of series
A preferred stock. The investors elected to take payment in stock. We currently
have a majority of independent directors, but our audit committee in comprised
of only two independent directors.
In
November 2007, the investors agreed to waive any right to receive payment from
us of any and all additional liquidated damages that are due to the investors
under the securities purchase agreement and the registration rights Agreement
through December 31, 2007.
Board
Compensation
Our
directors have not received any compensation for service in their capacity as
directors except for Mr. James Hsu who received $10,000 for his contribution as
director for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Limitations
on Liability
Article
VIII of our Bylaws limits the liability of our directors, officers and employees
to the fullest extent permitted by North Carolina law. Consequently, our
directors and officers may not be personally liable for monetary damages
regarding their duties as directors.
Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our executive officers and directors and
persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities to
file with the SEC initial statements of beneficial ownership, reports of changes
in ownership and annual reports concerning their ownership of our common stock
and other equity securities, on Form 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Executive
officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required by the SEC
regulations to furnish our company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they
file.
Based
solely on our review of the copies of such reports received by us and on written
representations by our officers and directors regarding their compliance with
the applicable reporting requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act,
we believe that, with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, save
for our chief financial officer who filed one late Form 3 disclosing her
shareholdings as of the date such report should have initially been filed, our
officers and directors, and all of the persons known to us to own more than 10%
of our common stock, filed all required reports on a timely basis.
Item
11. Executive Compensation.
The
following table sets forth information with respect to the compensation of each
of the named executive officers for services provided in all capacities to China
Education Alliance and its subsidiaries in the fiscal years ended December 31,
2008 and 2007 in their capacity as such officers. Ms. Xiqun Yu, who
is one of our directors, receives no additional compensation for his
services in his capacity as director. No other executive officer or former
executive officer received more than $100,000 in compensation in the fiscal
years reported below.
Summary
Compensation Table*
Name
and
Principle
Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
|
|
|
Bonus
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
|
|
|
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
|
|
|
All
other
Compensation
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Xiqun
Yu, Chief
Executive
Officer
and
President
|
|
2008
|
|
$ |
21,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
21,000 |
|
|
|
2007
|
|
$ |
15,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
15,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Susan
Liu,
Chief Financial
Officer(1)
|
|
2008
|
|
$ |
39,374 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
5,326 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
44,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chunqing
Wang,
ex-Chief
Financial
Officer(1)
|
|
2008
|
|
$ |
5,171 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
5,171 |
|
|
|
2007
|
|
$ |
3,151 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
3,151 |
|
|
(1)
|
Ms.
Liu joined us as our Chief Financial Officer on June 2,
2008.
|
*
Personal benefits received by our Chief Executive Officer and President are
valued below the levels which would otherwise require disclosures under the
rules of the SEC.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at 2008 Fiscal Year End
There
were no option exercises, but 4,998 options are outstanding as of December 31,
2008.
Employment
Agreements
We do not
currently provide any contingent or deferred forms of compensation arrangements,
annuities, or retirement benefits to our executive officers or
directors. We had entered into a five year employment agreement with of our
Chief Executive Officer and our ex-Chief Financial Officer, each of which
terminate on August 9, 2009. Under the terms of the employment agreement, our
Chief Executive Officer is paid $15,000 per annum and our Chief Financial
Officer was paid $10,000 per annum. Pursuant to the employment agreements, the
executives are also entitled to a working clothes subsidiary, insurance, medical
benefits, unemployment insurance and other benefits pursuant to our standard
policies.
On June
2, 2008, we appointed a new Chief Financial Officer, Susan Liu pursuant to an
employment agreement dated June 2, 2008. The appointment was effective June 2,
2008. Ms. Liu’s compensation as our Chief Financial Officer is set forth in an
employment agreement between Ms. Liu and us dated June 2, 2008. Under that
agreement, Ms. Liu is to receive compensation consisting of the following: (i) a
monthly salary of CA$6,000, (ii) an annual bonus equivalent to one month’s
salary, payable in December of each year, based on the monthly salary in effect
on November 30 of that year, (iii) such benefits as are available to our other
employees, and (iv) options to purchase a total of 10,000 shares of our
common stock, such options to vest monthly in equal installments commencing from
June 2, 2008 through June 1, 2009.
