REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
Not Applicable |
||
(Translation of Registrant’s Name Into English) |
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
Title of Each Class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | ☒ | ||||
Non-accelerated filer |
☐ | Emerging growth company |
U.S. GAAP ☐ |
by the International Accounting Standards Board ☒ |
Other ☐ |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHINA YUCHAI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
1
Certain Definitions and Supplemental Information
All references to “China” and “PRC” in this Annual Report are references to the People’s Republic of China. Unless otherwise specified, all references in this Annual Report to “US dollar” or “US$” are to the United States dollar; all references to “Renminbi” or “RMB” are to Renminbi, the legal tender currency of China; all references to “S$” are to the Singapore dollar, the legal tender currency of Singapore. Unless otherwise specified, translation of amounts for the convenience of the reader has been made in this Annual Report (i) from Renminbi to US dollar at the rate of RMB 6.9519 = US$1.00, the rate quoted by the People’s Bank of China, or the PBOC, on February 28, 2023, and (ii) from Singapore dollar to US dollar at the rate of S$1.3469 = US$1.00, the noon buying rate in New York for cable transfers payable in foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on February 28, 2023. No representation is made that the Renminbi amounts or Singapore dollar amounts amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US dollar at rates specified herein or any other rate.
As used in this Annual Report, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “the Company”, “the Group”, “CYI”, “we”, “us”, “our” and “our company” refer to China Yuchai International Limited and its subsidiaries. All references herein to “Yuchai” are to Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Company Limited and its subsidiaries and, prior to its incorporation in July 1992, to the machinery business of its predecessor, Guangxi Yulin Diesel Engine Factory, or Yulin Diesel. In the restructuring of Yulin Diesel in July 1992, its other businesses were transferred to Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Group Company, which became a shareholder of Yuchai. All references herein to “the GY Group” are to Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Group Company (formerly known as Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Holdings Company, and also Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Group Company Limited) and its subsidiaries. In May 1993, in order to finance further expansion, Yuchai sold shares to the Company. All references herein to “Foreign Shares” are to the shares sold by Yuchai to non-Chinese legal and natural persons (currently only CYI). All references to “HLGE” are to HL Global Enterprises Limited (formerly known as HLG Enterprise Limited); and all references to the “HLGE group” are to HLGE and its subsidiaries. All references to “TCL” are to Thakral Corporation Ltd; and all references to the “TCL group” are to TCL and its subsidiaries.
As of December 31, 2022, 40,858,290 shares of our common stock, par value US$0.10 per share, or Common Stock, and one special share, par value US$0.10, of our Common Stock were issued and outstanding. The weighted average shares of common stock outstanding during the year was 40,858,290. Unless otherwise indicated herein, all percentage share amounts with respect to the Company are based on the weighted average number of shares of 40,858,290 for 2022. As of February 28, 2023, 40,858,290 shares of our Common Stock, and one special share, par value US$0.10 were issued and outstanding.
In China, Euro emission standards are equivalent to National emission standards and references to National emission standards are equivalent to references to Euro emission standards. All references to Tier-3 and Tier-4 emission standards are to emission standards adopted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, or the “MEE”, applicable to diesel engines used in off-road machinery.
All references to “CAAM” are to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Unless stated otherwise, all data related to the commercial vehicle market in China in this Annual Report is attributed to CAAM.
Our consolidated financial statements are reported in Renminbi and prepared in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”). Totals presented in this Annual Report may not correctly total due to rounding of numbers. References to a particular fiscal year are to the period ended December 31 of such year.
The financial and operational data included in this Annual Report reflect Yuchai’s current classification system for light-, medium- and heavy-duty engines. Under this classification system, light-duty engines have engine capacity of 3.8 liters or less; medium-duty engines have engine capacity of between 3.8 liters and 7.0 liters; and heavy-duty engines have engine capacity of more than 7.0 liters.
Cautionary Statements with Respect to Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report may contain forward-looking statements that reflect our current expectations, beliefs, assumption and views of future events which we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects. The forward-looking statements are made under the “safe-harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements.
The words such as “believe” “expect”, “anticipate”, “project”, “target”, “optimistic”, “confident that”, “continue to”, “predict”, “intend”, “aim”, “will” or similar expressions in this Annual Report are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We wish to caution readers that the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report, which include all statements that, at the time made, address future results of operations, are based upon our interpretation of factors affecting our business and operations. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to:
• |
our goal and strategies; |
2
• |
our future business development, financial conditions, and results of operations; |
• |
the expected growth of the diesel and natural gas engine industry as well as the electric and new energy vehicles (“NEV”) industry including hybrid, pure electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles and other alternative energy-powered vehicles; |
• |
our expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of our products and services; |
• |
our expectations regarding our relationships with customers, suppliers, third-party service providers, strategic partners, and other stakeholders; |
• |
competition in our industry and from the growing NEV market; |
• |
relevant government policies and regulations relating to our industry; |
• |
general political, economic and social conditions globally and in China; and |
• |
assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. |
Known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those discussed in “Item 3. Key Information — B. Risk Factors”, may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report. Accordingly, we can give no assurances that any of the events anticipated by these forward-looking statements will transpire or occur or, if any of the foregoing factors or other risks and uncertainties described elsewhere in this Annual Report were to occur, what impact they will have on these forward-looking statements, including the results of our operations or financial condition. In view of these uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report to reflect the occurrence of events after the date of this Annual Report.
Summary of Risk Factors
Our business is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those described in Item 3.B. of this Annual Report. If any of those risks are realized, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. Set forth below is a summary list of the key risks to our business:
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
• |
The diesel engine business in China is dependent in large part on the performance of the Chinese and the global economy. Adverse economic developments in China or in the global economy could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects. |
• |
The diesel engine business in China is dependent in large part on relevant government policies. As a result, our financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects could be adversely affected by changes in government policies in China. |
• |
We have previously identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and cannot assure you that material weaknesses will not be identified in the future. Our failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in material misstatements in our financial statements which could require us to restate financial statements in the future, or cause us not to be able to provide timely financial information, which may cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and have a negative effect on our stock price. |
• |
We depend on and expect to continue to depend on our largest customers for a significant percentage of our sales. |
• |
We are dependent on our suppliers, some of whom are our single source suppliers for the components they supply. |
• |
Competition in China from other diesel engine manufacturers may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects. |
• |
China’s vehicle industry is experiencing changes under initiatives and preferential policies in China to develop energy saving and new energy vehicles. It may lead to decrease in demand for our engines affecting our market share and profitability. |
3
• |
If we are not able to continually improve our existing engine products and develop new engine products or successfully enter into other markets, we may become less competitive, and our financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects will be adversely affected. |
• |
We are or may be subject to risks associated with strategic alliances, including joint ventures. |
• |
Our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects may be adversely affected to the extent we are unable to continue our sales growth. |
• |
We are subject to risks associated with being subject to US trade controls laws and regulations. |
Risks related to Corporate Structure
• |
Our financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects may be adversely affected if we are unable to implement the Reorganization Agreement and the Cooperation Agreement. |
• |
Our controlling shareholder’s interests may differ from those of our other shareholders. |
• |
We may experience a change of control as a result of sale or disposal of shares of our Common Stock by our controlling shareholders. |
• |
We have in the past experienced and may in the future experience disagreements and difficulties with the shareholders in Yuchai. |
General Risk Factors
• |
International trade policy dynamics may adversely affect our business. |
• |
Changes in political or social conditions, government policies or regulations in China could have a material and adverse effect on our business and results of operations. |
• |
Changes in tax laws or tax rulings could negatively impact our income tax provision and net income. |
• |
Questions on the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us. |
• |
We may not freely convert Renminbi into foreign currency, which could limit our ability to obtain sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our foreign currency requirements or to pay dividends to shareholders. |
• |
Securities offerings that we may conduct in the future may be subject to the approval, filing or other administration requirements of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, or other PRC governmental authorities, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing. |
• |
United States regulators may be limited in their ability to conduct investigations or inspections of our operations in China. |
PART I
ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not Applicable.
ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not Applicable.
ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION
A. |
Selected Financial Data |
The selected consolidated statement of financial position data as of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, and the selected consolidated statement of profit or loss data and the selected consolidated statement of cash flows data set forth below for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report. Our consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021, and 2022 have been prepared in conformity with IFRS.
4
The selected financial information as of and for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 set forth below should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto.
We currently own, through six of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, 76.4% of the outstanding shares of Yuchai. Our ownership interest in Yuchai is our main business asset. As a result, our financial condition and results of operations depend primarily upon Yuchai’s financial condition and results of operations, and the continued implementation of the Reorganization Agreement, as amended by the Cooperation Agreement. We also have a 48.9% interest in the outstanding ordinary shares of HLGE.
For Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ (1) | |||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
Selected Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss Data: |
||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
20,581,170 | 21,265,930 | 16,030,636 | 2,305,936 | ||||||||||||
Gross profit |
3,189,571 | 2,952,113 | 2,630,650 | 378,407 | ||||||||||||
Research and development expenses |
(626,478 | ) | (848,812 | ) | (836,438 | ) | (120,318 | ) | ||||||||
Other operating income, net |
378,947 | 316,189 | 336,756 | 48,441 | ||||||||||||
Operating profit |
1,182,004 | 663,533 | 519,291 | 74,697 | ||||||||||||
Share of loss of associates and joint ventures, net of tax |
(58,970 | ) | (95,895 | ) | (29,093 | ) | (4,185 | ) | ||||||||
Profit before tax |
971,864 | 451,710 | 394,726 | 56,779 | ||||||||||||
Income tax expense |
(192,538 | ) | (43,816 | ) | (59,065 | ) | (8,496 | ) | ||||||||
Profit for the year |
779,326 | 407,894 | 335,661 | 48,283 | ||||||||||||
Attributable to: |
||||||||||||||||
Equity holders of the Company |
548,903 | 272,673 | 218,581 | 31,442 | ||||||||||||
Non-controlling interests |
230,423 | 135,221 | 117,080 | 16,841 | ||||||||||||
Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to equity holders of the Company (RMB/US$ per share) |
13.43 | 6.67 | 5.35 | 0.77 | ||||||||||||
Profit for the year per share (RMB/US$ per share) |
19.07 | 9.98 | 8.22 | 1.18 | ||||||||||||
Weighted average number of shares |
40,858 | 40,858 | 40,858 | 40,858 |
5
For Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ (1) | |||||||||||||
(in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
Selected Consolidated Statement of Financial Position Data: |
||||||||||||||||
Working capital (2) |
6,209,190 | 5,348,224 | 5,873,135 | 844,825 | ||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment |
4,258,760 | 4,197,909 | 3,995,744 | 574,770 | ||||||||||||
Trade and other receivables |
8,459,088 | 7,342,719 | 7,311,347 | 1,051,705 | ||||||||||||
Total assets |
26,290,958 | 24,905,309 | 24,137,556 | 3,472,080 | ||||||||||||
Trade and other payables (3) |
10,302,531 | 9,632,463 | 8,328,774 | 1,198,057 | ||||||||||||
Short-term and long-term loans and borrowings |
2,230,000 | 2,203,000 | 2,341,432 | 336,805 | ||||||||||||
Non-controlling interests |
2,818,086 | 2,756,192 | 2,826,118 | 406,525 | ||||||||||||
Issued capital |
2,081,138 | 2,081,138 | 2,081,138 | 299,362 | ||||||||||||
Equity attributable to equity holders of the Company |
9,014,624 | 8,859,152 | 9,008,946 | 1,295,896 |
For Year ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
RMB | RMB | RMB | US$ (1) | |||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Selected Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows Data: |
||||||||||||||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
1,415,368 | 504,556 | (119,419 | ) | (17,179 | ) | ||||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(785,753 | ) | (738,848 | ) | (133,048 | ) | (19,138 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash used in financing activities |
(461,832 | ) | (838,563 | ) | (140,365 | ) | (20,190 | ) | ||||||||
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
167,783 | (1,072,855 | ) | (392,832 | ) | (56,507 | ) | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1 |
5,753,268 | 5,877,647 | 4,788,219 | 688,764 | ||||||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on balances in foreign currencies |
(43,404 | ) | (16,573 | ) | 56,102 | 8,070 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31 |
5,877,647 | 4,788,219 | 4,451,489 | 640,327 |
(1) |
The Company’s functional currency is US dollar and its reporting currency is Renminbi. The functional currency of Yuchai is Renminbi. Translation of amounts from Renminbi to US dollar is solely for the convenience of the reader. Translation of amounts from Renminbi to US dollar has been made at the rate of RMB 6.9519 = US$1.00, the rate quoted by the PBOC at the close of business on February 28, 2023. No representation is made that the Renminbi amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US dollar at that rate or at any other rate prevailing on February 28, 2023 or any other date. The rate quoted by the PBOC at the close of business on December 31, 2022 was RMB 6.9646 = US$1.00. |
(2) |
Current assets less current liabilities. |
(3) |
Inclusive of non-current other payables. |
Dividends
Our principal source of cash flow has historically been our share of the dividends, if any, paid to us by Yuchai, as described under “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — C. Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
In May 1993, in order to finance further expansion, Yuchai sold shares to the Company and became a Sino-foreign joint stock company.
Laws and regulations applicable to a Sino-foreign joint stock company in China require that before Yuchai distributes profits, it must (i) recover losses in previous years; (ii) satisfy all tax liabilities; and (iii) make contributions to the statutory reserve fund in an amount equal to 10% of net income for the year determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the PRC, or PRC GAAP. However, the allocation of statutory reserve fund will not be further required once the accumulated amount of such fund reaches 50% of the registered capital of Yuchai. Any determination by Yuchai to declare a dividend will be at the discretion of Yuchai’s shareholders and will be dependent upon Yuchai’s financial condition, results of operations, regulatory factors and other relevant factors. Yuchai’s Articles of Association provide that dividends shall be paid at least once a year out of after-tax profits (if any). To the extent Yuchai has foreign currency available, dividends declared by shareholders at a shareholders’ meeting to be paid to holders of Foreign Shares (currently only the Company) will be payable in foreign currency, and such shareholders will have priority thereto. If the foreign currency available is insufficient to pay such dividends, such dividends may be payable partly in Renminbi and partly in foreign currency. Dividends allocated to holders of Foreign Shares may be remitted in accordance with the relevant Chinese laws and regulations. In the event that the dividends are distributed in Renminbi, such dividends may be converted into foreign currency and remitted in accordance with the relevant laws, regulations and policies in China.
6
Any determination by the Company to declare a dividend will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be dependent upon our financial condition, results of operations and other relevant factors. The following table sets forth a five-year summary of dividends we have paid to our shareholders as well as dividends paid to us by Yuchai:
Fiscal Year |
Dividend paid by the Company to its shareholders for the fiscal year/ in the fiscal year (per share) |
Dividend paid by Yuchai to the Company (1) for the fiscal year / in the fiscal year (in thousands) | ||
2018 |
US$2.21(2) |
RMB 307,207(3) | ||
2019 |
US$0.85(4) |
RMB 307,207(5) | ||
2020 |
US$0.85(6) |
RMB 614,414(7) | ||
2021 |
US$1.70(8) |
RMB 151,796(9) | ||
2022 |
US$0.40(10) |
RMB 115,654(11) |
(1) |
Dividends paid by Yuchai are declared in Renminbi and paid to us in a mix of US dollar and Renminbi based on the exchange rates at local designated foreign exchange banks on the respective payment dates. |
(2) |
On June 19, 2018, we declared a dividend of US$0.73 per ordinary share and a special dividend of US$1.48 per ordinary share amounting to a total of US$90.3 million for fiscal year 2017. This dividend was paid to our shareholders on July 10, 2018. |
(3) |
The dividend declared by Yuchai for fiscal year 2018 was paid to us on June 11, 2019 and June 12, 2019. For the dividend paid for the fiscal year 2018, RMB 307.2 million was paid in Renminbi. |
(4) |
On June 24, 2019, we declared a dividend of US$0.85 per ordinary share amounting to a total of US$34.7 million for fiscal year 2018. The dividend was paid in cash to our shareholders on July 19, 2019. |
(5) |
The dividend declared by Yuchai for fiscal year 2019 was paid to us on June 12, 2020 and June 15, 2020. For the dividend paid for the fiscal year 2019, RMB 307.2 million was paid in Renminbi. |
(6) |
On April 3, 2020, we declared a dividend of US$0.85 per ordinary share amounting to a total of US$34.7 million for fiscal year 2019. The dividend was paid in cash to our shareholders on July 31, 2020. |
(7) |
The dividend declared by Yuchai for fiscal year 2020 was paid to us between June 1, 2021 and June 4, 2021. For the dividend paid for the fiscal year 2020, the total amount paid to us was in Renminbi. |
(8) |
On June 10, 2021, we announced a dividend of US$1.70 per ordinary share amounting to a total of US$69.5 million for fiscal year 2020. The dividend was paid in cash to our shareholders on July 8, 2021. |
(9) |
The dividend declared by Yuchai for fiscal year 2021 was paid and received by us in July 2022. For the dividend paid for the fiscal year 2021, the total amount paid to us was in Renminbi. |
(10) |
On June 23, 2022, we announced a dividend of US$0.40 per ordinary share amounting to a total of US$16.3 million for fiscal year 2021. The dividend was paid in cash to our shareholders on July 15, 2022. |
(11) |
The dividend declared by Yuchai for fiscal year 2022 has been approved for payment by Yuchai’s Board of Directors on March 14, 2023. It will be paid to us within one month after Yuchai’s audited financial statements for fiscal year 2022 are approved by Yuchai’s shareholders. |
7
B. |
Risk Factors |
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
The diesel engine business in China is dependent in large part on the performance of the Chinese and the global economy. Adverse economic developments in China or in the global economy could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects.
Our operations and performance depend significantly on economic conditions in China and globally. During periods of economic expansion, the demand for trucks, construction machinery and other applications of diesel engines generally increases. Conversely, uncertainty about current global economic conditions or adverse changes in the economy could lead to a significant decline in the diesel engine industry which is generally adversely affected by a decline in demand.
Political and social unrest and instability in the geopolitical environment, such as past unrest in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, the Russia-Ukraine conflict or geopolitical tensions in the Asia Pacific region, threaten to disrupt economic recovery and growth in Asia.
In addition, the performance of the Chinese economy affects, to a significant degree, our financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects. Uncertainty and adverse changes in the Chinese economy could also increase costs associated with developing our products, increase the cost and decrease the availability of potential sources of financing, and increase our exposure to material losses from our investments, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and operating results.
The diesel engine business in China is dependent in large part on relevant government policies. As a result, our financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects could be adversely affected by changes in government policies in China.
Our business is dependent on the state of the commercial vehicle market in China. According to CAAM, the sales of commercial vehicles have experienced fluctuations over the years primarily as a result of government incentives and subsidies introduced from time to time as well as the replacement cycle of commercial vehicles. In recent years, the diesel engine market was affected by factors such as China’s anti-overloading policy, diminishing use of the trans-cities highway transportation system in favor of rail transport, restrictions on combustion engine-driven heavy-duty vehicles entering the inner city area in most of the tier 1 cities in China, the implementation of National VI emission standards for on-road vehicles and Tier-4 emission standards for off-road machinery. Incentives introduced in China to encourage purchases of NEVs in past years have driven growth in the sale of NEVs and adversely affected the sales of combustion engines in China, including our commercial vehicle engine sales. The Chinese government’s subsidies on NEV were phased out at the end of 2022, and it may adversely affect the overall growth rate of new energy commercial vehicle sales in 2023 compared to previous years.
