HIHO Highway Holdings Limited

United States
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

☐ 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 THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023.

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________.

☐ SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 001-38490

HIGHWAY HOLDINGS LIMITED

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

N/A
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

British Virgin Islands

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

Suite 1801, Level 18, Landmark North 39 Lung Sum Avenue

New Territories, Hong Kong

(Address of principal executive offices)

Roland Kohl

Chief Executive Officer

Suite 1801, Level 18, Landmark North

New Territories, Hong Kong
telephone: (852) 2344-4248
fax: (852) 2343-4976
roland.kohl@highwayholdings.com
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

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

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None

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: 4,086,825 Common Shares were outstanding as of March 31, 2023.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 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 ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See definition of large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registration has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow: ☐ Item 17 ☐ Item 18 ☐

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORWARD - LOOKING STATEMENTS

This annual report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “is expected to,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “are likely to” or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

You should read this annual report and the documents that we refer to in this annual report thoroughly and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from and worse than what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. Other sections of this annual report, including the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2, include additional factors that could adversely impact our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise

CONVENTIONS

Highway Holdings Limited is a British Virgin Islands holding company that operates through various controlled subsidiaries. Unless the context indicates otherwise, all references herein to “the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer collectively to Highway Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries, including its 84% owned subsidiary in Myanmar. References to “China” or “PRC” are to the mainland of the People’s Republic of China, excluding Hong Kong, whereas references to “Hong Kong” are to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. References to “Myanmar” are to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Unless otherwise stated, all references to “dollars” or $ are to United States dollars. “RMB,” “Renminbi” or “yuan” are references to the legal currency of China. “MMK” or “Kyat” are to the legal currency of Myanmar. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is referred to in this Annual Report as the “SEC.”

The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and publish our financial statements in United States dollars.

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

RISK FACTORS

The Company’s business and operations involve numerous risks, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, which may affect future results and the market price of the Company’s Common Shares. Investors should take into accounts the risks described below, and the other information contained in this Annual Report, when evaluating an investment in the Company.

Risks Related To Doing Business In China And Myanmar.

The Military Coup In Myanmar Has Negatively Affected, And May Continue to Negatively Impact, the Company’s Operations In Myanmar. The Company operates two manufacturing and assembly facilities, one of which is located in Yangon, Myanmar. The Myanmar facility generated 42% of the Company’s revenues in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. On February 1, 2021, Myanmar’s military seized control of the government, declared a state of emergency for the upcoming year, and reportedly placed the country’s civilian leader under house arrest. The U.S. State Department has concluded that the military takeover in Myanmar constituted a coup d’état. The military’s takeover resulted in widespread civil unrest, including in the area of Yangon in which the Company’s facilities are located, the devaluation of the Kyat, disruption to the existing banking system, and other restrictions. The civil unrest caused the Company’s Myanmar facility to be closed for about two weeks in March 2021. While no closure was caused by civil unrest in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, and operations at the Myanmar factory have mostly returned to the pre-takeover levels, the future impact of the military takeover on the Company’s operations in Myanmar remains uncertain as of the date of this report. Any loss of property or interruption of the Company’s operations resulting from political instability, civil unrest or changes in law or policy enacted by the military government could have a significant negative impact on the Company’s business operations, earnings and cash flow.

In Response To Recently Enacted Global Human and Environmental Rights Regulations Enacted In Germany And Pending in other Jurisdictions, The Company’s Customers May Prohibit Or Limit The Manufacture Of Their Products In Myanmar, Which Will Negatively Affect The Company’s Operations In Myanmar. Germany recently enacted the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (Lieferkettensorgfaltsgesetz), which requires certain larger German manufacturers to take actions to identify and prevent suspected human rights and environmental law violations committed abroad in their supply chains, including by their direct and indirect suppliers. Germany’s new law went into effect on January 1, 2023. In order to comply with this law, German manufacturers may stop purchasing products from foreign suppliers (such as the Company) that are based in countries with bad human rights records. The European Union and various social responsibility organizations also are considering similar laws. During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, revenues generated from the Company’s operations in Yangon, Myanmar, represented 42% and 47%, respectively, of the Company’s total revenues. Since the military coup in February 2021, Myanmar has been listed as one of the world’s worst human rights offenders. As a result of these social responsibility regulations and Myanmar’s human rights record, one of the Company’s larger European customers no longer accepts products manufactured by the Company at its Yangon factory. Other clients may also refuse to have their products manufactured at the Company’s Myanmar facility. In addition, China’s human rights record may cause German manufacturers to refuse to purchase products manufactured in China as well. In the event that the Company’s customers further limit or prohibit the Company from manufacturing their products in Myanmar or China, the Company’s operations and financial condition will be significantly and adversely affected. No assurance can be given that the Company’s customers will not, in the future, withdraw their work from Myanmar or China or refuse to permit their future orders from being completed at the Company’s Myanmar or Shenzhen facilities.

Changes in Labor Laws, Environmental Regulation, Safety Regulation and Business Practices, and Operating Costs in China, and in Shenzhen In Particular, Have Significantly Increased The Costs And Burdens Of Doing Business And Could Continue To Negatively Impact The Company’s Operations And Profitability. In the past, foreign-owned enterprises, such as the Company and its subsidiaries, have established manufacturing/assembly facilities in China because of China’s lower labor costs, lower facilities costs, less stringent regulations, and certain other benefits provided to foreign entities. These benefits are no longer available to most companies operating in Shenzhen, including in particular foreign-owned entities. In fact, the costs and burdens on foreign-owned companies appear to be significantly greater than on local Chinese-owned companies. The cost of operating a manufacturing business in Shenzhen have increased significantly, and the amount of governmental inspections and intrusion have further increased the costs and burdens of operating in China. These factors have significantly increased the cost of doing business in China in the past few years and have caused some of the Company’s customers to source their products from other original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) outside of China that have a lower cost structure than the Company has. The increased costs of manufacturing and the increased regulatory burdens have adversely affected the Company’s net sales and gross margins and may continue to do so in the future. While the Company is trying to offset the increasing costs and burdens of doing business in China (primarily by increasing automation and moving labor-intensive activities to Myanmar), no assurance can be given that in the longer term the Company will be able to continue to operate in China and/or remain viable under the new and evolving business or regulatory conditions in China.

In Response To Recently Enacted Data Security Law and Personal Information Protection Law in China, The Company May Face Additional Scrutiny From Its Operations In China. In the fall of 2021, China enacted two laws — the Data Security Law and the Personal Information Protection Law. The Data Security Law sets up a framework that classifies data collected and stored in China based on its potential impact on Chinese national security and regulates its storage and transfer depending on the data’s classification level. The Personal Information Protection Law is China’s comprehensive legislation regulating the protection of personal information. The Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) has published the Administration Measures for Cyber Data Security that authorizes the relevant government authorities to conduct a cybersecurity review on a range of activities that affect or may affect national security, including listings in foreign countries by companies that possess personal data of more than one million users. We do not collect, process or use personal information of entities or individuals other than what is necessary for our business and do not disseminate such information. We do not operate mobile apps and we do not possess information on more than a million entities/individuals. Although we believe we currently are not required to obtain clearance from the CAC under the Administration Measures for Cybersecurity Review, we face uncertainties as to the interpretation or implementation of such regulations or rules, and if required, whether such clearance can be timely obtained, or at all. While we do not believe that our Chinese subsidiary is subject to cybersecurity review or requires prior approval of the CAC or the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”), uncertainties still exist and the current laws, regulations or policies in China could change in the future. Any future action by the Chinese government expanding the categories of industries and companies whose foreign securities offerings are subject to review by the CSRC or the CAC could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to overseas investors and could cause such securities to significantly decline in value or to become worthless. Failure to comply with these laws may lead to fines and penalties from the Chinese government and could have a significant negative impact on Company’s business operations. On March 31, 2023 the CSRC’s new Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies and certain supporting guidelines (collectively the “New Overseas Listing Rules”) went into effect. Among other things, these new regulations provide that certain PRC domestic companies seeking to offer and list securities, either directly or indirectly, in overseas markets, must file with the CSRC an application for an overseas offering or listing. Currently, we do not believe that any effective laws or regulations in the PRC explicitly require us to seek approval from the CSRC or any other PRC governmental authorities in order to offer and sell our securities in the U.S. However, since the New Overseas Listing Rules are newly published and there is substantial uncertainty surrounding the implementation and enforcement thereof, we cannot assure you that, if required, we would be able to complete the filings and/or fully comply with the relevant new rules, on a timely basis or at all.

Changing Internal Fiscal, Regulatory and Political Changes Continue to Negatively Affect The Company’s Operations in China. Many of the Company’s key functions, including tool design and manufacturing, engineering, administration, and automated manufacturing, are conducted from the Company’s facilities in China. As a result, the Company’s operations and assets are affected by the political, economic, legal and other uncertainties associated with doing business in China. Changes in policies by the Chinese government to its laws, regulations, or the interpretation thereof, the imposition of confiscatory taxation, restrictions on imports and sources of supply, currency re-valuations, or the expropriation of private enterprises, could materially adversely affect the Company. For example, foreign-owned enterprises, including the Company, have been subject to numerous governmental inspections and have been subjected to additional burdensome regulations and, on occasion, to cash penalties and fines. Certain of the recent actions by Chinese government authorities appear to be intended to force the Company, and other foreign businesses, out of Shenzhen, China. While the Company has, to date, been able to continue its operations in China despite these changes and additional burdens, no assurance can be given that the increasing regulations and the more restrictive government policies will not, in the future, cause the Company’s operations to become financially untenable or otherwise materially affect its business, operations and financial condition.

Political Or Trade Controversies Between China And The United States Could Harm The Company’s Operating Results Or Depress The Company’s Stock Price. Relations between the U.S. and China have during the past few years been strained as a result of various economic and geopolitical disputes between the countries. These political and economic issues have resulted in tariffs being imposed by both China and the U.S. and have resulted in the imposition of restrictions on the import/export of certain products. Although the Company’s sales to the U.S. were not substantial during the last fiscal year, and the Company does not import raw materials from the U.S., the political tensions between the two countries could negatively affect the Company’s operations in China and its ability to transact with U.S. customers. No assurance can be given that these, and any other future controversies will not negatively affect the Company’s business and operations in China. In addition, the political and trade friction between the U.S. and China could adversely affect the prevailing market price for the Company’s Common Shares. The Company, whose shares are publicly listed on the U.S. Nasdaq stock market, could be perceived in China to be an American company and, as such, could face persecution in various forms from the government. Similarly, because the Company operates in Shenzhen, China, the Company could be perceived to be a Chinese company by U.S. investors. These trade or political disputes between the U.S. and China could affect U.S. investors’ perception of China-based manufacturing companies listed on U.S. stock markets, which could adversely affect the Company’s stock price.

Increased Wages And The Other Costs Of Labor in China Have a Material Negative Impact The Company’s Operations And Continue to Increase Its Operating Costs. Wages in China in general, and in Shenzhen in particular, have significantly increased during the past few years. Increases in wages has also resulted in increases in employer contributions for various mandatory social welfare benefits for Chinese employees that are based on percentages of their salaries. These increases in the cost of labor will continue to increase the Company’s operating costs, will reduce the Company’s gross margins, and may continue to result in the loss of customers who may seek, and are able to obtain, comparable products and services in lower-cost regions of the world or from certain local Chinese companies that receive governmental support of subsidies.

The Company May Be Subject To Significant Employee Termination Payment Obligations In China. Under China’s labor laws, the Company’s local employees are entitled to receive significant employment termination payments if the Company terminates their employment. Although the Company has been reducing the amount of this potential liability by not replacing its Shenzhen factory employees who resign or otherwise leave, any mass layoff could trigger the sudden payment of the entire severance payment obligation. While the Company has been accruing these severance payments as a liability on its financial statements (as of March 31, 2023, the Company accrued $1,193,000 of severance liabilities), the sudden obligation to pay all of these accrued amounts could result in a significant decrease in the Company’s cash reserves.

The Company’s Shenzhen, China, Leases Could Subject the Company To Substantial Future Risks and Costs. The Company’s engineering, research and development, and its automated manufacturing facilities are currently still located in Long Hua, Shenzhen, China. In February 2023 the Company extended its leases for much of this facility until February 28, 2026 (the Company has also reduced the amount of space it now leases in Shenzhen to reflect its decreased operations in China). Due the increasing rental rates and changes in the local regulatory environment that disfavors manufacturing facilities, it is uncertain if the Company will be able to renew its lease in 2026 on acceptable terms, or at all. In the event that the Company cannot, or does not renew its Shenzhen lease, the Company will incur significant costs to relocate its facilities, and its operations could be significantly disrupted. In addition, the termination of the Shenzhen leases may require the Company to terminate or relocate its Shenzhen employees, which events would trigger the Company’s significant severance payment obligations to its remaining China-based employees.

The Company’s Myanmar Subsidiary Faces Various Risks Related To Its Operations In That Underdeveloped Country. The Company’s labor-intensive manufacturing operations are currently conducted in Yangon, Myanmar (formerly Burma). The Company currently owns 84% of Kayser Myanmar Manufacturing Company Ltd. (“Kayser Myanmar”), a foreign company authorized to operate in Myanmar. Kayser Myanmar operates from a factory facility in Yangon. The Company has also transferred a substantial portion of its non-automated manufacturing equipment from its Shenzhen, China, operations to the Kayser Myanmar facilities in order to enable the Myanmar company to assemble and manufacture more of the Company’s products in Myanmar. However, operating in an underdeveloped country such as Myanmar is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. These risks include labor relations issues (including strikes), lack of infrastructure, uncertain rules and regulations, unpredictable access to utilities (including electricity), cultural and political issues with local governmental authorities, antiquated banking systems, and the lack of international financing expertise. As discussed above, as a result of the enactment of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (Lieferkettensorgfaltsgesetz), one of the Company’s larger European customers no longer purchases products manufactured by the Company at its Yangon factory. Other clients may also refuse to have their products manufactured at the Company’s Myanmar assembly facility. The operations in Myanmar also are subject to the currency risks associated with the Myanmar Kyat (MMK), the official currency of that country. Myanmar recently permitted the exchange rate between the Kyat and the U.S. dollar to fluctuate, which fluctuations could materially change the cost of operating in Myanmar. No assurance can be given that unfavorable currency fluctuations will not occur in the future.

