UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-KSB
Amendment
No. 1
x
ANNUAL REPORT UNDER
SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2006
o
TRANSITION REPORT UNDER
SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
Commission
File Number: 000-31539
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC.
(Name
of
small business issuer in its charter)
Delaware
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98-0231607
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State
or other jurisdiction of
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I.R.S.
Employer
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incorporation
or organization
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Identification
Number
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19th
Floor, Building B, Van Metropolis
Tang
Yan
Road, Hi-Tech Zone
Xian,710065,
Shaanxi Province
China
(Address
of principal executive office)
Issuer's
telephone number: 86-29-88323325
Securities
registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act: None
Securities
registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:
Common
Stock, $.0001 par value per share
Check
whether the Issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13
or
15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months (or for such shorter period
that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject
to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES x NO o
Check
if
there is no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of
Regulation S-B contained in this form, and no disclosure will 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-KSB or any
amendment to this Form 10-KSB. x
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act.) YES o NO
x
The
issuer's revenues for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 were
$18,828,790.
The
number of shares of the Registrant's common stock, par value $0.0001 per share,
outstanding as of April 13, 2007 held by non-affiliates was 18,278,587 shares.
All executive officers and directors of the registrant have been deemed, solely
for the purpose of the foregoing calculation, to be "affiliates" of the
registrant. The aggregate market value of the common equity held by
non-affiliates as of April 13, 2007 was $38,750,604.
As
of
April 13, 2007, there were 24,210,183 shares of the issuer's common stock,
$0.0001 par value, outstanding.
Transitional
Small Business Disclosure format (Check one): YES o NO x
EXPLANATORY
STATEMENT
This
Amendment No. 1 to Form 10-KSB, which amends the Company’s Form 10-KSB for the
years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”) on April 17, 2007, is being filed to do the
following:
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(i)
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Revised
the disclosure regarding the Company’s organizational history and the
disclosure in Footnote 1 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial
Statements, in Item 1, Description of Business and in Item 6. Management’s
Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operations to clarify that Xian
Xilan
Natural Gas Co. Ltd. is a 100% Variable Interest Entity of the
Company,
which financial results are consolidated with those of the Company’s in
accordance with Financial Interpretation No. 46R, Consolidation
of
Variable Interest Entities ("FIN 46R");
and
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(ii)
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Include
additional risk factors arising out of the Variable Interest Entity
relationship between the Company and Xian Xilan Natural Gas Co.
Ltd.
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FORM
10-KSB
FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006
INDEX
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Page
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PART
I |
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4
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ITEM
1.
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DESCRIPTION
OF BUSINESS
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4
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ITEM
2.
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DESCRIPTION
OF PROPERTY
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20
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ITEM
3.
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LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
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ITEM
4.
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SUBMISSION
OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITYHOLDERS
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21
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PART
II |
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21
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ITEM
5.
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MARKET
FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND SMALL
BUSINESS ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
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21
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ITEM
6.
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MANAGEMENT'S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATION
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22
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ITEM
7.
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FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
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30
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ITEM
8.
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CHANGES
IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
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31
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ITEM
8A.
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CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
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31
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ITEM
8B.
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OTHER
INFORMATION
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31
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PART
III
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31
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ITEM
9.
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DIRECTORS,
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS AND CONTROL PERSONS; COMPLIANCE WITH
SECTION
16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
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31
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ITEM
10.
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EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
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35
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ITEM
11.
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SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
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36
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ITEM
12.
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CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
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37
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ITEM
13.
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EXHIBITS
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37
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ITEM
14.
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PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
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38
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STATEMENT
REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
In
this
annual report, references to "China Natural Gas," "CHNG," "the Company," "we,"
"us," and "our" refer to China Natural Gas, Inc.
Except
for the historical information contained herein, some of the statements in
this
Report contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
These statements are found in the sections entitled "Business," "Management's
Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation," and "Risk Factors." They include
statements concerning: our business strategy; expectations of market and
customer response; liquidity and capital expenditures; future sources of
revenues; expansion of our proposed product line; and trends in industry
activity generally. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements
by words such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "could,"
"anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "goal,"
or "continue" or similar terminology. These statements are only predictions
and
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including,
but
not limited to, the risks outlined under "Risk Factors," that may cause our
or
our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements
to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. For example, assumptions that could cause actual results to vary
materially from future results include, but are not limited to: our ability
to
successfully develop and market our products to customers; our ability to
generate customer demand for our products in our target markets; the development
of our target markets and market opportunities; our ability to manufacture
suitable products at competitive cost; market pricing for our products and
for
competing products; the extent of increasing competition; technological
developments in our target markets and the development of alternate, competing
technologies in them; and sales of shares by existing shareholders. Although
we
believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance
or achievements. Unless we are required to do so under US federal securities
laws or other applicable laws, we do not intend to update or revise any
forward-looking statements.
ITEM
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Organizational
History
We
were
incorporated in the state of Delaware on March 31, 1999, as Bullet Environmental
Systems, Inc. On May 25, 2000 we changed our name to Liquidpure Corp. and
on
February 14, 2002 we changed our name to Coventure International, Inc.
On
December 6, 2005, we issued an aggregate of 4 million shares to all of the
registered shareholders of Xian Xilan Natural Gas Co., Ltd., and entered
into
exclusive arrangements with Xian Xilan Natural Gas Co., Ltd. and these
shareholders that give us the ability to substantially influence Xian Xilan
Natural Gas’ daily operations and financial affairs, appoint its senior
executives and approve all matters requiring shareholder approval. On December
19, 2005, we changed our name to China Natural Gas, Inc.
On
February 21, 2006, we formed Xilan Natural Gas Equipment Ltd., (“Xilan
Equipment”) as a wholly owned foreign enterprise (WOFE). We then, through Xilan
Equipment, entered into exclusive arrangements with Xian Xilan Natural Gas
Co.,
Ltd. and these shareholders that give us the ability to substantially influence
Xian Xilan Natural Gas’ daily operations and financial affairs, appoint its
senior executives and approve all matters requiring shareholder approval.
We
memorialized these arrangements on August 17, 2007. As a result, the Company
consolidates the financial results of Xian Xilan Natural Gas as variable
interest entity pursuant to Financial Interpretation No. 46R, “Consolidation of
Variable Interest Entities.”
Overview
of our Business
We
distribute and sell natural gas to commercial, industrial and residential
customers in the Xian area, including Lantian County and the Lintong and Baqiao
Districts, of Shaanxi province of The Peoples' Republic of China ("China" or
the
"PRC"). The Shaanxi province is located in central China and has a population
of
approximately 36 million in an area of over 200,000 square kilometers (about
77,225 square miles). Xian, the capital of Shaanxi Province, is located in
the
southern part of Shaanxi Province and has a population of approximately 8
million people, with about 5 million people living within the urban
area.
We
operate three primary business lines:
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Distribution
and sale of compressed natural gas (CNG) through Company-owned
CNG filling
stations for hybrid (natural gas/gasoline) powered vehicles (17
stations
as of March 21, 2007);
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Distribution
and sale of CNG to third party-owned CNG filling stations for hybrid
(natural gas/gasoline) powered vehicles;
and
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Distribution
and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial
customers through Company-owned pipelines. As of March 31, 2007,
the
Company distributed and sold natural gas to approximately 75,000
homes and
businesses.
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We
buy
all of the natural gas that we sell and distribute to our customers from
government owned enterprises. We do not mine or produce any of our own natural
gas and have no plans to do so during the next 12 months. The natural gas that
we buy is available in two forms: (1) piped natural gas; and (ii)
CNG.
We
believe that the Company is the first China based natural gas company publicly
traded in the US capital markets (stock symbol: CHNG.OB).
Our
Products, Services and Customers
Our
Pipeline Distribution System
We
own
and operate a network of approximately 120 km of high pressure pipeline in
the
Xian area. Our pipeline network connects with a high pressure pipeline network
from the government operated Shaanxi Natural Gas Company. This pipeline supplies
natural gas directly from a gas field in the northern region of the province
to
the high pressure pipes that then feed into citygate "let-down" stations at
HongQing and Lantian County. At HongQing and LanTian the pressure is reduced
and
transported through a network of low-pressure distribution pipes to supply
our
residential, commercial and industrial customers in Lantian County, and the
Lintong and Baqiao Districts. The spur also feeds a compressor station at
HongQing where CNG is collected by tankers to supply CNG filling
stations.
Each
of
our pipeline customers is physically connected to our pipeline network through
Company installed and maintained connection equipment and natural gas usage
monitoring systems. We generate additional fees from the construction and
installation of connections to our natural gas distribution system.
We
believe that we are currently the sole authorized provider of natural gas to
residential customers in our service area and the only privately owned company
in the Shaanxi province to own and operate this type of high pressure
pipeline.
CNG
Filling Stations
We
also
distribute CNG as a vehicular fuel through our own and through third party-owned
CNG filling stations. We currently own and operate thirteen natural gas filling
stations in the Xian metropolitan area and four natural gas filling stations
in
Henan province. CNG is sold to taxis and buses that operate on CNG
technology.
Currently,
we purchase natural gas for 1.26 RMB/cubic meter and sell each cubic meter
for
2.65RMB net of value added taxes. We can construct a CNG filling station in
approximately 60 days for a cost of approximately US$800,000. As of March 17,
2007, we were in the process of constructing seven additional CNG filling
stations. We continue to evaluate additional sites for CNG filling stations
in
the Xian metropolitan area. In July 2005, we purchased a Compressor Station
located near our pipeline that will allow us to compress and transport CNG
via
truck to CNG filling stations.
Our
CNG Market
We
estimate that currently there are approximately 50,000 vehicles using CNG in
the
Xian area. PRC government statistics indicate that there are currently 5,000
buses and 20,000 taxis using CNG in Xian. Each bus uses an average of 70 cubic
meters of CNG per day and taxis use an average of 30 cubic meters of CNG per
day
(source: Xian Clean Fuel Vehicles Commission 2005).
The
PRC
government estimates in its Eleventh Five Year Plan (2006-2010) that current
total demand for CNG as a vehicular fuel in the Xian area is approximately
one
million seventy thousand (1,070,000) cubic meters per day. The PRC government's
clean energy policy as expressed in the proposal for the Eleventh Five Year
Plan
(2006-2010) encourages the use of CNG as a vehicular fuel. In addition,
currently CNG is cheaper than gasoline. We estimate that the average CNG station
in Xian pumps approximately 15,000 cubic meters of CNG per day and in November
2006, based on a survey we conducted, there were 53 CNG filling stations in
Xian. Therefore, we estimate that approximately 800,000 cubic meters of CNG
is
pumped per day, a figure well below estimated total demand. As a result, we
believe that there is significant unmet demand for CNG in the Xian area and
that
the market for CNG vehicular fuel provides us with the greatest opportunities
for profit and growth.
We
believe that our vertically integrated operations and our proprietary pipeline
and supply contracts gives us greater access to CNG supplies and customers
and
uniquely position us to become a major supplier of CNG vehicular fuel in the
Xian area.
Our
Pipeline Network Customers
As
of
December 31, 2006, we had approximately 75,000 customers, including residential,
industrial and commercial customers. We are continuing to expand our customer
base in Xian's newly developed business and residential areas including the
districts of Xihan and Chanliu. Our industrial customers, including the Xiwei
Aluminum Company and the Hungtian Company, use natural gas as a raw material
for
their production process. We are not dependent upon any single customer or
group
of customers for a material portion of our natural gas sales or
revenues.
Our
pipeline customers purchase natural gas by means of prepaid cards that can
be
inserted into the connection equipment to initiate gas flow.
We
are
currently seeking to expand pipeline distribution to the Shangluo and Ankang
areas of Shaanxi province. In September 2005, we submitted applications to
local
government authorities for approval to supply the Shanglou and Ankang areas
on
an exclusive basis. Approval is still pending and can take up to three years.
As
a result, we cannot be certain if we will receive such government approval
at
all or, if approved, when we will receive such government approval. However,
we
believe that if we receive government approval, the approval would give us
the
exclusive right to provide natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial
customers in those areas.
Our
Proposed Liquefied Natural Gas Project
During
2007, we plan to move into the processing, distribution and sale of liquefied
natural gas (LNG). We believe that adding LNG to our product offerings will
expand our geographic sales footprint and increase revenues and
profitability.
Both
CNG
and LNG are natural gas that has been compressed into canisters to enable
transportation, usually by truck, to the point of distribution or consumption.
Typically CNG is compressed at 200 times atmospheric pressure and can be
transported at normal temperatures to distances of up to 300 km. LNG is
typically compressed at up to 625 times atmospheric pressure and must be
transported at sub-zero degree temperatures. LNG can be transported over greater
distances by gas tanker truck. LNG is compressed at much higher pressure and
transported at much lower temperature than CNG. Therefore, the cost of
compression and processing of LNG is higher than that of CNG, although the
LNG
transportation costs are lower.
We
plan
to construct an LNG processing and distribution plant in Jinbiang, Shananxi
province (the "LNG Project"). We estimate that the construction of the LNG
Project will cost approximately US$40 million (RMB 309 million). If we can
obtain financing for the project by the end of 2007, we believe that the plant
can be completed by June 2008. We have obtained the required permits and
approvals to build the LNG plant from local government authorities; however,
we
will require approval from the Shaanxi Development and Reform Commission to
begun LNG production at the plant.
Our
Subsidiaries
On
October 24, 2006, we formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, Xilan Liquefied Natural
Gas Ltd., a limited liability company organized under the laws of PRC to
administer the production and sales of LNG.
In
2006,
the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Xilan Liquefied Natural Gas
Co., Ltd, received a letter from PetroChina Company Limited pursuant to which
PetroChina agreed in principle, subject to the negotiation and execution of
a
final contract, to supply up to 150,000,000 cubic meters of natural gas annually
upon the completion of our LNG project.
In
2006,
we formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, Xian Xilan Natural Gas Equipment Ltd.,
a
limited liability company organized under the laws of PRC ("Xilan Equipment"),
to provide equipment to our own CNG filling stations.
Suppliers
During
2006, we had only one natural gas supplier, the Shaanxi Natural Gas Co., Ltd.,
a
government owned enterprise. In the past, contracts were renewed on an annual
basis. However, as the volume of usage has increased, Shaanxi Natural Gas has
revised its policies, and contract terms are now six months and subject to
review prior to renewal. The price of natural gas is strictly controlled by
the
government and has remained stable over the past 3 years.
In
2006,
we signed a three-year contract with Zhengzhou Zhongyou Hengran Petroleum Gas
Co., Ltd., a branch company of China Petrochemical, to supply 350,000 cubic
meters of CNG daily and to supply CNG for a filling station built by the Company
in Henan province.
On
October 19, 2006, we received a letter from PetroChina Company Limited pursuant
to which PetroChina agreed in principle to supply up to 150 million cubic meters
of LNG annually to our subsidiary subject to the negotiation of a final
agreement once our LNG plant is built.