In recent years, the government policies in China have encouraged energy conservation and carbon reduction. Following China’s announcement in September 2020 that China intends to hit peak carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, we have seen the development of policies relating to this topic across different sectors issued by ministerial or other levels of the government in China. According to China’s 14th Five Year Plan covering 2021 to 2025 adopted in March 2021, China seeks to reduce energy consumption (in terms of GDP per unit of energy) by 13.5% and carbon emissions by 18% by 2025, and also commits the government in broad terms to formulate an action plan for peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and to anchor efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. China also seeks to boost the share of non-fossil sources in its energy mix to around 20% by 2025. In October 2021, China released the working guidance for carbon dioxide peaking and carbon neutrality implementation and its action plan for carbon dioxide peaking before 2030. Such policy changes may de-emphasize the use of diesel engines and encourage increased use of cleaner energy alternatives, and any such changes will adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects. The government incentive schemes have, directly or indirectly, contributed to our overall engine sales in the past. However, since government incentive schemes may be changed from time to time, there can be no assurance that sales of our engines will continue to grow at the same compound annual growth rate as in the past or at all.
We have previously identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and cannot assure you that material weaknesses will not be identified in the future. Our failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in material misstatements in our financial statements which could require us to restate financial statements in the future, or cause us not to be able to provide timely financial information, which may cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and have a negative effect on our stock price.
We reported material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005 to 2011, and our management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting were not effective for that period. However, since the year ended December 31, 2012, we have not identified any material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. Our management concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures and our internal control over financial reporting were effective for the financial years ended December 31, 2012 to 2022. See “Item 15. Controls and Procedures.” Our independent registered public accounting firm has expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for the financial years ended December 31, 2012 to 2022.
8
We cannot assure you that material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting will not be identified in the future. Any failure to maintain or improve existing controls or implement new controls could result in material weaknesses or significant deficiencies and cause us to fail to meet our periodic reporting obligations, which in turn could cause our shares to be delisted or suspended from trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). In addition, any such failure could result in material misstatements in our financial statements and require us to restate our financial statements and adversely affect the results of annual management evaluations regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Any of the foregoing could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, leading to a decline in our share price.
We depend on and expect to continue to depend on our largest customers for a significant percentage of our sales.
In 2022, our sales to our top five customers accounted for 36.9% of our total revenue. Our top customer is one of the leading automobile manufacturer groups in China. This group includes one of the largest automobile companies in China and other affiliated or controlled diesel truck manufacturers. In 2022, sales to our top customer as a group accounted for 15.3% of our total revenue, including 6.2% to one entity within the group. Although we consider our relationship with our top customers to be good, the loss of one or more of our top customers, whether singly or combined together, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects.
As we are dependent on the purchases made by our top customers from us, we have exposure to their liquidity arising from the high level of accounts receivable from them. We cannot assure you that our top customers will be able to repay all the money they owe to us. In addition, our top customers may not be able to continue purchasing the same volume of products from us, which would reduce our overall sales volume.
Our top customer also competes with us in the diesel engine market in China. Although we believe that the companies within our top customer’s group generally make independent purchasing decisions based on end-user preferences, we cannot assure you that truck manufacturers affiliated with our top customer will not preferentially purchase diesel engines manufactured by companies within our top customer’s group over those manufactured by us.
We are dependent on our suppliers, some of whom are our single source suppliers for the components they supply.
Each of our engine models use parts that we purchase from external suppliers, and some of our suppliers represent the single source for the relevant components. Our reliance on single-source suppliers presents risks related to, among other things, disruptions in the supplier’s business, which may in turn lead to shortages or delivery delays for our component parts, and component failures. For example, the global shortage of semiconductor chips in 2021 led to delivery delays and the unavailability of components that negatively impacted our production schedules and volumes. We generally do not enter into long-term agreement with our single-source suppliers. We may not choose to or be able to enter into arrangements with alternative suppliers for these components in order to manage or mitigate these risks. There can be no assurance that we would be able to successfully retain alternative suppliers or supplies on a timely basis, on acceptable terms or at all. Changes in business conditions, force majeure, governmental changes and other factors beyond our control or which we do not presently anticipate, could also affect our suppliers’ ability to deliver components to us on a timely basis or at all. Any of the foregoing could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Competition in China from other diesel engine manufacturers may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects.
The diesel engine industry in China is highly competitive. We expect competition to intensify as a result of:
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improvement in competitors’ products; |
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increased production capacity of competitors; |
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increased utilization of idle capacity by competitors; |
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price competition; |
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increased emphasis on new-energy vehicles; and |
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consolidations in the diesel engine industry. |
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We believe that there has been excess capacity in the diesel engine industry in the past, from time to time resulting from fluctuations in market demand. For example, market demand fluctuated between 2010 and 2017 as a result of, among other things, stimulus measures in China to counter the effects of the 2008 global financial crisis, investment in capacity expansion by our competitors, the phasing out of incentives in China for car purchases, the introduction of policies to restrict automotive growth in Beijing and other major cities, pre-buying of commercial vehicles prior to the implementation of new emission standards in China and incentives to encourage purchases of electric-powered vehicles. Any excess capacity or decrease in demand in the diesel engine industry in the future could lead to a decrease in prices in the diesel engine market and as we and our competitors compete through lower prices, this could adversely impact our revenues, margins and overall profitability. Furthermore, if restrictions and tariffs on the import of motor vehicles and motor vehicle parts into China are reduced, competition could increase significantly. An increase in competition as a result of these various factors operating singly or together may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects as a result of lower gross margins, higher fixed costs or decreasing market share.
Our long-term business prospects will depend largely upon our ability to develop and introduce new or improved products in response to market demands at competitive prices. Our competitors in the diesel engine markets may be able to introduce new or improved engine models that are more favorably received by customers. Competition in the end-user markets may also lead to technological improvements and advances that render our current products obsolete at an earlier than expected date, in which case we may have to depreciate or impair our production equipment more rapidly than planned. Failure to introduce or delays in the introduction of new or improved products at competitive prices could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects.
In addition, any consolidations or alliances in our industry may result in more competition for us from the resulting larger companies. Concentration within our industry, or other potential moves by our competitors, could improve their competitive position and market share and may exert further pricing pressure on us. Any consolidation or alliances in our industry involving our key suppliers or customers may adversely affect our existing relationships and arrangements with them. The loss of one or more of our key suppliers or customers due to consolidation in our industry or otherwise could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
China’s vehicle industry is experiencing changes under initiatives and preferential policies in China to develop energy saving and new energy vehicles. It may lead to decrease in demand for our engines affecting our market share and profitability.
China has promoted the development of energy saving and new energy vehicles, or NEVs, for its vehicle industry through policy actions. NEVs are defined as vehicles powered by alternative sources of energy instead of fossil fuel-powered engines, such as the diesel and natural gas engines that we produce. NEVs include hybrid, pure electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles and other alternative energy-powered vehicles.
These policies in China have set specific industrialization goals for NEVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles, in terms of annual and cumulative production and sales. In addition, a series of supporting subsidies and preferential policies have been implemented to support the NEVs industry in a holistic manner. To shift commercial vehicle market from being “policy-driven” to “market-driven”, China completely phased out purchase subsidies for electric vehicles, or EVs, at the end of 2022. Despite the phase out of subsidies, certain incentives remain. For example, EV buyers are entitled to a 10% purchase tax exemption until the end of 2023. These subsidies and favorable government policies have resulted in increased sales of NEVs, including EVs in China. According to the CAAM, among 26.9 million vehicles were sold in 2022, and 6.9 million units were EVs. Sales of EV almost doubled, surging by 93.6% year over year, driven by the low-cost electricity and favorable government policies in China, with increases in sales volume in both passenger and commercial vehicle engine markets.
China will continue to support the consumption of NEVs, according to a government work report delivered in March 2022. If the market for electric-powered vehicles continues to develop or develops more quickly than we expect, the additional competition resulting from the growing NEV development could reduce demand for our diesel engines, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. For information on Yuchai’s new energy products, see “Item 4. Information on the Company – B. Business Overview – Products and Product Development – New Energy Products.”
If we are not able to continually improve our existing engine products and develop new engine products or successfully enter into other markets, we may become less competitive, and our financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects will be adversely affected.
As the diesel engine industry in China is highly competitive and continues to develop, we will have to continually improve our existing engine products, develop new engine products and enter into new markets in order to remain competitive. As a result, our long-term business prospects will largely depend upon our ability to develop and introduce new or improved products at competitive prices and enter into new markets. Future products may utilize different technologies and may require knowledge of markets that we do not currently possess. Moreover, our competitors may be able to introduce new or improved engine models that are more favorably received by customers than our products or enter into new markets with an early-entrant advantage. Any failure by us to introduce, or any delays in the introduction of, new or improved products at competitive prices or entering into new markets could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects.
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The technological requirements to comply with National VI standards have required us to deploy significant resources on improving major engine components, systems and after treatment systems which has led to increased costs. The high cost of rare metal supply has resulted in a more expensive exhaust after treatment system. If such cost increase cannot not be entirely transferred to our customers, the original equipment manufacturers, it could adversely affect our margins and profitability.
Yuchai has committed substantial resources to continually improve the technology of its products and maintain the competitiveness of its products. Yuchai has a portfolio of diesel engines and natural gas engines. It also develops new energy powertrain systems, alternative fuels and environmentally friendly hybrid engines with improved fuel efficiency. There can be no assurance, however, that our activities to improve our existing engine products, develop new products and enter new markets will be successful or that our new or improved products, including the National VI and Tier-4 compliant engines that we have developed and expect to develop in the future, will be attractive or acceptable to customers. Our research and development efforts may not be successful and our new products may not address the needs of our current and prospective customers or achieve market acceptance. Moreover, competitors may be in the process of developing technology that could be developed more quickly or eventually become more profitable than our products. If our investments in research and development do not yield new technologies and products that we can successfully market and sell, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
The development of a sustainable market for natural gas engines and new energy power systems in China may be affected by many factors, some of which are beyond our control, including:
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the emergence of newer, more competitive technologies and products; |
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the prices and availability of oil and natural gas and other alternative energy in the future; |
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the successful development of natural gas refueling infrastructure for natural gas engines; |
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the successful development of new energy powertrain and control systems; |
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the structure and implementation of government policies, including the availability of government incentives; |
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consumer perceptions of the safety of natural gas engines; and |
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consumer reluctance to adopt new products. |
Rapidly changing markets, technology, emerging industry standards and frequent introduction of new products characterize our business. The introduction of new products embodying new technologies, including new manufacturing processes, and the emergence of new industry standards may render our planned product offerings obsolete, less competitive or less marketable. The process of developing our planned products is complex and requires significant continuing costs, development efforts and third party commitments. The Company’s failure to develop new technologies and products and the obsolescence of existing technologies could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. The Company’s success will depend, in part, on its ability to continue to enhance its existing technologies, develop new technology that addresses the increasing sophistication and varied needs of the market, and respond to technological advances and emerging industry standards and practices on a timely and cost-effective basis.
We are or may be subject to risks associated with strategic alliances, including joint ventures.
We have entered into strategic alliances, including joint ventures, in the past with various third parties to further our business purpose, and we may do so in the future from time to time. These alliances could subject us to a number of risks, including risk associated with sharing propriety information, non-performance by the third parties, among others. We have entered into the following strategic alliances:
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Y&C Engine Co., Ltd. (“Y&C”) is a 45% joint venture of Yuchai established in August 2009 as a joint venture with Jirui United Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., which in turn is a joint venture of China International Marine Containers Group Ltd, Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen City Jiusi Investment Management Co., Ltd. Y&C is focused on producing heavy-duty vehicle engines. In 2022, Y&C sold approximately 13,000 units, or approximately 46% less than 2021, due to weak demand in the China truck market as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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MTU Yuchai Power Company Limited (“MTU Yuchai”) is a 50-50 joint venture of Yuchai and MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH (“MTU”), a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Power Systems, established in January 2017 for the production of MTU diesel engines in China. MTU Yuchai operates out of Yuchai’s primary manufacturing facilities in Yulin to produce MTU Series 4000 diesel engines primarily for the Chinese off-road market, in particular for power generation and oil and gas applications. In 2022, MTU Yuchai engine production was 376 units, and engine sales reached 450 units in 2022. |
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Guangxi Purem Yuchai Automotive Technology Co., Ltd. (“Purem Yuchai”, formerly known as Eberspaecher Yuchai Exhaust Technology Co., Ltd.) is a 49% joint venture of Yuchai established in December 2018 with Purem International GmbH (formerly known as Eberspaecher Exhaust Technology International GmbH) to produce and market new exhaust emission control systems for trucks, buses, farming equipment and industrial machinery. In 2022, Purem Yuchai produced approximately 27,000 after-treatment units, or approximately 57% less than 2021, due to the adverse COVID-19 pandemic impact on both truck and bus markets in China. |
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Yuchai Xin-Lan New Energy Power Technology Co., Ltd. (“Yuchai Xin-Lan”) is formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yuchai and since February 2023 has been an 87.7% owned subsidiary of Yuchai following investments from Nanning Industrial Investment New Energy Automobile Investment Company and another two unrelated investors between November 2022 and February 2023. Yuchai Xin-Lan conducts research and develop activities to create new production capacity for new energy technologies, including fuel cell systems, range extenders, hybrid power and electric drive systems. In 2022, Yuchai Xin-Lan produced over 6,000 units of new energy powered systems, including the full electric, hybrid and power extender systems, for both truck and bus as well as off-road machinery application. |
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Yuchai Xingshunda New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (“Yuchai Xingshunda”) is a 65% owned joint venture of Yuchai established in February 2022 with Beijing Xing Shun Da Bus Co., Ltd. for the development, manufacturing and sale of fuel cell powertrain systems as well as core fuel cell power system components for the Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei markets. Yuchai Xingshunda has established its production and testing facilities at Daxing, Beijing and is expected to launch its fuel cell power system for public buses in 2023. |
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Suzhou Yuxing Automobile Technology Co., Ltd. is a 30% owned joint venture of Yuchai established in May 2022 with certain engine services companies as its joint venture partners, to provide vehicle performance monitoring, vehicle and engine maintenance and repairs solutions. The joint venture is intended to initially serve vehicles with Yuchai engines, and in the future could expand its service to other diesel engines brands based on capacity and demand. |
There can be no assurance that our joint ventures will be successful or profitable. We have recognized impairment losses in the past related to our investments in the joint ventures and may do so again in the future. We review our investments in these joint ventures on an ongoing basis and may take such action as is deemed strategically appropriate including but not limited to divestment and shareholding changes.
Our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects may be adversely affected to the extent we are unable to continue our sales growth.
In 2020, engine sales were 430,320 units, a 14.4% increase compared with 2019. In 2021, engines sales were 456,791 units, a 6.2% increase compared to 2020. In 2022, engines sales were 321,256 units, a 29.7% decrease compared to 2021. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain or increase engine sales in the future. For example, we may not be able to maintain or increase our engine sales or revenue commensurate with our increased levels of production capacity. Moreover, our future growth is dependent in large part on factors beyond our control, such as the continued growth and stability of the global and Chinese economies. See “Item 3. Key Information — B. Risk Factors — The diesel engine business in China is dependent in large part on the performance of the Chinese and the global economy. Adverse economic developments in China or in the global economy could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects.” In addition, we cannot assure you that we will be able to properly manage any future growth, including:
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obtaining the necessary supplies, including the availability of raw materials; |
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hiring and training skilled production workers and management personnel; |
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manufacturing and delivering products for increased orders in a timely manner; |
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maintaining quality standards and prices; |
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controlling production costs; and |
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obtaining adequate funding on commercially reasonable terms for future growth. |
Furthermore, we have acquired in the past, and may acquire in the future, equity interests in engine parts suppliers and logistics and marketing companies. If we are unable to effectively manage or assimilate these acquisitions, our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects could be adversely affected.
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Our business could be affected by increases in costs, disruption of supply or shortage of raw materials.
We may experience increases in the cost of or a sustained interruption in the supply or shortage of commodities, raw materials and other inputs used by us and our suppliers in our and their businesses and products, such as steel and semiconductor chips, which could adversely affect our future profitability or our ability to timely execute our business plan. The prices for these materials fluctuate and the available supply of these materials may be unstable, depending on market conditions, fluctuations in global demand, including as a result of increased production from our competitors and geopolitical risk and other economic and political factors. In particular, a global semiconductor chip supply shortage has had, and may continue to have, wide-ranging effects across multiple industries, particularly the automotive industry. The shortage of component supply during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the postponement of deliveries and order cancellations by customers in 2020 and 2021, which adversely impacted our engine sales volume and revenues in those years. Any such increase, supply interruption or shortage could materially and negatively impact our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
We could be exposed to the impact of interest rates and foreign currency movements with respect to our future borrowings and business.
We may use borrowings from time to time to supplement our working capital requirements and to fund our continued business expansion plans. A portion of our borrowings may be structured on a floating rate basis and denominated in US dollar, Singapore dollar or Renminbi. The U.S. Federal Reserve currently maintains the federal benchmark interest rate at a range of 4.5% to 4.75%, and we cannot predict future interest rate policy decisions that the Federal Reserve may take. An increase in the federal benchmark rate could result in an increase in market interest rates. An increase in interest rates could make it more difficult to obtain the financing necessary to meet these working capital and financing requirements on favorable terms. Any fluctuations in interest rates, or fluctuations in exchange rates between the Renminbi or Singapore dollar and US dollar, may increase our funding costs or the availability of funding. This could affect our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects.
Our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects could also be adversely affected by a devaluation of the Renminbi. The value of the Renminbi is subject to changes in monetary policy in China and to international economic and political developments. Since we may not be able to hedge effectively against Renminbi or Singapore dollar fluctuations, future movements in the exchange rate of the Renminbi, the Singapore dollar and other currencies could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If inflation continues to increase in China or elsewhere or if prices of energy, raw materials or components increase, we may not be able to pass the resulting increased costs on to our customers and this may adversely affect our profitability or cause us to suffer operating losses.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the annual inflation rate in China for 2020, 2021 and 2022 was 2.5%, 0.9% and 2.0%, respectively. An increase in inflation could cause our costs for parts and components, labor costs, raw materials and other operating costs to increase, which would adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. The spikes of global annual inflation may also result in the upward fluctuations of material commodity prices which could adversely affect our gross margin.
We are subject to increasingly stringent policies and regulations related to the environment, climate change, and employee health and safety.
Our operations and products are subject to national and local environmental protection laws and regulations and health and safety laws, including those in China governing the emission to noise, air, release to soil and discharge to water, treatment and disposal of non-hazardous and hazardous waste materials, employee health and safety, climate change and environmental protection. The Chinese regulations currently impose environmental taxes for the discharge of waste substances, require the payment of fines for pollution and provide for the closure of any facility that fails to comply with orders requiring us to cease or improve upon certain activities causing environmental damage. These laws and regulations may impose numerous obligations that are applicable to our operations, including acquisition of relevant permits or other approvals and imposition of significant liabilities for pollution or accidents arising from our operations.
Regulations in China have been steadily tightening the limits on permissible emission from on-road and off-road transportation, for instance, the mandatory implementation of National VI emission standards and Tier-4 emission standards. Yuchai has increased and may continue to increase its research and development expenditures in order to meet the increasingly stringent emission standards, and there can be no assurance that Yuchai will be able to comply with applicable emission standards or that the introduction of these and other environmental regulations will not result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Similarly, environmental regulations, including electric vehicle energy consumption standards and vehicle emission standards, could become significantly stricter in other markets where our engines or vehicles with our engines are sold.
