20-F 1 f1cnt20f2003.htm Filed by EDF Electronic Data Filing Inc. 604-879-9956

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.   20549

FORM 20-F ANNUAL REPORT

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003

     

REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) or (g) OF

     

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

     

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 Or 15(d) OF

  X  

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


OR

     

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

     

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE OF 1934

Commission file number 0-20386

CHAI-NA-TA CORP.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


NOT APPLICABLE

(Translation of Registrant’s Name into English)


BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)


UNIT 100 – 11300 NO. 5 ROAD, RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA   V7A 5J7

(Address of principal executive offices)


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

NONE

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

COMMON STOCK, WITHOUT PAR VALUE

(Title of Class)


Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

None


Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

Common     24,264,508


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 12 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes xx No__

Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:

Item 17 xx Item 18 __


(Applicable only to issuers in bankruptcy proceedings during the past five years)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.

 

       Yes       No __







Chai-Na-Ta Corp.

FORM 20-F ANNUAL REPORT

FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003

Table of Contents

PART I


ITEM 1     IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS


Not applicable.



ITEM 2     OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE


Not applicable.



ITEM 3     KEY INFORMATION


SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA


The selected financial data of the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 are derived from the consolidated financial statements of the Company which have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors as indicated in their report which is included elsewhere in this Annual Report.  The selected financial data set forth for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, the thirteen months ended December 31, 2000 and the year ended November 30, 1999 are derived from the Company's audited consolidated financial statements.


The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements, related notes thereto and other financial information included elsewhere in this report.


Table No. 1 is derived from the audited consolidat19ed financial statements of the Company, which have been prepared in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the application of which, in the case of the Company, conforms in all material respects for the periods presented with United States GAAP, except as referred to in the footnotes to the audited consolidated financial statements.  The value of the U.S. Dollar relative to the Canadian Dollar was approximately 1.30 as of December 31, 2003.


  

Table No. 1

  

Selected Financial Data

(CDN$ in 000, except Earnings/Loss per Share and Share Data)

  
      
    

Thirteen

 
 

Year Ended

Year Ended

Year Ended

Months Ended

Year Ended

 

12/31/03

12/31/02

12/31/01

12/31/00(1)

30/11/99

      

Canadian GAAP

     

Sales

16,581

16,017

13,886

12,221

16,204

Gross Profit (Loss)

6,368

1,674

2,205

758

50

Operating Profit (Loss)

3,698

(31)

(2,404)

(4,815)

(17,768)

Net Income (Loss)

2,551

334

(2,157)

6,850

(18,152)

Operating Profit (Loss) per Share

0.24

(0.00)

(0.17)

(0.45)

(4.00)

Earnings (Loss) per Share – basic

0.17

0.02

(0.15)

0.65

(4.09)

Earnings (Loss) per Share – diluted

0.07

0.01

(0.15)

0.30

(4.09)

      

Weighted Average Number of Common Shares (4)


15,114


14,265


14,265


10,611


4,440

Diluted Number of Common Shares

34,664

34,664

14,265

22,943

4,440

      

Dividends per Share

0

0

0

0

0  

Working Capital

14,761

12,117

10,012

13,987

(22,448)

Ginseng Crops (2)

16,648

18,500

19,812

20,916

19,351  

Capital Assets

6,950

6,649

8,095

9,535

10,559  

Total Assets

36,119

36,212

41,128

44,410

46,710  

Net Assets

31,172

28,532

28,212

30,206

3,420

Term Debt – Non Current

86

26

147

3,153

0  

Capital Stock

38,200

38,200

38,200

38,200

18,035  

      

US GAAP

     

Sales

16,581

16,017

13,886

12,221

16,204

Gross Profit (Loss)

6,182

3,424

2,201

1,139

(8,068)

Operating Profit (Loss)

4,531

1,728

(575)

(3,107)

(12,828)

Net Income (Loss)

3,166

1,229

(1,742)

7,633

(19,129)

Operating Profit (Loss) per Share

0.30

0.12

(0.04)

(0.29)

(2.89)

Earnings (Loss) per share- basic

0.21

0.09

(0.12)

0.72

(4.31)

Earnings (Loss) per Share – diluted  

0.09

0.04

(0.12)

0.33

(4.31)

Dividends per Share

0

0

0

0

0

      

Working Capital

13,857

10,594

7,505

11,021

(25,966)

Ginseng Crops (3)

16,194

17,222

17,809

18,082

15,311

Capital Assets

6,950

6,649

8,095

9,535

10,559

Total Assets

34,951

34,210

37,604

39,776

40,885

Net Assets

30,527

27,273

26,057

27,636

(186)

Term Debt – Non Current

86

26

147

3,153

0

Capital Stock

39,262

39,262

39,262

39,262

19,097


1.

In 2000, the Company changed its year end to December 31.

2.

Ginseng plants reach maturity and can be harvested at the end of their third year of growth. Total acreage under cultivation, is 1,211 acres at December 31, 2003.  The Company values these plants and the acreage at cost.

3.

Under US GAAP, the interest capitalised into Ginseng Crops would not be eligible for capitalisation.  These amounts would be expensed in the period incurred.  For US GAAP, the write-down of inventory and certain crop costs would be included as part of cost of goods sold and therefore, the reclassification would impact reported gross profit for the period. (see audited financial statement note 19).

4.

Figures in thousands.  In 1999, 1,005,000 shares were issued for payment of interest. In 2000, 1,889,337 shares were issued for debt settlement and 7,348,618 shares were issued to a major investor for cash.  In 2003, 10,000,000 preferred shares have been converted into common shares on a 1:1 basis.


In this Annual Report, unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian Dollars (CDN$). The Government of Canada permits a floating exchange rate to determine the value of the Canadian Dollar against the U.S. Dollar (US$).


Table No. 2 sets forth the rate of exchange for the Canadian Dollar for the last five years and the most recent six months.


For purposes of this table, the rate of exchange means the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.  The table sets forth the number of Canadian Dollars required under that formula to buy one U.S. Dollar.  The average rate means the average of the exchange rates on the last day of each month during the period.


Table No. 2

U.S. Dollar/Canadian Dollar


Fiscal Year Ended

Average

High

Low

Close


12/31/03

1.40

1.57

1.29

1.30

12/31/02

1.57

1.61

1.51

1.58

12/31/01

1.55

1.60

1.50

1.59

12/31/00 (13-month period)

1.48

1.54

1.44

1.50

11/30/99

1.49

1.54

1.46

1.47


Month Ended

High

Low

Close


03/31/04

1.35

1.31

1.31

02/29/04

1.34

1.31

1.34

01/31/04

1.33

1.27

1.32

12/31/03

1.34

1.29

1.30

11/30/03

1.33

1.30

1.30

10/31/03

1.35

1.30

1.32


The closing rate of exchange was 1.31 on March 31, 2004.



RISK FACTORS


The Company may from time to time make written or oral forward-looking statements.  Written forward-looking statements may appear in this document and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in press releases, in reports to shareholders, on the Company’s website, and other documents.  While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested herein.


Such estimates, projections or other forward looking estimates involve various risks and uncertainties as outlined below.  We caution the reader that important factors in some cases have affected and could materially affect actual results in the future, and cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in any estimates, projections or other forward-looking statements.  Prospective investors should consider carefully the risk factors set out below.


Chai-Na-Ta is subject to a number of business and financial risks including: agricultural risk such as weather and disease, commodity price risk for ginseng bulk root, exchange risk (predominantly Hong Kong dollar related), the lengthy growing cycle for ginseng, interest rate risk, credit risk and the concentration of customers, and future need for financing.


Agricultural risks


The Company’s primary business is the cultivation and marketing of North American ginseng. Ginseng farming is subject to agricultural risks such as weather and disease and risks of low yields, poor crop quality, and crop failure.  To minimize these risks, the Company employs an extensive team of plant science specialists, diversifies its farms to multiple sites in British Columbia and Ontario, and undertakes a wide array of crop risk management techniques to protect against disease, drought and pests. Although insurance is available to cover such risks the relatively high costs have resulted in the Company electing to self-insure due to the following:


a)

The Company's "Integrated Crop Management System" starts with the selection of the most suitable pieces of property and continues with proven spray programs and constant monitoring.  Crops are monitored daily by experienced, degreed agrologists.

b)

The Company’s acreage is segregated into a variety of sites in diverse growing regions.  This, combined with the large number of acres under cultivation, is expected to minimise the impact on the Company should any site specific problems occur.  Any problems are expected to be isolated to a particular site.

c)

The Company's experience over the last eighteen years indicates that costs to insure are excessive relative to the past history of infrequent and limited crop losses.


Although the Company believes that its Integrated Crop Management System and diversification of farming operations will help mitigate risks, there can be no assurance that such policies or procedures will be effective in reducing such risks and accordingly, the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows may be materially affected.


Product pricing


The marketing of bulk and graded North American ginseng in world markets is subject to pricing risks.  The price of North American ginseng may be affected by factors such as the size, shape, color, taste, and quality of the harvest for the Company and the industry at large, as well as other factors in any given year.  These are factors that the Company may not be able to control in the short term.  The Company’s long-term strategy is to expand the level of vertical integration throughout its operations, potentially reducing the exposure to bulk North American ginseng price fluctuations as more bulk root is sold into the value-added consumer products market.  In addition, the Company maintains economies of scale in its operations which are designed to give it a competitive advantage relative to other producers when prices decline.


North American ginseng root prices continued to recover in 2003, as predicted by the Company.  This recovery is expected to persist, as the Company believes the supply of North American ginseng will continue to fall in the foreseeable future due to decreased plantings by fewer ginseng growers.   Although the Company believes that the recent trend of improvements in prices will continue over the next year, significant changes in the supply of or demand for North American ginseng may adversely impact the price of ginseng roots and have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows.


Lengthy Growing Cycle for Ginseng


As the cycle for growing ginseng takes several years from the time of planting to the time of harvesting, our future profitability is also impacted by our ability to accurately predict demand for our products in future years.  Unanticipated decreases in demand or excess supplies in world markets could adversely affect profitability due in part to the limitation in our inability to make adjustments to the size of our crops in reaction to short term swings in supply and demand.  Consequently, if the expected yields and quality of future harvests are not realized, the Company may not be able to harvest additional ginseng in sufficient quantities or quality to compensate for the shortfall.  Lower than expected yields and quality could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows.


Availability of Suitable Land


The Company leases approximately 1,959 acres and owns 270 acres of farm land in Canada of which 1,211 are currently under ginseng cultivation.  Generally, the Company uses farm land only for one ginseng crop as it is generally believed that ginseng depletes the soil of nutrients necessary for a second successful ginseng crop.  Although the Company believes that the central interior of British Columbia and the southern region of Ontario have available farm land that could be used for ginseng farming, there can be no assurances that the Company will be able to secure leases on terms similar to existing leases or acquire suitable farm land at reasonable prices.  The inability to secure suitable farm land through leases or through acquisitions could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows.



Credit risk and the Concentration of Customers


The Company is exposed to credit risk on accounts receivable from customers. In order to manage its credit risk, the Company carefully monitors credit terms, and investigates credit history. Payments or deposits are usually received before shipments of inventory to the customer and credit is typically granted only to customers with established relationships or those customers which have been subject to a credit review and approval by management. When such relationships have not been established or credit reviews have not been acceptable, letters of credit may be used to secure such payment or revenues may not be recognized until collection.  


The Company’s product is typically sold to major ginseng brokers in Hong Kong and a limited number of smaller customers.  During the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, the Company had sales of approximately 90%, 84%, and 70% to its top three customers in each year, respectively.  The Company believes that a limited number of customers will continue to represent a significant portion of its total revenue.  Although the Company does not consider itself economically dependent upon any single customer or combination of customers due to the existence of other potential brokers capable of purchasing the Company’s supply, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to maintain its current significant customers or secure significant new customers on similar terms and this may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows.  


During the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, the Company had sales of approximately 88%, 95% and 96% to markets in the Far East, primarily China.  The Company expects sales to markets in the Far East to continue to represent the majority, if not substantially all, of the Company’s sales.  Any adverse change in the demand for ginseng from Far East markets may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows.


Risks Associated with International Operations


The Company operates in international markets and conducts business in Canada (bulk root farming operations and certain bulk root sales), US (minimal sales of herbal products), and Hong Kong (bulk root sales centre in Asia). There are a number of risks inherent in the Company’s international business activities, including changes in regulatory requirements, tariffs and other trade barriers, costs and risks associated with foreign markets, differing culture and business practices, potentially adverse tax consequences, the burdens of complying with a wide variety of foreign laws, war, insurrection, terrorism and other political risks and factors beyond the Company’s control.  Exchange risks are also present as currencies may fluctuate at different rates depending on economic, political and other factors. The Company mitigates its exposure to foreign currency by managing working capital and through incurring expenditures in local currencies.  To further minimize exposure to the Hong Kong dollar the Company maintains low capital investment in the region, and repatriates all surplus cash balances.  There can be no assurance, however, that adverse changes in the above noted factors will not materially affect the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows.


Market for Common Shares; Potential Volatility of Stock Price


The trading prices of the Common Shares have been subject to wide fluctuations in recent years both before and after the Company’s financial restructuring.  There can be no assurance that the market price of the Common Shares will not significantly fluctuate from its current level.  Furthermore, the existence of a controlling shareholder and the low average trading volumes for the Company’s Common Shares may impact the liquidity of the shares or the ultimate price at which they can be sold.  


Financing


The Company has historically used term debt financing to finance capital asset acquisitions and short-term borrowings and operating lines to finance crops and working capital needs.  Short-term borrowings were repaid during 2003, however, operating lines continue to be used to manage working capital requirements.  Interest rate risk is managed by arranging most term debt financing with fixed rates for the life of the obligations.  Operating facilities bear interest at floating rates which continued to be at historical lows during 2003.


The Company will continue to focus on its farming and marketing initiatives and will also move forward to explore other business opportunities as resources permit.


In order to fund the financial requirements of the Company, including capital for debt repayment and funding for expansion and other activities, additional external sources of financing may be required. The amount of such funding depends on the future profitability of the Company, as well as the pricing of its products in world markets and the scale of any future expansion. The ability of the Company to issue additional equity may be impacted by the limited liquidity in the stock due to low historical trading volumes and significant percentages held by the majority shareholder since the Company’s restructuring.  Further if the Company decides to and is able to issue additional funds through public or private debt or equity financings to fund operations, new equity securities may have priority rights over existing equity security holders and the percentage ownership of current stockholders may be reduced.  Although future funding may require issues of additional debt or equity; there can be no assurance that capital markets will be conducive to such financing at all or on acceptable terms.

ITEM 4     INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY


HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY


The Company and Operations


Chai-Na-Ta Corp. (“Chai-Na-Ta” and the “Registrant” or the “Company”) was incorporated on August 21, 1981, under the Canada Business Corporations Act.  The Company originally was named Chai-Na-Ta Ginseng Products Limited.  During 1994, the name was changed to Chai-Na-Ta Corp.  Chai-Na-Ta, together with its subsidiaries, is engaged in the growing, processing and marketing of North American ginseng. Ginseng, a woodland plant with species native to both China and North America, is prized for its root which has been the most valuable herb in Oriental medicine for over 2,000 years.  The vast proportion of North American ginseng is farm grown.  Based on discussion with customers, suppliers and review of available farming industry literature, the Company believes that with 1,211 acres currently under cultivation it is the world’s largest producer of North American ginseng.


In November 2003, the Company moved its corporate head office from leased premises in Langley, B.C. to purchased office space located at: Unit 100 - 11300 No. 5 Road, Richmond, British Columbia, V7A 5J7; the contact person is William Zen, Chairman and C.E.O.; and the telephone number is (604) 272-4118. The head office operations include corporate administration, corporate finance, human resources, sales and marketing, research and development and investor relations.  The Company maintains farms near Lillooet, Kamloops, Ashcroft, and Midway in British Columbia, Otterville in Ontario, and has rented storage facilities in both Kamloops and Hong Kong.


In 2000, the Company changed its fiscal year end from November 30th to December 31st to establish a standard January 1st to December 31st fiscal year.



The Company listed its common stock on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") in October 1989; the stock symbol is CC.  The Company listed its common stock on the North American Stock Dealers Automatic Quotation (“NASDAQ”) Stock Market in October 1992; the stock symbol is CCCFF. The Company’s stock was delisted from NASDAQ in April 1999 for not meeting the listing requirements. The Company commenced trading on the NASDAQ’s OTC Bulletin Board in April 1999.


The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Chai-Na-Ta Farms Ltd. (“CNT Farms”) is headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia and carries out the planting, growing and harvesting of the Company’s ginseng crops.  CNT Farms also handles the storage of the Company’s root inventory and manages the distribution of inventory directly to local customers or to customers in the Far East through CNT Trading (Hong Kong) Limited.  CNT Farms also carries out crop research through its plant staff.


The Company also has a wholly-owned subsidiary, Unique Formulations Inc. (“Unique”) which previously operated out of Portland, Oregon as a wholesaler of ginseng and non-ginseng based herbal products to the U.S. market.  As part of the Company’s efforts to reduce operating costs, the Portland office was closed in November 1999 and the operations of Unique are now administered from the head office in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.