Uncertain Legal System and Application of Laws May Adversely Affect The Company’s Properties And Operations In Both China And Myanmar. The legal systems of China and Myanmar are often unclear and are continually evolving, and there can be no certainty as to the application of laws and regulations in particular instances. While China has an increasingly comprehensive system of laws, the application of these laws by the existing regional and local authorities is often in conflict and subject to inconsistent interpretation, implementation and enforcement. New laws and changes to existing laws occur quickly, sometimes unpredictably, and often arbitrarily. As is the case with all businesses operating in both China and Myanmar, the Company often is also required to comply with informal laws and trade practices imposed by local and regional administrators. Local taxes and other charges are levied depending on the local needs for tax revenues and may not be predictable or evenly applied. These local and regional taxes/charges and governmentally imposed business practices often affect the Company’s cost of doing business and require the Company to constantly modify its business methods to both comply with these local rules and to lessen the financial impact and operational interference of such policies. While the Company has, to date, been able to increase its compliance with the regulations and operate within the newly enforced rules and business practices, no assurance can be given that it will continue to be able to do so in the future. The judiciary systems in China and Myanmar are relatively inexperienced in enforcing the laws that govern businesses, thereby making it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of violations of law against the Company.

The Company’s Operations In Myanmar Are Dependent Upon Its Leased Factory Complex In Yangon, Myanmar, And The Loss Or Interference With That Lease Would Materially, And Adversely, Affect The Company’s Operations In Myanmar. On March 29, 2019 Kayser Myanmar entered into a 50-year lease for an approximately 6,900 square meter (1.67 acres) factory estate in Yangon. Kayser Myanmar advanced $950,000 to the landlord as a prepayment of rent under the lease (at currency conversion rate in effect at that time, the prepayment represents approximately 12 years of rental payments), and has spent approximately $600,000 on refurbishing the complex and building one new factory building and a new office building at the site. Accordingly, this new facility represents a significant long-term investment by the Company in its operations in Myanmar. All of Kayser Myanmar’s operations are now being conducted at this new facility. Any interference or interruption of Kayser Myanmar’s right to operate at this new facility, or a challenge to the existence or validity of the 50-year lease, including as a result of a dispute with the landlord or because of any actions or regulations by Myanmar governmental, administrative or taxation authorities, could materially negatively affect the Company’s investment in the new factory and its ability to operate in Myanmar.

The Company Has Substantial Assets In Myanmar, And Any Action By The Government To Expropriate Or Restrict Those Assets Would Materially Harm The Company. Myanmar has only recently permitted non-Myanmar businesses to operate in Myanmar. The laws governing foreign businesses regulate both the manner in which such foreign entities can operate as well as the ownership of assets by foreign entities. The laws and regulations under which foreign businesses can operate and own assets are still being developed and are changing. As a result, there is substantial uncertainty in operating in Myanmar and in owning equipment, machinery and inventory (the Company currently does not own any real estate, but it does hold a long-term lease on its factory in Myanmar). Furthermore, the status of the laws prohibiting expropriation are uncertain since the military seized control of the government in early 2021. No assurance can be given that Myanmar will not in the future adopt laws, or take actions, that affect the Company’s Myanmar assets and properties.

Labor Shortages and Employee Turnover May Negatively Affect The Company’s Operations and Profitability. One of the principal economic advantages of locating the Company’s operations in China and Myanmar has been the availability of low-cost labor. Due to the enormous growth in manufacturing in China, workers’ higher salary expectations, and the after-effects of China’s one-child policy, the Company has recently had difficulty in filling its lower cost labor needs in China. Due in part to these wage increases and labor shortages, the Company has stopped most of its labor-intensive manufacturing in China and now uses its Shenzhen facilities mostly for engineering, tool manufacturing, design, automated manufacturing, and administrative purposes. Since these functions are performed by higher paid professional employees, the Company’s exposure to the labor issues in China has been reduced. However, the cost and risks of hiring and training new employees has shifted to Myanmar where the Company now performs most of its labor-intensive manufacturing in Myanmar. Myanmar also observes an extended new year’s celebration each year in April during which the Company’s factories are closed and all workers temporarily leave. Because many of the Myanmar factory workers are migrant workers who live far from the Company’s Yangon factory, many do not return after the holidays, as a result of which labor turnover can be high at times. The Company is required to annually hire, and train, new workers.

Import Duties and Restrictions May Negatively Affect The Company’s Operations and Liquidity. China is increasingly regulating and monitoring imports of raw materials and parts by manufacturers in China, which regulations make it more burdensome and expensive to import the materials that the Company needs to manufacture its products. The Company now also has to operate under import customs contracts in Myanmar, or under bonded warehouse arrangements, in order to be able to import goods into Myanmar without paying taxes or duties. Failure by the Company or by third parties who perform transportation services for the Company to comply with the import regulations can lead to financial penalties on the Company, to additional restrictions on import activities, and could even result in the prohibition of future duty-free import/exports by the Company. Any such prohibition would adversely affect the Company’s business and operations. No assurance can be given that the Company or its transportation service providers will or will be able to fully comply with the increased import regulations.

The Increasing Rate of Inflation, Particularly In Myanmar, May Negatively Impact Our Operations. The rate of inflation in Myanmar has noticeably increased during the past few years. Inflation in Myanmar was estimated to be more than 16% per annum during the past fiscal year and appears to be at the same level this year. As a result, employee compensation and other operating expenses in Myanmar could significantly increase. Although the rate of inflation in China has been relatively modest recently, we can provide no assurance that our operations in China and Hong Kong will not be affected in the future by higher rates of inflation. Inflation could materially affect our financial performance by increasing our operating costs and expenses, including employee compensation and the cost of raw materials. Additionally, because a substantial portion of our assets from time to time consists of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, high inflation could significantly reduce the value and purchasing power of these assets.

The Chinese Government Exerts Substantial Influence Over The Manner In Which We Must Conduct Our Business Activities And May Intervene Or Influence Our Operations At Any Time, Which Could Result In A Material Change In Our Operations And The Value Of Our Common Stock. The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to securities regulation, data protection, cybersecurity and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Our business may be subject to various government and regulatory interference in the province in which we operate. We may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply. Our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry. Given recent statements by the Chinese government indicating an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, any such action could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless.

Our Ability To Transfer Funds From Our China Subsidiary is Limited by The Laws of China. We conduct our operations in China through Nissin Metal and Plastic (Shenzhen) Company Limited (“Nissin PRC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary that is registered in China. Under our current corporate structure, Highway Holdings Limited may need dividend payments or other distributions from Nissin PRC to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. In respect of the transfer of earnings from Nissin PRC to Highway Holdings Limited, under applicable Chinese laws and regulations our Chinese subsidiary is permitted to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. Nissin PRC primarily generates its revenue in RMB, which is not freely convertible into other currencies. As a result, any restriction on currency exchange may limit the ability of our Chinese subsidiary to use its RMB revenues to pay dividends to us. The Chinese government may continue to strengthen its capital controls, and more restrictions and substantial vetting process may be put forward by State Administration of Foreign Exchange (the “SAFE”) for cross-border transactions falling under both the current account and the capital account. In addition, the Enterprise Income Tax Law of China and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax rate of up to 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-Chinese-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted. To date, profits generated by Nissin PRC have mostly been reinvested in the Shenzhen factory’s operations, and we have not relied on dividends or other distributions from Nissin PRC to fund our operations outside of China. However, any limitation on the ability of Nissin PRC to pay dividends or make other kinds of payments to us in the future could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

Risks Related To The Company’s Operations, Structure And Strategy.

The Company Faces On-Going Risks Related To The COVID-19 Outbreak, Particularly At Its Shenzhen, China Facility. The outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has, since early 2020, impacted the Company’s operations in China and in Myanmar. During the past three years, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Company to close its factories in both Shenzhen, China, and Yangon, Myanmar, on several occasions. In December 2022, the Chinese government abruptly eased its strict zero-COVID-19 policies. Although the exact longer-term impact of the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions is not yet known, the sudden lifting of the COVID-19 regulations resulted in a significant increase in number of people in China who have contracted COVID-19, including many of the Company’s employees at the Company’s Shenzhen, China facility. The sudden increase in COVID-19 cases has resulted in a large increase absenteeism at the Shenzhen, China, facility in early 2023, which has in turn negatively impacted production at that facility this year. The future impact of the spread of COVID-19 on the Company’s operations in Shenzhen is unknown. In addition, the increase in COVID-19 related illnesses in China also has impacted the Company’s China-based vendors and suppliers, which could also impact the operations at the Shenzhen facility. The reduction in operations at the Shenzhen facility as result of the spread of COVID-19 in China may materially adversely affect our operating and financial results in a manner that is not currently known to us. Reduced operations by the third-party suppliers of parts and components due to the COVID-19 pandemic would likewise negatively affect our operations and could result in lost sales, higher prices and manufacturing delays. The outbreak of COVID-19 in both Shenzhen, China, and Yangon, Myanmar, currently is under control, and work is currently continuing as usual at the Company’s factories in both of these locations. However, any future closures or other restrictions, including travel restrictions, imposed as a result of COVID-19 may materially adversely affect our operating and financial results in a manner that is not currently known to us. Closures of the facilities of our third-party suppliers of parts and components due to the COVID-19 pandemic would likewise negatively affect our operations and could result in lost sales, higher prices and manufacturing delays.

The Company Is Financially Dependent On A Few Major Customers. During the years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 the Company’s aggregate sales to its three largest customers accounted for approximately 84.8% and 76.6% of net sales respectively. While there are material benefits to limiting its customer base to a few, large, well-established and financially strong customers, having fewer customers also has significant risks. The Company’s success will depend to a significant extent on maintaining its major customers and on the businesses of its major customers. The Company could be materially adversely affected if it loses one or more of its major customers or if the business and operations of its existing major customers declines.

In addition, a substantial portion of the Company’s sales to its major customers are made on credit, which exposes the Company to the risk of significant revenue loss if a major customer is unable to honor its credit obligations to the Company. Any material delay in being paid by its larger customers, or any default by a major customer on its obligations to the Company would significantly and adversely affect the Company’s liquidity. As of March 31, 2023 and 2022, accounts receivable from the four customers with the largest receivable balances at year-end represented, in the aggregate, 90.5% and 88.1% of the total outstanding receivables, respectively. While most of the accounts receivable outstanding as of March 31, 2023 were from well-established long-time customers, 30.2% of those accounts receivable represented sales to a new customer with whom the Company first conducted business in fiscal 2022 and, therefore, does not have an established credit history. The Company also has extended a $1 million credit facility to this new U.S.-based early stage company, which facility is being used to fund the manufacture by the Company of products for this new U.S. customer. The inability or delay by that customer to fully or promptly repay the amounts drawn down on that credit facility could materially affect the Company’s financial condition.

Interruptions In Supplies Provided By The Company’s Third-Party Suppliers, Including Due To The COVID-19 Pandemic And The Ongoing War In Ukraine, May Subject The Company To External Procurement Risks That Negatively Affect Its Business. The Company depends on third-party suppliers for its raw materials and many of its components. Any disruptions to the Company’s supply chain, significant increase in component costs, or shortages of critical components, could adversely affect the Company’s business and result in lost sales, customer dissatisfaction and increased costs. Such a disruption could occur as a result of any number of events, including, but not limited to, an extended closure of or any slowdown at our supplier’s plants or shipping delays due to efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 or implementation of post-COVID-19 policies or practices, war and economic sanctions against third parties, including those arising from the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, market shortages due to surge in demand for any particular part or component, increases in prices or impact of inflation, the imposition of regulations, quotas or embargoes on components, transportation delays or other failures affecting the supply chain and shipment of materials and finished goods.

Fluctuating Shipping Costs And Disruptions In Shipping Could Materially And Adversely Affect Our Business And Operating Results. Our foreign based customers purchase the products that we manufacture for them in China and Myanmar based on an expectation of timely delivery at a reasonable transportation cost. Generally, we ship our products from the ports in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China and Yangon, Myanmar to their final destinations, and our customers bear the transportation costs of their products. Certain of our customers also transport their products by air. During the past few years, the shipping costs and availability of shipping containers have fluctuated wildly. Until recently, there was a global shipping and logistics crisis resulting in lengthy port wait times and a very significant spike in shipping costs. While shipping costs have moderated and returned to pre-COVID-19 levels, shipping costs remain volatile. Delays in the transportation of products and significant increases in shipping costs could adversely affect our customers production schedules and production costs. These factors, in turn could cause our customers to consider using suppliers closer to their facilities or even manufacturing those products themselves at their own domestic facilities. The loss of customers because of international transportation disruptions and cost fluctuations could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. No assurance can be given that our customers will continue to purchase our products if the delays in delivery and major shipping price increases return.

Transactions Between The Company And Its Subsidiaries May Be Subject To Scrutiny By Various Tax Authorities And Could Expose The Company To Additional Taxes. The Company operates through various subsidiaries in various countries. These subsidiaries make inter-company purchases at various prices. Under China’s enterprise income tax law, all such inter-company transactions have to be made on an arm’s-length basis and are subject to scrutiny as transfer pricing transactions between related parties. Transactions between the various subsidiaries located inside and outside of China must also meet China’s transfer pricing documentation requirements that include the basis for determining pricing between the related entities, as well as the computation methodology. The Company could face material and adverse consequences if the Chinese tax authorities determine that transactions between the Company’s various subsidiaries do not represent arm’s-length pricing regulations and, therefore, that such transactions are deemed to be structured to avoid taxes. Such a determination could result in increased tax liabilities of the affected subsidiaries and potentially subject the Company to late payment interest and other penalties.

The Company Is Highly Dependent Upon Its Executive Officers And Its Other Managers. The Company is highly dependent upon Roland Kohl, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and its other officers and managers. Although the Company has signed employment contracts with Mr. Kohl and certain of its other key officers/managers, no assurance can be given that those employees will remain with the Company during the terms of their employment agreements. The loss of the services of any of the foregoing persons would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and operations. The Company owns a $2,000,000 life insurance policy issued to insure the Company’s in the event of Mr. Kohl’s death. Mr. Kohl is the primary contact between the Company and certain of its larger customers, particularly those based in Germany. Accordingly, the resignation, retirement or other departure of Mr. Kohl from the Company could have a material negative impact on the Company’s relationship with these customers and on the Company’s ability to retain these clients.

The Company Faces Significant Competition From Numerous Larger, Better Capitalized, and International Competitors. The Company competes against numerous manufacturers for all of its current products. Such competition arises from both third-party manufacturers and from the in–house manufacturing capabilities of existing customers. Many of the larger, international competitors also operate competing facilities in Shenzhen, China, while others have also established manufacturing facilities in other low-cost manufacturing countries, which have given those competitors the ability to shift their manufacturing to those locations whenever costs at those other locations are cheaper. Many of our competitors have achieved substantial market share and many have lower cost structures and greater manufacturing, financial or other resources than we do. If we are unable to provide comparable manufacturing services and high-quality products at a lower cost than the other companies in our market, our net sales could decline.