As of
December 31, 2008, we have no standard arrangements under which we will
compensate our directors for their services provided to us. However, we may
establish such arrangements in the future.
Benefit
Plans
We do not
have any stock option plan, stock bonus plan, profit sharing plan, or similar
plans for the benefit of our executive officers, directors or employees.
However, we may establish such plans in the future.
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
We strive
to provide our named executive officers (as defined in Item 402 of Regulation
S-K) with a competitive base salary that is in line with their roles and
responsibilities when compared to peer companies of comparable size in similar
locations.
It is not
uncommon for PRC private companies in the PRC to have base salaries as the sole
form of compensation. The base salary level is established and reviewed based on
the level of responsibilities, the experience and tenure of the individual and
the current and potential contributions of the individual. The base salary is
compared to the list of similar positions within comparable peer companies and
consideration is given to the executive’s relative experience in his or her
position. Base salaries are reviewed periodically and at the time of
promotion or other changes in responsibilities.
We plan
to implement a more comprehensive compensation program, which takes into account
other elements of compensation, including, without limitation, short and long
term compensation, cash and non-cash, and other equity-based compensation such
as stock options. We expect that this compensation program will be comparable to
the programs of our peer companies and aimed to retain and attract talented
individuals.
We will
also consider forming a compensation committee to oversee the compensation of
our named executive officers. The majority of the members of the compensation
committee would be independent directors.
Board
Compensation
Our
directors did not receive any compensation in their capacity as directors during
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.
Item
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and
RelatedStockholder Matters.
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial
ownership of our voting securities by (i) any person or group owning more than
5% of any class of voting securities, (ii) each director, (iii) our chief
executive officer and (iv) all executive officers and directors as a
group as of March 23, 2009.
Name and Address
|
|
Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned (1)
|
|
Percentage of
Outstanding
Shares
(1)
|
|
5%
Stockholder
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guilan
Feng
No.
5 Zy Zhao Yang Wei
Hong
Shan Street
Shang
Gan Ling Dist.
Yi
Chun City
Heilongjiang,
PRC 150090
|
|
|
1,333,334
|
|
6.10
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive
Officers and Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Xiqun
Yu (1)
58
Heng Shan Rd.
Kun
Lun Shopping Mall Harbin,
PRC
150090
|
|
|
12,683,335
|
(2)
|
57.93
|
%
|
Susan
Liu
58
Heng Shan Rd.
Kun
Lun Shopping Mall Harbin,
PRC
150090
|
|
|
4,998
|
(3)
|
|
*
|
James
Hsu
58
Heng Shan Rd.
Kun
Lun Shopping Mall Harbin,
PRC
150090
|
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
%
|
Ansheng
Huang
58
Heng Shan Rd.
Kun
Lun Shopping Mall Harbin,
PRC
150090
|
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
%
|
Liansheng
Zhang
58
Heng Shan Rd.
Kun
Lun Shopping Mall Harbin,
PRC
150090
|
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
%
|
Officers
and Directors as a group (five individuals)
|
|
|
12,688,333
|
(2)
|
57.71
|
%
|
|
(1)
|
In
determining beneficial ownership of our common stock as of a given date,
the number of shares shown includes shares of common stock which may be
acquired on exercise of warrants or options or conversion of convertible
securities within 60 days of that date. In determining the percent of
common stock owned by a person or entity on March 23, 2009, (a) the
numerator is the number of shares of the class beneficially owned by such
person or entity, including shares which may be acquired within 60 days on
exercise of warrants or options and conversion of convertible securities,
and (b) the denominator is the sum of (i) the total shares of common stock
outstanding on March 23, 2009 (21,892,631), and (ii) the total number of
shares that the beneficial owner may acquire upon conversion of the
preferred and on exercise of the warrants and options. Unless otherwise
stated, each beneficial owner has sole power to vote and dispose of its
shares.
|
|
(2)
|
Mr.
Yu had placed 944,445 shares of his common stock in escrow pursuant to the
securities purchase agreement relating to our May 2007 private placement,
subject to our meeting certain levels of pre-tax income for the year ended
December 31, 2007. These shares are included in the number of shares
beneficially owned by Mr. Yu. Since we have achieved the pre-tax income
per share milestone set forth in the securities purchase agreement, Mr.
