UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2013

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 001-33863

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD.

 

27/F, China Central Place, Tower II
79 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District
Beijing 100025
People’s Republic of China

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F x                                Form 40-F o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): o

 

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Yes o                        No x

 

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-________.

 

 
 

 

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements at June 30, 2013 and for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, the notes thereto and the Operating and Financial Review and Prospects for said period of Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. (“Xinyuan” or the “Company”) and its subsidiaries are furnished herewith as Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3. Such financial statements and discussion and analysis are incorporated by reference herein and in Xinyuan’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration Number 333-152637) and any outstanding prospectus, offering circular or similar document issued or authorized by the Company that incorporates by reference any of Xinyuan’s reports on Form 6-K that are incorporated into its registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This Form 6-K shall be deemed a part of each such document from the date on which this Form 6-K is filed, to the extent not superseded by documents or reports subsequently filed or furnished by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page
Signature     3
Exhibit Index     4
Exhibit 99.1 Unaudited interim consolidated financial statements at June 30, 2013 and for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 of Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. and its Subsidiaries    
Exhibit 99.2 Selected consolidated financial data at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 of Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. and its Subsidiaries    
Exhibit 99.3 Operating and Financial Review and Prospects at June 30, 2013 and for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 of Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. and its Subsidiaries    
Exhibit 101 The following financial statements as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from the Company’s Report on Form 6-K for the month of November 2013, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2012 (audited) and June 30, 2013 (unaudited), (ii) Condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (unaudited), (iii) Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (unaudited), and (iv) Notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013.    

 

2
 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd.
     
  By: /s/ Xinqi Wang
  Name:  Xinqi Wang
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Date: November 1, 2013

 

3
 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
99.1   Unaudited interim consolidated financial statements at June 30, 2013 and for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 of Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. and its Subsidiaries
     
99.2   Selected consolidated financial data at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 of Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. and its Subsidiaries
     
99.3   Operating and Financial Review and Prospects at June 30, 2013 and for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 of Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. and its Subsidiaries
     
101   The following financial statements as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from the Company’s Report on Form 6-K for the month of November 2013, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2012 (audited) and June 30, 2013 (unaudited), (ii) Condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (unaudited), (iii) Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (unaudited), and (iv) Notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013.

 

4

 

 

Exhibit 99.1 

 

Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. and Subsidiaries

 

CONTENTS

 

  Pages
   
Condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2012 (audited) and June 30, 2013 (unaudited) F-2
   
Condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (unaudited) F-4
   
Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (unaudited) F-5
   
Notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 F-7

 

F - 1
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2012 (AUDITED)

AND JUNE 30, 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

   Notes   December 31,
2012
   June 30,
2013
 
       US$   US$ 
       (Audited)   (Unaudited) 
ASSETS               
                
Current assets               
Cash and cash equivalents        496,204,796    635,800,092 
Restricted cash        145,729,818    238,926,433 
Accounts receivable        3,076,118    2,312,084 
Other receivables        27,413,310    11,444,965 
Other deposits and prepayments        105,426,782    231,288,574 
Advances to suppliers        11,028,071    18,596,998 
Real estate property held for sale   3    11,191,200    6,497,566 
Real estate property development completed        3,158,358    4,779,793 
Real estate property under development   3    722,819,462    605,673,460 
Amounts due from employees   8    133,377     
Other current assets        161,412     
                
Total current assets        1,526,342,704    1,755,319,965 
                
Real estate properties held for lease, net        23,203,826    16,359,761 
Property and equipment, net        1,576,146    1,849,888 
Restricted deposit        11,168,562    11,361,613 
Other long-term investment        241,648    247,148 
Deferred tax assets        1,598,717    1,241,768 
Deferred charges            4,833,873 
Other assets        2,249,003    2,014,493 
                
TOTAL ASSETS        1,566,380,606    1,793,228,509 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F - 2
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2012 (AUDITED)

AND JUNE 30, 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

   Notes   December 31,
2012
   June 30,
2013
 
       US$   US$ 
       (Audited)   (Unaudited) 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY               
                
Current liabilities               
Accounts payable        241,894,286    171,676,778 
Short-term bank loans and other debt   4    113,065,643    129,198,139 
Customer deposits        50,200,608    78,636,096 
Income tax payable        75,877,028    68,971,512 
Deferred tax liabilities        13,612,069    33,029,361 
Other payables and accrued liabilities        64,721,393    57,978,210 
Payroll and welfare payable        9,662,545    7,500,117 
Current portion of long-term bank loans and other debt   5,6    166,081,678    97,917,038 
                
Total current liabilities        735,115,250    644,907,251 
                
Long-term bank loans   5    35,000,000    83,553,903 
Deferred tax liabilities        5,884,619    6,732,838 
Unrecognized tax benefits   7    8,842,239    7,278,752 
Other long-term debt   6        200,000,000 
                
Total liabilities        784,842,108    942,472,744 
                
Commitments and contingencies   12         
                
Shareholders’ equity               
Common shares, US$0.0001 par value:               
Authorized—500,000,000; shares issued and outstanding—140,721,034 shares for June 30, 2013 (December 31, 2012: 141,938,398 shares)   9    15,358    15,499 
Treasury shares   9    (13,667,122)   (19,434,281)
Additional paid-in capital        511,964,127    513,904,284 
Statutory reserves        49,622,317    49,622,317 
Retained earnings        151,603,798    210,398,188 
Accumulated other comprehensive income   13    82,000,020    96,249,758 
                
Total Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd shareholders’ equity        781,538,498    850,755,765 
                
Total equity        781,538,498    850,755,765 
                
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY        1,566,380,606    1,793,228,509 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F - 3
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2012, AND 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

       Six months ended June 30, 
   Notes   2012   2013 
       US$   US$ 
       (Unaudited)   (Unaudited) 
Revenue:               
Real estate sales, net of sales taxes of US$24,850,834 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and US$21,125,556 for the six months ended June 30, 2013        416,460,944    359,901,522 
Real estate lease income        2,994,000    664,531 
Other revenue        6,188,183    7,346,491 
              
Total revenue        425,643,127    367,912,544 
                
Costs of revenue:               
Cost of real estate sales        (290,783,087)   (233,389,474)
Cost of real estate lease income        (754,195)   (977,025)
Other costs        (7,388,909)   (7,993,986)
              
Total cost of revenue        (298,926,191)   (242,360,485)
                
Gross profit        126,716,936    125,552,059 
Selling and distribution expenses        (8,297,427)   (5,647,632)
General and administrative expenses        (19,466,963)   (21,450,704)
                
Operating income        98,952,546    98,453,723 
Interest income        3,250,787    4,512,194 
Interest expense            (4,844,345)
              
Income from operations before income taxes        102,203,333    98,121,572 
                
Income taxes        (9,592,510)   (32,145,317)
              
Net income        92,610,823    65,976,255 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest   14    (1,111,109)    
              
Net income attributable to Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. shareholders        91,499,714    65,976,255 
                
Earnings per share:               
Basic   10    0.63    0.46 
Diluted   10    0.62    0.46 
                
Shares used in computation:               
Basic   10    145,890,338    142,437,384 
Diluted   10    146,399,803    144,627,932 
                
Other comprehensive income, net of tax               
Foreign currency translation adjustments   13    (2,676,255)   14,249,738 
                
Comprehensive income        89,934,568    80,225,993 
  Less: comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest   14    (1,120,673)    
                
Comprehensive income attributable to Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. shareholders        88,813,895    80,225,993 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F - 4
 

 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2012 AND 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

 

   Six months ended June 30, 
   2012   2013 
   US$   US$ 
   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited) 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:         
Net income   92,610,823    65,976,255 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Gain from liquidation of two subsidiaries, net of tax   (12,481,751)    
Depreciation and amortization   1,188,965    1,196,526 
Stock-based compensation expenses   1,086,136    150,020 
Deferred tax (benefit) expense   (6,675,508)   20,413,043 
Amortization of deferred charges       117,912 
           
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   13,682,948    808,895 
Real estate property held for sale   (7,415,537)   4,693,634 
Real estate property development completed   3,935,380    4,336,665 
Real estate property under development   118,641,812    125,326,103 
Advances to suppliers   (4,908,049)   (7,306,104)
Other receivables   (1,713,468)   15,754,406 
Other deposits and prepayments   (16,287,328)   (122,787,018)
Other current assets   83,201    161,841 
Amounts due from employees   (290,827)   269,253 
Other assets   432,936    178,339 
Accounts payable   (21,515,553)   (73,642,057)
Customer deposits   40,397,510    27,287,396 
Income tax payable   (20,631,916)   (8,124,163)
Changes in unrecognized tax benefit       (1,698,872)
Other payables and accrued liabilities   2,009,305    (7,309,018)
Payroll and welfare payable   1,258,895    (2,305,757)
           
Net cash provided by operating activities   183,407,974    43,497,299 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F - 5
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2012 AND 2013 (UNAUDITED)

 

   Six months ended June 30, 
   2012   2013 
   US$   US$ 
   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited) 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Disposal of properties held for lease and property and equipment   10,406    55,557 
Purchase of property and equipment   (151,248)   (525,752)
         
Net cash used in investing activities   (140,842)   (470,195)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES          
Proceeds from exercise of stock options   94,121    1,790,278 
Purchase of treasury shares   (2,537,231)   (5,767,159)
Dividends to shareholders   (2,919,444)   (7,181,861)
Distribution to non-controlling interest shareholders   (2,233,026)    
Increase in restricted cash   (15,582,841)   (89,755,452)
Repayments of short-term bank loans and current portion of long-term bank loans   (22,150,124)   (102,112,148)
Proceeds from short-term bank loans and current portion of long-term bank loans   46,097,753    80,564,479 
Repayment of long-term bank loans   (80,439,682)   (24,190,254)
Proceeds from long-term bank loans       80,100,179 
Proceeds from other long-term debt       200,000,000 
Repayment of other long-term debt       (40,000,000)
Deferred charges       (4,951,785)
          
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities   (79,670,474)   88,496,277 
          
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS   103,596,658    131,523,381 
           
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (1,436,717)   8,071,915 
Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of period   319,218,155    496,204,796 
           
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, AT END OF PERIOD   421,378,096    635,800,092 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F - 6
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

1. Background information of business and organization

 

Xinyuan Real Estate Co. Ltd. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (collectively the “Group”) are principally engaged in residential real estate development and the provision of property management services. The Group’s operations are conducted mainly in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”). In 2012, the Group expanded its business into the U.S. residential real estate market and established Vista Sierra, LLC, XIN Irvine, LLC and 421 Kent Development, LLC to acquire three projects in Reno, Nevada, Irvine, California and Brooklyn, New York, respectively. On April 6, 2012 and September 25, 2012, Zhengzhou Jiantou Xinyuan United Real Estate Co., Ltd. and Henan Wanzhong Real Estate Co., Ltd., subsidiaries of the Company, were liquidated, respectively.

 

The Company’s subsidiaries as of June 30, 2013 are set out below:

 

Company Name  Registered/Place and
Date of Incorporation
  Paid-up
Capital
   Percentage
of Equity
Directly
Attributable
to the Group
   Principal Activities
               
Subsidiary companies:                
Xinyuan International Property Investment Co., Ltd.  Cayman Islands
October 6, 2011
  US$500,000    100%  Investment holding company
                 
Xinyuan International (HK) Property Investment Co., Limited.  Hong Kong
October 26, 2011
  HK$3,000,000    100%  Investment holding company
                 
XIN Development Group International Inc.  United States
November 10, 2011
  US$0    100%  Investment holding company
                 
Xinyuan Real Estate, Ltd. (“Xinyuan”)  Cayman Islands
January 27, 2006
  US$50,000,000    100%  Investment holding company
                 
South Glory International Ltd.  Hong Kong
January 17, 2001
  HK$10,000    100%  Investment holding company
                 
Victory Good Development Ltd.  Hong Kong
January 17, 2001
  HK$10,000    100%  Investment holding company
                 
Elite Quest Holdings Ltd.  Hong Kong
November 19, 2001
  HK$10,000    100%  Investment holding company
                 
XIN Irvine, LLC  United States
July 12, 2012
  US$50,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Vista Sierra, LLC  United States
May 1, 2012
  US$0    100%  Real estate development
                 
XIN Development Management East, LLC  United States
August 28, 2012
  US$1,000    100%  Property management services
                 
XIN NY Holding, LLC  United States
August 29, 2012
  US$1,000    100%  Investment holding company
                 
421 Kent Development, LLC  United States
August 29, 2012
  US$1,000    100%  Real estate development

 

F - 7
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

Company Name  Registered/Place and
Date of Incorporation
  Paid-up
Capital
   Percentage
of Equity
Directly
Attributable
to the Group
   Principal Activities
               
Subsidiary companies:                
Xinyuan (China) Real Estate, Ltd. (“WFOE”)  The PRC
April 10, 2006
  US$307,000,000    100%  Investment holding company
                 
Henan Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. (“Henan Xinyuan”)  The PRC
May 19, 1997
  RMB200,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Qingdao Xinyuan Xiangrui Real Estate Co., Ltd.  The PRC
February 9, 2006
  RMB10,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Shandong Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd.  The PRC
June 2, 2006
  RMB300,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Xinyuan Property Service Co., Ltd.  The PRC
December 28, 1998
  RMB50,000,000    100%  Property management services
                 
Zhengzhou Mingyuan Landscape Engineering Co., Ltd.  The PRC
February 17, 2004
  RMB2,000,000    100%  Landscaping engineering and management
                 
Zhengzhou Xinyuan Computer Network Engineering Co., Ltd.  The PRC
May 26, 2004
  RMB2,000,000    100%  Installation of intercom systems
                 
Henan Wanzhuo Real Estate Co., Ltd.  The PRC
December 29, 2011
  RMB20,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Suzhou Xinyuan Real Estate Development Co., Ltd.  The PRC November 24, 2006  RMB200,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Anhui Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd.  The PRC
December 7, 2006
  RMB50,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Kunshan Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd.  The PRC
January 31, 2008
  RMB200,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Xinyuan Real Estate (Chengdu) Co., Ltd.  The PRC
June 12, 2007
  RMB220,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Xuzhou Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd.  The PRC
November 09, 2009
  RMB50,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Henan Jiye Real Estate Co., Ltd.  The PRC
November 15, 2009
  RMB50,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Beijing Xinyuan Wanzhong Real Estate Co., Ltd.  The PRC
March 4, 2008
  RMB30,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Beijing Heju Construction Material Co. Ltd.  The PRC
January 16, 2009
  RMB30,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Xinyuan Renju (Beijing) Asset Management Co., Ltd.  The PRC
January 16, 2009
  RMB30,000,000    100%  Real estate development

 

F - 8
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

Company Name  Registered/Place and
Date of Incorporation
  Paid-up
Capital
   Percentage
of Equity
Directly
Attributable
to the Group
   Principal Activities
               
Subsidiary companies:                
Zhengzhou Jiantou Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. (“Jiantou Xinyuan”)  The PRC
June 13, 2005
  RMB10,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Beijing Xinyuan Priority Real Estate Consulting Co., Ltd.  The PRC
March 8, 2012
  RMB30,000,000    100%  Leasing management services
                 
Henan Xinyuan Priority Commercial Management Co., Ltd.  The PRC
August 10, 2012
  RMB2,000,000    100%  Leasing management services
                 
Suzhou Xinyuan Wanzhuo Real Estate Co., Ltd.  The PRC
September 20, 2012
  RMB200,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Beijing Xinyuan Jiye Real Estate Co., Ltd.  The PRC
February 17, 2013
  RMB200,000,000    100%  Real estate development
                 
Xinyuan Sailing Co., Ltd.  Hong Kong
June 21, 2013
  HK$3,000,000    100%  Investment holding company

 

Equity holdings remained unchanged throughout the six months ended June 30, 2013.

 

F - 9
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

2. Summary of significant accounting policies

 

(a) The Company and basis of presentation and consolidation

 

Xinyuan Real Estate Co. Ltd. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (collectively the “Group”) are principally engaged in residential real estate development and the provision of property management services. The Group’s operations are conducted mainly in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”). In 2012, the Group expanded its business into the U.S. residential real estate market. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, and its subsidiaries. All inter-company transactions and balances between the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation.

 

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information using accounting policies that are consistent with those used in the preparation of the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012. Accordingly, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements.

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position, operating results and cash flows of the Company for each of the periods presented. The results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any other interim period or for the full year of 2013. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, as amended.

 

Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group and cease to be consolidated from the date on which control is transferred out of the Group. Where there is a loss of control of a subsidiary, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the results for the part of the reporting year during which the Group has control.

 

(b) Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, and disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, the selection of the useful lives of property and equipment, provision necessary for contingent liabilities, allowance for doubtful debt associated with accounts receivable, other receivables and advances to suppliers, fair values, revenue recognition, taxes, budgeted costs and other similar charges. Management believes that the estimates utilized in preparing its consolidated financial statements are reasonable and prudent. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

(c) Foreign currency translation

 

The Group’s financial information is presented in U.S. dollars. The functional currency of the Company is U.S. dollars. The functional currency of the Company’s subsidiaries in China Mainland is Renminbi (“RMB”), the currency of the PRC. The functional currency of the Company’s subsidiaries other than those in China Mainland is U.S. dollars. Transactions by the Company’s subsidiaries which are denominated in currencies other than RMB are remeasured into RMB at the exchange rate quoted by the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Exchange gains and losses resulting from transactions denominated in a currency other than RMB are included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income as exchange gains. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company’s subsidiaries have been translated into U.S. dollars in accordance with ASC 830, “Foreign Currency Matters”. The financial information is first prepared in RMB and then is translated into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates as to assets and liabilities and average exchange rates as to revenue and expenses. Capital accounts are translated at their historical exchange rates when the capital transactions occurred.

 

F - 10
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

The effects of foreign currency translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity.

 

   June 30,
2012
   December 31,
2012
   June 30,
2013
 
   (Unaudited)   (Audited)   (Unaudited) 
Year end RMB: US$ exchange rate   6.3249    6.2855    6.1787 
Period average RMB: US$ exchange rate   6.3076    6.3124    6.2422 

 

The RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currency and all foreign exchange transactions must take place through authorized institutions. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars at the rates used in translation.

 

(d) Senior Secured Notes

 

On May 3, 2013, the Company issued notes with an aggregate principal amount of US$200,000,000 (the "Senior Secured Notes"). The Senior Secured Notes bear interest at 13.25% per annum payable semi-annually. Interest is payable on May 3 and November 3 of each year, commencing November 3, 2013. The Senior Secured Notes have a final maturity date of May 3, 2018. Given that the Senior Secured Notes is debt in its legal form, it has been classified as other long-term debt.

 

(e) Deferred charges

 

Deferred charges comprise of debt issuance costs associated with our Senior Secured Notes. Debt issuance costs are capitalized and amortized over the life of the loan to which they relate using the effective interest method.

 

(f) Earnings per share

 

Earnings per share is calculated in accordance with ASC 260, “Earnings Per Share”. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to holders of common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common shares were exercised or converted into common shares. Common shares issuable upon the conversion of the convertible, redeemable preference shares were included in both basic and diluted earnings per common share computation for the period during which they were outstanding, as they are considered participating securities. Contingent exercise price resets are accounted for in a manner similar to contingently issuable shares.

 

Common share equivalents are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share if their effects would be anti-dilutive. The nonvested options granted with performance condition are excluded in the computation of diluted EPS unless the options are dilutive and unless their conditions (a) have been satisfied at the reporting date or (b) would have been satisfied if the reporting date was the end of the contingency period.