The Company incorporated its wholly-owned subsidiary, CNT Trading (Hong Kong) Limited (“CNT HK”), in October 13, 1999 to carry out direct marketing, sales and distribution functions for North American ginseng in Hong Kong for distribution through Asia.  CNT HK sells ginseng roots directly to brokers, distributors and certain customers in the Far East, primarily China, who use the bulk ginseng root for a variety of purposes.


 The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, North American Ginseng Enterprises Ltd. (“NAGEL”) was involved in a joint venture with China National Pharmaceutical Foreign Trade Corporation and Wuxi Traditional Medicine Co. (government entities of the People's Republic of China ("PRC")) for the processing and marketing into mainland China and Southeast Asia of the Company's Canadian grown ginseng root.  NAGEL owned 51% and the PRC owned 49% of the joint venture, Wuxi Zhong Jia American Ginseng Natural Tonics Co. Ltd.  During July 1999, the joint venture changed its name to Wuxi Zhongjia Phytopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. and subsequently assumed a marketing division of the Company.  As at December 31, 2000, the viability of this joint venture was in question, and the Company recognized a provision for potential liabilities of the joint venture.  The joint venture ceased operations in 2001 and was wound up.


The Company incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary, CNT International Wellness Pharmaceutical Limited in October 2000 along with its subsidiary Wuxi CNT Wellness Health Products Technology Ltd (together “CNT Wellness”).  The planned operations of CNT Wellness included the construction of a plant for the processing of bulk ginseng roots into graded and sliced ginseng for sales to the local market. On September 15, 2001, CNT Wellness acquired land use rights in Wuxi, China from the city government of Wuxi for approximately US$120,000.  Subsequent to the acquisition of land use rights, the Company commenced with the design of the facility.  In the spring of 2002, a decision was made by management to conserve financial resources and terminate further construction efforts for the plant in Wuxi.  In May 2002, the Company disposed of its interest in CNT Wellness to an unrelated third party for net proceeds of approximately $458,000 and recognized a small gain.  


Other than the expenditures related to CNT Wellness, as discussed above, the Company’s principal capital expenditures incurred during 2003, 2002 and 2001 were $1,718,940, $539,122 and $754,036, respectively, which primarily related to purchases of property, plant and equipment located in Canada.


Financing and restructuring


On January 28, 2000, the Company filed petitions for relief under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (“CCAA”) in order to restructure its financial affairs. Under the CCAA, certain claims against the Company in existence prior to the filing of the petitions for relief were stayed while the Company continued business operations.


On March 17, 2000, the Company filed a formal Plan of Arrangement and Compromise (the “Plan”) with the Supreme Court of the Province of British Columbia.  The closing date for accepting any claims of creditors was May 9, 2000.  The implementation date of the plan was May 26, 2000, after which the Company was released of all claims, liabilities and obligations to all Creditors and Post-filing Creditors in respect of all claims and post-filing claims.


As a result of the implementation of the Plan, the Company issued 1,889,337 common shares at a total value of $1,285,505, 20,399,149 preferred shares at a total value of $13,879,581, realized gains on debt forgiveness of $7,645,126 and incurred restructuring costs of $1,229,038.  As part of the financial restructuring, Road King Infrastructure Limited (“Road King”), a Hong Kong-based publicly listed company, through its subsidiary Herb King International Limited, acquired 7,348,618 common shares for $5,000,000 cash. Additionally, Road King purchased the positions of the Company’s two major creditors and received 20,399,149 of the Company’s preferred shares, 1,474,895 common shares and $10 million of term debt. Road King forgave $5,000,000 of the term debt and reduced the interest rate on the remaining $5,000,000 from 10.6% to 0% for a term of five years, with a significant redemption discount for early repayment. The fair market value of the remaining debt was determined to be $2.5 million, resulting in total debt forgiveness by Road King of $7.5 million. In 2001 the Company exercised an early repayment option and paid $2.5 million in full settlement of the term debt. As a result, Road King acquired 62% of the outstanding common shares of the Company.


Subsequent to the financial restructuring, a short-term revolving loan of $5 million was established with a fellow subsidiary of Road King.  The loan was unsecured and bore interest at prime plus 2.5% per annum.  The outstanding balance of the loan was repaid in full on March 14, 2003.  


On December 1, 2003, Road King converted 10,000,000 preferred shares into 10,000,000 common shares thus increasing its ownership to approximately 78% of the outstanding common shares of the Company.


As at December 31, 2003, subject to limitations based on the value of inventory, certain receivables and the estimated value of qualifying ginseng crops, the Company had available a $3 million revolving demand operating loan and a $2 million non-revolving 3-year term loan with a major Canadian chartered bank, bearing interest at prime plus 0.45% and 0.85% per annum respectively.  The loans are secured by a first charge over certain assets of the Company.  The Company typically uses these credit facilities to manage working capital until crops can be harvested, inventory sold and proceeds collected.


BUSINESS OVERVIEW


Ginseng Farming


There are two main types of ginseng recognised in the world.  Asian or Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), is a herb indigenous to the mountainous forests of eastern Asia.  North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a woodland plant native to North America.  Wild woodland ginseng has been harvested nearly to extinction in both the Orient and North America and this has stimulated the demand for farm grown ginseng.


Cultivated North American ginseng is grown under artificial shade with a heavy mulch of straw to replicate the conditions found on the forest floor in the hardwood forests of its native habitat.  In the late summer and early fall, the ginseng seeds are planted in raised beds, which provide the necessary drainage and solar warming of the soil during the spring.  After the straw mulch is applied to conserve moisture and to protect the plants from hard frosts, the shade structure is erected over the plants.  The shade cloth is left off the gardens in the spring to allow the soil to warm in the sun.  As the plants emerge and the sun gets stronger, the shade cloth is put in place to provide the optimum growing environment for a healthy crop.  The shade cloth is removed in the winter months to allow snow cover so that the root remains dormant over the winter.  This annual cycle is repeated until the third or fourth year when the root is harvested, typically using mechanical methods.


The Company has chosen to farm in two areas considered ideal for North American ginseng production, British Columbia and Ontario.  The arid interior of southern British Columbia is characterised by extremely dry air and frequent breezes that keep humidity in the gardens low and the leaves dry.  This reduces the risk of leaf blights and root rots.  Although southern Ontario has higher humidity and rainfall than southern British Columbia, the sandy tobacco land allows good drainage, resulting in exceptional growth rates and high quality root.  Careful selection of farm sites and scrupulous attention to garden drainage and ventilation substantially reduces the Company's farming risks, while taking advantage of the excellent growing conditions.


The Company conducts an extensive battery of tests on each garden to determine water retention characteristics, pH and plant nutrient levels.  The Company then adjusts soil fertility and pH to optimum levels for ginseng growth.  Once the crop is seeded, the Company's "Integrated Crop Management" program operates seven days a week to monitor and adjust the following factors that are critical to optimum root growth: plant nutrients, soil moisture and temperature.  As the root crop is harvested, the condition and yield of each garden is measured, to permit re-evaluation of the production system.


As at December 31, 2003, the Company has under lease 1,959 acres and owns 270 acres of farmland of which 1,211 are under ginseng cultivation.  The southern region of Ontario has abundant farm land that could be used for ginseng farming and lease costs are relatively low.  In B.C. land suitable for ginseng cultivation is scarce and leases are expensive. This availability is important because farm land is usually used for only one ginseng crop, the growing of which is generally believed to deplete the soil of nutrients necessary for a second successful ginseng crop.  The Company is currently conducting research on ginseng replanting in B.C. and the results while preliminary are encouraging.  In 2004, the Company will adopt a farm land ownership strategy in B.C. that the Company expects will reduce the production cost over the long run.  As part of this strategy, the Company has entered into an agreement to purchase 450 acres of agricultural land in the first half of 2004, subject to satisfaction of certain pre-closing conditions.


With 1,211 acres currently under cultivation - 530 in Ontario and 681 in British Columbia - the Company will continue to plant in both of its growing regions, with an anticipated slight shift in acreage distribution towards Ontario.  In view of the relative cost and yield advantages of the British Columbia and Ontario sites, the Company believes that its balanced planting strategy will enhance the growth and stability of its business.


Table No. 3

Ginseng Farming Operations

      



Calendar

New

Acreage Planted

Total

Acres Under Cultivation


Acres Harvested

Harvest

Yield in lbs

Per Acre

Total

Harvest

in lbs

      

2003

354

1,211

370

2,096

775,630

2002

304

1,284

359

2,666

956,996

2001

329

1,339

346

2,816

975,577

2000

289

1,356

366

2,612

957,431

1999

358

1,433

404

2,685

1,083,643

1998

413

1,479

402

2,799

1,130,790

1997

367

1,468

369

2,247

829,433

1996

368

1,470

308

2,150

662,200

1995

224

1,410

200

2,431

486,173

1994

550

1,386

155

2,041

316,604

      


Medicinal Properties


Western medicine does not recognise ginseng's medicinal properties.  Ginseng is sold in capsule, slice, tablet, tea, powder, extract, whole root form and as additives to various consumer products.  The amount of active ingredients (ginsenosides) varies with each product and each brand.  Though it is not a rule, extracts generally contain the highest concentration of active ingredients, followed by capsules, powders, tablets, slices, whole roots, and teas.


Scientific study of ginseng began in the early 19th century.  The chemical component of ginseng is very complex.  It varies in different species and from the different processing methods used.  Asian and North American ginseng are similar in chemical composition.  They both contain ginsenosides, which are recognized as the main active ingredients in ginseng but the amount and quality of the ginsenosides varies between the two species.  In addition to the more than 30 ginsenosides identified by scientists around the world, other elements such as fatty acids, amino acids, peptides, polysaccharides, vitamins and minerals have been discovered in different parts of the ginseng plant.  Many of these non-ginsenoside components are believed to have immunity enhancing and hypoglycaemic activities.


While Western medicine remains unconvinced of ginseng's effectiveness, millions of users around the world believe in the plant's therapeutic powers.  Ginseng has been regarded as an important health product in many Asian cultures for over 2,000 years. Some of the perceived benefits of North American ginseng include:

-    Reduced stress/relaxant;

-    Regulated blood sugar;

-    Strengthened immune function;

-    Antioxidant (anti-aging);

-    Hypotensive;

-    Enhanced mental activity; and

-    Synergized activity of anti-cancer drugs.


Competition


The Company produces North American ginseng, which is a distinctly different product from the consumer’s perspective from Asian ginseng grown in Korea and China.  In world markets, North American ginseng represents about 20% of the total ginseng sold. The Company, based on information obtained through discussion with customers, suppliers and review of available farming industry literature, estimates that it produces approximately 20% of the total North American ginseng supply annually.


Competitors currently producing North American ginseng consist primarily of hundreds of small growers (five to ten acres) located in southern Ontario, central British Columbia and Wisconsin.  The Company is aware of only a few growers producing North American ginseng farming 100 acres or more.


The Company competes through the production of high quality products (including larger four year old root), lower production costs achieved through economies of scale and an extensive marketing and distribution network serving customers in Hong Kong and the Far East.


Marketing and Customers


The Company’s product is typically sold to major ginseng brokers in Hong Kong and a limited number of smaller customers.  The marketing efforts to customers in Hong Kong and the Far East, primarily mainland China, are conducted through the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary CNT Trading (Hong Kong) Limited.  During the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, the Company had sales of approximately 90%, 84%, and 70% to its top three customers in each year, respectively, all of which were located in Hong Kong.  Although the Company believes that a limited number of customers will continue to represent a significant portion of its total revenue, the Company does not consider itself economically dependent upon any single customer or combination of customers due to the existence of other potential brokers capable of purchasing the Company’s supply.   


In 2004, a showroom will be opened adjacent to the Company’s corporate office in Richmond, B.C. to display and market graded roots and ginseng based herbal formulas.  The main objective is to increase local awareness, enhance corporate image and promote Company products.


Transfer prices between all the companies in the group are determined based on estimated world market prices at the transaction dates.  Market prices are established with reference to various ginseng brokers in Hong Kong and comparable sales to third parties.


Manufacturing/Processing


Canadian farming and processing operations, conducted through the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Chai-Na-Ta Farms Ltd., consist of farming, including cultivation, harvesting, washing and drying the root prior to export or sale to the local market.  Substantially, all of the Company’s sales during 2003, 2002 and 2001 involved the sale of bulk root.  


The industry as a whole has a limited supply of seed for new plantings.  The supply of seeds comes from those picked each year from mature plants under cultivation.  The seeds are living embryos that must be planted in the following year. As seed cannot be stored for more than one year, its limited shelf life can cause some barrier for future planting.


Prior to 2001, the Company through its 51% interest in Wuxi operated a processing facility in Wuxi, China, an area near Shanghai. The facility processed, graded and packaged root.  In 2001, Wuxi ceased operations and wound up its business.  

Manufacturing and processing of value-added products in the United States is contracted out to third party manufacturers. Activities in recent years have consisted of a limited amount of sales of herbal health products to distributors in the United States.  The Company believes that sufficient third party capacity will be available to meet its requirements for manufactured products in the foreseeable future.


USA, Canada And Foreign Sales/Assets


During 2003, the Company earned $0.2 million in sales in the United States, $1.9 million in sales in Canada, and $14.5 million in sales in the Far East.


During 2002, the Company earned $0.6 million in sales in the United States, $0.2 million in sales in Canada, and $15.2 million in sales in the Far East.


During 2001, the Company earned $0.3 million in sales in the United States, $0.3 million in sales in Canada, and $13.3 million in sales in the Far East.


As at December 31, 2003, 2002, and 2001, 99% of the Company’s long lived assets were in Canada and 1% in the Far East.


Research and Development


The Company has developed, and in 2000 trademarked, CNT 2000Ò, a standardized North American ginseng extract.  Standardization enables the Company to conduct scientific studies on the efficacy of North American ginseng and makes all the studies comparable with each other. The standardization of North American ginseng enables the Company to proprietize its products and facilitate global product registration under different regulatory environments. Finally, standardization puts the Company in the strategic position to further diversify its markets.


Total amounts expended on research and development activities during the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 were not material.  The Company is planning to initiate a research program for the study of the causes of rusty roots in 2004 in order to improve root quality.


Staffing


As at December 31, 2003, the Company employed approximately 32 salaried full-time people in its operations world-wide.  The Company may hire up to 300 persons for seasonal work in the ginseng farms and for production work in its processing facilities.


Seasonality


The Company’s business is highly seasonal, with harvesting and planting activities typically occur during the last two quarters of each year although certain limited harvests may take place in the spring.  Historically, fall harvests were sold primarily during the fourth quarter and the first two quarters of the subsequent year leading to significant seasonal variations in the volume of sales, inventory and crop costs.  Starting in 2002, the Company has adopted the strategy of spreading the sales more evenly from quarter to quarter to allow the Company to better manage its cash flow requirements and this pattern is expected to continue through 2004.


ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE


Road King Infrastructure Limited (“Road King”), through its subsidiary Herb King International Limited, holds about 78% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common shares as at December 31, 2003.  Road King is a Hong Kong based publicly traded company, with it core business being the investment, development, operation and management of toll roads and other infrastructure projects in China.


As of December 31, 2003 the Company has the following wholly-owned subsidiaries:


a)

Chai-Na-Ta Farms Ltd. (“CNTF”)
incorporated on February 28, 1994 in British Columbia, Canada

b)

Chai-Na-Ta International Ltd. ("CNTI")
incorporated on January 18, 1994 in Barbados

c)

Chai-Na-Ta (Asia) Ltd. (“CNTA”)
incorporated on October 26, 1992 in Barbados

d)

North American Ginseng Enterprises Limited (“NAGEL”)
incorporated on July 6, 1990 in Hong Kong

e)

CNT Nominees Limited.
incorporated on August 6, 1999 in the British Virgin Islands

f)

CNT Trading (Asia) Limited.
incorporated on October 17, 2000 in the British Virgin Islands

g)

CNT Trading (Hong Kong) Limited (“CNTT”)
incorporated on October 13, 1999 in Hong Kong

h)

Unique Formulations Inc. (“UF”)
incorporated on April 21, 1993 in Oregon, USA


An organisation chart of the Company and its affiliates is included in the exhibit (8.1).


PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT


The Company's executive office is located in owned premises of approximately 6,000 square feet at Unit 100 – 11300 No. 5 Road, Richmond, British Columbia V7A 5J7.  Other office facilities include one-person branch/farm offices located on its farm sites in Lillooet B.C., Midway B.C., and Otterville, Ontario.  CNTT's offices and storage are located in rented premises in both Kamloops, B.C. and Hong Kong.


The Company holds 1,959 gross acres of farmland under lease in British Columbia and Ontario (Table No. 3) and owns a 220 acre farm near Kamloops, B.C. and a 50 acre farm near Otterville, Ontario.  The Kamloops farm cultivates ginseng and is the location of the offices of CNTF.  The Company is developing a processing facility on the Ontario farm at a total cost of approximately $1.3 million. In 2004, all Ontario harvest will be processed in the new facilities, thereby reducing transportation and handling costs. The Company believes its existing cash resources are sufficient to fund the required capital expenditures.