Yu’s shares had been promptly released from escrow and returned to
him.
|
|
(3)
|
Represents
shares issuable pursuant to options which are currently exercisable.
Excludes 1,666 shares of common stock underlying options not exercisable
within 60 days of this report.
|
Except as
otherwise indicated each person has the sole power to vote and dispose of all
shares of common stock listed opposite his name. Each person is deemed to own
beneficially shares of common stock which are issuable upon exercise of warrants
, options or upon conversion of convertible securities if they are exercisable
or convertible within 60 days of March 23, 2009. None of the persons
named in the table above own any options or convertible securities.
Barron
Partners, LP owns shares of Series A Preferred Stock and warrants to purchase
shares of our common stock which, if fully converted and exercised, would result
in the ownership, by Barron Partners, LP, of more than 5% of our outstanding
common stock. However, the Series A Preferred Stock may not be converted and the
warrants may not be exercised if such conversion or exercise would result in
Barron Partners LP and its affiliates owning more than 4.9% of our outstanding
common stock. This limitation may not be waived.
We have
not adopted any equity compensation plans and have no securities authorized for
issuance under any such plans.
Item
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence.
Related
Transactions with between us and Xiqun Yu
In
December 2004, in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Plan of Exchange between us, Harbin Zhong He Li Da and Duane
Bennett, our former Chairman of the Board and controlling stockholder, Xiqun Yu,
our principal stockholder, Chief Executive Officer and Director, loaned us
$100,000 at an interest rate of 9% per annum. The loan was made to enable us to
pay our expenses in connection with the Plan of Exchange in United States
dollars. At December 31, 2007, the loan had been repaid in full.
On
September 29, 2006, we raised $1,530,000 from the issuance and sale of secured
promissory notes and warrants to purchase 1,530,000 shares of our common stock
for an exercise price per share of $1.50. Pursuant to a Guarantee Agreement,
dated as of September 29, 2006, Mr. Yu personally guaranteed the payment of such
loans (along with any accrued interest) and, pursuant to a Stock Pledge
Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2006, pledged 2,619,866 shares of common
stock of our Company owned by him as collateral for such loans. The notes, which
bore interest at 6% per annum, had a maturity date of March 29, 2007 and have
been paid in full in fiscal 2007. Upon payment in full of the notes by us, Mr.
Yu’s obligations under the Guarantee Agreement and Stock Pledge Agreement were
discharged.
Pursuant
to the securities purchase agreement relating to our May 2007 private placement,
Mr. Yu placed in escrow 944,445 shares of common stock pursuant to the following
provisions. If our 2007 pre-tax income was less than $0.19941 per share, on a
fully-diluted basis (the “Target Number”), a percentage shortfall was to be
determined by dividing the amount of the shortfall by the Target Number. If the
percentage shortfall was equal to or greater than 33 1/3%, the shares of common
stock Mr. Yu placed into escrow were to be cancelled by us. If the
percentage shortfall was less than 33 1/3%, the escrow agent was to deliver to
us for cancellation such number of shares of common stock as would have been
determined by multiplying the percentage shortfall by 944,445 shares and deliver
to Mr. Yu the balance of such shares. Since we have achieved the pre-tax
income per share milestone set forth in the securities purchase agreement, Mr.
Yu’s shares will be promptly released from escrow and returned to
him.
Other
Related Transactions
One of
our executive officers rents, in the Company's name, two properties in Beijing,
PRC on our behalf. Our executive officer leases from Beijing Yi De Zhi Bang
Technology Limited office space located at Anleli Road A, 4th Floor, Building B,
No. 69, Chongwen District, Beijing, PRC. The lease has a one year term,
commencing on October 1, 2008 and terminating on September 30, 2009. The rent
for this facility is RMB480,000 per year (approximately US$68,943).
The
executive officer also leased from Mr. Chen Xu a dormitory space located at
Yongwai Boulevard, Tiantian House, Building No. 3, Unit 6, Room 801, Chongwen
District, Beijing, PRC. The term of this lease was three years, commencing on
February 1, 2006 and terminating on January 31, 2009. The rent for this facility
was RMB120,000 per year (approximately US$16,925.25). We have
ceased to rent the dormitory space.