During The Course Of The Audits Of Our Consolidated Financial Statements, We And Our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms Identified Material Weaknesses In Our Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. If We Fail To Re-Establish And Maintain An Effective System Of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, Our Ability To Accurately And Timely Report Our Financial Results Or Prevent Fraud May Be Adversely Affected, And Investor Confidence And The Market Price Of Our Common Shares May Be Adversely Impacted. We are subject to reporting obligations under the U.S. securities laws. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires every public company to include a management report on such company’s internal control over financial reporting in its annual report, which report contains management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.

We and our independent registered public accounting firms, in connection with the preparation and external audit of our consolidated financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2023, identified material weaknesses related to internal control over financial reporting in respect of our operations in Myanmar. Following the identification of the material weaknesses and other control deficiencies, we have taken measures and plan to continue to take measures in an attempt to remedy these deficiencies. However, the implementation of these measures has not yet, and may not in the future, fully address the material weakness and deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting.

Our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of March 31, 2023, and the following material weaknesses were identified: (i) We have not maintained sufficient internal controls over cash related controls at our Myanmar operations, which pertain to the maintenance of records in reasonable detail to accurately and fairy reflect and record cash transactions. Since the military coup in Myanmar, substantially all of our Myanmar operations are conducted through cash transactions due to governmental policies and the lack of a sophisticated financial system. Although financial transactions in Myanmar are conducted primarily with cash, the effects of poor cash controls were mitigated by the fact that, at any time, we only maintained a small balance of cash in Myanmar; (ii) We do not have sufficient and skilled accounting personnel in the Group with an appropriate level of technical accounting knowledge and experience in the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States commensurate with our financial reporting requirements; and (iii) We do not have appropriate and adequate policies and procedures in place in the Group to evaluate the proper accounting and disclosures of key transactions and documents. See “Item 15. Controls and Procedures—Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.” Failure to correct these material weaknesses or failure to discover and address any other control deficiencies could result in inaccuracies in our consolidated financial statements and could also impair our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and make related regulatory filings on a timely basis. As a result, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of our common shares, may be materially and adversely affected.

Fluctuations in Foreign Currency Exchange Rates Will Continue to Affect the Company’s Operations and Profitability. Because the Company engages in international trade and operates using four different currencies, the Company is subject to the risks of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. The Company’s operations are based in the PRC, Hong Kong and in Myanmar. However, because most the Company’s customers are located outside of these markets (primarily in Europe), the Company makes and/or receives payments in various currencies (including U.S. dollars, Hong Kong dollars and RMB), and pays its expenses in U.S. dollars, RMB, Hong Kong dollars, and MMK. As a result, the Company is exposed to the risks associated with possible foreign currency controls, currency exchange rate fluctuations or devaluations. For example, the Company realized a currency exchange gain of $32,000 and a currency exchange loss of $24,000 in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Notwithstanding its exposure to currency conversion rate fluctuations, the Company does not attempt to hedge its currency exchange risks and, therefore, will continue to experience certain gains or losses due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company does attempt to limit its currency exchange rate exposure in certain of its OEM contracts through contractual provisions, which may limit, though not eliminate, these currency risks. No assurance can be given that the Company will not suffer future currency exchange rate losses that will materially impact the Company’s financial results and condition.

The Company is Exposed to Significant Worldwide Political, Economic, Legal And Other Risks Related To Its International Operations. The Company is incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, has administrative offices for its subsidiaries in Hong Kong, and has all of its manufacturing facilities in China and Myanmar. The Company sells its products to customers in China, Europe, Hong Kong, North America and elsewhere in Asia. As a result, its operations are subject to significant political and economic risks and legal uncertainties, including changes in international and domestic customs regulations, changes in tariffs, trade restrictions, trade agreements and taxation, changes in economic and political conditions and in governmental policies, difficulties in managing or overseeing foreign operations, and wars, civil unrest, acts of terrorism and other conflicts. The occurrence or consequences of any of these factors may restrict the Company’s ability to operate in the affected region and decrease the profitability of the Company’s operations in that region.

Acquisitions Or Strategic Investments May Not Be Successful And May Harm The Company’s Operating Results. The Company has in the past acquired, invested in, or entered into strategic arrangements with other companies in China and elsewhere (including elsewhere in Asia, Europe or even in North or Central America). In order to expand its business, the Company believes that it may, once again, have to expand its operations in countries other than China and Myanmar, which may include the need to acquire and/or invest in foreign businesses or entities. Such acquisitions or strategic investments could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and operating results because of:

Risks Related To Regulatory Oversight And The Company’s Charter.

Certain Legal Consequences of Incorporation in the British Virgin Islands. The Company is incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, and its corporate affairs are governed by its Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association and by the BVI Business Companies Act of the British Virgin Islands. Principles of law relating to such matters as the validity of corporate procedures, the fiduciary duties of the Company’s management, directors and controlling shareholders and the rights of the Company’s shareholders differ from those that would apply if the Company were incorporated in a jurisdiction within the U.S. Further, the rights of shareholders under British Virgin Islands law are not as clearly established as the rights of shareholders under legislation or judicial precedent in existence in most U.S. jurisdictions. Thus, the public shareholders of the Company may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions of the management, directors or controlling shareholders than they might have as shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a U.S. jurisdiction. In addition, there is doubt that the courts of the British Virgin Islands would enforce, either in an original action or in an action for enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts, liabilities that are predicated upon the securities laws of the U.S.

The Company’s Rights Plan, And Certain Provisions of Its Amended and Restated Memorandum And Articles of Association May Discourage a Change of Control. In April 2018, the Company adopted a shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”) that provides for the issuance of one right (“Right”) for each of our outstanding common shares. The Rights are designed to assure that all shareholders receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any proposed takeover and to guard against partial tender offers, open market accumulations, undisclosed voting arrangements and other abusive or coercive tactics to gain control of the Company or the Board of Directors without paying all shareholders a control premium. The Rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that acquires 15% or more of the Common Shares on terms not approved by our board of directors. The Rights Plan may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of the Company or management that shareholders may consider favorable.

Some provisions of the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association also may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of the Company or management, including provisions that (1) provide that a meeting of shareholders can be called only by the Company’s Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, or President and not by shareholders; (2) provide that directors of the Company may be removed only for cause, and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds in voting power of the Series A Preferred Shares and a majority of the outstanding common shares; and (3) require a vote of at least two-thirds in voting power of the outstanding shares to amend these and certain other provisions of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association.

These provisions could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire the Company, even if the third party’s offer may be considered beneficial by many shareholders. As a result, shareholders may be limited in their ability to obtain a premium for their shares.

It May be Difficult to Serve the Company with Legal Process or Enforce Judgments Against the Company’s Management or the Company. The Company is a British Virgin Islands holding corporation with subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Myanmar and China. Substantially, all of the Company’s assets are located in the PRC, Hong Kong and Myanmar, and no assets, employees or operations are located in the U.S. In addition, all of the Company’s officers and directors reside outside of the U.S. It may not be possible to effect service of process within the United States or elsewhere outside the PRC, Myanmar or Hong Kong upon the Company’s directors, or executive officers, including effecting service of process with respect to matters arising under United States federal securities laws or applicable state securities laws. Neither the PRC nor Myanmar have treaties providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts with the United States and many other countries. As a result, recognition and enforcement in the PRC or Myanmar of judgments of a court in the United States or many other jurisdictions in relation to any matter, including securities laws, may be difficult or impossible. Enforcement of a foreign judgment in Hong Kong or the British Virgin Islands may also be limited or affected by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, arrangement and moratorium, or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and will be subject to a statutory limitation of time within which proceedings may be brought.

Risks Related To Our Common Shares.

Volatility Of Market Price Of the Company’s Shares. The markets for equity securities have been volatile, and the price of the Company’s Common Shares has been and could continue to be subject to material fluctuations in response to quarter to quarter variations in operating results, news announcements, trading volume, general market trends both domestically and internationally, currency movements and interest rate fluctuations.

Exemptions Under The Exchange Act As A Foreign Private Issuer. The Company is a foreign private issuer within the meaning of rules promulgated under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). As such, and though its Common Shares are registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, it is exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act applicable to United States public companies including: the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the Commission of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K; the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations with respect to a security registered under the Exchange Act; the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and establishing insider liability for profits realized from any “short-swing” trading transaction (i.e., a purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the issuer’s equity securities within six months or less), and the provisions of Regulation FD aimed at preventing issuers from making selective disclosures of material information. In addition, certain provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 do not apply to the Company. Because of the exemptions under the Exchange Act and Sarbanes-Oxley Act applicable to foreign private issuers, shareholders of the Company are not afforded the same protections or information generally available to investors in public companies organized in the United States.

While The Company Has In The Past Paid Dividends, No Assurance Can Be Given That The Company Will Declare Or Pay Cash Dividends In The Future. The Company’s policy has been to pay a cash dividend at least once a year to all holders of its Common Shares, subject to its profitability and cash position. The Company declared two dividend payments for a total of $0.20 per share in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 (a $0.15 per share dividend that was paid on October 7, 2022, and a $0.05 per share dividend that was paid on January 5, 2023). In addition, the Company paid a $0.10 per share dividend on July 12, 2023 to its shareholders. Dividends are declared and payable at the discretion of the Board of Directors and depend upon, among other things, the Company’s results of operations, the anticipated future earnings of the Company, the success of the Company’s business activities, the Company’s capital requirements, and the general financial conditions of the Company. Although the Company has annually paid dividends to its shareholders in the past, the Company does not expect to pay dividends during periods when the Company’s operations have not been profitable, or when the Company expects to use a material amount of its financial resources for long-term capital investments. In addition, the Company may cease making dividend payments in the event that the Company determines that retaining funds may be necessary to achieve other corporate goals, such as expanding its operations or acquiring other businesses. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the Company will pay dividends in the future. If the Company does not pay a cash dividend, the Company’s shareholders will not realize a return on their investment in the Common Shares except to the extent of any appreciation in the value of the Common Shares. 

Risk of Cybersecurity Breaches Could Adversely Affect Our Business, Revenues and Competitive Position. Security breaches and other disruptions could compromise the Company’s information and expose the Company to liability, which would cause the Company’s business and reputation to suffer. In the ordinary course of the Company’s business, the Company stores sensitive data, including business information and regarding its customers, suppliers and business partners, in the Company’s networks. The secure maintenance and transmission of this information is critical to the Company’s operations. Despite the Company’s security measures, its information technology and infrastructure may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or breached due to employee error, malfeasance or other disruptions. Any such breach could compromise the Company’s networks and the information stored there could be accessed, publicly disclosed, lost or stolen. Any such access, disclosure or other loss of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, regulatory penalties, disrupt the Company’s operations, and damage the Company’s reputation, which could adversely affect its business, revenues and competitive position.

Uncertainty Under The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act That May Result In Future Delisting. On December 18, 2020, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“HFCAA”) was enacted. Pursuant to the HFCAA, if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB, is unable to inspect an issuer’s auditors for three consecutive years, the issuer’s securities are prohibited to trade on a U.S. stock exchange. The PCAOB has determined that registered public accounting firms headquartered in Hong Kong are subject to the HFCAA’s provisions. On June 22, 2021, United States Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which, if enacted, would decrease the number of “non-inspection years” from three years to two years, and thus, would reduce the time before our securities may be prohibited from trading or delisted if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or investigate completely our auditor. On July 21, 2022 the SEC notified us that our prior registered public accounting firm, Centurion ZD CPA & Co. (“Centurion”), is a PCAOB-Identified Firm because Centurion is based in Hong Kong. On May 3, 2023 we appointed ARK Pro CPA & Co (“ARK”) as our new independent registered public accounting firm to replace Centurion. Both Centurion and ARK are headquartered in Hong Kong, which may expose us to delisting if Centurion and ARK cannot be inspected by the PCAOB. As a result, the SEC would prohibit our securities from being traded on a national securities exchange or through any other method that is within the jurisdiction of the SEC, including through over-the-counter trading, if the PCAOB was unable to inspect our auditors. On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed a Statement of Protocol (the “Statement of Protocol”) with the CSRC and the Ministry of Finance of China under which the PCAOB will be given complete access to audit work papers and other information so that it may inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered accounting firms headquartered in China and Hong Kong. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB Board determined that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate its previous determinations to the contrary. However, should Chinese authorities obstruct or otherwise fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB Board will consider the need to issue a new determination. Whether the PCAOB will continue to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainty and depends on a number of factors out of our, and our auditor’s, control. In the event it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditors because of a position taken by an authority in Hong Kong or China, then such lack of inspection could cause trading in our securities to be prohibited under the HFCAA.

The Audit Report Included In Our Annual Report on Form 20-F Filed With The SEC Is Prepared By Auditors Who Are Not Inspected Fully By The PCAOB, And As Such, Investors Are Deprived Of The Benefits Of Such Inspection. Our auditor, ARK, is currently based in Hong Kong, and is required to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB as an auditor of companies that are publicly traded in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB. While the PCAOB has determined on December 15, 2022 that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, whether the PCAOB will continue to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainty and depends on a number of factors out of our, and our auditor’s, control. In the event it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditors because of a position taken by an authority in Hong Kong or China, our auditor and its audit work would not be able to be inspected independently and fully by the PCAOB.

Inspections of other auditors conducted by the PCAOB outside Hong Kong have at times identified deficiencies in those auditors’ audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. Should the PCAOB be prevented from inspecting our auditor’s audits and its quality control procedures, investors may be deprived of the benefits of PCAOB inspections and may lose confidence in our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of our financial statements.

Item 4. Information on the Company

Highway Holdings Limited is a manufacturing company that produces a wide variety of high-quality products mostly for large, global original equipment manufacturers - from simple parts and components to sub-assemblies and finished products. The Company’s administrative offices are located in Hong Kong, and its manufacturing facilities are located in Shenzhen in the People’s Republic of China, and in Yangon, Myanmar. The Chinese manufacturing operations are conducted by Nissin Metal and Plastic (Shenzhen) Company Limited (“Nissin PRC”), a foreign owned subsidiary that is registered in China (this type of foreign owned company is commonly known as a “Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise” (a “WFOE”)). The Myanmar operations are conducted through Kayser Myanmar Manufacturing Company Ltd. (“Kayser Myanmar”), a company registered to operate as a foreign company in Myanmar that is 84% owned by the Company. Highway Holdings Limited has three Hong Kong-based wholly-owned operating subsidiaries (Nissin Precision Metal Manufacturing Limited; Kayser Limited; and Golden Bright Plastic Manufacturing Company Limited). Kayser Limited and Golden Bright Plastic Manufacturing Company Limited are our primary sales organizations, Nissin Precision Metal Manufacturing Limited is the parent company of Nissin PRC, and Kayser Limited is the 84% owner of Kayser Myanmar.

History and Development of the Company.

