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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Accounting principles

The consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“USGAAP”).

 

Preparation of financial statements

The Company had negative working capital of US$38,937,000 as of March 31, 2012 and incurred loss of US$15,742,000 for the year ended March 31, 2012. These conditions raised substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as going concern.

 

Continuation of the Company as a going concern is dependent upon attaining profitable operations in the future, exercising tight cost and cash flow controls measures, and the financial support from a controlling stockholder of Chisen Electric. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

The controlling stockholder had undertaken to make available adequate funds to the Company as and when required to maintain the Company as a going concern. Having taken into consideration the undertaking provided by the controlling stockholder, management believes that the Company will be able to settle its liabilities when they become due. However, there can be no assurance that the financing from the controlling stockholder will be continued.

 

Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the financial information of Chisen Electric and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.

 

Revenue recognition

Operating revenue represents sale of goods at invoiced value to customers, net of returns, discounts, rebates and value-added tax (“VAT”), and is recognized when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of goods have been transferred to customers, the sales price to the customers is fixed or determinable and the collectability of consideration is reasonably assured.

 

The Company recognizes revenue when goods are delivered to customers. The Company assesses whether the selling price is fixed or determinable based on the contract and/or customer purchase order and payment terms associated with the transaction and whether the sale price is subject to refund or adjustment. The Company assesses collectability based primarily on the creditworthiness of the customer as determined by the credit analysis, as well as the customer’s payment history.

 

Volume-based rebates are made at the time of sales of goods and are recognized as a reduction of sales.

 

Costs related to shipping and handling are included in selling, marketing and distribution expenses.

 

Segmental information

During the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, all revenue of the Company represented income from sales of sealed lead-acid batteries and related components, and therefore no financial information by business segment is presented. Furthermore, as all revenue is derived from the PRC, no geographical segment information is presented.

 

Research and development costs

All costs of research and development activities are generally expensed as incurred. Research and development costs were US$2,104,000 and US$1,065,000 for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Advertising and promotion costs

Advertising and promotion costs are expensed as sales, marketing and distribution costs as incurred. Advertising costs were US$908,000 and US$636,000 for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Shipping and handling costs

Shipping and handling costs are expensed as sales, marketing and distribution costs as incurred. Shipping costs were US$3,749,000 and US$5,472,000 for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Retirement plan costs

Contributions to defined contribution retirement schemes are charged to cost of sales, sales, marketing and distribution costs and general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive income as and when the related employee services are provided. Retirement plan costs were US$2,541,000 and US$808,000 for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Income taxes

The Company provides for income taxes using the liability method. Under the liability method, current income tax expense or benefit is the amount of income taxes expected to be payable or refundable for the current period.

 

A deferred income tax asset or liability is computed for the expected future impact of differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax credits. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

 

Tax rate changes are reflected in the computation of the income tax provision during the period such changes are enacted.

 

Under the provision of ASC 740 Income Taxes, tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% of being realized on examination by the tax authority. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded.

 

Comprehensive income

ASC Topic 220, "Reporting Comprehensive Income", requires the presentation of comprehensive income, in addition to the existing statements of operations. Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity during the year from transactions and other events, excluding the changes resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, and is not included in the computation of income tax expense or benefit. Accumulated comprehensive income consists of changes in unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency translation.

 

Available-for-sale financial assets

The Company’s available-for-sale financial assets consist of investment in unlisted equity securities and are recorded at cost.

 

The Company periodically assesses whether its investment in non-marketable equity securities are impaired and if any impairment is other than temporary. Factors considered in assessing whether an impairment is other than temporary include the credit quality of the investment, the duration of the impairment, the Company’s ability and intent to hold the investment until recovery and overall economic conditions. A decline in value of these securities below cost that is deemed to be other than temporary results in an impairment charge to earnings that reduces the carrying amount of the securities to fair value establishing a new cost basis.

 

The Company principally takes into account the financial information of the investee and investment returns for the purpose of identifying potential impairment.

 

Property, plant and equipment (“PPE”) and long-term land lease prepayments

PPE are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation, and include expenditure that substantially increases the useful lives of existing assets.

