Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item
9A. Controls and Procedures
Our management is responsible
for establishing and maintaining a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e)) under the Exchange Act)
that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange
Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls
and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an
issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management,
including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, or persons performing similar functions,
as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b)
under the Exchange Act, the Company carried out an evaluation with the participation of the Company’s management, including Zhenyong
Liu, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), and Jing Hao, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”),
of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act)
as of December 31, 2020. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s CEO and CFO concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls
and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that the Company files
or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s
rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s
CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management conducted an assessment
of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020. In making this assessment,
management used the framework set forth in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management has determined that, as of December 31, 2020, the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting was effective.
This annual report does not
include an attestation report of its registered independent public accounting firm regarding the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting because the Company is not required to include such attestation report in this annual report.
Changes in internal controls
Our management, with the participation
of our CEO and CFO, performed an evaluation as to whether any change in our internal controls over financial reporting occurred during
the year ended December 31, 2020. Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that no change occurred in the Company’s internal
controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2020 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
Item
9B. Other Information
None.
43
PART
III
Item
10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Set
forth below is certain information regarding our directors and executive officers. Our Board of Directors is comprised of five
directors. There are no family relationships between any of our directors or executive officers. Each of our directors is elected
to serve until the next annual meeting of our stockholders and until his successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s
earlier death, removal or termination.
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to our directors and executive officers:
Name
Age
Position/Title
Zhenyong
Liu
57
Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Jing
Hao
37
Chief
Financial Officer
Dahong
Zhou
41
Secretary
Marco
Ku Hon Wai
46
Director
Wenbing
Christopher Wang
49
Director
Fuzeng
Liu
71
Director
Lusha
Niu
41
Director
We
have two classes of directors with each class elected in a different calendar year from the calendar year in which the other class
of directors are elected. All directors are elected for a two-year term. The directors elected in Class I, Marco Ku Hon Wai and
Wenbing Christopher Wang, will serve until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2021 and until their respective successors have
been elected and have qualified, or until their earlier resignation, removal or death. The directors elected in Class II, Zhenyong
Liu, Fuzeng Liu and Lusha Niu will serve until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2020 and until their respective successors
have been elected and have qualified, or until their earlier resignation, removal or death. Our officers serve at the discretion
of our Board of Directors.
Set
forth below is biographical information about our current directors and executive officers:
Zhenyong
Liu . Mr. Zhenyong Liu became a member of the Board of Directors, and was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors
on November 30, 2007. Mr. Liu has also served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer since November 16, 2007, and
serves as Chairman of Hebei Baoding Dongfang Paper Milling Company Limited (Dongfang Paper), a position he has held since
1996. From 1990 to 1996, he served as Plant Director of Xinxin Paper Milling Factory in Xushui District. Mr. Liu served as
General Manager of the East Central Household Appliance Purchases and Supply Station from 1980 to 1989.
Jing
Hao . Ms. Jing Hao was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer on November 3, 2014. Ms. Hao previously served as the
Company’s Chief Financial Officer between November 2007 and April 2009. In addition, Ms. Hao has served as Chief
Financial Officer of Hebei Baoding Dongfang Paper Milling Company Limited (Dongfang Paper) since 2006. Prior to that, she was
Manager of Finance for Dongfang Paper from 2005 to 2006.
Dahong
Zhou . Ms. Dahong Zhou was appointed as our Secretary on November 16, 2007. Ms. Zhou also serves as Executive Manager of
Hebei Baoding Dongfang Paper Milling Company Limited (Dongfang Paper), a position she has held since 2006.
Marco
Ku Hon Wai. Mr. Marco Ku Hon Wai has served on the Board of Directors since November 3, 2014. Mr. Ku is the founder of
Sensible Investment Company Limited, an investment consulting firm based in Hong Kong founded in 2013. He was previously
Chief Financial Officer of China Marine Food Group Limited (OTC: CMFO) from July 2007 to October 2013. Prior to his position
at China Marine Food Group Limited, Mr. Ku co-founded KISS Catering Group, a food and beverage business in Beijing from
October 2005 to April 2007. Mr. Ku worked at KPMG LLP from 1996 to 2000, where his last held position was Assistant Manager.