Currently, 1,211 acres of the agricultural land held by the Company is under cultivation for the production of ginseng.  In 2004, the Company will adopt a farm land ownership strategy in B.C. that the Company expects will reduce the production cost over the long run.  As part of this strategy, the Company has entered into an agreement to purchase 450 acres of agricultural land in the first half of 2004 for approximately $743,000, subject to satisfaction of certain pre-closing conditions.

The Company will continue to plant in both of its growing regions in Ontario and British Columbia.  New seeding was 354 acres for 2003, 304 acres for 2002, and 329 acres for 2001.  The Company believes that the current levels of leased and owned lands as well as the lands under cultivation are sufficient to meet the Company’s needs.


The Company cultivates ginseng primarily on leased land.  Agricultural land is leased for a 5 year period and land rentals are approximately CDN$400 per year per acre.


Table No. 4

Agricultural Land Leases

    

Name

Location

Gross Acreage

Expiration

    

Adam

Norwich, Ont.

111.0

12/31/2007

Blue Ridge

Lillooet, B.C.

85.0

10/31/2004

Cedro

Midway, B.C.

111.8

09/30/2004

Cuthbertson

Midway, B.C.

86.3

09/30/2005

Cuthbertson

Midway, B.C.

25.7

09/30/2006

Deboer

Ashcroft, B.C.

38.3

10/31/2004

Deboer

Kamloops, B.C.

95.1

08/15/2006

Dunn

Otterville, Ont.

40.0

07/31/2006

Gilvesy

Otterville, Ont.

76.0

12/31/2006

Grim

Otterville, Ont.

24.7

12/31/2006

GVRD

Ashcroft, B.C.

51.8

04/13/2008

Halfway

Lillooet, B.C.

41.6

12/31/2007

Harper Ranch

Kamloops, B.C.

98.1

09/30/2004

Harper Ranch

Kamloops, B.C.

79.0

12/31/2004

Harper Ranch

Kamloops, B.C.

91.7

12/31/2007

Konigshofer

Otterville, Ont.

80.0

12/31/2004

Konigshofer

Otterville, Ont.

86.0

12/31/2007

Kovacs

Otterville, Ont.

107.0

12/31/2005

Lee

Norwich, Ont.

20.0

12/31/2004

Pathy

Otterville, Ont.

67.0

12/31/2007

Porter

Kamloops, B.C.

18.0

12/31/2006

Sabo

Kamloops, B.C.

86.4

09/30/2005

Schalles

Kamloops, B.C.

81.4

12/31/2005

Schalles

Kamloops, B.C.

28.0

12/31/2006

Singer

Tillsonburg, Ont.

110.0

12/31/2007

Stewart

Kamloops, B.C.

39.2

12/31/2007

Van Leeuwen

Otterville, Ont.

84.0

09/30/2005

Wardle

Otterville, Ont.

36.4

10/31/2006

White

Lillooet, B.C.

29.6

12/31/2005

White

Lillooet, B.C.

29.7

07/02/2006

  

1959

 


ITEM 5     OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS


Forward-looking statements


The Statements contained in this report which are not historical facts, including, but not limited to, certain statements found under this section, are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  The actual results of the future events described in such forward-looking statements could differ materially from those stated in such forward-looking statements.  Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the risks and uncertainties discussed in this report, and the uncertainties set forth from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the other public statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, seasonality, interest in the Company’s products, general economic conditions, consumer trends, competition, the effect of governmental regulation, prices, yields, availability of new working capital, quality of the Company’s harvest, and successful implementation of new products. This section should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included as item 17 of this report.  These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (Canadian GAAP), which in the case of these financial statements, conform in all material respects with those in the United States (US GAAP), except as disclosed in note 19 to the consolidated financial statements.


OPERATING RESULTS


Fiscal year ended 12/31/03 compared with year ended 12/31/02


Revenue was up 4% at $16,581,614 in 2003 compared to $16,017,375 in 2002.  The increase in revenue was mainly due to the higher average price from the fourth quarter sale of premium quality root representing 18% of the 2003 harvest.  Total industry production volume in North America fell by about 20% in 2003, which caused a compensatory improvement in prices.


Cost of goods sold was 62% of sales revenue, compared to 90% in 2002.  The Company harvested 775,630 pounds of root in 2003, a decrease of 19% from 956,996 pounds in 2002.  The Company harvested 370 acres in British Columbia and Ontario with an average yield of 2,096 pounds per acre.  This compares to 2002’s harvest of 359 acres and average yield of 2,666 pounds per acre.  The decrease was mainly due to frosts that affected the entire industry.


Gross margin rose to 38% of sales in 2003 from 10% of sales in 2002.  The significant increase is largely attributable to a higher margin recorded in the fourth quarter of 2003 due to sales of 2003 harvest at a higher average price and a lower margin in 2002 as most of the sales came from the 2001 harvest which was hard hit by rust and sold at a lower average price.


Selling, general and administrative expenses totalled $1,651,566 in 2003, or 10% of sales.  This compares to costs of $1,696,202 in 2002, or 11% of sales.  Management believes that selling, general and administrative expenses will remain stable in absolute dollar terms.


A $1 million write-down of crop cost in 2003 was due to an unusual late frost at one of the Company’s farms in British Columbia that severely damaged 57 acres of ginseng plants scheduled for harvest in 2004.  


Other loss of $92,046 represented foreign exchange loss of $135,214 after netting off interest income and other miscellaneous items.


Basic net income increased sharply to $2,551,496, or $0.17 per share, compared to 2002 basic net income of $334,078, or $0.02 per share.  Diluted earnings per share was $0.07 compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.01 in 2002.  The improved profitability in 2003 resulted primarily from the better average selling price achieved for root.


In order to conform Canadian GAAP to U.S. GAAP, cost of goods sold and hence gross margins would be adjusted for differences in accounting for interest capitalized to crop costs and the presentation of the write-down of inventory and crop costs as a component of cost of sales.  Accordingly, cost of goods sold would be increased and gross margins decreased by $186,132 for the year ended December 31, 2003 and cost of goods sold would be decreased and gross margins increased by $1,750,156 for the year ended December 31, 2002.  In addition, net earnings would be increased by $614,985 for the year ended December 31, 2003 and increased $894,843 for the year ended December 31, 2002 reflecting the differences in the accounting for interest and financial instruments and related future income taxes. As a result of these adjustments, net earnings under U.S. GAAP would have been $3,166,481 for the year ended December 31, 2003 and $1,228,921 for the year ended December 31, 2002. Basic and diluted earnings per share under U.S.GAAP would have been $0.21 and $0.09, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2003 compared to $0.09 and $0.04, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2002.


Fiscal year ended 12/31/02 compared with year ended 12/31/01


Revenue increased by 15% to $16,017,375 as compared to $13,885,635 in 2001. The increase in revenue was mainly due to the higher average price for the 2002 harvest and increased sales in the fourth quarter compared to the same period last year. Revenue in 2002 reflected the sale of the 2001 harvest and approximately 20% of the 2002 harvest, while 2001 revenue reflected the sale of the entire 2000 harvest.


Cost of goods sold was 90% of sales revenue, compared to 84% in 2001. Through Chai-Na-Ta Farms Ltd., the Company harvested 956,996 pounds of root, a decrease of 2% from 975,577 pounds in 2001. The Company harvested a total of 359 acres in British Columbia and Ontario with an average yield of 2,666 pounds per acre. This compares to 2001’s harvest of 346 acres and an average yield of 2,816 pounds per acre. The decrease was partly because of the lower yield from the B.C. spring harvest and also due to the impact of significant frosts in mid-May that affected the entire industry in Ontario.  


Gross margin decreased to 10% of sales in 2002 from 16% of sales in 2001, mainly because the 2001 harvest in British Columbia was hard hit by rust, a disease that reduces the prices of lower grade root.


Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $1,696,202 in 2002, or 11% of sales. This compares to costs of $2,883,611 in 2001, or 21% of sales. The decrease of $1,187,409 was due to management’s ongoing efforts to reduce overhead expenses and increase operating efficiency.  Management believes that selling, general and administrative expenses will remain stable in absolute dollar terms.


Interest and financing charges were about 94% lower than in 2001 because of reduction in bank borrowings as a result of cash flow improvement.


A $1,573,466 charge was recorded in 2001 to record inventory to its estimated net realizable value in order to reflect the reduction in the estimated selling price of root due to the industry-wide rust problems which affected the 2001 harvest.  


Other income of $32,823 included a net gain of $20,088 on disposal of a Company subsidiary, as well as miscellaneous items.


Net earnings was $334,078 compared to a net loss of $2,157,270 in 2001.  Basic earnings per share was $0.02 compared to basic loss per share of $0.15 in 2001.  Diluted earnings per share was $0.01 compared to diluted loss per share of $0.15 in 2001.  


In order to conform Canadian GAAP to U.S. GAAP, cost of goods sold and hence gross margins would be adjusted for differences in accounting for interest capitalized to crop costs and the presentation of the write-down of inventory and crop costs as a component of cost of sales.  Accordingly, cost of goods sold would be decreased and gross margins increased by $1,750,156 for the year ended December 31, 2002 and cost of goods sold would be increased and gross margins decreased by $3,968 for the year ended December 31, 2001.  In addition, net earnings would be increased by $894,843 for the year ended December 31, 2002 and net loss decreased by $415,623 for the year ended December 31, 2001, respectively for differences in the accounting for interest, financial instruments, and research and development costs. As a result of these adjustments, net earnings under U.S. GAAP would have been $1,228,921 for the year ended December 31, 2002 as compared to net loss of $1,741,647 for the year ended December 31, 2001. Basic and diluted loss per share under U.S.GAAP would have been $0.09 and $0.04 respectively for the year ended December 31, 2002 as compared to basic and diluted loss per share of $0.12 for the year ended December 31, 2001.



LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES


Fiscal year ended 12/31/03 compared with year ended 12/31/02


The cash surplus from operations was $1,576,753 compared to a surplus of $5,763,738 in 2002. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents as at December 31, 2003 was $505,876 compared to a balance of $2,757,553 at December 31, 2002, a decrease of $2,251,677.  The 2003 decrease was largely the result of higher accounts receivable due to sales near year-end and a reduction in customer deposits received.


The working capital position of the Company at December 31, 2003 was a surplus of $14,761,298 compared to a surplus of $12,117,260 at December 31, 2002. This increase came about mainly because of the full repayment of term debt and stronger earnings during 2003.


Current and non-current crop cost expenditures before depreciation and interest totaled $8,718,738 as compared to $8,284,117 in 2002. The increase was due to an increase in the number of acres planted in 2003.


Net capital expenditures of $1,618,691 during the 2003 period were mainly for the purchase of the Company’s corporate head office in Richmond, British Columbia and farmland in Ontario, where the Company has plans to develop  in 2004 (See below).


The Company also acquired equipment under capital leases during 2003 for $99,850.


The Company believes that its existing cash resources, lines of credit and cash flows from operations are sufficient to fund expected capital requirements and operating expenditures through 2004.  While management anticipates that revenues will continue to grow as the world price of ginseng stabilizes and that annual crop yields will meet expectations, there is no assurance that the Company will earn sufficient revenue to maintain future operations and fund the growth of the Company.  If cash resources are not sufficient to fund operations the Company may seek to secure additional capital through additional credit facilities or through the issuance of equity.  There is no assurance that additional financing will be available, if at all, on terms favourable to the Company.


As at December 31, 2003 the Company had the following contractual obligations and commercial commitments:

Table No. 5

Contractual Obligations

Contractual Obligations

Payments Due by Period

Total

Less Than One Year

2-3 Years

4-5 Years

After 5 Years

Long-term Debt (1)

$126,106

$39,742

$55,754

$30,610

$0

Operating Leases (2)

$172,935

$94,015

$74,626

$4,294

$0

Agricultural Land Leases (3)

$2,534,921

$815,909

$1,258,872

$460,140

$0

Total Contractual Obligations

$2,833,962

$949,666

$1,389,252

$495,044

$0


(1)

Long-term debt relates to various equipment purchase loans at interest rates up to 8.9% per annum.


(2)

Operating leases comprise of the Company’s long-term leases of equipment and vehicles.


(3)

The Company has committed to agricultural land rentals in British Columbia and Ontario for the cultivation of ginseng.


The Company has also entered into an agreement to purchase agricultural land for consideration of $743,000 with an expected completion date during the first half of 2004 subject to certain closing conditions.


As mentioned above, the Company has plans to construct a processing facility during 2004 for total additional expenditures of $1.3 million.


The Company has no significant purchase obligations as at December 31, 2003.


Fiscal year ended 12/31/02 compared with year ended 12/31/01


The cash surplus from operations was $5,763,738 compared to a surplus of $2,971,318 in 2001. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents as at December 31, 2002 was $2,757,553 compared to a balance of $2,086,789 at December 31, 2001, an increase of $670,764.


The working capital position of the Company at December 31, 2002 was a surplus of $12,117,260 compared to a surplus of $10,012,483 at December 31, 2001. This increase came about mainly because of reductions in term debt and the line of credit as a result of cash flow improvement from higher revenue in 2002.


Current and non-current crop cost expenditures before depreciation and interest totalled $8,284,117, as compared to $8,410,751 in 2001. The decrease was due to the success of the Company's farm management team in minimizing crop maintenance costs.


Net capital expenditures of $527,073 during the 2002 period were mainly for sunshade structures, irrigation and miscellaneous equipment.


CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATES


The significant accounting policies are outlined within Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.  Some of those accounting policies require the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported by the Company.  The following items require the most significant judgement and involve complex estimation.


Inventory


The Company periodically reviews the carrying value of inventory to determine if write-downs are required to state the inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value.  The determination of net realizable value reflects management’s best estimate of the expected selling price of the roots as well as consideration of qualitative factors such as size, shape, colour and taste.  The carrying value of inventory also reflects management’s expectation that the inventory will eventually be sold.  Although management does not believe that additional provisions are required to align the carrying value of certain inventory with market values, future events may indicate that the inventory is not saleable or that such inventory is not saleable at prices above carrying value.  Accordingly, the Company may be required to record a future write-down.


Ginseng crops


The Company uses the full absorption costing method to value its ginseng crops and periodically reviews the carrying value of ginseng crops for evidence of impairment in value.  Included in the cost of crops are seed, labour, applicable overhead, interest (See Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements) and supplies incurred to bring a crop to harvest.  The determination of impairment requires complex calculations and significant management estimates with respect to future costs to bring the crop to harvest, demand for and the market price of ginseng roots upon harvest and expectations as to the yield and quality of ginseng roots harvested.  The estimation process is further complicated by the relatively long growing cycle of three to four years and the fact that roots remain underground.  Although the Company’s assumptions reflect management’s best estimates, future events may result in materially different outcomes with respect to the recoverability of ginseng crop costs.


RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS


In December 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 46 Revised “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities - an Interpretation of ARB No. 51” (“FIN No. 46R), which provided, among other things, immediate deferral of the application of FIN No. 46 for entities which did not originally qualify as special purpose entities, and provided additional scope exceptions for joint ventures with business operations and franchises.  The Company’s adoption of FIN No. 46R did not have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.


In May 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity”.  SFAS 150 requires an issuer to classify a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability.  This statement is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003.  The Company does not believe that the adoption of SFAS 150 will have a significant impact on its financial statements.


In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”.  SFAS 149 amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities under SFAS 133.  This statement is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003.  The Company does not believe that the adoption of SFAS 149 will have a significant impact on its financial statements.  


In December 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 148 (SFAS 148), “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure”.  SFAS 148 provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation.  SFAS 148 also requires prominent disclosure in the “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results.  SFAS 148 is effective for the Company’s 2002 fiscal year, but will not impact the Company’s results of operation or financial position until such time as the Company elects to or is required to change to the fair value method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation.


In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 45 (“FIN 45”), “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others”.  FIN 45 requires that upon issuance of a guarantee, a guarantor must recognize a liability for the fair value of an obligation assumed under a guarantee.  FIN 45 also requires additional disclosures by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about the obligations associated with guarantees issued.  The recognition provisions of FIN 45 will be effective for any guarantees that are issued or modified after December 31, 2002.  The adoption of FIN 45 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.


In June 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 146 (“SFAS 146”), “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities”.  SFAS 146 requires that the liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized at its fair value when the liability is incurred.  Under previous guidance, which was consistent with guidance under Canadian GAAP, a liability for certain exit costs was recognized at the date that management committed to an exit plan.  As SFAS 146 is effective only for exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002, adoption of this statement did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.


ITEM 6     DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES


DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT


Directors


Table No. 6 lists as of March 31, 2004, the names of all the Directors of the Company.  The Directors have served in their respective capacities since their election and will serve until the next Annual General Meeting or until a successor is duly elected, unless the office is vacated in accordance with the Articles/By-laws of the Company.


Table No. 6

Directors

Date First

Name

Age

Elected


William Zen

56

May, 2000

Yuk Bing Ko

48

May, 2000

Kam Hung Chan

45

August, 2002

Dr. Eric Littley

49

June, 2001

Peter Leung (1)

44

August, 2001

Leslie (Les) Lumsden (1)

58

February, 2002

Steven Hsieh (1)

49

February, 2002

Harry Ng

48

March, 2002


(1)

Member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors


Mr. William Zen, Chairman and CEO of the Company, is a resident of Hong Kong. Mr. Zen holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration degree. He has extensive experience in civil engineering, construction material and infrastructure development in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. In addition, he is also Chairman of Road King Infrastructure Limited, a corporation listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange which owns approximately 78% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation. Mr. Zen also serves as a director and officer of numerous other public and private companies.