We
do not
expect any difficulty in continuing to renew our supply contracts during the
next 12 months.
PRC
Natural Gas Industry Overview
China's
rapidly expanding economy is stretching the limits of its energy resources.
Currently, only 3% of China's total energy usage is natural gas, while the
world's average consumption of natural gas is 24% of total energy usage.
(source: US Energy Information Administration ("EIA"), August 2005) Over the
next 5 years, China's use of natural gas is expected to significantly increase.
In 2005, China's domestic reserve of natural gas was estimated to be 53.3
trillion cubic feet. (source: EIA August 2005). The country's largest reserves
are located in western and north central China.
In
order
to meet the demand for natural gas, the PRC government has encouraged private
companies to invest in and build the necessary transportation, distribution
and
sale infrastructure for natural gas. On December 27, 2002, the Ministry of
Construction issued a memorandum stating that regulation of the public utility
industry (including natural gas distribution) should be liberalized. It also
stated that foreign and private investment participation should be encouraged
and welcomed. The memorandum encouraged private investment in the sector and
provided a legal framework for private urban natural gas
distribution.
Sources
of Energy
Although
the PRC is the world's second largest energy consumer, its energy consumption
per capita is lower than most other countries. This is largely because large
portions of the Chinese population live in rural areas where access to energy
sources is limited and the necessary infrastructure is still relatively
underdeveloped. Energy consumption is concentrated in the urban areas where
there is greater access to energy sources.
Traditionally,
the PRC has relied heavily on coal and crude oil as its primary energy sources.
According to the China Statistical Yearbook, in 2004, coal, crude oil,
hydro-electricity and natural gas accounted for 65.0%, 23.2%, 8.8% and 3%,
respectively, of the PRC's total energy consumption. In 2003, the ratios were
68.0%, 23.0%, 7.9% and 2.5% respectively. Traditionally, natural gas has been
primarily used as a raw material for chemical fertilizer and to operate oil
and
gas fields. Accordingly, most natural gas is consumed for production of
fertilizer. Only a little over 10% of natural gas is consumed as fuel.
(Source:
The
Institute of Energy Economics of Japan).
The
PRC's
heavy reliance on coal exceeds world consumption rates for the same period,
which was 22.2% (Source: Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department
of
Energy). The use of coal, however, causes air pollution and other negative
consequences to the environment. In the PRC, the heavy use of unwashed coal
has
led to large emissions of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. An air
pollution study conducted by the World Health Organization in 1998 showed that
seven of the 10 most polluted cities in the world were located in the PRC.
As
such, there have been serious environmental concerns in many countries around
the world, resulting in a global trend to reduce coal usage. In consideration
of
such trends, in 1996, the PRC presented a plan to raise the share of natural
gas
in the country's energy mix (Source: Ninth Five-Year Plan (1996-2000)). In
many
locations where natural gas supply is available, local governments often require
all new residential buildings to install piped gas connections as a condition
to
the issuance of the construction or occupancy permits. Before 2000, local
municipal governments controlled gas distribution. Since then, the industry
has
been opened to private companies, whose investments have fostered an increase
in
the use of natural gas in the PRC. The PRC government has deemed the natural
gas
industry a suitable industry for public and private investments.
China's
Natural Gas Reserves and Gas Pipeline Infrastructure
Recognizing
the serious problems caused by the heavy reliance on coal usage, the PRC
government has aggressively moved to reduce coal usage by substituting coal
with
other, more environmentally friendly forms of fuel, such as natural gas. The
PRC
abounds in rich natural gas reserves, which are distributed among Xinjiang,
Sichuan, and Shaanxi Provinces, as well as Inner Mongolia. According to the
Second Oil and Gas Reserve Assessment published by the Geological and Mineral
Resources Department of China, natural gas reserves in China are estimated
to be
38,000 billion cubic meters with 30,000 billion cubic meters onshore and 8,000
billion cubic meters offshore. These reserves are sufficient for approximately
74 to 120 years of Chinese consumption based on current consumption
levels.
Because
the PRC's largest reserves of natural gas are located in western and
north-central China, it requires a significant investment in gas transportation
infrastructure to carry natural gas to eastern cities and the rest of the PRC.
Until recently, the PRC's natural gas consumption was limited to local natural
gas producing provinces because of the lack of national long-distance pipeline
infrastructure. Because natural gas transportation was limited to areas near
production sites, an economical supply was possible.
The
principal method for transportation of natural gas is by means of pipelines.
In
order to develop the natural gas industry, it is essential that the necessary
pipeline infrastructure be in place so that natural gas is easily accessible
for
distribution at affordable rates.
In
its
Eleventh Five Year Plan (2006 - 2010), the PRC government re-affirmed its
commitment to making significant investments in the expansion of the natural
gas
pipeline infrastructure over a period of 20 years.
Demand
for Natural Gas
Currently,
natural gas consumption in the PRC accounts for less than 3% of its total energy
consumption. However, driven by environmental pressures, improvements in social
infrastructure fueled by economic growth, and a stable energy supply, it is
anticipated that the use of natural gas will grow very rapidly in the PRC over
the next 20 years.
Intellectual
Property
We
have
applied for a service mark on the "Xilan" name, which is used in connection
with
all our products and services.
Research
and Development
We
have
not had and do not anticipate having any material research and development
expenses. The funding for all research and development expenses is expected
to
come from operating cash flows.
Governmental
and Environmental Regulation
To
date,
we comply with all registrations and requirements for the issuance and
maintenance of all licenses required by the applicable governing authorities
in
China. These licenses include:
· Qualified
Urban Fuel Operator Business License authorized by the Shaanxi Construction
Bureau, the local office of the Ministry of Construction, effective from
January
2, 2004 to January 2, 2009.(License number SHAANRANZHI 166)
· License
to Supply, Install Equipment and Maintain Gas Fuel Lines issued by the local
Gas
Fuels for Heating Bureau, an agency of the Ministry of Construction and the
Xian
Natural Gas Management Bureau. License number: XIRAN 136)
· Safety
and Inspection Regulation
for Special Equipment Safety Inspection Standards for High Pressure Pipeline
and
Technical Safety Inspection Regulations from the Shaanxi Quality and Technology
Inspection Bureau for compressor stations and pressure storage tank system.
(Approval letter reference: 2004SHAANGUOCHUHAN033)
· Annual
Safety Inspection of
Lightning Conductor Equipment approved by the Shaanxi Meteorology Bureau.
(Certificate number 0005274) The Citygate and Compressor Stations are approved
by the local office of the Ministry of Construction.
· Business
license to operate
Xilan Equipment effective from 02/22/2006 to 02/21/2021.
· Business
license to operate
Xilan Liquified Natural Gas effective from 10/24/2006 to
10/23/2036.
Fuel
service station standards are subject to regulation by the Ministry of
Construction, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, and the Bureau
of Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China. Upon
satisfactory inspection of service stations, certificates will be
issued.
Various
standards must be met for filling stations, including the handling and storage
of CNG, tanker handling, and compressor operation. The Local Ministry of
Construction and the Gas Field Operation Department of the Municipal
Administration Committee regulates these standards. The Municipal Development
and Reform Commission, which issues certificates for the handling of dangerous
chemical agents, carries out inspections.
Standards
for the design and construction of filling stations must conform to GB50156-2202
and technology standard BJJ84-2000.
Competition
The
three
largest state owned energy companies, CNPC (China National Petroleum
Corporation) Group, SINOPEC (China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation Group),
and CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Corporation Group) are principally
engaged in the upstream supply of energy and are material competitors in the
exploration and transportation of oil and gas. They build much of the country's
high-pressure pipeline infrastructure. Natural gas is distributed to smaller
regional firms that redistribute the gas to the end user, either through lower
pressure pipeline networks, or via tankers in the form of liquid natural gas
(LNG).
With
respect to our pipeline services, we compete with privately owned companies:
Xinjiang Guanghui LNG Development Corporation Ltd. and Xin'Ao Gas Field Ltd.
Xinjiang Guanghui LNG Development Corporation Ltd. is primarily involved in
the
transportation of LNG via tanker truck to storage facilities from natural gas
wells. Xin'Ao Gas Field Ltd. is a publicly owned company traded on the Hong
Kong
Exchange that distributes natural gas via pipeline in 13 provinces and
municipalities that have a combined population of 31 million. Neither Xinjiang
Guanghui nor Xin'Ao is approved to supply natural gas to any area in which
Xilan
is currently operating.
With
respect to our CNG filling station market, currently, there are approximately
53
CNG filling stations in Xian City. Thirteen of these stations are state owned
enterprises. The other 40 stations are privately owned with the majority of
these being single station operators. We believe that we effectively compete
with the stations based upon our organization, experience and financial
resources.
Employees
As
of
March 17, 2007, we had 310 employees in the following capacities: 6 in
management; 18 in administrative; 87 in operations; 25 in sales; 38 in research
and development; 16 in finance and 120 employees at the retail filling stations.
We have not experienced any industrial actions and we have excellent
relationships with our employees. We are not a party to any collective
bargaining agreements.
RISK
FACTORS
We
are
subject to various risks that could have a negative effect on the Company and
its financial condition. You should understand that these risks could cause
results to differ materially from those expressed in forward looking statements
contained in this report and in other Company communications. Because there
is
no way to determine in advance whether, or to what extent, any present
uncertainty will ultimately influence our business, you should give equal weight
to each of the following:
Risks
Related To Our Business
Prices
of
natural gas can be subject to significant fluctuations, which may affect our
ability to provide supplies to our customers.
We
obtain
most of our supplies of natural gas from a government owned entity and our
supply contracts are subject to review every six months. However, our costs
for
natural gas are strictly controlled by the government and have remained stable
over the past 3 years. Management does not expect any difficulty in continuing
to renew the supply contracts during the next 12 months. The price of natural
gas can fluctuate in response to changing national or international market
forces. Accordingly, price levels of natural gas may rise or fall significantly
over the short to medium term due to political events, OPEC actions and other
factors, industry economics over the long term.
We
are
dependent on supplies of natural gas to deliver to our customers.
With
the
exception of certain compressed and liquid natural gas supplies, we obtain
our
supplies of natural gas from one supplier, which is a government owned entity.
The ability to deliver our product is dependent on a sufficient supply of
natural gas and if we are unable to obtain a sufficient natural gas supply,
it
could prevent us making deliveries to our customers. While we have supply
contracts, we do not control the government owned or other suppliers, nor are
we
able to control the amount of time and effort they put forth on our behalf.
It
is possible that our suppliers will not perform as expected, and that they
may
breach or terminate their agreements with us. It is also possible that, after
a
semi-annual review of our primary supply contract, they will choose to provide
services to a competitor. Any failure to obtain supplies of natural gas could
prevent us from delivering such to our customers and could have a material
adverse affect on our business and financial condition.
Our
business operations are subject to a high degree of risk and insurance may
not
be adequate to cover liabilities resulting from accidents or injuries that
may
occur.
Our
operations are subject to potential hazards incident to the gathering,
processing, separation and storage of natural gas, such as explosions, product
spills, leaks, emissions and fires. These hazards can cause personal injury
and
loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property and equipment, and
pollution or other environmental damage, and may result in curtailment or
suspension of our operations.
The
occurrence of a significant event for which we are not fully insured or
indemnified, and/or the failure of a party to meet its indemnification
obligations, could materially and adversely affect our operations and financial
condition. Moreover, no assurance can be given that we will be able to maintain
adequate insurance in the future at rates it considers reasonable. To date,
however, we have maintained adequate coverage at reasonable rates and have
experienced no material uninsured losses.
Changes
in the regulatory atmosphere could adversely affect our business.
The
distribution of natural gas and operations of filling stations are highly
regulated requiring registrations for the issuance of licenses required by
various governing authorities in China. In addition, various standards must
be
met for filling stations including handling and storage of natural gas, tanker
handling, and compressor operation which are regulated. The costs of complying
with regulations in the future may harm our business. Furthermore, future
changes in environmental laws and regulations could result in stricter standards
and enforcement, larger fines and liability, and increased capital expenditures
and operating costs, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our
financial condition or results of operations.
We
depend
on our senior management's experience and knowledge of the industry and would
be
adversely affected by the loss of any of our senior managers.
We
are
dependent on the continued efforts of our senior management team. We do not
currently have employment contracts with our senior executives. If, for any
reason, our senior executives do not continue to be active in management, our
business, or the financial condition of our Company, our results of operations
could be adversely affected. In addition, we do not maintain life insurance
on
our senior executives and other key employees.
We
may
need to raise capital to fund our operations, and our failure to obtain funding
when needed may force us to delay, reduce or eliminate acquisitions and business
development plans.
If
in the
future, we are not capable of generating sufficient revenues from operations
and
our capital resources are insufficient to meet future requirements, we may
have
to raise funds to continue the development, commercialization and marketing
of
our business. We must raise $40 million in order complete the LNG
Project.
We
cannot
be certain that funding will be available. To the extent that we raise
additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience
significant dilution. Any debt financing, if available, may involve restrictive
covenants that impact our ability to conduct our business. If we are unable
to
raise additional capital if required or on acceptable terms, we may have to
delay, scale back, discontinue our planned acquisitions or business development
plans or obtain funds by entering into agreements on unattractive
terms.
Risks
Related To The People's Republic of China
China's
economic policies could affect our business.
Substantially
all of our assets are located in China and substantially all of our revenue
is
derived from our operations in China. Accordingly, our results of operations
and
prospects are subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political
and
legal developments in China.
While
China's economy has experienced a significant growth in the past twenty years,
growth has been irregular, both geographically and among various sectors of
the
economy. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to encourage
economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures
benefit the overall economy of China, but may also have a negative effect on
us.
For example, our operating results and financial condition may be adversely
affected by the government control over capital investments or changes in tax
regulations.
The
economy of China has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more
market-oriented economy. In recent years the Chinese government has implemented
measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform and
the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the establishment
of
corporate governance in business enterprises; however, a substantial portion
of
productive assets in China are still owned by the Chinese government. In
addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in
regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. It also
exercises significant control over China's economic growth through the
allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated
obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to
particular industries or companies.
Capital
outflow policies in The People's Republic of China may hamper our ability to
remit income to the United States.
The
People's Republic of China has adopted currency and capital transfer
regulations. These regulations may require that we comply with complex
regulations for the movement of capital. Although we believe that we are
currently in compliance with these regulations, should these regulations or
the
interpretation of them by courts or regulatory agencies change we may not be
able to remit all income earned and proceeds received in connection with our
operations or from the sale of our operating subsidiary to the U.S. or to our
stockholders.
Although
we do not import goods into or export goods out of The People's Republic of
China, fluctuation of the Renminbi may indirectly affect our financial condition
by affecting the volume of cross-border money flow.