Overview. Highway Holdings Limited is a holding corporation that was incorporated on July 20, 1990 as a limited liability International Business Company under the British Virgin Islands International Business Companies Act, 1984 (the (“IBCA”). Effective on January 1, 2007, the British Virgin Islands repealed the IBCA, and simultaneously with such repeal, the Company was automatically re-registered under the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004, BVI’s corporate law that replaced the IBCA. In May 2018, the Company amended its Memorandum and Articles of Association to conform to the IBCA. Our website is www.highwayholdings.com (the information contained in our website is not a part of this Annual Report on Form 20-F and no portion of such information is incorporated herein). The SEC maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports and other information, including this Annual Report on Form 20-F.

As of the date of this Annual Report, Highway Holdings Limited conducts all of its operations through five wholly-owned or controlled subsidiaries that carry out the Company’s business from Hong Kong, from, the Company’s principal design and manufacturing factory in Shenzhen, China, and from the manufacturing and assembly facility in Yangon, Myanmar, that is owned by its 84% owned subsidiary.

The Company began its operations in 1990 in Hong Kong as a metal stamping company. In 1991, the Company transferred the metal stamping operations to a factory in Long Hua, Shenzhen, China. From 1991 until the reorganization that commenced in 2011, the Company’s metal stamping and other operations were conducted pursuant to agreements entered into between certain Chinese companies set up by the local government and the Shenzhen City Baoan District Foreign Economic Development Head Company and its designees (collectively, the “BFDC”) (the agreements, collectively the “BFDC Agreements”). Under the BFDC Agreements, the Company’s Long Hua, Shenzhen, operations were provided with both manufacturing facilities and labor by affiliates of local government instrumentalities, for which the Company paid management fees based on a negotiated sum per factory worker, and other charges, as well as rent for the factory complex. The BFDC Agreements have been terminated, and since 2016 the Company now operates in Shenzhen, China, through Nissin PRC.

Manufacturing and Assembly Operations-- Myanmar Manufacturing Complex. The Company originally established its operations in Shenzhen, China to take advantage of the low cost of operations in China, including in particular the low cost of labor. However, as the overall costs of operating a manufacturing facility in Shenzhen increased, the cost advantages of operating in China were significantly eroded. Simultaneously, the administrative and regulatory burdens of operating in China significantly increased. More recently, the Chinese regulatory agencies have required companies operating in Shenzhen to automate and to operate as technology centers, rather than traditional manufacturing factories. As a result, the Company’s Shenzhen facilities are currently primarily used for designing, tooling, engineering, and administrative activities, and all of its manufacturing consist of automated manufacturing. The more labor-intensive operations have been moved to the Company’s Yangon, Myanmar facilities.

As a result of the increasing costs and burdens of operating in Shenzhen, and in order to lower its manufacturing costs and to remain competitive with OEMs who operate in low labor cost locations outside of China, the Company developed a two-pronged strategy:

a.  In order to increase its production efficiency and reduce costs in Shenzhen, the Company now manufactures products in China primarily through automation with automated, or semi-automated equipment. As a result, the Company’s manufacturing labor force in China has now been reduced to approximately 30 workers. The Shenzhen facility is also the primary center of the Company’s product design and development, as well as the tooling for new products.

b.  The Company conducts its labor-intensive assembly and component manufacturing operations to Yangon, Myanmar, a developing country that now permits foreign investment in that country. The cost of operating an assembly facility, particularly as a result of the low cost of labor, currently is significantly lower in Myanmar than in Shenzhen, China. Early in 2013, the Company commenced subcontracting some of its product assembly functions to Kayser Myanmar Manufacturing Company Ltd. (“Kayser Myanmar”), a Myanmar company that, at that time, was owned by two Myanmar residents. This out-sourced assembly operation functioned satisfactorily and at a substantially lower cost, and the Company’s customers were satisfied with the quality and timeliness of the products assembled in Myanmar. Accordingly, in June 2014 the Company purchased an initial 25% ownership interest in the Myanmar company. The Company then purchased an additional 50% interest in March 2015 and additional 9% in January 2017. As a result, since January 2017, the Company has owned 84% of Kayser Myanmar. The 16% interest in Kayser Myanmar that the Company currently does not own is held by a Myanmar national who also is a founder of Kayser Myanmar and the current manager of Kayser Myanmar’s operations. The Company’s goal was to shift its labor-intensive product assembly and component manufacturing operations from Shenzhen, China, to Myanmar. The transition of the Company’s China-based labor-intensive operations to Kayser Myanmar has now been completed.

On March 29, 2019, Kayser Myanmar entered into a 50-year lease for an approximately 6,900 square meter (1.67 acres) factory estate in Yangon. Kayser Myanmar has upgraded the existing two factories at the new leased facility and has constructed a third factory and a new office building on the site. Also, the Company has transferred much of the machinery and manufacturing equipment from the Company’s Shenzhen, China plant to the new Yangon facility. See, “Organizational Structure/Offices and Manufacturing Facilities--Yangon Myanmar/Manufacturing Facilities” below. The Company’s operations in Myanmar are subject to numerous risks associated with operating an assembly facility in an underdeveloped country, and it is uncertain how many of the Company’s customers will permit their products to be assembled in Myanmar. See, “Risk Factors-- The Company Faces Risks From Its Expanded Operations In Myanmar” and “Risk Factors--In Response To Recently Enacted Global Human and Environmental Rights Regulations Enacted In Germany And Pending in other Jurisdictions, The Company’s Customers May Prohibit Or Limit The Manufacture Of Their Products In Myanmar, Which Will Negatively Affect The Company’s Operations In Myanmar.”

Reorganization. As a result of a change in the laws affecting the Company’s operations in China, in May 2011 the Company formed Nissin PRC, a new wholly-owned subsidiary that is now a registered company in the PRC, and transferred its China-based cash, assets, employees and operations to Nissin PRC. Since March 31, 2016, all of the Company’s operations in China are now conducted by Nissin PRC. As a PRC registered company, Nissin PRC is permitted to hire its own employees, lease its own facilities, and distribute its products in China. However, Nissin PRC also is subject to China’s tax regulations and is subject to the rules and regulations applicable to other PRC registered companies.

As part of the Reorganization, the Company increased certain of its administrative functions in Hong Kong. Currently, most of the Company’s non-manufacturing activities (i.e. its administrative functions, marketing, sales, design, engineering, and purchasing) are now being conducted from its offices in Hong Kong, and most of its manufacturing operations are being conducted at either the factory in Long Hua, Shenzhen, China, or Kayser Myanmar’s facility in Yangon, Myanmar.

As a result of the Reorganization, the Company is now structured as follow:

Current Business Overview/Plans

The Company is a fully integrated manufacturer of high-quality metal, plastic, electric and electronic components, subassemblies and finished products for OEMs and contract manufacturers (primarily in Europe, Asia, and to a lesser extent, in the United States). Since the Company’s formation, most of the Company’s manufacturing activities were conducted through its factory complex in Long Hua, Shenzhen, China. Since 2013, the Company also conducts many of its product assembly functions (and some of its component manufacturing functions) in Yangon, Myanmar, through Kayser Myanmar.

The Company currently manufactures and supplies a wide variety of high-quality metal, plastic and electric parts, components and products to its OEM clients, which assemblies and components are used by the Company’s customers in the manufacturing of products such as photocopiers, laser printers, print cartridges, electrical connectors, electrical circuits, vacuum cleaners, LED power supplies, stepping motors, pumps for dishwashers, and other washing machine components. As part of its manufacturing operations, the Company assists customers in the design and development of the tooling used in the metal and plastic manufacturing process and provides a broad array of other manufacturing and engineering services. The manufacturing services include metal stamping, screen printing, plastic injection molding, pad printing and electronic assembly of printed circuit boards. Because it is able to provide these services, the Company eliminates the need to outsource these needed functions, and the Company is better able to assure product quality, control overall manufacturing costs and provide timely product delivery, all of which management believes is essential to maintaining, expanding and increasing the Company’s customer base. The Company believes its success as a supplier to respected multi-national companies is mainly due to: (i) its German management culture (the Company’s principal customers are located in, or operate in Germany); (ii) its comparatively low operating costs; (iii) its ability to consistently manufacture the type of high quality products required by the Company’s targeted customers; (iv) its expertise in manufacturing these products in the required quality at a reasonable cost; (v) the breadth of its manufacturing capabilities, and (vi) its engineering, design and development capabilities (which it uses to assist its customers to design their products).

The Company is capable of manufacturing and assembling a wide variety of complex products that require metal, plastics and electronics manufacturing capabilities, and therefore is able to manufacture complete customized products for its customers.

The Company established its operations in Shenzhen, China, over 30 years ago to take advantage of China’s lower labor costs, lower facilities costs, less stringent regulations, and various other benefits that were provided to foreign entities to encourage operations in China. As described elsewhere in this Annual Report, these benefits are no longer available to most foreign companies operating in Shenzhen. In addition, recent actions by the Chinese government, including heightened governmental inspections of foreign-owned enterprises and additional administrative requirements imposed on foreign-owned entities, have during the past few years further significantly increased the costs and burdens of operating in China. These changes have now effectively removed the benefits of being a foreign owned enterprise, and now make it at least as burdensome to operate in China as a foreign-owned entity than as a locally owned enterprise. As a result, the Company has been decreasing its manufacturing operations in China, and has moved all of its labor intensive assembly and manufacturing activities to the Company’s new facility in Myanmar.

Industry Overview

The Company operates in the third-party contract manufacturing industry. Manufacturers worldwide have increasingly outsourced the manufacture of some or all of their component and/or product requirements to independent manufacturers. The benefits of using contract manufacturers (OEMs) include: access to manufacturers in regions with low labor and overhead cost, reduced time to market, reduced capital investment, improved inventory management, improved purchasing power and improved product quality.

The Company first commenced its metal stamping operations for original equipment manufacturers in China in 1991. At that time, the Company gained a significant cost and logistical advantage over other manufacturers by basing its manufacturing facilities in Long Hua, Shenzhen, China, less than 50 kilometers from Hong Kong. However, there are now many other manufacturers in Shenzhen and in other similar low-cost areas in China and Asia. As a result, the Company faces significantly more competition as a manufacturer of OEM parts. The Company has responded to the increased competition by restructuring its operations and by trying to move from manufacturing low margin, low-cost individual parts to manufacturing higher margin, more expensive components, subassemblies and even complete units for its customers.

Initially, the Company manufactured high-quality metal parts, mostly for Japanese customers. More recently, the Company has been manufacturing high-quality parts and components for European (primarily German) companies. The Company has remained flexible with respect to the types of products that it manufactures as well as location of its customers in order to capitalize on market changes. During each of the past several years, more than 70% of the Company’s revenues are derived from its European customers.

The Company’s Strategy

The Company’s future growth and profitability depend on its ability to compete as a third party contract manufacturer. The Company’s business strategy and focus is to expand its operations as an integrated OEM manufacturer of metal, plastic and electronic parts, components, subassemblies and competed products for blue chip and international customers. The Company business strategy is to further develop and leverage its multi-disciplinary manufacturing strengths, its cost structure, its logistical advantages, its reputation as a high-quality manufacturer, and its current and former relationships with blue chip European customer to further expand its manufacturing operations and product offerings. In addition, the Company is attempting to leverage these advantages by upgrading its equipment and machinery, expanding its manufacturing capabilities, and utilizing its cost and logistical advantages. See, “Manufacturing and Assembly Operations-- Myanmar Manufacturing Complex” above.

The following are some of the elements that the Company believes will enable it to compete as a third-party manufacturer.

Capitalize on, and leverage its manufacturing strength: Unlike many of its manufacturing competitors, primarily those in Shenzhen, China, the Company is a vertically integrated manufacturer that can design, manufacture and assemble complex components and subassemblies. In addition, unlike some of its competitors that are limited to either metal stamping or to electronic and plastics manufacturing, the Company has the ability to combine metal stamping and electronics and plastics manufacturing. For example, the Company manufactures stepping motors, which utilizes all of the Company’s capabilities, starting with mold and die making for the metal and plastic parts, metal stamping, deep drawing and plastic injection molding, electric coil winding, soldering, and assembling all the parts by using spot welding and riveting technologies. Accordingly, the Company’s strategy is to focus on manufacturing more complex products that utilize the Company’s various manufacturing strengths.

Upgrading Equipment-Increased Automation. In order to attract major European customers, and in order to reduce its labor costs and improve quality, the Company has continuously upgraded the design and manufacturing equipment at its facilities and has made significant investments in automated/robotic machinery that manufacture or assemble products. The Company designs and manufactures its own automated production lines. The Company’s goal is to use automation/robotics to reduce it labor costs, improve the consistency and quality of its products, and to increase the quantity of products that it manufactures at its work-stations. The automated machinery has significantly reduced the number of workers at the Company’s facilities in Shenzhen, China.

Reduce Its Manufacturing And Assembly Costs By Relocating Operations To Myanmar. The Company initially established its manufacturing and assembly operations in China to take advantage of China’s low labor costs. Those costs have now risen to a level where the cost of manufacturing in China no longer is competitive with manufacturing in underdeveloped nations. Accordingly, in order to be able to continue to provide price competitive products, the Company now operates an assembly facility in Yangon, Myanmar. The Company has transferred its labor-intensive assembly operations that cannot be economically automated to Myanmar, a country where the labor costs are significantly less than in China. The principal purpose of operating in Myanmar is to reduce the cost of its products and, therefore, offset the increasing costs at its facility in Shenzhen, China. In addition to lower labor and other operating costs, the Myanmar operations benefit from the preferential customs provisions, particularly for the Company’s European and U.S. customers. The European Commission has designated Myanmar as an undeveloped country whose exports are currently still subject to tariff concessions called “preferential tariff quotas”. Accordingly, the Company’s European customers that satisfy the European Commission’s requirements currently benefit from purchasing products manufactured in Myanmar. These benefits may attract other European customers to move at least a portion of their assembly needs to the Company’s Myanmar facilities. U.S. customers who purchase from the Company’s Myanmar facilities are also not subject to the higher tariffs they would normally face if purchasing from China.

Maintaining customers and increasing market share through financial strength: Many of the Company’s largest customers are global companies that require that their OEM manufacturers have the financial strength to survive during financial and economic downturns. The Company has traditionally maintained a strong balance sheet that has enabled it to continue to supply its customers during economic downturns.

Maintain production quality: Management believes that maintaining close relations with the Company’s customers is important to the success of the Company’s business. Understanding each customer’s needs and efficiently and quickly addressing its needs is vital to maintaining a competitive advantage. Many of the Company’s customers have built the goodwill associated with their products and tradenames based on a high level of perceived quality. By employing the type of high-quality management standards, production standards and quality control standards historically utilized by many leading German companies, the Company has been able to satisfy the stringent requirements of its customers. Management believes that the Company’s commitment to high level service, its attention to detail, and the quality of its manufacturing have the effect of providing customers with a sense of confidence and security that their product requirements will be met.