The cost of an asset comprises its purchase price and any directly attributable costs of bringing the asset to its present working condition and location for its intended use. Expenditures incurred after the assets have been put into operation, such as repairs and maintenance, overhaul and minor renewals and betterments, are normally charged to operating expenses in the period in which they are incurred.  In situations where it can be clearly demonstrated that the expenditure has resulted in an increase in the future economic benefits expected to be obtained from the use of the assets, the expenditure is capitalized.

 

Depreciation is provided, on a straight-line basis, to write off the cost less accumulated depreciation of each PPE item at rates based on their estimated useful lives from the date on which they become fully operational and after taking into account their estimated residual values as follows:

 

Buildings 20 years
Leasehold improvements Over the unexpired term of lease
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment 10 years
Motor vehicles 5 years
Plant and machinery 10 years

 

When assets are sold or retired, their costs and accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the consolidated financial statements and any gain or loss resulting from their disposal is recognized in the period of disposition as an element of other income.

 

Construction-in-progress consists of factories and office buildings under construction and machinery pending installation and includes the costs of construction, machinery and equipment, and any interest charges arising from borrowings used to finance these assets during the period of construction or installation. No provision for depreciation is made on construction-in-progress until such time the relevant assets are completed and ready for their intended use.

 

Long-term land lease prepayments are amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of lease.

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

Long-lived assets are reviewed at least annually for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. It is reasonably possible that these assets could become impaired as a result of technology or other industry changes. Determination of recoverability of assets to be held and used is by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to future net undiscounted cash flows to be generated by the assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, impairment is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets and recorded as a reduction of original costs. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.

 

Trading securities

The Company’s trading securities consist of listed investment funds which are measured at fair values using quoted prices in active markets, with any resultant gain and loss recognized in net other income in the consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive income.

 

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Management compares the cost of inventories with the market value, and allowance is made for writing down the inventories to market value.

 

Trade receivables and allowance for doubtful accounts

The allowance for the risk of non-collection of trade receivables takes into account credit-risk concentration. Collective debt risk is assessed based on average historical losses and specific circumstances such as serious adverse economic conditions. The Company’s estimate is based on a variety of factors, including historical collection experience, existing economic conditions and a review of the current status of the receivables. Trade receivables are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of US$6,000 and US$6,000 as of March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash represents cash on hand and deposits with financial institutions which are repayable on demand. Cash equivalents represent short-term, highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less, which are readily convertible into known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

 

Foreign currency translation

Items included in the financial statements of the Company’s major subsidiaries operating in the PRC are measured using Renminbi (“RMB”), the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (“functional currency”). The consolidated financial statements are presented in United States Dollars (“US$”), which is the Company’s presentation currency.

 

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognized in the income statement.

 

On consolidation, the results and financial position of all the group entities that have a functional currency different from the presentation currency are translated as follows:

 

(a) assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented are translated at the closing rate at the date of that balance sheet;
(b) income and expenses for each statement of operations are translated at average exchange rates;
(c) all resulting exchange differences are recognized as a separate component of equity.

 

Fair value of financial instruments

The ASC Topic 825, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments”, requires that the Company discloses estimated fair value of financial instruments. The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheets for current assets and current liabilities qualifying as financial instruments are a reasonable estimate of fair value.

 

Fair value measurements

ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels are defined as follows:

 

Level 1: Observable inputs, such as unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for the identical asset or liabilities.

 

Level 2: Inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.

 

Level 3: Unobservable inputs reflecting the entity’s own assumptions in measuring the asset or liability at fair value.

 

The Company’s financial instruments consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, restricted bank balances, other financial assets, trade receivables and payables, deposits, prepayment and other receivables, notes payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, amount due from/to related parties and short-term borrowings which are carried at amounts that generally approximate their fair values because of the short-term maturity of these instruments.

 

The Company’s trading securities are measured at fair value on recurring basis. The trading securities are listed on a stock exchange in the PRC with quoted price in active market (Level 1 inputs).

