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Related Party Transactions
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Related Party Transactions  
Related Party Transactions

Note 6. Related Party Transactions

Effective as of March 11, 2019, we reduced our ownership in JiYa from 46% to 39% by selling a portion of our JiYa shares to our investor partner, which is also JiYa’s landlord. Based on an independent third party valuation analysis, we sold these shares for $366,000. Previously, we were the largest shareholder of JiYa and as such, we had the right to appoint the general manager of JiYa and the ability to exercise control in substance over JiYa’s long-term strategic direction. Further, our Chief Executive Officer was the chairman of JiYa’s board of directors and our Chief Financial Officer was a member of JiYa’s board of financial supervisors. As a result of this transaction, our investor partner, Shanxi Aluminum Industrial Co., Ltd. became the largest shareholder of JiYa and assumed the right to appoint the general manager of JiYa and thereby exercised greater control over JiYa’s long-term strategic direction. Further, although our Chief Executive Officer remains on the board, as of March 11, 2019, he was no longer chairman of JiYa’s board of directors and our Chief Financial Officer was no longer on JiYa’s board of financial supervisors.

Previously, we accounted for JiYa’s financial performance under the consolidation method of accounting. As a result of the changes, we began to account for JiYa’s financial performance under the equity method of accounting. Therefore, we deconsolidated JiYa from our consolidated financial statements as of March 11, 2019 in accordance with ASC 810. As of March 12, 2019, we accounted for our investment in JiYa under the equity method of accounting as we continue to have board representation and substantial ownership. Pro-forma financials have not been presented because we believe the effects were not material to our condensed consolidated financial position and results of operation for all periods presented. JiYa continues to be a related party to us after deconsolidation, from whom we may purchase raw materials for production in the ordinary course of business from time to time.

Beginning in 2012, our wholly-owned subsidiary, JinMei, became contractually obligated under an agency sales agreement to sell raw material on behalf of its equity investment entity. JinMei bills the customers and remits the receipts, net of its portions of sales commission, to this equity investment entity. For the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, JinMei has recorded $0 and $0 income from agency sales, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, JinMei has recorded $0 and $0 income from agency sales, respectively, which were included in “Other income (expense), net” in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

In March 2012, Tongmei, entered into an operating lease for the land it owns with our consolidated joint venture, BoYu. The lease agreement for the land of approximately 22,081 square feet commenced on January 1, 2012 for a term of 10 years with annual lease payments of $24,000, subject to a 5% increase at each third year anniversary. The annual lease payment is due by January 31st of each year.

Tongmei ChaoYang purchases raw materials from one of our equity investment entities, Donghai County Dongfang High Purity Electronic Materials Co., Ltd., for production in the ordinary course of business. As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, amounts payable of $126,000 and $0, respectively, were included in “Accounts payable” in our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Tongmei ChaoYang also purchases raw materials from one of our equity investment entities, Emei Shan Jiamei Materials Co., Ltd. (“JiaMei”), for production in the ordinary course of business. As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, amounts payable of $0 and $0, respectively, were included in “Accounts payable” in our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Tongmei and Tongmei ChaoYang also purchase raw materials from one of our equity investment entities, Xilingol Tongli Germanium Refine Co., Ltd. (“Tongli”), for production in the ordinary course of business. As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, amounts payable of $0 and $0, respectively, were included in “Accounts payable” in our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

In July 2017, Tongmei, provided an inter-company loan to JinMei in the amount of $768,000 in preparation for the acquisition of the land use rights and the construction of a new building. The inter-company loan carries an interest rate of 4.9% per annum. The principal is due in three installments between December 2021 and December 2023 while the interest is due in December of each year. As of June 30, 2020, JinMei repaid principal and interest totaling $483,000 to Tongmei. As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the remaining balance of principal and interest totaled $287,000 and $285,000, respectively. JinMei is in the process of relocating its headquarters and manufacturing operations to the city of Kazuo, located in the province of Liaoning near the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, near our own location.

In April 2016, our consolidated joint venture, BoYu, provided a personal loan of $177,000 to one of its executive employees. This loan is secured by the officer’s shares in BoYu. The loan bears interest at 2.75% per annum. During the three months ended June 30, 2017, the repayment of the principal and interest totaling $180,000 was received by our consolidated joint venture. In November 2017, BoYu provided another personal loan of $291,000 to the same executive employee. This loan bears interest at 2.75% per annum. Principal and accrued interest are due on November 30, 2020. In May 2019, BoYu provided another personal loan of $146,000 to the same executive employee. This loan bears interest at 2.75% per annum. Principal and accrued interest are due at such time BoYu pays a dividend to its shareholders. In March 2020, BoYu provided another personal loan of $141,000 to the same executive employee. This loan bears interest at 2.75% per annum. Principal and accrued interest are due on December 31, 2024. As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the balances, including both principal and accrued interest, were $591,000 and $449,000, respectively, and included in “Other assets” in our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

On November 2, 2017, our consolidated joint venture, BoYu, raised additional capital in the amount of $2 million in cash from a third-party investor through the issuance of shares equivalent to 10% ownership of BoYu. This third-party investor is an immediate family member of the owner of one of BoYu's customers. For the three months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, BoYu has recorded $12,000 and $19,000, respectively, in revenue from this customer. For the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, BoYu has recorded $0.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively, in revenue from this customer. As of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, amounts receivable of $0 and $12,000, respectively, were included in “Accounts receivable” in our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Our Related Party Transactions Policy seeks to prohibit all conflicts of interest in transactions between related parties and us, unless they have been approved by our Board of Directors. This policy applies to all of our employees, directors, and our consolidated subsidiaries. Our executive officers retain board seats on the board of directors of the companies in which we have invested in our China joint ventures. See Note 7 for further details.