Mr. Ku received a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 1996, and is
currently a fellow member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Wenbing
Christopher Wang . Mr. Wenbing Christopher Wang has served on the Board of Directors since October 28, 2009. Mr. Wang has
also been serving as President and Director of Fushi Copperweld, Inc. (“Fushi”) since January 21, 2008. Mr. Wang
served as Fushi’s Chief Financial Officer from December 13, 2005 to August 31, 2009. Prior to Fushi, Mr. Wang worked
for Redwood Capital, Inc., China Century Investment Corporation, Credit Suisse First Boston and VC China in various
capacities. Fluent in both English and Chinese, Mr. Wang holds a master’s degree in business administration and finance
and corporate accounting from Simon Business School of University of Rochester. Mr. Wang was named one of the top ten
CFO’s of 2007 in China by CFO magazine.
Fuzeng
Liu . Mr. Fuzeng Liu has been a member of the Board of Directors since November 30, 2007. Mr. Liu has also served as Vice
President of Dongfang Paper since 2002. Previously, he served as Deputy Secretary of the Traffic Bureau of Xushui District
from 1992 to 2002 and as Party Secretary of Dayin Town, Xushui District from 1988 to 1992.Mr. Liu also served as Head of the
Cuizhuang Town, Xushui District from 1984 to 1988. From 1977 to 1984, Mr. Liu worked at the committee office of Xushui
District.
44
Lusha
Niu . Ms. Niu has been a member of the Board of Directors since October12, 2016. Ms. Niu is a public relations veteran
with strong background in international business and finance. Since September 2013, Ms. Niu has been the Director of
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Asia Lead of Financial Communication at MSL GROUP, a global public
communications firm. From August 2008 until August 2013, Ms. Niu was an Associate Director at APCO Worldwide, a Washington
D.C. based global public affairs consulting firm. Ms. Niu also served as a Consulting Analyst with BDA Consulting, advising
global institutional investors on their China deal strategy. Ms. Niu holds a Master’s degree in Finance from the
University of Colorado.
The
Board of Directors believes that each of the Company’s directors is highly qualified to serve as a member of the Board.
Each of the directors has contributed to the mix of skills, core competencies and qualifications of the Board of Directors. When
evaluating candidates for election to the Board, the Nominating Committee seeks candidates with certain qualities that it believes
are important, including integrity, an objective perspective, good judgment, and leadership skills. Our directors are highly educated
and have diverse backgrounds and talents and extensive track records of success in what we believe are highly relevant positions.
Some of our directors have served in our operating entity, Dongfang Paper, for many years and benefit from an intimate knowledge
of our operations and corporate philosophy.
Committees
Our
business, property and affairs are managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors
are kept informed of our business through discussion with the chief executive and financial officers and other officers, by reviewing
materials provided to them and by participating at meetings of the board and its committees.
Our
Board of Directors has three committees - the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee. The Audit
Committee is comprised of Marco Ku Hon Wai, Wenbing Christopher Wang and Lusha Niu, with Mr. Ku serving as chairman. The Compensation
Committee is comprised of Marco Ku Hon Wai, Wenbing Christopher Wang and Lusha Niu, with Ms. Lusha Niu serving as chairwoman.
The Nominating Committee is comprised of Marco Ku Hon Wai, Wenbing Christopher Wang and Lusha Niu, with Mr. Wenbing Christopher
Wang serving as chairman.
Our
Audit Committee is involved in discussions with our independent auditor with respect to the scope and results of our year-end
audit, our quarterly results of operations, our internal accounting controls and the professional services furnished by the independent
auditor. Our Board of Directors has determined that both Mr. Marco Ku Hon Wai and Mr. Wenbing Christopher Wang qualify as audit
committee financial experts and have the accounting or financial management expertise as required under NYSE Rule 303A.07(a).
Our Board of Directors has also adopted a written charter for the audit committee which the audit committee reviews and reassesses
for adequacy on an annual basis. A copy of the audit committee’s current charter is available at the our corporate website
at http://www.itpackaging.cn/uploadfile/txyxfh/file/20181029/6367640912345722139375725.pdf
The
Compensation Committee oversees the compensation of our chief executive officer and our other executive officers and reviews our
overall compensation policies for employees generally. If so authorized by the Board of Directors, the committee may also serve
as the granting and administrative committee under any option or other equity-based compensation plans which we may adopt. The
Compensation Committee does not delegate its authority to fix compensation; however, as to officers who report to the chief executive
officer, the compensation committee consults with the chief executive officer, who may make recommendations to the compensation
committee. Any recommendations by the chief executive officer are accompanied by an analysis of the basis for the recommendations.