 

(g) Effect of change in estimate

 

Revisions in estimated gross profit margins related to percentage of completion revenues are made in the period in which circumstances requiring the revisions become known. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, eleven real estate development projects (Chengdu Xinyuan Splendid I, Chengdu Xinyuan Splendid II, Suzhou International City Garden, Shandong Xinyuan Splendid, Kunshan International City Garden, Henan Royal Palace, Henan Modern City, Xuzhou Colorful Garden, Henan Century East A, Henan Century East B and Zhengzhou Yipin Xiangshan Phase II), which recognized gross profits in 2012, had changes in their estimated gross profit margins. As of June 30, 2013, each of these projects has a percentage of completion at 75.6% or more. As the unit sales and selling prices were on an upward trend during the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company revised upwards its prior estimates related to selling prices and total estimated sales values in conjunction with the change in total estimate cost, which led to a decrease of the percentage sold and thus a decrease in the recognized costs. As a result of the changes in estimate above, gross profit, net income and basic and diluted earnings per share increased by US$29.4 million, US$22.0 million, US$0.15 per share and US$0.15 per share, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2013.

 

F - 11
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

(h) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) (“ASU 2013-02”) to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”). This ASU sets requirements for presentation for significant items reclassified to net income in their entirety during the period and for items not reclassified to net income in their entirety during the period. It requires companies to present information about reclassifications out of AOCI in one place, and to present reclassifications by component when reporting changes in AOCI balances. The modifications to ASC Topic 220 resulting from the issuance of ASU 2013-02 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2012 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Group does not expect that the adoption of ASU 2013-02 has had a material impact on its financial statements.

 

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-04, “Liabilities (Topic 405): Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation Is Fixed at the Reporting Date” (“ASU 2013-04”). The objective of ASU 2013-04 is to provide guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation (within the scope of this guidance) is fixed at the reporting date. Examples of obligations within the scope of ASU 2013-04 include debt arrangements, other contractual obligations, and settled litigation and judicial rulings. ASU 2013-04 is effective for the Group for interim reporting periods beginning July 1, 2014, however, early adoption is permitted. The Group is currently evaluating the impact ASU 2013-04 will have on its financial statements.

 

In March 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-05 (“ASU 2013-05”), Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity, which specifies that a cumulative translation adjustment (“CTA”) should be released into earnings when an entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within a consolidated foreign entity and the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity. For sales of an equity method investment that is a foreign entity, a pro rata portion of CTA attributable to the investment would be recognized in earnings when the investment is sold. When an entity sells either a part or all of its investment in a consolidated foreign entity, CTA would be recognized in earnings only if the sale results in the parent no longer having a controlling financial interest in the foreign entity. In addition, CTA should be recognized in earnings in a business combination achieved in stages. For public entities, ASU 2013-05 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013, with early adoption permitted. The Group will adopt ASU 2013-05 on January 1, 2014 and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740) (“ASU 2013-11”) to provide guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, similar tax loss, or tax credit carryforward exists. This ASU requires an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, to be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, with certain exceptions. The modifications to ASC Topic 740 resulting from the issuance of ASU 2013-11 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Group will adopt ASU 2013-11 on January 1, 2014. Starting January 1, 2014, the Group will present unrecognized tax benefit for net operating loss as deduction of deferred tax assets if applicable.

 

F - 12
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

3. Real estate property under development and held for sale

The following summarizes the components of real estate property under development and held for sale at December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2013:

 

   December 31,
2012
   June 30,
2013
 
   US$   US$ 
   (Audited)   (Unaudited) 
Under development:          
Current:          
Xuzhou Colorful Garden   21,238,889     
Zhengzhou Modern City   57,408,025    25,625,742 
Zhengzhou Century East A   53,604,699    37,728,545 
Zhengzhou Century East B   98,948,705    33,183,100 
Zhengzhou Royal Palace   98,557,509    23,345,035 
Jinan Xinyuan Splendid   297,909,913    200,044,365 
Kunshan International City Garden   123,002,290    51,976,937 
Chengdu Xinyuan Splendid II   41,573,242     
Zhengzhou Yipin Xiangshan Phase II   56,189,379    2,862,432 
Xuzhou New Land (Xuzhou Colorful City)   39,943,324    41,592,596 
Zhengzhou New Land (Zhengzhou XIN City)   97,601,917    111,287,763 
Suzhou New Land (Suzhou XIN City)   44,942,686    50,280,884 
Beijing New Land (Beijing Xindo Park)   170,596,964    177,688,031 
New York New Land   55,587,073    58,748,611 
    1,257,104,615    814,364,041 
Profit recognized   279,176,906    138,716,685 
Less: progress billings   (813,462,059)   (347,407,266)
           
Total real estate property under development   722,819,462    605,673,460 
           
Northern Nevada Land Portfolio   1,191,200    818,000 
Lennox Project   10,000,000    5,679,566 
Real estate property held for sale   11,191,200    6,497,566 
           
Total real estate property under development and held for sale   734,010,662    612,171,026 

 

As of June 30, 2013, land use rights included in the real estate property under development totaled US$519,903.684 (December 31, 2012: US$602,353,601). As of June 30, 2013, real estate property under development with an aggregate net book value of US$27,512,033 (December 31, 2012: US$39,694,448) were pledged as collateral for certain bank loans.

 

F - 13
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

4. Short-term bank loans and other debt

 

Short term bank loans represent amounts due to various banks and are due on the dates indicated below. These loans generally can be renewed with the banks. Short term bank loans at December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2013 consisted of the following: 

 

   December 31,   June 30, 
   2012   2013 
   US$   US$ 
   (Audited)   (Unaudited) 
Loan from Agricultural Bank of China (Singapore)          
Due September 21, 2013, at 1.1% plus LIBOR       10,000,000 
        10,000,000 
           
Loan from Bank of Zhengzhou          
Due December 18, 2013, at 7.20% per annum   28,637,340     
Due February 21, 2014, at 7.20% per annum       22,982,181 
    28,637,340    22,982,181 
           
Loan from China Guangfa Bank          
Due December 26, 2013, at 6.00% per annum   19,091,560    19,421,561 
Due January 17, 2014, at 6.60% per annum       2,594,397 
    19,091,560    22,015,958 
Loan from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (“ICBC”)          
Due April 8, 2013, at 7.98% per annum   4,772,890     
Due May 8, 2013, at 7.98% per annum   6,363,853     
Due May 9, 2013, at 2.80% plus LIBOR   15,000,000     
Due November 30, 2014, at 1.90% plus LIBOR*   10,000,000    10,000,000 
Due September 19, 2013, at 1.30% plus LIBOR*       20,000,000 
Due September 19, 2013, at 1.30% plus LIBOR*       15,000,000 
    36,136,743    45,000,000 
           
Loan from Beta Capital, LLC**          
Due September 19, 2013, at 4.25% per annum   29,200,000    29,200,000 
    29,200,000    29,200,000 
           
Total short-term bank loans and other debt   113,065,643    129,198,139 

 

*Pursuant to the loan contract with ICBC, these three short-term loans from ICBC, amounting to US$10.0 million, US$20.0 million and US$15.0 million, respectively, are denominated in US$ and are secured by a deposit of US$48,276,271. Such deposit is classified as restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2013. The US$10.0 million loan is due on November 30, 2014; however the Group has an obligation to repay the loan on demand if required by the bank. Therefore, this loan has been classified as short-term as of June 30, 2013.

 

**On August 31, 2012, Xinyuan Development Group International Inc. ("XIN Development") and Beta Capital LLC entered into a purchase and sale agreement, pursuant to which XIN Development's subsidiary, 421 Kent Development, LLC ("421 Kent Development") purchased land in Brooklyn, New York for a consideration of US$54.2 million, including a US$29.2 million mortgage loan borrowed from the seller with a maturity date of September 19, 2013, secured by the land purchased, any improvements thereon and any building equipment, materials and supplies owned by 421 Kent Development and any lease and rents from the property. In connection with the seller mortgage loan, 421 Kent Development agreed that, aside from developing and constructing the project, 421 Kent Development would not take certain actions without Beta Capital's consent, including removing improvements from or equipment on the property, making certain alterations to the properties, modifying or entering into new leases, or leasing, selling or transferring the property. In addition, 421 Kent Development agreed that it would not engage in any business other than that arising out of the ownership and operation of the property, not incur indebtedness other than the mortgage loan and amounts due in the ordinary course of business to trade creditors and not provide guarantees of the oblations of any other person. The Company repaid the loan in full on July 18, 2013.

 

F - 14
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

As of June 30, 2013, except where otherwise indicated, all of the Group’s short-term bank loans are denominated in RMB and are mainly secured by the Group’s real estate property under development with net book value of US$19,733,247 (December 31, 2012: US$24,738,811) and land use right with net book value of US$ nil (December 31, 2012: US$14,438,201).

 

The weighted average interest rate on short-term bank loans and other debt as of June 30, 2013 was 5.75% (December 31, 2012: 5.31%).

 

5.  Long-term bank loans

 

Long-term bank loans as of December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2013 consisted of the following:

 

   December 31,
2012
   June 30,
2013
 
   US$   US$ 
   (Audited)   (Unaudited) 
         
Loan from ICBC          
Due November 2, 2013 at 6.15% per annum   7,954,817    8,092,317 
Due October 18, 2013 at 6.15% per annum   33,092,037    25,733,569 
Due November 1, 2013 at 7.38% per annum   15,591,440    10,681,859 
Due November 1, 2013 at 7.68% per annum   7,954,817    8,092,317 
Due September 21, 2013 at 7.68% per annum   4,772,890    4,855,390 
Due August 21, 2013 at 7.68% per annum   7,954,817    8,092,317 
    77,320,818    65,547,769 
           
Loan from Agricultural Bank of China (Singapore)          
Due July 12, 2014, at 2.40% plus LIBOR*   15,000,000    15,000,000 
Due September 10, 2014, at 2.00% plus LIBOR*   10,000,000    10,000,000 
    25,000,000    25,000,000 
           
Loan from ICBC (Thai) Public Company Limited          
Due November 29, 2014, at 2.10% plus LIBOR**   10,000,000    10,000,000 
    10,000,000    10,000,000 
           
Loan from Agricultural Bank of China          
Due April 23, 2013, at 5.84% per annum   13,364,092     
Due May 5, 2013, at 6.15% per annum   12,886,803     
Due May 19, 2013, at 5.84% per annum   12,091,321     
Due June 30, 2014, at 6.77% per annum       16,184,635 
    38,342,216    16,184,635 
           
Loan from China Guangfa Bank          
Due May 31, 2014, at 6.72% per annum       16,184,635 
Due December 31, 2014, at 6.72% per annum       24,276,951 
Due May 31, 2015, at 6.72% per annum       24,276,951 
        64,738,537 
           
Loan from Bank of China          
Due May 26, 2013, at 7.07% per annum   9,354,864     
    9,354,864     
           
Total   160,017,898    181,470,941 
           
Less: current portion of long term bank loans   (125,017,898)   (97,917,038)
           
Total long-term bank loans   35,000,000    83,553,903 

 

F - 15
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

*Pursuant to the loan contract with Agricultural Bank of China (Singapore), these two long-term loans from Agricultural Bank of China (Singapore), amounting to US$15.0 million and US$10.0 million, respectively, are denominated in US$ and are secured by the deposits of US$17,803,098 and US$10,167,398. Such deposits are classified as restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2013.

 

**Pursuant to the loan contract with ICBC (Thai) Public Company Limited, this long-term loan amounting to US$10.0 million, is denominated in US$ and is secured by the deposit of US$11,361,613. This deposit is classified as restricted deposit on the consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2013.

 

As of June 30, 2013, except where otherwise indicated the Group’s long-term bank loans are all denominated in RMB and are mainly secured by the Group’s real estate property under development with net book value of US$7,778,786 (December 31, 2012: US$14,955,637) and land use right with net book value of US$217,248,965 (December 31, 2012: US$132,388,217).

 

As of June 30, 2013, there are no loans with contractual maturities extending past December 31, 2015.

 

The interest rates of these bank loans are adjustable based on the range of 95% to 120% of the PBOC prime rate. The weighted average interest rate on long-term bank loans as of December 31, 2012 was 6.68% (December 31, 2012: 5.79).

 

F - 16
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

6. Other long-term debt

 

As of December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2013, other long term debt consisted of the following:

 

   December 31,
2012
   June 30,
2013
 
   US$   US$ 
   (Audited)   (Unaudited) 
         
Guaranteed senior secured note due on April 15, 2013 at 15.6%*   40,000,000     
 Senior Secured Notes due on May 3, 2018 at 13.25%       200,000,000 
Total principal of other long-term debt   40,000,000    200,000,000 
Less: Unaccreted discount from embedded derivative and warrants   (288,220)    
Accrued interest   1,352,000     
           
Total   41,063,780    200,000,000 
Less: current portion   (41,063,780)    
           
Total other long-term debt       200,000,000 

 

* The Company repaid the Guaranteed Senior Secured Note on April 12, 2013, before the due date and there was no penalty associated with the early repayment.

 

Senior Secured Notes

 

The Senior Secured Notes bear interest at 13.25% per annum payable semi-annually. Interest is payable on May 3 and November 3 of each year, commencing November 3, 2013. The Senior Secured Notes have a final maturity date of May 3, 2018.

 

The Senior Secured Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated May 3, 2013, between, the Company, the "Subsidiary Guarantors" identified below and Citicorp International Limited, as trustee and collateral agent (the "Indenture"). The Company's obligations under the Indenture and the Senior Secured Notes have been guaranteed initially by certain of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries, Xinyuan Real Estate, Ltd., Xinyuan International Property Investment Co., Ltd., Victory Good Development Ltd., South Glory International Ltd., Elite Quest Holdings Ltd. and Xinyuan International (HK) Property Investment Co., Limited (the "Subsidiary Guarantors") and will be guaranteed by such other future subsidiaries of the Company as is set forth in and in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. The Company's obligations under the Indenture and the Senior Secured Notes are secured by a pledge of the capital stock of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries, Xinyuan Real Estate, Ltd. and Xinyuan International Property Investment Co., Ltd., and the obligations of Xinyuan Real Estate, Ltd. as a Subsidiary Guarantor are secured by a pledge of the capital stock of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Victory Good Development Ltd., South Glory International Ltd. and Elite Quest Holdings Ltd.

 

The Company may redeem the Senior Secured Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 106.6250% of principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but excluding) the redemption date, during the 12 month period commencing on May 3, 2016 or at a redemption price equal to 103.3125% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any to (but excluding) the redemption date, during the 12 month period commencing on May 3, 2017.

 

At any time prior to May 3, 2016, the Company may at its option redeem the Senior Secured Notes, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the redemption date. "Applicable Premium" means with respect to any Note at any redemption date, the greater of (i) 1.00% of the principal amount of such Note and (ii) the excess of (A) the present value at such redemption date of the redemption price of such Note on May 3, 2016, plus all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note through May 3, 2016 (but excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined in the Indenture) plus 100 basis points, over (B) the principal amount of such Note on such redemption date.

 

F - 17
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

At any time prior to May 3, 2016, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes with the net cash proceeds of one or more sales of the Company's common shares in certain equity offerings, within a specified period after the equity offering, at a redemption price of 113.25% the principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the redemption date, provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes issued on May 3, 2013 remain outstanding after each such redemption.

 

Following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company must make an offer to purchase all outstanding Senior Secured Notes at a purchase price equal to 101.0% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any to (but not including) the offer to purchase payment date. A "Change of Control Triggering Event" means the occurrence of both a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture) and specified decline in the ratings of the Senior Secured Notes within six month after the date of public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the intention by the Company or any other person to effect a Change of Control.

 

The Company has evaluated and determined that there was no embedded derivative requiring bifurcation from the Senior Secured Notes under the requirements of ASC815. The embedded optional redemption options and repurchase features did not qualify for derivative accounting because the embedded derivatives were considered clearly and closely related to the characteristics of the Secured Senior Notes.

 

The Indenture contains certain covenants that, among others, restrict the Company's ability and the ability of the Company's Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture) to incur additional debt or to issue preferred stock, to make certain payments or investments, to pay dividends or purchase of redeem capital stock, to sell assets (including limitations on the use of proceeds of asset sales), to grant liens on the collateral securing the Senior Secured Notes or other assets, to make certain other payments or to engage in transactions with affiliates and holder of more than 10% of the Company's Common Shares, subject to certain qualifications and exceptions and satisfaction, in certain circumstances of specified conditions, such as a Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Indenture) of 3.0 to 1.0.

 

The Company was in compliance with its financial ratio covenants under the Senior Secured Note as of June 30, 2013.

 

7. Income taxes

 

(a) Effective tax rate

 

Our effective income tax rate (“ETR”) was 32.8% in the first six months of 2013 compared to 9.4% in the first six months of 2012. The ETR was different from the statutory tax rate of 25% due to the effect of land appreciation tax (“LAT”), the corporate income tax (“CIT”) benefit of LAT, outside basis differences, and also changes in unrecognized tax benefits. The change in the effective income tax rate is primarily due to a non-recurring reversal of LAT liabilities recognized as an unrecognized tax benefit of approximately US$22.8 million in the second quarter of 2012 related to three completed projects that were liquidated and settled with the local tax bureaus on favorable terms.

 

(b) Liability for unrecognized tax benefit

 

The following table summarizes the activity related to the Group’s unrecognized tax benefits:

 

   US$ 
     
Balance as of December 31, 2012   8,842,239 
Additions for tax position of current year   7,278,752 
Movement in current year due to expiration of limitations period   (8,842,239)
Balance as of June 30, 2013   7,278,752 

 

The current year movement in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits of US$7,278,752 was mainly due to the application of the deemed profit method by the local tax authority of Zhengzhou city for Henan Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd.’s fiscal year 2012 PRC income tax return. The remaining change of US$8,842,239 was recognized as a reduction of unrecognized tax benefits due to the expiration of the five-year statute of limitations period for Henan Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd..

 

F - 18
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

8. Related party and employee transactions

 

(a) Amounts due from employees

 

   December 31, 
 2012
   June 30,
2013
 
   US$   US$ 
   (Audited)   (Unaudited) 
Advances to employees   133,377     

 

The balance at December 31, 2012 represents cash advances to employees for traveling expenses and other expenses. The balances bear no interest and have no fixed payment terms.

 

(b) Others

 

The Company entered into a consulting agreement with a consulting company that is beneficially owned by Yong Cui (“Dr. Cui”), one of the directors of the Company, in April 2005. Under this agreement, the consulting company agreed to provide certain financial consulting services to the Company. This consulting agreement was renewed in December 2006, under which the Company agreed to pay an annual fee of RMB240,000 or US$30,735. In February 2010, the Company renewed this consulting agreement, under which the Company agreed to pay an annual fee of RMB500,000 or US$77,382 at the then prevailing exchange rate. In January 2011, the consulting activities were expanded to include development of commercial real estate in China and residential real estate in the U.S. as well as development of financing channels in Asia. The Company agreed to pay an annual fee of US$600,000 for these services from January 2011 forward pursuant to a contract entered into in April 2012, which was further amended in December 2012. Under this agreement, Dr. Cui was paid US$150,000 in 2011, US$1,050,000 in 2012 and US$300,000 in the first six months of 2013 for services performed in 2011, 2012 and the first six months of 2013. As of June 30, 2013 and December 31 2012, there were no consulting fee balances due to Dr. Cui.