As of
December 31, 2007 we have advanced to our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Xiqun Yu
$108,536 to develop China Education Alliance. The funds were expended within the
year ended December 31, 2008. As of December 31, 2008, we have made advances
amounting to $80,000 to our recently acquired subsidiary, WEI. This advance
was made to expand WEI's operations outside of the PRC. In addition,
the Company contributed $62,006 to a new subsidiary, Zhong He Li Da (Beijing)
Management Cosultant Co., Ltd, which was established on January 4,
2009.
All
advances to related parties are non- interest bearing and due upon
demand.
Independent
Directors
Our Board
of Directors is currently comprised of a majority of independent directors, as
such term is defined by the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, and such
independent directors are James Hsu, Ansheng Huang and Liansheng Zhang. However,
our audit committee in comprised of only two independent directors - Messrs. Hsu
and Zhang. We are currently looking for a third independent director.
Item
14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
We were
billed by Murrell, Hall, McIntosh & Co., PLLP, and Sherb & Co., LLP,
each independent public accounting firm, for the following professional services
they performed for us during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008
as set forth in the table below.
Name
|
|
Audit Fees
|
|
|
Related Fee
|
|
|
Tax Fees
|
|
|
All Other Fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Murrell,
Hall, McIntosh & Co., PLLP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December-31-07
|
|
$ |
18,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sherb
& Co., LLP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December-31-07
|
|
$ |
60,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December-31-08
|
|
$ |
88,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
In
October 2007 we established a standing audit committee. Prior that that time,
our full Board of Directors performed all functions of an audit committee,
including the pre-approval of the scope and cost of all audit and non-audit
services before our Board of Directors engaged an accountant. With respect to
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 and 2008, all of the services rendered
to us by our independent registered public accountants prior to the
establishment of our audit committee, were pre-approved by our Board of
Directors, and after the establishment of our audit committee, were pre-approved
by our audit committee.
PART
IV
Item
15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
Exhibit
No.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
|
3.1
|
|
Articles
of Incorporation filed December 2, 1996 in the State of North Carolina are
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Form SB-2
Registration Statement of China Education Alliance, Inc. (File No.
333-101167) filed on November 13, 2002.
|
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
Articles
of Amendment Business Corporation dated May 23, 2002 are incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Form SB-2 Registration Statement
of China Education Alliance, Inc. (File No. 333-101167) filed on November
13, 2002.
|
|
|
|
3.3
|
|
Articles
of Amendment Business Corporation filed November 17, 2004, changing the
name of the Company from ABC Realty Co. to China Education Alliance, Inc.
is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 filed with the
Company’s Form 10-KSB annual report for its fiscal year ended December 31,
2005.
|
|
|
|
3.4
|
|
Articles
of Share Exchange of China Education Alliance, Inc. filed with
the Department of The Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina on
December 30, 2004 are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1
filed with China Education Alliance, Inc.’s Form 10-QSB
quarterly report for its quarter ended September 30, 2007 filed with the
SEC on November 14, 2007.
|
|
|
|
3.5
|
|
Articles
of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation filed with the Department of The
Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina on October 4, 2007
are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 filed
with China Education Alliance, Inc.’s Form 10-QSB quarterly
report for its quarter ended September 30, 2007 filed with the SEC on
November 14, 2007.
|
|
|
|
3.6
|
|
ByLaws
of China Education Alliance, Inc. are incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Form SB-2/A Registration Statement
of China Education Alliance, Inc. filed on February 7, 2003
(File No.