The committee will also discuss compensation policies for employees who are not officers with the chief executive officer and
other responsible officers. A copy of the compensation committee’s current charter is available at our corporate website
at http://www.itpackaging.cn/uploadfile/txyxfh/file/20181029/6367640912355880048874958.pdf
The
Nominating Committee is involved in evaluating the desirability of and recommending to the board any changes in the size and
composition of the board, evaluation of and successor planning for the chief executive officer and other executive officers.
The qualifications of any candidate for director will be subject to the same extensive general and specific criteria
applicable to director candidates generally. A copy of the nominating committee’s current charter is available at our
corporate website at http://www.itpackaging.cn/uploadfile/txyxfh/file/20181029/6367640912356661968874958.pdf
Code
of Ethics
We
have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting
officer and controller, or persons performing similar functions. The Code of Ethics is currently available at our corporate website
at http://www.itpackaging.cn/uploadfile/txyxfh/file/20181029/6367640912363688526617528.pdf
Board Meetings
The Board of Directors and its committees held the following number of meetings during 2020:
Board of Directors
8
Audit Committee
5
Compensation Committee
3
Nominating Committee
1
45
The
above table includes meetings held by means of a conference telephone call, but not actions taken by unanimous written consent.
Each
director attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and those committees on which he served
during the year.
For
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the Board of Directors met on at least a quarterly basis. The independent directors had
regularly scheduled meetings as often as necessary to fulfill their responsibilities, including at least annually in executive
session without the presence of non-independent directors and management as required by Section 802(c) of the NYSE American Company
Guide.
Directors
or Executive Officers involved in Bankruptcy or Criminal Proceedings
To
our knowledge, during the last ten years, none of our directors and executive officers (including those of our subsidiaries) has:
●
had a bankruptcy petition filed by or against
any business of which such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within
two years prior to that time;
●
been convicted in a criminal proceeding or been
subject to a pending criminal proceeding, excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses;
●
been subject to
any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently
or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities or
banking activities;
●
been found by a court of competent jurisdiction
(in a civil action), the SEC, or the Commodities Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities
or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended or vacated; or
●
been the subject
to, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reverse, suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization,
any registered entity, or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over
its members or persons associated with a member.
Board
Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight
Mr.
Zhenyong Liu is our chairman and chief executive officer. At the advice of other members of the management or the Board, Mr. Liu
calls meetings of the Board of Directors when necessary. We have three independent directors. Our Board of Directors has three
standing committees, each of which is comprised solely of independent directors with a committee chair. The Board of Directors
believes that the Company’s chief executive officer is best situated to serve as chairman of the Board of Directors because
he is the director most familiar with our business and industry and the director most capable of identifying strategic priorities
and executing our business strategy. We believe that this leadership structure has served the Company well. Our Board of Directors
has overall responsibility for risk oversight. The Board of Directors has delegated responsibility for the oversight of specific
risks to the committees as follows:
●
The Audit Committee
oversees the Company’s risk policies and processes relating to the financial statements and financial reporting processes,
as well as key credit risks, liquidity risks, market risks and compliance, and the guidelines, policies and processes for
monitoring and mitigating those risks.
●
The Compensation Committee oversees the compensation
of our chief executive officer and our other executive officers and reviews our overall compensation policies for employees.
●
The Nominating Committee oversees risks related
to the Company’s governance structure and processes.
Our
Board of Directors is responsible for approving all related party transactions according to our Code of Ethics. We have not adopted
written policies and procedures specifically for related person transactions.
Compliance
with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act, requires our executive officers and directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class
of our equity securities to file with the SEC initial statements of beneficial ownership, reports of changes in ownership and
annual reports concerning their ownership of our common stock and other equity securities, on Form 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Executive
officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required by the SEC regulations to furnish our company with copies of
all Section 16(a) reports they file.
Based
solely on our review of the copies of such reports received by us, and on written representations by our officers and directors
regarding their compliance with the applicable reporting requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, we believe that,
with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, our officers and directors, and all of the persons known to us to own
more than 10% of our common stock, filed all required reports on a timely basis.
46
Item
11. Executive Compensation
The
following compensation table summarizes the cash and non-cash compensation earned during the years ended December 31, 2020, and
2019 by each person who served as principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and secretary during 2020.