 

The Company entered into a business development advisory services agreement with Karmen Equities Limited, of which Omer Ozden, a director of the Group until September 19, 2013, is a minority shareholder, in November 2011. The term of this agreement is six months with advisory fees based on an hourly rate; the agreement shall be automatically renewed for an additional six month period upon expiration on a continuous basis. During the first half year of 2013, the Company paid Karmen Equities Limited US$76,942. There were no balances due to Karmen Equities Limited as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

 

9. Equity

 

As at December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2013, the Company’s authorized share capital was 500 million common shares, par value US$0.0001 per share.

 

In November 2007, the Company adopted the 2007 Long Term Incentive Plan (the "2007 Plan") which provides for the grant of options, restricted shares, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights and other stock-based awards to purchase its common shares. The maximum aggregate number of common shares which may be issued pursuant to all awards, including options, is 10 million common shares, subject to adjustment to account for changes in the capitalization of the Company. There were no new option grants during the six months ended June 30, 2013.

 

(i) During the year ended December 31, 2012, 76,095 options were exercised at US$0.0001 per share under the 2007 Plan.

 

(ii) During the year ended December 31, 2012, 43,980 options were exercised at US$1.21 per share under the 2007 Plan.

 

(iii) During the year ended December 31, 2012, 33,500 options were exercised at US$1.365 per share under the 2007 Plan.

 

F - 19
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

(iv) On June 19, 2012 the Company announced a new share repurchase program of up to US$20 million. During the year ended December 31, 2012, 4,091,650 common shares were repurchased at a total cost of US$5,708,281.

 

(v) During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company distributed dividends to common shareholders of US$8,769,530.

 

(vi) During the six months ended June 30, 2013, 133,332 options were exercised at US$1.82 per share under the 2007 Plan.

 

(vii) During the six months ended June 30, 2013, 1,279,020 options were exercised at US$1.21 per share under the 2007 Plan.

 

(viii) During the six months ended June 30, 2013, 2,629,716 common shares were repurchased at a total cost of US$5,767,159.

 

(ix) During the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company distributed dividends to common shareholders of US$7,181,861.

 

10. Earnings per share

 

Basic and diluted net earnings per share for each period presented are calculated as follows:

 

   Six months ended June 30, 
   2012   2013 
   US$   US$ 
Numerator:          
Net income   91,499,714    65,976,255 
Net income attributable to Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. shareholders—basic and diluted   91,499,714    65,976,255 
Denominator:          
Number of shares outstanding, basic   145,890,338    142,437,384 
Weighted average number of stock options   509,465    2,190,548 
           
Number of shares outstanding—diluted   146,399,803    144,627,932 
           
Basic earnings per share   0.63    0. 46 
           
Diluted earnings per share   0.62    0.46 

 

During the period ended June 30, 2013, 1,633,868 (June 30, 2012: 2,365,623) stock options were excluded from the calculation of earnings per share because their effect would be anti-dilutive.

 

11. Segment reporting

 

The Group’s long-lived assets and revenue are mainly located in and derived from the PRC. Starting in 2012, a small portion of the Group’s long-lived assets and revenue are located in and derived from the United States. The Group considers that each of its individual property developments is a discrete operating segment. The Group has aggregated its segments in the PRC on a provincial basis as property development projects undertaken within a province have similar expected economic characteristics, type of properties offering, customers and market and regulatory environment. The Group’s reportable operating segments are comprised of Henan Province, Shandong Province, Jiangsu Province, Sichuan Province, Anhui Province and Beijing, in the PRC; and the United States.

 

Each geographic operating segment is principally engaged in the construction and development of residential real estate units. The “other” category relates to investment holdings, property management services, installation of intercom systems, landscaping, engineering and management, real estate sale, purchase and lease activities. The accounting policies of the various segments are the same as those described in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”.

 

F - 20
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

The Group’s chief operating decision maker relies upon net sales, gross profit and net income when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the Group. Net sales for geographic segments are generally based on the location of the project development. Net income for each segment includes net sales to third parties, related cost of sales and operating expenses directly attributable to the segment.

 

No single customer accounted for more than 10% of net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013.

 

Summary information by operating segment is as follows:

 

June 30, 2012  Henan   Shandong   Jiangsu   Anhui   Sichuan   Beijing   United
States
   Others   Consolidated 
   US$   US$   US$   US$   US$   US$   US$   US$   US$ 
                                     
Total revenue   179,066,196    45,248,339    146,240,351    52,716    48,906,941            6,128,584    425,643,127 
Total cost of revenue   (110,715,421)   (36,598,157)   (108,725,734)   (25,625)   (37,430,412)           (5,430,842)   (298,926,191)
Gross profit   68,350,775    8,650,182    37,514,617    27,091    11,476,529            697,742    126,716,936 
Operating income (loss)   55,122,869    7,190,582    32,614,853    18,242    10,024,112    (227,477)   (679,944)   (5,110,691)   98,952,546 
Total assets   699,936,751    220,334,447    301,318,230    10,203,396    110,522,860    16,718,076    260,589    37,888,921    1,397,183,270 

 

 

June 30, 2013  Henan   Shandong   Jiangsu   Anhui   Sichuan   Beijing   United
States
   Others   Consolidated 
   US$   US$   US$   US$   US$   US$   US$   US$   US$ 
                                              
Total revenue   169,560,784    128,993,914    48,967,327    (508)   7,789,307        5,225,589    7,376,131    367,912,544 
Total cost of revenue   (95,887,711)   (101,898,836)   (36,266,033)   (25,854)   2,658,692        (5,057,573)   (5,883,170)   (242,360,485)
Gross profit   73,673,073    27,095,078    12,701,294    (26,362)   10,447,999        168,016    1,492,961    125,552,059 
Operating income (loss)   59,819,738    24,303,748    10,634,320    (31,377)   9,897,330    (2,371,295)   (391,330)   (3,407,411)   98,453,723 
                                              
Total assets   641,848,343    266,962,367    309,739,992    9,928,853    97,543,140    193,505,373    31,486,105    242,214,336    1,793,228,509 

 

12. Commitments and contingencies

 

The Group leases certain of its office properties under non-cancellable operating lease arrangements. Payments under operating leases are expensed on a straight-line basis over the periods of their respective leases, and the terms of the leases do not contain rent escalation, or contingent rent, renewal, or purchase options. There are no restrictions placed upon the Group by entering into these leases.

 

Commitments

 

Operating lease commitments

 

As of June 30, 2013, the Group had the following operating lease obligations falling due:

 

   Amount 
   US$ 
     
July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014   2,411,002 
July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015   1,996,130 
July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016   1,461,747 
July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017   100,126 
July 1, 2017 and thereafter   150,189 
      
Total   6,119,194 

 

F - 21
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

Other commitments

 

On October 23, 2012, the Group entered into a capital lease agreement to purchase a corporate aircraft. The capital lease will commence upon delivery of the corporate aircraft. The corporate aircraft was delivered on September 12, 2013. As of the capital lease commencement date, the Group will measure a capital lease asset and capital lease obligation at an amount equal to the present value of the minimum lease payments during the lease term, excluding the portion of the payments representing executory costs (such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes to be paid by the lessor) as well as any profit thereon. As of June 30, 2013, the Company is contractually committed to pay the following amounts:

 

   Amount 
   US$ 
   (Unaudited) 
July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014   3,627,428 
July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015   4,582,014 
July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016   4,582,014 
July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017   4,582,014 
July 1, 2017 and thereafter   19,282,642 
      
Total   36,656,112 

 

As of June 30, 2013, the Group also had outstanding commitments under non-cancelable management and insurance contracts related to the corporate aircraft as follows:

 

   Amount 
   US$ 
   (Unaudited) 
July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014   763,510 
July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015   254,503 
      
Total   1,018,013 

 

As of June 30, 2013, the Group had outstanding commitments with respect to non-cancelable construction contracts for real estate development and land use rights purchases as follows:

 

   Amount 
   US$ 
Due within 1 year   145,723,296 

 

Contingencies

 

As at June 30, 2013, the Group provided guarantees of US$1,016,943,176 (December 31, 2012: US$951,053,313), in favor of its customers in respect of mortgage loans granted by banks to such customers for their purchases of the Group’s properties where the underlying real estate ownership certificates can be provided to the banks only on a time delay manner due to administrative procedures in the PRC. Pursuant to the terms of the guarantees, upon default in mortgage payments by these purchasers, the Group is responsible to repay the outstanding mortgage principal together with the accrued interest and penalty owed by the defaulted purchasers to the bank and the Group is entitled to take over the legal titles and possession of the related properties. The Group’s guarantee period starts from the date of grant of the relevant mortgage loan and ends upon issuance of real estate ownership certificate which will generally be available within six to twelve months after the purchaser takes possession of the relevant property.

 

F - 22
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

The fair value of the guarantees is not significantly different than the net realizable value of the properties and management considers that in case of default in payments, the net realizable value of the related properties can cover the repayment of the outstanding mortgage principal together with the accrued interest and penalty and therefore no provision has been made for the guarantees.

 

In the prior years, the Company has settled the LAT for three of its projects based on the deemed profit method, which was approved by the local tax bureau. The Company believes that it is reasonably possible that in future periods, the federal tax bureau may conclude that the deemed profit method used by the Company in settling LAT for these three projects is not appropriate. Except the project of Zhengzhou Jiantou Xinyuan United Real Estate Co., Ltd., which liquidated on April 6, 2012, the estimated amount for the contingency of the other two projects is US$22.8 million.

 

13. Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

The movement of accumulated other comprehensive income is as follows:

 

   Foreign currency
translation adjustments
 
      
Balance as of December 31, 2012   82,000,020 
Other comprehensive income (unaudited)   14,249,738 
Balance as of June 30, 2013   96,249,758 

 

14. Non-controlling interest

 

A reconciliation of the carrying amounts of Zhengzhou Jiantou Xinyuan United Real Estate Co., Ltd is as follows:

 

   June 30, 2012   June 30, 2013 
   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited) 
   Group   Non-controlling
interests
   Group   Non-controlling
interests
 
Beginning balance   1,204,118    1,111,494         
Net income   1,203,701    1,111,109         
Other comprehensive income   10,361    9,564         
Distribution to non-controlling interest shareholders   (2,418,180)   (2,232,167)        
                     
Ending balance                

 

On April 6, 2012, Zhengzhou Jiantou Xinyuan United Real Estate Co., Ltd was liquidated.

 

15. Subsequent events

 

On July 12, 2013, the Board of Directors unanimously authorized management to repurchase up to US$60 million of the Company’s shares (the 2015 Repurchase Program) from the approval date to the end of 2015. The Board of Directors also agreed to review the Company’s share repurchase program periodically and to adjust the amount authorized for repurchase as necessary.

 

Pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement entered into on September 19, 2013, the Company issued and sold a Senior Secured Convertible Note in the aggregate principal amount of US$75,761,009 (the "Convertible Note") and 12,000,000 Common Shares (the "Common Shares") to an institutional investor. The Company received gross proceeds of approximately US$108,600,000 from the issuance of the Convertible Note and the sale of the Common Shares. The Convertible Note bears interest at 5.00% per annum payable semi-annually. Interest is payable on March 19 and September 19 of each year, commencing March 19, 2014. The final maturity date of the Convertible Note is September 19, 2018.

 

F - 23
 

 

XINYUAN REAL ESTATE CO., LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013 (UNAUDITED)

(All amounts stated in US$, except for number of shares data)

 

On September 16, 2013, the Company acquired a parcel of land in Xingyang, Henan Province for a purchase price of RMB116.6 million, equivalent to US$19.0 million.

 

On September 27, 2013, the Company acquired a parcel of land in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province for a purchase price of RMB1.0 billion, equivalent to US$163 million.

 

On September 30, 2013, the Company acquired two parcels of land which are adjacent to one another in the Er Qi District of Zhengzhou, Henan Province for a purchase price of RMB321.0 million, equivalent to US$52.0 million.

 

On October 18, 2013, Kunshan Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Company, completed a purchase of a residential real estate project in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province by acquiring 100% of the equity interest of the project developer, Jiangsu Jiajing Real Estate Company, a local privately-held real estate company in Kunshan for a total acquisition price of RMB844.1 million (approximately US$137.3 million). The total acquisition price includes an assumption of approximately RMB276 million (approximately US$45 million) of the acquired entity’s existing debt and former shareholder’s loans. The Company is in the process of evaluating the acquisition accounting treatment as well as future LAT and CIT tax impact associated with this acquisition.

 

On October 21, 2013, Henan Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Company, completed a purchase of 51% of the equity interest of Shaan’xi Zhongmao Economic Development Co., Ltd. (“Shaan’xi Zhongmao”) in Xi’an city, Shaan’xi province, for a total acquisition price of RMB36.9 million (approximately US$6.0 million). The Company intends to use Shaan’xi Zhongmao to seek real estate development opportunities in Xi’an city. The Company is in the process of evaluating the acquisition accounting treatment as well as future tax impact associated with this acquisition.

 

F - 24

 

 

EXHIBIT 99.2

 

SElected financial data

 

Our Selected Consolidated Financial Data

 

The following selected consolidated statements of comprehensive income and other financial data for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013, other than the earnings per ADS data, and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2013 have been derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements which are included elsewhere in this report. Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared and presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP. Except for changes in operating subsidiaries, our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared as if our current corporate structure had been in existence throughout the relevant periods.

 

The selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes and the "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” included elsewhere in this report.

 

   Six months ended June 30, 
   2012   2013 
   US$   US$ 
   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited) 
  

(in thousands except share, per share and per

ADS data)

 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income          
Total revenue   425,643    367,913 
Total costs of revenue   (298,926)   (242,360)
Selling and distribution expenses   (8,297)   (5,648)
General and administrative expenses   (19,467)   (21,451)
Operating (loss)/income   98,953    98,454 
Net (loss)/income   92,611    65,976 
Net loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest   (1,111)   - 
Net (loss)/income attributable to Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. shareholders   91,500    65,976 
Earnings (loss) per share          
—Basic   0.63    0.46 
—Diluted   0.62    0.46 
Shares used in computation          
—Basic   145,890,338    142,437,384 
—Diluted   146,399,803    144,627,932 
Earnings (loss) per ADS(1)          
—Basic   1.25    0.93 
—Diluted   1.25    0.91 

 

(1)Earnings per ADS are calculated based on each ADS representing two common shares.

 

1
 

 

   Year ended December 31, 2012 and six months
ended June 30, 2013
 
   2012   2013 
   US$   US$ 
Cash dividends declared per ADS   0.16    0.10 

 

   Year ended December 31, 2012 and six months
ended June 30, 2013
 
   2012   2013 
   US$   US$ 
Other Operating Data          
Number of projects launched   1    0 
Aggregate GFA delivered(1) (m 2 )   512,988    320,404 

 

(1)Delivery occurs when the Company has obtained all the completion acceptance certificates required by the PRC government in respect of the apartment and delivers full access to the apartment, such as the keys, to the buyer.

 

The following table presents a summary of our consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2012, and June 30, 2013:

 

   As of December 31, 2012 and June 30,2013 
   2012   2013 
   US$   US$ 
   (in thousands, except share, per share and per
ADS data)
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data(1)          
Cash and cash equivalents   496,205    635,800 
Restricted cash   145,730    238,926 
Real estate property under development(2)   722,819    605,673 
Total current assets   1,526,343    1,755,320 
Total assets   1,566,381    1,793,229 
Total current liabilities   735,115    644,907 
Long-term bank loans   35,000    83,554 
Other long-term debt   0    200,000 
Common shares   15,358    15,499 
Total Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. shareholders’ equity   781,538    850,756 

 

(1)Financial information for PRC subsidiaries is first prepared in RMB and then translated into U.S. dollars for assets and liabilities at the year-end exchange rate and, for revenues and expenses at the yearly average exchange rate. The rates used are set forth in the table below. Capital accounts are translated at their historical exchange rates when the transactions occurred.

 

(2)Includes real estate property under development recorded under current assets and non-current assets.

 

2
 

 

Exchange Rate Information

 

Our financial statements and other financial data included in this annual report are presented in U.S. dollars. Our business and operations are primarily conducted in China through our PRC subsidiaries. The functional currency of our PRC subsidiaries is RMB. The financial statements of our PRC subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars, using published exchange rates in China, based on (i) year-end exchange rates for assets and liabilities and (ii) average yearly exchange rates for revenues and expenses. Capital accounts are translated at historical exchange rates when the transactions occurred. The effects of foreign currency translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in our shareholders’ equity. We make no representation that any RMB or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars or RMB at any particular rate, including the rate stated below.

 

The RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currency. The PRC government imposes control over its foreign currency reserves in part through direct regulation of the conversion of the RMB into foreign exchange and through restrictions on foreign trade. Since 2005, the People’s Bank of China, or the PBOC, has allowed the RMB to fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of foreign currencies, according to market demand and supply conditions. The PBOC announces the RMB closing price each day and that rate serves as the mid-point of the next day’s trading band.

 

The following table sets forth, for each of the periods indicated, the low, average, high and period-end noon buying rates in New York City for cable transfers, in RMB per U.S. dollar. These rates are provided solely for your convenience and are not necessarily the exchange rates that we used in this annual report or will use in the preparation of periodic reports or other information to be provided to you.

 

   As of and for the Year Ended December 31,   As of and for the Six
Months  Ended
June 30,
 
   2008   2009   2010   2011   2012   2012   2013 
Period-end US$: RMB exchange rate   6.8346    6.8282    6.6227    6.3009    6.2855    6.3249    6.1787 
Period average US$: RMB exchange rate   6.9480    6.8311    6.7704    6.4614    6.3124    6.3076    6.2422 

 

As of October 22, 2013, the US$: RMB exchange rate was 6.1395.

 

3

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 99.3

 

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

 

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Form 6-K and with the discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations contained in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2013 (our "2012 Form 20-F"). This discussion may contain forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those identified elsewhere in this Form 6-K, and those listed in our 2012 Form 20-F under “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” or in other parts of our 2012 Form 20-F.

 

A.Operating Results

 

Overview

 

Since our inception in 1997, we have completed 25 projects with total gross floor area ("GFA") of 2,976,925 square meters. As of June 30, 2013, we had 13 projects in seven cities in China and the United States with estimated total GFA of 2,565,789 square meters under construction and planning, of which eight projects with estimated total GFA of 1,965,810 square meters were under construction. As of June 30, 2013, we had one residential development project in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York in the planning stage with an estimated total GFA of 37,078 square meters. As of June 30, 2013, we also held for sale certain land parcels in Reno, Nevada and 9 condominium units in Irvine, California.

 

Our total revenue, derived primarily from sales of residential real estate, has decreased from US$425.6 million in the first six months of 2012 to US$367.9 million in the first six months of 2013. Our net income was US$91.5 million and US$66.0 million, respectively, for the same periods. We acquire land in China primarily through auctions of government land. This acquisition method allows us to obtain unoccupied land with unencumbered land use rights, which in turn enables us to save the time and expenses associated with protracted legal processes to obtain title, demolition and re-settlement and to commence construction quickly.

 

On November 1, 2010, we completed the acquisition of the remaining 55% ownership interest in Jiantou Xinyuan for a purchase price of US$4.4 million (RMB29.2 million) paid in cash. As we had formerly owned 45% of the equity interest in Jiantou Xinyuan, Jiantou Xinyuan had been accounted under the equity accounting method until November 1, 2010, the date of our acquisition of the remaining 55% equity interest in Jiantou Xinyuan and on which date Jiantou Xinyuan became our wholly owned subsidiary. The results of Jiantou Xinyuan have been included in our consolidated financial statements since November 1, 2010.

 

As a public company, we are subject to the rules and regulations of the United States securities laws and the NYSE relating to, among other things, corporate governance and internal controls. As such, we have recruited the appropriate amount of experienced management, accounting and other personnel. We have also incurred expenses to improve our enterprise resource management system and internal controls.