333-101167).
|
10.1
|
|
Stock
Transaction Agreement between and among China Education
Alliance, Inc. and the former owners of Harbin Zhonghelida Educational
Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of China
Education Alliance, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.3 to China Education Alliance, Inc.’s Form 10-KSB for the
year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the SEC on April 17,
2006.
|
|
|
|
10.2
|
|
Organization
Constitution of Heilongjiang Zhonge Education Training Center dated June
15, 2005, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company is incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to China Education Alliance,
Inc.’s Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the SEC
on April 17, 2006.
|
|
|
|
10.3
|
|
Business
licenses of Harbin Zhonghelinda Educational Technology Company Limited, a
wholly owned subsidiary of China Education Alliance, Inc. is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to China
Education Alliance, Inc.’s Form 10-KSB for the year ended
December 31, 2005 and filed with the SEC on April 17,
2006.
|
|
|
|
10.4
|
|
Product
Commission Process Contract dated March 2, 2006, with Tianjin Huishi
Printing Products Co., Ltd. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.6 to China Education Alliance, Inc.’s Form 10-KSB for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the SEC on April 17,
2006.
|
|
|
|
10.5
|
|
Consulting
Agreement with Conceptual Management Limited dated March 20, 2006 is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to China
Education Alliance, Inc.’s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2005 filed with the SEC on April 17,
2006.
|
|
|
|
10.6
|
|
Form
of Secured Promissory Note dated September 29, 2006, by China
Education Alliance, Inc. is hereby incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K current report of China Education
Alliance, Inc. filed with the SEC on November 1, 2006.
|
|
|
|
10.7
|
|
Stock
Pledge Agreement dated September 29, 2006, between Xiqun Yu and SBI
Advisors, LLC, as Agent is hereby incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8-K current report of China Education
Alliance, Inc. filed with the SEC on November 1, 2006.
|
|
|
|
10.8
|
|
Guarantee
Agreement dated as of September 29, 2006, among Harbin Zhong He Li Da Jiao
Yu Ke Ji You Xian Gong Si, Heilongjiang Zhonghe Education Training Center,
Harbin Zhonghelida Educational Technology Company Limited, Xinqun Yu, and
SBI Advisors, LLC, as Agent is hereby incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.3 to the Form 8-K current report of China Education
Alliance, Inc. filed with the SEC on November 1, 2006.
|
|
|
|
10.9
|
|
Investor
Relations Agreement dated November 1, 2006, between China
Education Alliance, Inc. and Taylor Rafferty Associates, Inc.
is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Form 10-QSB
quarterly report of the Company for the period ended June 30,
2006.
|
|
|
|
10.10
|
|
Purchase
Contract dated December 28, 2006, between Harbin Zhonghelida Education
&Technology Co., Ltd. and Harbin Nangang Compass Computer Training
School is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.11
to China Education Alliance, Inc.’s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2006 filed with the SEC on April 2,
2007.
|
|
|
|
10.11
|
|
Securities
Purchase Agreement dated as of May 8, 2007, among China
Education Alliance, Inc., Barron Partners, LP and the other investors
named therein is hereby incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1
to the Form 8-K of China Education Alliance, Inc. filed with
the SEC on May 15,
2007.
|
10.12
|
|
3%
Convertible Note issued to Barron Partners, LP is hereby incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Form 8-K of China
Education Alliance, Inc. filed with the SEC on May 15,
2007
|
|
|
|
10.13
|
|
3%
Convertible Note issued to Eos Holdings is hereby incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Form 8-K of China Education
Alliance, Inc. filed with the SEC on May 15, 2007.
|
|
|
|
10.14
|
|
3%
Convertible Note issued to Hua-Mei 21st Century Partners, LP is hereby
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the Form 8-K
of China Education Alliance, Inc. filed with the SEC on May 15,
2007.
|
|
|
|
10.15
|
|
Registration
Rights Agreement, dated May 8, 2007, among China Education
Alliance, Inc. , Barron Partners, LP and the other investors named therein
is hereby incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.5 to the Form 8-K
of China Education Alliance, Inc. filed with the SEC on May 15,
2007.
|
|
|
|
10.16
|
|
Closing
Escrow Agreement, dated May 8, 2007, among China Education
Alliance, Inc. , Barron Partners, LP, the other investors named therein
and the escrow agent named therein is hereby incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 99.6 to the Form 8-K of China Education
Alliance, Inc. filed with the SEC on May 15,
2007.
|
10.17
|
|
Letter
agreement dated May 8, 2007 between China Education Alliance,
Inc. and SBI Advisors LLC, and related payment letter is hereby
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.7 to the Form 8-K
of China Education Alliance, Inc. filed with the SEC on
May 15, 2007.