Mr. Yuk Bing Ko, Director of the Company, is a resident of Hong Kong. Mr. Ko holds a Master of Science degree and he is a Chartered Engineer. He has extensive experience in infrastructure development in Hong Kong and China, and has over 14 years' experience in business development and operation in China. He is currently the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Road King Infrastructure Limited.


Mr. Kam Hung Chan, Director of the Company, is an Australian citizen and a resident of Hong Kong. Mr. Chan holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Sydney. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and a fellow member of the Hong Kong Society of Accountants. Mr. Chan has over 20 years' of auditing, accounting and corporate management experience. He has held senior corporate management position in multi-national companies and listed companies in Hong Kong. Mr. Chan is currently the Finance Director of Road King Infrastructure Limited.


Dr. Eric Littley, Director of the Company, is a resident of British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Littley has a diverse background in the management of crops and plant diseases, and is one of the most experienced researchers working in ginseng today. He holds a Master degree in Pest Management and a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the Centre for Pest Management at Simon Fraser University. His background includes 10 years leading the R & D efforts with Chai-Na-Ta Corp. and 3 years as a consultant to specialty crop growers in Canada and the U.S.


Mr. Peter Leung, Director of the Company, is a resident of Ontario, Canada. Mr. Leung holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy and was a former President of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Society in Ontario.


Mr. Leslie (Les) Lumsden, Director of the Company, is a resident of British Columbia, Canada. Mr. Lumsden has retired after working 36 years for a major Canadian bank. His focus was as a senior account manager in the agricultural sector, primarily in ginseng farming.


Mr. Steven Hsieh, Director of the Company, is a resident of British Columbia, Canada. Mr. Hsieh is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, U.K., and of the Certified Financial Planners of Canada. He is in public practice as a Certified Management Accountant in Vancouver, British Columbia.


Mr. Harry Ng, Director of the Company, is a resident of Alberta, Canada. Mr. Ng, with extensive experience in strategic procurement of services, has demonstrated ability to negotiate, formulate and manage a variety of contracts.

 

Officers


Table No. 7 lists as of March 31, 2004 the names of all of the Executive Officers of the Company.  The Executive Officers are elected annually by the Directors following the Annual General Meeting and serve until the earlier of their resignation or termination with or without cause by the Directors.  Each Executive Officer has continuously served in his respective position from the date indicated in Table No. 7 unless otherwise indicated in his resume data following Table No.7.


Table No. 7

Executive Officers


Name

Age

Title

Date First Affiliated

William Zen

56

Chairman & C.E.O.

May, 2000

Wilman Wong

48

CFO & Corporate Secretary

June, 2000

C.K. (Chris) Lam

37

Chief Operating Officer

June, 2001


Mr. William Zen, Chairman and CEO of the Company, is a resident of Hong Kong. Mr. Zen holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration degree. He has extensive experience in civil engineering, construction material and infrastructure development in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. In addition, he is also Chairman of Road King Infrastructure Limited, a corporation listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange which owns approximately 78% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Corporation. Mr. Zen also serves as a director and officer of numerous other public and private companies.


Mr. Wilman Wong, Chief Financial Officer/Corporate Secretary, and an Officer of the Company, is a resident of British Columbia, Canada. Mr. Wong is a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and associate member of the Hong Kong Society of Accountants. Mr. Wong has over 23 years experience in auditing, taxation, secretarial and financial management.


Mr. C.K. (Chris) Lam, Chief Operating Officer and an Officer of the Company, is a resident of British Columbia, Canada. Mr. Lam holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree. In addition to his extensive experience in project management, he has many years of experience in direct investment, corporate development and administration.


There are no arrangements or understanding between any two or more Directors or Executive Officers.


COMPENSATION


The Company has a standard arrangement for compensating its Directors for their service in their capacity as Directors.  In addition, Directors may be granted stock options.  Directors received compensation during the year ended December 31, 2003, for their services as a Director including committee participation and/or special assignments as described below.


The Company also grants stock options to Executive Officers and employees from time to time.


Table No. 8 lists the compensation during the year ended December 31, 2003, for Executive Officers and Directors.


Table No. 8

Director/Officer Compensation

Year Ended December 31, 2003


Option Exercise

Total

Officer/Director

Salary/Bonus/Other

Net Market Value

Compensation


William Zen

$ 0

$0

$ 0

Wilman Wong

101,227

$0

101,227

C.K. (Chris) Lam

78,955

$0

78,955

Other Directors/Officers

   35,500

  $0

35,500

Total

$215,682

$0

$215,682


Option exercise net market value is computed by subtracting the cost of exercising the stock option from the market value of the respective shares of common stock on the date of exercise.  158,600 stock options had been granted to officers/directors as at December 31, 2003.


No funds were set aside or accrued by the Company during the year ended December 31, 2003 to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for Directors or Executive Officers.


The Company has no plans or arrangements in respect of remuneration received or that may be received by Executive Officers of the Company in the year ended December 31, 2003 to compensate such officers in the event of termination of employment (as a result of resignation, retirement, change of control) or a change of responsibilities following a change of control.


BOARD PRACTICES


All directors hold office until the next annual general meeting of shareholders, which generally is in May of each calendar year, or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified or their positions are earlier vacated by resignation or otherwise.  All executive officers are appointed by the Board and serve at the pleasure of the Board.  


The Audit Committee of the board of directors reviews, acts on and reports to the board of directors with respect to various auditing and accounting matters, including the selection of our auditors, the scope of the annual audits, fees to be paid to the auditors, the performance of our independent auditors and our accounting practices.  Our Audit Committee consists of Mr. Peter Leung, Mr. Les Lumsden and Mr. Steven Hsieh.


The Company does not currently have a remuneration or compensation committee.


EMPLOYEES


During fiscal 2003, the Company employed 32 persons on a full time basis and 230 persons on an hourly basis.


During fiscal 2002, the Company employed 39 persons on a full time basis and 278 persons on an hourly basis.


During fiscal 2001, the Company employed 44 persons on a full time basis and 280 persons on an hourly basis.


The Company is not a party to any material labour contract or collective bargaining agreement.


SHARE OWNERSHIP


Table No. 9 lists the share ownership in the Company by the Executive Officers and Directors as at March 31, 2004.


Table No. 9

Share Ownership of Directors/Officers as at March 31, 2004


Officer/Director

Title

Approximate Number of Shares

William Zen

Chairman/CEO

(1)

Wilman Wong

CFO/Corporate Secretary

-

C.K. (Chris) Lam

Chief Operating Officer

-

Other Directors

2,000


(1) 18,823,513 common shares and 10,399,149 preferred shares of the Corporation are owned by Herb King International Limited, of which William Zen is a Director.


STOCK OPTIONS


The Company has a total of 785,000 shares reserved for issue under the Plan. As of March 31, 2004, options to purchase 591,000 shares were outstanding while 159,268 options remain available for issuance under the Plan.


In May 1997, the shareholders approved a stock option plan (“the Plan”), and all outstanding options to directors, officers and service providers were brought within the purview of the Plan.  

Shareholder approval will no longer be required for each grant, as has been the case in the past, but will continue to be required as regards to any amendment to the Plan.


The Plan has restrictions as follows:


1.

   the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to stock options granted to insiders shall not exceed 10% of the outstanding issue;

2.

   there shall not be issued to insiders, within a one-year period, a number of shares exceeding 10% of the outstanding issue; or

3.

   there shall not be issued to any one insider and such insider’s associated parties, within a one year period, a number of shares exceeding 5% of the outstanding issue.


The names and titles of the Directors and Executive Officers of the Company to whom outstanding stock options have been granted and the number of common shares subject to such options is set forth in Table No. 10 as of March 31, 2004, as well as the number of options granted to employees and all others as a group.  The exercise price of the options is stated in Canadian dollars.


Table No. 10

Share Purchase Options Outstanding at March 31, 2004


CDN$

# of Shares of

Exercise

Expiration

Name

Title

Common Stock

Price

Date


Wilman Wong

CFO/CS

34,300

0.7300

12/15/2008

C.K. (Chris) Lam

COO

34,300

0.7300

12/15/2008

Steven Hseih

Director

18,000

0.7300

12/15/2008

Eric Littley

Director

18,000

0.7300

12/15/2008

Peter Leung

Director

18,000

0.7300

12/15/2008

Leslie Lumsden

Director

18,000

0.7300

12/15/2008

Harry Ng

Director

18,000

0.7300

12/15/2008


Employees (1 person)

10,000

0.6804

03/30/2005

Employees (21 persons)

422,400

0.7300

12/15/2008


Total Officers/Directors/Employees/Others

591,000


The Company proposed to adopt a new Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) which received approval by the Board of Directors on March 12, 2003. The new Plan was proposed in order to accommodate Road King Infrastructure Limited (“Road King”), a significant shareholder of the Company which then held approximately 62% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common shares. As a listed issuer of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “SEHK”), Road King is required to ensure that any grants of incentive stocks option by the Company comply with the more restrictive requirements of the SEHK. The new Plan did not ultimately assist Road King in complying with SEHK requirements. This being the case, the Company’s management decided not to implement the proposed new Plan and to leave the existing stock option plan of the Company in place and issued the options under the existing plan.


ITEM 7     MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS


MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS


The Company is a publicly owned corporation, the shares of which are owned by Canadian residents, US residents, and residents of other countries. As of December 31, 2003 (latest record date), the following persons and/or companies held 5% or more beneficial interest in the Company's outstanding common stock.


Herb King International Limited                                             18,823,513 (77.58%) common shares,

and 10,399,149 (100%) preferred shares.


During 2003, the Company’s controlling shareholder, Herb King International Limited, converted 10,000,000 preferred shares into common shares on a 1:1 basis thereby increasing its ownership interest in the common shares of the Company from approximately 61.86% to 77.58%.


The authorized capital of the Company consists of an unlimited number of shares of common stock without par value of which 24,264,508 were issued/outstanding as of December 31, 2003 and 21 million Series 1 non-voting, non-cumulative preferred shares convertible into common shares on a 1:1 basis of which 10,399,149 were issued/outstanding at December 31, 2003.


All of the authorized shares of the Company's common stock are of the same class and, once issued, rank equally as to dividends, voting powers, and participation in assets.  Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be acted upon by the shareholders.  Holders of common stock are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors, at its discretion, out of funds legally available therefore.


Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of common stock are entitled to receive on a pro rata basis the assets of the Company, if any, remaining after payments of all debts and liabilities, including settlement of the preferred shares.  No shares have been issued subject to call or assessment.  There are no pre-emptive or conversion rights and no provisions for redemption or purchase for cancellation, surrender, or sinking or purchase funds.


Provisions as to the modification, amendment of variation of such shareholder rights or provisions are contained in the Canada Business Corporation Act.  Unless the Canada Business Corporation Act, or the Company's By-Law’s otherwise provide, any action to be taken by a resolution of the members may be taken by an ordinary resolution or by a vote of a majority or more of the shares represented at the shareholders' meeting.


The Canada Business Corporation Act contains provisions, which require a "special resolution" for effecting certain corporate actions.  Such a "special resolution" requires a two-thirds vote of shareholders rather than a simple majority for passage.  Special resolutions are required to effect a "fundamental change" as provided in Section 173 of the Canada Business Corporation Act; in addition, special resolutions would be required on an amalgamation, on a continuation, and on a voluntary dissolution.


Holders of preferred shares shall not be entitled to attend meetings of the shareholders nor shall they have any voting rights for the election of directors.  Holders shall be entitled to receive a non-cumulative dividend equal to any dividend the Board of Directors of the Company may from time to time declare and pay on each common share.  Holders shall be entitled to exercise their right to convert the preferred shares into common shares on a 1:1 basis at any time, provided a written notice is given to the Registrant. Any issued and outstanding preferred shares will automatically be converted into common shares in 2010.


In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of preferred shares shall be entitled to receive, before any distribution of any part of the assets of the Registrant among the holders of the common stock, for each preferred share the amount of $0.6804 and any dividends declared thereon and unpaid, and following such distribution, the holders of preferred shares shall be entitled to share equally and rateably without preference or distinction on a per share basis with the holders of common stock.


RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS


In order to improve the operating working capital of the Company during harvest and to enhance the Company’s flexibility to negotiate loan terms with a local financial institution, a short-term unsecured revolving credit of $5 million bearing interest at prime rate plus 2.5% per annum was established with More Growth Finance Limited, a subsidiary of the Company’s major investor, Road King Infrastructure Limited.  The outstanding loan balance was repaid in full on March 14, 2003.  


ITEM 8     FINANCIAL INFORMATION


 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Financial Statements

The Company's audited consolidated financial statements are set forth under Item 17.


Legal Proceedings

The Company does not know of any material, active or pending legal proceedings against any companies in the group, nor is the Company involved as a plaintiff in any material proceedings or pending litigation.


The Company knows of no active or pending proceedings against anyone that might materially adversely affect an interest of the Company.


Export Sales

Information regarding our export sales is provided under ‘Segmented Reporting’ in the notes to the Consolidation Financial Statements under Item 17.


Dividend Policy


Holders of our common shares and preferred shares are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors.  There can be no assurance that any dividend will be declared, or if declared, what the amounts of dividend will be or whether such dividends, once declared, will continue for any future period.


ITEM 9     THE OFFER AND LISTING


The Company's common stock trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, having the trading symbol "CC" (formerly "CJG") and CUSIP #15745J-10-6.  The Company's common stock commenced trading on the TSX in October 1989.


The Company's common stock trades on the NASDAQ Stock Market in the United States, having the trading symbol "CCCFF" (formerly "CJGPF") and CUSIP #15745J-10-6. The Company's common stock commenced trading on the NASDAQ Stock Market in October 1992 and was delisted on April 14, 1999 for not meeting the listing requirements. The Company’s common stocks commenced trading on the NASDAQ OTC Bulletin Board in April 1999 retaining the trading symbol “CCCFF”.


The following tables set forth the high/low prices on the Toronto Stock Exchange for shares of the Company's common stock for each of the last five years, each of the quarters in the two most recently completed fiscal years and monthly for each of the most recent six months.


  Toronto Stock Exchange Stock High/Low Prices

                           (CDN Dollars)


Year

Ended

 High

Low


12/31/03

$1.04

$0.26

12/31/02

0.49

0.18

12/31/01

0.60

0.25

12/31/00

0.84

0.15

11/30/99

1.60

0.34


Quarter

Ended

High

Low


03/31/04

$1.43

$0.67


12/31/03

0.93

0.55

09/30/03

0.85

0.60

06/30/03

1.04

0.43

03/31/03

0.80

0.26


12/31/02

0.38

0.20

09/30/02

0.33

0.18

06/30/02

0.40

0.21

03/31/02

0.49

0.25



Month

Ended

High

Low


03/31/04

$1.35

$1.00

02/29/04

1.19

0.77

01/31/04

1.43

0.67


12/31/03

0.80

0.66

11/30/03

0.93

0.55

10/31/03

0.90

0.75


The following tables set forth the high/low prices on NASDAQ for shares of the Company's common stock for each of the last five years, each of the quarters in the two most recently completed financial years and monthly for each of the most recent six months. On April 14, 1999, the Company’s common shares were delisted from the NASDAQ SmallCap Stock Market.  On April 15, 1999, the Company’s common stocks commenced trading on the NASDAQ OTC Bulletin Board.


   NASDAQ Stock High/Low Prices

       (US Dollars)


Year

Ended

High

Low



NASDAQ OTCBB:


12/31/03

$0.90

$0.10

12/31/02

0.22

0.06

12/31/01

0.40

0.16

12/31/00

0.50

0.10


11/30/99

0.94

0.25



Quarter

Ended

High

Low


NASDAQ OTCBB:


03/31/04

$1.24

$0.51


12/31/03

0.90

0.40

09/30/03

0.80

0.40

06/30/03

0.75

0.17

03/31/03

0.36

0.10


12/31/02

0.22

0.06

09/30/02

0.20

0.12

06/30/02

0.22

0.17

03/31/02

0.21

0.15



Month

Ended

High

Low



03/31/04

$1.01

$0.70

02/29/04

0.75

0.51

01/31/04

1.24

0.51


12/31/03

0.90

0.40

11/30/03

0.57

0.40

10/31/03

0.57

0.40


The Company's common stock is issued in registered form and the following information is taken from the records of Computershare located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the registrar and transfer agent for the common stock.


On March 31, 2004, the shareholders' list for the Company's common stock showed 325 registered shareholders and depositories with 24,283,508 shares outstanding.  7.9% of these shares are held in Canada, 14.6% in the United States and 77.5% are held internationally.  Based upon the number of proxy statements and annual reports requested by shareholders and brokers for the Company's last annual shareholders' meeting and other research, the Company believes it has in excess of 2,318 beneficial owners of its common stock.


The Company's common stock is not registered to trade in the United States in the form of American Depository Receipts (ADR's) or similar certificates.