The
value
of the Renminbi fluctuates and is subject to changes in the People's Republic
of
China political and economic conditions. Since July 2005, the conversion of
Renminbi into foreign currencies, including United States dollars, has been
based on rates set by the People's Bank of China which are set based upon the
interbank foreign exchange market rates and current exchange rates of a basket
of currencies on the world financial markets. As of March 19, 2007, the exchange
rate between the Renminbi and the United States dollar was 7.73
Renminbi to every one United States dollar.
We
may face obstacles from the communist system in The People's Republic of
China.
Foreign
companies conducting operations in The People's Republic of China face
significant political, economic and legal risks. The Communist regime in The
People's Republic of China, including a stifling bureaucracy may hinder Western
investment.
We
may have difficulty establishing adequate management, legal and financial
controls in The People's Republic of China.
The
People's Republic of China historically has been deficient in Western style
management and financial reporting concepts and practices, as well as in modern
banking, computer and other control systems. We may have difficulty in hiring
and retaining a sufficient number of qualified employees to work in The People's
Republic of China. As a result of these factors, we may experience difficulty
in
establishing management, legal and financial controls, collecting financial
data
and preparing financial statements, books of account and corporate records
and
instituting business practices that meet Western standards.
Because
our assets and operations are located in China, you may have difficulty
enforcing any civil liabilities against us under the securities and other laws
of the United States or any state.
We
are a
holding company, and all of our assets are located in the Republic of China.
In
addition, our directors and officers are non-residents of the United States,
and
all or a substantial portion of the assets of these non-residents are located
outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to
effect service of process within the United States upon these non-residents,
or
to enforce against them judgments obtained in United States courts, including
judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws
of
the United States or any state.
There
is
uncertainty as to whether courts of the Republic of China would
enforce:
· Judgments
of United States
courts obtained against us or these non-residents based on the civil liability
provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state;
or
· In
original actions brought in
the Republic of China, liabilities against us or non-residents predicated upon
the securities laws of the United States or any state. Enforcement of a foreign
judgment in the Republic of China also may be limited or otherwise affected
by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, arrangement, moratorium or
similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and will
be
subject to a statutory limitation of time within which proceedings may be
brought.
The
PRC legal system embodies uncertainties, which could limit law enforcement
availability.
The
PRC
legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike common
law
systems, decided legal cases have little precedence. In 1979, the PRC government
began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing
economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past
27
years has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms
of
foreign investment in China. Each of our PRC operating subsidiaries and
affiliates is subject to PRC laws and regulations. However, these laws and
regulations change frequently and the interpretation and enforcement involve
uncertainties. For instance, we may have to resort to administrative and court
proceedings to enforce the legal protection that we are entitled to by law
or
contract. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have
significant discretion in interpreting statutory and contractual terms, it
may
be difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative court proceedings and
the
level of law enforcement that we would receive in more developed legal systems.
Such uncertainties, including the inability to enforce our contracts, could
affect our business and operation. In addition, intellectual property rights
and
confidentiality protections in China may not be as effective as in the United
States or other countries. Accordingly, we cannot predict the effect of future
developments in the PRC legal system, particularly with regard to the industries
in which we operate, including the promulgation of new laws. This may include
changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, or the
preemption of local regulations by national laws. These uncertainties could
limit the availability of law enforcement, including our ability to enforce
our
agreements with the government entities and other foreign
investors.
The
admission of China into the World Trade Organization could lead to increased
foreign competition.
Provincial
and central government authorities regulate the natural gas industry for safety
and ensure that all areas receive natural gas service. However, as a result
of
China becoming a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), restrictions
on
foreign investment in the industry may be reduced. With China's need to meet
growth in natural gas demand and the WTO's requirement for a reduction of
restrictions on foreign investment as a condition of membership, such events
could lead to increased competition in the natural gas industry.
PRC
laws and regulations governing our businesses and the validity of certain of
our
contractual arrangements are uncertain. If we are found to be in violation,
we
could be subject to sanctions. In addition, changes in such PRC laws and
regulations may materially and adversely affect our business.
There
are
substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC
laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the laws and regulations
governing our business, or the enforcement and performance of our contractual
arrangements with our VIE, Xian Xilan Natural Gas, and its shareholders. We
are
considered a foreign person or foreign invested enterprise under PRC law. As
a
result, we are subject to PRC law limitations on foreign ownership of Chinese
companies. These laws and regulations are relatively new and may be subject
to
change, and their official interpretation and enforcement may involve
substantial uncertainty. The effectiveness of newly enacted laws, regulations
or
amendments may be delayed, resulting in detrimental reliance by foreign
investors. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future
businesses may also be applied retroactively.
The
PRC
government has broad discretion in dealing with violations of laws and
regulations, including levying fines, revoking business and other licenses
and
requiring actions necessary for compliance. In particular, licenses and permits
issued or granted to us by relevant governmental bodies may be revoked at a
later time by higher regulatory bodies. We cannot predict the effect of the
interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations on our businesses.
We
cannot assure you that our current ownership and operating structure would
not
be found in violation of any current or future PRC laws or regulations. As
a
result, we may be subject to sanctions, including fines, and could be required
to restructure our operations or cease to provide certain services. Any of
these
or similar actions could significantly disrupt our business operations or
restrict us from conducting a substantial portion of our business operations,
which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition
and results of operations.
We
may be adversely affected by complexity, uncertainties and changes in PRC
regulation of natural gas business and companies, including limitations on
our
ability to own key assets.
The
PRC
government regulates the natural gas industry including foreign ownership of,
and the licensing and permit requirements pertaining to, companies in the
natural gas industry. These laws and regulations are relatively new and
evolving, and their interpretation and enforcement involve significant
uncertainty. As a result, in certain circumstances it may be difficult to
determine what actions or omissions may be deemed to be a violation of
applicable laws and regulations. Issues, risks and uncertainties relating to
PRC
government regulation of the bio-pharmaceutical industry include the
following:
· we
only
have contractual control over Xian Xilan Natural Gas. We do not own it due
to
the restriction of foreign investment in Chinese businesses; and
· uncertainties
relating to the regulation of the natural gas business in China, including
evolving licensing practices, means that permits, licenses or operations at
our
company may be subject to challenge. This may disrupt our business, or subject
us to sanctions, requirements to increase capital or other conditions or
enforcement, or compromise enforceability of related contractual arrangements,
or have other harmful effects on us.
The
interpretation and application of existing PRC laws, regulations and policies
and possible new laws, regulations or policies have created substantial
uncertainties regarding the legality of existing and future foreign investments
in, and the businesses and activities of, natural gas businesses in China,
including our business.
In
order to comply with PRC laws limiting foreign ownership of Chinese companies,
we conduct our natural gas business through Xian Xilan Natural Gas by means
of
contractual arrangements. If the PRC government determines that these
contractual arrangements do not comply with applicable regulations, our business
could be adversely affected.
The
PRC
government restricts foreign investment in natural gas businesses in China.
Accordingly, we operate our business in China through Xian Xilan Natural Gas.
Xian Xilan Natural Gas holds the licenses and approvals necessary to operate
our
natural gas business in China. We have contractual arrangements with Xian Xilan
Natural Gas and its shareholders that allow us to substantially control Xian
Xilan Natural Gas. We cannot assure you, however, that we will be able to
enforce these contracts.
Although
we believe we comply with current PRC regulations, we cannot assure you that
the
PRC government would agree that these operating arrangements comply with PRC
licensing, registration or other regulatory requirements, with existing policies
or with requirements or policies that may be adopted in the future. If the
PRC
government determines that we do not comply with applicable law, it could revoke
our business and operating licenses, require us to discontinue or restrict
our
operations, restrict our right to collect revenues, require us to restructure
our operations, impose additional conditions or requirements with which we
may
not be able to comply, impose restrictions on our business operations or on
our
customers, or take other regulatory or enforcement actions against us that
could
be harmful to our business.
Our
contractual arrangements with Xian Xilan Natural Gas and its shareholders
may
not be as effective in providing control over these entities as direct
ownership.
Since
PRC
law limits foreign equity ownership in natural gas companies in China, we
operate our business through Xian Xilan Natural Gas. We have no equity ownership
interest in Xian Xilan Natural Gas and rely on contractual arrangements to
control and operate such businesses. These contractual arrangements may not
be
as effective in providing control over Xian Xilan Natural Gas as direct
ownership. For example, Xian Xilan Natural Gas could fail to take actions
required for our business despite its contractual obligation to do so. If Xian
Xilan Natural Gas fails to perform under their agreements with us, we may have
to incur substantial costs and resources to enforce such arrangements and may
have to rely on legal remedies under PRC law, which may not be effective. In
addition, we cannot assure you that Xian Xilan Natural Gas’s shareholders would
always act in our best interests.
RISKS
RELATED TO CORPORATE AND STOCK MATTERS
The
limited prior public market and trading market may cause volatility in the
market price of our common stock.
Our
common stock is currently traded on a limited basis on the OTCBB under the
symbol, "CHNG.OB" The quotation of our common stock on the OTCBB does not assure
that a meaningful, consistent and liquid trading market currently exists, and
in
recent years, such market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations
that have particularly affected the market prices of many smaller companies
like
us. Our common stock is thus subject to volatility. In the absence of an active
trading market:
· investors
may have difficulty
buying and selling or obtaining market quotations;
· market
visibility for our common
stock may be limited; and
· a
lack of visibility for our
common stock may have a depressive effect on the market for our common
stock.
Our
stock is a penny stock. Trading of our stock may be restricted by the SEC's
penny stock regulations which may limit a stockholder's ability to buy and
sell
our stock.
Our
stock
is a penny stock. The SEC has adopted Rule 15g-9 which generally defines
"penny
stock" to be any equity security that has a market price (as defined) less
than
$5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject
to
certain exceptions. Our securities are covered by the penny stock rules,
which
impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell
to
persons other than established customers and "accredited investors". The
term
"accredited investor" refers generally to institutions with assets in excess
of
$5,000,000 or individuals with a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or annual
income exceeding $200,000 or $300,000 jointly with their spouse. The penny
stock
rules require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not
otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure
document in a form prepared by the SEC which provides information about penny
stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. The
broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer
quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and
its
salesperson in the transaction and monthly account statements showing the
market
value of each penny stock held in the customer's account. The bid and offer
quotations, and the broker-dealer and salesperson compensation information,
must
be given to the customer orally or in writing prior to effecting the transaction
and must be given to the customer in writing before or with the customer's
confirmation. In addition, the penny stock rules require that prior to a
transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from these rules, the
broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock
is
a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser's written
agreement to the transaction. These disclosure requirements may have the
effect
of reducing the level of trading activity in the secondary market for the
stock
that is subject to these penny stock rules. Consequently, these penny stock
rules may affect the ability of broker-dealers to trade our securities. We
believe that the penny stock rules discourage investor interest in and limit
the
marketability of our common stock.
NASD
sales practice requirements may also limit a stockholder's ability to buy and
sell our stock.
Section
15(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 15g-2
promulgated thereunder by the SEC require broker-dealers dealing in penny stocks
to provide potential investors with a document disclosing the risks of penny
stocks and to obtain a manually signed and dated written receipt of the document
before effecting any transaction in a penny stock for the investor's
account.
Potential
investors in our common stock are urged to obtain and read such disclosure
carefully before purchasing any shares that are deemed to be "penny stock."
Moreover, Rule 15g-9 requires broker-dealers in penny stocks to approve the
account of any investor for transactions in such stocks before selling any
penny
stock to that investor. This procedure requires the broker-dealer to (i) obtain
from the investor information concerning his or her financial situation,
investment experience and investment objectives; (ii)reasonably determine,
based
on that information, that transactions in penny stocks are suitable for the
investor and that the investor has sufficient knowledge and experience as to
be
reasonably capable of evaluating the risks of penny stock transactions; (iii)
provide the investor with a written statement setting forth the basis on which
the broker-dealer made the determination in (ii) above; and (iv) receive a
signed and dated copy of such statement from the investor, confirming that
it
accurately reflects the investor's financial situation, investment experience
and investment objectives. Compliance with these requirements may make it more
difficult for holders of our common stock to resell their shares to third
parties or to otherwise dispose of them in the market or otherwise.
Shares
eligible for future sale may adversely affect the market price of our Common
stock, as the future sale of a substantial amount of our restricted stock in
the
public marketplace could reduce the price of our common
stock.
From
time
to time, certain of our stockholders may be eligible to sell all or some of
their shares of common stock by means of ordinary brokerage transactions in
the
open market pursuant to Rule 144, promulgated under the Securities Act ("Rule
144"), subject to certain limitations. In general, pursuant to Rule 144, a
stockholder (or stockholders whose shares are aggregated) who has satisfied
a
one-year holding period may, under certain circumstances, sell within any
three-month period a number of securities which does not exceed the greater
of
1% of the then outstanding shares of common stock or the average weekly trading
-volume of the class during the four calendar weeks prior to such sale. Rule
144
also permits, under certain circumstances, the sale of securities, without
any
limitations, by a non-affiliate of our company that has satisfied a two-year
holding period. Any substantial sale of common stock pursuant to Rule 144 or
pursuant to any resale prospectus may have an adverse effect on the market
price
of our securities.
If
we or our independent registered public accountants cannot attest our adequacy
in the internal control measures over our financial reporting, as required
by
Section 404 of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act, for the fiscal year ending December
31, 2007, we may be adversely affected.
As
a
public company, we are subject to report our internal control structure and
procedures for financial reporting in our annual reports on Form 10-KSB, as
a
requirement of Section 404 of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The report must contain an
assessment by management about the effectiveness of our internal controls over
financial reporting. Moreover, the independent registered public accountants
of
our Company must attest to and report on management's assessment of the same.
Even if our management attests to our internal control measures to be effective,
our independent registered public accountants may not be satisfied with our
internal control structure and procedures. We cannot guarantee the outcome
of
the report and it could result in an adverse impact on us in the financial
marketplace due to the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our
financial statements, which could negative influence to our stock market
price.
Stockholders
should have no expectation of any dividends.
The
holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when declared
by
the Board of Directors out of funds available. To date, we have not declared
nor
paid any cash dividends. The Board of Directors does not intend to declare
any
dividends in the near future, but instead intends to retain all earnings, if
any, for use in our business operations.
ITEM
2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY
Our
principal executive offices are located at 19th Floor, Building B, Van
Metropolis Tang Yan Road, Hi-Tech Zone, Xian, 710065, Shaanxi Province, People's
Republic of China. Our property consists of approximately 818 square meters,
which is rented on an annual basis for $37,753.
We
have
additional properties located in Lantian county, the districts of Baqiao, Tong
and Gaoxin in the city of Xian, and the cities of Jiyuan, Kaifung and
Pindingshan, in Henan province. We own a 120km high-pressure underground
pipeline network and two Citygate stations (terminals) with accompanying
buildings and equipment. We lease the main office building where we are
headquartered and all of our CNG filling station sites.