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There is increasing scrutiny and changing expectations from regulators, investors, lenders and other market participants with respect to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) policies. Disclosure rules proposed by the SEC in March 2022 along with other anticipated ESG reporting rules may create additional compliance requirements for us. We may receive pressure from investors, lenders and other market participants, who are focused on climate change, to prioritize sustainable energy practices, reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainability. If we fail to comply with present or future environmental laws and regulations or are perceived to have not responded appropriately to the growing concern for ESG issues, our reputational, business and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
New National VI and Tier-4 emission standards for diesel engines manufactured in China may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
The manufacture of our engines is regulated by the MEE and other authorities in China. National VI and Tier-4 emission standards have adopted the latest internal combustion engine manufacturing technologies in China that Yuchai had to develop and build up anew. These new emission standards impose a series of emission tests, not only in the manufacturing processes but also ongoing emission tests on the road after engine installation by a remote emission monitoring system or other monitoring systems.
In addition to regulatory requirements, many of our engines involve technically complex manufacturing processes and require a supply of highly specialized engine component parts. For some products and component parts, we may also rely on a single source of supply. The combination of these factors means that supply is never guaranteed. Like some of our competitors, we may face manufacturing issues from time to time. If we or our third party suppliers fail to comply fully with regulations, there could be a product recall or other shutdown or disruption of our production activities. There can be no assurance that we will not experience supply interruptions for our products in the future. The implementation of National VI and Tier-4 emission standards may also reduce the supply or increase the price of components for our National V and/or Tier-3 compliant engines which are for the export markets.
The failure or malfunctioning of the exhaust after treatment system will also trigger the engine monitoring system to shut down or reduce engine loading to idling speed, of which may cause disruption of transportation or service of the vehicles and imposes damages due to such service disruption. Yuchai’s performance may be affected if any unexpected failure from exhaust after treatment facilities.
We are subject to risks associated with being subject to US trade controls laws and regulations.
In October 2022, Yuchai was placed on the Unverified List (“UVL”), which is a supplement to the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) promulgated by the Bureau of Industry and Security (the “BIS”) in the Department of Commerce (the “U.S. Department of Commerce”). Entities are added to the UVL where the BIS is unable to verify the legitimacy and reliability relating to the end use or end users of items subject to the EAR because an end-use check, such as a pre-license check or a post-shipment verification cannot be completed satisfactorily for reasons outside the U.S. Government’s control. The U.S. Department of Commerce removed Yuchai from the UVL in December 2022. We cannot guarantee that we or Yuchai or any of our other subsidiaries will not be included to UVL or the BIS’ Entity List or Denied Persons List in the future. If we or any of our subsidiaries are placed on one of BIS’ lists in the future, we could face reputational harm, supply disruptions, restrictions or difficulties in dealing with business partners or obtaining banking facilities, or additional compliance requirements or costs, which could have significantly adverse impact on our business and results of operations.
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Outbreaks of communicable diseases may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We face risks related to health epidemics or outbreaks of communicable diseases. In general, our business had in the past and in the future could be adversely affected by the outbreak of other communicable diseases, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the H1N1 and H5N1 influenza viruses, Ebola or Zika fever. Such communicable diseases could result in a widespread health crisis that could adversely affect general commercial activity and the economies and financial markets of many countries, as well as our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Beginning in late 2019 and early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in temporary closure of many manufacturing facilities and factories across China and the world, and our industry and many others experienced increased supply lead time, supply disruption and limited transport and shipment options from and to affected regions. Although the number of COVID-19 cases has been declining and viral variants of higher severity have not emerged, the COVID-19 pandemic may not be contained in the near future or at all, which could lead to lingering effects on the economy and our business, and an outbreak of COVID-19 or other communicable diseases could occur again. Outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic have led to, and in the future could lead to our factory closures, workforce shortages, supply chain disruptions, transportation disruptions or similar consequences. The duration of such business disruptions and their resulting financial and operational impacts cannot be predicted or reasonably estimated.
Our insurance coverage may not be adequate to cover risks related to our production and other operations.
The amount of our insurance coverage for our buildings and equipment is at cost which could be less than replacement value. The amount of our insurance coverage for our inventory is at book value which could be less than replacement value. In accordance with what we believe is customary practice among industrial equipment manufacturers in China, we insure for our properties, equipment and inventories. The amount of our insurance coverage of our facilities and inventory is in line with Chinese market practice but may expose us to risks in the event of a major accident where our insurance recovery may be inadequate. We also carry public liability insurance to cover claims in respect of bodily injury and property damage to any third party arising from accidents on our property or relating to our operations. We do not carry business interruption insurance as such coverage is not customary in China. From time to time, we will review the adequacy of our insurance coverage. Nevertheless, losses incurred or payments required to be made by us which are not fully insured could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
Increases in labor costs and enforcement of stricter labor laws and regulations in China may adversely affect our business and our profitability.
The average wage level in China, where most of our employees are located, has increased in recent years, and China-based manufacturing operations no longer have the cost competitive advantages that they had in the past. We expect that our labor costs, including wages and employee benefits, will continue to increase in the future in absolute terms and relative to the costs of operating in other countries and regions where labor costs are lower. Unless we are able to pass on these increased labor costs to those who pay for our services, our profitability and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
In addition, we have been subject to stricter regulatory requirements in terms of entering into labor contracts with our employees, limitation with respect to utilization of labor dispatching, labor protection and labor condition and paying various statutory employee benefits, including pensions, housing fund, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance and maternity insurance to designated government agencies for the benefit of our employees. Pursuant to the PRC Labor Contract Law and its implementation rules, employers are subject to stricter requirements in terms of signing labor contracts, minimum wages, paying remuneration, determining the term of employee’s probation and unilaterally terminating labor contracts. In the event that we decide to terminate some of our employees or otherwise change our employment or labor practices, the PRC Labor Contract Law and its implementation rules may limit our ability to effect those changes in a desirable or cost-effective manner, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
We are dependent on information technology and our systems and infrastructure face certain risks, including cybersecurity risks and data leakage risks.
We are dependent on information technology systems and infrastructure. We cannot be certain that advances in criminal capabilities (including cyber-attacks or cyber intrusions over the internet, malware, computer viruses and the like), discovery of new vulnerabilities or attempts to exploit existing vulnerabilities in our or third-party systems, other data thefts, physical system or network break-ins or inappropriate access, or other developments will not compromise or breach the technology protecting our systems or the systems and networks of third parties that access and store sensitive information about us or our customers or suppliers. Cyber threats, such as phishing and trojans, could intrude into our or a third party’s network to steal data or to seek sensitive information about us or our customers or suppliers. Any intrusion into our or such third party’s network (to the extent attributed to us or perceived to be attributed to us) that results in any breach of security could cause damage to our reputation and adversely impact our business and financial results. A significant failure in security measures could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, results of operations and financial condition. Although we seek to implement measures to protect sensitive and confidential client data, there can be no assurance that we would be able to prevent breaches of security.
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Our business depends substantially on the continuing efforts of our key employees and qualified personnel.
We are highly dependent on our executive officers and senior management, as well as our research and development and sales and marketing personnel. Recruiting and retaining qualified personnel is critical to our success. The loss of the services of our executive officers or other key employees could impede our ability to successfully implement our business strategy. Furthermore, replacing executive officers and key employees may be difficult and may take an extended period of time because of the limited number of individuals in our industry with the breadth of skills and experience required to successfully develop and commercialize products and services. Competition to hire from this limited pool is intense, and we may be unable to hire, train, retain or motivate these key personnel. The failure to attract, integrate, train, motivate and retain these personnel could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The market price for our Common Stock may be volatile.
There continues to be volatility in the market price for our Common Stock. See “Item 9. The Offer and Listing.” The market price could fluctuate substantially in the future in response to a number of factors, including:
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our operating results whether audited or unaudited; |
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the public’s reaction to our press releases and announcements and our filings with the SEC; |
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changes in financial estimates or recommendations by stock market analysts regarding us, our competitors or other companies that investors may deem comparable; |
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operating and stock price performance of our competitors or other companies that investors may deem comparable; |
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political, economic, and social conditions in China; |
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any negative perceptions about corporate governance or accounting practices at listed companies with significant operations in China; |
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changes in general economic conditions, arising from a slowdown in the global economy in 2020 and beyond, escalation or continuation of trade tensions between the United States and China, heightened policy uncertainty especially regarding trade, financial market disruptions amid global financing conditions, and heightened geopolitical tensions globally, the economic effects from the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, instability in the geopolitical environment as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and increasing tensions in the Asia Pacific and communicable diseases such as SARS and COVID-19. See “Item 3. Key Information — B. Risk Factors — The diesel engine business in China is dependent in large part on the performance of the Chinese and the global economy. Adverse economic developments in China or in the global economy could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects;” |
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China’s initiatives to develop energy saving and new energy vehicles, including hybrid, pure electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles and other alternative energy-powered vehicles in China, which may lead to a decrease in demand for our diesel engines that affects our market share and profitability; |
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future sales of our Common Stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur; or |
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the announcement by us or our competitors of a significant acquisition. |
Any of the above factors either individually or together may result in market fluctuations which may materially adversely affect our stock price.
As an exempted company incorporated under Bermuda law, our operations may be subject to economic substance requirements.
On December 5, 2017, following an assessment of the tax policies of various countries by the Code of Conduct Group for Business Taxation of the European Union (the “COCG”), the Council of the EU approved and published Council conclusions containing a list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (the “Conclusions”). Although not considered so-called “non-cooperative jurisdictions”, certain countries, including Bermuda, were listed as having “tax regimes that facilitate offshore structures which attract profits without real economic activity.” In connection with the Conclusions, and to avoid being placed on the list of “non-cooperative jurisdictions”, the government of Bermuda, among others, committed to addressing COCG proposals relating to economic substance for entities doing business in or through their respective jurisdictions and to pass legislation to implement any appropriate changes by the end of 2018.
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The Economic Substance Act 2018 and the Economic Substance Regulations 2018 of Bermuda (the “Economic Substance Act” and the “Economic Substance Regulations”, respectively) became operative on December 31, 2018. The Economic Substance Act applies to every registered entity in Bermuda that engages in a relevant activity and requires that every such entity shall maintain a substantial economic presence in Bermuda. Relevant activities for the purposes of the Economic Substance Act include, among other things, conducting business as a holding entity, which may include a pure equity holding entity. The Economic Substance Regulations provide that minimum economic substance requirements shall apply in relation to an entity if the entity is a pure equity holding entity, which is an entity which as its primary function acquires and holds shares or an equitable interest in other entities, performs no commercial activity and which (a) holds the majority of the voting rights in another entity; (b) is a shareholder, member or partner in another entity and has the right to appoint or remove a majority of the board of directors, managers or equivalent of that other entity; or (c) is a shareholder, member or partner in another entity and controls alone, under an agreement with others, a majority of the voting rights in that other entity. The minimum economic substance requirements include (a) compliance with applicable corporate governance requirements set forth in the Bermuda Companies Act 1981 including keeping records of account, books and papers and financial statements; and (b) submission of an annual economic substance declaration form. However, the economic substance requirements do not apply to an entity which is a tax resident of a jurisdiction outside of Bermuda, provided that the jurisdiction is not in the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. If we fail to comply with our obligations under the Bermuda Economic Substance Act or any similar law applicable to us in any other jurisdictions, we could be subject to financial penalties and spontaneous disclosure of information to foreign tax officials in related jurisdictions and may be struck from the register of companies in Bermuda or such other jurisdiction. Any of these actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In 2020, our Board or Directors, having considered the Bermuda economic substance legislation as well as the Company’s presence and substance in Singapore through our Singapore Branch office, approved a proposal for the Company to establish its tax residency in Singapore. A submission was made to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore or “IRAS” regarding the Company’s Singapore tax residency and the IRAS responded with a written confirmation that the Company is a tax resident in Singapore for Singapore income tax purposes for the calendar year 2020. The Singapore tax residency status is to be determined on a yearly basis. Going forward, we will be considered a Singapore tax resident company for a particular Year of Assessment if the control and management of our business is exercised in Singapore for the preceding calendar year. If the Company is not a tax resident of a jurisdiction outside of Bermuda (other than a jurisdiction which is on the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes), we may be subject to Bermuda’s Economic Substance Act, Economic Substance Regulations and/or any new economic substance regulations adopted in Bermuda. We may be subject to penalties if the Company or any of its subsidiaries fail to comply with the applicable economic substance laws.
We may be classified as a passive foreign investment company, which could result in adverse United States federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders.
A non-United States corporation is considered a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes for any taxable year if either (1) at least 75% of its gross income is passive income or (2) at least 50% of the total value of its assets (based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets during a taxable year) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, the total value of our assets generally will be determined by reference to the market price of our shares. We believe that our shares should not be treated as stock of a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes for the taxable year that ended on December 31, 2022. However, there is no guarantee that the United States Internal Revenue Service will not take a contrary position or that our shares will not be treated as stock of a PFIC for any future taxable year. Our PFIC status will be affected by, among other things, the market value of our shares and the assets and operations of our company and subsidiaries. If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder (defined below) holds our shares, certain adverse United States federal income tax consequences could apply to the U.S. Holder. See “Item 10. Additional Information — C. Taxation — United States Federal Income Taxation — PFIC Rules.”
If a United States person is treated as owning at least 10% of our shares, such holder may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.
If a United States person is treated as owning (directly, indirectly or constructively) at least 10% of the value or voting power of our Common Stock, such person may be treated as a “United States shareholder” with respect to each “controlled foreign corporation” (“CFC”) in our group (if any). If our group includes one or more U.S. subsidiaries, under recently-enacted rules, certain of our non-U.S. subsidiaries could be treated as CFCs regardless of whether we are or are not treated as a CFC. A United States shareholder of a CFC may be required to annually report and include in its U.S. taxable income its pro rata share of “Subpart F income”, “global intangible low-taxed income” and investments in U.S. property by CFCs, whether or not we make any distributions. An individual that is a United States shareholder with respect to a CFC generally would not be allowed certain tax deductions or foreign tax credits that would be allowed to a United States shareholder that is a U.S. corporation. A failure to comply with these reporting obligations may subject you to significant monetary penalties and may prevent the statute of limitations with respect to your U.S. federal income tax return for the year for which reporting was due from starting. We cannot provide any assurances that we will assist investors in determining whether any of our non-U.S. subsidiaries are treated as a CFC or whether such investor is treated as a United States shareholder with respect to any of such CFCs or furnish to any United States shareholders information that may be necessary to comply with the aforementioned reporting and tax paying obligations. The United States Internal Revenue Service provided limited guidance on situations in which investors may rely on publicly available alternative information to comply with their reporting and tax paying obligations with respect to foreign-controlled CFCs. A United States investor should consult its own advisors regarding the potential application of these rules to its investment in the Common Stock.
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We may be unable to obtain sufficient financing to fund our capital requirements which could limit our growth potential.
We believe that our cash from operations, together with any necessary borrowings, will provide sufficient financial resources to meet our projected capital and other expenditure requirements. If we have underestimated our capital requirements or overestimated our future cash flows, additional financing may be required. Financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. Our ability to obtain external financing is subject to various uncertainties, including the results of our operations, financial condition and cash flow, economic, political and other conditions in China, China’s policies relating to foreign currency borrowings and the condition of the Chinese and international capital markets. In July 2021, the PBOC cut the reserve requirement ratio for all financial institutions by 50 basis points, and in November 2022, the PBOC further cut the reserve requirement ratio for all financial institutions (excluding the financial institutions having implemented the rate of 5% of reserve requirement ratio) by 25 basis points. In August 2022, the one-year loan prime rate was reduced from 3.70% to 3.65%, and the five-year loan prime rate was lowered from 4.45% to 4.30%, and both rates were unchanged as of February 28, 2023. The PBOC pleaded that stability would be a greater focus and “prudent monetary policies should be flexible and appropriate, and liquidity should be maintained at a reasonable and ample level.” Changes in interest rates and market liquidity conditions could have an adverse impact on our earnings and cash flows. A shortage of liquidity in the banking system or any other factor that results in our inability to access capital may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
The HLGE group’s hotel ownership and management business may be adversely affected by risks inherent in the hotel industry.
The HLGE group operates Copthorne Hotel Cameron Highlands (“CHCH”), a hotel in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. As of February 28, 2023, we had a 48.9% shareholding interest in HLGE, a company listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the “Singapore Exchange”). See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — A. Overview— Business Expansion and Diversification Plan” for further information on our investment in HLGE.
The HLGE group’s financial performance is dependent on the performance of the hotel it operates. The HLGE group’s hotel ownership and management business are exposed to risks which are inherent in and/or common to the hotel industry and which may adversely affect the HLGE group’s financial performance, including the following:
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fluctuations in occupancy rates as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and future outbreaks of communicable diseases (see “Item 3. Key Information — B. Risk Factors — Outbreaks of communicable diseases may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.”); |
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changes to the international, regional and local economic climate and market conditions (including but not limited to changes to regional and local populations, changes in travel patterns and preferences, and oversupply of or reduced demand for hotel rooms that may result in reduced occupancy levels and performance for the hotels it operates); |
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changes to the political, economic, legal or social environments of the countries in which the HLGE group operates (including developments with respect to inflation or deflation, interest rates, currency fluctuations, governmental policies, real estate laws and regulations, taxation, fuel costs, expropriation, including the impact of the current global financial crisis); |
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increased threat of terrorism, terrorist events, airline strikes, hostilities between countries, effects of climate change or increased risk of natural disasters or viral epidemics that may affect travel patterns and reduce the number of travelers and tourists; |
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changes in laws and governmental regulations (including those relating to the operation of hotels, preparation and sale of food and beverages, occupational health and safety working conditions and laws and regulations governing its relationship with employees); |
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competition from other international, regional and independent hotel companies, some of which may have greater name recognition and financial resources than the HLGE group (including competition in relation to hotel room rates, convenience, services or amenities offered); |
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losses arising out of damage to CHCH, where such losses may not be covered by the insurance policies maintained by the HLGE group; |
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increases in operating costs due to inflation, labor costs (including the impact of unionization), workers’ compensation and health-care related costs, utility costs, insurance and unanticipated costs such as acts of nature and their consequences; |
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fluctuations in foreign currencies arising from the HLGE group’s various currency exposures; |
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dependence on leisure travel and tourism; and |
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adverse effects of a downturn in the hospitality industry, including the impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
The above factors may materially affect the performance of CHCH and the profitability and financial condition of the HLGE group. There can be no assurance that we will not suffer any losses arising from our investment in HLGE.
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Risks related to Corporate Structure
Our financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects may be adversely affected if we are unable to implement the Reorganization Agreement and the Cooperation Agreement.
We own 76.4% of the outstanding shares of Yuchai, and one of our primary sources of cash flow continues to be our share of the dividends, if any, paid by Yuchai and investment earnings thereon. As a result of the agreement reached with Yuchai and its related parties pursuant to the July 2003 Agreement, we discontinued legal and arbitration proceedings initiated by us in May 2003 relating to difficulties with respect to our investment in Yuchai. In furtherance of the terms of the July 2003 Agreement, we, Yuchai and Coomber Investments Limited, or Coomber, entered into the Reorganization Agreement in April 2005, as amended in December 2005 and November 2006, and agreed on a restructuring plan intended to be beneficial to our shareholders. In June 2007, we, along with Yuchai, Coomber and the GY Group, entered into the Cooperation Agreement. The Cooperation Agreement amends certain terms of the Reorganization Agreement and, as so amended, incorporates the terms of the Reorganization Agreement. Pursuant to the amendments to the Reorganization Agreement, the Company has agreed that the restructuring and spin-off of Yuchai will not be effected, and, recognizing the understandings that have been reached between the Company and the GY Group to jointly undertake efforts to expand the business of Yuchai, the Company will not seek to recover the anti-dilution fee of US$20 million that was due from Yuchai. For more information on these agreements see “Item 4. Information on the Company — A. History and Development of the Company.” No assurance can be given as to when the business expansion requirements relating to Yuchai as contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement and the Cooperation Agreement will be fully implemented, or that implementation of the Reorganization Agreement and the Cooperation Agreement will effectively resolve all of the difficulties faced by us with respect to our investment in Yuchai.