ITEM 10    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION


Directors


(a)

A director who is, in any way, directly or indirectly interested in a proposed contract or transaction with the Company shall disclose the nature and extent of his interest at a meeting of the directors in accordance with the provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act.  A director shall not vote in respect of any contract or transaction with the Company in which he is interested, and if he shall do so, his vote shall not be counted but he may be counted in the quorum present at the meeting at which such vote is taken.


(b)

Subject to any unanimous shareholder agreement, the directors shall be paid such remuneration for their services as the board may from time to time determine.


(c)

Without limiting the borrowing powers of the Company as set forth in the Canada Business Corporations Act, the board may from time to time in such amounts and on such terms as it deems expedient to borrow money upon the credit of the Company.


(d)

No person shall be qualified for election as a director if he is less than 18 years of age and there are no provisions with respect to the retirement of a director or the non-retirement of directors under an age limit requirement.


(e)

A director need not be a shareholder but a majority of the directors shall be resident Canadians.


Common Shares and Preferred Shares


The share capital of the Company shall consist of an unlimited number of Common Shares and an unlimited number of Preferred Shares, of which 21,000,000 shares are designated Preferred Shares, Series 1, all without par value, having the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions hereinafter described:


The Common Shares shall confer on the holders thereof and shall be subject to the following rights, privileges, conditions and restrictions:


(a)

Voting – The holders of the Common Shares shall be entitled to receive notice of and to attend all meetings of the shareholders of the Company and shall have one vote for each common share held at all meetings of the shareholders of the Company, except for meetings at which only holders of another specified class or series of shares of the Company are entitled to vote separately as a class or series;


(b)

Dividends – Subject to the rights, privileges, conditions and restrictions of the Preferred Shares and any of its series as designated by the directors from time to time, the holders of the Common Shares shall, in the absolute discretion of the directors, be entitled to receive and the Company shall pay out of monies of the Company properly applicable to the payment of dividends, those dividends as may be declared from time to time in respect of the Common Shares; and


(c)

Dissolution – Subject to the rights, privileges, conditions and restrictions of the Preferred Shares and any of its series as designated by the directors from time to time, the holders of the Common Shares shall be entitled to receive the remaining property of the Company on dissolution.


The Preferred Shares shall confer on the holders thereof and shall be subject to the following rights, privileges, conditions and restrictions:


(a)  Series – The directors may issue Preferred Shares in one or more series;


(b)

Designation – The directors may by resolution amend the articles of the Company to fix the number of shares in, and to determine the designation of the shares of, each series of Preferred Shares;


(c)

Directors to Attach Rights – The directors may by resolution amend the articles of the Company to determine the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the shares of each series of Preferred Shares;


(d)

Cumulative Dividends – Where shares of one or more series of Preferred Shares are entitled to cumulative dividends, and where any cumulative dividends in respect of a series of Preferred Shares are not paid in full, the shares of all series of Preferred Shares entitled to cumulative dividends shall participate rateably in respect of accumulated dividends in accordance with the amounts that would be payable on those shares if all the accumulated dividends were paid in full;


(e)

Rateable Participation – Where amounts payable are not paid in full on a winding-up, or on the occurrence of any other event as a result of which the holders of the shares of all series of Preferred Shares are then entitled to a return of capital, the shares of all series of Preferred Shares shall participate rateably in a return of capital in respect of the Preferred Shares in accordance with the amounts that would be payable on the return of capital if all amounts so payable were paid in full;


(f)

No Priority – No rights, privileges, restrictions or conditions attached to a series of Preferred Shares shall confer on the series priority over another series of Preferred Shares then outstanding respecting:


i.

dividends, or


ii.

a return of capital:


(1)

on a winding-up, or


(2)

on the occurrence of another event that would result in the holders of all series of Preferred Shares being entitled to a return of capital;


(g)

Additions, Changes and Removals – A directors’ resolution pursuant to paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) may only be passed prior to the issue of shares of the series to which the resolution relates, and after the issue of shares of that series, the number of shares in, the designation of and the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached to, that series may be added to, changed or removed only pursuant to applicable provisions of the Canada Business Corporations Act;



(h)

No Right to Vote – Except as expressly provided in the rights, privileges, restrictions or conditions which the directors may determine or attach to any series of Preferred Shares, shares of a series of Preferred Shares shall not confer on the holders thereof any right to notice of or to be present at or to vote, either in person or by proxy, at any meeting of the shareholders of the Company other than a separate meeting of the holders of the Preferred Shares, or of the holders of a series of the Preferred Shares, as the case may be.


In addition to the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the Preferred Shares of the Company as a class, the Preferred Shares, Series 1 of the Company shall have the following rights and be subject to the following restrictions, conditions and limitations:


(a)

Non-Voting – The holders of the Preferred Shares, Series 1 shall not, as such, be entitled to receive notice of or to attend meetings of the shareholders of the Company nor shall they have any voting rights for the election of directors or for any other purpose (except where the holders of a specified class are entitled to vote separately as a class as provided in the Canada Business Corporations Act).


(b)

Dividends – The holders of the Preferred Shares, Series 1 shall be entitled to receive, and the directors of the Company shall declare and the Company shall pay thereon, out of the moneys of the Company properly applicable to the payment of dividends, a non-cumulative dividend on each Preferred Share, Series 1 equal to any dividend the board of directors of the Company may from time to time declare and the Company pay on each Common Share, and such dividends on the Preferred Shares, Series 1 shall be declared and paid at the same time as the declaration and payment of such dividends on the Common Shares.


(c)  Conversion


(i)

A holder of Preferred Shares, Series 1 shall be entitled, at such holder’s option, at any time and from time to time, to have all or any of the Preferred Shares, Series 1 registered in the name of such holder on the books of the Company converted into Common Shares as the same shall be constituted at the time of conversion upon the basis of one Common Share for each Preferred Share, Series 1 so converted; provided that, on conversion of any Preferred Shares, Series 1, the holders thereof shall be entitled to receive any declared and unpaid dividends thereon which are payable to the holders of Preferred Shares, Series 1 of record on a date prior to the date on which such conversion is effective pursuant to Section 3 (c)(ii) below;


(ii)

The conversion right provided for herein may be exercised by notice in writing given to the Company at its registered office accompanied by the certificate or certificates representing the Preferred Shares, Series 1 in respect of which the holder thereof desires to exercise such right of conversion and such notice shall be executed by the person registered on the books of the Company as the holder of the Preferred Shares, Series 1 in respect of which such right is being exercised or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney and shall specify the number of such shares which the holder desires to have converted.  The conversion shall be deemed to take effect upon the date which the said certificate or certificates shall be surrendered to the Company at its registered office accompanied by the said notice unless such date be a Saturday, Sunday or a holiday, in which event it shall take effect on the next business day.  If a part only of the Preferred Shares, Series 1 represented by any certificate is converted, a new certificate for the balance shall be issued without charge by the Company;


(iii)

Any Preferred Shares, Series 1 issued and outstanding as of 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on that date which is 10 years following issuance shall, at such time, automatically be converted into Common Shares on the basis one Common Share for each Preferred Share, Series 1 then issued and outstanding, and after such time, a holder of such automatically converted Preferred Shares, Series 1 shall cease to have any rights as a shareholder in respect of such shares other than the right to receive any declared and unpaid dividends thereon which are payable to the holders of Preferred Shares, Series 1 of record as of a date prior to the date of such automatic conversion.  Such holder shall be entitled to receive from the Corporation, without charge, a certificate representing the Common Shares resulting from such automatic conversion of such Preferred Shares, Series 1;


(iv)

All Common Shares resulting from any conversion provided for herein shall be fully paid and non-assessable; and


(v)

In the event that the Preferred Shares, Series 1 or the Common Shares are at any time subdivided, consolidated or changed into a greater or lesser number of shares of the same or another class, an appropriate adjustment shall be made in the rights and conditions attached to the Preferred Shares, Series 1 so as to maintain the relative rights of the holders of those shares.


(d)

Liquidation, Dissolution and Winding-up – In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the Preferred Shares, Series 1 shall be entitled to receive, before any distribution of any part of the assets of the Corporation among the holders of the Common Shares or any other shares in the capital of the Corporation ranking junior to the Preferred Shares, Series 1, for each Preferred Share, Series 1, the amount of C$0.6804 and any dividends declared thereon and unpaid, and following such distribution, the holders of the Preferred Shares, Series 1 shall be entitled to share equally and rateably without preference or distinction on a per share basis with the holders of Common Shares or other shares in the capital of the Company in the distribution of the remaining property and assets of the Company.


Change Rights of Shareholders


The directors may by resolution to amend the articles of the Company to change the rights of shareholders. According to Canada Business Corporations Act, such amendment requires approval by a special resolution of shareholders.


Meetings of Shareholders


An Annual General Meeting must be held once every financial year for the purpose of considering the financial statements and reports, electing directors, appointing auditors and for the transaction of other business as may be brought before the meeting.  The board, the chairman of the board or the president shall have power to call a special meeting of shareholders at any time.


Notice of the time and place of each meeting of shareholders must be given no less than 21 days, nor more than 50 days, before the date of each meeting to each director, to the auditors and to each shareholder who at the close of business on the record date, if any, for notice is entered in the securities register as the holder of one or more shares carrying the right to vote at the meeting.


Rights to Own Securities


There are no limitations on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights.


Except as provided in the Investment Canada Act, there are no limitations under the applicable laws of Canada or by our charter or other constituent documents of our Company on the right of foreigners to hold or vote Common Shares of other securities of our Company.


The Investment Canada Act will prohibit implementation, or if necessary, require divestiture of an investment deemed “reviewable” under the Investment Canada Act by an investor that is not a “Canadian” as defined in the Investment Canada Act (a “non-Canadian”), unless after review the Minister responsible for the Investment Canada Act (“the Minister”) is satisfied that the “reviewable” investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada.  An investment in our Common Shares by a non-Canadian would be reviewable under the Investment Canada Act if it was an investment to acquire control of our Company and the value of our assets was $5 million or more.  A non-Canadian would be deemed to acquire control of our company for the purposes of the Investment Canada Act if the non-Canadian acquired a majority of our outstanding Common Shares (or less than a majority but controlled our company in fact through the ownership of one-third or more of our outstanding common shares) unless it could be established that, on the acquisition, our Company was not controlled in fact by the acquirer through the ownership of such Common Shares.  Certain transactions in relation to our Common Shares would be exempt from review under the Investment Canada Act, including, among other, the following:


1.

Acquisition of Common Shares by a person in the ordinary course of that person’s business as a trader or dealer in securities;

2.

Acquisition of control of our Company in connection with the realization of security granted for a loan or other financial assistance and not for any purpose related to the provisions of the Investment Canada Act; and

3.

Acquisition of control of our Company by reason of an amalgamation, merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization following which the ultimate direct or indirect control of our company, through the ownership of voting interests, remains unchanged.


The Investment Canada Act was amended with the World Trade Organization Agreement to provide for special review thresholds for “WTO Investors” of countries belonging to the World Trade Organization, among others, nationals and permanent residents (including “WTO Investor controlled entities” as defined in the Investment Canada Act).  Under the Investment Canada Act, as amended, an investment in our Common Shares by WTO Investors would be reviewable only if it was an investment to acquire control of our Company and the value of our assets was equal to or greater than a specified amount (the “Review Threshold), which is published by the Minister after its determination for any particular year.


Change in Control


There are no provisions in our Articles that would have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our Company, and that would operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition or corporate restructuring involving the Company.


MATERIAL CONTRACTS


The following is a summary of our Company’s material contracts entered into for the two years immediately preceding publication of this document.


1.

Share purchase agreement, dated June 17, 2002, by the Company and LTRD Biotech Limited. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company disposed of its interest in CNT International Wellness Pharmaceutical Limited, including its subsidiary Wuxi CNT Wellness Health Products Technology Ltd., for a total consideration of $580,000.


EXCHANGE CONTROL


There are no government laws, decrees or regulations in Canada which restrict the export or import of capital or which affect the remittance of dividend, interest or other payments to non-resident holders of our common shares.  Any remittances of dividends to United States residents and to other non-residents are, however subject to withholding tax.  See “Taxation” below.


TAXATION


The following is a fair summary of the principal Canadian federal income tax considerations generally applicable in respect of the common stock.  The tax consequences to any particular holder of common stock will vary according to the status of that holder as an individual, trust, corporation or member of a partnership, the jurisdiction in which that holder is subject to taxation, the place where that holder is resident and, generally, according to that holder's particular circumstances.  This summary is applicable only to holders who are resident in the United States, have never been resident in Canada, deal at arm's length with the Company, hold their common stock as capital property and who will not use or hold the common stock in carrying on business in Canada.


This summary is based upon the provisions of the Income Tax Act of Canada and the regulations thereunder (collectively, the "Tax Act") as at the date of the Annual Report, publicly-announced proposals to amend the Tax Act as at the date of this Annual Report and the current administrative practices of the Canada Revenue Agency . This summary does not take into account provincial income tax consequences.  The summary assumes that the publicly announced proposals will be enacted as proposed with the effective dates set out therein; otherwise, the summary assumes that there will be no other changes in law whether by judicial or legislative action.


This summary is of a general nature only and is not exhaustive of all possible income tax consequences.  It is not intended as legal or tax advice to any particular holder of common stock and should not be so construed.  Each holder should consult his own tax advisor with respect to the income tax consequences applicable to him in his own particular circumstances.


Disposition of Common Stock.  Under the Tax Act, a gain from the sale of common stock by a non-resident will not be subject to Canadian tax, provided the shareholder (and/or persons who do not deal at arm's length with the shareholder) have not held a "substantial interest" in the Company (25% or more of the shares of any class of the Company's stock) at any time in the five years preceding the disposition. Generally, the Canada-United States Tax Convention (the "Tax Convention") will exempt from Canadian taxation any capital gain realized by a resident of the United States unless:

(a)

their value is derived principally from real property in Canada;

(b)

the holder was resident in Canada for 120 months during any period of 20 consecutive years preceding the disposition and the common stocks were owned by him when he ceased to be a resident in Canada; or

(c)

they form part of the business property of a permanent establishment that the holder has or had in Canada within the 12 months preceding the disposition.


If a non-resident were to dispose of common stock of the Company to another Canadian corporation which deals or is deemed to deal on a non-arm's length basis with the non-resident and which, immediately after the disposition, is connected with the Company (i.e., which holds shares representing more than 10% of the voting power and more than 10% of the market value of all issued and outstanding shares of the Company), the excess of the proceeds over the paid-up capital of the common stock sold will be deemed to be taxable as a dividend either immediately or eventually by means of a deduction in computing the paid-up capital of any shares issued by the purchasing corporation.


Dividend.  In the case of any dividends paid to non-residents, the Canadian tax is withheld by the Company, which remits only the net amount to the shareholder.  By virtue of Article X of the Tax Convention, the rate of tax on dividends paid to residents of the United States is generally limited to 15% of the gross dividend (or 5% in the case of certain corporate shareholders owning at least 10% of the Company's voting shares). In the absence of the treaty provisions, the rate of Canadian withholding tax imposed on non-residents is 25% of the gross dividend.  Stock dividends received by non-residents from the Company are taxable by Canada as ordinary dividends at the amount by which the paid up capital of the Company is increased for the shares issued as dividends.


The Tax Convention generally exempts from Canadian withholding tax dividends paid to a religious, scientific, literary, educational or charitable organization exclusively administering a pension, retirement or employee benefit fund or plan, if the organization is resident in the United States and is exempt from income tax under the laws of the United States.


DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY


The documents concerning our Company may be viewed at the offices of our corporate solicitor, Stikeman Elliott, at Suite 1700, Park Place, 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 2X8, during normal office hours.


ITEM 11    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK


The Company’s revenue is derived principally from the sale of ginseng roots to a limited number of customers that are concentrated in Asian markets.  In order to manage its credit risk, the Company carefully monitors credit terms, investigates credit history and grants credit to customers with established relationships or an acceptable credit rating. Payments or deposits are usually received before shipments of inventory.  Letters of credit may be used, or inventory may be held as security until payment is received, when such relationships have not been established.  The Company identifies Canada as the primary economic environment in which it operates and uses the Canadian dollar as its functional currency.  A minor portion of the Company’s revenues and receivables are denominated in U.S. dollars and Hong Kong dollars.   The Company monitors its exposure to foreign exchange risk and balances its foreign currency holdings to reduce exposures to any one currency by repatriating any excess funds.  The Company may also from time to time utilize foreign exchange contracts to hedge against exchange risks.


The Company’s revenues and earnings are also impacted by the world price of ginseng root which is determined by reference to a number of factors including the supply and demand for North American ginseng root, negotiations between buyer and seller, the quality and aesthetic characteristics of the root and the relative strength of the Canadian dollar to the currency used by the Company’s customers.  A percentage change in the market price of ginseng root will tend to have a corresponding impact on the revenues reported by the Company.  An increase in the selling price by $1 per pound will increase the Company’s net earnings by approximately $750,000 and a decrease in the selling price by $1 per pound would have an equally negative impact on net earnings.


The interest income from cash and cash equivalents and the interest expense from borrowings under credit facilities are subject to interest rate changes and therefore interest income and interest expense will fluctuate directly with changes in interest rates and the amount of cash and cash equivalents and borrowing outstanding at any given time.