 

Warranty

Estimated warranty costs are recognized at the time when the Company sells its products and are included in sale, marketing and distribution expenses. The Company uses historical failure rates and costs to repair product defects during the warranty period to estimate warranty costs, which are reviewed periodically in light of actual experience. The carrying amounts of estimated warranty costs were included in accrued expenses and other accrued liabilities as of March 31, 2012 and 2011. The reconciliation of the changes in the warranty obligation is as follows:

 

    Years ended March 31,  
    2012     2011  
    US$’000     US$’000  
             
Balance as of April 1,     301       226  
Exchange realignment     22       12  
Accrual for warranties issued during the year     3,093       948  
Settlement made during the year     (2,198 )     (885 )
                 
Balance as of March 31,     1,218       301  

 

Government subsidies

Government subsidies are recognized as income over the periods necessary to match them with the related costs. Subsidies related to expense items are recognized in the same period as those expenses are charged in the consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive income and are reported as other income.

 

Operating leases

Leases where substantially all the rewards and risks of ownership of assets remain with the leasing company are accounted for as operating leases. Rental payables under operating leases are recognized as expenses on the straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

Use of estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires the management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. The management evaluates these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis and bases their estimates on experience, current and expected future conditions, third-party evaluations and various other assumptions that they believe are reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities as well as identifying and assessing the accounting treatment with respect to commitments and contingencies.

 

Actual amounts could differ from those estimates. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, the accounting for certain items such as allowance for doubtful accounts, depreciation and amortization, inventory allowance, taxes and contingencies.

 

Related parties

Parties are considered to be related if one party has the ability, directly or indirectly, to control the other party or exercise significant influence over the other party in making financial and operating decisions. Parties are also considered to be related if they are subject to common control or common significant influence.

 

(Losses) Earnings per share

Basic (losses) earnings per share are computed by dividing (loss) income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common stocks outstanding during the year. Diluted (losses) earnings per share are computed similar to basic (losses) earnings per share except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common stocks that would have been outstanding if the potential common shares had been issued and if the potential common shares were dilutive. Since there were no potentially dilutive securities for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, basic and diluted (losses) earnings per share are the same for both years. As a result of a forward stock split in November 2011, the calculation of basic and diluted (losses) earnings per common stock for all years presented are adjusted retrospectively.

 

Recent accounting pronouncements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-04, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRSs")." Under ASU 2011-04, the guidance amends certain accounting and disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements to ensure that fair value has the same meaning in U.S. GAAP and in IFRSs and that their respective fair value measurement and disclosure requirements are the same. ASU 2011-04 is effective for public companies during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption by public entities is not permitted. The Company does not believe that the adoption of ASU 2011-04 will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results of operation and financial condition.

 

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, "Comprehensive Income (ASC Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income," ("ASU 2011-05") which amends current comprehensive income guidance. This accounting update eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of shareholders' equity. Instead, the reporting entity must report comprehensive income in either a single continuous statement of comprehensive income which contains two sections, net income and other comprehensive income, or in two separate but consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 will be effective for public companies during the interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 with early adoption permitted. The Company does not believe that the adoption of ASU 2011-05 will have a material impact on the Company's consolidated results of operation and financial condition.

 

In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-08, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing goodwill for impairment”. This ASU permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent. Under ASU 2011-08, an entity is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. ASU 2011-08 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company believes that the adoption of ASU 2011-08 will not have any impact on the Company's consolidated results of operation and financial condition.

 

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-11, “Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities”. The amendments in this ASU require an entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements on its financial position. This includes the effect or potential effect of rights of offset associated with an entity’s recognized assets and recognized liabilities and require improved information about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either (1) offset in accordance with Section 210-20-45 or Section 815-10-45 or (2) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether they are offset in accordance with Section 210-20-45 or Section 915-10-45. The amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 and retrospective disclosure is required for all comparative periods presented. No early adoption is permitted. The Company believes that the adoption of ASU 2011-11 will not have any impact on the Company's consolidated results of operation and financial condition.