Non-Equity
Incentive
Stock
Option
Plan
Salary
Bonus
Awards(1)
Awards
Compensation
Total
Name and Principal Position
Year
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)
Zhenyong Liu,
2020
$ 36,782
40,000
$ 120,000
-
-
$ 196,782
Chairman, CEO
2019
$ 34,809
-
$ -
-
-
$ 34,809
Jing Hao
2020
$ 36,782
40,000
$ -
-
-
$ 76,782
CFO
2019
$ 34,809
-
$ -
-
-
$ 34,809
Dahong Zhou,
2020
$ 4,452
-
$ -
-
-
$ 4,452
Secretary
2019
$ 4,213
-
$ -
-
-
$ 4,213
(1) The
value of the Stock Award is determined by multiplying the number of restricted shares issued by the quoted closing price of the
Company’s common stock on the date of the award, which was $0.60 as of April 8, 2020.
Employment
Agreements
Mr.
Zhenyong Liu receives a monthly salary of RMB 20,000 (approximately $3,065). On January 11, 2012, the Company awarded Mr.
Zhenyong Liu 44,326 shares of restricted common stock. These shares of common stock were issued under the 2011 ISP and are
valued at $3.45 per share, based on the closing price on the date of the issuance. On December 31, 2013, the Company awarded
Mr. Zhenyong Liu 8,000 shares of restricted common stock under the 2011 ISP and 2012 ISP, with a value of $2.66 per share,
based on the closing price on the date of the stock issuance. On September 13, 2018, the Company issued 100,000 shares of
common stock to Mr. Zhenyong Liu under the 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan with a value of $0.88 per share as of the date
of issuance. On April 8, 2020, the Company issued 200,000 shares of common stock to Mr. Zhenyong Liu under the 2019 ISP with
a value of $0.60 per share as of the date of issuance. On September 8,2020, the Compensation Committee of the Company
unanimously approved that Mr. Zhenyong Liu shall receive the bonus of $40,000 for his service rendered in the year
2020.
Ms.
Hao began receiving a monthly salary of RMB 20,000 (approximately $3,065) in January 2015. On September 13, 2018, the company
issued 10,000 shares of common stock to Ms. Jing Hao under the 2015 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan with a value of $0.88 per share
as of the date of issuance. On September 8,2020, the Compensation Committee of the Company unanimously approved that Ms. Jing
Hao shall receive the bonus of $40,000 for her service rendered in the year 2020.
47
Compensation
of Directors
The
following table sets forth a summary of compensation paid or entitled to our directors during the fiscal years ended December
31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:
Non-Equity
Incentive
Stock
Option
Plan
Salary
Bonus
Awards
Awards
Compensation
Total
Name and Principal Position
Year
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)
Fuzeng Liu
2020
$ 7,953
-
$ -
-
-
$ 7,953
Director
2019
$ 7,547
-
$ -
-
-
$ 7,547
Marco Ku Hon Wai
2020
$ 20,000
-
$ -
-
-
$ 20,000
Director
2019
$ 20,000
-
$ -
-
-
$ 20,000
Wenbing Christopher Wang
2020
$ 20,000
-
$ -
-
-
$ 20,000
Director
2019
$ 20,000
-
$ -
-
-
$ 20,000
Lusha Niu
20208
$ 7,642
-
-
-
-
$ 7,642
Director
2019
$ 7,252
-
-
-
-
$ 7,252
Effective
November 1, 2014, Mr. Marco Ku Hon Wai began serving as our director and has received annual compensation of $20,000, payable
on a monthly basis. In addition, the Company agreed to issue Mr. Ku 7,500 shares of its common stock every year under the Company’s
stock incentive plan. On January 12, 2016, the Company issued Mr. Ku 7,500 shares restricted common stock under the 2015 ISP for
his services in 2015, with a value of $1.33 per share, based on the closing price on the date of the issuance. Mr. Ku will be
reimbursed for his out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with his service to the Company.
Effective
October 28, 2009, Mr. Wenbing Christopher Wang has served as our director and has received annual compensation of $20,000, payable
on a monthly basis. Mr. Wang also received 4,000 shares of common stock, a number equal to $20,000 divided by the closing price
of the common stock on October 28, 2009, with piggyback registration rights subordinate to that held by investors in any past
or future private placement of securities. On January 11, 2012, the Company awarded its independent director Mr. Wenbing Christopher
Wang 15,820 shares of restricted common stock. These shares of common stock were issued under the 2011 ISP and are valued at $3.45
per share, based on the closing price on the date of the issuance. On December 31, 2013, the Company awarded Mr. Wang 5,000 shares
restricted common stock under the 2011 ISP and 2012 ISP for, with a value of $2.66 per share, based on the closing price on the
date of the stock issuance. On January 12, 2016, the Company issued Mr. Wang 5,000 shares restricted common stock under the 2015
ISP, with a value of $1.33 per share, based on the closing price on the date of the issuance.