In addition, the Reorganization Agreement contemplates the continued implementation of our business expansion and diversification plan adopted in February 2005. One of the goals of this business expansion and diversification plan is to reduce our financial dependence on Yuchai. Subsequently, we acquired strategic stakes in HLGE and TCL (which we have since substantially divested). See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — A. Overview — Business Expansion and Diversification Plan.” Nonetheless, no assurance can be given that we will be able to successfully expand and diversify our business. We may also not be able to continue to identify suitable acquisition opportunities, secure funding to consummate such acquisitions or successfully integrate such acquired businesses within our operations. Any failure to implement the terms of the Reorganization Agreement and Cooperation Agreement, including our continued expansion and diversification, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects. Additionally, although the Cooperation Agreement amends certain provisions of the Reorganization Agreement and also acknowledges the understandings that have been reached between us and the GY Group to jointly undertake efforts to expand and diversify the business of Yuchai, no assurance can be given that we will be able to successfully implement those efforts or as to when the transactions contemplated therein will be consummated.
Our controlling shareholder’s interests may differ from those of our other shareholders.
As of February 28, 2023, our controlling shareholder, Hong Leong Asia Ltd., or Hong Leong Asia, indirectly owns 18,270,965 or approximately 44.72%, of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock, as well as a special share that entitles it to elect a majority of our directors. Hong Leong Asia controls us through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hong Leong (China) Limited, or Hong Leong China, and through HL Technology Systems Pte Ltd, or HL Technology, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Leong China. HL Technology owns approximately 23.30% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock and has, since August 2002, been the registered holder of the special share. Hong Leong Asia also owns, through another wholly-owned subsidiary, Well Summit Investments Limited, approximately 21.42% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock as of February 28, 2023. Hong Leong Asia is a member of the Hong Leong Investment Holdings Pte. Ltd., or Hong Leong Investment group of companies. Prior to August 2002, we were controlled by Diesel Machinery (BVI) Limited, or Diesel Machinery, which, until its dissolution, was a holding company controlled by Hong Leong China and was the prior owner of the special share. Through HL Technology’s stock ownership and the rights accorded to the Special Share under our Bye-Laws and various agreements among shareholders, Hong Leong Asia is able to effectively approve and effect most corporate transactions. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Shareholders Agreement.” In addition, our shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights. There can be no assurance that Hong Leong Asia’s actions will be in the best interests of our other shareholders. See also “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — A. Major Shareholders.”
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We may experience a change of control as a result of sale or disposal of shares of our Common Stock by our controlling shareholders.
As described above, HL Technology, a subsidiary of Hong Leong Asia, owns 9,520,251 shares of our Common Stock, as well as the special share. If HL Technology reduces its shareholding to less than 7,290,000 shares of our Common Stock, our Bye-Laws provide that the special share held by HL Technology will cease to carry any rights, and Hong Leong Asia may as a result cease to have control over us. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — A. Major Shareholders — The Special Share.” If HL Technology sells or disposes of all of the shares of our Common Stock, we cannot determine what control arrangements will arise as a result of such sale or disposal (including changes in our management arising therefrom), or assess what effect those control arrangements may have, if any, on our financial condition, results of operations, business, prospects or share price.
In addition, certain of our financing arrangements have covenants requiring Hong Leong Asia to retain ownership of the special share and that we remain a principal subsidiary (as defined in such arrangements) of Hong Leong Asia. A breach of that covenant may require us to pay all outstanding amounts under those financing arrangements. There can be no assurance that we will be able to pay such amounts or obtain alternate financing.
We have in the past experienced and may in the future experience disagreements and difficulties with the shareholders in Yuchai.
Although we own 76.4% of the outstanding shares of Yuchai, and believe we have proper legal ownership of our investment and a controlling financial interest in Yuchai, in the event there is a dispute with Yuchai’s shareholders regarding our investment in Yuchai, we may have to rely on law for remedies. We have in the past experienced problems from time to time in obtaining assistance and cooperation of Yuchai’s shareholders in the daily management and operation of Yuchai. We have in the past also experienced problems from time to time in obtaining the assistance and cooperation of the GY Group in dealing with various matters, including the implementation of corporate governance procedures, the payment of dividends, the holding of Yuchai board meetings and the resolution of employee-related matters. Examples of these problems are described elsewhere in this Annual Report. The July 2003 Agreement, the Reorganization Agreement and the Cooperation Agreement are intended to resolve certain issues relating to our share ownership in Yuchai and the continued corporate governance and other difficulties which we have had with respect to Yuchai. As part of the terms of the Reorganization Agreement, Yuchai agreed that it would seek the requisite shareholder approval prior to entering into any material transactions (including any agreements or arrangements with parties related to Yuchai or any of its shareholders) and that it would comply with its governance requirements. Yuchai also acknowledged and affirmed the Company’s continued rights as majority shareholder to direct the management and policies of Yuchai through Yuchai’s Board of Directors. Yuchai’s Articles of Association have been amended and such amended Articles of Association as approved by the Guangxi Department of Commerce on December 2, 2009, entitle the Company to elect nine of Yuchai’s thirteen directors, thereby reaffirming the Company’s right to effect all major decisions relating to Yuchai. While Yuchai has affirmed the Company’s continued rights as Yuchai’s majority shareholder and authority to direct the management and policies of Yuchai, no assurance can be given that disagreements and difficulties with Yuchai’s management and/or Yuchai’s Chinese shareholders will not recur, including implementation of the Reorganization Agreement and the Cooperation Agreement, corporate governance matters or related party transactions. Such disagreements and difficulties could ultimately have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
General Risk Factors
International trade policy dynamics may adversely affect our business.
Our operations expose us to the risk that increased trade protectionism will adversely affect our business. In the United States, there is significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and other exporting countries, including with respect to trade policies, treaties, government regulations and tariffs. Any increased trade barriers or restrictions on trade, especially trade with China, could depress economic activities and restrict our access to suppliers or customers and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Political tensions between the U.S. and China have escalated due to, among other things, trade disputes, the COVID-19 outbreak, sanctions imposed by the U.S. Department of Treasury on certain officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the central government of the PRC, U.S. export restrictions regarding China, restrictions on U.S. investments in designated “Communist Chinese Military Companies,” and the executive orders issued by former U.S. President Donald J. Trump that seek to prohibit certain transactions certain companies, as well as the Rules on Counteracting Unjustified Extra-territorial Application of Foreign Legislation and Other Measures promulgated by China’s Ministry of Commerce, or the MOFCOM, on January 9, 2021, which will apply to situations where the extra-territorial application of foreign legislation and other measures, in violation of international law and the basic principles of international relations, unjustifiably prohibits or restricts the citizens, legal persons or other organizations of China from engaging in normal economic, trade and related activities with a third State (or region) or its citizens, legal persons or other organizations. Rising political tensions could reduce levels of trades, investments, technological exchanges and other economic activities between the two major economies, which would have a material adverse effect on global economic conditions and the stability of global financial markets. Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Furthermore, there have been recent media reports on deliberations within the U.S. government regarding potentially limiting or restricting companies with operations in the PRC from accessing U.S. capital markets. If any such deliberations were to materialize, the resulting legislation may have a material and adverse impact on the stock performance of issuers with operations in the PRC listing in the U.S. It is unclear if this proposed legislation would be enacted.
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Any political or trade controversies, or political events or crises, between the United States and China or proxies thereof, whether or not directly related to our business, could reduce the price of our ordinary shares since we are a U.S. listed company with significant operations in China.
Changes in political or social conditions, government policies or regulations in China could have a material and adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
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, financial condition and prospects are influenced by economic, political and legal developments in China. The PRC government exercises significant control over China’s economy through strategically allocating resources, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, that growth has been uneven across different regions and between economic sectors and may not continue. Any adverse changes in economic conditions, policies, laws or regulations in China could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China. Such developments could adversely affect our business and operating results, leading to reduction in demand for our products and adversely affect our competitive position.
Changes in tax laws or tax rulings could negatively impact our income tax provision and net income.
Changes in tax laws or tax rulings, or changes in interpretations of existing tax laws, could affect our income tax provision and net income or require us to change the manner in which we operate our business. There is also a high level of uncertainty in today’s tax environment stemming from both global initiatives put forth by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (the “OECD”) and unilateral measures being implemented by various countries due to a historic lack of consensus on these global initiatives. As an example, the OECD has put forth two proposals—Pillar One and Pillar Two—that revise the existing profit allocation and nexus rules (profit allocation based on location of sales versus physical presence) and ensure a minimal level of taxation, respectively. In October 2021, more than 130 countries reached an agreement on the Two Pillar solution which imposes a minimum tax rate of 15%, among other provisions. The agreement reached by 137 of the 140 members of the OECD’s Inclusive Framework calls for law enactment by OECD and G20 members in 2022 to take effect in 2023 and 2024. On December 20, 2021, the OECD published model rules to implement the Pillar Two rules and released commentary to the Pillar Two model rules in March 2022. The model rules and commentary allow the OECD’s Inclusive Framework members to begin implementing the Pillar Two rules in accordance with the agreement reached in October 2021. These changes, when enacted by various countries in which we do business, may increase our taxes in these countries. Bermuda is one of the jurisdictions that has agreed in principle to enforce the global minimum tax rate. As the Two Pillar solution is subject to implementation by each member country, the timing and ultimate impact of any such changes on our tax obligations is uncertain. We are currently unable to predict whether these or other changes will occur and, if so, the ultimate impact on our business. To the extent that such changes have a negative impact on us, our suppliers or our consumers, including as a result of related uncertainty, these changes may materially and adversely impact our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Questions on the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us.
The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. From time to time, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings. In addition, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis, and which may have retroactive effect. As a result, there can also be no assurance that we would promptly become aware of a violation of a policy or rule, if such decision is not published publicly or promptly notified to us. In addition, any failure by us to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.
Our investment in Yuchai or elsewhere in China, is subject to PRC regulations. The PRC Foreign Investment Law, or the FIL, adopted on March 15, 2019 is the legal foundation governing us, a foreign investment enterprise, or the FIE. The FIL grants national treatment to foreign-invested entities, except for those foreign-invested entities that operate in industries specified as either “restricted” or “prohibited” from foreign investment in a “negative list”. The FIL provides that foreign-invested entities operating in “restricted” or “prohibited” industries will require market entry clearance and other approvals from relevant government authorities. There are uncertainties in the interpretation and implementation of the FIL and relevant regulations, which may impact our current corporate governance practice and increase our compliance costs. For instance, we may be required to adjust the organizational form and corporate governance for certain of our PRC foreign-invested subsidiaries as required by any further implementing rules of the FIL. In addition, the FIL imposes information reporting requirements on foreign investors and foreign invested enterprises.
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On December 19, 2020, with the approval of the State Council, the National Development and Reform Commission, or the NDRC, and the MOFCOM issued the Measures for the Security Review of Foreign Investments, or the 2021 Security Review Measures, which took effect on January 18, 2021, with an intent to regulate foreign investments which raise “national defense and security” or “national security” concerns. Under the 2021 Security Review Measures, investments in military, national defense-related areas or in locations in proximity to military facilities, or investments that would result in acquiring the actual control of assets in certain key sectors, such as critical agricultural products, energy and resources, equipment manufacturing, infrastructure, transport, cultural products and services, information technology, Internet products and services, financial services and technology sectors, are required to obtain approval from designated governmental authorities in advance; and if a foreign investment will or may affect national security, the relevant party shall report to the standing working office organized by the NDRC and the MOFCOM for the decision of whether to conduct security review. In the future, if we grow our business by acquiring complementary businesses that are within the scope of the 2021 Security Review Measures, complying with the requirements of the above-mentioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete such transactions could be time consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the applicable authorities may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions. It is unclear whether our business operates in an industry that raises “national defense and security” or “national security” concerns. If future interpretations or guidance issued by the NDRC and/or MOFCOM determine that our business is in an industry subject to the security review, our business operations and activities in China may be adversely affected.
We may not freely convert Renminbi into foreign currency, which could limit our ability to obtain sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our foreign currency requirements or to pay dividends to shareholders.
Substantially all of our revenues and operating expenses are generated by our Chinese operating subsidiary, Yuchai, and are denominated in Renminbi, while a portion of our indebtedness is, or in the future may be, denominated in US dollar and other foreign currencies. The Renminbi is currently freely convertible under the “current account,” which include dividend distributions, interest payments, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not under the “capital account” which include, among other things, foreign direct investment, overseas borrowings by Chinese entities and proceeds of overseas public offering by Chinese entities. Some of the conversions between Renminbi and foreign currency under the capital account are subject to the prior approval of the State Administration for Foreign Exchange, or SAFE.
Yuchai, as a foreign invested enterprise, may purchase foreign currency without the approval of SAFE for settlement of “current account transactions”, including payment of dividends, by providing commercial documents evidencing these transactions. Our Chinese operating subsidiary may also retain foreign exchange in its current account to satisfy foreign currency liabilities or to pay dividends. However, the relevant government authorities may limit or eliminate our Chinese operating subsidiary’s ability to purchase and retain foreign currencies in the future. Our Chinese operating subsidiary, therefore, may not be able to obtain sufficient foreign currency to satisfy its foreign currency requirements to pay dividends to us for our use in making any future dividend payments or to satisfy other foreign currency payment requirements.
Foreign currency transactions under the capital account and foreign debt account continue to be subject to limitations and require registrations with and reviews from the designated foreign exchange banks and SAFE. The PRC government may at its discretion further restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. This could adversely affect our Chinese operating subsidiary’s ability to obtain foreign currency through debt or equity financing, including by means of loans or capital contributions from us. We cannot predict the effect of future changes in Renminbi and foreign currency regulations on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Securities offerings that we may conduct in the future may be subject to the approval, filing or other administration requirements of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, or other PRC governmental authorities, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing.
In July 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities. The Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities, among other things, call for strengthening the administration and supervision of stocks with a China nexus and clarifying the responsibilities of domestic industry competent authorities and regulatory authorities. There is uncertainty regarding the interpretation and implementation of the Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities.
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In February 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures for Overseas Listing, and five related guidelines, or the Guidelines for Overseas Listing, which became effective on March 31, 2023. Under the Trial Measures for Overseas Listing, PRC domestic companies that seek to offer and list securities in overseas markets, either in direct or indirect means, are required to fulfill certain filing procedures with and report certain information to, the CSRC. The Trial Measures for Overseas Listing provide that if an issuer meets both of the following criteria, the overseas offering and listing of securities conducted by such issuer shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a PRC domestic enterprise and therefore subject to the filing and reporting requirements as required thereunder: (i) any of the operating revenue, total profits, total assets, or net assets of the PRC domestic enterprise(s) of the issuer in the most recent fiscal year accounts for more than 50% of the corresponding item in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statements for the same period; and (ii) the main parts of the issuer’s operation activities are conducted in mainland China, or the principal operation premises are located in mainland China, or the majority of senior management personnel in charge of its business operation and management are PRC citizens or have habitual residences located in mainland China. The Trial Measures for Overseas Listing further stipulate that the determination as to whether a PRC domestic company is indirectly offering and listing securities in an overseas market shall be made on a substance-over-form basis. According to one of the Guidelines for Overseas Listing, where an issuer does not fall within the scope of the Trial Measures for Overseas Listing, but the risk factors disclosed in the submitted listing application documents to the relevant overseas market regulations are mainly related to mainland China, the principle of substance-over-form should be followed, and a determination may be made that the issuer falls within the scope which is subject to the filing requirements under the Trial Measures for Overseas Listing. The CSRC has clarified that PRC domestic companies that have already been listed overseas on or before the effective date of the Trial Measures for Overseas Listing (i.e., March 31, 2023) can be deemed to be existing issuers, or the Existing Issuers. Existing Issuers are not required to complete the filling procedures required by the Trial Measures for Overseas Listing in connection with their past overseas offerings and listings, and instead would be required to file with the CSRC in connection with any future overseas financing activities that they conduct.
In February 2023, the CSRC and certain other PRC regulatory authorities also promulgated the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Confidentiality and Archives Administrative Provisions, which came into effect on March 31, 2023. Pursuant to the Confidentiality and Archives Administrative Provisions, a PRC domestic enterprise that seeks overseas offering and listing, whether directly or indirectly through an overseas listed entity, must strictly abide by applicable PRC laws and regulations, including by enhancing legal awareness in relation to keeping state secrets and strengthening its archives administration, instituting a sound confidentiality and archives administration system, and taking necessary measures to fulfill confidentiality and archives administration obligations. Where a PRC domestic company, either directly or through its overseas listed entity, publicly discloses or provides to relevant individuals or entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any documents and materials that contain state secrets or working secrets of government agencies, it must first obtain approval from competent authorities according to law, and make certain filings with the secrecy administrative department at the same level. In the event that such documents and materials, if leaked, would be detrimental to national security or public interest, the PRC domestic company must strictly complete the relevant procedures as stipulated by applicable national regulations. Where a PRC domestic company, after completing the relevant procedures, provides to securities companies, securities service providers or other entities with any documents and materials that contain state secrets or working secrets of government agencies, or any other documents and materials that would be detrimental to national security or public interest if leaked, a non-disclosure agreement must be signed between the provider and receiver of such information according to the relevant PRC laws and regulations, which must specify, among others, the obligations and liabilities on confidentiality held by such securities companies and securities service providers. Specifically, when a PRC domestic company provides accounting archives or copies of accounting archives to any entities including securities companies, securities service providers or overseas regulators and individuals, it must complete the due procedures in compliance with applicable national regulations.
There are substantial uncertainties as to the implementation and interpretation of the Trial Measures for Overseas Listing and the Confidentiality and Archives Administrative Provisions, and how they will affect our listing status and any securities offerings that we may choose to conduct in the future, and it is still uncertain how PRC governmental authorities will regulate overseas listings in general going forward of companies that have significant operations in the PRC. As a significant portion of our operations are currently based in the PRC, it is likely that future securities offerings or potential other listing that we may choose to conduct will be subject to the foregoing rules and requirements. If we (i) do not receive or maintain any required approvals or record-filing, (ii) inadvertently conclude that approvals or record-filing are not required, or (iii) if the CSRC or other regulatory agencies later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring us to obtain their approvals, filings, registrations or other kinds of authorizations for any of our future offerings or future capital raisings, we may be unable to conduct such future securities offerings on schedule, in a timely manner or at all in a timely manner, or at all. Any failure and/or negative publicity regarding such approval and/or filing requirements may cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless. Moreover, there is no assurance that any new rules or regulations promulgated in the future will not impose additional requirements on companies with operations in the PRC.
United States regulators may be limited in their ability to conduct investigations or inspections of our operations in China.
U.S. public companies that have or had a substantial portion of their operations in China, have been the subject of intense scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity by investors, financial commentators and regulatory agencies, such as the SEC. As we have substantial operations within China, the increased regulatory scrutiny focus on U.S.-listed companies with operations in China could add uncertainties to our business operations, share price and reputation.