 

The most significant factors that directly or indirectly affect our financial performance and results of operations are:

 

  · Economic growth and demand for residential property in China and beginning in 2012, in the U.S.;

 

  · PRC government policies and regulations, including tax guidelines and lending policies for the real estate sector;

 

  · Location, number and type of our property developments;

 

  · Availability and cost of financing;

 

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  · Acquisition of quality land use rights or title to quality properties in our target markets;

 

  · Changes in the price of raw materials and labor costs; and

 

  · Our execution capability to support business expansion.

 

Principal Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations

 

Economic growth and demand for residential property in China and beginning in 2012, in the U.S.

 

Our business and results of operations are significantly affected by trends and developments in the PRC economy, including disposable income levels, urbanization rate, population growth, and availability of project and consumer financing, which affect demand for residential properties in China. During the past decade, China has experienced significant economic growth, which has created a favorable operating environment for us in the cities where we operate. As of June 30, 2013, 99.8% of the units in our completed projects have been sold. We have periodically experienced some volatilities in demand due to the strict mortgage policy and other measures taken by the PRC government to slow down the rapid increase in housing prices, such as the Notice on Continuing to Improve the Regulation and Control of the Real Estate Market announced by the General Office of the State Council in February, 2013, which among others, requires an individual income tax at a rate of 20% on gains generated from the sale of a self-owned property (See "ITEM 4 INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY - B. Business Overview - Regulation") in our 2012 Form 20-F. However, we expect continuing economic growth in China, rising disposable income levels and population growth in Tier II and Tier III cities to support demand for residential properties over the next several years. If we continue to expand our business operations in the U.S., trends and development in the U.S. economy, including developments in the U.S. housing markets, will become increasing important to our business and results of operations.

 

PRC government policies and regulations

 

Our business and results of operations are significantly affected by PRC government policies and regulations, particularly those that relate to land sales and development, project and consumer financing, property sales and transfers, property taxation and residential property prices.

 

In connection with the rapid rise in housing prices as the PRC real estate market recovered from the impact of financial crisis, the general office of PRC State Council issued a circular on January 7, 2010, which aimed to control the rapid increase in housing prices and cool down the real estate market. Among other matters, the circular reiterated that purchasers of a second residential property for their households must make down payments of no less than 40% of the purchase price, and that real estate developers who have received approval to sell property must commence sales within the mandated period at the price they have publicly announced. The circular also requested local governments to increase the effective supply of low income housing and ordinary commodity housing and instructed the People's Bank of China ("PBOC") and the China Bank Regulatory Commission ("CBRC") to tighten the supervision of bank lending to the real estate sector.

 

The General Office of the State Council promulgated the Circular on Issues Relevant to Improving the Regulation and control of the Real Property Market on January 26, 2011, which provided, among other things, that for a household purchasing a second residential household property by mortgage financing, the down payment must be at least 60% of the purchase price, and the interest rate for the mortgage on the second residential household property must be at least 1.1 times the benchmark interest rate; in municipalities, the capital city of each province, and other cities where housing prices are too high, a local resident household having one residential household property, or a non-local resident household which is able to provide required certificates as to payment of income tax and social insurance contributions for a certain number of years, may only purchase one additional residential property; for a local resident household already having two or more residential property, or a non-local resident household that already has one or more residential properties or is unable to provide the requisite certificates, the purchase of any residential property in the local area is not permitted. Localities that have already promulgated their own policies on limiting the purchase of residential properties must bring those policies in line with the above-mentioned principle as soon as possible. Municipalities, capital cities of each province, and other cities where housing prices are too high must promulgate policies to limit the purchase of residential properties.

 

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In accordance with the Notice of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Regulating the Administration of Houses Purchase by Overseas Entities and Individuals promulgated on November 4, 2010, except as otherwise provided in the law, an overseas individual may only purchase one house unit for personal residence, and an overseas entity establishing domestic branches or representative offices may only purchase non-residential houses in the city of registration for business purposes.

 

On February 26, 2013, the General Office of the State Council announced the Notice on Continuing to Improve the Regulation and Control of the Real Estate Market , which, among others, provided the following requirements: (i) limitations on the purchase of commodity properties must be strictly implemented, and the scope of such limitations must cover all newly constructed commodity properties and second-hand properties located within the entire administrative area of the city in question; (ii) for those cities with excessive growth in housing prices, the local counterparts of the PBOC may further increase down payment ratios and interest rates for loans to purchase second properties in accordance with the price control policies and targets of the corresponding local governments; and (iii) the gains generated from the sale of a self-owned property shall be subject to individual income tax at a rate of 20%, if the original value of such property can be verified through historical information such as tax filings and property registration.

 

As of October 23, 2013, echoing the notice of General Office of the State Council, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chongqing and other major cities in the PRC have promulgated, respectively, local implementing policies, which among others, reiterated the requirements regarding: (i) limitations on the purchase of properties within the local region; (ii) stabilizing price increases of local properties; (iii) strictly implementing policies on down payment ratios and interest rates for loans to purchase second properties and prohibiting providing loans to purchase third properties; and (iv) particularly in Beijing, strict enforcement of individual income tax collection on the gains generated from the sale of a self-owned property.

 

We believe that it is in the PRC government’s interest to stabilize the market, and the urbanization process and that the continuous increase of disposable income will continue to support the long-term growth of China’s real estate market. Accordingly, we expect that the government will maintain policies that will foster long-term healthy growth and curb potential bubbles in the market. However, we cannot assure that the PRC government will not adopt further measures in the near future that may adversely affect our business and financial performance.

 

Moreover, a substantial portion of our customers depend on mortgage financing to purchase our properties. Although government policies have generally fostered the growth of private home ownership, regulations have been adopted in recent years to tighten and then loosen mortgage lending rules. For example, the minimum down payment required for residential properties of 90 square meters or more was increased from 20% to 30% of the purchase price in 2006. In September 2007, the minimum down payment for any second or subsequent purchase of residential property was increased to 40% of the purchase price where the purchaser had obtained a bank loan to finance the purchase of his or her first property. Moreover, the interest rate for bank loans of such purchase may not be less than 110% of the PBOC, benchmark rate of the same term and category. Effective as of December 20, 2008, however, residents who have already purchased, with mortgages, an “ordinary property for self-use” that is smaller than the average size for their locality are entitled to the preferential loan interest rate and down payment ratio available to first-time purchasers of residential property when they purchase a second property to improve their living conditions. Since January 26, 2011, for a household purchasing a second residential household property with mortgage financing, the down payment must be at least 60% of the purchase price and the interest rate for the mortgage on such property must be at least 1.1 times the benchmark interest rate. The notice of the General Office of the State Council promulgated on February 26, 2013 authorized local counterparts of the PBOC to further increase down payment ratios and interest rates for loans to purchase second properties in accordance with the price control policies and targets of the corresponding local governments. For instance, on April 7, 2013, Beijing promulgated new rules regarding housing fund loans, which increased the minimum down payment to 70% of the purchase price for a household purchasing a second residential household property with housing fund loans. In addition, the suspension of loans to purchase a third residential property has been continued. In the second half of 2013, many commercial banks suspended or delayed the application for mortgage loans for the second residential household property and cancelled the discount of the interest rate for mortgage loans for the first residential household property. The down payment ratio, the loan interest rate and the size of mortgage financing are important factors that affect our results of operations.

 

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The PRC government will also from time to time introduce sales tax incentives or disincentives to either stimulate or dampen demand. For example, the required holding period for avoidance of tax on capital gains on sale of real estate was extended in December 2009 from two years to five years in an effort to reduce alleged speculation and the 20% tax on capital gains if the original value of such property can be verified through historical information such as tax filings and property registration per the February 26, 2013 notice referred to above.

 

Location, number and type of our property developments

 

The amount of revenue we record in any given period is affected by a number of factors, including the number, type and location of properties we have under construction and their stage of completion, whether the completed units have been sold and the realized selling prices for such units. The average selling prices of our projects vary depending on the types and sizes of the units sold and on the location of the projects. As the overall development moves closer to completion, the sales prices tend to increase because a more established residential community is offered to purchasers. The type of property development affects the estimated construction period of the project, which largely determines the revenue recognition method we apply. Revenue recognized in any period under the full accrual method depends on the number, aggregate GFA and average selling prices of units completed and sold during the period. Revenue recognized in any period under the percentage of completion method depends on contracted sales of units in the relevant project and the completion progress of a project (measured by the ratio of cost incurred to total estimated cost). As the completion and sales of our projects are not spread evenly over time, our results of operations may differ significantly from period to period.

 

Availability and cost of financing

 

Like other property developers, we require substantial capital investment for the acquisition of land use rights and the construction of our projects. Our ability to secure financing for such purposes affects the number of projects we are able to develop at any time. On January 18, 2010, the PBOC decided to tighten the credit supply by increasing the reserve requirement ratio for commercial banks by 0.5%, which was the first increase since June 2008. As of March 25, 2011, the PBOC raised the reserve requirement ratio for large commercial banks by 0.5% to 20%, and small and middle sized financial institutions by 0.5% to 16.5% and on June 20, 2011, the reserve requirement ratio was raised to its peak of 21.5% for large commercial banks and 18% for small and middle sized financial institutions. As of May 18, 2012, the reserve requirement ratios have been reduced to 20.0% for large commercial banks and 16.5% for small and middle sized financial institutions. Notwithstanding such reduction in requirement amount, the overall increases in the reserve requirement ratio will reduce the amount of commercial bank credit available to businesses in China and may affect our ability to obtain sufficient funding from banks to finance our business expansion.

 

The cost of our financing also affects our operating results. We typically obtain bank borrowings for up to 65% of the cost of our land use rights to fund PRC project developments after we receive the required permits. Interest rates on our commercial bank borrowings vary and are linked to benchmark lending rates published by the PBOC, which fluctuate from time to time. In 2007, we issued US$75 million principal amount of floating rate notes, which bore interest at a variable rate based on LIBOR plus 6.8% per annum, and US$25 million principal amount of convertible notes, which bore interest at 2% per annum. These notes were paid in full in April 2010, at which time we issued US$40 million principal amount of secured note which bore interest at 15.6% per annum. The secured note matured on April 15, 2013 and has been paid in full. On May 3, 2013, we issued an aggregate principal amount of US$200,000,000 of 13.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2018 (“Senior Secured Notes”) and on September 19, 2013, we issued a Senior Secured Convertible Note in the principal amount of US$75.8 million. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Senior Secured Notes" and "Convertible Note" below. We expect our interest costs to fluctuate in future periods as a result of changes in interest rates and the amount of our outstanding borrowings.

 

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Acquisition of land use rights or title to properties in target markets

 

Our business model depends to a large extent on our ability to acquire land use rights for development sites and proceed quickly with construction to shorten our development cycle. As a consequence, we are frequently surveying the market for attractive development opportunities in our target cities. Under current regulations and market practice, land use rights for residential development purposes in China may be acquired from local governments through a competitive auction or other bidding process, in which the minimum reserve price is determined based on the appraised value. Land use rights may also be acquired in the secondary markets. We have also commenced utilizing a negotiated land acquisition model, which involves deposits on certain lands that we are most interested in acquiring, which we believe will improve our chances of successfully acquiring desired land. For a description of this model, see " ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY – B. Business Overview – Our Property Development Operations in China" in our 2012 Form 20-F. Land use rights prices vary significantly from city to city.

 

Government land auctions are a transparent and competitive process for bringing development land to market, allowing the developer to acquire clean title and the ability to proceed immediately with development. However, as competition for development sites in Tier II and Tier III cities increases, the auction mechanism tends to lead to higher prices. Land use rights costs, including auction price and taxes, constituted 37.6% and 36.6% of our cost of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013, respectively. In late 2009, land use rights costs started to increase slightly again due to the recovery of the real estate market in China and sudden rise in housing prices in certain cities. However, since the fourth quarter of 2011, land use rights costs started to decrease slightly due to lower demand in the real estate market. During 2012, we incurred an aggregate of US$294.7 million for land acquisitions in China, including deposits for potential acquisitions under the negotiated land acquisition model. In addition, during 2012, we expanded our operations into the U.S., purchasing three properties through privately negotiated transactions for an aggregate cost of US$71.6 million. During the six months 2013, we did not make any land acquisitions in China or the US.

 

Increases in the price of raw materials and labor costs

 

We outsource the design and construction of our property developments to third-party service providers. Our third-party contractors are responsible for providing labor and procuring a majority of the raw materials used in our project developments. Our construction contracts typically provide for fixed or capped payments, but the payments are subject to changes in certain cases, such as changes in government-suggested steel prices. Any increase in labor costs or other costs which may result in adjustments in payments under our construction contracts could result in an increase in our construction costs. In addition, the increase in the price of raw materials, such as cement, concrete blocks and bricks, in the long run could be passed on to us by our contractors, which could increase our construction costs. Any input cost increase could reduce our earnings to the extent we are unable to pass these increased costs to our customers.

 

Our execution capability to support business expansion

 

Since 2006, we have been expanding our residential property development operations from Zhengzhou in Henan Province into other Tier II and Tier III cities, including Chengdu in Sichuan Province, Hefei in Anhui Province, Jinan in Shandong Province, and Suzhou, Kunshan and Xuzhou in Jiangsu Province. We plan to expand into additional Tier II and Tier III cities as suitable opportunities arise. The development of real estate projects across additional Tier II and Tier III cities will impose significant demand on our management and other operational resources. Moreover, we will face increased competition and will need to establish brand recognition and market acceptance for our developments in these new markets. Each of our Tier II and Tier III cities has its own market conditions, customer requirements and local regulations related to the real estate industry. In addition, while our primary focus continues to be residential real estate markets in the Tier II and Tier III cities in China, we have expanded into the U.S. market and have secured three real estate projects in the U.S. in 2012. Our expansion in the U.S. market, which is significantly different from China in terms of market conditions, regulatory compliance requirement and customers, imposes significant demands on our management and other operational resources. The success of our business expansion depends on our ability to develop, market and deliver quality development projects on time. In addition, the progress and costs of a development project can be adversely affected by many factors, such as delays in obtaining necessary licenses, permits or approvals from relevant government authorities, failure by local contractors to comply with our designs, specifications or standards, and disputes with our third-party contractors. As we are not permitted to commence pre-sales in China until we have reached certain milestones in the construction progress for a project, any significant delay in construction could restrict our ability to pre-sell our properties, which could extend the recovery period for our investments. This, in turn, could have an adverse effect on our cash flow, investment returns, results of operations and financial position.

 

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Operating Results

 

Revenues

 

Our revenues are derived mainly from the development and sale of real estate. In addition, we generate a small percentage of revenue from leasing ancillary facilities and residential units in certain of our residential developments, as well as from the provision of related services, including property management and real estate related services that we provide to residents and purchasers of our residential units.

 

   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2012   2013 
   US$   %   US$   % 
   (US$ in thousands, except for percentages) 
     
Real estate sales   416,461    97.8    359,902    97.8 
                     
Real estate leasing   2,994    0.7    665    0.2 
                     
Other revenue   6,188    1.5    7,346    2.0 
                     
Total revenue   425,643    100.0    367,913    100.0 

 

The impact of foreign exchange rate variances on the reported revenues in U.S. dollars was a favorable 1.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2013, compared to a favorable 2.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2012. These variances were due to a steady appreciation of the RMB versus the U.S. dollar during the six months ended June 30, 2013.

 

Real Estate Sales

 

Real estate sales mainly represent revenues from the sales of residential properties we develop and acquire. Throughout this Form 6-K, real estate sales are stated net of sales tax levied on the relevant contracted sales value. Sales tax is a one-time tariff which consists of a business tax at the rate of 5%, an urban construction tax at the rate of 0.35% and an education surcharge at the rate of 0.15%. Total sales tax amounted to US$24.9 million and US$21.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013, we recognized all our real estate sales revenues in China under the percentage of completion method. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, we acquired two new projects in the U.S. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, we did not acquire additional projects in the U.S. All the revenues related to these projects in the U.S. were recognized under the full accrual method.

 

Real Estate Leasing

 

Real estate leasing revenues represent the income from the rental of ancillary facilities, including parking facilities, kindergartens, elementary schools, and clubhouses in a number of our developments.

 

Other Revenue

 

Other revenue consists primarily of fees received for our property management services, landscaping and computer network engineering and other real estate-related services that we provide to residents and purchasers of our residential units.

 

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Cost of Revenues

 

The following table sets forth a breakdown of our cost of revenues for the period indicated.

 

   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2012   2013 
   US$   %   US$   % 
   (US$ in thousands, except for percentages) 
     
Cost of real estate sales                    
Land use rights costs   112,484    37.6    88,767    36.6 
Construction costs   178,299    59.6    144,622    59.7 
Total cost of real estate sales   290,783    97.2    233,389    96.3 
                     
Cost of real estate leasing   754    0.3    977    0.4 
Other costs   7,389    2.5    7,994    3.3 
Total costs of revenues   298,926    100.0    242,360    100.0 

 

Cost of Real Estate Sales

 

Cost of real estate sales consist primarily of land use rights costs and construction costs. Impairment charges, if any, are also recorded under cost of real estate sales. Cost of real estate sales are capitalized and allocated to development projects using the specific identification method. When the full accrual method of revenue recognition is applied, costs are recorded based on the ratio of the sales value of the relevant units completed and sold to the estimated total project sales value, multiplied by the estimated total project costs. When the percentage of completion method of revenue recognition is applied, capitalized costs are released to our statement of comprehensive income based on the completion progress of a project.

 

Land use rights costs. Land use rights costs include the amount we pay to acquire land use rights for our property development sites in China, plus taxes, and the amount we pay to acquire land for our property development in the U.S., plus taxes. We acquire our development sites in the PRC mainly by competitive bidding at public auctions of government land. We acquire our development sites or land held for sale in the U.S. generally through off-market transactions, including resales and distressed sales. Our land use rights costs for different projects vary according to the size and location of the site and the minimum reserve price for the site, all of which are influenced by government policies, as well as prevailing market conditions. Our land use rights costs have increased in the past few years due to several factors including geographic expansion into certain higher priced markets, generally rising prices in each of our served markets, and increased competition from a growing number of bidders at government land auctions.

 

Construction costs. We outsource the construction of all of our projects to third party contractors, whom we select through a competitive tender process. Our construction contracts provide for fixed or capped payments which cover substantially all labor, materials, fittings and equipment costs, subject to adjustments for certain prescribed contingencies, such as design changes during the construction process or changes in government-suggested steel prices. Our construction costs consist primarily of the payments to our third-party contractors, which are paid over the construction period based on specified milestones. In addition, we directly purchase and supply a limited range of fittings and equipment, including elevators, window frames and door frames. Our construction costs also include capitalized interest costs in the amount of US$18.8 million and US$13.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013, respectively.

 

Future losses and impairment charges. When the profitability of a project deteriorates due to a slow down in the sales pace or other factors, this indicates that there may be a possible future loss on delivery and potential impairment in the recoverability of the assets. Accordingly, the assets of such project are reviewed for future losses and impairment by comparing the estimated future undiscounted cash flows for the project to the carrying value of such project. If the estimated future undiscounted cash flows are less than the asset’s carrying value, such deficit will be charged as a future loss. Then the asset will be written down to its estimated fair value. We determine estimated fair value primarily by discounting the estimated future cash flows relating to the asset. In estimating the cash flows for a project, we use various factors including (a) the expected pace at which the planned number of units will be sold, based on competitive market conditions, historical trends in sales pace, actual average selling prices, sales of similar product offerings and any other long or short-term economic conditions which may impact the market in which the project is located; (b) the estimated net sales prices expected to be attained based on the current market conditions and historical price trends, as well as any estimated increases in future sales prices based upon the projected rate of unit sales, estimated time gap between presale and expected delivery, the impact of government policies, the local and regional competitive environment, and certain external factors such as the opening of a subway line, school or factory; and (c) the expected costs to be expended in the future, including, but not limited to, construction cost, construction overheads, sales and marketing, sales taxes and interest costs.