ITEM 12    DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES


Not applicable.


PART II

ITEM 13    DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES


Not applicable.


ITEM 14    MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS


Not applicable.


ITEM 15    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES


Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures


Under the supervision and with the participation of the management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company has evaluated the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)). Based on such evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.


Changes in Internal Controls


Since the date of the evaluation described above, there have not been any significant changes in the Company's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect those controls.


ITEM 16    RESERVED


ITEM 16A   AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT


The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Steven Hsieh, Chairman of the Audit Committee and independent director, qualifies as “audit committee financial expert” pursuant to this Item 16A of the Form 20-F.


ITEM 16B   CODE OF ETHICS


The Company is currently in the process of adopting a formal code of ethics that applies to our employers, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions.


ITEM 16C   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES


Deloitte & Touche LLP acts as the Company’s principal independent auditor for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002.  The following table discloses the aggregate fees for professional services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP in 2003 and 2002.


 

2003

CDN’000

2002

CDN’000

Audit Fees (1)

95

114

Audit -related Fees

 -

 -

Tax Fees (2)

 -

22

All Other Fees (3)

  2

   0

Total

97

136

   


(1)

Audit fees consist of fees billed for the annual audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and fees billed for services relating to the review of documents filed with the SEC.

(2)

Tax fees include fees billed for tax compliance services, tax advice on transfer pricing.

(3)

All other fees include assistance with compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley requirements.


Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures


Consistent with SEC requirements regarding auditor independence, the Audit Committee has adopted a policy to pre-approve services prior to commencement of the specified service.  Under the policy, the Audit Committee must pre-approve the provision of services by our principal auditor.  Requests or applications to provide services that require specific approval by the Audit Committee are submitted to the Audit Committee, through the Audit Committee Chairman, by both the external auditor and the Chief Financial Officer.


Item 16D   EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES


Not applicable



Item 16E    PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS


Not applicable

PART III

ITEM 17    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


The Company's consolidated financial statements are stated in Canadian dollars (CDN$) and are prepared in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the application of which, in the case of the Company, conforms in all material respects for the periods presented with United States GAAP, except as referred to in footnotes to the audited consolidated financial statements.  The value of the U.S. dollar in relationship to the Canadian dollar was approximately 1.30 as of Decmeber 31, 2003.


Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules:


Auditors’ Report, dated March 5, 2004


Consolidated Balance Sheets as at December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2003


Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2003, December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001.


Consolidated Statements of Deficit for the years ended December 31, 2003, December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001.


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2003, December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001.


Consolidated Statements of Crop Costs for the years ended December 31, 2003, December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001.


Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

ITEM 18    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


The Registrant has elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 17.


ITEM 19    EXHIBITS

1.1.

Articles of Incorporation, effective August 12, 1981 (incorporated by reference from our Form 20-F and Form 6K )

1.2.

Certificate of Name Change, dated September 7, 1994 (incorporated by reference from our Form 20-F and Form 6K)

2.1

Instruments defining the rights of holders of registered equity or debt securities – refer to Exhibit 1.1 above.

4.1

Private Placement Share Subscription Agreement, dated April 20, 2000, by the Company and Road King Infrastructure Limited (incorporated by reference from our Form 20-F Annual Report filed on May 30, 2001)

4.2

Employment Agreement, dated May 5, 2000, by the Company and Gerald A. Gill. (incorporated by reference from our Form 20-F Annual Report filed on May 30, 2001)

4.3

Conversion Agreement, dated May 8, 2000, by the Company, Chai-Na-Ta Farms Ltd., John Hancock Life Insurance Company and Herb King International Limited. (incorporated by reference from our Form 20-F Annual Report filed on May 30, 2001)

4.4

Partnership Agreement between Chai-Na-Ta Farms Ltd. and 499599 B.C. Ltd. (incorporated by reference from our Form 20-F Annual Report filed on May 31, 1996).

4.5

Joint Venture Agreement between Chai-Na-Ta Farms Ltd. and the Skeetchestn Indian Band (incorporated by reference from our Form 20-F Annual Report filed on May 31, 1996).

4.6     Share Purchase Agreement between the Company and LTRD Biotech Limited.

          (incorporated by reference from our Form 20-F Annual Report filed on May 26, 2003)

8.1     Organization chart of the Company and its affiliates.

99.1  Certification of CEO and CFO as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.










SIGNATURE PAGE





The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorised the undersigned to sign this registration statement (annual report) on its behalf.


Chai-Na-Ta Corp.                                    

Registrant



“WILMAN WONG”

By:                                                                    

 Wilman Wong, Chief Financial Officer




Dated: May 7, 2004








CERTIFICATIONS



I, William Zen, certify that:


1.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Chai-Na-Ta Corp.(the “Company”);


2.

Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;


3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;


4.

The Company's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and have:

a.

Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

b.

Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusion about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

c.

Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and


5.

The Company's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the Company's auditors and the audit committee of Company's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a.

All significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b.

Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal control over financial reporting.


   /s/ “WILLIAM ZEN”


   ________________________________

      William Zen, Chief Executive Officer


Date:  May 7, 2004








I, Wilman Wong, certify that:


1.    I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Chai-Na-Ta Corp. (the “Company”);


2.

Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;


3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;


4.  The Company’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and have:

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

b. Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

c. Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and


5.  The Company’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a. All significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/  “WILMAN WONG”


________________________________

Wilman Wong, Chief Financial Officer


Date:  May 7, 2004














Auditors’ Report and Consolidated Financial Statements of


CHAI-NA-TA CORP.

(Stated in Canadian dollars)

December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001
















Deloitte & Touche LLP

P.O. Box 49279

Four Bentall Centre

2800 - 1055 Dunsmuir Street

Vancouver, British Columbia

V7X 1P4

Tel: (604) 669 4466

Fax: (604) 685 0395

www.deloitte.ca


Independent Auditors’ Report


To the Directors of Chai-Na-Ta Corp.



We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Chai-Na-Ta Corp. as at December 31, 2003, and 2002 and the consolidated statements of operations, deficit, cash flows and crop costs for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.


We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America.  Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.


In our opinion, these consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as at December 31, 2003 and 2002 and the results of its operations, its cash flows and its crop costs for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2003 in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.


On March 5, 2004, we reported separately to the shareholders of Chai-Na-Ta Corp. on our audit, conducted in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards, of financial statements for the same period, prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.


“Deloitte & Touche LLP”


Chartered Accountants

Vancouver, British Columbia

April 2, 2004








CHAI-NA-TA CORP.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Stated in Canadian Dollars)

As at December 31

 

2003

 

2002

ASSETS

    

Current assets

    

  Cash and cash equivalents

 

 $       505,876

 

 $       2,757,553

  Accounts receivable and other receivables

 

       2,907,439

 

            136,796

  Inventory

 

       9,040,873

 

         8,082,946

  Ginseng crops (Note 3)

 

       4,915,618

 

         7,577,892

  Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

            67,161

 

              85,696

   

     17,436,967

 

        18,640,883

Ginseng crops (Note 3)

 

     11,732,216

 

        10,922,182

Property, plant and equipment (Note 4)

 

       6,949,577

 

         6,648,832

 

 

 

 $  36,118,760

 

 $     36,211,897

LIABILITIES

    

Current liabilities

    

  Bank indebtedness (Note 5)

 

 $    1,790,000

 

 $                 -   

  Short-term borrowings (Note 6)

 

                    -   

 

         3,632,145

  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

          457,571

 

            771,310

  Customer deposits (Note 7)

 

          388,356

 

         1,993,971

  Current portion of long-term debt (Note 8)

 

            39,742

 

            126,197

   

       2,675,669

 

         6,523,623

Long-term debt (Note 8)

 

            86,364

 

              26,256

Future income taxes (Note 12)

 

       2,185,000

 

         1,130,000

 

 

 

       4,947,033

 

         7,679,879

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    

Share capital (Note 10)

 

     38,200,398

 

        38,200,398

Cumulative translation adjustments

 

            17,227

 

            (70,986)

Deficit

 

      (7,045,898)

 

        (9,597,394)

 

 

 

     31,171,727

 

        28,532,018

 

 

 

 $  36,118,760

 

 $     36,211,897

Commitments (Note 14)

    

APPROVED BY THE BOARD

    

/s/ “WILLIAM ZEN”

________________________________

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ “STEVEN T.M. HSIEH”

________________________

Director










CHAI-NA-TA CORP.

       

Consolidated Statements of Deficit

      

(Stated in Canadian Dollars)

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years ended December 31

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

        
        

Balance, beginning of year

  

 $   (9,597,394)

 

 $     (9,931,472)

 

 $     (7,774,202)

        

Net earnings (loss)

 

 

       2,551,496

 

            334,078

 

        (2,157,270)

        

Balance, end of year

 

 

 $   (7,045,898)

 

 $     (9,597,394)

 

 $     (9,931,472)

        









CHAI-NA-TA CORP.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Stated in Canadian Dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

Years ended December 31

 

 

2003

2002

2001

Revenue

  

 $ 16,581,614

 $    16,017,375

 $     13,885,635

Cost of goods sold

 

 

  10,213,121

   14,343,472

     11,680,559

 

 

 

       6,368,493

   1,673,903

   2,205,076

     

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

       1,651,566

    1,696,202

     2,883,611

Interest on short-term debt

  

       18,385

         8,446

       151,854

Write-down of inventory and crop costs (Notes 1(e) and (f))

    1,000,000

             -   

    1,573,466

 

 

 

    2,669,951

    1,704,648

     4,608,931

Operating profit (loss)

  

     3,698,542

   (30,745)

   (2,403,855)

Other income (loss) (Note 13)

 

 

       (92,046)

       32,823

      246,585

      

Income (loss) before income taxes

  

    3,606,496

        2,078

    (2,157,270)

Provision for (recovery of) income taxes (Note 12)

 

 

    1,055,000

    (332,000)

           -   

NET EARNINGS (LOSS)

 

 

 $  2,551,496

 $     334,078

 $   (2,157,270)

     

Basic earnings (loss) per share (Note 1(l))

 

 $           0.17

 $           0.02

 $           (0.15)

Weighted average number of shares used to calculate basic earnings (loss) per share

 

  15,113,823

  14,264,508

    14,264,508

     

Diluted earnings (loss) per share (Note 1(l))

 

 $           0.07

 $           0.01

 $          (0.15)

Weighted average number of shares used to calculate diluted earnings (loss) per share

 

 

  34,663,657

 34,663,657

  14,264,508

      







CHAI-NA-TA CORP.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Stated in Canadian Dollars)

      

Years ended December 31

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

NET INFLOW OF CASH RELATED TO

      

  THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:

      

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

       

  Net earnings after items not  

       

    affecting cash (Note 16(a))

  

 $          14,689,325

 

 $          14,096,199

 

 $          10,877,983

  Changes in non-cash operating assets

      

    and liabilities (Note 16(b))

  

              (6,326,791)

 

              (2,155,947)

 

              (1,578,735)

  Change in non-current crop costs

 

              (6,785,781)

 

              (6,176,514)

 

              (6,327,930)

 

 

 

               1,576,753

 

               5,763,738

 

               2,971,318

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

       

  Bank indebtedness

  

               1,790,000

 

              (1,650,000)

 

               1,260,000

  Short-term borrowings

  

              (3,632,145)

 

              (2,791,700)

 

                  822,492

  Repayment of long-term debt, net

 

                 (126,197)

 

                 (567,481)

 

              (3,031,458)

 

 

 

              (1,968,342)

 

              (5,009,181)

 

                 (948,966)

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

       

  Purchase of property, plant and equipment, net

 

              (1,618,691)

 

                 (527,073)

 

                 (618,743)

  Proceeds from sale of subsidiary, net (Note 2)

 

                            -   

 

                  458,765

 

                            -   

 

 

 

              (1,618,691)

 

                   (68,308)

 

                 (618,743)

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES

      

ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

                 (241,397)

 

                   (15,485)

 

                    74,524

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH

      

AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

  

              (2,251,677)

 

                  670,764

 

               1,478,133

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,

      

  BEGINNING OF YEAR

 

 

               2,757,553

 

               2,086,789

 

                  608,656

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,

      

  END OF YEAR

 

 

 $               505,876

 

 $            2,757,553

 

 $            2,086,789

Represented by:

       

  Cash

  

 $               505,876

 

 $            1,057,553

 

 $            1,826,789

  Term deposits

  

                            -   

 

               1,700,000

 

                  260,000

 

 

 

 $               505,876

 

 $            2,757,553

 

 $            2,086,789

Supplementary information (Note 16(c))

      









CHAI-NA-TA CORP.

       

Consolidated Statements of Crop Costs

    

(Stated in Canadian Dollars)

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years ended December 31

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

        

Depreciation

  

 $    1,356,906

 

 $       1,429,662

 

 $       1,928,101

Farm equipment operating costs

  

          795,681

 

            576,020

 

            628,989

Interest on short-term debt

  

            29,589

 

            303,324

 

            630,446

Interest on long-term debt

  

              4,138

 

              15,441

 

              59,364

Land rental

  

          934,850

 

            884,844

 

            901,774

Mulch and fertilizer

  

       1,853,822

 

         1,607,651

 

         2,140,607

Other

  

          310,555

 

            258,654

 

            134,493

Plant science

  

            28,891

 

              22,820

 

              22,490

Salaries and wages

  

       4,013,019

 

         4,116,429

 

         4,060,974

Seed

  

          314,583

 

            244,690

 

            163,332

Small tools and supplies

  

            98,388

 

              77,731

 

              70,059

Warehouse and dryer operations

 

 

          368,949

 

            495,278

 

            288,033

   

     10,109,371

 

        10,032,544

 

        11,028,662

        

Balance, beginning of year

 

 

     18,500,074

 

        19,811,527

 

        20,916,021

   

     28,609,445

 

        29,844,071

 

        31,944,683

        

Less:

       

  Writedown of crops

  

       1,000,000

 

                    -   

 

                    -   

  Cost of crop harvested during the year

 

     10,961,611

 

        11,343,997

 

        12,133,156

Balance, end of year

  

     16,647,834

 

        18,500,074

 

        19,811,527

        

Less: current portion

 

 

       4,915,618

 

         7,577,892

 

         8,098,718

 

 

 

 $  11,732,216

 

 $     10,922,182

 

 $     11,712,809

        







CHAI-NA-TA CORP.

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

(Stated in Canadian Dollars)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001


1.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES


These consolidated financial statements are expressed in Canadian dollars, have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles and reflect the following significant accounting policies:


(a)

Description of business


The Company operates North American ginseng farms in Canada, on which ginseng root is planted, cultivated and harvested. The Company sells ginseng in its primary markets of Hong Kong and China through its wholly-owned subsidiaries.


(b)

Basis of presentation


These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and those of its subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.


At December 31, 2003, the Company's effective ownership interests in these companies were as follows:


Subsidiaries


Chai-Na-Ta Farms Ltd.

100%

Chai-Na-Ta International Ltd.

100%

Chai-Na-Ta (Asia) Ltd.

100%

North American Ginseng Enterprises Limited

100%

CNT Nominees Limited

100%

CNT Trading (Asia) Limited

100%

CNT Trading (Hong Kong) Limited

100%

Unique Formulations, Inc.

100%


During the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company disposed of its interest in CNT International Wellness Pharmaceutical Limited (Note 2).


(c)

Revenue recognition


Revenue is recognized when title to the products has been transferred, which is generally on delivery to customers, provided that at the time of sale the proceeds are determinable and collection is reasonably assured.


(d)

Cash and cash equivalents


Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, deposits in banks and highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less.







1.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)


(e)

Inventory


Inventory is valued at the lower of average cost and net realizable value.  In 2001, the Company wrote down inventory by $1,573,466 to its estimated realizable value to reflect the expected reduction in selling price due to the industry-wide rust problem in British Columbia that affected the 2001 harvest.


(f)

Ginseng crops


The Company uses the full absorption costing method to value its ginseng crops.  Included in crop costs are seeds, labour, applicable overhead, interest and supplies.  Common costs are allocated in each period based on the total number of acres under cultivation during the period.


The carrying value of ginseng crops is reviewed on a regular basis for any impairment in value, using management’s best estimate as to expected future market values, yields and costs to harvest.  In 2003, an unusual late frost at one of the Company’s farms in British Columbia severely damaged 57 acres of ginseng plants, resulting in the Company recording a $1,000,000 write-down of ginseng crops related to this property.


Crop costs related to the acreage harvested and sold have been charged to cost of sales.


(g)

Property, plant and equipment and depreciation


Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation.  Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the following periods:

Buildings

20 years

Dryers and related works

20 years

Computer equipment and software

4 years

Furniture and fixtures

10 years

Leasehold improvements

10 years

Machinery and equipment

10 years

Sunshade

10 years

Vehicles

8 years

Pavement

12.5 years


The carrying value of property, plant and equipment is reviewed on a regular basis for any impairment in value.


(h)

Research and development


Research costs are expensed as incurred.  Development costs that meet generally accepted criteria, including reasonable assurance regarding future benefits, are capitalized and amortized to operations.