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On December 18, 2020, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, was signed into law. The HFCAA includes requirements for the SEC to identify issuers whose audit work is performed by auditors that the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a restriction imposed by a non-U.S. authority in the auditor’s local jurisdiction. Additionally, in July 2020, the U.S. President’s Working Group on Financial Markets issued recommendations for actions that can be taken by the executive branch, the SEC, the PCAOB or other federal agencies and department with respect to Chinese companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges and their audit firms, in an effort to protect investors in the United States. In response, on November 23, 2020, the SEC issued guidance highlighting certain risks (and their implications to U.S. investors) associated with investments in China-based issuers and summarizing enhanced disclosures the SEC recommends China-based issuers make regarding such risks. On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCAA, which provide a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining whether the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction. On December 2, 2021, the SEC adopted a final rule relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCAA. On December 23, 2022, the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the AHFCAA, was enacted. Under the HFCAA, our securities may be prohibited from trading on the NYSE if our auditor is located in a foreign jurisdiction and the PCAOB determines that it is unable to inspect or investigate it completely for three consecutive years because of a position taken by an authority in the foreign jurisdiction, which could ultimately result in our shares being delisted. The AHFCAA amended the HFCAA by requesting the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchange if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three.
Our independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit reports included in our annual reports filed with the SEC, as an auditor of companies whose shares are publicly traded in the United States, is registered with the PCAOB. As a PCAOB registered firm, our auditor is required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess its compliance with relevant U.S. laws and professional standards. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a Determination Report which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in: (1) mainland China of the People’s Republic of China, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in mainland China; and (2) Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in Hong Kong. This list does not include our auditor.
On August 26, 2022, the CSRC, the Ministry of Finance of the PRC, and the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol, or the Protocol, governing inspections and investigations of audit firms based in China and Hong Kong. The Protocol gives the PCAOB independent discretion to select any issuer audits for inspection or investigation and the ability to transfer information to the SEC. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it was able to secure full access to inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong in 2022, and the PCAOB Board vacated its previous determinations that the PCAOB was unable to fully inspect or investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. Whether the PCAOB will continue to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainty and depends on a number of factors, all of which are out of our control. The PCAOB is continuing to request full access to inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong.
There can be no assurance that we or our auditor will be able to comply with requirements imposed by U.S. regulators in the future. The market prices of our shares could be adversely affected as a result of possible negative impacts of the HFCAA and other similar rules and regulations.
It remains unclear what further actions the SEC, the PCAOB or NYSE may take to address these issues and what impact those actions may have on companies that have significant operations in the PRC and have securities listed on a U.S. stock exchange, like us. Legislative and regulatory actions and proceedings and new rules resulting from these efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information could create uncertainty for investors, and the market price of our shares could be adversely affected.
If additional remedial measures are imposed on the Chinese affiliates of certain global accounting firms, including the “big four” accounting firms pursuant to administrative proceedings brought by the SEC against them, we could be unable to timely file future financial statements in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Starting in 2011 the Chinese affiliates of certain global accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, were affected by a conflict between U.S. and Chinese laws. Specifically, for certain U.S.-listed companies operating and audited in mainland China, the SEC and the PCAOB sought to obtain from the Chinese firms access to their audit work papers and related documents. The firms were, however, advised and directed that under China law they could not respond directly to the U.S. regulators on those requests, and that requests by foreign regulators for access to such papers in China had to be channeled through the CSRC.
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In late 2012, this impasse led the SEC to commence administrative proceedings under Rule 102(e) of its Rules of Practice and also under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act against the Chinese accounting firms (including our independent registered public accounting firm). A first instance trial of the proceedings in July 2013 in the SEC’s internal administrative court resulted in an adverse judgment against the firms. The administrative law judge proposed penalties on the firms, including a temporary suspension of their right to practice before the SEC, although that proposed penalty was subject to the pending review of the SEC Commissioner. On February 6, 2015, prior to the SEC Commissioner’s scheduled review, the firms reached a settlement with the SEC. Under the settlement, the SEC agreed that its future requests for the production of documents would normally be made to the CSRC. The firms would receive matching requests under Section 106 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and are required to abide by a detailed set of procedures with respect to such requests, which in substance required them to facilitate production via the CSRC. If they fail to meet the specified criteria, the SEC retains the authority to impose a variety of additional remedial measures on the firms depending on the nature of the failure. Remedies for any future non-compliance could include, as appropriate, an automatic six-month bar on a single firm’s performance of certain audit work, commencement of a new proceeding against the firm, or in extreme cases, the resumption of the current proceeding against all four “big four” accounting firms.
Under the terms of the settlement, the underlying proceeding against the four PRC-based accounting firms was deemed dismissed with prejudice at the end of four years starting from the settlement date, which was on February 6, 2019.
Despite the final ending of the proceedings, the presumption is that all parties will continue to apply the same procedures i.e. the SEC will continue to make its requests for the production of documents to the CSRC, and the CSRC will normally process those requests applying the sanitization procedure. We cannot predict whether, in cases where the CSRC does not authorize production of requested documents to the SEC, the SEC will further challenge the four PRC-based accounting firms’ compliance with U.S. laws.
In addition, it remains uncertain whether the SEC will further challenge the four PRC-based accounting firms’ compliance with U.S. laws in connection with U.S. regulatory requests for audit work papers or if the results of such a challenge would result in the SEC imposing penalties such as suspensions.
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ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A. |
History and Development |
The Company
China Yuchai International Limited is a Bermuda holding company established on April 29, 1993 to own a controlling interest in Yuchai. We currently own, through six of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, 76.4% of the outstanding shares of Yuchai. We operate as an exempted company limited by shares under The Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda. Our registered office is located at 2 Clarendon House, Church Street, Hamilton HM11, Bermuda. On March 7, 2008, we registered a branch office of the Company in Singapore, located at 16 Raffles Quay #26-00, Hong Leong Building, Singapore 048581. Our principal operating office is located at 16 Raffles Quay #39-01A, Hong Leong Building, Singapore 048581. Our telephone number is (+65) 6220-8411. Our transfer agent and registrar in the United States is Computershare Inc., located at 480 Washington Blvd., 26th Floor Jersey City, NJ 07310.
Until August 2002, we were controlled by Diesel Machinery, a company that was 53.0% owned by Hong Leong Asia, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hong Leong China. Hong Leong China owns HL Technology which held shares in us through Diesel Machinery. Diesel Machinery was also 47.0% owned by China Everbright Holdings Company Limited, or China Everbright Holdings, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Coomber. Hong Leong Asia, a company listed on the Singapore Exchange, is part of the Hong Leong Investment group, which was founded in 1941 by the Kwek family of Singapore and remains one of the largest privately-controlled business groups in Southeast Asia. In 2002, China Everbright Holdings and Coomber gave notice to Diesel Machinery and the other shareholders of Diesel Machinery to effect a liquidation of Diesel Machinery. As a result of the liquidation, Hong Leong Asia acquired the special share through HL Technology which entitles Hong Leong Asia to elect a majority of our directors and also to veto any resolution of our shareholders. China Everbright Holdings sold its shareholding in Coomber, which held shares of our Common Stock, in October 2002 to Goldman Industrial Limited, or Goldman, and China Everbright Holdings is no longer a shareholder of our company. Goldman was a subsidiary of Zhong Lin Development Company Limited, or Zhong Lin, an investment vehicle of the city government of Yulin in Guangxi, China until September 29, 2006 when Zhong Lin sold its shareholding in Goldman to the GY Group.
We provide certain management, financial planning, internal audit services, internal control testing, IFRS training, business enhancement consulting and other services to Yuchai and we continue to have a team working full-time at Yuchai’s principal manufacturing facilities in Yulin city. In addition, the President, Chief Financial Officer and a manager proficient in Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or SOX, travel frequently, usually monthly for as much as up to two weeks at a time, to Yuchai to actively participate in Yuchai’s operations and decision-making process. Although the travel frequency was reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic due to cross-broader restrictions implemented to prevent the virus spread, we have gradually resumed travel to Yuchai as the travel restrictions were lifted in China.
Our main operating asset has historically been, and continues to be, our ownership interest in Yuchai, and our primary source of cash flow has historically been our share of the dividends, if any, paid by Yuchai and investment income thereon. However, on February 7, 2005, the Board of Directors of the Company announced its approval of the implementation of a business expansion and diversification plan by the Company. Following such announcement, we have looked for new business opportunities to seek to reduce our financial dependence on Yuchai:
• |
In March 2005, we acquired a 15.0% interest in the capital of TCL through Venture Delta Limited (“Venture Delta” or “VDL”). We have since divested the majority of our interest in TCL and as of December 31, 2022, we have fully disposed of our shareholding interest in TCL. |
• |
In February 2006, we acquired debt and equity securities in HLGE through two wholly-owned subsidiaries. Our shareholding in HLGE has changed through various transactions and as of December 31, 2022, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Grace Star Services Limited (“Grace Star”), we had a 48.9% shareholding interest in HLGE, which has remained unchanged as of February 28, 2023. The HLGE group is engaged in hospitality and property development activities conducted mainly in Malaysia. For more details on our investments in HLGE, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — A. Overview — Business Expansion and Diversification Plan.” |
Since January 1, 2022, there have been no public takeovers by third parties in respect of our shares, and we have not made any public takeovers in respect of other companies’ shares.
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Yuchai
Yuchai was founded in 1951. Prior to 1984, Yuchai was a small producer of low-power diesel engines for agricultural machinery. In 1984, Yuchai introduced the earliest model of its YC6J diesel engine for medium-duty trucks. In July 1992, in order to raise funds for further expansion, Yuchai was restructured into a joint stock company. As a result of this restructuring, Yuchai was incorporated as a joint stock company in July 1992 and succeeded the machinery business of Yulin Diesel. All of Yulin Diesel’s businesses, other than its machinery business, as well as certain social service related operations, assets, liabilities and employees (for example, cafeterias, cleaning and security services, a hotel and a department store), were transferred to the GY Group. The GY Group also became the majority shareholder of Yuchai through its ownership stake of approximately 104 million shares of Yuchai, or GY Group Shares. In connection with its incorporation, Yuchai also issued seven million shares to various Chinese institutional investors, or Legal Person Shares.
In May 1993, in order to finance further expansion, Yuchai sold shares to the Company. Our initial shareholders, consisting of HL Technology, Sun Yuan Overseas (BVI) Ltd., or Sun Yuan BVI, the Cathay Investment Fund, Limited, or Cathay, GS Capital Partners L.P., and Coomber, then a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Everbright Holdings and, thus, controlled by China Everbright International Limited, or China Everbright International, made their initial investments in Yuchai in May 1993, when their respective wholly-owned subsidiaries purchased for cash in the aggregate 200 million newly-issued shares of Yuchai (51.3% of the then-outstanding shares of Yuchai). These shareholders exchanged with the Company their shareholdings in their wholly-owned subsidiaries, six companies which held Foreign Shares of Yuchai, for 20 million shares of our Common Stock (after giving effect to a 10-for-1 stock split in July 1994, or the Stock Split). In connection therewith, Yuchai became a Sino-foreign joint stock company and became subject to the laws and regulations relating to joint stock limited liability companies and Sino-foreign joint venture companies in China. Foreign Shares may be held by and transferred to non-Chinese legal and natural persons, subject to the approval of the Ministry of Commerce, the successor entity to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of China, or MOFTEC. Foreign Shares are entitled to the same economic rights as GY Group Shares and Legal Person Shares. GY Group Shares are shares purchased with state assets by government departments or organizations authorized to represent state investment. Legal Person Shares are shares purchased by Chinese legal persons or institutions or social groups with legal person status and with assets authorized by the state for use in business.
In November 1994, we purchased from an affiliate of China Everbright Holdings 78,015,500 Foreign Shares of Yuchai in exchange for the issuance of 7,801,550 shares of our Common Stock (after giving effect to the Stock Split), or the China Everbright Holdings Purchase. The 78,015,500 Foreign Shares of Yuchai held by Earnest Assets Limited, a subsidiary of China Everbright Holdings and China Everbright International before its sale to us had been originally issued as Legal Person Shares and GY Group Shares and were converted to Foreign Shares, pursuant to approvals granted by MOFTEC. As a result, the Company became the owner of each of these six companies: Hong Leong Technology Systems (BVI) Ltd., Tsang & Ong Nominees (BVI) Ltd., Cathay Diesel Holdings Ltd., Goldman Sachs Guangxi Holdings (BVI) Ltd., Youngstar Holdings Limited and Earnest Assets Limited.
In December 1994, we sold 7,538,450 shares of Common Stock in our initial public offering and used substantially all of the proceeds to finance our six wholly-owned subsidiaries’ purchase of 83,404,650 additional Foreign Shares in Yuchai.
In connection with our purchase, through our six wholly-owned subsidiaries, of additional Yuchai Shares with proceeds of our initial public offering, Yuchai offered additional shares pro rata to its other existing shareholders (30 shares for each 100 shares owned) in accordance with such shareholders’ pre-emptive rights, and each of our subsidiaries was able to acquire these additional Foreign Shares in Yuchai. Such pro rata offering (including the offering to the Company) is referred to herein as the “Yuchai Offering.” Certain Legal Person shareholders subscribed for additional shares in the Yuchai Offering. The GY Group informed Yuchai at the time that it would not subscribe for any of its portion of Yuchai Shares (31,345,094 shares) in the Yuchai Offering. In order to obtain MOFTEC’s approval of the Yuchai Offering, the GY Group was given the right by Yuchai’s Board of Directors to subscribe for approximately 31 million shares of Yuchai at a price of RMB 6.29 per share at any time prior to December 1998. This was because provisional regulations of the State Administration Bureau of State Property, or SABSP, and the State Committee of Economic System Reform, or SCESR, published in November 1994, imposed on any holder of state-owned shares certain obligations to protect its interest in any share offering. Under such regulations, the GY Group could have been required to subscribe for Yuchai Shares in the Yuchai Offering. Yuchai’s shareholders subsequently agreed to extend the duration of such subscription right to March 31, 2002 (the exercise of which would have reduced our ownership of Yuchai from 76.4% to 71.7%). The GY Group informed the shareholders of Yuchai that it had determined not to subscribe for additional Yuchai Shares and this determination was noted by the Yuchai’s Board of Directors on November 1, 2002. However, given the November 1994 provisional regulations of the SABSP and the SCESR, the SABSP, the SCESR and/or the Ministry of Commerce may take action against the GY Group, and there can be no assurance that any such action would not, directly or indirectly, have a material adverse effect on Yuchai or the Company.
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Reorganization Agreement
On April 7, 2005, we entered into the Reorganization Agreement with Yuchai and Coomber, which is intended to be in furtherance of the implementation of the restructuring contemplated in the agreement dated July 19, 2003 between the Company and Yuchai with respect to the Company’s investment in Yuchai (the “July 2003 Agreement”), as amended and incorporated into the Cooperation Agreement on June 30, 2007. The terms of the Reorganization Agreement have also been acknowledged and agreed to by the GY Group. The Reorganization Agreement provides for the implementation of corporate governance guidelines approved by the directors and shareholders of Yuchai in November 2002 and outlines steps for the adoption of corporate governance practices at Yuchai conforming to international custom and practice. Pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement, Yuchai also acknowledged and affirmed our continued rights as majority shareholder to direct the management and policies of Yuchai through Yuchai’s Board of Directors.
Subsequent to the execution of the Reorganization Agreement, a number of steps have been taken by the parties thereto towards its implementation. For example, Yuchai’s directors and shareholders have confirmed that the amendments to Yuchai’s Articles of Association and corporate governance guidelines required to be adopted by Yuchai pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement have been ratified and implemented, and that steps are being taken to have such amendments and guidelines approved by the relevant Chinese authorities. The amended Articles of Association was approved by the Guangxi Department of Commerce on December 2, 2009.
Cooperation Agreement
The Reorganization Agreement was scheduled to terminate on June 30, 2007. On June 30, 2007, we entered into the Cooperation Agreement with Yuchai, Coomber and the GY Group. The Cooperation Agreement amends certain terms of the Reorganization Agreement, as amended, among CYI, Yuchai and Coomber, and as so amended, incorporates the terms of the Reorganization Agreement.
Pursuant to the amendments to the Reorganization Agreement, the Company agreed that the restructuring and spin-off of Yuchai would not be effected, and, recognizing the understandings that have been reached between the Company and the GY Group to jointly undertake efforts to expand the business of Yuchai, the Company would not seek to recover the anti-dilution fee of US$20 million from Yuchai.
The Cooperation Agreement provides that the parties will explore new business opportunities and ventures for the growth and expansion of Yuchai’s existing businesses. Although the parties to the Cooperation Agreement expect to work towards its implementation as expeditiously as possible, no assurance can be given as to when the transactions contemplated therein will be consummated.
Various amendments to Yuchai’s Articles of Association had been ratified and adopted by Yuchai in 2007 and were approved by the Guangxi Department of Commerce on December 2, 2009.
B. |
Business Overview |
Emission Standards
Since the introduction of China National I in the early 2000s, Chinese regulators have been steadily tightening the limits on permissible emissions of on-road diesel vehicles and off-road machinery. In an effort to combat increasing air pollution, China’s vehicle industry transitioned to the National IV and National V emission standards in just a five-years from 2013 to 2018. The latest emission standard, known as National VI, was implemented in July 2021. Yuchai produces diesel engines and natural gas engines compliant with the National V and National VI emission standards. It also develops alternative fuels and environmentally friendly hybrid engines with improved fuel efficiency. Towards the end of 2021, Yuchai had a portfolio of engines that was National VIb emission standards compliant, even though such emission standards are not scheduled for implementation until July 2023.
For off-road machinery, the Tier-3 emission standards were implemented nationwide on December 1, 2016. The updated Tier-4 standards has been enforced from December 2022 for all diesel off-road equipment with engine sizes smaller than 560kW. Yuchai is able to produce diesel engines compliant with Tier-4 emission standards for use in off-road machinery.
Products and Product Development — Yuchai
Yuchai engages in the manufacture, assembly and sale of a wide variety of light-, medium- and heavy-duty engines for trucks, buses, passenger vehicles, construction equipment, and marine and agriculture applications in China. Yuchai also produces engines for diesel power generators. The engines produced by Yuchai range from diesel to natural gas and hybrid engines. Through its regional sales offices and authorized customer service centers, Yuchai distributes its engines directly to auto original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), agents and retailers and provides maintenance and retrofitting services throughout China.
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Yuchai is devoted to improving its competitiveness across all engine platforms, including its light-, medium- and heavy-duty engines, in compliance with applicable emission standards. Yuchai has established a portfolio of on-road engines that meet the National VIa emission standards implemented in China on July 1, 2021 and the existing on-road engines are ready to be upgraded to meet the National VIb emission standards which will be implemented on July 1, 2023. Yuchai also offers a full range of off-road engines that meet the Tier-4 emission standards that came into effect in December 2022.
In order to meet the growing demand of clean-energy engines, Yuchai is also expanding its production and research and development capabilities in natural gas engines, fuel cells, hybrid power system, pure electric system, engine range extenders and electric drive axle. In September 2021, Yuchai entered into an agreement with the Government of Nanning Municipality to invest on the research, development and construction of new production capacity for new energy technologies including fuel cell systems, range extenders, hybrid power and electric drive system. In October 2021, Yuchai announced a new smart powertrain system, IE-Power, the China’s first heavy-duty tractor CVT hybrid powertrain. In December 2021, Yuchai announced its first operating hydrogen engine for China’s commercial vehicle market, the YCK05 hydrogen-powered engine. In 2022, Yuchai introduced its next-generation hydrogen engine for heavy on-road vehicle applications, YCK16H, a heavy-duty hydrogen combustion engine that has a displacement volume of 15.9 litre with a design output of 560hp.
Existing Engine Products
Yuchai offers a full portfolio of on- and off-road engine products in compliance with National VI and Tier-4 emission standards, respectively. Yuchai’s National V and Tier-3 compliant engines have been phased out from the China market with the full implementation of the new emission standards. Yuchai retains certain National V and Tier-3 products for the export market.