In
February, 2006 we formed our 100%-owned subsidiary, Xilan Equipment, which
maintains an office in the No. 3 Xianmen St., Lantian county, Xian, Shaanxi
Province, China. The office consists of approximately 1001 sq. feet, with annual
rental payment of $5,560.
On
October 24, 2006, we formed our 100% owned subsidiary, Xilan Liquified Natural
Gas Co., Ltd., which maintains an office in the Tongwang Road, Zhangjiapan
Town,
Jingbian County, China, China. The office consists of approximately 3,921 sq.
feet, with annual rental payment of $7,036.
As
of
December 31, 2006, the Company owned 11 trucks and 13 tankers that the Company
used to transport natural gas.
Insurance
The
Company carries auto insurance on its vehicles and maintains workers
compensation insurance for its filling station workers. The Company believes
this insurance is adequate for its needs. The Company does not carry any product
liability insurance or property insurance on its office buildings or other
property.
We
believe that current facilities are adequate for our current and immediately
foreseeable operating needs. We do not have any policies regarding investments
in real estate, securities or other forms of property.
ITEM
3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From
time
to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings,
which
arise in the ordinary course of business. However, litigation is subject to
inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may
arise from time to time that may harm our business. We are currently not aware
of any such legal proceedings or claims that we believe will have, individually
or in the aggregate, a material adverse affect on our business, financial
condition or operating results.
ITEM
4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
ITEM
5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND SMALL
BUSINESS ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
On
March
17, 2004, our common stock was approved for listing on the Over-the-Counter
Bulletin Board under the symbol "CVNI" and on December 19, 2005 our symbol
was
changed to "CHNG" and our fiscal year end was changed to December31. The
following table sets forth, the range of high and low closing bid quotations
for
our common stock in 2005 and 2006. The quotations represent inter-dealer prices
without retail markup, markdown or commission, and may not necessarily represent
actual transactions. The source of the following information is Yahoo
Finance.
OTC
Bulletin Board
|
|
COMMON
STOCK MARKET
PRICE
|
|
|
|
HIGH
|
|
LOW
|
|
FISCAL
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
|
$
|
3.15
|
|
$
|
3.08
|
|
Third
Quarter
|
|
$
|
3.05
|
|
$
|
2.82
|
|
Second
Quarter
|
|
$
|
2.55
|
|
$
|
2.35
|
|
First
Quarter
|
|
$
|
4.49
|
|
$
|
4.40
|
|
FISCAL
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fourth
Quarter
|
|
$
|
3.40
|
|
$
|
3.30
|
|
Third
Quarter
|
|
$
|
3.00
|
|
$
|
3.00
|
|
Second
Quarter
|
|
$
|
5.50
|
|
$
|
5.50
|
|
First
Quarter
|
|
$
|
1.35
|
|
$
|
1.35
|
|
As
of
March 22, 2007, there were approximately 22 holders of record of our common
stock.
Dividends
There
are
no restrictions in our articles of incorporation or bylaws that prevent us
from
declaring dividends. The Delaware General Corporation Law, however, does
prohibit us from declaring dividends where, after giving effect to the
distribution of the dividend:
1.
We
would not be able to pay our debts as they become due in the usual course of
business; or
2.
Our
total assets would be less than the sum of our total liabilities plus the amount
that would be needed to satisfy the rights of shareholders who have preferential
rights superior to those receiving the distribution.
We
have
never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We currently
intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the expansion of our
business. As a result, we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the
foreseeable future.
Recent
Issuances of Unregistered Securities.
ITEM
6. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF
OPERATION
CAUTIONARY
STATEMENT
The
following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the
Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto included
in
Part II, Item 7 of this Report. Unless otherwise noted, all amounts are
expressed in U.S. dollars. The following discussion regarding the Company and
its business and operations contains forward-looking statements that consist
of
any statement other than a recitation of historical fact and can be identified
by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "expect", "anticipate",
"estimate" or "continue" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon
or
comparable terminology. In particular, these include statements relating to
our
expectation that we will continue to have adequate liquidity from cash flow
from
operations the other risks and uncertainties, which are described above under
"RISK FACTORS". The reader is cautioned that all forward-looking statements
are
necessarily speculative and there are certain risks and uncertainties that
could
cause actual events or results to differ materially from those referred to
in
such forward-looking statements, including the risk factors discussed in this
Report. The Company does not have a policy of updating or revising
forward-looking statements and thus it should not be assumed that silence by
management of the Company over time means that actual events are bearing out
as
estimated in such forward-looking statements.
OVERVIEW
We
were
incorporated in the state of Delaware on March 31, 1999, as Bullet Environmental
Systems, Inc. On May 25, 2000 we changed our name to Liquidpure Corp. and
on
February 14, 2002 we changed our name to Coventure International, Inc.
On
December 6, 2005, we issued an aggregate of 4 million shares to all of the
registered shareholders of Xian Xilan Natural Gas Co., Ltd., and entered
into
exclusive arrangements with Xian Xilan Natural Gas Co., Ltd. and these
shareholders that give us the ability to substantially influence Xian Xilan
Natural Gas’ daily operations and financial affairs, appoint its senior
executives and approve all matters requiring shareholder approval. On December
19, 2005, we changed our name to China Natural Gas, Inc.
On
February 21, 2006, we formed Xilan Natural Gas Equipment Ltd., (“Xilan
Equipment”) as a wholly owned foreign enterprise (WOFE). We then, through Xilan
Equipment, entered into exclusive arrangements with Xian Xilan Natural Gas
Co.,
Ltd. and these shareholders that give us the ability to substantially influence
Xian Xilan Natural Gas’ daily operations and financial affairs, appoint its
senior executives and approve all matters requiring shareholder approval.
We
memorialized these arrangements on August 17, 2007. As a result, the Company
consolidates the financial results of Xian Xilan Natural Gas as variable
interest entity pursuant to Financial Interpretation No. 46R, “Consolidation of
Variable Interest Entities.”
We
transmit and distribute natural gas to commercial, industrial and residential
customers in the Xian area, including Lantian County and the districts of
Lintong and Baqiao, in the Shaanxi Province of The Peoples' Republic of China
("China" or the "PRC"). Shaanxi Province is located in central China and has
a
population of approximately 36 million in an area of over 200,000 square
kilometers (about 77,225 square miles). Xian, the capital of Shaanxi Province,
is located in the southern part of Shaanxi Province and has a population of
approximately 8 million people, with about 5 million people living within the
urban area.
· |
Distribution
and sale of compressed natural gas (CNG) through Company-owned
CNG filling
stations for hybrid (natural gas/gasoline) powered vehicles (17
stations
as of March 21, 2007);
|
· |
Distribution
and sale of CNG to third party-owned CNG filling stations for hybrid
(natural gas/gasoline) powered vehicles;
and
|
· |
Distribution
and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial
customers through Company-owned pipelines. As of March 31, 2007,
the
Company distributed and sold natural gas to approximately 75,000
pipeline
customers.
|
We
buy
all of the natural gas that we sell and distribute to our customers. We do
not
mine or produce any of our own natural gas and have no plans to do so during
the
next 12 months. The natural gas that we buy is available in two forms: (1)
piped
natural gas; and (ii) CNG.
CONSOLIDATED
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Comparing
Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2006 and 2005:
The
following table presents certain consolidated statement of operations
information. Financial information is presented for the 12-month period ending
December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005.
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
18,828,790
|
|
$
|
4,850,699
|
|
Cost
of Revenues
|
|
$
|
9,718,000
|
|
$
|
2,404,037
|
|
Operating
Expenses
|
|
$
|
2,596,199
|
|
$
|
975,083
|
|
Income
from Operations
|
|
$
|
6,514,591
|
|
$
|
1,471,579
|
|
Net
Income
|
|
$
|
5,451,095
|
|
$
|
1,252,083
|
|
Revenue.
We generated approximately 74% of our revenues in 2006 from the sale of natural
gas and approximately 26% of our revenues from construction and installation
fees charged to connect end-user customers to our natural gas distribution
system. Sales of natural gas at the Company-owned filling stations accounted
for
approximately 49.58% of our total revenues in 2006, or approximately $9,335,314,
which was the largest contribution of our three business lines. Sales of natural
gas to end-user customers connected to our pipeline distribution system
accounted for approximately 22.2% of our total revenues in 2006, or
approximately $4,179,991, including both natural gas sales and construction
and
installation fees. Sales of natural gas to third party-owned filling stations
accounted for approximately 3% of our total revenues in 2006, or approximately
$564,863.The Company expects installation revenues to increase on both an actual
basis and as a percentage of revenue. In 2007, the Company expects to add up
to
30,000 pipeline customers and construct an additional 15 filling stations,
which
the Company estimates will increase sales of natural gas by 80 million cubic
meters.
We
had
total revenues of $18,828,790 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006,
an
increase of $13,978,091 or approximately 288%, compared to $4,850,699 for the
twelve months ended December 31, 2005. The increase in revenues was due
primarily to the construction of 14 new company-owned filling stations during
2006 as well as an increase in the number of residential, commercial and
industrial pipeline customers from approximately 50,000 in 2005 to approximately
75,000 in 2006.
New
pipeline customers pay approximately 60% of the construction costs to connect
to
our pipeline system up front and the balance is payable as part of their monthly
natural gas bill. During 2006, our installation revenues increased approximately
62% over the previous year and our sales of natural gas increased approximately
700% over the previous year. Four customers accounted for approximately 47%,
18%, 8% and 6% of the Company's installation revenue for the year ended December
31, 2006.
Cost
of
Sales. Our cost of sales consists of both the cost of gas sales and the cost
of
construction and installation. Cost of gas sales consists primarily of the
cost
that we pay for natural gas purchased from our supplier, together with
transportation costs and depreciation of equipment. Cost of connection includes
certain construction costs related to connecting customers to our pipeline
system that are generally expensed when incurred.
Cost
of
sales in 2006 was $9,718,000, an increase of $7,313,963 or approximately 404%
from 2005. Cost of gas sales increased by approximately 492% to $7,663,060
in
2006, as compared with $1,293,585 in 2005. The increase in our cost of sales
was
primarily related to a material increase in the amount of gas sold in 2006.
In
addition, our construction and installation costs increased in 2006 by
approximately 85% to $2,054,940, as compared with $1,110,452 in 2005 as a result
of the addition of new pipeline customers. The price that we paid for gas in
2006 remained relatively constant compared to 2005.
Gross
profit. The Company earned a gross profit of $9,110,790 for the twelve months
ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $6,664,128 or approximately 273%,
compared to $2,446,662 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005. The
increase in gross profit is due to a material increase in gas sales and
installation revenues in 2006, partially offset by an increase in cost of
sales.
Gross
margin. Gross margin, as a percentage of revenues, decreased to approximately
48% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006, from approximately 50% for
the twelve months ended December 31, 2005. The decrease in gross margin is
primarily attributable to the significant increase in revenues generated from
our Company-owned filling stations. Construction of our filling stations
requires a significant capital outlay, approximately $800,000 per station,
and
involves significant costs of operations, including value added taxation and
employee expenses to operate the station. As a result, our margins on natural
gas sold at filling stations are lower than our margins on natural gas sold
to
end users connected to our pipeline system. However, we believe that sales
of
CNG and LNG provide the best opportunity for future revenue and profit
growth.
Operating
expenses. The Company incurred operating expenses of $2,596,199 for the twelve
months ended December 31, 2006, an increase of $1,621,116 or approximately
166%,
compared to $975,083 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005. Our
operating expenses increased primarily as a result of expenses related to the
construction and operation of 14 new filling stations in 2006, as well as
continuing expenses related to the identification of possible locations for
additional filling stations and the governmental licensing and approval process.
In addition, sales and marketing costs increased in 2006 as we increased our
efforts to obtain new residential and commercial customers and attract customers
to our filling stations. General and administrative expenses increased from
$500,228 in 2005 to $1,287,735 in 2006 due to an increase in personnel as a
result of our growth.
We
purchase all of our natural gas for resale from the Shaanxi Natural Gas Co.
Inc., a government-owned entity. As the government owns all land in China,
the
government controls and owns all the natural resources coming from the ground,
thus the government controls the price and flow of the natural gas. As China
shifts from a centrally planned economy to a market economy, we believe that
it
is in the government's best interest to keep prices stable, as they have been
for the last 3 years (See Note 8), and maintain a stable flow of supply. The
government has undertaken programs to promote the growth of the region in which
we are located. Therefore, we expect supply and price to continue to be stable
in the future.
For
the
year ended December 31, 2006, two suppliers accounted for 27.3% and 17.6% of
the
total equipment we purchased for construction activities. We believe that as
a
result of our relationships within the construction industry and the
construction equipment vendor community, and the availability of other vendors
to supply the construction equipment and materials, the loss of any one of
these
two vendors would not have a material adverse effect on our
operations.
Net
Income. Net income increased to $5,451,095 for the twelve months ended December
31, 2006, an increase of $4,199,012, from $1,252,083 for the twelve months
ended
December 31, 2005. Increase in net income is attributed to our material increase
in revenues, partially offset by a higher increase in cost of sales and
operating expenses in 2006. The Company expects installation revenues to
increase on both an actual basis and as a percentage of revenue. In 2007, the
Company expects to add up to 30,000 pipeline customers and construct an
additional 15 filling stations, which the Company estimates will increase sales
of natural gas by 80 million cubic meters.
Income
tax was $1,025,584 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006, as compared
to
$220,956 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2005. The increase in income
tax was attributed to the growth of construction and installation fees and
the
sale of natural gas.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
As
of
December 31, 2006 the Company had $5,294,213 of cash and cash equivalents on
hand compared to $675,624 of cash and cash equivalents as of December 31,
2005.
The
primary sources of cash in 2006 were income from operations and financing
activities. The Company had net cash flows provided by operations of $4,385,524
for the twelve months ended December 30, 2006 as compared to net cash provided
by operations of $1,935,871 in the corresponding period last year. The increase
in net cash flows from operations in 2006 as compared to 2005 was mainly due
to
the increase in net income and an increase in other payables during the twelve
months ended December 31, 2006 offset by a decrease in unearned
revenue.
In
January 2006, we completed several private placement offerings, which generated
net proceeds of $10,400,000, which were used for the construction of natural
gas
filling stations, the purchase of raw materials and working capital.
Furthermore, in September 2006, the Company received $1,050,001 from the
exercise of 291,667 warrants.
Cash
outflows for investing activities increased from $4,871,821 in 2005 to
$9,738,469 in 2006 as a result of advance payments made to equipment suppliers
for investments necessary to construct and build 14 filling stations and for
construction materials used to build the pipelines to individual
households.
The
Company expects to construct an additional 15 CNG filing stations in 2007.
The
Company expects the funds for these investing activities will come from the
Company's operating cash flow.
The
Company is obligated to contribute $10 million of registered capital to its
wholly-owned subsidiary, Xilan Natural Gas Equipment Co. As of December 31,
2006, the Company had contributed $6,480,000 of this capital commitment and
is
obligated to contribute the remaining $3,520,000 by February 2008.