1.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)


(i)

Goodwill and other intangible assets


Goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite life are not amortized, but are tested for impairment at least on an annual basis.  Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their useful lives and tested for impairment when conditions indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable in its entirety.  Any impairment loss is expensed in the consolidated statement of operations.  The Company had no goodwill or intangible assets as at December 31, 2003 and 2002.


(j)

Foreign currency translation


Financial statements of the Company's self-sustaining foreign operations are translated into Canadian dollars using the current rate method.  Adjustments arising from the translation are deferred and recorded as Cumulative Translation Adjustments under the Shareholders' Equity section of the balance sheet and are included in operations only to the extent of any reduction in the investment in these foreign operations that is realized.


(k)

Income taxes


The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method.  Under this method, future income taxes are recorded for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities, and for losses and other deductions carried forward.  Future tax assets and liabilities are measured using substantively enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which such temporary differences or losses and other deductions carried forward are expected to be recovered or settled.  A valuation allowance is recognized to the extent that the recoverability of future income tax assets is not considered likely.


(l)

Earnings (loss) per common share


Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.  Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution of common shares by including other common share equivalents in the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for a period, if dilutive.  Common share equivalents consist of convertible preferred shares and the incremental number of shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options and share purchase warrants.


A reconciliation of net earnings (loss) per common share and the weighted average shares used in the earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) calculations for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001 is as follows:








1.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

(l)

Earnings (loss) per common share (continued)

       

Net Earnings

 

Number of

 

Earnings

       

(Loss)

 

Shares

 

(Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(numerator)

 

(denominator)

 

Per Share

2003

         

Basic

    

 $   2,551,496

 

    15,113,823

 

 $           0.17

Effect of common share equivalents

 

                 -   

 

    19,549,834

 

            (0.10)

Diluted

 

 

 

 

 $   2,551,496

 

    34,663,657

 

 $           0.07

2002

         

Basic

    

 $      334,078

 

    14,264,508

 

 $           0.02

Effect of common share equivalents

 

                 -   

 

    20,399,149

 

            (0.01)

Diluted

 

 

 

 

 $      334,078

 

    34,663,657

 

 $           0.01

2001

         

Basic

    

 $  (2,157,270)

 

    14,264,508

 

 $         (0.15)

Effect of common share equivalents

 

                 -   

 

                 -   

 

                 -   

Diluted

 

 

 

 

 $  (2,157,270)

 

    14,264,508

 

 $         (0.15)

            

Preferred shares and options to purchase 610,000, 10,000, and 20,432,175 shares of common stock were outstanding as at December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect would be anti-dilutive.


(m) Stock–based compensation plans

The Company has a stock-based compensation plan, which is described in Note 11(a).  The Company has adopted the recommendations of the CICA with respect to stock-based compensation and other stock-based payments effective January 1, 2002.  This section establishes standards for recognition, measurement and disclosure of stock-based compensation and other stock-based payments made in exchange for goods and services.  The standard requires that all stock-based awards made to non-employees be measured and recognized using a fair value based method.  The standard encourages the use of a fair value based method for all awards granted to employees, but only requires application of specified accounting methods to direct awards of stock, stock appreciation rights and awards that call for settlement in cash or other assets.  If an alternative other than the fair value based method is used, pro-forma fair value based information must be disclosed.

The Company does not have any plans that result in the direct award of stock, stock appreciation rights and awards that call for settlement in cash or other assets.  It will continue to use the intrinsic value based method to account for stock-based transactions with employees.  The Company elected not to adopt the fair value method of accounting for its stock-based compensation plan and accordingly has included the pro forma disclosure in Note 11(b).







1.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)


(n)  Use of estimates


The presentation of financial statements in conformity with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and other disclosures as at the end of or during the reporting periods.  Significant estimates are used for, but not limited to, the accounting for doubtful accounts, net realizable value of assets, future income taxes and contingencies.  Actual results may differ from these estimates.


2.

DISPOSITION


CNT International Wellness Pharmaceutical Limited


During 2002, the Company disposed of its interest in CNT International Wellness Pharmaceutical Limited, including its subsidiary Wuxi CNT Wellness Health Products Technology Ltd., in exchange for net cash proceeds of $458,765.  The disposition resulted in a net gain of $20,088, which is included in Other Income (loss) in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.  The assets and liabilities disposed of and resulting net gain are summarized as follows:

 

Proceeds (net of cash transferred)

   

 $    458,765

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

   

     (455,676)

 

Other assets

   

       (11,469)

 

Other liabilities

 

 

 

         28,468

 

Gain on disposal

 

 

 

 $      20,088


3.

GINSENG CROPS


Ginseng plants reach maturity and can be harvested at the end of their third year of growth.  However, the Company may allow crops to mature longer to allow for higher yields and additional seed harvests.  Costs accumulated relating to the expected harvest in the next year have been classified as current assets.  At December 31, 2003, total area under cultivation and management is 1,211 acres.  A breakdown of acreage by year planted is as follows:

 

Year planted

 

Number of acres

 

2000

  

224

 

2001

  

329

 

2002

  

304

 

2003

 

 

354

 

 

 

 

1,211

     







4.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT


 

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

      

Accumulated

   

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

Cost

 

Depreciation

 

Cost

 

Depreciation

           
 

Land

  

 $  1,172,583

 

 $               -   

 

 $       598,515

 

 $               -   

 

Buildings

  

     1,408,553

 

        286,396

 

          660,284

 

          247,582

 

Dryers and related works

     1,979,802

 

        998,545

 

        1,979,802

 

          899,555

 

Computer equipment

        
 

  and software

 

        179,491

 

        145,712

 

          398,119

 

          377,390

 

Furniture and fixtures

 

        278,325

 

        269,173

 

          319,313

 

          300,390

 

Leasehold

         
 

  improvements

 

          82,249

 

          79,660

 

          472,190

 

          437,152

 

Machinery and

        
 

  equipment

  

     5,868,115

 

     4,384,306

 

        5,588,881

 

        3,984,507

 

Sunshade

  

   14,024,114

 

   12,084,966

 

      13,999,215

 

      11,328,240

 

Vehicles

  

        424,181

 

        262,574

 

          379,685

 

          204,922

 

Pavement

 

 

          51,655

 

            8,159

 

            37,445

 

              4,879

           
 

 

 

 

 $25,469,068

 

 $18,519,491

 

 $   24,433,449

 

 $   17,784,617

           
 

Cost less accumulated

        
 

    depreciation

 

$6,949,577

 

$6,648,832

           



5.

BANK INDEBTEDNESS


As at December 31, 2003, subject to limitations based on the value of inventory, certain receivables and the estimated value of qualifying ginseng crops, the Company has available a $3,000,000 revolving demand operating loan and a $2,000,000 non-revolving term loan for three years with a Canadian chartered bank that bear interest at bank prime rate plus 0.45% and 0.85% per annum, respectively.  The loans are secured by a first charge over certain assets of the Company.  As at December 31, 2003, $1,790,000 (2002 - NIL) had been drawn under the operating loan and a further $1,210,000 (2002 - $5,000,000) was available for drawing.









6.

SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS


The loan from a fellow subsidiary was unsecured and bore interest at bank prime rate plus 2.5% per annum.  The loan was fully repaid on March 14, 2003.



7.

CUSTOMER DEPOSITS


Customer deposits represent deposits received from customers to secure inventory purchase commitments prior to the actual delivery of inventory.



8.

LONG TERM DEBT


    

2003

 

2002

       
 

Loans and notes payable

 (a)

 

 $     126,106

 

 $         43,688

 

Mortgage payable

 (b)

 

                  -   

 

          108,765

       
    

        126,106

 

          152,453

 

Less:  current portion

 

 

          39,742

 

          126,197

       
 

 

 

 

 $       86,364

 

 $         26,256

       



(a)

Loans and notes payable


The Company entered into equipment purchase loan agreements at interest rates of up to 8.9% per annum.  The loans are repayable in installments maturing in various amounts to May 14, 2008 and are secured by specific assets of the Company.


(b)

Mortgage payable


As part of the agreement to assume the assets and liabilities of the Skeetchestn/Chai-Na-Ta Xexe7ellp (Potent) Ginseng Joint Venture, the Company assumed a mortgage payable due to Peace Hills Trust Company.  The debt was fully repaid on March 3, 2003.








9.

JOINT VENTURES

The Company conducted a significant portion of its grading and distribution activities through its joint venture, Wuxi Zhongjia Phytopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., in China. The joint venture ceased operations and was wound up in 2001.

The following is a summary of the Company's proportionate share of the financial statement amounts of the joint venture:

     

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

Statement of Operations

     
 

  Revenue

 $         -   

 

 $        -   

 

 $   294,303

 

  Expenses

            -   

 

           -   

 

      497,214

 

  Net loss

            -   

 

           -   

 

     (202,911)

 

Statement of Cash Flows

     
 

   Operating activities

 $         -   

 

 $        -   

 

 $ (128,583)

 

   Financing activities

            -   

 

           -   

 

             -   

 

   Investing activities

            -   

 

           -   

 

       (6,674)

          

10.

SHARE CAPITAL

Authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of common shares without nominal or par value and 21 million Series 1 non-voting, non-cumulative preferred shares, convertible into common shares on a 1:1 basis.  Any issued and outstanding preferred shares will automatically be converted into common shares in 2010.

During the periods, the following changes occurred in outstanding shares:

    

Number of

  
    

shares

 

Amount

 

Common shares

     
 

Balance at December 31, 2001 and 2002

 

      14,264,508

 

 $   24,320,817

 

  Preferred shares conversion

  

      10,000,000

 

        6,804,000

 

Balance at December 31, 2003

 

 

      24,264,508

 

 $   31,124,817

 

Preferred shares

     
 

Balance at December 31, 2001 and 2002

 

      20,399,149

 

 $   13,879,581

 

  Preferred shares converted to common shares

 

    (10,000,000)

 

      (6,804,000)

 

Balance at December 31, 2003

 

 

      10,399,149

 

 $     7,075,581

 

Total share capital

 

 

 

 

 $  38,200,398

       







11.

STOCK OPTIONS


(a)

The Company maintains a stock option plan and grants options to officers, directors and employees of the Company at market prices.  A total of 785,000 shares were reserved for issue under the plan.  The options are vested at the date of grant and expire five years thereafter.


Options to purchase 610,000 shares are outstanding and exercisable as at December 31, 2003, as follows:


        
 

 Number

 

 Number

 

Weighted Average

 

 Weighted Average

 

 Outstanding as at

 

Exercisable as at

 

Exercise price

 

 Remaining Contractual

 

 December 31, 2003

 

 December 31, 2003

 

($/share)

 

Life in Years

        
 

10,000

 

10,000

 

$0.68

 

1.25

 

600,000

 

600,000

 

0.73

 

4.96

 

610,000

 

610,000

 

$0.73

 

4.90

        


As at December 31, 2002 and 2001, there were 10,000 and 33,026 exercisable options outstanding, respectively.


Information regarding the Company's stock options for each of the periods is summarized as follows:


      

 Exercise

    

Number of

 

price range

    

shares

 

($/share)

       
 

Outstanding as at December 31, 2000

 

       128,026

 

$           0.68

 

  Expired

 

 

       (95,000)

 

0.68

 

Outstanding as at December 31, 2001

 

        33,026

 

0.68

 

  Expired

 

 

       (23,026)

 

0.68

 

Outstanding as at December 31, 2002

 

        10,000

 

0.68

 

  Granted

 

 

       600,000

 

0.73

 

Outstanding as at December 31, 2003

 

       610,000

 

0.68 - 0.73

 

Exercisable as at December 31, 2003

 

       610,000

 

$ 0.68 - 0.73

       







11.

STOCK OPTIONS (Continued)



(b)

The Company applies the intrinsic value based method of accounting for stock options granted to employees and directors.  Had the Company recorded compensation expense based on the fair value of the options at the grant date, the results for 2003 would have been as follows:



 

Net earnings:

    
  

As reported

   

 $    2,551,496

  

Pro forma

   

 $    2,192,789

       
 

Basic earnings per share:

   
  

As reported

   

 $           0.17

  

Pro forma

   

 $           0.15

       
 

Diluted earnings per share:

   
  

As reported

   

 $           0.07

  

Pro forma

   

 $           0.06

       
       


The Company has not included those options outstanding at the date of adoption in its assessment of the pro forma impact of adopting this standard.  No stock options were issued during the year ended December 31, 2002.


The fair value of the options granted was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, with the following assumptions at the measurement date:


Risk-free interest rate

4%

Dividend yield

0%

Volatility

115%

Expected option life

5 years

Weighted average fair value of options granted

$0.60








12.

FUTURE INCOME TAXES

Temporary differences and carryforwards that give rise to future income tax assets and liabilities as at December 31, 2003 and 2002 are as follows:

       

2003

 

2002

 

Future income tax assets

       
 

  Property, plant and equipment

   

 $      131,000

 

 $       23,000

 

  Liabilities

     

           89,000

 

        112,000

 

  Tax loss carryforwards

    

         262,000

 

        478,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         482,000

 

        613,000

 

Future income tax liabilities

      
 

  Inventory and ginseng crops

   

        (863,000)

 

       (643,000)

 

  Receivables and prepaids

   

     (1,804,000)

 

    (1,100,000)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     (2,667,000)

 

    (1,743,000)

          
 

Net future income tax liabilities

 

 

 

 $  (2,185,000)

 

 $  (1,130,000)

The provision for income taxes (recovery) has been calculated as follows:

     

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

Provision for income taxes (recovery) at  

      
 

  the Canadian statutory rates

 

 $   1,288,240

 

 $            812

 

 $    (983,715)

          
 

Adjustments:

        
 

  Foreign tax rate differential

 

         (79,164)

 

       (148,134)

 

        789,417

 

  Change in income tax rates

 

         (56,579)

 

       (108,280)

 

                -   

 

  Other

 

 

 

         (97,497)

 

         (76,398)

 

        194,298

 

Provision for income taxes (recovery)

 

 $   1,055,000

 

 $    (332,000)

 

 $              -   

          

The Company, subject to the approval of the tax authorities, has losses carried forward from its overseas subsidiaries for foreign tax purposes of approximately $1,707,000 available to reduce future taxable income.  The losses carried forward for foreign tax purposes can be carried forward indefinitely.


13.

OTHER INCOME (LOSS)


Other income in 2003 includes interest income, foreign exchange losses and miscellaneous items.  Other income in 2002 includes the net gain on the disposal of the Company’s subsidiary (Note 2) of $20,088.  Other income in 2001 includes the net gain on the winding up of the Company’s joint venture in China of $258,892 (Note 9).







14.

COMMITMENTS

(a)

The Company has entered into various operating leases expiring in 2007.  Total further minimum payments required under these leases are as follows:

    
 

2004

 

 $       94,015

 

2005

 

          57,301

 

2006

 

          17,325

 

2007

 

            4,294


(b)

The Company is committed to agricultural land rentals for the next five years as follows:

    
 

2004

 

 $      815,909

 

2005

 

         743,882

 

2006

 

         514,990

 

2007

 

         349,835

 

2008

 

         110,305


(c)

 The Company has entered into an agreement to purchase agricultural land for consideration of $743,000 with an expected completion date during the first half of 2004.  A deposit of $15,000 was included in other assets as at December 31, 2003.


15.

SEGMENTED REPORTING

The Company operates in one industry segment and three geographic regions.  Long-lived assets comprise all assets not classified as current assets.  Information by geographic region is summarized as follows:

Year ended

  

 Other

    

December 31, 2003

Canada

 

North America

 

Far East

 

Consolidated

        

Revenue - external

 $       1,886,953

 

 $        162,596

 

 $     14,532,065

 

 $     16,581,614

Revenue - intercompany

       

  between regions

        11,942,850

 

                  -   

 

                    -   

  

Total revenue

 $     13,829,803

 

 $        162,596

 

 $     14,532,065

  

Net earnings

 $       1,915,347

 

 $         59,482

 

 $          576,667

 

 $       2,551,496

Long-lived assets

 $     18,678,880

 

 $                -   

 

 $             2,913

 

 $     18,681,793

        

Major Customers

For the year ended December 31, 2003, consolidated revenue consisted of sales to two customers, which accounted for $9,204,584 and $5,214,820, respectively, from the Far East geographic region.








15.

SEGMENTED REPORTING (Continued)


Year ended

  

 Other

    

December 31, 2002

Canada

 

North America

 

Far East

 

Consolidated

        

Revenue - external

 $          138,491

 

 $        632,494

 

 $     15,246,390

 

 $     16,017,375

Revenue - intercompany

       

  between regions

        16,087,806

 

                  -   

 

                    -   

  

Total revenue

 $     16,226,297

 

 $        632,494

 

 $     15,246,390

  

Net eanrings (loss)

 $          786,247

 

 $        459,897

 

 $        (912,066)

 

 $         334,078

Long-lived assets

 $     17,550,719

 

 $                -   

 

 $           20,295

 

 $     17,571,014

        



Major Customers


For the year ended December 31, 2002, consolidated revenue consisted of sales to two customers, which accounted for $10,424,658 and $1,698,405, respectively, from the Far East geographic region.