On
October 12, 2016, Ms. Lusha Niu was elected as our director and receives annual compensation of RMB50,000, payable on a monthly
basis.
On
December 31, 2013, Mr. Fuzeng Liu received 5,000 shares of restricted common stock from our 2011 and 2012 ISPs. The value of the
stock award is determined by the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of the award, which was $2.66 as
of December 31, 2013.
Other
than the appointments described above, there are no understandings or arrangements between Mr. Ku, Mr. Wang, or Ms. Niu and any
other person pursuant to which Mr. Ku, Mr. Wang, or Ms. Niu was appointed as a director. Mr. Ku, Mr. Wang, and Ms. Niu do not
have any family relationship with any director, executive officer or person nominated or chosen by us to become a director or
executive officer.
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
There
were no option exercises in fiscal year of 2020 or options outstanding as of December 31, 2020.
Pension
and Retirement Plans
Currently,
except for contributions to the PRC government-mandated social security retirement endowment fund for those employees who have
not waived their coverage, we do not offer any annuity, pension or retirement benefits to be paid to any of our officers, directors
or employees. There are also no compensatory plans or arrangements with respect to any individual named above which results or
will result from the resignation, retirement or any other termination of employment with our company, or from a change in our
control.
48
Item
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock by (i) each
director, (ii) our Chief Executive Officer and President and (iii) all executive officers and directors as a group as of
March 19, 2021.
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
Amount and
Percentage
Nature of
of
Beneficial
Common
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1)
Ownership
Stock
Zhenyong Liu CEO and Director
5,364,841
5.4 %
Jing Hao CFO
10,000
*
Dahong Zhou Secretary
0
0
Marco Ku Hon Wai Director
7,500
*
Fuzeng Liu Director
5,000
*
Wenbing Christopher Wang Director
29,820
*
Lusha Niu Director
0
*
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (7 persons)
5,417,161
5.5 %
* Less
than 1% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common shares.
(1) The address of each director and executive officer is c/o
Science Park, Juli Road, Xushui District, Baoding City, Hebei Province, People’s Republic of China.
Item
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Loans
from our principal shareholder, Chairman and CEO Mr. Zhenyong Liu
Mr
Zhenyong Liu, the Company’s CEO has loaned money to Dongfang Paper for working capital purposes over a period of time. On
January 1, 2013, Dongfang Paper and Mr. Zhenyong Liu renewed the three-year term loan previously entered on January 1, 2010, and
extended the maturity date further to December 31, 2015. On December 31, 2015, the Company paid off the loan of $2,249,279, together
with interest of $391,374 for the period from 2013 to 2015. Approximately $392,855 and $367,441 of interest were outstanding to
Mr. Zhenyong Liu, which were recorded in other payables and accrued liabilities as part of the current liabilities in the consolidated
balance sheet as of December 31, 2020, and 2019, respectively.
On
December 10, 2014, Mr. Zhenyong Liu provided a loan to the Company, amounted to $8,742,278 to Dongfang Paper for working capital
purpose with an interest rate of 4.35% per annum, which was based on the primary lending rate of People’s Bank of China.
The unsecured loan was provided on December 10, 2014, and would be originally due on December 10, 2017. During the year of 2016,
the Company repaid $6,012,416 to Mr. Zhenyong Liu, together with interest of $288,596. In February 2018, the company paid off
the remaining balance, together with interest of $20,400. As of December 31, 2020, and 2019, approximately $45,978 and $43,003
of interest were outstanding to Mr. Zhenyong Liu, which was recorded in other payables and accrued liabilities as part of the
current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.
On
March 1, 2015, the Company entered an agreement with Mr. Zhenyong Liu which allows Dongfang Paper to borrow from the CEO an amount
up to $17,201,342 (RMB120,000,000) for working capital purposes. The advances or funding under the agreement are due three years
from the date each amount is funded. The loan is unsecured and carries an annual interest rate set on the basis of the primary
lending rate of the People’s Bank of China at the time of the borrowing. On July 13, 2015, an unsecured amount of $4,324,636
was drawn from the facility. On October 14, 2016 an unsecured amount of $2,883,091 was drawn from the facility. In February 2018,
the company repaid $1,507,432 to Mr. Zhenyong Liu. The loan would be originally due on July 12, 2018. Mr. Zhenyong Liu agreed
to extend the loan for additional 3 years and the remaining balance will be due on July 12, 2021. On November 23, 2018, the company
repaid $3,768,579 to Mr. Zhenyong Liu, together with interest of $158,651. In December 2019, the company paid off the remaining
balance, together with interest of 94,636. As of December 31, 2020, and 2019, the outstanding loan balance were $nil and $2,185,569,
respectively, and the accrued interest was $210,635and $197,009, respectively, which was recorded in other payables and accrued
liabilities as part of the current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.