 

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Our determination of fair value requires discounting the estimated cash flow at a rate commensurate with the inherent risk associated with the assets and related estimated cash flow. The discount rate used in determining each project’s fair value depends on the stage of development, location and other specific factors that increase or decrease the risk associated with the estimated cash flows. In accordance with our accounting policies, we consider on a quarterly basis whether indicators of impairment of long-lived assets are present. See also “—Critical Accounting Policies” for our policy on impairment of long-lived assets.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013, we did not recognize any impairment for our active projects, consisting of projects under construction or planning or held for sale.

 

Cost of Real Estate Leasing

 

Our cost of real estate leasing consists primarily of depreciation expenses and maintenance expenses associated with the leased properties. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Estimated useful lives of our properties held for lease are generally 20 years.

 

Other Costs

 

Other costs represent costs incurred in connection with the property management and real estate services that we provide to residents and purchasers of our residential units.

 

Selling and Distribution Expenses

 

Our selling and distribution expenses include:

 

  · advertising and promotion expenses, such as print advertisement costs, billboard and other display advertising costs, and costs associated with our showrooms and illustrative units;

 

  · sales and marketing staff costs, which consist primarily of salaries and welfares;

 

  · for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013, agency commissions of approximately 1.0% of contracted sales on outsourced project sales; and

 

  · other related expenses.

 

As of June 30, 2013, we employed 36 full-time sales and marketing personnel. We expect our selling and marketing expenses to increase in the near future as we increase our sales efforts, launch more projects and target new markets to expand our operations.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

General and administrative expenses principally include:

 

  · staff salaries and benefits, quarterly and annual bonuses, and stock-based compensation;

 

  · traveling and office expenses;

 

  · professional fees, such as audit and legal fees; and

 

  · other expenses.

 

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Interest Income

 

Interest income represents interest earned on our bank balances.

 

Interest Expenses

 

Interest expenses include (i) interest paid on our bank borrowings and other indebtedness, including our secured note and US$185 million out of US$200 million principal amount of our Senior Secured Notes issued in May 2013 that did not qualify for capitalization, (ii) amortization of debt issuance cost, (iii) accretion of discount from embedded derivatives, and (iv) interest paid on our Senior Secured Notes, all net of amounts capitalized to construction costs. The Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes in the principal amount of US$40 million bore interest at the fixed annual rate of 15.6% (“Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes”) and the Company repaid the principal on April 12, 2013. The Senior Secured Notes issued on May 3, 2013 in the principal amount of US$200 million bear interest at the fixed rate of 13.25% per annum. Interest rates on our bank borrowings, all of which, except US$45 million borrowed from ICBC Asia Limited, US$35 million borrowed from Agricultural Bank of China (Singapore) and US$10 million borrowed from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Thai) Public Company Limited, are granted by PRC commercial banks and denominated in RMB, are typically variable and linked to benchmark rates published by the PBOC. Our weighted average interest rate on short-term bank loans as of December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2013 was 5.31% and 5.75%. As of June 30, 2013, the PBOC benchmark rate for a one-year loan was 6.00% per annum and those for loans of more than one year ranged from 6.15% to 6.55% per annum.

 

Income Taxes

 

The following table sets forth the components of income taxes for the periods indicated.

 

   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2012   2013 
   US$   US$ 
Income before taxes   102,203,333    98,121,572 
Provision for taxes   9,592,510    32,145,317 
Effective tax rate   9.4%   32.8%

 

 For a discussion of corporate income tax and land appreciation tax, see below.

 

Corporate Income Tax and Unrecognized Tax Benefit

 

Cayman Islands

 

We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Under the current law of the Cayman Islands, we are not subject to income or capital gains tax. In addition, dividend payments are not subject to withholding tax in the Cayman Islands.

 

People’s Republic of China

 

In general, enterprises in the PRC are subject to income tax at a statutory rate of 25%. In 2009 and 2010, in accordance with local provisional tax regulations in Henan province, the local tax authority in Zhengzhou determined that the taxable income of our PRC subsidiaries in Henan province should be deemed from 12% to 20% of their total cash receipts from sales of residential units. Total cash receipts include cash receipts proceeds from pre-sales of our properties that are recorded as customer deposits, which partly comprise mortgage loan proceeds received in our account from mortgage lending banks. The Zhengzhou local tax authority has provisionally confirmed that it suspended the deemed profit method to our PRC subsidiaries located in Henan province and turned to the statutory taxable income method at 25% on income for the year ended December 31, 2011. For our subsidiaries located in Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui and Sichuan provinces, income tax is levied at the statutory rate of 25% on income as reported in the statutory financial statements after appropriate tax adjustments for the year ended December 31, 2011. The local authorities have indicated that they will apply the regulation in the same manner in 2012 and 2013.

 

9
 

 

We have made full provision for the corporate income tax, or CIT, payable by our PRC subsidiaries based on the statutory income tax rate of 25%, after appropriate adjustments to our taxable income used in the calculation. The difference between tax payable on our actual taxable income and tax levied on the deemed taxable income basis had been treated as an unrecognized tax benefit under ASC 740-10 “ Income Tax ”, or ASC 740-10, which contributes to the balance of US$7.3 million as of June 30, 2013. The increase related to current year tax positions was due to the application of the deemed profit method by the local tax authority of Zhengzhou city for Henan Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd.’s fiscal year 2012 PRC income tax return. We believe this treatment is appropriate due to the possibility of reinterpretation of the application of the tax regulations by higher tax authorities in the PRC, as the local authorities have indicated that they would apply the regulation in the same manner in 2012 and 2013.

 

Land Appreciation Tax

 

Under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries engaging in property development are subject to land appreciation tax ("LAT"), which is levied by the local tax authorities upon the “appreciation value” as defined in the relevant tax laws. All taxable gains from the sale or transfer of land use rights, buildings and related facilities in China are subject to LAT at progressive rates that range from 30% to 60%. Certain exemptions are allowed for sales of ordinary residential properties if the appreciation value does not exceed a threshold specified in the relevant tax laws. Gains from sales of commercial properties are not eligible for this exemption. Whether a property qualifies for the ordinary residential property exemption is determined by the local government taking into consideration the property’s plot ratio, aggregate GFA and sales price.

 

In prior years, our subsidiaries in Zhengzhou settled LAT on three projects, International City Garden II, Finance Square and International Plaza based on the deemed profit method. As the deemed profit method deviates from the national tax regulations, we recorded an accrual of US$22.8 million for the difference between LAT settled based on the deemed profit method and under national tax regulations. On April 6, 2012, one of our subsidiaries, Zhengzhou Jiantou Xinyuan United Real Estate Co., Ltd. ("Zhengzhou Jiantou"), which developed International Plaza was liquidated. During the liquidation process, the national tax authority performed an assessment on the sufficiency of taxes paid by Zhengzhou Jiantou, including LAT. The Zhengzhou branch of the national tax bureau determined that no additional tax adjustment was required. We received a tax clearance certificate confirming that there was no underpayment of taxes as of April 6, 2012 for Zhengzhou Jiantou. Based on the above, we performed a reassessment and concluded that the likelihood of the national tax bureau overturning the deemed profit method approved by the local tax bureau is reasonably possible, and accordingly reversed the LAT Liability accrued for these three projects totaling US$22.8 million as of June 30, 2012.

 

We have recorded a provision for LAT on the remaining projects completed since the date of incorporation. For the remaining projects, we have also accrued all LAT payable on our property sales and transfers in accordance with the progressive rates specified in relevant tax laws, less amounts previously paid under the levy method applied by relevant local tax authorities.

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

We have two share-based compensation plans, our 2007 equity incentive plan and our 2007 long-term incentive plan. Under our 2007 equity incentive plan, we granted share option awards for an aggregate of 6,802,495 common shares at a weighted average exercise price of US$1.08 on August 11, 2007. Under our 2007 long-term incentive plan, we may grant options, restricted shares, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights and other stock-based awards for the purchase of up to 10,000,000 common shares. As of June 30, 2013, we have granted options and restricted stock awards to acquire up to 13,749,840 common shares. We charged compensation cost of US$1.1 million and US$0.2 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013 against income comprising of general and administrative expenses of US$1.1 million and US$0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013.

 

10
 

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table presents a summary of our consolidated statements of comprehensive income by amount and as a percentage of our total revenue during the periods indicated. Our historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other future period.

 

   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2012   2013 
   US$   %   US$   % 
   in
thousands
       in
thousands
     
Revenue   425,643    100.0    367,913    100.0 
Cost of revenue   (298,926)   (70.2)   (242,361)   (65.9)
                     
Gross profit   126,717    29.8    125,552    34.1 
Selling and distribution expenses   (8,297)   (1.9)   (5,648)   (1.5)
General and administrative expenses   (19,467)   (4.6)   (21,451)   (5.8)
                     
Operating income   98,953    23.3    98,453    26.8 
Interest income   3,251    0.8    4,512    1.2 
Interest expenses   -    -    (4,844)   (1.3)
Income from operations before income taxes   102,204    24.1    98,121    26.7 
Income taxes   (9,593)   (2.3)   (32,145)   (8.7)
Net income   92,611    21.8    65,976    18.0 
Net loss/ (income) attributable to non-controlling interest   (1,111)   (0.3)   -    - 
Net income attributable to Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. shareholders   91,500    21.5    65,976    18.0 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2013 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2012

 

Revenue

 

Revenue decreased by US$57.7 million, or 13.6%, to US$367.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from US$425.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

 

Real Estate Sales

 

Revenue from real estate sales decreased by US$56.6 million, or 13.6%, to US$359.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from US$416.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, mainly due to a reduction in sellable units at a majority of our projects because they were near completion except for Jinan Xinyuan Splendid. New projects will begin presale in the second half year of 2013.

 

Full accrual method revenues

 

Revenue from the sale of properties where the construction period, the period from the construction permit award date to the unit delivery date, is expected to be 12 months or less, or the construction period is expected to be longer than 12 months and sales prices are not certain to be collected, is recognized by the full accrual method when the sale is consummated and the unit has been delivered. Properties held for sale is recognized by the full accrual method at the time of the closing of an individual unit sale, when title to the property is transferred to the buyer. A sale is considered to be consummated when the parties are bound by the terms of a contract, all consideration has been exchanged, any permanent financing of which we are responsible has been arranged, all conditions precedent to closing have been performed, we do not have substantial continuing involvement with the property, and the usual risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer. In addition, the buyer’s initial and continuing investment must be adequate to demonstrate a commitment to pay for the property, and the buyer’s receivable, if any, must not be subject to future subordination. Sales transactions not meeting all the conditions of the full accrual method are accounted for using the deposit method in which all costs are capitalized as incurred, and payments received from the buyer are recorded as a deposit liability.

 

Revenues related to the projects in the U.S. are recognized under the full accrual method. For the six months ended June 30, 2012, no revenues were recognized under the full accrual method. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, revenue was recognized in the amount of US$5.3 million for the resale of parcels of the Northern Nevada Land Portfolio and condominium units of the Lennox Project.

 

11
 

 

Percentage of completion method revenues

 

Revenue and profit from the sale of development properties is recognized by the percentage-of-completion method on the sale of individual units when the following conditions are met:

 

  · Construction is beyond a preliminary stage.

 

  · The buyer is committed to the extent of being unable to require a refund except for non-delivery of the unit.

 

  · Sufficient units have already been sold to assure that the entire property will not revert to rental property.

 

  · Sales prices are collectible.

 

  · Aggregate sales proceeds and costs can be reasonably estimated.

 

If any of the above criteria is not met, proceeds are accounted for as customer deposits until the criteria are met.

 

Under the percentage of completion method, revenues from units sold and related costs are recognized over the course of the construction period, based on the completion progress of a project. In relation to any project, revenue is determined by calculating the ratio of incurred costs, including land use rights costs and construction costs, to total estimated costs and applying that ratio to the contracted sales amounts less business tax. Costs of revenue are recognized by determining the ratio of contracted sales during the period to total estimated sales value, and applying that ratio to the incurred costs. Current period amounts are calculated based on the difference between the life-to-date project totals and the previously recognized amounts.

 

The following table sets forth, for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013, the percentage of completion, the percentage sold and related revenues for our projects. Revenues are recognized under the percentage of completion method for our projects in China and under the full accrual method for our projects in the U.S.

 

Project  Total GFA   Percentage
Complete as of
June 30, (1)
   Percentage Sold
(2)
Accumulated as
of
June 30,,
   Revenues Recognized For
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
       2012   2013   2012   2013   2012   2013 
      %   %   %   %   US$   %(3)   US$   %(4) 
Chengdu Segment                                             
Chengdu Xinyuan Splendid I   231,032    94.9    99.5    92.4    98.7    7,513,828    1.8    7,355,471    2.0 
Chengdu Xinyuan Splendid II   217,010    92.1    98.2    95.3    99.9    41,371,481    9.9    328,475    0.1 
Jiangsu Segment                                             
Suzhou International City Garden   204,882    98.0    99.8    94.1    99.2    83,711,174    20.1    1,956,713    0.5 
Suzhou Lake Splendid   198,113    100.0    100.0    99.7    99.7    290,064    0.1    0    0.0 
Suzhou Colorful Garden   81,505    99.9    100.0    99.4    99.4    0    0.0    125,209    0.0 
Kunshan International City Garden   497,941    95.5    99.4    75.1    94.3    46,909,758    11.3    42,385,741    11.8 
Xuzhou Colorful Garden   101,821    92.8    100.0    100.0    96.8    15,254,091    3.7    4,248,547    1.2 
Shandong Segment                                             
Jinan Elegant Scenery   100,386    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    0    0.0    0    0.0 
Jinan International City Garden   264,282    99.8    99.9    99.3    99.2    155,264    00    729,059    0.2 
Jinan Xinyuan Splendid   565,356    61.6    75.6    23.8    60.0    45,030,710    10.8    128,110,535    35.6 
Henan Segment                                             
Zhengzhou Xinyuan Colorful Garden   191,891    99.8    99.9    99.9    99.7    4,414,067    1.1    206,058    0.1 
Zhengzhou Finance Square   67,225    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    46,836,337    11.2    0    0.0 
Zhengzhou Modern City   226,425    76.9    99.0    92.4    98.7    35,436,283    8.5    6,463,047    1.8 
Zhengzhou Royal Palace   132,238    70.5    80.2    43.5    87.6    963,652    0.2    46,281,276    12.9 
Zhengzhou International City Garden   280,748    N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A     518,532    0.1    2,198,493    0.6 
Zhengzhou Yipin Xiangshan Phase I   94,249    97.3    99.0    99.6    100.0    354,708    0.1    63    0.0 
Zhengzhou Yipin Xiangshan Phase II   198,192    76.2    95.0    89.9    96.7    54,374,903    13.1    13,278,387    3.7 
Zhengzhou Century East A   77,341    0.0    82.7    0.0    75.3    0    0.0    56,237,050    15.6 
Zhengzhou Century East B   166,497    73.8    86.9    45.8    90.4    33,273,377    8.0    44,771,807    12.4 
Anhui Segment                                             
Hefei Wangjiang Garden   145,455    100.0    100.0    100.0    100.0    52,716    0.0    0    0.0 
US Segment                                             
Lennox Project(5)   N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    0.0    0.0    4,565,589    1.3 
Northern Nevada project(6)   N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    N/A    0.0    0.0    660,000    0.2 
Total   4,042,589                        416,460,945    100.0    359,901,520    100.0 

 

12
 

 

 (1) Percentage of completion is calculated by dividing total costs incurred by total estimated costs for the relevant project, estimated as of the time of preparation of our financial statements as of and for the period indicated.

 

(2) Percentage sold is calculated by dividing contracted sales value from property sales by total estimated sales value of the relevant project, estimated as of the time of preparation of our financial statements as of and for the period indicated.

 

(3) Percentage of all real estate sales revenues for the financial period, including revenues recognized under the percentage of completion method.

 

(4) Percentage of all real estate sales revenues for the financial period, including PRC projects revenues recognized under the percentage of completion method and U.S. projects revenues recognized under the full accrual method.

 

(5) Lennox Project is a finished condominium project located in Irvine, California, United States. We acquired 15 units with a total GFA of 2,865 square meters out of the total 72 units from a major U.S. developer in August 2012. We resold several condominium units and recognized revenue in the amount of US$4.6 million in the six months period ended June 30, 2013.
   
(6) Northern Nevada project is a land portfolio, comprised of 325 finished lots and 185 acres of undeveloped land, at eight sites, in the northern Nevada region near Reno-Spark metropolitan area. We resold parcels and recognized revenue in the amount of US$0.7million in the six months ended June 30, 2013.

 

The following table sets forth the square meters sold and average selling price per square meter by each project, each reportable segment and on a consolidated basis for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013.

 

   For Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2012   2013 
Project  Contract
Sales
   Square
Meters
Sold
   Average
Selling
Price
   Contract
Sales
   Square
Meters
Sold
   Average
Selling
Price
 
   US$      US$/m²   US$      US$/m² 
Chengdu region                              
Chengdu Xinyuan Splendid I   6,207,822    6,191    1,003    4,330,247    3,870    1,119 
Chengdu Xinyuan Splendid II   44,615,029    41,082    1,086    1,157,672    448    2,584 
Total   50,822,851    47,273    1,075    5,487,919    4,318    1,271 
Jiangsu region                              
Suzhou International City Garden   90,057,896    55,290    1,629    457,254    258    1,772 
Suzhou Lake Splendid   307,270    228    1,348             
Suzhou Colorful Garden               41,783    105    398 
Kunshan International City Garden   16,704,975    13,160    1,269    30,690,523    22,108    1,388 
Xuzhou Colorful Garden   1,191,947    1,030    1,157    622,098    359    1,733 
Total   108,262,088    69,708    1,553    31,811,658    22,830    1,393 
Shandong region                              
Jinan International City Garden   117,031            214,867    17    12,602 
Jinan Xinyuan Splendid   61,839,648    50,241    1,231    160,198,869    131,772    1,216 
Total   61,956,679    50,241    1,233    160,413,736    131,789    1,217 
Henan region                              
Zhengzhou Xinyuan Colorful Garden   6,335,779    3,554    1,783             
Zhengzhou Royal Palace   47,029,352    25,355    1,855    52,616,458    35,759    1,471 
Zhengzhou Finance Square   1,395,463    443    3,150             
Zhengzhou Modern City   33,504,293    23,482    1,427    5,786,785    2,121    2,728 
Zhengzhou Yipin Xiangshan Phase I   351,402                     
Zhengzhou Yipin Xiangshan Phase II   64,955,087    56,865    1,142    5,800,955    3,310    1,753 
Zhengzhou Century East A               74,236,833    46,651    1,591 
Zhengzhou Century East B   43,122,547    32,369    1,332    39,195,511    25,003    1,568 
Total   196,693,923    142,068    1,385    177,636,542    112,844    1,574 
Anhui region                              
Hefei Wangjiang Garden   55,489                     
Grand Total   417,791,030    309,290    1,351    375,349,855    271,781    1,381 

 

13
 

 

The total square meters sold decreased to 271,781 square meters for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from 309,290 square meters for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The decreased was mainly due to a reduction in sellable units at a majority of our projects because they were near completion, except for Jinan Xinyuan Splendid. New projects will begin presale in the second half year of 2013. 