We
also
will require financing of at least $40 million in order to complete our proposed
LNG Project.
Based
on
past performance and current expectations, we believe our cash and cash
equivalents, cash generated from operations, as well as future possible cash
investments, will satisfy our working capital needs, capital expenditures (other
than the LNG Project) and other liquidity requirements associated with our
operations for at least the next 12 months.
The
majority of the Company's revenues and expenses were denominated primarily
in
Renminbi ("RMB"), the currency of the People's Republic of China. There is
no
assurance that exchange rates between the RMB and the U.S. Dollar will remain
stable. The Company does not engage in currency hedging. Inflation has not
had a
material impact on the Company's business.
OFF-BALANCE
SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
We
do not
have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely
to
have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial
condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital
expenditures or capital resources that are material to our
investors.
CRITICAL
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect
the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent
assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results
could differ from those estimates.
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
Cash
and
cash equivalents include cash on hand and cash in time deposits, certificates
of
deposit and all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of
three
months or less.
Accounts
and Other Receivable
We
maintain reserves for potential credit losses on accounts receivable. We review
the composition of accounts receivable and analyzes historical bad debts,
customer concentrations, customer credit worthiness, current economic trends
and
changes in customer payment patterns to evaluate the adequacy of these reserves.
Reserves are recorded primarily on a specific identification basis.
Inventory
Inventory
is stated at the lower of cost, as determined on a first-in, first-out basis,
or
market. We compare the cost of inventories with the market value, and allowance
is made for writing down the inventories to their market value, if lower.
Inventory consists of material used in the construction of pipelines.
Property
and Equipment
Property
and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs
are
charged to earnings as incurred; additions, renewals and betterments are
capitalized. When property and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed
of,
the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective
accounts, and any gain or loss is included in operations. Depreciation of
property and equipment is provided using the straight-line method for
substantially all assets with estimated lives as follows:
Office
equipment
|
|
|
5
years
|
|
Operating
equipment
|
|
|
5-20
years
|
|
Vehicles
|
|
|
5
years
|
|
Buildings
|
|
|
30
years
|
|
Construction
In Progress
Construction
in progress consists of the cost of constructing building and plant for our
company's use. The major cost of construction in progress relates to material,
labor and overhead.
Contracts
in Progress
Contracts
in progress consist of the cost of constructing pipelines for customers. The
major cost of construction relates to material, labor and overhead. Revenue
from
construction and installation of pipelines is recorded when the contract is
completed and accepted by the customers. The construction contracts are usually
completed within one to two months time.
Revenue
Recognition
Our
revenue recognition policies are in compliance with Staff accounting bulletin
(SAB) 104. Revenue is recognized when services are rendered to our customers
when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the
delivery is completed, no other significant obligations by us exist and
collectibility is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the
relevant criteria for revenue recognition are satisfied are recorded as unearned
revenue. Revenue from gas sales is recognized when gas is pumped through
pipelines to the end users. Revenue from construction and installation of
pipelines is recorded when the contract is completed and accepted by the
customers. The construction contracts are usually completed within one to two
months time.
Stock-Based
Compensation
In
October 1995, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation". SFAS No. 123 prescribes accounting and reporting standards for
all stock-based compensation plans, including employee stock options, restricted
stock, employee stock purchase plans and stock appreciation rights. SFAS No.
123
requires compensation expense to be recorded (i) using the new fair value method
or (ii) using the existing accounting rules prescribed by Accounting Principles
Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for stock issued to employees" (APB 25) and
related interpretations with pro forma disclosure of what net income and
earnings per share would have been had we adopted the new fair value method.
We
use the intrinsic value method prescribed by APB 25 and has opted for the
disclosure provisions of SFAS No.123.
Income
Taxes
We
utilizes SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," which requires the
recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future
tax
consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements
or
tax returns. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the
tax
consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets
and
liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each period end based
on
enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which
the
differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are
established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount
expected to be realized.
Local
PRC Income Tax
Pursuant
to the tax laws of China, general enterprises are subject to income tax at
an
effective rate of 33%. The Company is in the natural gas industry whose
development is encouraged by the government. According to the income tax
regulation, any company engaged in the natural gas industry enjoys a favorable
tax rate. Accordingly, the Company's income is subject to a reduced tax rate
of
15%.
Foreign
Currency Transactions and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Accounting
principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains and losses
be included in net income. Certain statements, however, require entities to
report specific changes in assets and liabilities, such as gain or loss on
foreign currency translation, as a separate component of the equity section
of
the balance sheet. Such items, along with net income, are components of
comprehensive income. Our transactions occur in Chinese Renminbi. The unit
of
Renminbi is in Yuan.
RECENT
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In
May
2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, "Accounting Changes and Error Corrections."
This statement applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle and
requires retrospective application to prior periods' financial statements of
changes in accounting principle, unless this would be impracticable. This
statement also makes a distinction between "retrospective application" of an
accounting principle and the "restatement" of financial statements to reflect
the correction of an error. This statement is effective for accounting changes
and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2005.
In
February 2006, FASB issued SFAS No. 155, "Accounting for Certain Hybrid
Financial Instruments". SFAS No. 155 amends SFAS No 133, "Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities", and SFAF No. 140, "Accounting
for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of
Liabilities". SFAS No. 155, permits fair value remeasurement for any hybrid
financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would
require bifurcation, clarifies which interest-only strips and principal-only
strips are not subject to the requirements of SFAS No. 133, establishes a
requirement to evaluate interest in securitized financial assets to identify
interests that are freestanding derivatives or that are hybrid financial
instruments that contain an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation, clarifies
that concentrations of credit risk in the form of subordination are not embedded
derivatives, and amends SFAS No. 140 to eliminate the prohibition on the
qualifying special-purpose entity from holding a derivative financial instrument
that pertains to a beneficial interest other than another derivative financial
instrument. This statement is effective for all financial instruments acquired
or issued after the beginning of the Company's first fiscal year that begins
after September 15, 2006.
In
December 2004, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 123R, "Share-Based Payment,
an
Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123" ("FAS No. 123R"). FAS No. 123R requires
companies to recognize in the statement of operations the grant- date fair
value
of stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to employees. FAS
No. 123R is effective beginning in the Company's first quarter of fiscal
2006.
In
June
2005, the EITF reached consensus on Issue No. 05-6, Determining the Amortization
Period for Leasehold Improvements ("EITF 05-6.") EITF 05-6 provides guidance
on
determining the amortization period for leasehold improvements acquired in
a
business combination or acquired subsequent to lease inception. The guidance
in
EITF 05-6 will be applied prospectively and is effective for periods beginning
after June 29, 2005. EITF 05-6 is not expected to have a material effect on
its
consolidated financial position or results of operations.
We
believe that the adoption of these standards will have no material impact on
our
financial statements.
FINANCIAL
STATEMENT INDEX
China
Natural Gas, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Financial Statements
Years
Ended December 31, 2006 and 2005
|
|
Page
|
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
|
|
F-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial
Statements:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2006
|
|
|
F-2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive
|
|
|
|
|
Income
for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005
|
|
|
F-3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statement of Stockholders' Equity for the years
|
|
|
|
|
ended
December 31, 2006 and 2005
|
|
|
F-4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
|
|
|
|
|
December
31, 2006 and 2005
|
|
|
F-5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
|
|
|
F-6
|
|
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Board
of
Directors and Stockholders ofChina Natural Gas, Inc.
We
have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of China Natural Gas, Inc.
and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006, and the related consolidated
statements of operations and other comprehensive income, stockholders' equity,
and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. 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 audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as
well
as evaluating the overall consolidated financial statement presentation. We
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In
our
opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of China Natural
Gas, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006, and the consolidated results
of their operations and their consolidated cash flows for the years ended
December 31, 2006 and 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles.
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Kabani
& Company, Inc. |
|
|
Certified Public
Accountants |
|
|
|
|
|
Los Angeles, California
March 12, 2007
|
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEET
AS
OF DECEMBER 31, 2006
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT
ASSETS: |
|
|
|
|
Cash
& cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
5,294,213
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
|
|
569,037
|
|
Other
receivable
|
|
|
813,839
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
285,537
|
|
Advances
|
|
|
1,660,974
|
|
Prepaid
expense and other current assets
|
|
|
305,524
|
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
8,929,124
|
|
PROPERTY
AND EQUIPMENT, net
|
|
|
17,193,728
|
|
CONSTRUCTION
IN PROGRESS
|
|
|
2,343,499
|
|
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
|
$
|
28,466,351
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
CURRENT
LIABILITIES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
406,212
|
|
Other
payables
|
|
|
2,145,924
|
|
Unearned
revenue
|
|
|
284,011
|
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
2,836,147
|
|
STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY:
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
stock, $0.0001 per share; authorized 5,000,000 shares; none
issued
|
|
|
—
|
|
Common
stock, $0.0001 per share; authorized 30,000,000 shares;
|
|
|
—
|
|
issued
and outstanding 24,210,183
|
|
|
2,421
|
|
Additional
paid in capital
|
|
|
18,223,911
|
|
Accumulative
other comprehensive income
|
|
|
839,452
|
|
Statutory
reserve
|
|
|
750,886
|
|
Retained
earnings
|
|
|
5,813,534 |
|
Total
stockholders' equity
|
|
|
25,630,204
|
|
TOTAL
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
$
|
28,466,351
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Net
revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural
gas revenue
|
|
$
|
13,713,145
|
|
$
|
1,687,154
|
|
Construction
/ installation revenue
|
|
|
5,115,645
|
|
|
3,163,545
|
|
Total
revenue
|
|
|
18,828,790
|
|
|
4,850,699
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of sales
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Natural
gas cost
|
|
|
7,663,060
|
|
|
1,293,585
|
|
Construction
/ installation cost
|
|
|
2,054,940
|
|
|
1,110,452
|
|
|
|
|
9,718,000
|
|
|
2,404,037
|
|
Gross
profit
|
|
|
9,110,790
|
|
|
2,446,662
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling
expenses
|
|
|
1,308,464
|
|
|
474,855
|
|
General
and administrative expenses
|
|
|
1,287,735
|
|
|
500,228
|
|
Total
operating expenses
|
|
|
2,596,199
|
|
|
975,083
|
|
Income
from operations
|
|
|
6,514,591
|
|
|
1,471,579
|
|
Non-operating
income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
41,109
|
|
|
2,131
|
|
Other
expense
|
|
|
(79,021
|
)
|
|
(671
|
)
|
Total
non-operating income (expense)
|
|
|
(37,912
|
)
|
|
1,460
|
|
Income
before income tax
|
|
|
6,476,679
|
|
|
1,473,039
|
|
Income
tax
|
|
|
1,025,584
|
|
|
220,956
|
|
Net
income
|
|
|
5,451,095
|
|
|
1,252,083
|
|
Other
comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign
currency translation gain
|
|
|
610,705
|
|
|
228,175
|
|
Comprehensive
Income
|
|
$
|
6,061,800
|
|
$
|
1,480,258
|
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
and diluted
|
|
|
23,872,936
|
|
|
16,269,528
|
|
Earnings
per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.23
|
|
$
|
0.08
|
|
Basic
and
diluted are the same because there is no anti-dilutive effect The accompanying
notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulative
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
Paid
in
|
|
Comprehensive
|
|
Statutory
|
|
Retained
|
|
Stockholders'
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
Amount
|
|
Capital
|
|
Income
|
|
Reserve
|
|
Earnings
|
|
Equity
|
|
Balance
January 1, 2005
|
|
|
9,275,362
|
|
$
|
928
|
|
$
|
4,831,468
|
|
$
|
572
|
|
$
|
3,457
|
|
$
|
(142,215
|
)
|
$
|
4,694,210
|
|
Shares
issued for cash
|
|
|
6,724,638
|
|
|
672
|
|
|
3,503,788
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
3,504,460
|
|
Recapitalization
on reverse acquisition
|
|
|
4,204,088
|
|
|
420
|
|
|
(3,798
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(3,378
|
)
|
Cumulative
translation adjustment
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
228,175
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
228,175
|
|
Net
Income for the year ended December 31, 2005
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
1,252,083
|
|
|
1,252,083
|
|
Transfer
to statutory reserve
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
166,265
|
|
|
(166,265)-
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
December 31, 2005
|
|
|
20,204,088
|
|
|
2,020
|
|
|
8,331,458
|
|
|
228,747
|
|
|
169,722
|
|
|
943,603
|
|
|
9,675,550
|
|
Shares
issued for cash
|
|
|
3,714,428
|
|
|
371
|
|
|
10,399,629
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
10,400,000
|
|
Offering
costs
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(1,557,147
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(1,557,147
|
)
|
Exercise
of warrants for cash
|
|
|
291,667
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
1,049,971
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
1,050,001
|
|
Cumulative
translation adjustment
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
610,705
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
610,705
|
|
Net
Income for the year ended December 31, 2006
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
5,451,095
|
|
|
5,451,095
|
|
Transfer
to statutory reserve
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
581,164
|
|
|
(581,164
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Balance
December 31, 2006
|
|
|
24,210,183
|
|
$
|
2,421
|
|
$
|
18,223,911
|
|
$
|
839,452
|
|
$
|
750,886
|
|
$
|
5,813,534
|
|
$
|
25,630,204
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
|
|
Years
Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income
|
|
$
|
5,451,095
|
|
$
|
1,252,083
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
on disposal of property
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
971
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
731,723
|
|
|
347,923
|
|
(Increase)
/ decrease in assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
|
|
(550,831
|
)
|
|
(1,011
|
)
|
Other
receivable
|
|
|
(636,262
|
)
|
|
(132,553
|
)
|
Inventories
|
|
|
(233,582
|
)
|
|
2,234
|
|
Advances
|
|
|
(1,611,967
|
)
|
|
(12,773
|
)
|
Prepaid
expense and other current assets
|
|
|
(282,103
|
)
|
|
(15,441
|
)
|
Contract
in progress
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
381,315
|
|
Increase
/ (decrease) in current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable & accrued expense
|
|
|
201,661
|
|
|
92,427
|
|
Other
payables
|
|
|
1,352,866
|
|
|
662,950
|
|
Unearned
revenue
|
|
|
(28,882
|
)
|
|
(642,254
|
)
|
Due
to affiliate
|
|
|
(8,194
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
4,385,524
|
|
|
1,935,871
|
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payment
on purchase of property and equipment
|
|
|
(9,192,482
|
)
|
|
(3,170,629
|
)
|
Cash
acquired in reverse merger transaction
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
86
|
|
Additions
to construction in progress
|
|
|
(545,987
|
)
|
|
(1,700,792
|
)
|
Additions
to Intangible assets
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(1,096
|
)
|
Proceeds
from disposal of property
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
610
|
|
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(9,738,469
|
)
|
|
(4,871,821
|
)
|
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
issued for cash
|
|
|
10,400,000
|
|
|
3,504,460
|
|
Proceeds
from exercise of warrants
|
|
|
1,050,001
|
|
|
-
|
|
Payment
of offering costs
|
|
|
(1,557,147
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
Net
cash provided by in financing activities
|
|
|
9,892,854
|
|
|
3,504,460
|
|
Effect
of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
78,680
|
|
|
44,116
|
|
NET
INCREASE IN CASH & CASH EQUIVALENTS
|
|
|
4,618,589
|
|
|
612,626
|
|
CASH
& CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR
|
|
|
675,624
|
|
|
62,998
|
|
CASH
& CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR
|
|
$
|
5,294,213
|
|
$
|
675,624
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
paid
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Income
taxes paid
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
969
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
Note
1 - Organization and Basis of Presentation
Organization
and Line of Business
We
were
incorporated in the state of Delaware on March 31, 1999, as Bullet Environmental
Systems, Inc. On May 25, 2000 we changed our name to Liquidpure Corp. and
on
February 14, 2002 we changed our name to Coventure International, Inc.