The Company conducts most of its manufacturing operations in accordance with typical German manufacturing standards, paying particular attention to cleanliness, incoming material control, in process quality control, finished goods quality control and final quality audit. The Company’s factories in both China and Myanmar have each received and maintained its ISO 9001 quality management system certification and the Company’s factory in China has received and maintained its ISO 14001 environmental management systems certification. The Company’s quality system helps to minimize defects and customer returns and create a higher confidence level among customers.

Operate as a socially responsible company. The Company is committed to being a socially responsible company by operating morally and ethically, by protecting the employees physical and mental well-being, by providing a safe work place, by following the legal employment requirements, by not employing underage persons, and by protecting the surrounding environment. The Company’s social responsibility and accountability actions are important criteria in the selection of OEMs by the Company’s global customers. Some of these customers demand compliance with the SA8000 social accountability management system, and Kayser Myanmar’s compliance with SA8000 has been audited several times by the Company’s customers. The safety of the Company’s employees and customers are of primary concern to the Company’s management.

Manufacturing

The Company’s manufacturing business consists of various stages: (i) tooling design and production; (ii) manufacturing parts made by metal stamping and plastic injection molding; (iii) mechanical and/or electric/electronic assemblies, and (iv) finishing, packaging and shipping.

Tooling design and production: The metal manufacturing process generally begins when a customer has completed the design of a new product and contacts the Company to supply certain metal and plastic components to be used in the product. Generally, the Company must design and fabricate the tooling necessary to manufacture these components in its tooling workshop that is currently located at its Shenzhen, China factory. In some instances, however, the customer already possesses the tooling necessary to manufacture the metal component and simply delivers the tools to the Company. Customers will sometimes also pay the Company to purchase and install the equipment necessary to manufacture the customer’s products. The Company uses various computer-controlled manufacturing equipment to efficiently produce high quality tools designed to produce a high quality product. Many of the metal parts manufactured by the Company make use of progressive, multi-stage stamping techniques. In order to conduct and maintain this fully automated stamping method, tools and machines must be precisely fine-tuned and aligned to achieve the required quality standard and maximum efficiency.

The tool making process for metal parts generally takes between 14 to 50 working days depending on the size and complexity of the tool. Customers typically bear the cost of producing the tools and, as is customary in the industry, the customers hold title to the tooling. However, the Company maintains and stores the tools at its factory for use in production and the Company usually does not make tooling for customers unless they permit the Company to store the tools on site and manufacture the related parts.

The Company also makes highly sophisticated plastic injection molds based on its customers’ orders and requirements in a manner similar to the Company’s metal tool manufacturing process.

Metal Stamping; Plastic Injection Molding: Following the completion of the tooling, the materials required for the specific product is selected and purchased. See “Raw Material, Components Parts and Suppliers.” Often the customer specifies the materials to be used as well as the supplier. The completed tooling is fitted to the press which is selected for its size and pressing force.

Using separate shifts, part stamping and plastic molding can be conducted 24 hours a day, seven days per week other than during normal down time periods required for maintenance and changing of tools and during the traditional Chinese and Myanmar public holidays. Due to the strict quality requirements of customers, each tool and machine, and each product produced by the tools/machines, are subject to stringent in-process quality controls.

Finishing, Packaging and Shipping: After their manufacture, the parts and components are inspected for defects and checked with custom-built test gauges. Some components are then painted either at the Company’s Myanmar facilities or by specially trained, third party spray-paint facilities. After being painted, the parts are baked at high temperatures in drying ovens before final inspection and packaging. Some parts are also screen printed by the Company. Each of the parts, assemblies and products is then inspected, packaged to the customer’s specific requirement and delivered to the final quality audit department for final quality inspection which is conducted on a random sample basis. Depending on its agreement with its customers, the Company may ship the parts, assemblies and products it has manufactured by truck directly from its factory to the customer’s factory in China or elsewhere through the ports of Shenzhen, Yangon and/or Hong Kong. Alternatively, the customer may pick up the products at the Company’s factory and arrange for its own shipping.

Raw Material, Component Parts and Suppliers

The primary raw materials used by the Company to manufacture its metal stamped parts are various types of steel including pre-painted steel sheet, electrolytic zinc plated steel sheet, PVC laminated steel sheet, stainless steel, and cold roll steel sheet. The Company selects suppliers based on the price they charge and the quality and availability of their materials. Many of the Company’s suppliers of steel operate through Hong Kong or China-based companies which deliver the materials directly to the site of the Company’s operations in China and Myanmar.

The parts, components and products manufactured by the Company may include various plastic injected and metal stamped components, as well as integrated circuits, electronic components and paper packaging products. The Company manufactures many of these products, but also purchases components that it uses in its products. These materials are subject to price fluctuations, and the Company has, at times, been materially adversely affected by price increases or shortages of supply. The recent shortages of certain raw materials, such as steel, copper, plastic, resins, and electronic components have affected the Company’s operations and its net sales. The on-going global shortage of computer chips has also negatively affected the Company’s operations and has significant delayed the manufacture of larger order for various electronic products.

Transportation

Most of the sales agreements entered into by the Company are either F.O.B. agreements or Ex-factory agreement (in which the Company makes the goods available at its premises) or F.C.A. agreements (in which the Company hands over the goods, cleared for export, into the custody of the first carrier).

The Company’s facilities in Long Hua, Shenzhen, China, are located near both Hong Kong and the seaport in Shenzhen. Many of the Company’s customers use the Shenzhen seaport rather than the port of Hong Kong.

Products manufactured at the Kayser Myanmar facility are shipped to the Company’s OEM customer through the Port of Yangon or the Yangon airport, both of which are readily accessible for the manufacturing facility. Kayser Myanmar typically arranges for the customs clearance of these shipments.

Customers and Marketing

The Company’s sales are generated from customers primarily located in Hong Kong/China, Europe, the United States/Mexico, and other Asian countries. Net sales to customers by geographic area are determined by reference to the physical locations of the Company’s customers. For example, if the products are delivered to a customer in China or Hong Kong, the sales are recorded as generated in Hong Kong and China; if the customer directs the Company to ship its products to Europe, the sales are recorded as sold in Europe. Most of the Company’s recent payments have been in U.S. dollars, although the Company still receives payment in both RMB and Euros. Net sales as a percentage of net sales to customers by geographic area consisted of the following for the years ended March 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023:

The Company currently has two business and reporting segments, consisting of (i) its metal stamping and mechanical OEM operations, and (ii) its electric OEM operations (that include its plastic operations). The sales by segments for the years ended March 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023 are as follows:

Most of the Company’s customers for its components and subassemblies generally are themselves manufacturers. The Company’s products are sold primarily to European owned companies to be used in finished goods produced by customers at their own manufacturing facilities in China and Europe. However, the Company also has in the past produced finished products, such as light fixtures, that it sold to its customers.

The Company markets its services through existing contacts, word-of-mouth referrals and references from associated or related companies of the customers, as well as attendance at some trade shows. During the past few years, the Company has employed a number of foreign sales persons to complement the activities of its officers and in-house sales personnel. The Company has, from time to time, commissioned sales agents in Mexico, U.S. and Germany. These sales agents typically receive an expense allowance and an on-going commission for sales made by the Company to customers introduced by the agents.

Major Customers

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, the Company had four customers who each accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s net sales. These four customers collectively accounted for 94.8% of the Company’s net sales in fiscal 2023. The Company’s five largest customers collectively accounted for almost all of the Company’s net sales during each of the past two years. As a result of the dependence on a few large customers, the loss of a major customer, or any substantial decrease in orders from these customers, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial position, particularly if the Company is unable to replace such major customers.

Customers place manufacturing orders with the Company in the form of purchase orders which are usually supported by a delivery schedule covering one to two months of orders. Customers provide long term forecasts for their anticipated purchases, but are usually able to cancel or amend their forecasted orders at any time without penalty. Certain of the Company’s larger customers provide the Company with non-binding forecasts of their anticipated needs for the next year in order to enable the Company to plan for the anticipated orders. Orders from such customers are thereafter received from time to time based on the customers’ needs, not necessarily on the forecasted amounts or at the projected time periods. Accordingly, backlog has not been meaningful to the Company’s business.

In order to be able to timely fill the anticipated orders from its larger customers, the Company may purchase raw materials and other products based on the non-binding forecasts. Since the customer’s order forecasts are not binding orders, if a customer does not place as many orders as anticipated, the Company may not be able to fully utilize the raw materials and other products that the Company has purchased. In that case, the Company may not be able to utilize the raw materials and could suffer a financial loss.

Sales of manufactured products to established existing clients are primarily on credit terms between 30-75 days, while the sale to new or lesser-known customers are completed on a wire transfer payment basis before shipment or other similar payment terms. Recently the Company deviated from its customary credit terms and entered into a contractual deferred payment arrangement with a new significant customer. The outstanding balance owed by this customer is evidenced by a secured promissory note. Under the agreement, the customer has provided the Company with collateral for the rolling credit facility. This new arrangement has resulted in an increase in the Company’s accounts receivables, which increase shall remain in effect until the arrangement is terminated and the receivables/promissory note are paid.

As a result of the concentration of sales among a few of the Company’s larger customers, the Company is required to bear significant credit risk with respect to these customers. Parts are generally shipped 14-90 days after an order has been placed unless the Company is required to manufacture new tools which require an additional approximately 14-50 days to complete prior to commencing manufacturing. While the Company has not experienced material difficulty in securing payment from its major customers, there can be no assurance that the Company’s favorable collection experience will continue. The Company could be adversely affected if a major customer was unable to pay for the Company’s products or services.

Industrial Property Rights

As a manufacturer of parts, components and finished products for other manufacturers, the Company primarily relies on its manufacturing technical expertise, its operating processes and efficiencies, its knowledge of its customers’ products, and its long-term relationships with its customers. Accordingly, the Company’s operations and competitive advantages are not dependent upon any intellectual property rights.

The Company has recently acquired, and now owns three issued patents that relate to manufacturing processes and designs. However, the Company does not believe that these patents have significant value, nor do they provide significant differentiation or benefits to the Company’s operations as an OEM.

More recently, the Company has been developing its own proprietary line of energy saving brushless direct current motors. The Company has filed for and obtained a utility patent to protect certain of its rights in these motors. The Company has been developing three motors, the first of which is now being manufactured, marketed and sold by the Company to one its customers. The other two motors are still in various stages of design and testing. In addition, the Company has been designing a programmable motor, a small size power motor, and a planetary gear box, all of which are in the final stage of design and development.

Competition

The Company competes against numerous OEMs, including both smaller local companies as well as large international companies. Although the Company operates in the same market as some of the world’s largest contract manufacturers (for example, FoxConn also operates a major manufacturing facility in Long Hua, Shenzhen), management believes that it principally competes with smaller firms that make up the largest segment of the contract and parts manufacturing industry in China. Since some of the Company’s customers are large international enterprises that source their products from many international providers, the Company also competes against contract manufacturing companies in other low cost manufacturing countries. As a vertically integrated, multi-disciplinary manufacturer of complex components and products, the Company also competes against numerous global OEM manufacturers, whether those other manufacturers are located in Shenzhen, China or elsewhere. Most of the international competitors of the Company have substantially greater manufacturing, financial and marketing resources than the Company. The Company believes that the significant competitive factors are quality, price, service, and the ability to deliver products on a reliable basis. The Company believes that it is able to compete in its segment of the OEM manufacturing market by providing high quality products at a competitive price with reliable delivery and service. The Company has managed to partially offset the increasing cost of manufacturing in China by moving some of its operations to its Myanmar facility. However, it still maintains its automated manufacturing facilities in the Shenzhen area, near some of its customers. Having manufacturing facilities in Shenzhen, the Company is able to reduce delivery times and transportation costs for these customers, and by being able to offer “just in time” supply services.

Seasonality

The first and second calendar quarters (the last quarter of the Company’s March 31 fiscal year and the first quarter of the Company’s March 31 fiscal year) are typically the Company’s lowest sales period because of national holidays in China and Myanmar. As is customary in China, the Company’s manufacturing facilities in China are closed for one to two weeks for the Chinese New Year holidays. In addition, during the one month before and the one month after the New Year holidays, the Company normally experiences labor shortages, which further impact the operations during this period. The Company’s Myanmar operations also are negatively affected by the holidays that Myanmar employees take annually during that country’s new year’s celebration (typically two weeks in April). The absence of workers during these nationally mandated holidays in Myanmar has not, to date, materially affected the Company’s overall operations.

The Company does not experience any other significant seasonal fluctuations, nor does it consider any other issues with respect to seasonality to be material.

Government

As of the date of this Annual Report, the Company’s main tooling, engineering, design and automated manufacturing facility is located in Shenzhen, China. As a result, the Company’s operations and assets are subject to significant political, economic, legal and other uncertainties associated with doing business in China in general, and in Shenzhen, in particular. Since March 2015, the Company has owned a controlling interest in a Myanmar company that operates a factory in Myanmar. As a result, the Company also is subject to the political, economic, legal and other uncertainties associated with doing business in Myanmar. Myanmar commenced reforming its political and economic policies during the past few years, and the effects of those reforms are still uncertain and evolving. In February 2021 the military took control of the government in Myanmar and declared a state of emergency that permits the government to implement policies by decree. Although the military’s takeover has affected the Company’s relations with its workers and has further complicated the Company’s payment and banking arrangements in Myanmar, in general the Myanmar operations currently are not materially affected by the change in the government.

The Chinese government has during the past few years significantly changed and/or increased the enforcement of a number of laws affecting employees (including regulations regarding their salaries and benefits, labor unions, working conditions and overtime restrictions, and contract duration and, in particular, requirements regarding pensions, housing and life-long employment), and safety regulations for buildings and workers. The Chinese governmental authorities are increasingly formalizing workers’ rights concerning overtime hours, pensions, layoffs, employment contracts and the role of trade unions. Employers found to be violating these labor rules are often severely penalized.

The Company’s labor costs in Shenzhen, China have increased substantially in recent years. In addition, employees who have had two consecutive fixed-term contracts must be given an “open-ended employment contract” that, in effect, constitutes a lifetime, permanent contract, which is terminable only in the event the employee materially breaches the Company’s rules and regulations or is in serious dereliction of his duty. Such non-cancelable employment contracts will substantially increase its employment related risks and may limit the Company’s ability to further downsize its workforce. If an employee with such a contract is terminated, the Company is required to pay the terminated employee a substantial severance payment. These contingent employment liabilities could become a material financial obligation of the Company if a large number of employees are terminated by the Company all at once (such as upon a plant relocation and/or closure). While the Company has to date absorbed and gradually reduced these employee termination liabilities, a sudden simultaneous termination of a large number of employees would require the Company to make significant payments to the terminated employees, which payments could materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition.