The overall aggregate average selling price per square meter for the six months ended June 30, 2013 increased to US$1,381 from US$1,351 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 primarily due to the selling price increases in a positive market environment.

 

Chengdu region. The square meters in this region sold for the six months ended June 30, 2013 decreased to 4,318 square meters from 47,273 square meters for the six months ended June 30, 2012, primarily due to a reduction in saleable units of Chengdu Xinyuan Splendid I and Chengdu Xinyuan Splendid II. The average selling price per square meter for the six months ended June 30, 2013 increased to US$1,271 from US$1,075.

 

Jiangsu region. The square meters sold for the six months ended June 30, 2013 decreased to 22,830 square meters from 69,708 square meters for the six months ended June 30, 2012, because higher-priced Suzhou International City Garden was almost sold out in 2013, partially offset by the improved sales of Kunshan International City Garden. The average selling price per square meter for the six months ended June 30, 2013 decreased to US$1,393 from US$1,553 for the six months ended June 30, 2012, primarily due to lower sales of higher-priced properties at Suzhou International City Garden, which was almost sold out as mentioned above.

 

Shandong region. The square meters sold for the six months ended June 30, 2013 increased to 131,789 square meters from 50,241 square meters for the six months ended June 30, 2012, due to strong sales of Jinan Xinyuan Splendid. The average selling price per square meter for the six months ended June 30, 2013 slightly decreased to US$1,217 from US$1,233 for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

 

Henan region. The square meters sold for the six months ended June 30, 2013 decreased to 112,844 square meters from 142,068 square meters for the six months ended June 30, 2012, mainly due to decreased sales of Zhengzhou Century East B projects, Zhengzhou Yipin Xiangshan Phase II and Zhengzhou Modern City, partially offset by the new commenced sales activities at Zhengzhou Century East A projects. The average selling price per square meter for the six months ended June 30, 2013 increased to US$1,574 from US$1,385 for the six months ended June 30, 2012, resulting from increased sales of higher-priced commercial space (as compared to residential space) as a percentage of total sales.

 

Anhui region. The only formerly active project in Anhui region, Hefei Wangjiang Garden was completely sold out by the end of 2009. Sales in the first six months of 2012 of US$0.06 million were mainly due to the sale of parking facilities.

 

Real estate leasing

 

Real estate leasing income decreased by US$2.3 million to US$0.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from US$3.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

 

14
 

 

Other revenue

 

Other revenue increased by US$1.1 million, or 17.7%, to US$7.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from US$6.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The increase primarily resulted from expanded operations from our property management services.

 

Cost of revenue

 

Cost of revenue decreased by US$56.5 million, or 18.9%, to US$242.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from US$298.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, was mainly due to cost savings recognized at several projects after final settlement with contractors.

 

Cost of real estate sales

 

Cost of real estate sales decreased by US$57.4 million, or 19.7%, to US$233.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from US$290.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Total land use rights cost decreased by US$23.7 million, or 21.1%, from US$112.5 million (37.6% of cost of real estate sales) for the six months ended June 30, 2012 to US$88.8 million (36.6% of cost of real estate sales) for the six months ended June 30, 2013, primarily due to reduction in sellable units of other old projects which were near completion. The construction cost, including capitalized interest, decreased by US$33.7 million, or 18.9%, to US$144.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from US$178.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, was mainly due cost savings recognized at several projects after final settlement with contractors.

 

Cost of real estate leasing

 

Cost of real estate leasing increased by US$0.2 million, or 29.6%, to US$1.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from US$0.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

 

Other costs

 

Other costs increased by US$0.6 million, or 8.2%, to US$8.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from US$7.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, primarily due to a late delivery penalty we accrued for the six months ended June 30, 2013.

 

Gross profit

 

Gross profit decreased by US$1.1 million, or 0.9%, to US$125.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from US$126.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Gross profit margin was 34.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to 29.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The increase of gross profit margin was primarily due to downward adjustments to total project cost estimates on our Chengdu Splendid II, Kunshan International City Garden, and Zhengzhou Modern City projects. These mature projects were near completion, and the Company had reached favorable settlements with contractors. The Company also increased total project revenue estimates on the Jinan Xinyuan Splendid and Zhengzhou Century East A & B projects to reflect higher than expected selling prices in recent quarters.

 

Selling and distribution expenses

 

Selling and distribution expenses decreased by US$2.7 million, or 31.9%, to US$5.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from US$8.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The decrease was primarily due to decreased advertising and promotion expenses for older projects. As a percentage of revenue, selling and distribution expenses was 1.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2013 compared to 1.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2012. As revenue expands in the future, we expect selling and distribution expenses as a percentage of revenue to be flat.

 

15
 

 

General and administrative expenses

 

General and administrative expenses were US$21.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, compared to US$19.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to an increase in salary and welfare expenses of US$1.3 million as the average level of salary and bonus increased and new employees were hired.

 

As a percentage of revenue, general and administrative expenses were 5.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2013, compared to 4.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

 

Interest income

 

Interest income was US$4.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, compared to US$3.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The increase in interest income mainly resulted from the increase in the average cash balances.

 

Interest expenses

 

All interest costs were capitalized except for interest on US$185 million out of US$200 million Senior Secured Notes, which was not applied to real estate development. Total gross interest costs incurred amounted to US$14.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, including US$13.4 million of interest on loans, Senior Secured Notes and Guaranteed Senior Secured Notes, US$0.3 million of accretion of discount from embedded derivatives and US$0.3 million of amortization of debt issuance costs.

 

Exchange gains

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013, we recorded nil unrealized foreign exchange gain.

 

Income taxes

 

Income taxes increased by US$22.5 million, to US$32.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from US$9.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The increase was primarily due to the reversal of over-provisions of tax liabilities of approximately US$22.8 million.

 

Our effective income tax rate (“ETR”) was 32.8% in the first six months of 2013 compared to 9.4% in the first six months of 2012. The ETR was different from the statutory tax rate of 25% due to the effect of LAT, the CIT benefit of LAT, outside basis differences, and also changes in unrecognized tax benefits. The change in the effective income tax rate is primarily due to a non-recurring reversal of LAT liabilities of approximately US$22.8 million in the second quarter of 2012 related to three completed projects that were liquidated and settled with the local tax bureaus on favorable terms.

 

Net income attributable to our shareholders

 

Net income decreased by US$25.5 million to US$66.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, from US$91.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

 

Discussion of Segment Operations

 

We consider each of our individual property developments as a discrete operating segment. As a presentation of segment information for each property development would not be meaningful, we have aggregated our segments into the following reporting segments: (i) property developments in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, (ii) property developments in Jinan, Shandong Province, (iii) property developments in Suzhou and Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, (iv) property developments in Hefei, Anhui Province, (v) property developments in Chengdu, Sichuan Province (vi) property developments in Beijing, (vii) property developments in the U.S. and (viii) property management services and other real estate-related services we provide.

 

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   For Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2012   2013 
   (US$ in thousands, except for percentages) 
Zhengzhou, Henan          
Total revenue   179,066    169,561 
Total cost of revenue   (110,715)   (95,888)
Gross profit   68,351    73,673 
Gross margin   38.2%   43.4%
Operating income   55,123    59,820 
Jinan, Shandong          
Total revenue   45,248    128,994 
Total cost of revenue   (36,598)   (101,899)
Gross profit   8,650    27,095 
Gross margin   19.1%   21.0%
Operating income (loss)   7,191    24,304 
Suzhou, Kunshan and Xuzhou, Jiangsu          
Total revenue   146,240    48,967 
Total cost of revenue   (108,726)   (36,266)
Gross profit   37,515    12,701 
Gross margin   25.7%   25.9%
Operating income   32,615    10,634 
Hefei, Anhui          
Total revenue   53    - 
Total cost of revenue   (26)   (26)
Gross profit   27    (26)
Gross margin   50.9%   - 
Operating income (loss)   18    (31)
Chengdu, Sichuan          
Total revenue   48,907    7,789 
Total cost of revenue   (37,430)   2,659 
Gross profit   11,477    10,448 
Gross margin   23.5%   134.1%
Operating income   10,024    9,897 
Beijing          
Total revenue   -    - 
Total cost of revenue   -    - 
Gross profit   -    - 
Gross margin   -    - 
Operating loss   (227)   (2,371)
US          
Total revenue   -    5,226 
Total cost of revenue   -    (5,058)
Gross profit   -    168 
Gross margin   -    3.2%
Operating income   (680)   (391)
Others          
Total revenue   6,129    7,376 
Total cost of revenue   (5,431)   (5,883)
Gross profit   698    1,493 
Gross margin   11.4%   20.2%
Operating loss   (5,111)   (3,047)

 

Six Months ended June 30, 2013 Compared to Six Months ended June 30, 2012

 

Zhengzhou, Henan. Total revenue decreased by US$9.5 million, or 5.3%, from US$179.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 to US$169.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in sellable units of Zhengzhou Yipin Xiangshan Phase II and Zhengzhou Modern City as the projects were near completion. The gross profit for this region was US$73.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 2013, representing an increase of US$5.3 million, or 7.7%, as compared to US$68.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012. The operating income was US$59.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, representing an increase of US$4.7 million, or 8.5%, from US$55.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012. Such improvement was due to cost savings recognized after final settlement with contractors.

 

Jinan, Shandong. Total revenue increased by US$83.8 million, from US$45.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 to US$129.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013. The increase was primarily due to strong sales of Jinan Xinyuan Splendid, which contributed US$128.1 million in the six months ended June 30,2013. The gross profit increased to US$27.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 from US$8.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The operating income was US$24.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, from US$7.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Such increase was due to the increase in revenues as described above.

 

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Suzhou, Kunshan and Xuzhou, Jiangsu. Total revenue decreased by US$97.2 million, or 66.5%, from US$146.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 to US$49.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in sellable units of Suzhou International City Garden and Kunshan International City Garden as the projects were near completion. The gross profit for the Jiangsu segment was US$12.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, decreasing by US$24.8 million from US$37.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The operating income was US$10.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of US$22.0 million, or 67.5%, compared to US$32.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. Such decrease was due to the decrease in revenues as described above.

 

Hefei, Anhui. Total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2013 was nil, compared to US$0.05 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. This region had a gross loss and an operating loss of US$0.03 million in the six months ended June 30, 2013, compared to a gross profit of US$0.03 million and an operating income of US$0.02 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012. The only formerly active project in Anhui region, Hefei Wangjiang Garden was completely sold out by the end of 2009. The Hefei Wangjiang Garden project is the only project in the Anhui segment, and only parking facilities were sold in 2012.

 

Chengdu, Sichuan. Total revenue decreased by US$41.1 million from US$48.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 to US$7.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in sellable units of Chengdu Xinyuan Splendid I and Chengdu Xinyuan Splendid II as the projects were near completion. The gross profit for the Sichuan segment was US$10.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of US$1.0 million from US$11.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The operating income was US$9.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, a decrease of US$0.1 million, or 1.0%, compared to US$10.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

 

Beijing. The operating loss was US$2.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, compared to US$0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, primarily due to higher staff costs on increased headcount and operating expense, including office expense.

 

The U.S. Prior to 2012, we did not have any substantial operations in the U.S. Total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2013 was US$5.2 million, compared to nil for the six months ended June 30, 2012. The increase in total revenue was due to US$0.7 million of land resales in the Nevada project and US$4.6 million of condominium unit resales in the Lennox project. This region had a gross profit of US$0.2 million and an operating loss of US$0.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2013.

 

Others . Other revenue of US$7.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 consisted of real estate-related services, including property management services, broadband network installation, landscaping services and consulting services. These services generated a gross profit of US$1.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2013, compared to a gross profit of US$0.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012.

 

Status of Projects as of June 30, 2013

 

The status of each of our projects under construction and under planning as of June 30, 2013, which were accounted for using the percentage of completion method, is discussed below.

 

Kunshan International City Garden

 

As of June 30, 2013, the carrying value of this project was US$28.1 million, net of profit recognized and progress billings. As of June 30, 2013 the cumulative cost incurred on the project was US$404.3 million relative to the total estimated cost of US$406.9 million. In the period ended June 30, 2013, we had contract sales of US$30.7 million with area sold of 22,108 square meters at an average selling price of US$1,388 per square meter. Sales for this project began in September 2008 and cumulative contract sales through June 30, 2013 were US$562.9 million with total area sold of 481,065 square meters.

 

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We estimate that over the full life of the project we will achieve aggregate gross sales revenue of US$596.6 million, or US$563.8 million net of business tax, relative to the total estimated cost of US$406.9 million, generating a gross margin of 27.8%.

 

Xuzhou Colorful Garden

 

As of June 30, 2013, the carrying value of this project was US$1.2 million, net of profit recognized and progress billings. As of June 30, 2013 the cumulative cost incurred on the project was US$86.4 million relative to total estimated cost of US$86.4 million. In the period ended June 30, 2013, we had negative contract sales of US$0.6 million with area sold of 359 square meters at an average selling price of US$1,733 per square meter. Sales for this project began in August 2010 and cumulative contract sales through June 30, 2013 were US$116.8 million with total area sold of 100,484 square meters.

 

We estimate that over the full life of the project we will achieve aggregate gross sales revenue of US$120.7 million, or US$114.0 million net of business tax, relative to the estimated total cost of US$86.4 million, generating a gross margin of 24.1%.

 

Jinan Xinyuan Splendid

 

As of June 30, 2013, the carrying value of this project was US$92.2 million, net of profit recognized and progress billings. As of June 30, 2013 the cumulative cost incurred on the project was US$439.6 million relative to total estimated cost of US$581.5 million. In the period ended June 30, 2013, we had contract sales of US$160.2 million with area sold of 131,772 square meters at an average selling price of US$1,216 per square meter. Sales for this project began in May 2011 and cumulative contract sales through June 30, 2013 were US$463.0 million with total area sold of 357,162 square meters.

 

We estimate that over the full life of the project we will achieve aggregate gross sales revenue of US$772.3 million, or US$728.7 million net of business tax, relative to the total estimated cost of US$581.5 million, generating a gross margin of 20.2%.

 

Zhengzhou Modern City

 

As of June 30, 2013, the carrying value of this project was US$27.9 million, net of profit recognized and progress billings. As of June 30, 2013 the cumulative cost incurred on the project was US$148.6 million relative to total estimated cost of US$150.0 million. In the period ended June 30, 2013, we had contract sales of US$5.8 million with area sold of 2,121 square meters at an average selling price of US$2,728 per square meter. Sales for this project began in May 2010 and cumulative contract sales through June 30, 2013 were US$307.9 million with total area sold of 225,360 square meters.

 

We estimate that over the full life of the project we will achieve aggregate gross sales revenue of US$311.9 million, or US$294.4 million net of business tax, relative to the estimated total cost of US$150.0 million, generating a gross margin of 49.0%

 

Zhengzhou Royal Palace

 

As of June 30, 2013, the carrying value of this project was US$1.7 million, net of profit recognized and progress billings. As of June 30, 2013 the cumulative cost incurred on the project was US$128.0 million relative to total estimated cost of US$159.7 million. In the period ended June 30, 2013, we had contract sales of US$52.6 million with area sold of 35,759 square meters at an average selling price of US$1,471 per square meter. Cumulative contract sales through June 30, 2013 were US$204.4 million with total area sold of 117,456 square meters.

 

We estimate that over the full life of the project we will achieve aggregate gross sales revenue of US$233.3 million, or US$220.2 million net of business tax, relative to the estimated total cost of US$159.7 million, generating a gross margin of 27.5%.

 

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Zhengzhou Yipin Xiangshan Phase II

 

As of June 30, 2013, the carrying value of this project was US$1.1 million, net of profit recognized and progress billings. As of June 30, 2013 the cumulative cost incurred on the project was US$129.7 million relative to total estimated cost of US$136.4 million. In the period ended June 30, 2013, we had contract sales of US$5.8 million with area sold of 3,310 square meters at an average selling price of US$1,753 per square meter. Sales for this project began in March 2011 and cumulative contract sales through June 30, 2013 were US$227.5 million with total area sold of 196,271 square meters.

 

We estimate that over the full life of the project we will achieve aggregate gross sales revenue of US$235.2 million, or US$222.0 million net of business tax, relative to the estimated total cost of US$136.4 million, generating a gross margin of 38.6%.

 

Zhengzhou Century East A

 

As of June 30, 2013, the carrying value of this project was US$13.6 million, net of profit recognized and progress billings. As of June 30, 2013 the cumulative cost incurred on the project was US$52.0 million relative to total estimated cost of US$62.9 million. In the period ended June 30, 2013, we had contract sales of US$74.2 million with area sold of 46,651 square meters at an average selling price of US$1,591 per square meter. Sales of this project began in November 2012 and cumulative contract sales through June 30, 2013 were US$91.9 million with total area sold of 59,123 square meters.

 

We estimate that over the full life of the project we will achieve aggregate gross sales revenue of US$122.0 million, or US$115.2 million net of business tax, relative to the estimated total cost of US$62.9 million, generating a gross margin of 45.4%.

 

Zhengzhou Century East B

 

As of June 30, 2013, the carrying value of this project was US$0.3 million, net of profit recognized and progress billings. As of June 30, 2013 the cumulative cost incurred on the project was US$138.8 million relative to total estimated cost of US$159.7 million. In the period ended June 30, 2013, we had contract sales of US$39.2 million with area sold of 25,003 square meters at an average selling price of US$1,568 per square meter. Sales for this project began in June 2011 and cumulative contract sales through June 30, 2013 were US$216.1 million with total area sold of 155,453 square meters.

 

We estimate that over the full life of the project we will achieve aggregate gross sales revenue of US$239.0 million, or US$225.6 million net of business tax, relative to the estimated total cost of US$159.7 million, generating a gross margin of 29.2%.

 

Northern Nevada Land Portfolio

 

As of June 30, 2013, we have sold 275 finished lots and 185 acres of undeveloped land, out of the total 325 finished lots and 185 acres of undeveloped land we purchased through a foreclosure sale from a major U.S. bank in 2012, for a total of US$0.7 million.

 

Lennox Project

 

As of June 30, 2013, we have sold 6 units with a total GFA of 1,238 square meters in the six months ended June 30, 2013, out of the total 15 units with a total GFA of 2,865 square meters, for a total of US$4.6 million.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

 

We prepare our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect (i) the reported amounts of our assets and liabilities, (ii) the disclosure of our contingent assets and liabilities at the end of each reporting period and (iii) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during each reporting period. We continually evaluate these estimates based on our own experience, knowledge and assessment of current business and other conditions, and our expectations regarding the future based on available information and reasonable assumptions, which together form our basis for making judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, our actual results could differ from those estimates. Some of our accounting policies require a higher degree of judgment than others in their application.

 

When reading our financial statements, you should consider (i) our selection of critical accounting policies, (ii) the judgment and other uncertainties affecting the application of such policies and (iii) the sensitivity of reported results to changes in conditions and assumptions. We believe the following accounting policies involve the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.

 

Revenue and cost recognition

 

We apply either of two different methods for revenue recognition, full accrual or percentage of completion, depending on the expected construction period and timing of collection of sales prices.