Yuchai manufactures diesel and natural gas engines for trucks, buses and passenger vehicles, marine and industrial applications and generator sets. The following table sets forth Yuchai’s list of engines by application:
Series | ||
Truck |
YCY24, YCY30, YCS04, YCS04N, YCS06, YCK05, YCK08, YCK08N, YCK09, YCK11, YCK11N, YCK13, YCK13N, YCA07N, YCK15N | |
Bus |
YCY24, YCY30, YCS04, YCS06, YCK05, YCK08, YCK08N, YCK09, YCK11, YCS04N | |
Construction |
YCF24, YCF30, YCF36, YCA05, YCA07, YCA08, YCK09, YCK11, YCK13, YCK16, YCTD20, YCF30, YCF36 | |
Agriculture |
YCF30, YCF36, YCA05, YCA07, YCA08, YCK09, YCK11, YCK13, YCK16, YCTD20, YCF30, YCF36 | |
Marine |
YC4FA, YC6T, YC6TD, YC6C, YC6CL, YC6CD, YC8CL, YC12VC | |
Generator-Drive |
YC4R, YC4FA, YC6A, YC6LN, YC6T, YC6C, YC6CL, YC12VC, YC12VTD, YC16VTD, YC16VC, YC6KN |
Yuchai’s existing engine products include light-, medium- and heavy-duty engines as set forth in the following table. According to Yuchai’s new classification system implemented since 2018, engines are classified as light-duty engines in capacity of 3.8 liters and less, medium-duty engines in capacity of between 3.8 liters and 7.0 liters, and heavy-duty engines in capacity of 7.0 liters and above.
Series | ||
Light-Duty |
YC4FA, YCY24, YCY30, YCF30, YCF36 | |
Medium-Duty |
YC6A, YCK05, YCS06, YCS04, YCS04N, YCA05, YCA07, YCA08, YCK08N | |
Heavy-Duty |
YC6LN, YC6K12, YC6KN, YC6K13N, YC6T, YC6C, YC6CN, YC6CL, YC8CL, YC12VTD, YC12VC, YC16VC, YC6CD, YC6TD, YCK08, YCK09, YCK11, YCK11N, YCK13, YCK13N, YCK15N, YCK16, YCTD20 |
(a) |
4-Cylinder Diesel Engines |
Trial production of the 4-cylinder diesel engines commenced in late 1999 and today, they represent a stable of reliable and high- performance engines. Our line of 4-cylinder diesel engines consists of the following models:
• |
The YCY24 engine compliant with National VI emission standards is for use in passenger vehicles, light-duty buses and pick-up trucks. It has a displacement volume of 2.36 liter and a maximum power output of 150 PS with a maximum torque of 380 N-m. |
• |
The YCY30 engine compliant with National VI emission standards is for use in light-duty buses and trucks. It has a displacement volume of 2.97 liter and a power range of 150-180 PS with a maximum torque of 460 N-m. |
• |
The YCS04 engine compliant with National VI emission standards is for use in light to medium-duty buses and trucks. It has a displacement volume of 4.16 liter and a maximum power output of 180 PS with a maximum torque of 650 N-m. |
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• |
The YCA05-T40 engine compliant with China off-road Tier-4 emission standards is for use in industrial and agricultural off-road applications. It has a displacement volume of 4.8 liter and a maximum power output of 220 PS with a maximum torque of 720 N-m. |
• |
The YCF30-T48 engine compliant with China off-road Tier-4 emission standards is for use in industrial and agricultural off-road applications. It has a displacement volume of 3.0 liter and a maximum power output of 120 PS with a maximum torque of 430 N-m. |
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The YCF36-T48 engine compliant with off-road Tier-4 emission standards is for use in industrial and agricultural off-road applications. It has a displacement volume of 3.6 liter and a maximum power output of 125 PS with a maximum torque of 480 N-m. |
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The YCF36-T40 engine compliant with off-road Tier-4 emission standards is for use in industrial and agricultural off-road applications. It has a displacement volume of 3.6 liter and a maximum power output of 150 PS with a maximum torque of 500 N-m. |
(b) |
6-Cylinder Diesel Engines |
Our line of 6-cylinder diesel engines consists of the following models:
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The YCS06 engine compliant with National VI emission standards is for use in medium-duty trucks, coaches and buses. It has a displacement volume of 6.23 liter and a maximum power output of 260 PS with a maximum torque of 1000 N-m. |
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The YCK05 engine compliant with National VI emission standards is for use in medium-duty trucks, coaches and buses. It has a displacement volume of 5.1 liter and a maximum power output of 230 PS with a maximum torque of 870 N-m. |
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The YCK08 engine compliant with National VI emission standards is for use in medium-duty and special purpose trucks, highway coaches and buses. It has a displacement volume of 7.7 liter and a maximum power output of 350 PS with a maximum torque of 1400 N-m. |
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The YCK09 engine compliant with National VI emission standards is for use in medium to heavy-duty trucks, highway coaches and buses. It has a displacement volume of 9.41 liter and a maximum power output of 380 PS with a maximum torque of 1800 N-m. |
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The YCK11 engine compliant with National VI emission standards is for use in heavy-duty trucks and trailers, highway coaches and buses over 10 m in height. It has a displacement volume of 10.84 liter and a maximum power output of 460 PS with a maximum torque of 2200 N-m. |
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The YC6K12 engine compliant with National VI emission standard is for use in heavy-duty trucks and trailers. It has a displacement volume of 12.15 liter and a maximum power of 520 PS and a maximum torque of 2200 N-m. |
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The YCK13 engine compliant with National VI emission standards is for use in heavy-duty trucks and trailers, and highway coaches. It has a displacement volume of 12.94 liter and a maximum power output of 560 PS with a maximum torque of 2500 N-m. |
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The YCA07-T40 engine compliant with China off-road Tier-4 emission standards is for use in industrial and agricultural off-road applications. It has a displacement volume of 6.9 liter and a maximum power output of 260 PS with a maximum torque of 1050 N-m. |
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The YCA08-T40 engine compliant with China off-road Tier-4 emission standards is for use in industrial and agricultural off-road applications. It has a displacement volume of 7.5 liter and a maximum power output of 320 PS with a maximum torque of 1200 N-m. |
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The YCK09-T40 engine compliant with China off-road Tier-4 emission standards is for use in industrial and agricultural off-road applications. It has a displacement volume of 9.4 liter and a maximum power output of 400 PS with a maximum torque of 1900 N-m. |
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The YCK11-T40 engine compliant with China off-road Tier-4 emission standards is for use in industrial and agricultural off-road applications. It has a displacement volume of 10.8 liter and a maximum power output of 480 PS with a maximum torque of 2200 N-m. |
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The YCK13-T40 engine compliant with China off-road Tier-4 emission standards is for use in industrial and agricultural off-road applications. It has a displacement volume of 12.9 liter and a maximum power output of 580 PS with a maximum torque of 2600 N-m. |
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The YCK16-T40 engine compliant with China off-road Tier-4 emission standards is for use in industrial and agricultural off-road applications. It has a displacement volume of 15.9 liter and a maximum power output of 775 PS with a maximum torque of 3200 N-m. |
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The YCTD20-T40 engine compliant with China off-road Tier-4 emission standards is for use in industrial and agricultural off-road applications. It has a displacement volume of 19.6 liter and a maximum power output of 952 PS with a maximum torque of 3800 N-m. |
(c) |
High Horsepower Marine Diesel Engines and Power Generator |
In May 2011, Yuchai commenced construction of a plant at Yuchai’s primary manufacturing facilities in Yulin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, to increase the annual production capacity of marine diesel engines and power generators to meet increasing demand. The following are our marine diesel and power generator models.
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YC6T is a 6-cylinder engine rated at 360 to 600 PS and is suitable for construction applications. It is used in marine propulsion, power generators, construction and mine trucks. The YC6T engine rated at 404 to 440 kW at 1500 rpm is for power generation, while those rated at 290 to 396 kW at 1500 to 1800 rpm are for marine applications and those rated at 350 to 540 PS at 1350 rpm are for marine propulsion. |
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YC6C is a 40 liter, 6-cylinder engine rated at 700 to 1000 PS. It was launched in early 2011 and is used in marine propulsion, power generators, construction and mine trucks. The YC6C engine rated 680 to 850 kW at 1500 rpm is for power generation and those rated 560 to 680 kW at 1500 rpm are for marine propulsion. |
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YC6CL is an upgraded version of the YC6C engine with longer piston stroke for better power output and performance. It is a 54 liter engine rated at 800 to 1200 PS. |
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YC12VTD is derived from the YC6TD engines where the V-engine enables the engine to have a compact configuration. The engine is 12-cylinder, 39 liter rated at 900 to 1345 kW at 1500 rpm, mainly for application in the power generator, marine and industrial markets. The YC12VTD was launched in 2018. |
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YC16VTD is derived from the YC6TD engine where the V-engine enables the engine to have a compact configuration. The engine is 16-cylinder, 52 liter rated at 1520 to 1680 kW at 1500 rpm, mainly for application in the power generator, marine and industrial markets. The YC16VTD was launched in 2018. |
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YC12VC is derived from the YC6C engines where the V-engine enables the engine to extend its power output at similar engine platform. The engine is 12-cylinder, 80 liter rated at 1120 to 1800 kW at 1500 rpm. The main application is in the power generator, marine and industrial markets. The YC12VC was commercially launched in 2015. |
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YC16VC is derived from the YC6C engines where the V-engine enables the engine to extend its power output at similar engine platform. The engine is 16-cylinder, 108 liter rated at 1960 to 2400 kW at 1500 rpm. The main application is in the power generator, marine and industrial markets. The YC16VC was commercially launched in late 2016. |
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YC8CL is an extended version of YC6CL engine, with 8-cylinder in line configuration. YC8CL is an 8-cylinder, 72.8 liter engine rated at 692 to 1176 kW at 750 to 1000 rpm. The main application is in marine propulsion for river trade and costal general cargo vessels. The YC8CL was officially launched in mid-2017. |
(d) |
Other Products and Services |
Natural Gas Engines
Yuchai has a facility at its primary manufacturing facility in Yulin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, to develop and produce a portfolio of natural gas powered engines to complement its existing suite of diesel engines. The main uses of Yuchai’s natural gas engines are in large buses, medium- to heavy-duty trucks, industrial and power generators and the marine sector.
Yuchai natural gas engines are designed to work with both CNG and LNG fuel systems, and they are generally constructed using similar major components as Yuchai’s diesel engines. Yuchai currently offers natural gas engines in the following models: YCS04N, YCA07N, YC6JN, YC6GN, YC6LN, YC6MKN, YCK08N, YCK11N, YCK13N and YCK15N ranging from 120 to 560 hp. Among these engines, YCS04N, YCA07N, YCK08N, YCK11N, YCK13N and YCK15N are natural gas engines compliant with National VI emission standards.
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Diesel Power Generators
Yuchai has a history of more than 40 years for producing the diesel generator set, with wide application in the civil and marine sectors. Yuchai produces diesel power generators which are primarily used in the baseload and standby power generation application. The diesel power generators offer a rated power of 24 to 160 kW. Yuchai’s diesel power generators use diesel engines from YC4FA up to YC6T as their power source. The generator set includes an intelligent digital controlling system, remote control, generators group control, remote monitoring, automatic parallel operation, and automated protection against breakdowns.
Diesel Engine Parts
Yuchai supplies diesel engine parts to its nationwide chain of customer service stations in China. Although sales of diesel engine parts do not constitute a major percentage of Yuchai’s revenue, the availability of such parts to its customers and to end-users through its nationwide chain of customer service stations is an important part of Yuchai’s customer service program. Yuchai is continually improving its spare parts distribution channel services to maintain its competitive position.
Remanufacturing Services
Yuchai provides remanufacturing services for and relating to Yuchai’s diesel engines and components through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Yuchai Remanufacturing Services (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (“YRC”). YRC’s factory is located in the Suzhou Industrial Park in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.
New Energy Products
Yuchai has commenced the development program for new energy products, which included the new generation hybrid engine, full electric power and NEV power systems including fuel cell systems.
(a) |
Plug in hybrid engine |
The second-generation hybrid engine model, YCHPT II, was designed to address the growing customer demand for advanced hybrid engines. The engine adopts plug-in systems to charge the vehicles’ batteries, and it features an upgraded gearbox with an interchangeable 5-speed automatic and manual system.
The YCHPS hybrid engine compliant with National VI emission standards is the latest design incorporating the Yuchai gas engine with an ISG generator. The system can be operated in buses with hybrid or full electric operating systems with an external plug-in system. The system is designed for use in seven- to ten- meter coaches and buses.
(b) |
Range Extender |
Range extender power system combines a traditional diesel engine and an electric power system. Yuchai has launched the range extender power system for both truck and bus applications.
Range extender power system is available in the following power ratings and electric power output, including YCY24 engine+65 kW, YCS04 engine+100 kW, YCK05+150 kW, YCA08+200 kW and YCK11+300 kW.
(c) |
ISG power generation powertrain (“YC IE-Power”) |
A highly integrated motor-generator design that incorporates both motion and generation functions. The YC IE-Power directly couples the hybrid and power extender engine drive end for both vehicle motion and battery charging, depending on the vehicle’s operation and control.
(d) |
e-CVT power-split hybrid powertrain (“YC e-CVT”) |
A compact design for both truck and bus applications that integrates the vehicle transmission and motor-generator in a single module. The design can achieve improved fuel savings compared to traditional power systems.
(e) |
Integrated electric drive axel powertrain (“YC e-Axel”) |
A compact design integrating driving motor on wheel axle together with motor and vehicle control modules. The YC e-Axel can eliminate transmission loss that is common in traditional designs and save storage space in the chassis.
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(f) |
Fuel cell system (“YC FCS”) |
It is a high efficiency fuel cell system for truck and bus applications. The YC FCS fuel cell system with 90 kW design output has been installed on selected OEMs’ medium-duty coaches for running and performance testing. We are also developing a YC FCS fuel cell system with 120kW design output for both truck and bus applications, with a targeted commercial launch later in 2023. We also commenced in-house development of fuel stack technology that we target to begin introducing into YC FCS systems in 2024.
Sales
In 2022, according to CAAM, engine sales for commercial vehicles (excluding gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles) in China were approximately 2.0 million units, a decrease of 41.4% compared to 2021. Yuchai’s commercial vehicle engine sales in 2022 were 125,996 units, a decrease of 47.8% compared to 241,325 units in 2021. Yuchai’s total engine sales in 2022 were 321,256 units, a decrease of 29.7% compared to 456,791 units in 2021.
Light-duty engine sales in 2022 were 94,340 units, or 29.4% of total unit sales, compared to 27.8% in 2021, where light-duty engine sales were 127,202 units. Medium-duty engine sales were 162,018 units, or 50.4% of total unit sales, compared to 2021 where sales were 229,109 units or 50.2% of total unit sales. Heavy-duty engine sales were 58,336 units, or 18.2% of total sales units, compared to 2021 where sales were 99,680 units, or 21.8% of total unit sales.
In 2022, Yuchai sold approximately 5,352 natural gas engine units compared with approximately 7,934 units sold in 2021. The following table sets forth a breakdown of Yuchai’s sales by major product category for fiscal years 2020, 2021 and 2022:
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue | % of Revenue |
Unit Sold |
Revenue | % of Revenue |
Unit Sold |
Revenue | % of Revenue |
Unit Sold |
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RMB’000 | RMB’000 | RMB’000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Light-duty engines (1) |
2,356,168 | 11.5 | % | 115,389 | 2,429,745 | 11.4 | % | 127,202 | 1,910,923 | 11.9 | % | 94,340 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medium-duty engines (2) |
6,626,629 | 32.2 | % | 222,657 | 7,065,283 | 33.2 | % | 229,109 | 5,066,622 | 31.7 | % | 162,018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Heavy-duty engines (2) |
6,725,312 | 32.7 | % | 91,474 | 7,410,771 | 34.9 | % | 99,680 | 5,061,991 | 31.7 | % | 58,336 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other products and services(3) |
4,849,551 | 23.6 | % | 800 | 4,348,335 | 20.5 | % | 800 | 3,958,230 | 24.7 | % | 6,562 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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20,557,660 | 100.0 | % | 430,320 | 21,254,134 | 100.0 | % | 456,791 | 15,997,766 | 100.0 | % | 321,256 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Notes:
(1) |
Includes passenger car engines. |
(2) |
Includes natural gas engines. |
(3) |
Includes power generator sets, NEV products and others. |
Production
Yuchai’s primary manufacturing facilities are located in Yulin City in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The principal production land area currently occupies approximately 1.8 million square meters, including an existing production factory for all light-, medium- and heavy-duty engine models, a natural gas production facility, a high horse power marine diesel engine and power generator plant, a foundry and various testing and supporting facilities. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, the total production capacity of Yuchai (excluding Yuchai Xin-Lan) was approximately 633,000 units each year based on a 2.0 shift five-day week at 80% utilization rate. To comply with the National VI emission regulations implementation schedule, Yuchai has committed the investment on production equipment, either building the new lines or modifying the existing facilities tailored for National VI engines assembly. Yuchai has identified marine and power generator sets for its own production lines under Guangxi Yuchai Marine and Genset Power Co., Ltd. after the marine and power generator business and its assets were carved out from the Yuchai main operating entity. In addition, the new energy production capacity under Yuchai Xin-Lan is approximately 20,000 units.
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In 2022, we produced 296,767 units of engines. The following table sets forth the breakdown of Yuchai’s production at the Yulin facility by major product category for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022:
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Units | % of Units |
Units | % of Units |
Units | % of Units |
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Light-duty engines (1) |
118,430 | 28.1 | % | 128,000 | 28.3 | % | 90,315 | 30.5 | % | |||||||||||||||
Medium-duty engines (2) |
220,465 | 52.4 | % | 236,598 | 52.2 | % | 149,917 | 50.5 | % | |||||||||||||||
Heavy-duty engines (2) |
81,547 | 19.4 | % | 87,676 | 19.4 | % | 49,618 | 16.7 | % | |||||||||||||||
Other products and services(3) |
193 | 0.1 | % | 636 | 0.1 | % | 6,917 | 2.3 | % | |||||||||||||||
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420,635 | 100.0 | % | 452,910 | 100.0 | % | 296,767 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
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Notes:
(1) |
Includes passenger car engines. |
(2) |
Includes natural gas engines. |
(3) |
Includes power generator sets, NEV products and others |
Procurement
Yuchai manufactures engine blocks, cylinder heads, crankshaft, camshaft and certain other key parts. Third party suppliers provide the remaining engine parts. The production process involves the complete assembly and testing of the finished products. Yuchai’s procurement policy requires the same product to be sourced from at least two distinct sources. The same practice applies to all other externally procured engine parts. Yuchai is continually seeking to improve its procurement strategy by seeking new suppliers with competitive prices and quality.
Yuchai has progressively reduced its reliance on imported parts and components in recent years, in part due to an increasing number of international suppliers having local manufacturing and logistics capabilities in China. For instance, Yuchai’s fuel combustion equipment and its electronic control systems are purchased from the local factory of an international supplier operating in China.
Engine Block
Yuchai cast and molded more than 265,000 units of engine blocks in 2022, representing a large portion of its engine blocks used in production.
Raw Materials
Yuchai purchases raw materials, principally scrap steel and cast iron, from domestic suppliers. An increase in the prices of these raw materials would generally increase our costs of production. We have experienced volatility in the prices of raw materials in the past. See also “Item 3. Key Information — B. Risk Factors — If inflation continues to increase in China or elsewhere or if prices of energy, raw materials or components increase, we may not be able to pass the resulting increased costs on to our customers and this may adversely affect our profitability or cause us to suffer operating losses.”