49
As
of December 31, 2020, and 2019, total amount of loans due to Mr. Zhenyong Liu were $nil. The interest expense incurred for such
related party loans are $nil and $94,636for the years ended December 31, 2020, and 2019, respectively. The accrued interest owe
to the CEO was approximately $649,468 and $607,453, as of December 31, 2020, and 2019, respectively, which was recorded in other
payables and accrued liabilities.
As
of December 31, 2020, and 2019, amount due to shareholder are $727,433 and $483,433, respectively, which represents funds from
shareholders to pay for various expenses incurred in the U.S. The amount is due on demand with interest free.
Sale
of Headquarters Compound Real Properties to a Related Party
On
August 7, 2013, the Company’s Audit Committee and the Board of Directors approved the sale of the land use right of the
Headquarters Compound (the “LUR”), the office building and essentially all industrial-use buildings in the Headquarters
Compound (the “Industrial Buildings”), and three employee dormitory buildings located within the Headquarters Compound
(the “Dormitories”) to Hebei Fangsheng for cash prices of approximately $2.77 million, $1.15 million, and $4.31 million
respectively. Sales of the LUR and the Industrial Buildings were completed in year 2013.
In
connection with the sale of the Industrial Buildings, Hebei Fangsheng agreed to lease the Industrial Buildings back to the Company
for its original use for a term of up to three years, with an annual rental payment of approximately $145,052(RMB1,000,000). The
lease agreement expired in August 2016. On August 6, 2016 and August 6, 2018, the Company entered into two supplementary agreements
with Hebei Fangsheng, who agreed to extend the lease term for another four years in total, with the same rental payment as original
lease agreement.
Procedures
for Approval of Related Party Transactions
Our
Board of Directors is charged with reviewing and approving all potential related party transaction whether or not such transactions
exceed $120,000. We have not adopted other procedures for review, or standards for approval, of such transactions, but instead
review them on a case-by-case basis.
Director
Independence
The
Company currently has three independent directors, Marco Ku Hon Wai, Wenbing Christopher Wang, and Lusha Niu, as that term is
defined under the NYSE AMERICAN Company Guide.
50
Item
14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Audit
Fees
We incurred approximately
$188,208 for professional services rendered by our registered independent public accounting firm, WWC, P.C., for the audit and
reviews of the Company’s financial statements for 2020.
We
incurred approximately $171,600 for professional services rendered by our registered independent public accounting firm, WWC,
P.C., for the audit and reviews of the Company’s financial statements for 2019.
Audit-Related
Fees
IT
Tech Packaging did not incur any audit-related fees to WWC in 2020.
IT Tech Packaging did
not incur any audit-related fees to WWC in 2019.
Tax
Fees
IT
Tech Packaging did not incur any tax fees to WWC in 2020.
IT
Tech Packaging did not incur any tax fees to WWC in 2019.
All
Other Fees
IT
Tech Packaging did not incur any fees from its registered independent public accounting firm for services rendered to IT Tech
Packaging, other than the services covered in “Audit Fees” and “Audit-Related Fees” for the fiscal years
ended December 31, 2020, and 2019.
With
respect to the Company’s auditing and other non-audit related services rendered by its registered independent public accounting
firm for 2020 and 2019, all engagements were entered into pursuant to the audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures.
51
PART
IV
Item
15. Exhibits, Financial Statements Schedules
Exhibit
No.
Description
of Exhibit
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 29, 2007, by and among Carlateral, Inc., CARZ Merger Sub, Inc., Dongfang Zhiye Holding Limited, and the shareholders of Dongfang Zhiye Holding Limited, incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 2007.
3.1
Articles of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our report on form SB-2 filed with the SEC on August 4, 2006
3.2
Certificate of Amendment
to Articles of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to our Current Report on form 8-K
filed with the SEC on December 28, 2007
3.3
Bylaws, incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our report on form SB-2 filed with the SEC on August 4, 2006
4.1
Specimen of Common Stock certificate, incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our report on form SB-2 filed with the SEC on August 4, 2006
4.2
Form
of Warrant, incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 3,
2014.