Full accrual method. Revenue from the sale of properties where the construction period, the period from the construction permit award date to the unit delivery date, is expected to be 12 months or less, or the construction period is expected to be longer than 12 months and sales prices are not certain to be collected, is recognized by the full accrual method when the sale is consummated and the unit has been delivered. Properties held for sale is recognized by the full accrual method at the time of the closing of an individual unit sale, when title to the property is transferred to the buyer. A sale is considered to be consummated when the parties are bound by the terms of a contract, all consideration has been exchanged, any permanent financing of which we are responsible has been arranged, all conditions precedent to closing have been performed, we do not have substantial continuing involvement with the property, and the usual risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer. In addition, the buyer’s initial and continuing investment must be adequate to demonstrate a commitment to pay for the property, and the buyer’s receivable, if any, must not be subject to future subordination. Sales transactions not meeting all the conditions of the full accrual method are accounted for using the deposit method in which all costs are capitalized as incurred, and payments received from the buyer are recorded as a deposit liability.

 

Percentage of completion method. Revenue and profit from the sale of development properties is recognized by the percentage-of-completion method on the sale of individual units when the following conditions are met:

 

  · Construction is beyond a preliminary stage.

 

  · The buyer is committed to the extent of being unable to require a refund except for non-delivery of the unit.

 

  · Sufficient units have already been sold to assure that the entire property will not revert to rental property.

 

  · Sales prices are collectible.

 

  · Aggregate sales proceeds and costs can be reasonably estimated.

 

If any of the above criteria is not met, proceeds are accounted for as customer deposits until the criteria are met.

 

Due to PRC restrictions of mortgages to second home buyers, we introduced seller-financed contract arrangements in the third quarter of 2011. In the second half of 2012, execution of seller-financed contracts dropped significantly to the point that we did not offer seller-financed contracts to second home buyers starting in the fourth quarter of 2012. Under these seller-financed contract arrangements, the buyer pays the purchase price for the residential unit in installment payments ranging from six months to two years with the final payment to be made 30 days prior to the delivery of the property. These contracts generally require a 10% down payment upon contract execution date, the second payment of 20% within 30 days, a third payment of 30% to 40% six months after the contract date, and the final 30% to 40% payment 30 days before delivery.

 

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Under the percentage of completion method, revenues from units sold and related costs are recognized over the course of the construction period, based on the completion progress of a project. In relation to any project, revenue is determined by calculating the ratio of incurred costs, including land use rights costs and construction costs, to total estimated costs and applying that ratio to the contracted sales amounts. Cost of sales is recognized by determining the ratio of contracted sales during the period to total estimated sales value, and applying that ratio to the incurred costs. Current period amounts are calculated based on the difference between the life-to-date project totals and the previously recognized amounts.

 

Our significant judgments and estimates related to applying the percentage of completion method include our estimates of the time necessary to complete the project, the total expected revenue and the total expected costs. The percentage of completion method requires us to re-evaluate our estimates of future revenues and costs on a quarterly basis project by project. Factors that are subject to uncertainties in our estimates include the expected future sales prices of the units, sales velocity rates and expected construction costs. These factors are subject to market conditions, including, but not limited to, availability of credit in the market for purchasers to obtain mortgage loans, commodities prices affecting construction materials, locations of future infrastructure improvements, and overall development in the immediate area surrounding the project and changes in governmental policies. Cumulative revenue is determined by multiplying cumulative contract sales proceeds by cumulative incurred cost divided by total estimated project costs. Cumulative cost of sales is calculated by multiplying cumulative incurred cost by cumulative contract sales divided by total estimated project revenue. Whenever we make changes to expected total project life profit margins, a “catch-up” adjustment must be made in the quarter of change to account for the difference between profits previously recognized using the previous profit margin estimate and the comparable profit using the new profit margin estimates. Further, if the updated profit margin indicates that we will have to sell units at a price less than our costs to develop them, we must recognize the full expected gross loss over the life of the project at that time regardless of whether the units have been sold. Additionally for such unprofitable projects we must also determine whether impairment exists, and, if so, write down the cost to the fair value of the project which, in turn, may be less than the basis after recognizing the effect of future losses.

 

For a further discussion on our policy on impairment of long-lived assets, see “Operating Results—Future losses and impairment charges” and “Impairment of long-lived assets”.

 

Interest capitalization

 

We obtain loans from banks and we issue debt securities to finance projects and provide for working capital. We charge the borrowing costs related to working capital loans to interest expense when incurred and capitalize interest costs related to project developments as a component of the project costs.

 

The interest to be capitalized for a project is based on the amount of borrowings related specifically to such project. Interest for any period is capitalized based on the amounts of accumulated capital expenditures and the interest rate of the loans. Payments received from the pre-sales of units in the project are deducted in the computation of the amount of accumulated expenditures during a period. The interest capitalization period begins when expenditures have been incurred and activities necessary to prepare the asset (including administrative activities before construction) have begun, and ends when the project is substantially completed. Interest capitalized is limited to the amount of interest incurred.

 

The interest rate used in determining the amount of interest capitalized is the weighted average rate applicable to the project-specific borrowings. However, when accumulated expenditures exceed the principal amount of project-specific borrowings, we also capitalize interest on borrowings that are not specifically related to the project, at a weighted average rate of such borrowings.

 

Our significant judgments and estimates related to interest capitalization include the determination of the appropriate borrowing rates for the calculation, and the point at which capitalization is started and discontinued. Changes in the rates used or the timing of the capitalization period may affect the balance of property under development and the costs of sales recorded.

 

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Income taxes

 

We have adopted the balance sheet approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. We recognize:

 

  · the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current fiscal year;

 

  · deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns; and

 

  · the difference between the taxes calculated based on our earnings at the statutory rates and the amounts charged by the local tax authorities based on our “deemed earnings.”

 

Our significant judgments and estimates include the allowability of deductible items for income tax purposes and other tax positions that we may take. Disagreements with the tax authorities could subject us to additional taxes, and possibly, penalties.

 

Please see the more detailed discussion in note 7 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 6-K.

 

Share-based payments

 

Under ASC 718, “ Share-Based Compensation ”, we are required to recognize share-based compensation as compensation expense based on the fair value of stock options and other equity awards on the date of the grant. We have elected to recognize compensation expense using the straight-line method for all stock options granted with service conditions that have a graded vesting schedule. For options granted with performance conditions, share-based compensation expense is recognized based on the probable outcome of the performance condition. A performance condition is not taken into consideration in determining fair value of the non-vested shares granted.

 

The fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using the Dividend Adjusted Black-Scholes option-pricing model that uses various assumptions including assumptions regarding an average risk-free rate of return, expected term of the options, volatility rate of our shares and dividend yield.

 

The risk-free rate for periods within the expected life of the option is based on the implied yield rates of U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The expected life of options represents the period of time the granted options are expected to be outstanding. The expected volatility we used in our calculations was based on our historical volatilities. Changes in these assumptions, or the expected forfeiture rate of share-based payments, can have a significant effect on the valuation of the awards, and the amount of expenses recognized in our statement of comprehensive income.

 

Tax contingency

 

We have evaluated the available evidence about (a) asserted and unsettled income tax contingencies and (b) unasserted income tax contingencies caused by uncertain income tax positions taken in our current tax treatments or our income tax returns filed with national and local tax authorities in the PRC and foreign tax authorities. The liability recorded in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for these income tax contingencies represents management’s estimate of the amount that is less than “more likely than not” to be upheld in an examination by the relevant taxing authorities, under the provisions of ASC 740-10, “ Income Tax” .

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

We consider on an annual basis whether indicators of impairment of long-lived assets are present. These indicators include, but are not limited to, negative gross margins, decreases in the average selling price above 5% and increases in input costs above 5% related to the individual projects in each operating segment. The provisions of ASC 360, “ Property, Plant and Equipment" , require that a two-step impairment test be performed on long-lived assets. In the first step, we test for recoverability of the assets by determining whether the estimated undiscounted cash flows attributable to the assets in question are less than their carrying value. If the estimated undiscounted cash flows are greater than the carrying value, the long-lived assets are considered not impaired and we are not required to perform further testing. If the estimated undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value, we must perform the second step of the impairment test, which is to recognize an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount of the assets over their respective fair values, if any. Our determination of fair value requires discounting the estimated cash flows for a project at a rate commensurate with the inherent risk associated with the related assets and estimated cash flows.

 

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Both the undiscounted cash flows and the discount rate used in determining fair value are based on estimates. To project undiscounted cash flows, we use various factors as described above under “Future losses and impairment charges”, including the expected pace at which the planned units will be sold, the estimated net sales prices expected to be attained, and expected costs to be expended in the future, including, but not limited to, home construction, construction overhead, sales and marketing, sales taxes and interest costs. The discount rate used in determining each project’s fair value depends on the stage of development, location and other specific factors that increase or decrease the risk associated with the estimated cash flows.

 

Effect of change in estimate

 

Revisions in estimated gross profit margins related to percentage of completion revenues are made in the period in which circumstances requiring the revisions become known. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, eleven real estate development projects (Chengdu Xinyuan Splendid I, Chengdu Xinyuan Splendid II, Suzhou International City Garden, Shandong Xinyuan Splendid, Kunshan International City Garden, Henan Royal Palace, Henan Modern City, Xuzhou Colorful Garden, Henan Century East A, Henan Century East B and Zhengzhou Yipin Xiangshan Phase II), which recognized gross profits in 2012, had changes in their estimated gross profit margins. As of June 30, 2013, each of these projects has a percentage of completion at 75.6% or more. As the unit sales and selling prices were on an upward trend during the six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company revised upwards its prior estimates related to selling prices and total estimated sales values in conjunction with the change in total estimate cost, which led to a decrease of the percentage sold and thus a decrease in the recognized costs. As a result of the changes in estimate above, gross profit, net income and basic and diluted earnings per share increased by US$29.4 million, US$22.0 million, US$0.15 per share and US$0.15 per share, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2013.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) (“ASU 2013-02”) to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”). This ASU sets requirements for presentation for significant items reclassified to net income in their entirety during the period and for items not reclassified to net income in their entirety during the period. It requires companies to present information about reclassifications out of AOCI in one place, and to present reclassifications by component when reporting changes in AOCI balances. The modifications to ASC Topic 220 resulting from the issuance of ASU 2013-02 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2012 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Group does not expect that the adoption of ASU 2013-02 has had a material impact on its financial statements.

 

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-04, ““Liabilities (Topic 405): Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation Is Fixed at the Reporting Date” ” (““ASU 2013-04””). The objective of ASU 2013-04 is to provide guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation (within the scope of this guidance) is fixed at the reporting date. Examples of obligations within the scope of ASU 2013-04 include debt arrangements, other contractual obligations, and settled litigation and judicial rulings. ASU 2013-04 is effective for the Group for interim reporting periods beginning July 1, 2014, however, early adoption is permitted. The Group is currently evaluating the impact ASU 2013-04 will have on its financial statements.

 

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In March 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-05 (“ASU 2013-05”), Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity, which specifies that a cumulative translation adjustment (“CTA”) should be released into earnings when an entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within a consolidated foreign entity and the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity. For sales of an equity method investment that is a foreign entity, a pro rata portion of CTA attributable to the investment would be recognized in earnings when the investment is sold. When an entity sells either a part or all of its investment in a consolidated foreign entity, CTA would be recognized in earnings only if the sale results in the parent no longer having a controlling financial interest in the foreign entity. In addition, CTA should be recognized in earnings in a business combination achieved in stages. For public entities, ASU 2013-05 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013, with early adoption permitted. The Group will adopt ASU 2013-05 on January 1, 2014 and does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740) (“ASU 2013-11”) to provide guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, similar tax loss, or tax credit carryforward exists. This ASU requires an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, to be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, with certain exceptions. The modifications to ASC Topic 740 resulting from the issuance of ASU 2013-11 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Group will adopt ASU 2013-11 on January 1, 2014. Starting January 1, 2014, the Group will present unrecognized tax benefit for net operating loss as deduction of deferred tax assets if applicable.

 

B.Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

A principal factor affecting our results of operations and our growth is the acquisition of land use rights in target markets. Under current regulations and market practice, land use rights for residential development purposes in the PRC may be acquired from local governments through a competitive auction or other bidding process. These competitive auctions and bidding processes are typically announced 20 days before they are about to take place. To participate in these auctions, we are required to make a minimum deposit of 20-50% of the opening auction price in cash. If we are successful on our bids, we are also generally required to remit the remaining purchase price within 30 days of the auction. Further, under current regulations we are not permitted to borrow money from local banks to fund land purchases. As a result we have to fund land purchases either from cash flows from project sales or from financing transactions in foreign markets which have been and continue to be relatively expensive and not easily accessible. See “ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION D. Risk Factors - Our business requires access to substantial financing” in our 2012 Form 20-F. Our failure to obtain adequate financing in a timely manner could severely adversely (1) restrict our ability to complete existing projects, expand our business, or repay our debts and (2) affect our financial performance and condition.” As a result of entering into the U.S. market, we will also require adequate U.S. dollar financing for our U.S. operations, primarily through back-to-back loan arrangements with our subsidiaries (which are subject to foreign exchange rate fluctuation and regulatory risk), issuance of debt securities and construction loans from third party commercial banks. See “ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION “D. Risk Factors - We face risks related to our back-to back loans” in our 2012 Form 20-F.

 

In addition to our land acquisitions, we expect to incur material project development costs on the acquired land. Our cash needs can only be partially satisfied by construction loans and future cash flows from real estate projects under development in the upcoming fiscal year. To ensure that we have sufficient funds to secure attractive land parcels and cover material project development costs, which are vital to our growth strategy, we have chosen to maintain a certain level of cash reserves on hand. In addition, we are required to maintain restricted cash deposits by banks that provide loans to us and our customers. The amount of the restricted cash deposits will vary based on the amount of the related loans. As of June 30, 2013, approximately US$238.9 million, or 27.3% of our total cash balance reserve, were restricted cash.

 

In the year ended December 31, 2012, we acquired a total of two parcels of land for an aggregate amount of US$206.8 million in the PRC. We acquired one property in the U.S. for development purposes for an amount of US$54.2 million. For resale purpose, we acquired 325 finished lots and 185 acres of undeveloped land, at 8 different sites, as well as 15 luxury apartments in the U.S. for an aggregate amount of US$17.4 million. In addition, we made deposits in the aggregate amount of US$44.5 million with respect to potential land acquisitions in the PRC under the negotiated acquisition model. In the six months ended June 30, 2013, we made deposits in the aggregate amount of US$127.4 million with respect to potential land acquisitions in the PRC under the negotiated acquisition model.

 

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To date, we have financed our operations primarily through cash flows from operations, construction loans from PRC banks, and proceeds from issuances of equity and debt securities.

 

Cash Flows

 

   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2012   2013 
   (US$ in thousands) 
Net cash provided by operating activities   183,408    43,497 
Net cash used in investing activities   (141)   (470)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   (79,670)   88,496 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   103,597    131,523 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (1,437)   8,072 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year   319,218    496,205 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of six months   421,378    635,800 

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was US$43.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013, primarily attributable to US$66.0 million in net income, a decrease in real estate property under development of US$125.3 million, a decrease in other receivables of US$15.8 million, a decrease in real estate property held for sale in Reno, Nevada and Irvine, California of US$4.7 million, an increase in customer deposits of US$27.3 million, partially offset by an increase in other deposits and prepayments of US$ 122.8 million and a decrease in accounts payable of US$ 73.6 million.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was US$183.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012, primarily attributable to US$92.6 million in net income, a decrease in real estate property under development of US$118.6 million, a decrease in accounts receivable of US$13.7 million, an increase in customer deposits of US$40.4 million, partly offset by an increase in other deposits and prepayments of US$16.3 million, a decrease in accounts payable of US$21.5 million, a decrease in income tax payable of US$20.6 million, an increase in real estate property held for sale in Reno, Nevada and Irvine, California of US$ 7.4 million, and an increase in advances to suppliers of US$4.9 million.

 

Proceeds from pre-sales of our properties under development are an important source of cash flow for our operations. PRC law allows us to pre-sell properties before their completion upon satisfaction of certain requirements and requires us to use the pre-sales proceeds to develop the particular project pre-sold. The amount and timing of cash flows from pre-sales are affected by a number of factors, including restrictions on pre-sales imposed by PRC law, market demand for our properties subject to pre-sales, prices at which we can pre-sell and the number of properties we have available for pre-sale. Any pre-sales payments we receive before we recognize revenue are recorded as current liabilities under customer deposits. At June 30, 2012 and 2013, we recorded current liabilities consisting of customer deposits of US$106.4 million and US$78.6 million, respectively. We actively market pre-sales of our properties in accordance with regulations to accelerate cash in flow to the extent possible.

 

Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities was US$0.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2013, and was mainly attributable to the purchase of property and equipment.

 

Net cash used in investing activities was US$0.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012, and was mainly attributable to the purchase of property and equipment.

 

26
 

 

Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was US$88.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2013, and was primarily attributable to the proceeds from short-term, long-term bank loans and other long-term debts in the aggregate of US$360.7 million, partially offset by repayment of short-term and long-term bank loans and other long-term debt in the aggregate of US$166.3 million, an increase in restricted cash of US$ 89.8 million, dividend distributions of US$7.2 million and repurchases of ADSs of US$5.8 million.

 

Net cash used in financing activities was US$79.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012, and was primarily attributable to repayment of short-term and long-term bank loans in the aggregate of US$102.6 million, an increase in restricted cash of US$15.6 million, dividend distributions of US$2.9 million and repurchases of ADSs of US$2.5 million, partially offset by proceeds from short-term bank loans of US$46.1 million.

 

Bank Borrowings

 

Bank borrowings are an important source of funding for our property developments. Our borrowings as of December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2013, respectively, were as follows.

 

   As of December 31,
2012
   As of June 30, 2013 
   US$   US$ 
Short-term bank loans and other debt   113,065,643    129,198,139 
Long-term bank loans   35,000,000    83,553,903 
Current portion of long-term bank loans and other debt   166,081,678    97,917,038 
Total   314,147,321    310,669,080 

 

As of December 31, 2012, and June 30, 2013, the weighted average interest rate on our short-term bank loans was 5.31% and 5.75%, respectively. As of June 30, 2013, US$45.0 million of our short-term bank loans were denominated in Renminbi, which were secured by certain property certificates and certain bank deposits. The remaining US$55 million was denominated in U.S. dollars and was secured by the equivalent amount of RMB bank deposit. On August 31, 2012, a subsidiary of XIN Development Group Development Inc. purchased property in Brooklyn, New York for US$54.2 million, including a US$29.2 million mortgage loan from Beta Capital due on September 19, 2013 which was repaid in full on July 18, 2013.

 

As of December 31, 2012, and June 30, 2013, the weighted average interest rate on our long-term bank loans, including their current portion, was 5.79% and 6.68%, respectively. As of June 30, 2013, our long-term bank loans, including their current portion, amounting to US$146.5 million were denominated in Renminbi and were secured by our land use rights and real estate under development. our long-term bank loans of US$35.0 million were denominated in US$, the loan contract with Agricultural Bank of China (Singapore) amounting to US$25.0 million were denominated in U.S. dollars and secured by deposits of US$29.0 million. Pursuant to the loan contract with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Thai) Public Company Limited, loans amounting to US$10.0 million, were denominated in U.S. dollars and secured by the deposits of the US$11.4 million.

 

Since June 2003, commercial banks have been prohibited under PBOC guidelines from advancing loans to fund the payment of land use rights. In addition, the PRC government also encourages property developers to use internal funds to develop their property projects. Under guidelines jointly issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development and other PRC government authorities in August 2004, commercial banks in China are not permitted to lend funds to property developers with an internal capital ratio, calculated by dividing the internal funds available by the total capital required for the project, of less than 35%. These internal capital ratio requirements have limited the amount of bank financing that property developers, including us, are able to obtain.