Quality Assurance, Control and Safety
All raw materials, external supplied parts and components are checked for conformity with the required quality and specifications. Each stage of the production process is monitored by a quality control procedure and the final product undergoes standard conformity and specification testing using an automated testing laboratory. To promote the safety of its workers, Yuchai has established a safety department to supervise the proper use of equipment to prevent fire and explosions and promote safe practices and procedures in the workplace.
Manufacturing Capacity Expansion
Yuchai believes that the current production capacity of all engine lines will meet the expected demand. Yuchai is continuously assessing the market demand and devising production strategies to secure and meet new market opportunities.
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Research and Development
Yuchai has committed substantial resources to continually improve the technology of its products and maintain the competitiveness of its products. Yuchai’s internal development effort focuses primarily on designing new products, improving manufacturing processes and adapting foreign technology to the Chinese market. Yuchai has committed to continually improve the technology of its products by acquiring advanced technology from Chinese research institutes, international engine design consulting firms, as well as international diesel engine and engine parts manufacturers.
In 2020, Yuchai’s research and development efforts were mainly related to National VI emission standards compliant engine testing and calibration, to support domestic commercial vehicle OEMs on the launch of new emission regulation-compliant vehicles. Yuchai’s development of Tier-4 emission compliant engines is on-going and it is starting to deliver the prototype engines to selected off-road machinery OEMs. In addition, Yuchai launched two range extender power systems of 65 kW and 100 kW rating for new energy vehicles.
In 2021, Yuchai’s research and development efforts were mainly related to National VI emission standards compliant engine testing and application verification, to support domestic commercial vehicle OEMs to resolve application issues from commercial launching. Yuchai’s development of Tier-4 emission compliant engines is on-going. Most of Yuchai’s Tier-4 products had passed the certificate testing and prototype engines had been installed on OEM machinery for test running. Yuchai also launched its new energy project, the IE-Power system for heavy-duty agricultural market, and delivered the prototype 90kW full cell system to an OEM customer.
In 2022, Yuchai’s research and development efforts were focused on the upgrading of its National VI emission standard compliant engines in terms of engine performance and reduction of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). These initiatives are intended to build on the strong consumer confidence that Yuchai’s National VI compliant engines have gained since their release in 2021 while addressing competitive pressures in the industry. As the Tier-4 emission standards for the off-road market was implemented in December 2022, Yuchai developed a 300kW range extender power system for mining dumptrucks and a e-CVT hybrid system for city logistic trucks with refrigerated compartments. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Products and Product Development — Yuchai — New Energy Products” for more details. Yuchai also launched its new hydrogen engine YCK16H, a heavy-duty hydrogen combustion engine with a displacement volume of 15.9 litre and design output of 560hp. This is Yuchai’s second hydrogen combustion engine, following the launch of the YCK05H hydrogen engine in 2021.
As a result of its research and development efforts, Yuchai has a large patents portfolio with nearly 3,000 patents registered in China as of December 31, 2022. The types of patents that Yuchai has registered are invention patents, utility model patents and design patents. The term of patent protection is 10 or 20 years from the filing date depending on the type of patent registered.
Future Products
Yuchai believes that its long-term business prospects will largely depend upon its ability to develop and introduce new or improved products with higher quality and competitive pricing. Future products may utilize different technologies and may require knowledge of markets that Yuchai does not currently possess.
Yuchai intends to continue to work with international design consulting firms and international manufacturers for technological assistance in improving and developing its combustion engine products and new energy systems, and expects such cooperation to continue. The introduction of new engine products and new energy system will also require significant capital expenditures, such as purchases of international manufacturing equipment and technologies. See “Item 3. Key Information — B. Risk Factors — Competition in China from other diesel engine manufacturers may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects.”
Sales, Marketing and Services
Sales and Marketing
Yuchai distributes the majority of its engines directly to auto plants and agents from its primary manufacturing facilities in Yulin City. In addition, Yuchai operates a number of regional offices in major geographic regions in China. Yuchai provides a comprehensive range of services to its customers, including dispatching engineers to provide on-site assistance to major customers in the resolution of technical problems. Yuchai has 663 sales and marketing employees, the significant majority of whom are located in China.
Yuchai promotes its products primarily through exhibitions, internet and social media, participation in national and international events, and advertisements in industry journals and newspapers. In October 2019, Yuchai participated in the 70th Anniversary celebration of the founding of modern China with Yuchai engines propelling vehicles in the National Day parade in Beijing. In October 2021, Yuchai introduced a new smart powertrain system, IE-Power, for heavy-duty agricultural equipment at the 2021 China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition in Shandong, China.
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Yuchai has been sponsoring periodical programs for its customer service stations with information brochures and customer suggestion cards for the improvement of Yuchai’s service. These customer service stations form Yuchai’s service and maintenance network. In relation to those engines which are under warranty cover, these customer service stations perform the routine maintenance checks and repairs on end-users’ diesel engines free of charge to the customers, and the corresponding costs are borne by Yuchai. When the warranty expires, these customer service stations can continue to serve Yuchai clients at their own choice and costs.
Yuchai believes that its promotional efforts are unique for an automotive component company in China and lead to greater brand name recognition among end-users. Yuchai further believes that it leads its competitors in providing high quality after-sales services through its 3,335 authorized customer service stations in China. The customer service stations are independently owned and are able to provide emergency services to end-users within a 40-km radius in the central, eastern and southern parts of China.
Yuchai has continued to focus its sales efforts on retailers and end-users of diesel engines. Yuchai seeks to encourage end-users of gasoline engine trucks to replace their gasoline engines with Yuchai diesel engines by advertising the advantages of diesel engines. With the advent of a natural gas refueling network across the nation, customers have the additional option of using Yuchai’s natural gas engines.
In 2022, our sales to our top five customers accounted for 36.9% of our total revenue. Our top customer is a leading automobile manufacturer group in China. This group includes one of the largest automobile companies in China and other affiliated or controlled diesel truck manufacturers. In 2022, sales to our top customer as a group accounted for 15.3% of our total revenue. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Competition.”
As part of Yuchai’s credit procedures to control and manage its trade receivables, Yuchai may hold shipments for delivery if customers’ credit positions are not satisfactory or if customers have not made payments for earlier deliveries. There can be no assurance that such credit-controlling measures will successfully control Yuchai’s trade receivables balance, or that they will not adversely affect the future purchasing decisions of Yuchai’s customers. As of December 31, 2022, Yuchai had net trade and bills receivables of RMB 6,792.6 million (US$977.1 million), representing 39.7% of our consolidated current assets.
Export Sales
Most of Yuchai’s products that are exported outside of China are sold indirectly through third party distributors who purchase them from Yuchai and resell them on to end-users in subsequent and separate transactions. Yuchai exports a very small percentage of its products directly outside China, as the following table indicates:
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue | % of Revenue |
Unit Sales |
Revenue | % of Revenue |
Unit Sales |
Revenue | % of Revenue |
Unit Sales |
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RMB ’000 | RMB ’000 | RMB ’000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Domestic Sales |
20,502,173 | 99.7 | % | 428,371 | 21,206,280 | 99.8 | % | 454,917 | 15,886,210 | 99.3 | % | 319,335 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Direct Export Sales |
55,487 | 0.3 | % | 1,949 | 47,854 | 0.2 | % | 1,874 | 111,556 | 0.7 | % | 1,921 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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20,557,660 | 100.0 | % | 430,320 | 21,254,134 | 100.0 | % | 456,791 | 15,997,766 | 100.0 | % | 321,256 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Customer Service
Yuchai believes that customer service is an important part of maintaining its market competitiveness. In addition to various services provided initially at its sales offices, Yuchai has a nationwide network of authorized service stations in China that provide repair and maintenance services, spare parts, retrofitting services and training to Yuchai’s customers. To ensure a consistently high level of service, Yuchai trains the technicians at regional training centers or selected service stations. In addition, Yuchai also owns and operates repair training centers. The costs of any warranty-related services or repairs are borne by Yuchai, and all non-warranty activities are charged to customers. Yuchai’s customer service program emphasizes a fast turnaround time on repair requests. As part of this policy, Yuchai supplies authorized service stations with spare parts for repairs and require these service stations to provide on-site assistance at the customer’s place of business generally within 3 to 12 hours, depending on the customer’s location.
Yuchai provides certain warranties for both general repairs and maintenance service. Provisions for general repairs are determined and provided at fiscal year-end based upon historical warranty cost per unit of engines sold, adjusted for specific conditions that may arise and the number of engines under warranty at each fiscal year end.
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Yuchai established a new joint venture, Suzhou Yuxing Automobile Technology Co., Ltd., in May 2022 as a 30% owned joint venture of Yuchai’s subsidiary, Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Monopoly Development Co., Ltd. with certain engine services companies as its joint venture partners, to provide vehicle performance monitoring, vehicle and engine maintenance and repairs solutions. The joint venture is intended to initially serve vehicles with Yuchai engines, and in the future could expand its service to other diesel engines brands based on capacity and demand.
Trademarks
The GY Group owns and maintains the Chinese trademark registrations of its principal trademarks. Yuchai has entered into trademark license agreements with the GY Group according to which Yuchai has the right to use these trademarks. Yuchai believes that the Yuchai logo is well recognized as a quality brand in China.
Competition
The diesel engine industry in China is highly competitive. Yuchai believes it faces intense competition in the engine manufacturing industry across all of its engine platforms. The diesel engine market is fragmented and very price sensitive. Yuchai believes, based on internal studies, that competition is based primarily on performance, quality compliance with emission standards, price and after-sales service, and secondarily on noise, size and weight. Yuchai believes that its engines have a strong reputation among truck manufacturers and consumers for leading performance and reliability. In addition, Yuchai believes that its after-sales service to end-users of Yuchai engines, conducted through a nationwide network of authorized service stations and repair training centers in China, gives Yuchai a competitive advantage over other diesel engine producers.
Our top customer is a leading automobile manufacturer group in China and a major competitor of Yuchai. In 2022, our sales to our top five customers accounted for 36.9% of our total revenue. Some of Yuchai’s competitors have formed joint ventures with, or have technology assistance arrangements with, international diesel engine manufacturers or engine design consulting firms, and use foreign technology that is more advanced than Yuchai’s technology. Yuchai expects competition to intensify as a result of, among other things, improvements in competitors’ products, increased production capacity of competitors, increased utilization of unused capacity by competitors and price competition. Yuchai believes production capacity in the diesel engine industry has increased over the years which has further intensified competition. See “Item 3. Key Information — B. Risk Factors — Competition in China from other diesel engine manufacturers may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects.”
The ongoing development of full electric vehicles for both the bus and truck markets in China will continue to present a source of competition for Yuchai’s engines because of the replacement of public transit buses, which had been a major bus engine market for Yuchai in the past, with electric vehicle buses in most cities of China.
The introduction of full electric power systems for light- and medium-duty trucks has reduced demand for and sales of diesel engine trucks, especially in the logistics service truck market, as diesel trucks are restricted from entering the city centre in most of the tier 1 and tier 2 cities in China. In addition, a similar full electric power system has been launched for heavy-duty trucks in 2021 for short haul transportation.
The HLGE group
As of February 28, 2023, we had a 48.9% interest in the outstanding ordinary shares of HLGE. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — A. Overview — Business Expansion and Diversification Plan.” HLGE is listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Exchange. HLGE’s share price on the Singapore Exchange closed at S$0.25 on February 28, 2023. The core businesses of the HLGE group are that of hospitality operations and property development.
In October 2017, HLGE completed the disposal of its 60% equity interest in Copthorne Hotel Qingdao Co., Ltd. to Qingdao Haiyi Jun Zhuo Culture Travel Property Investment Co., Ltd. In November 2017, HLGE completed the disposal of its remaining hotel properties in China through the sale of all its shares in LKN Investment International Pte. Ltd. to an affiliate of Jingrui Holdings Limited. A portion of the proceeds from these disposals were used by the HLGE group to fully repay its debt obligations to us in the amount of S$68 million under a loan agreement. The original loan amount of S$93 million was granted to HLGE by a wholly-owned subsidiary of our company to refinance the outstanding zero coupon unsecured non-convertible bonds previously issued by HLGE, which matured on July 3, 2009. The loan amount was reduced to S$68 million through past repayments by HLGE.
The HLGE group wholly owns a Copthorne hotel in Cameron Highlands (Malaysia). Copthorne Hotel Cameron Highlands comprises 269 guest rooms and suites. It is the only hotel situated at the highest accessible point of Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. Located next to the hotel, is a Tudor-styled resort, where 66 units have been leased by the hotel from the owners of the resort for use by its guests. The resort comprises self-contained low-rise and high-rise apartment suites and each suite is equipped with a living room, a kitchenette and a balcony. To maintain its competitiveness, HLGE carries out renovation programs at CHCH from time to time as required.
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The HLGE group recorded pre-tax losses for five consecutive fiscal years from 2009 to 2013 and in fiscal year 2015. For fiscal year 2014, the HLGE group recorded a profit mainly due to the acquisition by its wholly-owned subsidiary of the remaining 55% equity interest in Augustland Hotel Sdn Bhd, which owned CHCH. For fiscal year 2016, the HLGE group recorded pre-tax profit. For fiscal year 2017, the HLGE group recorded a profit mainly due to its disposals of (i) the HLGE group’s 60% equity interest in Copthorne Hotel Qingdao Co., Ltd. to Qingdao Haiyi Jun Zhuo Culture Travel Property Investment Co Ltd; and (ii) the HLGE group’s entire interests in LKN Investment International Pte. Ltd. to an affiliate of Jingrui Holdings Limited. Previously, HLGE’s average daily market capitalization has fallen below the minimum threshold of S$40 million resulting in it being placed on the Watch-list of the Singapore Stock Exchange (“Watch-list”) on June 4, 2014, for failing to comply with the minimum criteria for continued listing. These factors in the past made it difficult for the HLGE group to obtaining financing from financial institutions. In March 2018, HLGE converted all of its existing issued and outstanding non-redeemable convertible cumulative preference shares into new ordinary shares of HLGE. On April 4, 2018, the Singapore Stock Exchange determined that HLGE met the Singapore Exchange’s Listing Manual criteria for exit from the Watch-list and removed HLGE from the Watch-list.
The HLGE group may require additional funds for its core businesses and to invest in future growth opportunities. There is no assurance that the HLGE group would be able to generate sufficient internal funds to finance its growth plans or identify and complete any potential merger and acquisition opportunities to grow its earnings base. Accordingly, the HLGE group may, depending on the cash flow requirements and financial condition, need to raise additional funds by issuing equity or a combination of equity and debt or by entering into strategic relationships or through other arrangements. Any additional equity financing by HLGE may dilute our equity interests in HLGE. Any debt financing may contain restrictive covenants with respect to dividends, future capital raising and other financial and operational matters. Failure to obtain sufficient funds to finance its growth plans may adversely affect the HLGE group’s business, financial performance and financial position.
For more information on risks relating to our investment in HLGE, see “Item 3. Key Information — B. Risk Factors — The HLGE group’s hotel ownership and management business may be adversely affected by risks inherent in the hotel industry.”
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C. |
Organizational Structure |
The following chart illustrates the organizational structure of the Company and Yuchai as of February 28, 2023 and is based on information generally known to the Company or otherwise disclosed in filings made with the SEC and the Singapore Exchange (see also “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — A. Major Shareholders”). This chart depicts the Company’s significant subsidiaries only. See Exhibit 8.1 for more information on the particulars of the Company’s subsidiaries.
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D. |
Regulatory and Related Matters |
Governance, Operation and Dissolution of Yuchai
Governance, operation and dissolution of Yuchai are governed by the FIL (as defined below), the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China which was initially promulgated on December 29, 1993 and other related laws and regulations, as well as by Yuchai’s Articles of Association. A revision draft of the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China was published on December 24, 2021 for public comments but has not yet become effective. Yuchai is subject to the relevant PRC labor laws and regulations with respect to labor management, which is overseen by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. In accordance with these laws and regulations, management may hire and discharge employees and make other determinations with respect to wages, welfare, insurances and employee discipline. Chinese laws and regulations applicable to a Sino-foreign joint stock company require that, before Yuchai distributes profits, it must: (i) satisfy all tax liabilities; (ii) recover losses in previous years; and (iii) make contributions to statutory reserve fund in an amount equal to at least 10% of net income for the year determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in China, or PRC GAAP. However, the allocation of statutory reserve fund will not be further required once the accumulated amount of such fund reaches 50% of the registered capital of Yuchai.
On March 15, 2019, a new foreign investment law was adopted (“FIL”). Upon its effectiveness on January 1, 2020, the existing Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Venture Law, the Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise Law and the Sino-Foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations, have been repealed and the FIL has become the legal foundation regulating FIEs. The FIL grants national treatment to foreign-invested entities, except for those foreign-invested entities that operate in industries specified as either “restricted” or “prohibited” from foreign investment in a “negative list”. Yuchai is governed by the FIL and related implementing rules. See also “Item 3. Key Information — B. Risk Factors — Questions on the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us.”
Pursuant to Chinese law and Yuchai’s Articles of Association, Yuchai may be dissolved upon the occurrence of certain events, including force majeure, severe losses, lack of supply of necessary materials or other events that render Yuchai unable to continue its operations. Upon dissolution, Yuchai will form a liquidation committee. Final dissolution is subject to government review and approval.
During 2003, we believe affiliates of the GY Group caused various Chinese government agencies to raise allegations of irregularities regarding the status of our ownership of and rights of control over Yuchai, which we believe was intended to try to limit our rights to exercise control over Yuchai. We further believe that such allegations were based on an inaccurate understanding of the structure of our ownership of Yuchai. We also believe that Yuchai’s ownership structure was validly approved by the relevant Chinese authorities, and that the shares of Yuchai held by our six wholly-owned subsidiaries are legally and validly held under Chinese law. We obtained legal opinions from two Chinese law firms confirming these matters (see the reports on Form 6-K filed by the Company with the SEC on April 1, 2005). We also took steps to communicate to the relevant Chinese government agencies the reasons for our position with respect to these matters. We implemented the July 2003 Agreement, the Reorganization Agreement, as amended, and the Cooperation Agreement to resolve the issues raised by the various Chinese governmental agencies relating to our share ownership in Yuchai and the continued corporate governance and other difficulties which we have had from time to time with respect to Yuchai. Based upon the above-mentioned legal opinions, we believe that in the event of a future dispute with the Chinese stakeholders at Yuchai, we expect to pursue as appropriate legal remedies in appropriate jurisdictions to seek to enforce our legal rights as the majority shareholder with a controlling financial interest in Yuchai to protect our investment for our benefit and the benefit of our shareholders. See also “Item 3. Key Information — B. Risk Factors.”
E. |
Property, Plant and Equipment |
Yuchai’s headquarters and primary manufacturing facilities are located in Yulin City in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Yuchai has the right to use approximately two million square meters of land, which is currently used primarily for the production of diesel engines, natural gas engines and employee housing. The principal production land area for the manufacture of diesel and natural gas engines currently occupies approximately 1.8 million square meters, including the existing production factories for all light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty engine models, a natural gas testing facility, a high horse power marine diesel engine and power generation engine plant, phases one, two and three of a foundry and various testing and supporting facilities. In addition, Yuchai leases a number of regional sales offices in China. For the year ended December 31, 2020, Yuchai’s total production capacity was approximately 626,000 units, and for both years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, the total production capacity of Yuchai (excluding Yuchai Xin-Lan) was approximately 633,000 units each year, based on a 2.0 shift five-day week at 80% utilization rate. Yuchai performs periodic maintenance and upgrading of production facilities. Yuchai also commits a significant portion of its annual capital expenditure for maintenance and upgrading to meet safety and production requirements. Yuchai is potentially exposed to varying environmental or natural disaster risks and could experience business interruptions, damage to its facilities and loss of life, all of which could have a material adverse effect on Yuchai’s business, financial condition and results of operations. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Products and Product Development — Yuchai — Production.”