4.3
Description of Securities, incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.3 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 23, 2020.
4.4
Form
of Warrant, incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 1, 2020.
4.5
Form
of Warrant, incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 4, 2020.
4.6
Form
of Warrant, incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 20, 2021.
4.7
Warrant Agency Agreement dated March 1, 2021 by and between the Company and Empire Stock Transfer Inc., incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2021.
4.8
Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant, incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 4.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2021.
10.1
Land Lease Agreement,
dated January 2, 2002, by and between the Company and Xushui District Dayin Township Wuji Village Committee and Party Branch,
incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our amended Annual Report on form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on February 1, 2010
10.2
Land Use Rights Certificate, dated March 10, 2003, incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our amended Annual Report on form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on February 1, 2010
10.3
Exclusive Technical
Service and Business Consulting Agreement, dated June 24, 2009, by and between Dongfang Paper and Baoding Shengde, incorporated
by reference to the exhibit to our Current Report on form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 30, 2009
10.4
Proxy Agreement, dated June 24, 2009, by and between Dongfang Paper, Baoding Shengde, and the shareholders of Dongfang Paper, incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our Current Report on form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 30, 2009
52
Exhibit
No.
Description
of Exhibit
10.5
Loan Agreement,
dated June 24, 2009, by and between Dongfang Paper, Baoding Shengde, and the shareholders of Dongfang Paper, incorporated
by reference to the exhibit to our Current Report on form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 30, 2009
10.6
Call Option Agreement, dated June 24, 2009, by and between Dongfang Paper, Baoding Shengde, and the shareholders of Dongfang Paper, incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our Current Report on form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 30, 2009
10.7
Share Pledge Agreement,
dated June 24, 2009, by and between Dongfang Paper, Baoding Shengde, and the shareholders of Dongfang Paper, incorporated
by reference to the exhibit to our Current Report on form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 30, 2009
10.8
Call
Option Agreement Amendment, dated February 10, 2010, by and between Dongfang Paper, Baoding Shengde, and the shareholders
of Dongfang Paper, incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our Current Report on form 8-K filed with the SEC on February
11, 2010
10.9
Share
Pledge Agreement Amendment, dated February 10, 2010, by and between Dongfang Paper, Baoding Shengde, and the shareholders
of Dongfang Paper, incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our Current Report on form 8-K filed with the SEC on February
11, 2010
10.10
Securities
Purchase Agreement dated October 7, 2009 between the Company and the Access America Fund, LP, Renaissance US Growth Investment
Trust Plc, RENN Global Entrepreneurs Funds, Inc., Premier RENN Entrepreneurial Fund Limited, Pope Investments II, LLC and
Steve Mazur (collectively, the “Buyers”), incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our Current Report on form
8-K filed with the SEC on October 8, 2009
10.11
Make
Good Securities Escrow Agreement dated October 7, 2009 between the Company, the Buyers, Zhenyong Liu and the Sichenzia Ross
Friedman Ference LLP (the “Escrow Agent”)., incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our Current Report on
form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 8, 2009
10.12
Escrow
Agreement dated October 7, 2009 between the Company, the Buyers, Zhenyong Liu and the Escrow Agent, incorporated by reference
to the exhibit to our Current Report on form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 8, 2009
10.13
Registration
Rights Agreement between the Company and the Buyers dated October 7, 2009, incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our
Current Report on form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 8, 2009
10.14
Lock-Up
Agreement between Company and Zhenyong Liu dated October 7, 2009, incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our Current
Report on form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 8, 2009
10.15
Asset
Purchase Agreement, dated November 25, 2009, by and between Baoding Shengde Paper Co., Ltd. and Hebei Shuangxing Paper Co.,
Ltd., incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our Current Report on form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 10, 2009
53
Exhibit
No.
Description
of Exhibit
10.16
Purchase Agreement,
dated March 31, 2010, for the sale of 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock, by and between IT Tech Packaging, Inc. and Roth Capital
Partners, LLC, incorporated by reference to the exhibit to Current Report on form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2010
10.17
Purchase Agreement,
dated April 9, 2010 by and between Henan Qinyang First Paper Machine Limited and Hebei Baoding Dongfang Paper Milling Company
Limited for the purchase of a series of paper machineries and equipment, incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our Current
Report on form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 12, 2010
10.18
Letter from Mr.