Since the Reorganization was completed in 2015, all of its operations in the PRC are now conducted through a wholly-owned subsidiary that is registered in China as a limited liability company. As a result, the Company’s operations in China are now subject to all of the rules and regulations that previously did not apply to its operations in the PRC. Although the Company’s subsidiary is a Chinese registered company, the Company believes that, because its subsidiary is a foreign owned entity, it has recently been subject to numerous governmental inspections that other Chinese owned companies have not experienced. Accordingly, the operating environment for WFOEs in China is becoming increasingly burdensome.

The Chinese government continues to increase the enforcement of certain environment protection laws, which are restricting some common practices and/or increasing the Company’s cost of operations. In addition to enhanced governmental environmental regulations, the Company also has to comply with environmental laws applicable to its customers, such as the regulations of the European Union and Japan known as the Restriction on Hazardous Substances (known as “RoHS”) and the European Union’s Regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (known as “REACH”). The RoHS and REACH rules and regulations prohibit the importation products and parts that contain certain levels of toxic materials (such as lead, cadmium and mercury) and chemicals that may pose health and environmental risks. The Company believes that its operations are RoHS and REACH compliant.

The Company’s Shenzhen, China, operations are conducted through Nissin PRC, its Chinese operating subsidiary. Nissin PRC has obtained material permissions and approvals required for our operations in compliance with the relevant laws and regulations in the PRC. Nissin PRC is required to obtain and maintain various business licenses. The principal business license that Nissin PRC is required to maintain is a permit issued by the Shenzhen Administration for Market Regulation that allows Nissin PRC to conduct specific business in the Long Hua, Shenzhen geographical jurisdiction. As of the date of this Annual Report, Nissin PRC has received from the PRC authorities all requisite licenses, permissions or approvals needed to engage in the businesses currently conducted in China, and no permission or approval has been denied. Although Nissin PRC currently holds the required operating permits and licenses, Nissin PRC will have to reapply for the principal operating license in 2031.

The Company sells its products to customers in Hong Kong/China, Europe, and the United States/Mexico. As a result, its operations are subject to significant regulations related to its activities in these regions, including changes in international and domestic customs regulations, changes in tariffs, trade restrictions, and trade agreements and taxation.

Research and Development

As a manufacturer of parts and components for use in other products, the Company has traditionally not conducted a material amount of research or development. The Company does, however, engage in some research and development activities in connection with developing automated machines that its uses in its own manufacturing process and, more recently, in connection with developing its own proprietary products.

The Company recently decided to try to use its expertise in the production of electric motors to design and develop a line of new, lower cost electric motors. As a result, during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, the Company engaged in an increased amount of research and development in connection with the development of several small electric motors. The Company believes that its new motors, one of which has now been developed and is being sold to one of the Company’s existing customers, may fill the needs of some of its current customers and may also address a need in the market in general. The Company’s goal is to develop its own proprietary electric motors that will enable it to transition a portion of its operations from being an OEM to becoming an ODM, or “original design manufacturer,” that designs, develops, manufactures, and sells its own products. Because the Company is an OEM, it has not historically separately accounted for its research and development expenses.

Organizational Structure/Offices and Manufacturing Facilities

Highway Holdings Limited is a holding company that operates through its subsidiaries. We do not operate our business through a variable interest entities structure. As of July 12, 2023, Highway Holdings Limited had four wholly-owned active subsidiaries (excluding some dormant or deactivated subsidiaries), and one majority-owned active subsidiary (its 84% owned Myanmar subsidiary). Details of the Company’s four principal wholly-owned operating subsidiaries and their principal activities are as follows:

The Company also owns 84% of the equity of Kayser Myanmar, a foreign company registered under Myanmar law that is authorized to operate in Myanmar. Kayser Myanmar’s principal activities consist of manufacturing and assembling metal and plastic products. A Myanmar citizen both owns 16% of the Kayser Myanmar and is the general manager of the entity.

British Virgin Islands/Corporate Administrative Office

The office of the registered agent of the Company is located at Craigmuir Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110 British Virgin Islands. Only corporate administrative matters are conducted at these offices, through the Company’s registered agent, Harneys Corporate Services Limited. The Company does not own or lease any property in the British Virgin Islands.

Hong Kong/Operating Administrative Offices

The Company leases Suite 1801, Level 18, Landmark North, 39 Lung Sum Avenue, Sheung Shui, New Territories, Hong Kong as its administrative, engineering, finance, purchasing and marketing offices. The offices at Suite 1801, consisting of approximately 2,000 sq. ft., are leased by the Company’s Kayser Limited subsidiary. The lease for the Hong Kong offices expire in March 2026. The aggregate monthly rental cost of these offices currently is $7,040 per month, based on the exchange rate in effect on March 31, 2023.

Shenzhen, China/Manufacturing Facility

Until February 2023, the Company leased approximately 15,800 square meters of space at a factory complex located at Long Hua, Shenzhen, China from the Shenzhen Long Cheng Industry & Trade Industrial Co., Ltd. pursuant to various substantially similar related leases. The leased space included both manufacturing space and offices for production management, production engineering, and production support administration.

In February 2023 the Company extended the term of certain of these leases until February 28, 2026, and reduced the amount of leased space to a total of approximately 10,000 square meters. Because the Company has relocated most of its labor-intensive manufacturing and assembly operations to its facility in Yangon, Myanmar, the Company no longer needs the same amount of space in Shenzhen as it has in the past. Under the renewed leases, the Company is required to pay approximately $51,000 per month for rent (at the RMB to U.S. dollar exchange rate in effect on March 31, 2023) until the expiration of the leases. In order to continue operating in Shenzhen, the Company’s Shenzhen subsidiary, Nissin PRC, had to obtain a business license from the Shenzhen Administration for Market Regulation, which license allows Nissin PRC to conduct specific business activities in the Long Hua, Shenzhen geographical jurisdiction. Nissin PRC has obtained the required license which remains in effect until 2031.

Yangon, Myanmar/Manufacturing Facility

On March 29, 2019 Kayser Myanmar entered into a 50-year lease for a new manufacturing complex in Yangon, Myanmar (the “New Facility”) at which Kayser Myanmar now conducts all of its operations. Prior to moving to the New Facility, Kayser Myanmar conducted its operations at another leased facility in Yangon, Myanmar. The New Facility is an approximately 6,900 square meter (1.67 acres) factory estate that is located in Hlaing Tharyar Township in Yangon. The New Facility is owned by Konig Company Limited (“Konig Company”), a Myanmar company. Konig Company is owned by two Myanmar citizens who are related to Kayser Myanmar. One of the principals of Konig Company currently is a manager and a shareholder of Kayser Myanmar (he owns a 16% interest in Kayser Myanmar).

The lease for the New Facility has a term of 50 years. Kayser Myanmar has the option to extend the lease term for two consecutive 10-year terms on the same terms and conditions as in effect for the initial 50-year period. Kayser Myanmar, the tenant, is obligated under the lease to make monthly lease payments equal to 10 million Myanmar Kyat (approximately U.S. $4,800 per month, based on the currency conversion rate in effect on March 31, 2023). Kayser Myanmar has paid Konig Company $950,000 as a prepayment of rent under the lease (the prepayment represents approximately 12 years of rental payments). Under the lease, Kayser Myanmar must also pay all utilities (water, electricity, gas and sanitation), property taxes, and insurance on the premises. Kayser Myanmar has the right to alter and improve the premises at its own cost. As permitted by the lease, Kayser Myanmar has upgraded the existing two factories at the New Facility and has constructed a third factory and a new office building on the site. Kayser Myanmar has the right to sublet some or all of the New Facility.

Under the lease, Kayser Myanmar has the option to purchase the factory from Konig Company if and when Myanmar law is changed to permit ownership of real estate in Myanmar by foreign-owned companies. Because Kayser Myanmar is a partially-owned subsidiary of the Company, under the Myanmar Transfer of Property Act 1882 and the Myanmar Transfer of Immovable Property Restriction Law 1987, Kayser Myanmar is deemed to be a foreign-owned company and, therefore, is currently not permitted to own the New Facility. If Myanmar law is changed to allow foreign-owned companies to own Myanmar real estate, Kayser Myanmar will have the option to purchase the New Facility at a price equal to the then fair market value of the New Facility. The fair market value will be determined by an independent appraiser. The valuation of the New Facility will, however, exclude the increased value of the site attributable to any improvements, alterations, and additions made to the New Facility by Kayser Myanmar. Konig cannot sell, transfer or mortgage the New Facilities without the consent of Kayser Myanmar.

Other Operations

In addition to its historical manufacturing operations, the Company continues to explore other possible means of leveraging its manufacturing capabilities in China and to develop proprietary products that the Company can manufacture and sell as its own products. As part of its goal to develop a line of proprietary products, the Company has and continues to develop its own line of brushless DC electric motors, some of which are now being sold to the Company’s customers. Previously, the Company developed proprietary CO2 snow-jet and dry ice cleaning system for industrial and commercial cleaning applications. However, to date, the Company has only manufactured a few of these cleaning systems, which units the Company currently uses in its own manufacturing operations.

Item 4.A. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not applicable.

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

Overview

The Company’s net sales during the past two years were derived primarily from the manufacture and sale of metal, plastic and electronic parts and components for its international clients. For accounting purposes, the Company treats its (i) metal stamping and mechanical OEM manufacturing operations, and its (ii) electronic OEM manufacturing operations, as two separate business segments.

The Company is not taxed in the British Virgin Islands, the state of its formation.

The location of the Company’s administrative offices for its operating subsidiaries in Hong Kong enables the Company to pay low rates of income tax due to Hong Kong’s tax structure. The Company’s income arising from its Hong Kong operations or derived from its operations within Hong Kong is subject to Hong Kong Profits Tax. As of March 21, 2018, the Hong Kong Legislative Council passed The Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 7) Bill 2017 that introduces the two-tiered profits tax rates regime. Under the two-tiered profits tax rates regime, the first HK$2 million (equivalent to U.S. $257,000) of profits of the qualifying group entity will be taxed at 8.25%, and profits above HK$2 million will be taxed at 16.5%. The profits of group entities not qualifying for the two-tiered profits tax rates regime will continue to be taxed at a flat rate of 16.5%. The Company has selected Kayser Limited as the qualified entity under two-tiered profit tax rates regime and the remaining Hong Kong based subsidiaries are not qualifying under the regime and continue to be taxed at 16.5%. There are no taxes on dividends or capital gains in Hong Kong.

Nissin PRC, the Company’s subsidiary that is established and operates in China, is subject to the uniform income tax rate of 25% in China. In March 2022, the State Taxation Administration of PRC issued an announcement regarding the requirements to qualify as a “small-size, low profit” enterprise. Nissin PRC satisfies these requirements. Starting from January 1, 2022 and continuing until December 31, 2024, Nissin PRC will be eligible for a preferential income tax rate of 2.5% for the first 1 million RMB assessable profit. Assessable profit above RMB 1 million are charged at a 5% tax rate.

Kayser Myanmar, the Company’s 84%-owned Myanmar subsidiary, is subject to the tax provisions applicable companies operating in Myanmar and is subject to income tax at a rate of 22%. Kayser Myanmar is able to import many of the raw materials and parts that it uses to manufacture its export products free of taxes and free of duties under an import/export license that requires Kayser Myanmar to use a bonded warehouse.

The Company is not subject to U.S. taxes.

The Company owns 84% of Kayser Myanmar. Accordingly, the operations of Kayser Myanmar are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements (and in the below discussion of the Results of Operations) for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.

Net sales to customers by geographic area are generally determined by the physical locations of the customers. For example, if the products are delivered to a customer in China or Hong Kong, the sales are recorded as generated in Hong Kong and China; if the customer directs the Company to ship its products to Europe, the sales are recorded as sold in Europe.

Results of Operations

General

During the past three years discussed below, the Company’s revenues were derived primarily from the manufacture and sale of metal, plastic and electronic products, parts and components. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, net sales decreased by 17.2% from the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in net sales in fiscal 2023 is the direct result of (i) a general decrease in demand in Europe for home appliance products following the lifting of the COVID-19 pandemic stay-at-home mandates and the relaxation of travel restrictions (which resulted in a decrease in the demand for the home appliance products manufactured by the Company), and (ii) the sudden fourth-quarter decrease in production at the Company’s Shenzhen, China, facility due to a spike in COVID-19 illnesses among the Company’s local employees. The increase in COVID-19 illnesses followed the unexpected easing in China of its strict zero-COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in December 2022. The spike in illnesses following the lifting in China of the COVID-19 pandemic regulations also affected the Company’s customers and its supply chain.

During most of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, the Company’s factories in Yangon, Myanmar and Shenzhen, China were able to return to a more normal level of operations. Demand, especially in Europe, for Company’s products (most of which are household products) decreased following the relaxation of travel restrictions that enabled consumers to spend more time traveling (thereby decreasing the demand of home products). In addition, certain COVID-19 restrictions imposed by various governments still affected the Company’s operations in China in fiscal 2023. Travel restrictions imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the Company’s operations and marketing/sales efforts. For example, because of the pandemic-related travel restrictions, neither the engineers nor senior management were able to travel until these restrictions were lifted in December 2022, which restrictions the Company believes affected operations, production and sales. In December 2022, the Chinese government abruptly issued new guidelines easing most of its strict zero-COVID-19 policies, which caused a significant number of the Company’s employees to contract COVID-19. The surge in COVID-19 infections in China was followed by the Chinese New Year Holidays. The combination of these two events resulted in a large increase in absenteeism at the Company’s Shenzhen, China facility, which in turn negatively impacted production at that facility in 2022 and in the first few months of 2023.

During fiscal 2022, the Company entered into an agreement to produce video game consoles to a new customer based in the United States. The manufacture and delivery of these products was delayed for various reasons, including the shortage of electronic components and shipping delays due to the cargo delivery backlog at U.S. ports. The Company has now resumed the manufacture of products for this customer. The Company has extended a $1 million credit facility to this customer, which facility is evidenced by a promissory note that matures on July 31, 2023.

The following table sets forth the percentages of net sales of certain income and expense items of the Company for each of the three most recent fiscal years ended March 31, 2023.

Year Ended March 31, 2023 Compared to Year Ended March 31, 2022

Net sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 (“fiscal 2023”) decreased by $2,123,000, or 17.2% from the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 (“fiscal 2022”) due to the renewed impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Company, its customers and its supply chain, and a general decrease in demand in Europe. In addition, during the third quarter of fiscal 2023, half of the employees in the Shenzhen factory became ill due to COVID-19. Although most of the employees returned to work after a few days’ rest, the lack of full workforce adversely affected the Company’s production schedule. Europe constituted the Company’s highest region by net sales in both fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022. Net sales to European customers increased to 80.7% in fiscal 2023 from 70.9% in fiscal 2022, while net sales to North American customers decreased to 4.3% in fiscal 2023 from 11.5% in fiscal 2022. Net sales to Hong Kong/China decreased to 14.7% in fiscal 2023 from 17.0% in fiscal 2022.