(“Coventure”).
On
December 6, 2005, we issued an aggregate of 4 million shares to all of the
registered shareholders of Xian Xilan Natural Gas Co., Ltd. (“Xian Xilan Natural
Gas”), and entered into exclusive arrangements with Xian Xilan Natural Gas and
these shareholders that give us the ability to substantially influence Xian
Xilan Natural Gas’ daily operations and financial affairs, appoint its senior
executives and approve all matters requiring shareholder approval. Concurrently,
Coventure entered into an agreement with John Hromyk, its President and Chief
Financial Officer, pursuant to which Mr. Hromyk returned 23,884,712 (post-split)
shares of Coventure's common stock for cancellation. Upon completion of the
foregoing transactions, Coventure had an aggregate of 20,204,088 (post-split)
shares of common stock issued and outstanding. On December 19, 2005, we changed
our name to China Natural Gas, Inc.
As
a
result of the share issuance, the stockholders of Xian Xilan Natural Gas
owned
approximately 80% of both companies and the directors and executive officers
became the directors and executive officers of Coventure. Accordingly, the
transaction has been accounted for as a reverse acquisition of Coventure
by Xian
Xilan Natural Gas resulting in a recapitalization of Xian Xilan Natural Gas
rather than as a business combination. Xian Xilan Natural Gas is deemed to
be
the purchaser and surviving company for accounting purposes. Accordingly,
its
assets and liabilities are included in the balance sheet at their historical
book value and the results of operations of Xian Xilan Natural Gas have been
presented for the comparative prior period. The historical cost of the net
liabilities of Coventure that were acquired was $3,378. Subsequent to the
share
issuance, the stockholders of the Company approved a stock dividend of three
shares for each share held, which has been accounted for as a four for one
forward stock split.
On
February 21, 2006, we formed Xilan Natural Gas Equipment Ltd., (“Xilan
Equipment”) as a wholly owned foreign enterprise (WOFE). We then, through Xilan
Equipment, entered into exclusive arrangements with Xian Xilan Natural Gas
and
its shareholders that give us the ability to substantially influence Xian
Xilan
Natural Gas’ daily operations and financial affairs, appoint its senior
executives and approve all matters requiring shareholder approval. We
memorialized these arrangements on August 17, 2007. As a result, the Company
consolidates the financial results of Xian Xilan Natural Gas as variable
interest entity pursuant to Financial Interpretation No. 46R, “Consolidation of
Variable Interest Entities.”
Principles
of Consolidation
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of China
Natural Gas, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Shaanxi Natural Gas
Equipment Co., Ltd (incorporated in February 2006) and Shaanxi Jingbian
Liquefied Natural Gas Co., Ltd (incorporated in October 2006) and its 100%
VIE,
Xian Xilan Natural Gas. All inter-company accounts and transactions have
been
eliminated in consolidation.
Consolidation
of Variable Interest Entity
In
accordance with Financial Interpretation No. 46R, Consolidation of Variable
Interest Entities ("FIN 46R"), VIEs are generally entities that lack sufficient
equity to finance their activities without additional financial support from
other parties or whose equity holders lack adequate decision making ability.
All
VIEs with which the Company is involved must be evaluated to determine the
primary beneficiary of the risks and rewards of the VIE. The primary beneficiary
is required to consolidate the VIE for financial reporting
purposes.
The
Company, through XNGE, entered into exclusive arrangements with Xian Xilan
Natural Gas. These arrangements obligate the Company to absorb a majority
of the
risk of loss from Xian Xilan Natural Gas’ activities and enable the Company to
receive a majority of Xian Xilan Natural Gas’ expected residual returns. As a
result, the Company accounts for Xian Xilan Natural Gas as a VIE under FASB
Interpretation No. 46R (“FIN 46R”), “Consolidation of Variable Interest
Entities.” The arrangements consist of the following
agreements:
|
a.
|
Xian
Xilan Natural Gas holds the licenses and approvals necessary to operate
its natural gas business in China,
|
|
b.
|
XNGE
provides exclusive technology consulting and other general business
operation services to Xian Xilan Natural Gas in return for a consulting
services fee which is equal to Xian Xilan Natural Gas’
revenue.
|
|
c.
|
Xian
Xilan Natural Gas’s shareholders have pledged their equity interests in
Xian Xilan Natural Gas to the
Company.
|
|
d.
|
Irrevocably
granted the Company an exclusive option to purchase, to the extent
permitted under PRC law, all or part of the equity interests in Xian
Xilan
Natural Gas and agreed to entrust all the rights to exercise their
voting
power to the person appointed by the
Company
|
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
Basis
of Presentation
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The Company's functional currency is the Chinese Renminbi; however the
accompanying consolidated financial statements have been translated and
presented in United States Dollars ($).
Foreign
Currency Translation
As
of
December 31, 2006 and 2005, the accounts of the Company were maintained, and
their consolidated financial statements were expressed in the Chinese Yuan
Renminbi (CNY). Such consolidated financial statements were translated into
U.S.
Dollars (USD) in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounts Standards
("SFAS") No. 52, "Foreign Currency Translation," with the CNY as the functional
currency. According to the Statement, all assets and liabilities were translated
at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date, stockholder's equity are
translated at the historical rates and statement of operations items are
translated at the weighted average exchange rate for the year. The resulting
translation adjustments are reported under other comprehensive income in
accordance with SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income."
Note
2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles 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 date of the financial statements and
the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
Cash
and
cash equivalents include cash on hand and cash in bank.
Accounts
Receivable and Other Receivable
Accounts
receivable are recorded at net realizable value consisting of the carrying
amount less an allowance for uncollectible accounts, as needed. The Company
allowance for uncollectible accounts is not significant.
The
Company maintains reserves for potential credit losses on accounts receivable.
Management reviews the composition of accounts receivable and analyzes
historical bad debts, customer concentrations, customer credit worthiness,
current economic trends and changes in customer payment patterns to evaluate
the
adequacy of these reserves. Reserves are recorded primarily on a specific
identification basis. The Company's management determined that all receivables
are good and there is no need of reserve for bad debts as on December 31,
2006.
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
As
of
December 31, 2006, total other receivable was $813,839, including $478,118
in
advances to employees and $335,721 to other unrelated companies. These
receivables are unsecured, interest free, due on demand, and all
current.
Advances
The
Company advances to certain vendors (for purchase of its material and equipment)
and a consultant. The advances are interest free and unsecured.
Inventory
Inventory
is stated at the lower of cost, as determined on a first-in, first-out basis,
or
market. Management compares the cost of inventories with the market value,
and
allowance is made for writing down the inventories to their market value, if
lower. Inventory consists of material used in the construction of pipelines
and
natural gas.
Property
and Equipment
Property
and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs
are
charged to earnings as incurred; additions, renewals and betterments are
capitalized. When property and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed
of,
the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective
accounts, and any gain or loss is included in operations. Depreciation of
property and equipment is provided using the straight-line method for
substantially all assets with estimated lives as follows:
Office
equipment
|
|
5
years
|
Operating
equipment
|
|
5-20
years
|
Vehicles
|
|
5
years
|
Buildings
|
|
30
years
|
At
December 31, 2006, the following are the details of the property and
equipment:
Office
equipment
|
|
$
|
73,636
|
|
Operating
equipment
|
|
|
13,219,979
|
|
Vehicles
|
|
|
1,210,552
|
|
Buildings
|
|
|
4,559,003
|
|
|
|
|
19,063,170
|
|
Less
accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
1,869,442
|
|
|
|
$
|
17,193,728
|
|
Depreciation
expense for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 was $731,497and $347,923,
respectively.
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
Effective
January 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets" ("SFAS
144"), which addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment
or
disposal of long-lived assets and supersedes SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for
the
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of,"
and the accounting and reporting provisions of APB Opinion No. 30, "Reporting
the Results of Operations for a Disposal of a Segment of a Business." The
Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets to be
held and used in accordance with SFAS 144. SFAS 144 requires impairment losses
to be recorded on long-lived assets used in operations when indicators of
impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated
by those assets are less than the assets' carrying amounts. In that event,
a
loss is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds
the
fair market value of the long-lived assets. Loss on long-lived assets to be
disposed of is determined in a similar manner, except that fair market values
are reduced for the cost of disposal. Based on its review, the Company believes
that, as of December 31, 2006 there were no significant impairments of its
long-lived assets.
Construction
In Progress
Construction
in progress consist of the cost of constructing fixed assets for the Company's
use. The major cost of construction in progress relates to material, labor
and
overhead.
Contracts
In Progress
Contracts
in progress consist of the cost of constructing pipelines for customers. The
major cost of construction relates to material, labor and overhead. Revenue
from
construction and installation of pipelines is recorded when the contract is
completed and accepted by the customers. The construction contracts are usually
completed within one to two months time. As of December 31, 2006, the Company
has no contracts in progress.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
Statement
of financial accounting standard No. 107, Disclosures about fair value of
financial instruments, requires that the Company disclose estimated fair values
of financial instruments. The carrying amounts reported in the statements of
financial position for current assets and current liabilities qualifying as
financial instruments are a reasonable estimate of fair value.
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company's revenue recognition policies are in compliance with Staff accounting
bulletin (SAB) 104. Revenue is recognized when services are rendered to
customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable,
the delivery is completed, no other significant obligations of the Company
exist
and collectibility is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the
relevant criteria for revenue recognition are satisfied are recorded as unearned
revenue. Revenue from gas sales is recognized when gas is pumped through
pipelines to the end users. Revenue from construction and installation of
pipelines is recorded when the contract is completed and accepted by the
customers. The construction contracts are usually completed within one to two
months time.
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
Unearned
Revenue
Unearned
revenue represents prepayments by customers for gas purchases and advance
payments on construction and installation of pipeline contracts. The Company
records such prepayment as unearned revenue when the payments are
received.
Advertising
Costs
The
Company expenses the cost of advertising as incurred or, as appropriate, the
first time the advertising takes place. Advertising costs for the years ended
December 31, 2006 and 2005 were insignificant.
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
Company accounts for its stock-based compensation in accordance with Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123R, "Share-Based Payment,
an
Amendment of Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Statement No. 123."
The Company recognizes in the statement of operations the grant-date fair value
of stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to employees and
non-employees. The Company did not grant any options and no options were
cancelled or exercised during the period ended December 31, 2006 and 2005.
As of
December 31, 2006, there were no options outstanding.
Income
Taxes
The
Company utilizes SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," which requires
the
recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future
tax
consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements
or
tax returns. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the
tax
consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets
and
liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each period end based
on
enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which
the
differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are
established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount
expected to be realized. At December 31, 2006, there was no significant book
to
tax differences. There is no difference between book depreciation and tax
depreciation as the Company uses the same method for both book and
tax.
Local
PRC Income Tax
Pursuant
to the tax laws of China, general enterprises are subject to income tax at
an
effective rate of 33%. The Company is in the natural gas industry whose
development is encouraged by the government. According to the income tax
regulation, any company engaged in the natural gas industry enjoys a favorable
tax rate. Accordingly, the Company's income is subject to a reduced tax rate
of
15%.
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
A
reconciliation of tax at United States federal statutory rate to provision
for
income tax recorded in the financial statements is as follows:
|
|
For
the Years
|
|
|
|
Ended
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Tax
provision (credit) at statutory rate
|
|
|
34
|
%
|
|
(34
|
%)
|
Foreign
tax rate difference
|
|
|
(15
|
%)
|
|
19
|
%
|
Change
in valuation allowance
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
|
|
|
19
|
%
|
|
-
|
|
Basic
and Diluted Earning Per Share
Earning
per share is calculated in accordance with the Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 128 ("SFAS No. 128"), "Earnings per share". SFAS No. 128
superseded Accounting Principles Board Opinion No.15 (APB 15). Net earning
per
share for all periods presented has been restated to reflect the adoption of
SFAS No. 128. Basic net earning per share is based upon the weighted average
number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net earning per share is based
on
the assumption that all dilutive convertible shares and stock options were
converted or exercised. At December 31, 2006, the Company had outstanding
1,140,286 warrants. The average stock price for the year ended December 31,
2006
was less than the exercise price of the warrants; therefore, the warrants are
not factored into the diluted earning per share calculation as they are
anti-dilutive.
Statement
of Cash Flows
In
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 95, "Statement
of Cash Flows," cash flows from the Company's operations is calculated based
upon the local currencies. As a result, amounts related to assets and
liabilities reported on the statement of cash flows will not necessarily agree
with changes in the corresponding balances on the balance sheet. The Company
paid $0 and $0 for interest and $229,547 and $969 for income taxes during the
years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 respectively.
Segment
Reporting
Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131 ("SFAS 131"), "Disclosure About
Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" requires use of the
"management approach" model for segment reporting. The management approach
model
is based on the way a company's management organizes segments within the company
for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Reportable segments
are based on products and services, geography, legal structure, management
structure, or any other manner in which management disaggregates a company.
SFAS
131 has no effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements as the
Company consists of one reportable business segment. All revenue is from
customers in People's Republic of China. All of the Company's assets are located
in People's Republic of China.
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
China
Natural Gas, Inc. and Subsidiaries Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended December 31, 2006 and 2005
Recent
Pronouncements
In
February 2006, FASB issued SFAS No. 155, "Accounting for Certain Hybrid
Financial Instruments". SFAS No. 155 amends SFAS No 133, "Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities", and SFAF No. 140, "Accounting
for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of
Liabilities". SFAS No. 155, permits fair value remeasurement for any hybrid
financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would
require bifurcation, clarifies which interest-only strips and principal-only
strips are not subject to the requirements of SFAS No. 133, establishes a
requirement to evaluate interest in securitized financial assets to identify
interests that are freestanding derivatives or that are hybrid financial
instruments that contain an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation, clarifies
that concentrations of credit risk in the form of subordination are not embedded
derivatives, and amends SFAS No. 140 to eliminate the prohibition on the
qualifying special-purpose entity from holding a derivative financial instrument
that pertains to a beneficial interest other than another derivative financial
instrument. This statement is effective for all financial instruments acquired
or issued after the beginning of the Company's first fiscal year that begins
after September 15, 2006. The Company has not evaluated the impact of this
pronouncement its financial statements.