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F. |
Environmental Matters |
Yuchai expects that environmental standards and their enforcement in China will, as in many other countries, become more stringent over time, especially as technical advances make achievement of higher standards feasible. On January 18, 2016, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or MIIT and the Ministry of Environmental Protection required that all light-duty petrol vehicles, light-duty diesel buses, and heavy-duty diesel vehicles (for the purposes of public transportation, environmental sanitation and postal services) must comply with National V emission standards from January 1, 2017. All heavy- and light-duty diesel vehicles nationwide were required to comply with National V emission standards from July 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018, respectively. In June 2018, the MEE announced that all diesel powered heavy-duty vehicles must comply with the National VI emission standards in different phases: (a) natural gas engines driven heavy-duty vehicles are required to comply with the National VIa emission standards from July 1, 2019, and the National VIb emission standards from January 1, 2021; (b) diesel engine driven municipal vehicles are required to comply with the National VIa emission standards from July 1, 2020, and all diesel driven heavy-duty vehicles are to comply with the National VIa emission standards from July 1, 2021; and (c) all diesel driven heavy-duty vehicles are required to comply with the National VIb emission standards from July 1, 2023. In December 2020, MEE announced the approval of Tier-4 emission standard and any off-road machinery (below 560 kW) that does not comply with the Tier-4 emission standard is prohibited for production, import and selling in China from December 2022.
We are subject to Chinese national and local environmental protection regulations, which currently impose fees for the discharge of waste substances, require the payment of fines for pollution, and provide for the closure of any facility that fails to comply with orders requiring us to cease or improve upon certain activities causing environmental damage. Due to the nature of our business, we produce certain amounts of waste water, gas and solid waste materials during the course of our production. Yuchai has set up a sewage disposal system that meets national environmental discharge standards to process polluted water generated during production. In accordance with applicable regulations, sewage processing data and results of sewage treatment will be uploaded in real time to an online platform operated by the Ecology and Environment Department of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Polluted water will only be discharged upon confirmation that it meets the national standards. Yuchai delivers solid waste products to qualified third-party waste disposal sites to dispose and makes payments in respect thereof. For those recyclable waste such as foundry sand, third-party disposal sites with qualification would be engaged for recycling treatment to reduce waste of resources. In addition, Yuchai has also built treatment and filter systems for dust, fumes, panting and noise, respectively, to reduce the pollution resulting from Yuchai’s production. We believe our environmental protection facilities and systems are adequate for us to comply with the existing national, provincial and local environmental protection regulations. However, Chinese national, provincial or local authorities may impose additional or more stringent regulations which would require additional expenditure on environmental matters or changes in our processes or systems. See “Item 3. Key Information — B. Risk Factors — Risk Related to our Business and Industry — We are subject to increasingly stringent policies and regulations related to the environment, climate change, and employee health and safety.”
ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
As of the date of filing of this Annual Report, we have no unresolved comments from the SEC.
ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ significantly from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause future results to differ significantly from those projected in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report. Our consolidated financial statements and the financial information discussed below have been prepared in accordance with IFRS.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, our main business has been our 76.4% ownership interest in Yuchai. As a result, our financial condition and results of operations have depended primarily upon Yuchai’s financial condition and results of operations.
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A. |
Overview |
The Chinese economy continued to face challenges in 2022 as GDP growth slumped to 3.0% compared with 8.4% growth in 2021. Industrial production growth was a modest 3.6% with real estate investment 10.0% lower than 2022 and stagnant retail sales at 0.2% lower than 2022. According to data reported by the CAAM, the total industry unit sales of commercial vehicles (excluding gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles) declined by 41.4% year-over-year to 2.0 million units in 2022. A number of factors contributed to lower commercial vehicle sales in 2022, including new waves of COVID-19 cases leading to regional lockdowns, restrictions on travel and supply chains disruptions, a decline in infrastructure and construction activities, a shortage of critical semiconductor chips and lower real estate market activity due to reduced financial liquidity and policy uncertainties. The combination of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions and the struggling real estate market adversely impacted consumer confidence in 2022.
In this challenging Chinese commercial vehicle environment in 2022, our main subsidiary, Yuchai, reported a unit sales reduction of 29.7% year-over-year to a total of 321,256 units. Our combined truck and bus engine unit sales declined by 47.8% year-over-year in 2022. Off-road engine unit sales declined by 9.8% year-over-year, which was driven by a 30.8% sales reduction in marine and power generation units as power generators sales were very strong in 2021 due to power shortages within China. Agricultural unit engine sales declined by 0.9% year-over-year in 2022. New energy product sales climbed to 6,327 units in 2022 compared with 501 units in 2021.
In response to the market landscape, Yuchai lowered production costs, which together with our cost cutting initiatives led to a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses by 8.2% in 2022. Total R&D expenditures including capitalized costs were reduced to RMB 1.0 billion (US$ 146.4 million) in 2022 from RMB 1.2 billion in 2021, however, we intend to continue to increase our initiatives towards the development of New Energy Vehicle (“NEV”) technologies to accelerate our product development in the future.
Yuchai has successfully developed and introduced a portfolio of engines compliant with the mandated stricter National VIa emission standards and the even stricter National VIb emission standards which are scheduled for implementation in July 2023. In addition, Yuchai has developed a complete range of Tier-4 compliant off-road products, which were launched prior to the Tier-4 emission standards being enforced on December 1, 2022.
With the establishment of Yuchai Xin-Lan in 2021, Yuchai entered into a new stage of NEV development in 2022. After introducing its first hydrogen engine for commercial vehicles in 2021, Yuchai introduced a new heavy-duty hydrogen engine, the YCK16H engine, in 2022. Yuchai Xin-Lan’s new 3.5-ton electric drive axle has been successfully integrated for the first time into EV light-duty buses, which represents a new market for future growth. More than 600 units of Yuchai range extenders were ordered for the Macau auto market and Yuchai hybrid engines have been installed in the 10-meter gas-electric hybrid buses produced by the largest bus producer in China, Yutong Group, in use in the public transportation of the City of Nanning.
Better financial results at our associates and joint ventures helped profitability in 2022. While a loss of RMB 29.1 million (US$ 4.2 million) was recorded for these operations, that represented an almost 70% improvement over a loss of RMB 95.9 million in 2021. Our share of higher profits at our MTU Yuchai operations and lower losses at Y&C were the primary contributors to the improvement. MTU Yuchai reached a milestone of producing its 1,000th unit of its flagship MTU Series 4000 high-horsepower diesel engines in March 2022.
Our gross profit margin increased to 15.9% in the first half of 2022 and to 17.0% in the second half of 2022. While gross profit declined by 10.9% year-over-year in 2022, our gross margin increased to 16.4% compared with 13.9% in 2021 and 15.5% in 2020. Our profit attributable to equity holders of the Company was RMB 218.6 million (US$ 31.4 million) for 2022, lower than RMB 272.7 million for 2021 and RMB 548.9 million for 2020.
Uncertainties related to the magnitude, duration and persistent effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to adversely affect our business. The Chinese automotive industry continues to be highly competitive in light of increased demand for, and regulatory policies in support of, alternative fuel vehicles. Our ability to successfully compete in our industry will be fundamental to our future success in our existing and new markets. See “Item 3. Key Information – B. Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Business and Industry” for further details.
COVID-19 Pandemic: Response and Impact
Since December 2019, an outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) spread rapidly in China and globally. To contain the spread of COVID-19, the Chinese government took a number of actions, which included quarantining individuals infected with or suspected of having contracted COVID-19, restrictions on accessing public transport and places, cancelling public activities, controlling domestic travel and imposing lockdowns, among others. The COVID-19 resulted in temporary closure of many manufacturing facilities and factories across China. To the extent we have production or manufacturing activities based in these locations, or our suppliers are located in these locations, we are susceptible to factors adversely affecting one or more of these locations as a result of COVID-19. Since December 2022, China has relaxed its stringent measures to constrain COVID-19. Although most of the restrictions related to COVID-19 have been eased, uncertainty continues to exist regarding such measures and potential future measures.
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Yuchai took preventative measures in accordance with government guidance, such as increased sanitization and disinfecting in the workplace and production workshop, social distancing, wearing of masks and temperature taking before entering the workplace, remote working and meetings. Yuchai also took various cost and cash flow mitigation measures to counter the negative impact of COVID-19, such as reducing or eliminating discretionary spending in certain areas such as marketing, non-essential training or capital expenditures and streamlining of staffing. The Chinese government has announced a range of relief policy measures to support companies in China amid the COVID-19 pandemic. These include deferred tax payments, reducing rent, waiving administrative fees, subsidizing research and development costs, social insurance subsidies, and lowering lending rates. These measures have partially offset the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Yuchai’s operations.
As a result of the COVID-19, normal economic life throughout China was sharply curtailed and there were disruptions to normal operation of business in various areas, including the manufacturing and sales of vehicles in China. Yuchai’s operations and those of its suppliers are predominantly based in China and therefore have been adversely affected. The shortage of component supply during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in postponement of delivery or customer order cancellation, which has a negative impact on our engine sales and operation profit. Logistic constrains and labor inefficiencies have limited our ability to deliver orders and meet customer demand especially during occasional lockdowns. Although situations have been improved as China has loosened the COVID restrictions, we cannot foresee the development of the virus which may result in uncertainty as to our business and results of operations.
China’s economic growth had experienced COVID-related ups and downs in the past three years, demonstrated by the GDP which slumped from 5.95% in 2019 to 2.24% in 2020, then bounced back to 8.4% in 2021 and plunged to 3.0% in 2022. Fluctuations were also witnessed in the market demand in our industry. As China’s management of COVID-19 saw a dramatic transformation toward the end of 2022, China’s economy is expected to rebound in 2023. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing and its dynamic nature makes it difficult to forecast the pandemic’s effects on the results of our operations in subsequent years. See also “Item 3. Key Information — B. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry – Outbreaks of communicable diseases may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.”
Business Expansion and Diversification Plan
Following the implementation of our business expansion and diversification plan as approved by our Board of Directors in 2005, we looked for new business opportunities to reduce our financial dependence on Yuchai and invested in the following companies:
Thakral Corporation Ltd
The first step in implementing this plan occurred in March 2005 when through VDL, we acquired a 15.0% equity interest in TCL. As of December 2009, our equity interest in TCL was 34.4%. The TCL group invests directly or with co-investors in real estate and other investment opportunities which include property-backed financial instruments. Since fiscal year 2010, we have gradually reduced our equity interest in TCL. As of December 31, 2022, we have fully disposed of our shareholding interest in TCL.
HL Global Enterprises Limited
The second step in the implementation of our business expansion and diversification plan occurred in February 2006 when we acquired a 29.1% equity interest in HLGE and certain convertible preference and debt securities through two wholly-owned subsidiaries for an aggregate consideration of approximately S$132.0 million.
On January 13, 2012, our wholly-owned subsidiary, Grace Star Services Limited (“Grace Star”) transferred 24,189,170 Series B redeemable convertible preference shares in the capital of HLGE (the “Trust Preference Shares”) to Amicorp Trustees (Singapore) Limited (the “Trustee”) pursuant to a trust deed entered into between HLGE and the Trustee (the “Trust”). On January 16, 2012, the Trust Preference Shares were mandatorily converted into 24,189,170 new ordinary shares in the capital of HLGE (the “Trust Shares”) resulting in our shareholding interest in HLGE decreasing from 49.4% to 48.1%. On April 4, 2012, as a result of the conversion of all the outstanding Series A redeemable convertible preference shares held by our wholly-owned subsidiaries, VDL and Grace Star, into new ordinary shares in the capital of HLGE, our shareholding interest in HLGE increased from 48.1% to 48.9%.
The Trust Shares are accounted for as treasury shares by HLGE as they are issued by HLGE and held by the Trust, which is considered as part of HLGE. As a result, based on the total outstanding ordinary shares of HLGE net of the Trust Shares, our shareholding interest in HLGE is stated as 50.2% for accounting purposes in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022. However, these Trust Shares are not regarded as treasury shares under the Singapore Companies Act, Chapter 50, and the Trustee has the power, inter alia, to vote or abstain from voting in respect of the Trust Shares at any general meeting of HLGE in its absolute discretion and to waive its right to receive dividends in respect of the Trust Shares as it deems fit. Accordingly, based on the total outstanding ordinary shares of HLGE including the Trust Shares, our shareholding interest in HLGE is 48.9% as of December 31, 2022 and February 28, 2023. We consolidate the results of HLGE as a subsidiary of our company. See Note 1.3 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements in Item 18.
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B. |
Results of Operations |
The following table sets forth our consolidated statement of operations as a percentage of our revenue for the last three fiscal years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022:
Percentage of Revenue Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||||||
Revenue |
100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||
Cost of sales |
-84.5 | % | -86.1 | % | -83.6 | % | ||||||
Gross profit |
15.5 | % | 13.9 | % | 16.4 | % | ||||||
Other operating income, net |
1.8 | % | 1.5 | % | 2.1 | % | ||||||
Research and development expenses |
-3.0 | % | -4.0 | % | -5.2 | % | ||||||
Selling, distribution and administrative expenses |
-8.6 | % | -8.3 | % | -10.1 | % | ||||||
Operating profit |
5.7 | % | 3.1 | % | 3.2 | % | ||||||
Finance costs |
-0.7 | % | -0.5 | % | -0.6 | % | ||||||
Share of results of associates and joint ventures, net of tax |
-0.3 | % | -0.5 | % | -0.1 | % | ||||||
Profit before tax |
4.7 | % | 2.1 | % | 2.5 | % | ||||||
Income tax expense |
-0.9 | % | -0.2 | % | -0.4 | % | ||||||
Profit for the year |
3.8 | % | 1.9 | % | 2.1 | % | ||||||
Attributable to: |
||||||||||||
Equity holders of the Company |
2.7 | % | 1.3 | % | 1.4 | % | ||||||
Non-controlling interests |
1.1 | % | 0.6 | % | 0.7 | % |
2022 compared to 2021
Revenue for 2022 was RMB 16,030.6 million (US$2,305.9 million) compared with RMB 21,265.9 million in 2021, a decrease of 24.6%. The total number of diesel engines sold by Yuchai in 2022 was 321,256 units compared with 456,791 units in 2021, representing a decrease of 135,535 units, or 29.7%, primarily due to weakness in the truck and bus markets, and the markets of marine and power generation engines. According to CAAM, sales of commercial vehicles (excluding gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles) decreased by 41.4% in 2022, as sales of trucks declined by 42.9% while sales of buses decreased by 27.1%. The impact of COVID-19 restrictions and related supply chain disruptions affected conditions in China and foreign markets.
Cost of sales was comprised of direct material costs, direct labor costs, and direct and indirect production overheads such as wages, depreciation and amortization. Material costs represented approximately 74.8% of revenue in 2022 compared to 77.4% in 2021.
Gross profit was RMB 2,630.7 million (US$378.4 million) in 2022, a decrease of 10.9% from RMB 2,952.1 million in 2021. The gross profit margin was 16.4% in 2022 compared with 13.9% in 2021. The increase in gross margin was mainly attributable to a change in revenue mix with off-road revenue as a greater proportion of the total revenue, and lower sales rebates.
Other operating income, net was RMB 336.8 million (US$48.4 million) in 2022, an increase of 6.5% from RMB 316.2 million in 2021. The increase was mainly due to higher government grants.
R&D expenses decreased by 1.5% to RMB 836.4 million (US$120.3 million) compared with RMB 848.8 million in 2021. We continued our initiatives to improve engine performances and the qualities of our engines compliant with China’s National VI and Tier-4 emission standards, and to develop new energy products. In 2022, total R&D expenditures including capitalized costs were RMB 1,017.6 million (US$146.4 million) compared with RMB 1,162.4 million in 2021, representing 6.4% of the revenue compared with 5.5% in 2021.
SG&A expenses were RMB 1,611.7 million (US$231.8 million) in 2022 compared with RMB 1,756.0 million in 2021, a decrease of 8.2%. These expenses represented 10.1% of revenue compared with 8.3% in 2021. The decrease was mainly due to lower freight, personnel and warranty expenses.
As a result, operating profit decreased by 21.7% to RMB 519.3 million (US$74.7 million) in 2022 from RMB 663.5 million in 2021. Operating margin was 3.2% in 2022 compared with 3.1% in 2021.
Finance costs decreased by 17.6% to RMB 95.5 million (US$13.7 million) in 2022 from RMB 115.9 million in 2021.
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The share of financial results of associates and joint ventures was a loss of RMB 29.1 million (US$4.2 million) in 2022 compared with a loss of RMB 95.9 million in 2021. The decreased loss was primarily attributable to the higher profit at the MTU Yuchai and the share of lower losses at Y&C.
Profit before tax was RMB 394.7 million (US$56.8 million) in 2022 compared with RMB 451.7 million in 2021.
Income tax expense in 2022 was RMB 59.1 million (US$8.5 million) compared with RMB 43.8 million in 2021.
As a result of the foregoing factors, profit for the year was RMB 335.7 million (US$48.3 million) in 2022 compared with RMB 407.9 million in 2021, representing a decrease of 17.7%.
Net profit attributable to our shareholders decreased by 19.8% to RMB 218.6 million (US$31.4 million) compared with RMB 272.7 million in 2021.
2021 compared to 2020
Revenue for 2021 was RMB 21,265.9 million compared with RMB 20,581.2 million in 2020, an increase of 3.3%. The total number of diesel engines sold by Yuchai in 2021 was 456,791 units compared with 430,320 units in 2020, representing an increase of 26,471 units, or 6.2%, primarily due to higher engine sales in the bus engine markets, passenger vehicles engine sales, and off-road application, particularly agriculture engines, and engines used for marine and power generation application, which more than offset the unit sales decline for truck engines. According to CAAM, sales of commercial vehicles (excluding gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles) decreased by 6.9% compared to 2020, as unit sales of trucks declined by 8.7% while unit sales of buses rose by 13.7%.
Cost of sales was comprised of direct material costs, direct labor costs, and direct and indirect production overheads such as wages, depreciation and amortization. Material costs represented approximately 77.4% of revenue in 2021 compared to 75.3% in 2020.
Gross profit was RMB 2,952.1 million in 2021, a decrease of 7.4% from RMB 3,189.6 million in 2020. The gross profit margin was 13.9% in 2021 compared with 15.5% in 2020. The lower gross margin in 2021 was primarily attributable to a change in revenue mix, transition to National VI compliant engines and higher material costs but was partially mitigated by cost reductions during the year.
Other operating income, net was RMB 316.2 million in 2021, a decrease of 16.6% from RMB 378.9 million in 2020. The decrease was mainly due to lower government grants and reduced bank interest income compared with 2020.
R&D expenses increased by 35.5% to RMB 848.8 million compared with RMB 626.5 million in 2020, primarily due to lower capitalization of the R&D expenses. We continued our initiatives to improve engine performances and qualities of engines compliant with China’s National VI and Tier-4 emission standards, and to develop products for new energy vehicles. In 2021, total R&D expenditures including capitalized costs were RMB 1,162.4 million, representing 5.5% of revenue in 2021, compared with RMB 1,157.3 million, representing 5.6% of revenue in 2020.
SG&A expenses were RMB 1,756.0 million in 2021 compared with RMB 1,760.0 million in 2020, a slight decrease of 0.2%. These expenses represented 8.3% of revenue compared with 8.6% in 2020.