The Company operates in two segments that it refers to as (i) the “metal stamping and mechanical OEM” segment and (ii) the “electric OEM” segment. The metal stamping and mechanical OEM segment focuses on the manufacture and sale of metal parts and components, whereas the electric OEM segment focuses on the manufacture and sale of plastic and electronic parts, components and motors. For fiscal 2023, net sales of the metal stamping and mechanical segment increased to 65.0% of the Company’s net sales, from 58.3% in fiscal 2022, due to changes in the product mix. Net sales of the electric OEM segment correspondingly decreased to 35.0% of net sales in fiscal 2023 from 41.7% in fiscal 2022. 

Gross profits as a percentage of net sales increased slightly to 30.7% in fiscal 2023 from 30.5% in fiscal 2022. Due to the decrease in net sales, the Company’s gross profit in dollar terms decreased by $629,000 to $3,141,000 in fiscal 2023 from $3,770,000 in fiscal 2022.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $415,000, or 13.0%, in fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022 as a result of the general global inflationary trend on costs of services and allowance for expected credit losses provided for a U.S. customer. These increases were partially offset by subsidies that the Company received in Hong Kong for its local employees. As a result of the decrease in net sales and the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, selling, general and administrative expenses represented 35.3% of net sales in fiscal 2023, compared to 25.9% of net sales in fiscal 2022.

As a result of the $629,000 decrease in gross profits in fiscal 2023 and the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, the Company had an operating loss of $477,000 in fiscal 2023 compared to operating income of $567,000 in fiscal 2022.

The Company had a currency exchange gain of $32,000 and an exchange loss of $24,000 in fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022, respectively. The currency gain/loss reflects the changing values of the U.S. dollar relative to both the RMB and the Kyat. The Company will continue to be exposed to currency fluctuations with U.S. dollar and the Myanmar Kyat because the Company does not intend to undertake any currency hedging transactions.

In fiscal 2023, the Company had an income tax benefit of $20,000. The Company had an income tax expense of $101,000 in fiscal 2022.

As a result of the foregoing, the Company had a net loss of $294,000 in fiscal 2023, compared to net income of $443,000 in fiscal 2022.

Year Ended March 31, 2022 Compared to Year Ended March 31, 2021

Net sales for fiscal 2022 increased by $3,197,000, or 34.9% from the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 (“fiscal 2021”) due to the return of a more normal level of operations in both of the Yangon, Myanmar and Shenzhen, China factories. In addition, in fiscal 2022 the Company commenced delivery of a new electronic product for a new customer, which production was delayed due to the shortage of electronic components. The Company’s net sales also were higher in fiscal 2022 when compared to fiscal 2021 because of the resurgent demand in Europe following a reduction of COVID-19 cases. Net sales in fiscal 2022 increased despite a one-week government ordered COVID-19 related lockdown of the Shenzhen facility during the fourth fiscal quarter. With a new customer of electronic product located in the United States, net sales to North American customers increased to 11.5% in fiscal 2022 from 3.3% in 2021, and net sales to European customers decreased to 70.9% in fiscal 2022 from 79.3% in fiscal 2021. Net sales to Hong Kong/China were 17.0% in both fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021.

For fiscal 2022, net sales of the metal stamping and mechanical segment increased to 58.3% of the Company’s net sales, from 56.6% in fiscal 2021, due to changes in the product mix. Net sales of the electric OEM segment correspondingly decreased to 41.7% of net sales in fiscal 2022 from 43.4% in fiscal 2021.

Gross profits as a percentage of net sales increased to 30.5% in fiscal 2022 from 29.5% in fiscal 2021. Due to the increase in net sales and the increase in gross margins, the Company’s gross profit in dollar terms increased by $1,063,000 to $3,770,000 in fiscal 2022 from $2,707,000 in fiscal 2021.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $120,000, or 3.6%, in fiscal 2022 compared to fiscal 2021 as a result of the continuous control on expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to 25.9% of net sales in fiscal 2022, compared to 36.2% of net sales in fiscal 2021.

As a result of the $1,063,000 increase in gross profits in fiscal 2022 and the decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses, the Company had operating income of $567,000 in fiscal 2022 compared to operating loss of $616,000 in fiscal 2021.

The Company had currency exchange losses of $24,000 and $60,000 in fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2021, respectively. The currency losses reflects the changing values of the U.S. dollar relative to both the RMB and the Kyat. The Company will continue to be exposed to currency fluctuations with U.S. dollar and the Myanmar Kyat because the Company does not intend to undertake any currency hedging transactions.

In fiscal 2022, the Company had an income tax expense of $101,000, mainly due to the provision for deferred taxes payable. The Company had an income tax benefit of $146,000 in fiscal 2021.

As a result of the foregoing, the Company had a net income of $443,000 in fiscal 2022, compared to net loss attributable to its shareholders of $461,000 in fiscal 2021.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:

As of March 31, 2023, the Company had working capital of $6,599,000, compared to working capital of $7,140,000 as of March 31, 2022 and $7,517,000 as of March 31, 2021. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had a working capital ratio of 2.62 to 1.

The amount of cash and cash equivalents held by the Company on March 31, 2023 increased to $6,952,000 from $6,010,000 on March 31, 2022 and the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $7,757,000 on March 31, 2021. The increase in cash and cash equivalents held by the Company on March 31, 2023 was largely due to the maturity of $1,075,000 of time deposits that could not be classified as cash because they had an original maturity date that was more than three months.

The Company regularly purchases raw materials used to manufacture customer products in anticipation of receiving purchase orders from existing customers for such products. If the anticipated customer orders to not materialize, or if the orders are smaller than anticipated, unless the Company is able to repurpose those raw materials, it will incur a loss from such purchases. Should the customers be unable or unwilling to purchase the products that the Company intended to manufacture on behalf of this customer, the Company could be stuck with excess unusable inventory, which would adversely affect its liquidity.

The Company has historically generated sufficient funds from its operating activities to finance its operations and there has been little need for external financing other than capital leases which are used to finance equipment acquisitions and letter of credit facilities for secured purchases of materials and components from overseas vendors. For fiscal 2023, the Company generated $809,000 of cash from its operating activities in part because of a $794,000 decrease in inventories, and certain non-cash expenses including an expected credit loss of $503,000 and a $67,000 write-down of inventories. These items were partially offset by a $461,000 increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. The Company also transferred $231,000 of its cash into long-term rental deposits under the new leases for its office and factory space. In fiscal 2022, the Company used $164,000 of net cash in its operating activities and in fiscal 2021, the Company used $104,000 of net cash in its operating activities.

The Company generated $991,000 in fiscal 2023 from its investing activities, which consisted primarily of cash received upon the maturity of time deposits. The Company used $78,000 and $1,195,000 in fiscal 2021 and 2022 respectively, of cash in its investing activities. For fiscal 2023, the maturity of the Company’s time deposits with original maturity longer than three months contributed mainly to the cash generated. As at March 31, 2023, all bank deposits had original maturity less than three months.

Net cash used in financing activities mostly represents cash dividends paid by the Company during each of fiscal 2021, 2022 and 2023. Dividends of $981,000, $569,000 and $1,019,000 were paid in fiscal 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. Dividends are declared at the discretion of the Board of Directors, subject to applicable laws, and depend on a number of factors, including the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, plans for future expenditures, general business conditions and other factors considered relevant by our Board of Directors. As a result, no assurance can be given that the Company will pay cash dividends in the current fiscal year or at any time in the future or, if dividends are paid, that the amounts will be consistent with amounts paid in prior years.

As of the date of this Annual Report the Company has no outstanding bank loans. However, the Company also does not have any bank credit facilities under which it can borrow funds should the Company need additional capital to fund unanticipated expenses (such as funding unbudgeted expenses related to the Yangon facility, posting additional deposits/bonds with governmental agencies, or funding certain operating expenses as a result of an unexpected slowdown of customer orders). Accordingly, the Company will be dependent on its current financial resources should unanticipated expenses arise. No assurance can be given that its current reserves will be sufficient.

The Company believes that its currently available working capital and funds generated from its operations are adequate to support its operations for at least the next 12 months.

Exchange Rates

The Company transacts its business from its Hong Kong sales and purchasing offices with its vendors and customers primarily in U.S. dollars and, to a lesser extent, in Hong Kong dollars and Euros. As a result of the assembly/manufacturing operations that the Company conducts in Myanmar, the Company now also pays certain labor costs with respect to its Myanmar workforce and costs relating to its Myanmar manufacturing facilities in the Myanmar Kyat. While the Company faces a variety of risks associated with changes among the relative value of these currencies, because the Company pays all of its Shenzhen factory expenses in RMB, the changes in the value of the RMB compared to the U.S. dollar was the most significant in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. During the period from March 31, 2022 to March 31, 2023, the value of the RMB compared to the U.S. dollar decreased by approximately 8.0%, which was the primary cause for the Company’s currency exchange gain of $32,000 in fiscal 2023.

The Company makes its payments for its manufacturing facilities and factory workers in Shenzhen, China in RMB. The value of the RMB compared to the U.S. dollar was lower on March 31, 2023 compared to the end of the prior fiscal year. A decrease in the value of the RMB compared to the U.S. dollar decreases the Company’s operating costs (expressed in U.S. dollars). Likewise, the Company makes its payments for its manufacturing facilities and factory workers in Yangon, Myanmar, in MMK. The value of the Kyat compared to the U.S. dollar decreased as of March 31, 2023 compared to a year earlier, primarily as a result of the economic uncertainty following the military takeover in that country. A decrease in the value of the Kyat compared to the U.S. dollar decreases the Company’s operating costs (expressed in U.S. dollars) in Myanmar. The weakening of the Kyat compared to the U.S. dollar has decreased the Company’s operating expenses in Myanmar in U.S. dollar terms and has thereby increased the Company’s overall currency exchange gain in fiscal 2023. Currency fluctuations in the future may have material impact on the results of the Company’s operations.

Currency exchange rate fluctuations affect the Company’s operating costs, and also affect the price the Company receives for the products that it sells. Most of the Company’s net sales in fiscal 2023 were to Europe. In order to mitigate the currency exchange rate risks related to changes in the value of the dollar relative to the Euro, the Company has requested its European customers to pay in U.S. dollars, and in fiscal 2023, substantially all of the Company’s European customers did so. In addition, the Company has entered into agreements with certain of its larger European customers that permit the Company’s prices to be adjusted every three months to account for currency fluctuations.

In fiscal 2023, the Company realized a currency exchange gain of $32,000 compared to an exchange rate loss of $24,000 in fiscal 2022. The Company had a currency exchange loss of $60,000 in fiscal 2021.

The Company does not utilize any form of financial hedging or option instruments to limit its exposure to exchange rate or material price fluctuations and has no current intentions to engage in such activities in the future. Accordingly, material fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other currencies could have a material impact on the Company’s future results. As a result of the Company’s expansion into Myanmar, it will also be increasingly subject to the currency risks associated with the Myanmar Kyat (MMK), the official currency of that country.

Trend Information

As discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report, certain trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events had a material adverse effect, and could reasonably be expected in the future to materially adversely effect, the Company’s net revenues, income, profitability, liquidity or capital resources. Specifically, these trends consist of (i) the boom/bust cycle of purchase orders placed by certain of the Company’s customers because of post- COVID-19 swings in demand for their products due to pent-up demand and the resulting over-production of inventory, (ii) the decrease in orders from certain of the Company’s German customers for products manufactured at the Company’s Yangon, Myanmar, factory as a result of a new German law that prohibits the importation of products manufactured in Myanmar because of that country’s human rights record and policies, and (iii) the recent diplomatic strains and trade disputes between China and the U.S., which issues have caused certain European customers to gradually reduce their dependence on products manufactured in China. Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this Annual Report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events for the year ended March 31, 2023 that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our net revenues, income, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial conditions.

Recent issued accounting standards not yet adopted

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-08, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2021-08”). This ASU requires entities to apply Topic 606 to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities in a business combination. The amendments improve comparability after the business combination by providing consistent recognition and measurement guidance for revenue contracts with customers acquired in a business combination and revenue contracts with customers not acquired in a business combination. The standard will be effective for the Company beginning after December 15, 2023, and are applied prospectively to business combinations that occur after the effective date. The adoption of ASU 2021-08 is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statement presentation or disclosures.

In March 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-01, Leases (Topic 842): Common Control Arrangements that is intended to improve the guidance for applying Topic 842 to arrangements between entities under common control. This ASU requires all entities (that is, including public companies) to amortize leasehold improvements associated with common control leases over the useful life to the common control group. The standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been made available for issuance. If an entity adopts the amendments in an interim period, it must adopt them as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The adoption of ASU 2023-01 is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statement presentation or disclosures.

In March 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-02, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Tax Credit Structures Using the Proportional Amortization Method, that is intended to improve the accounting and disclosures for investments in tax credit structures. This ASU allows reporting entities to elect to account for qualifying tax equity investments using the proportional amortization method, regardless of the program giving rise to the related income tax credits. For public business entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for all entities in any interim period. The adoption of ASU 2023-02 is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statement presentation or disclosures.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to bad and doubtful debts. The Company bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that the Company believes are reasonable. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

The following critical accounting policies affect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements. For further discussion of our significant accounting policies, refer to Note 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of our consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue when our customer obtains control of promised goods or receives services provided in an amount that reflects the consideration which we expect to receive in exchange for those goods and services. To determine revenue recognition for the arrangements that we determine are within the scope of Topic 606, we perform the following five steps: (1) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

The revenue from contracts with customers is derived from product revenue principally from the sales of metal stamping and mechanical OEM and electric OEM products directly to other consumer electronics product manufacturers and from the provision of machinery maintenance services.

Product revenue recognition-point of time. The Company sells goods to its customers under sales contracts or by purchase orders. The Company has determined there is one performance obligation for each of the sales contracts and purchase orders. The performance obligations are considered to be met and revenue is recognized when the customer obtains control of the goods. Revenue is recognized at that point of time. The Company has two major goods delivery channels:

(1) Delivering goods to customers’ predetermined location; the Company has satisfied the contracts’ performance obligations when the goods have been delivered and relevant shipping documents have been collected by us; and

(2) Picking up goods by customers in our warehouse; the Company has satisfied the contracts’ performance obligations when the goods have been picked up and the acceptance document has been signed by the customers.

Service revenue recognition – over time. The Company also provides machinery maintenance services to customers, where revenue is recognized over time. The Company did not recognize any revenue from contracts with customers for performance obligations satisfied over time during the year ended March 31, 2021. The Company recognized certain revenue from contracts with customers for performance obligations satisfied over time, consisting principally of machinery maintenance service income, during the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2023.