|
|
|
|
10.18
|
|
Amendment
dated as of May 23, 2007 to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated May 8,
2007, among China Education Alliance, Inc. , Barron Partners,
LP and the other investors named therein is hereby incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 8-K of China Education
Alliance, Inc. filed with the SEC on June 7, 2007.
|
|
|
|
10.19
|
|
3%
Convertible Note issued to Barron Partners, LP is hereby incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Form 8-K of China
Education Alliance, Inc. filed with the SEC on June 7,
2007.
|
|
|
|
10.20
|
|
Closing
Escrow Agreement, dated May, 2007, among China Education
Alliance, Inc. , Barron Partners, LP, the other investors named therein
and the escrow agent named therein is hereby incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Form 8-K of China Education
Alliance, Inc. filed with the SEC on June 7, 2007.
|
|
|
|
10.21
|
|
Letter
Agreement dated November 30, 2007, among China Education
Alliance, Inc. , Barron Partners, LP and the other investors named therein
is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Form SB-2/A
Registration Statement of China Education Alliance, Inc. (File
No. 333-146023) filed with the SEC on December 7, 2007.
|
|
|
|
10.22
|
|
Extracts
of Office Rental Agreement dated January 28, 2006 by and between
Vocational Education Organization Service Centre and Beijing Hua Yu Hui
Zhong Technology Development Co., Limited.
|
|
|
|
10.23
|
|
Extracts
of Dormitory Rental Agreement dated January 29, 2006 by and between Chen
Xu and Xiqun Yu.
|
|
|
|
10.24
|
|
House
Lease Contract dated January 29, 2006 by and between Beijing Yi De Zhi
Bang Technology Limited and Beijing Huayuhuizhong Technology Development
Co., Ltd.
|
|
|
|
10.25
|
|
Classroom
Lease Contract by and between Harbin Songdong OA Co., Ltd and Heilongjiang
Zhonghe Education Training
Center.
|
10.26
|
|
Classroom
Lease Contract by and between Harbin Songdong OA Co., Ltd and Heilongjiang
Zhonghe Education Training Center.
|
|
|
|
10.27
|
|
Employment
Contract between Zhonghelida Education Technology Co., Ltd and Xiqun Yu
dated August 9, 2004.
|
|
|
|
10.28
|
|
Employment
Contract between Zhonghelida Education Technology Co., Ltd and Chunqing
Wang dated August 9, 2004.
|
|
|
|
16.1
|
|
Letter
dated December 19, 2007 from Murrell, Hall, McIntosh & Co. PLLP to the
SEC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 16.1 to the Form 8-K
of China Education Alliance, Inc. filed with the SEC on
December 19, 2007.
|
|
|
|
16.2
|
|
Letter
dated December 19, 2007 from the Company to Murrell, Hall, McIntosh &
Co. PLLP is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 16.2 to the Form
8-K of China Education Alliance, Inc. filed with the SEC on
December 19, 2007.
|
|
|
|
21.1
|
|
Subsidiaries.
|
|
|
|
31.1
|
|
Certification
of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
|
31.2
|
|
Certification
of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
|
|
|
32.1
|
|
Certification
of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to U.S.C. Section 1350 as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
32.2
|
|
Certification
of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to U.S.C. Section 1350 as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
|
CHINA
EDUCATION ALLIANCE, INC.
|
|
|
|
Date: March
30, 2009
|
By:
|
/s/ Xiqun Yu
|
|
Xiqun
Yu
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
Date: March
30, 2009
|
By:
|
/s/ Susan Liu
|
|
Susan
Liu
Chief
Financial Officer
(Principal
Financial Officer)
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of
the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Xiqun Yu
|
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
March
30, 2009
|
Xiqun
Yu
|
|
Chairman
of the Board of Directors
and
Director
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Susan Liu
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
March
30, 2009
|
Susan
Liu
|
|
(Principal
Financial
and Accounting Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
James Hsu
|
|
Director
|
|
March
30, 2009
|
James
Hsu
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Ansheng Huang
|
|
Director
|
|
March
30, 2009
|
Ansheng
Huang
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Liansheng Zhang
|
|
Director
|
|
March
30, 2009
|
Liansheng
Zhang
|
|
|
|
|