Year ended

  

 Other

    

December 31, 2001

Canada

 

North America

 

Far East

 

Consolidated

        

Revenue - external

 $          288,086

 

 $        280,626

 

 $  13,316,923

 

 $   13,885,635

Revenue - intercompany

  

  between regions

        11,769,859

 

                   -   

 

                 -   

  

Total revenue

 $     12,057,945

 

 $        280,626

 

 $  13,316,923

  

Net loss

 $        (167,460)

 

 $        (70,657)

 

 $   (1,919,153)

 

 $   (2,157,270)

Long-lived assets

 $     19,542,341

 

 $                -   

 

 $       265,586

 

 $   19,807,927

        



Major Customers


For the year ended December 31, 2001, consolidated revenue consisted of sales to three customers, which accounted for $5,326,981, $2,749,611 and $1,619,303, respectively, from the Far East geographic region.








16.

OTHER INFORMATION

(a)

Net earnings after items not affecting cash

     

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

Net earnings (loss)

   

 $    2,551,496

 

 $      334,078

 

 $ (2,157,270)

 

Items not affecting cash:

      
 

  Depreciation and amortization

 

            58,388

 

          77,103

 

          99,369

 

  Gain on disposal of capital assets, net

 

                    -   

 

                -   

 

          (6,176)

 

  Cost of ginseng crops sold

 

     10,024,441

 

    14,037,106

 

    11,519,726

 

  Gain on joint venture wind-up

 

                    -   

 

                -   

 

       (258,892)

 

  Provision for write-down of inventory and crop costs

       1,000,000

 

                -   

 

      1,573,466

 

  Provision for impairment of other assets

 

                    -   

 

                -   

 

        107,760

 

  Future income taxes

 

       1,055,000

 

      (332,000)

 

                -   

 

  Gain on disposal of subsidiary

 

                    -   

 

        (20,088)

 

                -   

 

 

 

 

 

 $  14,689,325

 

 $ 14,096,199

 

 $ 10,877,983

          

(b)

Changes in non-cash operating assets and liabilities

     

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

Accounts receivable

  

 $   (2,954,343)

 

 $       99,426

 

 $      (30,371)

 

Inventory

   

          231,723

 

         (28,058)

 

       (178,639)

 

Ginseng crops

   

      (1,966,684)

 

    (2,426,368)

 

    (2,772,631)

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

            17,239

 

          53,449

 

        768,189

 

Accounts payable and

      
 

  accrued liabilities

  

         (303,026)

 

       (502,709)

 

       (721,585)

 

Customer deposits

 

 

 

      (1,351,700)

 

        648,313

 

      1,356,302

          
 

 

 

 

 

 $   (6,326,791)

 

 $  (2,155,947)

 

 $  (1,578,735)

          

(c)

Supplementary cash flow information

   

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

Other cash flows:

      
 

  Interest paid

 

 $       894,972

 

 $      243,050

 

 $      209,587

 

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

      
 

  Property, plant and equipment purchases

      
 

    financed through loans and notes payable

 

            99,850

 

                -   

 

          64,450








17.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS


(a)

Fair value


Financial instruments of the Company are represented by cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, bank indebtedness, short-term borrowings, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, customer deposits and long-term debt. The carrying value of these instruments approximates their fair value.


(b)

Interest rate risk


Interest on the Company's line of credit and short-term borrowings are based on variable rates. This exposes the Company to the risk of changing interest rates that may have an effect on its earnings in future periods. The Company does not use derivative instruments to mitigate this risk.


(c)

Credit risk


The Company is exposed to credit risk on accounts receivable from customers.  A majority of its sales are made to a small number of customers that are concentrated in Asian markets.  To manage its credit risk, the Company carefully monitors credit terms, investigates credit history and only grants credit to customers with established relationships or acceptable credit ratings. Letters of credit may be used, or inventory may be held as security until payment is received, when such relationships have not been established.  As at December 31, 2003, accounts receivable included $2,851,697 (2002 - $64,828) related to two (2002 - one) major customers.


(d)

Exchange risk


The Company is exposed to currency exchange risk as a result of its international markets and operations.  The Company does not use derivative instruments to mitigate this risk.



18.

COMPARATIVE FIGURES


Certain of the prior periods’ figures have been reclassified to conform with the financial statement presentation adopted in the current period.









19.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES


These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) which differ in some respects from US GAAP.


The significant differences between Canadian and US GAAP which affect the Company’s financial statements are summarized below:


a)

Accounting for Capitalisation of Interest


Under US GAAP, the portion of interest relating to expenditures on ginseng crop costs would not be eligible for capitalisation to ginseng crop costs.  The amount would be expensed as period costs and accordingly, the carrying value of crop costs and inventory under U.S. GAAP would be different.  Similarly, interest that had been capitalised under Canadian GAAP and included in cost of sales would not have been reported as cost of sales for the period under US GAAP since such costs would have previously have been expensed as period costs.


b)

Interest and finance charges


Under US GAAP, interest and finance charges would be presented as non-operating expenses and would therefore be excluded from the calculation of operating income (loss).


c)

Financial Instruments


Canadian GAAP requires the separate presentation on the balance sheet of the liability and equity components of convertible debt and warrants.  The equity component is accounted for as a discount to the debt instrument and the discount is amortized over the terms of the debt.


Under US GAAP, the portion of the proceeds of debt securities issued with detachable stock purchase warrants that is allocable to the warrants is accounted for as additional paid-in capital.


d)

Accounting for Stock Dividends


Under US GAAP the issuance of a stock dividend would be accounted for as a dividend requiring capitalisation of retained earnings for the fair value of the issued shares.  The capitalisation would be effected by charging retained earnings and crediting contributed surplus.







19.  

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (Continued)

e)

Write-down of Inventory and Crop Costs

Under US GAAP the write-down of inventory and crop costs is included in cost of goods sold.

  

 Year ended

 

 Year ended

 

 Year ended

  

 December 31

 

 December 31

 

 December 31

  

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

Cost of goods sold under Canadian GAAP

 $ 10,213,121

 

 $    14,343,472

 

 $   11,680,559

 

Adjustment for interest capitalized to crop costs (a)

    (813,868)

 

    (1,750,156)

 

 (1,569,498)

 

Writedown of inventory and crop costs

   1,000,000

 

              -   

 

        1,573,466

 

Cost of goods sold under US GAAP

 $ 10,399,253

 

 $    12,593,316

 

 $   11,684,527

       

f)

Accounting for Joint Ventures

US GAAP requires investments in joint ventures to be accounted for using the equity method, while under Canadian GAAP; the accounts of joint ventures are proportionately consolidated.  However, under rules promulgated by the SEC a foreign registrant may, subject to the provision of additional information, continue to follow proportionate consolidation.  Additional information concerning the Company’s interests in joint ventures is presented in Note 9.

g)

Stock-Based Compensation

For US GAAP purposes the Company accounts for stock-based compensation to employees and directors, under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (APB25), using the intrinsic value based method whereby compensation cost is recorded for the excess, if any, of the quoted market price over the exercise price, at the dates the stock options are granted.  As at December 31, 2002, no compensation cost would have been recorded for any period under this method.  The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, which requires the use of the fair value based method of accounting for stock options.  Under this method, compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the options granted and is recognized over the exercise period.

SFAS 123, however, allows the Company to continue to measure the compensation cost of employees and directors in accordance with APB 25.  The Company therefore adopted the disclosure-only provision of SFAS 123.

For Canadian GAAP purposes, the Company has adopted the recommendations of the CICA with respect to stock-based compensation and other stock-based payments effective January 1, 2002 as described in Note 1(m) to the consolidated financial statements.  The Company has elected to continue to use the intrinsic value based method to account for stock-based transactions with employees and has included pro-forma disclosures in Note 11(b).  The following pro forma financial information presents the net earnings (loss) for the year and the basic earnings (loss) per common share had the Company adopted SFAS 123 for all stock options issued to employees and directors.








19.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (Continued)


g)

Stock-Based Compensation (continued)

       
  

 Year ended

 

 Year ended

 

 Year ended

  

 December 31

 

 December 31

 

 December 31

  

2003

 

2002

 

2001

       
 

Net earnings (loss) for the year under US GAAP

 $  3,166,481

 

 $    1,228,921

 

 $   (1,741,647)

 

Additional stock based compensation costs

      (358,707)

 

                  -   

 

                  -   

 

Proforma net earnings (loss) under US GAAP

 $  2,807,774

 

 $    1,228,921

 

 $   (1,741,647)

 

Proforma basic earnings (loss) per share under US GAAP

 $           0.19

 

 $            0.09

 

 $           (0.12)

 

Proforma fully diluted earnings (loss) per share under US GAAP

 $           0.08

 

 $            0.04

 

 $           (0.12)

       


Using the fair value based method for stock-based compensation, additional costs of approximately $358,707, $NIL, and $NIL would have been recorded for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001.  These amounts were determined using an option pricing model assuming no dividends were paid, options which vest on grant, a weighted average volatility of the Company’s share price of 115% (2002 - 89% and 2001 – 127%) and a weighted average annual risk free rate of 4.00% (2002 - 6.05% and 2001 – 2.15%).

h)  Comprehensive Income

The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income, which was required to be adopted on January 1, 1999.  SFAS 130 establishes standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components.  The impact of adopting SFAS 130 on the Company’s financial statement is as follows:








19.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (Continued)


h)  Comprehensive Income (continued)

   

 December 31

 

 December 31

 

 December 31

   

2003

 

2002

 

2001

        
 

Net earnings (loss) under US GAAP

 

 $   3,166,481

 

 $      1,228,921

 

 $   (1,741,647)

 

Other comprehensive income:

      
 

     Cumulative translation adjustments

 

           88,213

 

           (13,673)

 

          162,755

 

Comprehensive net earnings (loss) under US GAAP

 $   3,254,694

 

 $      1,215,248

 

 $   (1,578,892)

       

i)   Research and Development


Under US GAAP, development costs are expensed as occurred.  Under Canadian GAAP development costs which meet generally accepted criteria, including reasonable assurance regarding future benefits, are capitalized.


j)   Statement of Cash Flows


There is no difference in net cash flows from Operating, Financing, and Investing Activities between US and Canadian GAAP.


k)   Other Accounting Pronouncements


In October 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.”  This statement addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets.  This statement supersedes FASB Statement No. 121 “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of”.  This statement requires that one accounting model be used for long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale, whether previously held and used or newly acquired.  This Statement also broadens the presentation of discontinued operations to include more disposal transactions.  The provisions of this statement were required to be adopted by the Company at the beginning of fiscal 2002.  The adoption of SFAS 144 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements or results of operations.  








19.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (Continued)


k)   Other Accounting Pronouncements (continued)


In April 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 145 (“SFAS 145”), “Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections”.   This Statement rescinds FASB Statement No. 4, Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt, and an amendment of that Statement, FASB Statement No. 64, Extinguishments of Debt Made to Satisfy Sinking-Fund Requirements. This Statement also rescinds FASB Statement No. 44, Accounting for Intangible Assets of Motor Carriers. This Statement amends FASB Statement No. 13, Accounting for Leases, to eliminate an inconsistency between the required accounting for sale-leaseback transactions and the required accounting for certain lease modifications that have economic effects that are similar to sale-leaseback transactions.  The adoption of this Statement related to the rescission of Statement 4 shall be applied in fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002. The adoption of SFAS 145 will change the presentation of extinguishment of debt, if any, for the year ending December 31, 2003.


In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities”.  SFAS 146 requires that the liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized at its fair value when the liability is incurred.  Under previous guidance, which was consistent with guidance under Canadian GAAP, a liability for certain exit costs was recognized at the date that management committed to an exit plan.  The provisions of this statement are required to be adopted for exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002.  The adoption of SFAS 146 did not have a significant impact on its financial statements.


In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 45 (“FIN 45”), “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others”.  FIN 45 requires that upon issuance of a guarantee, a guarantor must recognize a liability for the fair value of an obligation assumed under a guarantee.  FIN 45 also requires additional disclosures by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about the obligations associated with guarantees issued.  The recognition provisions of FIN 45 will be effective for any guarantees that are issued or modified after December 31, 2002.  The adoption of FIN 45 did not have a significant impact on its financial statements.


In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure”.  SFAS 148 provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation.  SFAS 148 also requires prominent disclosure in the “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results.  SFAS 148 is effective for the Company’s 2002 fiscal year, but will not impact the Company’s results of operation or financial position until such time as the Company elects to or is required to change to the fair value method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation.








19.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (Continued)


k)  Other Accounting Pronouncements (continued)


In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46 (“FIN 46”), Consideration of Variable Interest Entities, which applies in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003, to variable interest entities in which the Company holds a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003.  The Company does not believe that the adoption of FIN No. 46 will have a significant impact on its financial statements.


In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”.  SFAS 149 amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities under SFAS 133.  This statement is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003.  The Company does not believe that the adoption of SFAS 149 will have a significant impact on its financial statements.  


In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity”.  SFAS 150 requires an issuer to classify a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability.  This statement is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003.  The Company does not believe that the adoption of SFAS 150 will have a significant impact on its financial statements.


The difference between Canadian and US GAAP and their effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements are summarized below:











STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Year ended

 

 Year ended

 

 Year ended

 

 

 December 31

 

 December 31

 

 December 31

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) as reported

 

 

 

 

 

 

    under Canadian GAAP

 

 $  2,551,496

 

 $       334,078

 

 $     (2,157,270)

Accounting for interest (a)

 

        560,562

 

          804,793

 

            184,150

Financial instruments (c)

 

          54,423

 

            90,050

 

            123,713

Research and development (i)

 

                  -   

 

                  -   

 

            107,760

Net earnings (loss) under US GAAP

 

     3,166,481

 

        1,228,921

 

        (1,741,647)

       

Basic earnings (loss) per share

 

 $           0.21

 

 $           0.09

 

 $            (0.12)

Weighted average number of shares

 

   15,113,823

 

      14,264,508

 

        14,264,508

       

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

 

 $           0.09

 

 $           0.04

 

 $            (0.12)

Weighted average number of shares

 

   34,663,657

 

      34,663,657

 

        14,264,508

 

 

 

 

 

 

 











19.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (Continued)


The difference between Canadian and US GAAP and their effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements are summarized below (continued):


BALANCE SHEET

   

As at

 

As at

   

December 31

 

December 31

   

2003

 

2002

      
 

Assets

    
      
 

Inventory

- Canadian GAAP

 $    9,040,873

 

 $      8,082,946

  

- Interest capitalized (a)

        (658,850)

 

          (669,813)

  

- Financial instruments (c)

          (54,423)

 

           (54,423)

 

 

- US GAAP

 $    8,327,600

 

 $      7,358,710

      
 

Ginseng crops current

- Canadian GAAP

 $    4,915,618

 

 $      7,577,892

  

- Interest capitalized (a)

        (190,394)

 

          (744,091)

  

- Financial instruments (c)

                   -   

 

           (54,423)

 

 

- US GAAP

 $    4,725,224

 

 $      6,779,378

      
 

Ginseng crops

- Canadian GAAP

 $  11,732,216

 

 $    10,922,182

  

- Interest capitalized (a)

        (263,879)

 

          (479,360)

  

- Financial instruments (c)

                   -   

 

                   -   

 

 

- US GAAP

 $  11,468,337

 

 $    10,442,822



      
 

Liabilities

    
      
 

Future income taxes

- Canadian GAAP

 $    2,185,000

 

 $   1,130,000

  

- Interest capitalized (a)

        (523,159)

 

       (742,738)

 

 

- US GAAP

 $    1,661,841

 

 $      387,262

      











19.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (Continued)


The difference between Canadian and US GAAP and their effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements are summarized below (continued):


BALANCE SHEET (continued)


   

As at

 

As at

   

December 31

 

December 31

   

2003

 

2002

 

Shareholders' Equity

    
      
 

Contributed Surplus

- Canadian GAAP

 $                 -   

 

 $                 -   

  

- Stock dividend (d)

        8,374,397

 

         8,374,397

 

 

- US GAAP

 $     8,374,397

 

 $      8,374,397

      
 

Additional Paid-in Capital

- Canadian GAAP

 $                 -   

 

 $                 -   

  

- Financial instruments (c)

        1,062,069

 

         1,062,069

 

 

- US GAAP

 $     1,062,069

 

 $      1,062,069

      
 

Deficit

- Canadian GAAP

 $   (7,045,898)

 

 $     (9,597,394)

  

- Interest capitalized (a)

         (589,964)

 

       (1,150,526)

  

- Financial instruments (c)

      (1,116,492)

 

       (1,170,915)

  

- Stock dividend (d)

      (8,374,397)

 

       (8,374,397)

 

 

- US GAAP

 $ (17,126,751)

 

 $   (20,293,232)

      










[f1cnt20f2003001.jpg]












EXHIBIT 99.1



Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


In connection with the Annual Report on Form 20-F of Chai-Na-Ta Corp (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned officers of the Company certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of such officer’s knowledge:


(1)   

the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and


(2)  

the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of the operations of the Company.



      /s/  WILLIAM ZEN                                            /s/  WILMAN WONG

_______________________                               __________________________

Name:  William Zen

     Name:  Wilman Wong

Title:    Chief Executive Officer

     Title:    Chief Financial Officer

Date:    May 7, 2004

     Date:    May 7, 2004



This certification accompanies the Report pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, be deemed filed by the Company for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Chai-Na-Ta Corp and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.