In
March
2006, FASB issued SFAS No. 156, "Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets
-
an amendment to FASB Statement No. 140." The new standard requires recognition
of servicing assets in connection with any obligation to service a financial
asset arising from 1) a servicing contract entered into as part of a transfer
of
assets meeting the requirements for sale accounting, 2) the transfer of assets
to a special purpose entity in a guaranteed mortgage securitization where the
transferor retains a controlling interest in the securitized asset, or
3)
an
acquisition or assumption of obligations to service financial assets not related
to the servicer or its consolidated affiliates. The servicing assets and
liabilities must be measured at fair value initially, if practicable, and the
assets or liabilities must either be amortized or recorded at fair value at
each
reporting date. The statement allows a one-time reclassification for entities
with servicing rights and subsequently requires separate presentation of
servicing assets and liabilities at fair value in the statement of financial
position. This statement is effective for the first fiscal year beginning after
September 15, 2006, with earlier adoption permitted. The Company does not expect
this implementation to have a material effect on our consolidated financial
statements.
In
September 2006, FASB issued SFAS 157 `Fair Value Measurements'. This Statement
defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in
generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about
fair value measurements. This Statement applies under other accounting
pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, the Board having
previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is
the
relevant measurement attribute. Accordingly, this Statement does not require
any
new fair value measurements. However, for some entities, the application of
this
Statement will change current practice. This Statement is effective for
financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007,
and interim periods within those fiscal years. The management is currently
evaluating the effect of this pronouncement on financial
statements.
In
September 2006, FASB issued SFAS 158 `Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans--an amendment of FASB Statements No.
87,
88, 106, and 132(R)' This Statement improves financial reporting by requiring
an
employer to recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit
postretirement plan (other than a multiemployer plan) as an asset or liability
in its statement of financial position and to recognize changes in that funded
status in the year in which the changes occur through comprehensive income
of a
business entity or changes in unrestricted net assets of a not-for-profit
organization. This Statement also improves financial reporting by requiring
an
employer to measure the funded status of a plan as of the date of its year-end
statement of financial position, with limited exceptions. An employer with
publicly traded equity securities is required to initially recognize the funded
status of a defined benefit postretirement plan and to provide the required
disclosures as of the end of the fiscal year ending after December 15, 2006.
An
employer without publicly traded equity securities is required to recognize
the
funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan and to provide the
required disclosures as of the end of the fiscal year ending after June 15,
2007. However, an employer without publicly traded equity securities is required
to disclose the following information in the notes to financial statements
for a
fiscal year ending after December 15, 2006, but before June 16, 2007, unless
it
has applied the recognition provisions of this Statement in preparing those
financial statements. The requirement to measure plan assets and benefit
obligations as of the date of the employer's fiscal year-end statement of
financial position is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15,
2008.
The management is currently evaluating the effect of this pronouncement on
financial statements.
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
In
February of 2007 the FASB issued SFAS 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial
Assets and Financial Liabilities--Including an amendment of FASB Statement
No.
115." The statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial
instruments and certain other items at fair value. The objective is to improve
financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate
volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and
liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting
provisions. The statement is effective as of the beginning of an entity's first
fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. The company is analyzing the
potential accounting treatment.
FASB
Staff Position on FAS No. 115-1 and FAS No. 124-1 ("the FSP"), "The Meaning
of
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments,"
was
issued in November 2005 and addresses the determination of when an investment
is
considered impaired, whether the impairment on an investment is
other-than-temporary and how to measure an impairment loss. The FSP also
addresses accounting considerations subsequent to the recognition of
other-than-temporary impairments on a debt security, and requires certain
disclosures about unrealized losses that have not been recognized as
other-than-temporary impairments. The FSP replaces the impairment guidance
on
Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 03-1 with references to existing
authoritative literature concerning other-than-temporary determinations. Under
the FSP, losses arising from impairment deemed to be other-than-temporary,
must
be recognized in earnings at an amount equal to the entire difference between
the securities cost and its fair value at the financial statement date, without
considering partial recoveries subsequent to that date. The FSP also required
that an investor recognize other-than-temporary impairment losses when a
decision to sell a security has been made and the investor does not expect
the
fair value of the security to fully recover prior to the expected time of sale.
The FSP is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2005.
The adoption of this statement will not have a material impact on our
consolidated financial statements.
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
FASB
Interpretation 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute
for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken
or expected to be taken in a tax return. Benefits from tax positions should
be
recognized in the financial statements only when it is more likely than not
that
the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing
authority that would have full knowledge of all relevant information. The amount
of tax benefits to be recognized for a tax position that meets the
more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured as the largest amount
of
benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon
ultimate settlement. Tax benefits relating to tax positions that previously
failed to meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be
recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that
threshold is met or certain other events have occurred. Previously recognized
tax benefits relating to tax positions that no longer meet the
more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be derecognized in the first
subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer
met.
Interpretation 48 also provides guidance on the accounting for and disclosure
of
tax reserves for unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties and
accounting in interim periods. Interpretation 48 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2006. The change in net assets as a result of
applying this pronouncement will be a change in accounting principle with the
cumulative effect of the change required to be treated as an adjustment to
the
opening balance of retained earnings on January 1, 2007, except in certain
cases
involving uncertainties relating to income taxes in purchase business
combinations. In such instances, the impact of the adoption of Interpretation
48
will result in an adjustment to goodwill. While the Company analysis of the
impact of adopting Interpretation 48 is not yet complete, it do not currently
anticipate it will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated
financial statements.
In
September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 108, "Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when
Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements," ("SAB
108"),which provides interpretive guidance on the consideration of the effects
of prior year misstatements in quantifying current year misstatements for the
purpose of a materiality assessment. The Company adopted SAB 108 in the fourth
quarter of 2006 with no impact on its consolidated financial
statements.
Note
3 - Other Payables
Other
payable consists of the following as of December 31, 2006:
Other
accounts payable
|
|
$
|
228,817
|
|
Welfare
payable
|
|
|
19,679
|
|
Tax
payable
|
|
|
1,866,688
|
|
Other
levies
|
|
|
30,740
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,145,924
|
|
Note
4 - Stockholders' Equity
Common
stock
On January 6, 2006 and January 9, 2006, the Company entered
into securities purchase agreements with four accredited investors and completed
the sale of $5,380,000 of units. The units contained an aggregate of 1,921,572
shares of common stock and 523,055 common stock purchase warrants. Each common
stock purchase warrant is exercisable for a period of three years at an exercise
price of $3.60 per share. Pursuant to the terms of the warrant, each investor
has contractually agreed to restrict its ability to exercise the warrants to
an
amount which would not exceed the difference between the number of shares of
common stock beneficially owned by the holder or issuable upon exercise of
the
warrant held by such holder and 9.9% of the outstanding shares of common stock
of the Company.
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
In
connection with the offering, the Company paid a placement fee of 10% of the
proceeds in cash, together with non-accountable expenses in the amount of 3%
of
the proceeds, in cash. In addition, the placement agent was issued warrants
to
purchase 298,888 shares of common stock on the same terms and conditions as
the
investors. The warrants issued to the placement agent are being treated as
a
cost of raising capital. The warrants were valued using the Black Scholes
pricing model; however, recording the value of the warrants in the financial
statements has no impact as the value of the warrants is both debited and
credited to additional paid in capital.
On
January 10, 2006 through January 13, 2006, the Company entered into securities
purchase agreements with four accredited investors and completed the sale of
$2,195,198 of units. The units contained an aggregate of 783,999 shares of
common stock and 213,422 common stock purchase warrants. Each common stock
purchase warrant is exercisable for a period of three years at an exercise
price
of $3.60 per share. Pursuant to the terms of the warrant, each investor has
contractually agreed to restrict its ability to exercise the warrants to an
amount which would not exceed the difference between the number of shares of
common stock beneficially owned by the holder or issuable upon exercise of
the
warrant held by such holder and 9.9% of the outstanding shares of common stock
of the Company.
In
connection with the offering, the Company paid a placement fee of 10% of the
proceeds in cash, together with non-accountable expenses in the amount of 3%
of
the proceeds, in cash. In addition, the placement agent was issued warrants
to
purchase 121,955 shares of common stock on the same terms and conditions as
the
investors. The warrants issued to the placement agent are being treated as
a
cost of raising capital. The warrants were valued using the Black Scholes
pricing model; however, recording the value of the warrants in the financial
statements has no impact as the value of the warrants is both debited and
credited to additional paid in capital.
On
January 17, 2006, the Company entered into securities purchase agreements with
an accredited investor and completed the sale of $2,824,802 of units. The units
contained an aggregate of 1,008,857 shares of common stock and 274,633 common
stock purchase warrants. Each common stock purchase warrant is exercisable
for a
period of three years at an exercise price of $3.60 per share. Pursuant to
the
terms of the warrant, each investor has contractually agreed to restrict its
ability to exercise the warrants to an amount which would not exceed the
difference between the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned
by
the holder or issuable upon exercise of the warrant held by such holder and
9.9%
of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company.
In
September 2006, the Company received $1,050,001 from the exercise of 291,667
warrants.
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
Following
is a summary of the warrant activity:
|
|
Warrants
outstanding
|
|
Weighted
Average Exercise Price
|
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
|
|
Outstanding,
December 31, 2005
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
1,431,953
|
|
$
|
3.60
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(291,667
|
)
|
$
|
3.60
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding,
December 31, 2006
|
|
|
1,140,286
|
|
$
|
3.60
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
Following
is a summary of the status of warrants outstanding at December 31,
2006:
Outstanding
Warrants
|
|
|
|
Exercisable
Warrants
|
|
Exercise
Price
|
|
Number
|
|
Average
Remaining Contractual Life
|
|
Average
Exercise Price
|
|
Number
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$3.60
|
|
|
1,140,286
|
|
|
2.03
|
|
$
|
3.60
|
|
|
1,140,286
|
|
Note
5 - Employee Welfare Plan
The
Company has established its own employee welfare plan in accordance with Chinese
law and regulations. The Company makes annual contributions of 14% of all
employees' salaries to employee welfare plan. The total expense for the above
plan was $51,765 and $13,275 for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005,
respectively.
Note
6 - Statutory Common Welfare Fund
As
stipulated by the Company Law of the People's Republic of China (PRC) as
applicable to Chinese companies with foreign ownership, net income after
taxation can only be distributed as dividends after appropriation has been
made
for the following:
i.
Making
up cumulative prior years' losses, if any;
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
ii.
Allocations to the "Statutory surplus reserve" of at least 10% of income after
tax, as determined under PRC accounting rules and regulations, until the fund
amounts to 50% of the Company's registered capital;
iii.
Allocations of 5-10% of income after tax, as determined under PRC accounting
rules and regulations, to the Company's "Statutory common welfare fund", which
is established for the purpose of providing employee facilities and other
collective benefits to the Company's employees; and
iv.
Allocations to the discretionary surplus reserve, if approved in the
shareholders' general meeting.
The
Company has appropriated $581,164 and $166,265 as reserve for the statutory
surplus reserve and welfare fund for the years ended December 31, 2006 and
2005,
respectively.
Note
7 - Earnings Per Share
Earnings
(loss) per share for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 is determined
by
dividing net income (loss) for the periods by the weighted average number of
both basic and diluted shares of common stock and common stock equivalents
outstanding. There were no common stock equivalents that were dilutive during
the year ended December 31, 2006 and 2005; accordingly, basic and diluted
earning per share were the same for all periods presented.
Note
8 - Current Vulnerability Due to Certain Concentrations
For
the
years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Company purchased all of the natural
gas for resale from one vendor, Shaanxi Natural Gas Co., Ltd., a government
owned enterprise. No amount was owing to this vendor at December 31, 2006.
The
Company has had annual agreements with Shaanxi Natural Gas that requires the
Company to purchase a minimum amount of natural gas. For the years ended
December 31, 2006 and 2005 the minimum purchases were 2.36 million and 1.60
million cubic meters, respectively. In the past, contracts were renewed on
an
annual basis. However, as the volume of usage has increased, Shaanxi Natural
Gas
has revised their policies, and contract terms are now six months and subject
to
review prior to renewal. The Company's management reports that it does not
expect any issues or difficulty in continuing to renew the supply contracts
going forward. Price points for natural gas are strictly controlled by the
government and have remained stable over the past 3 years.
For
the
year ended December 31, 2006, two suppliers accounted for 27.3% and 17.6% of
the
total equipment purchased by the Company and for the year ended December 31,
2005, two suppliers accounted for 51.5% and 13.3% of the total equipment
purchased by the Company.
Four
customers accounted for 46.5%, 18.1%, 7.7% and 6.1% of the Company's
installation revenue for the year ended December 31, 2006 and four customers
accounted for 34.7%, 21.2% , 14.0% and 10.8% of the Company's installation
revenue for the years ended December 31, 2005.
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR
THE YEARS
ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
The
Company's operations are carried out in the People's Republic of China.
Accordingly, the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations may be influenced by the political, economic and legal environments
in the People's Republic of China, by the general state of the People's Republic
of China`s economy. The Company's business may be influenced by changes in
governmental policies with respect to laws and regulations, anti-inflationary
measures, currency conversion and remittance abroad, and rates and methods
of
taxation, among other things.
Note
9 - Commitments and Contingencies
The
Company is obligated to contribute $10,000,000 as registered capital of Xilan
Natural Gas Equipment Company, a 100% subsidiary of CHNG incorporated under
the
laws of PRC in February, 2006. The Company has already made a capital
contribution of $6,480,000 and the Company remains obligated to contribute
the
additional $3,520,000 by February 2008.
ITEM
8. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
ITEM
8A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
As
of the
end of the period covered by this report, we conducted an evaluation, under
the
supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and
principal financial officer of our disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act). Based upon
this evaluation, our chief executive officer and principal financial officer
concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure
that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file
or
submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported,
within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms. There
was
no change in our internal controls or in other factors that could affect these
controls during our last fiscal year that has materially affected, or is
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial
reporting.
ITEM
8B. OTHER INFORMATION
In
2006,
the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Xilan Liquefied Natural Gas
Ltd, entered into an agreement with China National Petroleum Corporation, a
government owned entity ("CNPC") pursuant to which CNPC will supply 150,000,000
cubic meters of natural gas annually upon the completion of our LNG
project.
In
2006,
the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Xian Xilan Natural Gas Co.
entered into a five-year contract with China Petrochemical to supply the Company
350,000 cubic meters of CNG daily and to supply the Company with CNG for a
Company owned filling station in Henan Province.