Zhenyong Liu regarding postponement of interest payments by IT Tech Packaging, Inc., incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.22 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 25, 2014.
10.19
Financing Limit
Agreement dated as March 3, 2014 between Hebei Baoding Dongfang Paper Milling Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank
Inc., Baoding Branch, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 25, 2014.
10.20
Enterprise Loan
Agreement dated as of July 5, 2013 between Hebei Baoding Dongfang Paper Milling Co., Ltd. and Rural Credit Union of Xushui
District, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to our Annual Report on Form10-K filed on March 25, 2014.
10.21
Engagement Letter, dated as of June 3, 2014, between the Company and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC and amendments dated as of July 1, 2014, August 19, 2014 and August 25, 2014, incorporated by reference to exhibits 1.1, 1.2, 1.3and 1.4to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 3, 2014.
10.22
Securities Purchase
Agreement, dated August 25, 2014, incorporated by reference to exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the
SEC on September 3, 2014.
10.23
Appointment Letter
dated November 3, 2014, by and between IT Tech Packaging, Inc. and Marco Ku Hon Wai, incorporated by reference to exhibit
10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 6,2014.
10.24
Loan Agreement dated
December 2, 2014, by and between IT Tech Packaging, Inc. and Zhenyong Liu, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to our
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 25, 2014.
10.25
Loan Agreement dated
March 1, 2015, by and between IT Tech Packaging, Inc. and Zhenyong Liu, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to our
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 25, 2015.
10.26
Agreement dated
July 1, 2015, among China Orient, Hebei Baoding Dongfang Paper Milling Company Limited, Baoding Shengde Paper Co., Ltd., Zhenyong
Liu, Xiaodong Liu, and Shuangxi Zhao, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with
the SEC on July 22, 2015
10.27
Acquisition Agreement
dated June 25, 2019, by and between Hebei Baoding Dongfang Paper Milling Company Limited and Hebei Tengsheng Paper Co., Ltd,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 28, 2019.
54
Exhibit
No.
Description
of Exhibit
10.28
Supplement Agreement
dated December 16, 2019, by and between Hebei Baoding Dongfang Paper Milling Company Limited and Hebei Tengsheng Paper Co.,
Ltd, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 27, 2019
10.29
Letter
Agreement dated April 21, 2020, by and between the Company and Maxim Group LLC, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1
to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 1, 2020.
10.30
Securities
Purchase Agreement dated April 29, 2020 by and between the Company and certain purchasers, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 1, 2020.
10.31
Amendment
to Securities Purchase Agreement dated May 4, 2020, by and between the Company and certain purchasers, incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 4, 2020.
10.32
Letter
Agreement dated January 14, 2021, by and between the Company and Maxim Group, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 20, 2021.
10.33
Form
of Securities Purchase Agreement among the Company and certain institutional investors, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 20, 2021.
10.34
Underwriting Agreement dated as of February 24, 2021 by and between the Company and Maxim Group LLC, incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 1.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2021.
14.1
Code of Ethics and
Business Conduct, incorporated by reference to the Exhibit 14.1 to our Annual Report on Form10-K filed with the SEC on March
18, 2013
21.1
Lists
of Subsidiaries, incorporated by reference to the exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 15,
2011
23.1*
Consent of WWC, P.C. Certified Accountants.
31.1*
Certification Required Under Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*
Certification Required Under Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1*
Certification Required Under Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2*
Certification Required Under Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS
XBRL
Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL
Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL
Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL
Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL
Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL
Definition Linkbase Document
* Filed
herewith.
Item
16 Form 10-K Summary.
Not
applicable.
55
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: April 19, 2021
IT TECH PACKAGING, INC.
By:
/s/ Zhenyong Liu
Zhenyong Liu
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf
of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name
Title
Date
/s/ Zhenyong Liu
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
April 19, 2021
Zhenyong Liu
(principal executive officer)
/s/ Jing Hao
Chief Financial Officer
April 19, 2021
Jing Hao
(principal financial and accounting officer)
/s/ Fuzeng Liu
Director
April 19, 2021
Fuzeng Liu
/s/ Marco Ku Hon Wai
Director
April 19, 2021
Marco Ku Hon Wai
/s/ Wenbing Christopher Wang
Director
April 19, 2021
Wenbing Christopher Wang
/s/ Lusha Niu
Director
April 19, 2021
Lusha Niu
56
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.