 

On April 15, 2010, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with Forum, pursuant to which we issued to Forum a guaranteed senior secured note in the aggregate principal amount of US$40,000,000 due April 15, 2013 and warrants to purchase up to 1,516,882 common shares, par value $0.01 per share. Forum was a holder of US$30 million principal amount of the floating rate notes issued by us previously. The US$40 million purchase price for the secured note and the warrants was paid by Forum by (a) offsetting the purchase price by the amount owed to it by us for the repayment of US$30 million principal amount of the floating rate notes and (b) payment of US$10 million in cash.

 

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The secured note bore interest at 15.6% per annum payable semi-annually and had a three year term maturing on April 15, 2013. It was guaranteed by our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Xinyuan Real Estate, Victory Good Development Limited, South Glory International Limited and Elite Quest Holdings Limited. The secured note was secured by a first priority security interest in our assets and those of our subsidiaries located outside of PRC and, subject to approval and registration with the relevant governmental authorities, a pledge of the shares of Xinyuan (China) Real Estate Co., Ltd., or Xinyuan (China), and a negative pledge of certain of Xinyuan (China)’s assets.

 

The agreement required that we maintain certain financial ratios, with which we were in compliance as of December 31, 2012. The agreement also contained certain other restrictive covenants.

 

We paid the secured note in full together with all accrued and unpaid interest through the maturity date in April 2013. Following such payment, the agreement and all related security interests of Forum were terminated and all financial ratios and other covenants ceased to be in effect.

 

The warrants were exercised in full at the exercise price of US$0.0l per share on May 12, 2010.

 

Senior Secured Notes

 

On May 3, 2013, the Company issued US$200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 13.25% Senior Notes due 2018 (the "Senior Secured Notes"). The Senior Secured Notes were issued without registration under the Securities Act in an offering conducted outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Senior Secured Notes bear interest at 13.25% per annum payable semi-annually. Interest is payable on May 3 and November 3 of each year, commencing November 3, 2013. The Senior Secured Notes have a final maturity date of May 3, 2018.

 

The Senior Secured Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated May 3, 2013, between, the Company, the "Subsidiary Guarantors" identified below and Citicorp International Limited, as trustee and collateral agent (the "Indenture"). The Company's obligations under the Indenture and the Senior Secured Notes have been guaranteed initially by certain of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries, Xinyuan Real Estate, Ltd., Xinyuan International Property Investment Co., Ltd., Victory Good Development Limited, South Glory International Limited, Elite Quest Holdings Limited and Xinyuan International (HK) Property Investment Co., Limited (the "Subsidiary Guarantors") and will be guaranteed by such other future subsidiaries of the Company as is set forth in and in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. The Company's obligations under the Indenture and the Senior Secured Notes are secured by a pledge of the capital stock of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries, Xinyuan Real Estate, Ltd. and Xinyuan International Property Investment Co., Ltd., and the obligations of Xinyuan Real Estate, Ltd. as a Subsidiary Guarantor are secured by a pledge of the capital stock of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Victory Good Development Limited, South Glory International Limited and Elite Quest Holdings Limited.

 

The Company may redeem the Senior Secured Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 106.6250% of principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but excluding) the redemption date, during the 12 month period commencing on May 3, 2016 or at a redemption price equal to 103.3125% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any to (but excluding) the redemption date, during the 12 month period commencing on May 3, 2017.

 

At any time prior to May 3, 2016, the Company may at its option redeem the Senior Secured Notes, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the redemption date. "Applicable Premium" means with respect to any Note at any redemption date, the greater of (i) 1.00% of the principal amount of such Note and (ii) the excess of (A) the present value at such redemption date of the redemption price of such Note on May 3, 2016, plus all required remaining scheduled interest payments due on such Note through May 3, 2016 (but excluding accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined in the Indenture) plus 100 basis points, over (B) the principal amount of such Note on such redemption date.

 

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At any time prior to May 3, 2016, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes with the net cash proceeds of one or more sales of the Company's common shares in certain equity offerings, within a specified period after the equity offering, at a redemption price of 113.25% the principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the redemption date, provided that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes issued on May 3, 2013 remain outstanding after each such redemption.

 

Following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company must make an offer to purchase all outstanding Senior Secured Notes at a purchase price equal to 101.0% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any to (but not including) the offer to purchase payment date. A "Change of Control Triggering Event" means the occurrence of both a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture) and specified decline in the ratings of the Senior Secured Notes within six month after the date of public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the intention by the Company or any other person to effect a Change of Control.

 

The Indenture contains certain covenants that, among others, restrict the Company's ability and the ability of the Company's Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture) to incur additional debt or to issue preferred stock, to make certain payments or investments, to pay dividends or purchase of redeem capital stock, to sell assets (including limitations on the use of proceeds of asset sales), to grant liens on the collateral securing the Senior Secured Notes or other assets, to make certain other payments or to engage in transactions with affiliates and holder of more than 10% of the Company's Common Shares, subject to certain qualifications and exceptions and satisfaction, in certain circumstances of specified conditions, such as a Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Indenture) of 3.0 to 1.0 .

 

At June 30, 2013, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants in the Indenture relating to the Senior Secured Notes.

 

The foregoing description of the Senior Secured Notes and the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the definitive Indenture and Senior Secured Notes, or forms thereof, copies of which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Convertible Note

 

Pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement entered into on August 26, 2013, on September 19, 2013, the Company issued and sold a Senior Secured Convertible Note in the aggregate principal amount of US$75,761,009 (the "Convertible Note") and 12,000,000 Common Shares (the "Private Placement Shares") to a single institutional investor (the “Private Placement Investor”). The Company received gross proceeds of approximately US$108,600,000 from the issuance of the Convertible Note and the Private Placement Shares. The Convertible Note and Private Placement Shares were issued to the Private Placement Investor without registration under the Securities Act pursuant to the exemption from registration under that Act for transactions not involving any public offering. The Convertible Note bears interest at 5.00% per annum payable semi-annually in arrears. Interest is payable on March 19 and September 19 of each year, commencing March 19, 2014. The maturity date of the Convertible Note is September 19, 2018.

 

The Company's obligations under the Convertible Note have been guaranteed initially by certain of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries, Xinyuan Real Estate, Ltd., Xinyuan International Property Investment Co., Ltd., Victory Good Development Limited, South Glory International Limited, Elite Quest Holdings Limited and Xinyuan International (HK) Property Investment Co., Limited (each, a “CN Subsidiary Guarantor” and collectively, the "CN Subsidiary Guarantors") and will be guaranteed by such other future subsidiaries of the Company as is set forth in and in accordance with the terms of the Convertible Note. The Company's obligations under the Convertible Note are secured by a pledge of the capital stock of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries, Xinyuan Real Estate, Ltd. and Xinyuan International Property Investment Co., Ltd., and the obligations of Xinyuan Real Estate, Ltd. as a CN Subsidiary Guarantor are secured by a pledge of the capital stock of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Victory Good Development Limited, South Glory International Limited and Elite Quest Holdings Limited. The CN Subsidiary Guarantors are also the "Subsidiary Guarantors" of the Company's Senior Secured Notes, and the shares of the subsidiaries pledged to secure the obligations of the Company and of Xinyuan Real Estate, Ltd. as a CN Subsidiary Guarantor have also been pledged as collateral with respect to the Company's Senior Secured Notes. In connection with the issuance of the Convertible Note, the Company entered into an Intercreditor Agreement with Citicorp International Limited, as trustee under the indenture for the Senior Secured Notes, the purchaser of the Convertible Note and Xinyuan Real Estate, Ltd., pursuant to which Citicorp International Limited will act as Shared Security Agent for the holders of the Senior Secured Notes and the Convertible Note.

 

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The Convertible Note is convertible at the option of the holder at any time in integral multiples of $100,000 at an initial conversion price of $3.00 per Common Share, equivalent to $6.00 per ADS. The initial conversion price is subject to adjustments for share splits, reverse splits, share dividends and distributions, certain issuances (or deemed issuances) of Common Shares or ADSs for consideration less than the conversion price then in effect, and certain Extraordinary Cash Dividends (as defined in the Convertible Note).

 

The Convertible Note is not redeemable in whole or in part at the option of the Company. However, upon an event of default, the holders may require the Company to redeem the Convertible Note at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 150% of the outstanding principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date and (ii) an amount equal to (A) the outstanding principal divided by (B) two times the conversion price then in effect, multiplied by (C) the closing price of the ADSs, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

 

Following a Change of Control or a Fundamental Transaction, the Company must make an offer to purchase all outstanding Convertible Note at a purchase price equal to 150% of the outstanding principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest to the payment date. A "Change of Control" as defined in the Convertible Note includes certain mergers, consolidations or asset sales with persons who are not or are not controlled by Permitted Holders, certain share acquisitions by persons or groups other than Permitted Holders, a majority of the Company's directors ceasing to be persons who are not, or who were not approved by, the current directors, and the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company. "Permitted Holders" are Mr. Yong Zhang, Chairman of the Company, Ms. Yuyan Yang, his wife, and entities in which one or both of them owns 90% of the capital and the voting stock. A "Fundamental Transaction" as defined in the Convertible Note includes a consolidation or merger of the Company with or into, or a sale, lease, license or other transfer of more than 50% of the Company's properties or assets to, another person, a business combination in which another person acquires more than 50% of the Company's voting stock, and a reorganization or recapitalization of the Company or reclassification of the Common Shares.

 

The Convertible Note contains certain covenants that, among others, restrict the Company's ability and the ability of the Company's Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the Convertible Note) and, in certain cases, all of its subsidiaries, to incur additional debt or to issue preferred stock, to make certain payments or investments, to pay dividends or purchase of redeem capital stock, to sell assets (including limitations on the use of proceeds of asset sales), to grant liens on the collateral securing the Convertible Note or other assets, to make certain other payments or to engage in transactions with affiliates, subject to certain qualifications and exceptions and satisfaction, in certain circumstances, of specified conditions, such as a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Convertible Note) of 3.0 to 1.0 (which must also be maintained as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company while the Convertible Note is outstanding).

 

Pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement dated September 19, 2013 between the Company and the Private Placement Investor, the Company agreed, subject to certain terms and conditions, to file a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the resale, from time to time, in the form of ADSs, of the Private Placement Shares sold to the purchaser and Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Note. Holders of the Note also have the right to require the Company to include the Private Placement Shares and the Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Note in registration statements under the Securities Act filed by the Company with respect to an offering by the Company or other shareholders. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses arising from or incident to its performance of, or compliance with, the Registration Rights Agreement and to indemnify each holder whose Private Placement Shares or Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Note are included in any such registration statement against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the federal securities law, arising out the registration of such Private Placement Shares and Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Note.

 

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The foregoing descriptions of the Convertible Note and the Registration Rights Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by the terms of the Convertible Note and Registration Rights Agreement, copies of which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

 In the six months ended June 30, 2013, our capital expenditures were US$0.5 million, compared to US$0.2 million in the six months ended June 30, 2012. Our capital expenditures in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2013 were mainly used for building improvements, purchase of vehicles, fixtures and furniture and computer network equipment and accumulation of properties held for lease related to newly completed projects. The source of our capital expenditures is primarily the cash flow generated from operating activities.

 

As of June 30, 2013, we had outstanding commitments with respect to non-cancelable construction contracts for real estate development in the amount of US$145.7 million.

 

C.Research and Development, Patent and Licenses, etc.

 

Not applicable.

 

D.Trend Information

 

Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this Form 6-K, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events for the period from January 1, 2013 to June 30, 2013 that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our net revenues, income, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that caused the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial conditions.

 

E.Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As is customary in the property industry in China, we provide guarantees to commercial banks in respect of the mortgage loans they extend to our customers prior to the issuance of their property ownership certificates. These guarantees remain outstanding until the completion of the registration of the mortgage with the relevant mortgage registration authorities. In most cases, guarantees for mortgages on residential properties are discharged when we submit the individual property ownership certificates and certificates of other interests in the property to the mortgagee bank. In our experience, the application for and issuance of the individual property ownership certificates typically takes six to twelve months, so the guarantee periods typically last for up to six to twelve months after we deliver the related property.

 

As of June 30, 2013, we guaranteed mortgage loans in the aggregate outstanding amount of US$1 billion.

 

We generally pre-sell properties prior to the completion of their construction. Sales contracts are executed during the pre-sales period and mortgages are generally executed within 30 days after the buyer signs the sales contract.

 

The pre-sales period begins upon receipt of a government permit which is issued soon after groundbreaking on a given phase of the project. The period from groundbreaking to delivery consists of building construction, landscaping, municipal government inspections and issuance of a certificate of occupancy. This “delivery period” will generally range from one to two years. The buyers only request the government to record buyer ownership in their official records after the delivery period is completed. Typically, the government will provide certificates of ownership six to twelve months after being requested to record. Therefore, the total elapsed time between our receipt of mortgage proceeds and the buyer’s receipt of an ownership certificate can range from one and a half years to three years.

 

Due to the time lag above, our mortgage guarantees will exceed the real estate balances at any given point in time.

 

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We paid US$0.05 million and US$0.1 million to satisfy guarantee obligations related to customer defaults for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013, respectively. The fair value of the guarantees is not significant and we consider that in case of default in payments, the net realizable value of the related properties can cover the repayment of the outstanding mortgage principal together with the accrued interest and penalty and therefore, no provision has been made for the guarantees in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Except for the contingent liabilities set forth above, we have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties. We have not entered into any transactions with unconsolidated entities, derivative contracts that are indexed to our shares and classified as shareholders’ equity, or that are not reflected in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Other than as described above, there are no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have effect on our financial position.

 

We have no obligation arising out of a variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support to us, or that engages in leasing, hedging, or research and development arrangements with us.

 

F.Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations

 

As of June 30, 2013, our contractual obligations amounted to US$841.7 million, primarily arising from contracted construction costs or other capital commitments for future property developments and debt obligations. The following table sets forth our contractual obligations for the periods indicated.

 

   Payments due by period 
   Total   less than
1 year
   1-3
years
   3-5
years
   more than
5 years
 
   (US$ in thousands) 
Long-term debt obligations:                         
long-term bank loans   83,554    -    83,554    -    - 
interest on long-term bank loans(1)   6,855    4,286    2,569    -    - 
current portion of long-term bank loan and other debt   97,917    97,917    -    -    - 
interest on current portion of long-term bank loan and other debt(1)   3,506    3,506    -    -    - 
Senior Secured Notes(4)   200,000    -    -    200,000    - 
interest on Senior Secured Notes(5)   130,071    26,868    53,736    49,467    - 
Short-term debt obligations                         
short-term bank loans   129,198    129,198    -    -    - 
interest on short-term debt obligations (2)   2,111    2,111    -    -    - 
Operating lease obligations   6,119    2,411    3,548    250    - 
Non-cancellable construction contract obligations   145,723    145,723    -    -    - 
Financing lease obligations(3)   36,656    3,627    9,164    9,164    14,701- 
Total   841,710    415,647    152,481    258,881    14,701 

 

  (1) Our long-term bank loans, including current portion, bear variable interest at rates adjustable based on the PBOC benchmark rate, 6.15% as of June 30, 2013. Interest on long-term loans, including current portion, is calculated based on the current interest rate of each loan, ranging from 2.27% to 7.68% per annum.

 

  (2) Interest on short-term loans is calculated based on the interest rates for relevant loans, ranging from 1.37% to 7.20% per annum.

 

  (3) In 2012, one of our subsidiaries entered into a capital lease agreement to lease an aircraft as described further below.

 

  (4) On May 3, 2013, the Company issued 13.25% Senior Secured Notes with an aggregate principal amount of US$200 million due in 2018.

 

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We have projected cash flows for each of our existing projects, considering a number of factors, including the relative stage of each of our projects under construction and our projects under planning and the demand for and the average selling prices of our projects. For any given project, we use cash early in the project life and generate cash later in the project life. Costs for land acquisition, site preparation, foundation, and early above-ground framing are all incurred before we obtain licenses from local governing authorities to enter into pre-sales activity. The construction of many of our projects is carried-out in phases, the timing of which is primarily determined by us based on the pace of the market demand for units in the project. Accordingly, after receiving the pre-sale permits relating to a project, we are in a better position to manage some of our construction activities to coincide with the timing of expected pre-sales.

 

In 2012, we entered into three framework cooperation agreements with local governments relating to prospective land parcel planning and preparation, pursuant to which we paid advances in the aggregate amount of US$44.5 million. In the six months ended June 30, 2013, one of the framework agreements terminated and we made deposits in the aggregate amount of US$127.4 million under the other two framework agreements.

 

During 2012, we also acquired an aggregate of five properties, consisting of two parcels of land in Beijing and Suzhou, and projects in Reno, Nevada, Irvine, California and Brooklyn, New York, for an aggregate consideration of US$278.4 million, including a US$29.2 million mortgage loan note which was fully paid in July 18, 2013. We acquired the Brooklyn, New York property pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement entered into between XIN Development and Beta Capital, LLC, the successful bidder at a foreclosure sale on the parcel.  Under this agreement, XIN Development's subsidiary, 421 Kent Development, LLC ("421 Kent Development") acquired the property for a consideration of US$54.2 million, including the US$29.2 million mortgage loan from Beta Capital with a maturity date of September 19, 2013, secured by the land purchased, any improvements thereon and any building equipment, materials and supplies owned by 421 Kent Development and any lease and rents from the property.  In connection with the mortgage loan, 421 Kent Development agreed to certain restrictions on its activities other than developing and constructing the project.

 

On April 15, 2010, we issued a secured note in the aggregate principal amount of US$40 million and detachable warrants to subscribe for common shares to Forum. The secured note bore interest at 15.6% per annum payable semi-annually. The secured note was paid in full on April 12, 2013.

 

On October 23, 2012, Henan Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. ("Henan Xinyuan"), one of our subsidiaries, entered into a capital lease agreement with Minsheng Hongtai (Tianjin) Aviation Leasing Co., Ltd. ("Minsheng") to lease an aircraft. Pursuant to the agreement, Minsheng purchased a Gulf 450 from Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and will subsequently lease the aircraft to Henan Xinyuan for a term of 96 months starting from 15 days after the date of delivery of the aircraft, which was delivered on September 12, 2013. In September 2012, Henan Xinyuan paid a deposit in the amount of US$6.7 million to Minsheng. Upon the expiration of the 96-month lease, the deposit in the amount of US$6.7 million may be used as full and final payment to Minsheng to purchase the aircraft. As of June 30, 2013, we had also paid service fees and advance lease payments in the amount of US$2.7 million.

 

We believe our cash on hand, projected cash flow from operations, available construction loan borrowing capability, and potential access to capital markets, should be sufficient to meet our expected cash requirements, including our short-term debt obligations and Senior Secured Notes, taking into account our repayment earlier in 2013 of the Guaranteed Secured Notes, and non-cancellable construction contract obligations that are due on various dates through June 30, 2014.

 

Our ability to secure sufficient financing for land use rights acquisition and property development depends on internal cash flows in addition to a number of other factors that are not completely under our control, including lenders’ perceptions of our creditworthiness, market conditions in the capital markets, investors’ perception of our securities, the PRC economy and the PRC government regulations that affect the availability and cost of financing for real estate companies or property purchasers and the U.S. economy and recovery of the U.S. real estate markets.

 

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There can be no assurance that our internally generated cash flow and external financing will be sufficient for us to meet our contractual and financing obligations in a timely manner. We may require additional cash due to changing business conditions or other future developments, including any decline in cash flow from operations or any investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue. In the event that proceeds from the sale of units for a project are insufficient to meet our contractual and financing obligations, we would need to raise the required funds through new borrowings, refinancing of existing borrowings, public or private sales of equity securities, or a combination of one or more of the above. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain adequate funding in a timely manner and on reasonable terms, or at all.

 

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