ITEM
9. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS AND CONTROL PERSONS; COMPLIANCE
WITH
SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT.
Below
are
the names and certain information regarding our executive officers and
directors:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Director
|
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
|
Since
|
Qinan
Ji
|
|
49
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
|
|
2005
|
Xiaogang
Zhu
|
|
52
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
|
Zhiqiang
Wang
|
|
67
|
|
Director
|
|
2006
|
Patrick
McManus
|
|
54
|
|
Director
|
|
2006
|
James
Garner
|
|
60
|
|
Director
|
|
2006
|
Officers
are elected annually by the Board of Directors, at our annual meeting, to hold
such office until an officer's successor has been duly appointed and qualified,
unless an officer sooner dies, resigns or is removed by the Board.
Background
of Executive Officers and Directors
Qinan
Ji,
Chairman of the Board of Directors - Mr. Ji joined Xilan as the Chairman of
the
Board of Directors in 2005. In 1996, he founded the Anxian Hotel in Weinan
City
in Shaanxi Province. In 2001, he formed the Xian Sunway Technology and Industry
Co., Ltd. He has more than 20 years experience in the energy and petroleum
industries in operational, administrative, management and government relations
roles. He received a Bachelors of Economic Management from North West University
(Shaanxi).
Xiaogang
Zhu, Chief Financial Officer - Mr. Zhu joined Xilan as Chief Financial Officer
in January 2005. He spent 16 years working at the Ministry of General Logistics
most recently as manager of the finance department. From September 2000 to
December 2004, Mr. Zhu was the Vice General Manager and CFO of Xian Dapeng
Biotech Co., Ltd. He received a Bachelors of Accounting from Xian Jiaotong
University.
Zhiqiang
Wang, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors - Mr. Wang was the former head
of
energy industry regulations from 1992 to 2002 as well as the Vice Mayor of
the
city of Xi'An, China's largest western city with a population of 8 million,
in
which position he was in charge of regulating and licensing the city's energy
and natural gas businesses. From 2002 until his retirement in 2004, Mr. Wang
was
the Chief Executive Officer of Xi'An Municipal Government Construction Company
where he was in charge of the city's major construction projects. Since 2004,
Mr. Wang has been an independent advisor to the Company. Mr. Wang graduated
from
the Northwest College of Law in 1962.
Patrick
McManus, Director - Mr. McManus brings over 25 years of experience in business,
finance and law to China Natural Gas. He was elected Mayor of the City of Lynn,
Massachusetts in 1992 and served in this position until his retirement to the
private practice of law and accounting in 2002. While serving the City of Lynn
as its Mayor, he was elected a member and trustee of the Executive Committee
of
the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) with responsibility for developing policy
for the USCM. He also served as the Chairman of the USCM Science and Technology
Subcommittee, the Urban Water Council, and the USCM Audit Committee. Mayor
McManus started his career in business with the General Electric Company in
1979, and was a Professor of Business and Finance at Salem State College in
Massachusetts. Mayor McManus has extensive business and political expertise
on
China. He was instrumental in establishing a close alliance as well as
coordinating a regular exchange of visits by members of the U.S. Conference
of
Mayors and the China Association of Mayors. Mr. McManus has been a Certified
Public Accountant since 1985. Mr. McManus received his Juris Doctorate from
Boston College Law School and an M.B.A from Suffolk University. Mr. McManus
currently serves on the board of directors of Bodisen Biotech, Inc. and Harbin
Electric, Inc.
James
A.
Garner, Director, Chairman of Nominating Committee - Mr. Garner brings over
30
years of experience in business and political contacts to China Natural Gas.
He
served as Mayor of Hempstead, New York for 16 years until his retirement to
the
private sector in April 2005. He has won national recognition and awards from
national agencies such as the U.S. Housing & Urban Development Agency and
the American Planning Association (APA). Mayor Garner was elected the 61st
President of the United States Conference of Mayors in June 2003 and served
the
Conference for one year traveling worldwide and advocating the needs of U.S.
cities. Mr. Garner holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Adelphi University
and an Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Civil Law from Molloy College. He was
recently appointed to the United States Small Business Administration's National
Advisory Council.
Board
of
Directors.
Our
Directors are elected by the vote of a plurality in interest of the holders
of
our voting stock and hold office for a term of one year or until a successor
has
been elected and qualified.
A
majority of the authorized number of directors constitutes a quorum of the
Board
for the transaction of business. The directors must be present at the meeting
to
constitute a quorum. However, any action required or permitted to be taken
by
the Board may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board
individually or collectively consent in writing to the action.
There
are
no family relationships, or other arrangements or understandings between or
among any of the directors, executive officers or other person pursuant to
which
such person was selected to serve as a director or officer.
Our
directors, executive officers and control persons have not been involved in
any
of the following events during the past five years:
1.
any
bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which such person was
a
general partner or executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or
within two years prior to that time;
2.
any
conviction in a criminal proceeding or being subject to a pending criminal
proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);
3.
being
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; or
4.
being
found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the Commission
or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state
securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed,
suspended, or vacated.
Corporate
Governance Matters
Audit
Committee:
On
March
27, 2006, the Board of Directors established an Audit Committee and appointed
Patrick McManus as the committee's sole member.
Audit
Committee Financial Expert:
Our
board
of directors has not yet appointed a member who qualifies as an "audit committee
financial expert" as defined in Item 401(e) of Regulation S-B, and is
"independent" as the term is used in Item 7(d)(3)(iv) of Schedule 14A under
the
Exchange Act.
Compensation
Committee
On
March
27, 2006, the Board of Directors established a Compensation Committee and
appointed James Garner as the Committee's sole member.
Code
of Ethics
On
June
14, 2006, the Company adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all officers,
directors and employees of the Company.
COMPLIANCE
WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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 Securities and Exchange Commission
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 Forms 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Executive officers, directors
and
greater than 10% shareholders are required by the Securities and Exchange
Commission regulations to furnish our Company with copies of all Section 16(a)
reports they file.
To
the
Company's knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of the reports
furnished to the Company, all executive officers, directors and greater than
10%
shareholders filed the required reports in a timely manner.
Directors
Compensation
The
following Director Compensation Table summarizes the compensation of our
directors for services rendered to the Company during the year ended December
31, 2006:
Ji
Qinan,
CEO of the Company, does not receive any compensation for his service as a
director.
Zhiqiang
Wang was appointed as a director in September 2006; his compensation was $4,500
annually.
Minquing
Lu, former CEO and director of the Company, resigned from both positions in
May
22, 2006. Mr. Lu did not receive any compensation for his service as a director
in 2006.
The
Company did not pay any other compensation to these directors in 2006.
DIRECTORS
COMPENSATION TABLE
Name
|
|
Fees
Earned or Paid in Cash ($)
|
|
Stock
Awards ($)
|
|
Options
Awards ($)
|
|
All
Other Compensation ($)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
James
Garner
|
|
$
|
24,000
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
24,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patrick
McManus
|
|
$
|
24,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
24,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ji
Qinan
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minquing
Lu
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zhiqiang
Wang
|
|
$
|
4,500
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
4,500
|
|
ITEM
10. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The
following table sets forth all compensation paid in respect of our Chief
Executive Officer and those executive officers who received compensation in
excess of $100,000 per year (collectively, the "Named Executive Officers")
for
our last completed fiscal year.
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
Stock
Bonus ($)
|
|
Option
Awards ($)
|
|
Non-Stock
Incentive Plan Awards ($)
|
|
All
Other Comp. ($)
|
|
Comp.
($)
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Qinan
Ji, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
Xiaogang
Zhu, Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
Minqing
Lu, former Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
4,150
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,150
|
|
(1)
Minqing Lu stepped down as the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Director
on
May 22, 2006. Mr. Lu's annual salary was $10,000.
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
There
has
been no common stock authorized for issuance with respect to any equity
compensation plan as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.
Employment
Agreements
There
are
currently no employment agreements between the Company and any of its named
executive officers.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
There
has
been no outstanding equity awards at fiscal year ended December 31,
2006.
ITEM
11. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The
following table sets forth certain information, as of April 13, 2007 with
respect to the beneficial ownership of the outstanding common stock by (i)
any
holder of more than five (5%) percent; (ii) each of our executive officers
and
directors; and (iii) our directors and executive officers as a group. Except
as
otherwise indicated, each of the stockholders listed below has sole voting
and
investment power over the shares beneficially owned.
|
|
Number
of
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
|
Shares
of
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
|
Beneficially
|
|
Beneficially
|
|
Name
of Beneficial Owner (1)
|
|
Owned
|
|
Owned
(2)
|
|
Executive
Officers and Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
Qinan
Ji
|
|
|
5,931,596
|
(3)
|
|
24.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Xiaogang
Zhu
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
officers and directors as a group (2 persons)
|
|
|
5,931,596
|
(3)
|
|
24.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5%
holders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yangling
Bodisen Biotech
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Development
Co, Ltd.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
c/o
New York Global Group, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14
Wall Street, 12th Floor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New
York, NY 10005
|
|
|
2,063,768
|
(4)
|
|
8.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Xiang
Ji
|
|
|
1,456,232
|
|
|
6.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Xian
Sunway Technology &
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Industry
Co., Ltd
|
|
|
2,875,364
|
(3)
|
|
11.9
|
%
|
(1)
Except as otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner is c/o
Xian
Xilan Natural Gas Co., Ltd., 19th Floor, Building B, Van Metropolis, Tang Yan
Road, Hi-Tech Zone, Xian, Shaanxi Province, China.
(2)
Applicable percentage ownership is based on 24,210,183 shares of common stock
outstanding as of April 13, 2007, together with securities exercisable or
convertible into shares of common stock within 60 days of April 13, 2007 for
each stockholder. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes voting
or
investment power with respect to securities. Shares of common stock that are
currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 13, 2007 are deemed
to be beneficially owned by the person holding such securities for the purpose
of computing the percentage of ownership of such person, but are not treated
as
outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other
person.
(3)
Of
which 2,875,364 shares are owned by Xian Sunway Technology & Industry Co.,
Ltd. Qinan Ji owns 42.1% of Xian Sunway and may be deemed to beneficially own
such shares.
(4)
As
set forth in the Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on December 23,
2005.
No
Director, executive officer, affiliate or any owner of record or beneficial
owner of more than 5% of any class of voting securities of the Company is a
party adverse to the Company or has a material interest adverse to the
Company.
Securities
Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The
Company had no equity compensation plans as of the fiscal year ended December
31, 2006.
ITEM
12. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM
13. EXHIBITS
Exhibits:
Exhibit
|
|
|
Number
|
|
Description
of Exhibit
|
3.1
|
|
Articles
of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to same exhibit filed
with the
Company's Form 10SB Registration Statement filed September 15,
2000, SEC
file no. 000-31539).
|
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
Registrant's
Amended and Restated By-Laws (incorporated by reference to exhibit
3.1
filed with the Company's Form 8K Registration Statement filed
June 16,
2006, SEC file no.
000-31539).
|
|
|
|
10.1
|
|
Share
Purchase Agreement made as of December 6, 2005 among Coventure
International Inc., Xian Xilan Natural Gas Co., Ltd. and each of
Xilan's
shareholders. (incorporated by reference to the exhibits to Registrants
Form 8-K filed on December 9, 2005).
|
|
|
|
10.2
|
|
Return
to Treasury Agreement between Coventure International Inc. and
John
Hromyk, dated December 6, 2005. (incorporated by reference to the
exhibits
to Registrants Form 8-K filed on December 9, 2005).
|
|
|
|
10.3
|
|
Purchase
Agreement made as of December 19, 2005 between China Natural Gas,
Inc. and
John Hromyk (incorporated by reference to the exhibits to Registrants
Form
8-K filed on December 23,
2005).
|
10.4
|
|
Form
of Securities Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to
the
exhibits to Registrants Form 8-K filed on January 12,
2006).
|
|
|
|
10.5
|
|
Form
of Common Stock Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to
the
exhibits to Registrants Form 8-K filed on January 12,
2006).
|
|
|
|
10.6
|
|
Form
of Registration Rights Agreement (incorporated by reference to
the
exhibits to Registrants Form 8-K filed on January 12,
2006).
|
|
|
|
10.8
|
|
CNG
Product Purchase and Sale Agreement between Xian Xilan Natural
Gas Co.,
Ltd. and Zhengzhou Zhongyou Hengran Petroleum Gas Co., Ltd. made
as of
July 20, 2006, (translated from the original mandarin) (incorporated
by
reference to the exhibits to Registrants Form 10-KSB filed on
April 17,
2007).
|
|
|
|
14.1
|
|
Code
of Ethics adopted by the Company on June 14, 2006 (incorporated
by
reference to the exhibits to Registrants Form 8-K filed on June
16,
2006).
|
|
|
|
21.1
|
|
List
of Subsidiaries. (incorporated by reference to the exhibits to
Registrants
Form 10-KSB filed on April 17,
2007).
|
|
|
|
31.1
|
|
Certification
of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 and Rule
15d-14(a),
promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended
|
|
|
|
31.2
|
|
Certification
of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 and Rule
15d 14(a),
promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended
|
|
|
|
32.1
|
|
Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Chief Executive
Officer)
|
|
|
|
32.2
|
|
Certification
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Chief Financial
Officer)
|
ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The
following table shows the fees paid or accrued for the audit and other services
provided by our independent auditors for 2006 and 2005.
Audit
fees
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Kabani
& Company, Inc.
|
|
$
|
72,500
|
|
$
|
40,000
|
|
Manning
Elliott
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
14,750
|
|
Audit-related
fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax
fees
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,775*
|
|
All
other fees
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
** |
|
|
|
Total
fees paid or accrued to our
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
principal
accountants
|
|
$
|
82,500
|
|
$
|
56,525
|
|
*
The
aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by Manning Elliott
for
tax compliance services in fiscal year 2005 was $1,775. No fees were billed
for
tax advice or tax planning. The fees billed related to the preparation of income
tax returns.
**
The
fees billed related to the preparation of our Registration Statement on Form
SB-2 (333-131738) filed with the SEC on February 10, 2006.
The
Audit
Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services is
compatible with maintaining the principal accountant's
independence.
SIGNATURES
In
accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized.
Date:
November 1, 2007
|
|
|
|
CHINA
NATURAL GAS, INC.
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Qinan Ji |
|
Qinan
Ji
Chief
Executive Officer
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Xiaogang Zhu |
|
Xiaogang
Zhu
Chief
Financial Officer
(Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)
|
In
accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the
following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on
the
dates indicated.
/s/
Qinan
Ji
Qinan Ji
|
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
|
November
1, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Zhiqiang Wang
Zhiqiang
Wang
|
|
Director
|
|
November
1, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
A. Garner
|
|
Director
|
|
November
1, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Xiaogang Zhu
Xiaogang
Zhu
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
(Principal
Accounting Officer)
|
|
November
1, 2007
|