Breakdown of revenue recognition by product line is as follows:

Breakdown of revenue recognition at a point of time / overtime is as follows:

The Company typically requests a deposit from certain customers upon receiving the purchase order and issue bills to customers upon transfer control of goods and relevant acceptance documents have been collected. Customers’ deposits would be settled part of the outstanding bill upon receiving an acknowledgement from customers. For the remaining balance of outstanding bills, Customers are required to pay over an agreed upon credit period, usually between 30 to 75 days. During fiscal 2022, the Company deviated from its customary credit terms and entered into a contractual deferred payment arrangement with a new significant customer. Under the agreement, the customer has provided the Company with collateral for the rolling credit facility. However, the Company has not been able to obtain a valuation of the collateral. Accordingly, no value was assigned to the collateral when assessing the provision level of this customer.

Return Rights. The Company does not provide its customers with the right of return (except for product quality issue) or production protection. Customer is required to perform product quality check before acceptance of goods delivery. We did not recognize for any refund liability according to the product return on the consolidated balance sheets.

Value-added taxes and surcharges. The Company presents revenue net of VAT and surcharges incurred. The surcharge is sales related taxes representing the City Maintenance and Construction Tax and Education Surtax. The Company incurs expenses or pays fees to external delivery service providers, respectively, and records such expenses and fees like shipping and handling expenses. Total VAT and surcharges paid by us during the years ended March 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023 amounted to $121,000, $133,000 and $106,000, respectively.

Principals vs. agent accounting. The Company records all product revenue on a gross basis. To determine whether we are agent or principal in the sale of products, we consider the following indicators: we are primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide the specified goods or services, is subject to inventory risks before the specified goods have been transferred to a customer or after transfer of control to the customers, and has discretion in establishing the price of the specified goods.

Disaggregation of revenue. The Company disaggregates its revenue from different types of contracts with customers by principal product categories, as it believes it best depicts the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of its revenue and cash flows. See note 22 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in Item 20 for product revenues by segment.

Contract balances. The Company did not recognize any contract asset as of March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023. The timing between the recognition of revenue and receipt of payment is not significant.

The Company’s contract liabilities consist of deposits received from customers. As of March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, the balances of the contract liabilities were $79,000 and nil, respectively, including deposits received from customers. All contract liabilities at the beginning of the year ended March 31, 2023 were recognized as revenue during the year ended March 31, 2023.

Impairment of goodwill

Goodwill is the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized but rather tested for impairment at least annually. The Company tests goodwill for impairment in March of each fiscal year. Goodwill is also tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would be more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying amount.

No impairment expenses were recognized during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 and 2023.

Provision for doubtful receivables

From April 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASC Topic 326”), which amends previously issued guidance regarding the impairment of financial instruments by creating an impairment model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses.

The Company’s accounts receivable, other current assets and loan receivables recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets are within the scope of ASC Topic 326. Accounts receivable primarily represent amounts due from customers, that are typically non-interest bearing and are initially recorded at the invoiced amount. Accounts receivable balances are written-down against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. Any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers is assessed in the same manner as on-balance sheet credit exposure.

To estimate expected credit losses, the Company has identified the relevant risk characteristics of its customers and the related receivables, other current assets and loan receivables which include size, type of the services or the products the Company provides, or a combination of these characteristics. Receivables with similar risk characteristics have been grouped into pools. For each pool, the Company considers the past collection experience, current economic conditions, future economic conditions (external data and macroeconomic factors) and changes in the Company’s customer collection trends. Other key factors that influence the expected credit loss analysis include customer demographics, payment terms offered in the normal course of business to customers, and industry-specific factors that could impact the Company’s receivables. Additionally, external data and macroeconomic factors are also considered. This is assessed at each quarter based on the Company’s specific facts and circumstances. No significant impact of changes in the assumptions since adoption. As of March 31, 2023, expected credit loss provision recorded in accounts receivable was $554,000 compared to $51,000 in fiscal 2022. The increase in the credit loss provision is primarily due to the amount owed to the Company by a customer first conducted business in fiscal year 2022. As of the date of this Annual Report, the customer has paid this accounts receivable.

Provision for uncollectible loan receivables

Loan receivables mainly represent the loans to a non-controlling interest and a director of a subsidiary in Myanmar. The loan periods granted by us to the staff amounts to 36 months and carries fixed interest rate of 8% per annum. The loan receivables principal and interest are expected to be repaid on the expected settlement date. The loan receivables are stated at the historical carrying amount net of allowance for uncollectible loan receivables. The loan receivables expected to be settled more than one year as of balance sheet date are classified into other long-term assets on the consolidated balance sheets. No impairment was made on the loan receivables for the years ended March 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Inventories written-down

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and realizable value, with cost determined by the first-in-first-out method. Work-in-progress and finished goods consist of raw materials, direct labor and overheads associated with the manufacturing process. Write-down of potential obsolete or slow-moving inventories is recorded based on management’s assumptions about future demands and market conditions.

Impairment or disposal of long-lived assets (other than goodwill)

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may no longer be recoverable. When these events occur, the Company measures impairment by comparing the carrying value of the long-lived assets to the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows and the eventual disposition. Management would estimate the future cash flow used to test the recoverability of the asset included the budgeted cash inflows less associated cash outflows, which are directly associated with the result of use. The estimation should exclude the interest charges which will be recognized as an expense when incurred. Management would consider all available evidence during the estimation process, to ensure the estimated budget would be the most possible outcomes. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cashflow were to be less than the carrying amount of the assets, the Company would recognize an impairment loss based on the fair value of the assets. Fair value is generally measured based on either quoted market prices, if available, or discounted cash flow analyses.

During the fiscal years ended 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company reviewed the long-lived assets for impairment, since there are several indicative events and factors identified, including (1) significant adverse changes in the business climate, including the possible negative impact of political unrest in Myanmar, (2) operating and/or cash flow losses in prior years, and (3) negative impact of business operations as a result of COVID-19 pandemic and new global human and environmental rights regulations pending or enacted. Management has compared the carrying value of the long-lived asset to the estimated undiscounted operating cash flow based on the above factors.

As a result of the comparison, management has identified the sum of expected undiscounted cashflow of multiple types of machinery and equipment are more likely than not above their carrying value. The Company did not recognize any impairment in fiscal 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Leases

The Company accounts for leases in accordance with ASC 842, Leases (“ASC 842”), which requires lessees to recognize leases on the balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The Company elected not to apply the recognition requirements of ASC 842 to short-term leases. The Company also elected not to separate non-lease components from lease components and, therefore, it will account for lease component and the non-lease components as a single lease component when there is only one vendor in the lease contract.

The Company determines if a contract contains a lease based on whether it has the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of an identified asset which the Company does not own and whether it has the right to direct the use of an identified asset in exchange for consideration. Right of use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets are recognized as the amount of the lease liability, adjusted for lease incentives received. Lease liabilities are recognized at the present value of the future lease payments at the lease commencement date. The interest rate used to determine the present value of the future lease payments is the Company’s incremental borrowing rate (“IBR”), because the interest rate implicit in most of the Company’s leases is not readily determinable.

The IBR is a hypothetical rate based on the Company’s understanding of what its credit rating would be to borrow and resulting interest the Company would pay to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment over the lease term on a collateralized basis. Lease payments may be fixed or variable, however, only fixed payments or in-substance fixed payments are included in the Company’s lease liability calculation.

Variable lease payments are recognized in operating expenses in the period in which the obligation for those payments are incurred.

No impairment of ROU assets was made as of March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022.

The operating lease is included in operating lease right-of-use assets, operating lease liabilities-current and operating lease liabilities-non-current in the consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022.

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees

Directors and Executive Officers

The Directors and executive officers of the Company as of July 12, 2023 are listed below.

The Directors hold office until their term has expired and they are re-elected at an annual meeting of shareholders. The Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that the Board of Directors is divided into three classes of directors with staggered terms of office. At each annual meeting of shareholders, the members of one class of directors will be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of shareholders after their election, and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. The next annual meeting of shareholders is currently scheduled to be held on August 21, 2023. At that meeting, the terms of one class of directors (consisting of Dirk Hermann) will expire, and nominees for that class will be nominated elected to hold office for a three-year term expiring at the 2026 annual meeting.

As a foreign private issuer organized under the law of the British Virgin Islands, the Company may follow its home company practice in lieu of NASDAQ’s Marketplace Rule 5605(b)(1) requiring the independence of a majority of our directors. During the year ended March 31, 2023 and continuing to date, the composition of the Board of Director has consisted of a majority of directors deemed “independent” under that Rule.

Roland W. Kohl. Mr. Kohl was the founder of the Company and has been its Chief Executive Officer since its inception in 1990. He has been a Director of the Company since March 1, 1995. He has overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. Prior to forming the Company, Mr. Kohl was the Managing Director of Dialbright Company Limited, a camera manufacturer located in China. Mr. Kohl received a degree in mechanical engineering and has over thirty years’ experience in managing factories and manufacturing operations in China. Mr. Kohl is a German national and resides in Hong Kong.

Ringo Tsang. Mr. Tsang was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer in November 2017. Mr. Tsang joined the Company in March 2009 as a Production Engineer and was promoted to Chief Technology Officer in 2010. Since becoming Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Tsang has been in charge of the Company’s engineering department, its tool shop, its Computer Numerical Control (CNC) tooling system, and its automation and information technologies. Mr. Tsang has a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, and a Master’s Degree in each of Business Administration, Information Systems, and Professional Accounting.

Alan Chan. Mr. Chan was appointed as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Secretary in September 2010. From June 2009 until he joined the Company, Mr. Chan served as chief financial officer for a joint venture in China with Laureate Education Group. He previously served as vice president and chief financial officer for DeCoro, an Italian sofa manufacturer with two facilities in Shenzhen, and as financial controller for San Miguel Shunde Brewery Co. Ltd., a foreign joint venture engaged in the manufacturing and sale of beer products for China and overseas markets. He also served as financial controller for Hua Yang Printing Holdings Co. Ltd., a manufacturer of children’s paper products. Mr. Chan began his professional career as an accountant with Nelson Wheeler, an Australian CPA firm, and subsequently with PricewaterhouseCoopers – formerly Coopers and Lybrand. Mr. Chan earned a Master of Arts degree in accounting from Curtin University in Australia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Lancaster in the United Kingdom.

Tiko Aharonov. Mr. Aharonov has been a Director of the Company since its inception in 1990 and was a General Manager of the Company’s former camera operations from 1998 to 2004. Until the closing of the Company’s Bulgarian facility in 2004, Mr. Aharonov acted as the General Manager of the Bulgarian operations. He was a bank manager for a leading Israeli commercial and retail bank from 1969 to 1989 and has operated his own real estate and investment company for high net worth individuals desiring to invest in real estate in Israel. Mr. Aharonov also represents investors in real estate in Bulgaria.

Irene Wong Ping Yim. Ms. Wong was elected to the Board of Directors in July 2005. For over ten years, Ms Wong was the Chief Accountant of CNIM Hong Kong Ltd. From 1994 to 2001, she was the Accounting Manager of Highway Holdings. Ms. Wong graduated from Deakin University with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. She is currently a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant and a member of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Heiko Sonnekalb. Mr. Sonnekalb was appointed to the Board of Directors on April 1, 2020. Mr. Sonnekalb currently serves as the chief executive officer of Dr. Arnold Schaefer GmbH, a German holding company, Lakal GmbH, a German manufacturer of shutter blinds, and Bartz Werke GmbH, a German casting foundry and heat and pipe technology company. In addition, he serves as a member of the supervisory board of Germany-based Herwick AG and Stadtwerke Voelklingen Vertrieb GmbH. Mr. Sonnekalb also is a committee member of both the IHK Saarland Industrial Research and Foreign Trade Committee and the DIHK Berlin Industrial Research and Foreign Trade Committee. He also serves as a judge on the labor court in Saarbruecken, Germany. Mr. Sonnekalb received a degree in Business Administration from the University of Fulda, Germany, in 1997.

Dirk Hermann, Ph.D. Dr. Hermann was appointed to the Board of Directors on April 1, 2020. Dr. Hermann previously served as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors from January 2003 until August 2010. Dr. Hermann currently serves as chief executive officer of Saarland Feuerversicherung AG, a German insurance company. He joined Versicherungskammer Bayern in 2012, parent company of Saarland Insurance Group. Prior thereto, he held a variety of positions with Allianz Versicherungen AG, including a tenure as a member of the management board. Dr. Hermann currently also serves on the board of two German banks, Landesbank Saar and Sparkassenverband, and on the board the Consal Insurance Group. Dr. Hermann graduated from the University of Konstanz in Germany with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. He earned a Ph.D. degree in business administration from the University of Leipzig, in Germany.

Dr. Hermann is the brother-in-law of Roland Kohl, the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Other than Mr. Hermann’s relationship with Mr. Kohl, there are no other family relationships between any of the above-named officers, directors or employees. To the Company’s knowledge, no arrangement or understanding exists between any such director and executive officer and any major shareholder, customer, supplier or other party pursuant to which any director or executive officer was elected as a director or executive officer of the Company.

Compensation of Directors and Officers

The aggregate amount of compensation (including non-cash benefits, but excluding equity compensation) paid by the Company and its subsidiaries during the year ended on March 31, 2023 to directors on the Company’s Board of Directors and officers as a group (ten people, including directors who have resigned), for services rendered to the Company and its subsidiaries in all capacities was approximately $877,000, excluding amounts paid by the Company as dividends to directors and executive officers in their capacity as shareholders of the Company.

Mr. Kohl is employed pursuant to an employment agreement that can only be terminated by the Company, other than for cause or in the case of Mr. Kohl’s incapacity, by paying Mr. Kohl a severance payment equal to three times his annual base salary. However, since April 2019 under the employment agreement Mr. Kohl’s base salary will be reduced by one-half from his initial base salary following any fiscal quarter in which the Company has a net quarterly loss, which salary reduction will remain in effect until the Company has net income in any subsequent quarter. Accordingly, in the event that the Company has a quarterly loss, Mr. Kohl’s annual base salary for the following quarter will be reduced by one-half. The forfeited salary will not be recouped if/when the Company has a profitable fiscal quarter. Two of the Company’s other senior managers have also agreed to voluntarily reduce their base salaries by 50% in the same manner as Mr. Kohl.

Mr. Kohl, and the four other senior managers of the Company, are entitled to receive cash payments equal to three times their annual salary in the event of a change of control of the Company without the approval of the Board of Directors.

On May 13, 2023, Mr. Kohl was granted 300,000 shares of restricted stock under the Company’s 2020 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan. The restricted stock award granted to Mr. Kohl is subject to vesting in tranches upon the Company’s achievement of certain strategic transactions within five years from the date the shares were granted, and any shares not vested by the five-year anniversary of the date of grant or upon termination of Mr. Kohl’s employment with the Company shall be forfeited and reconveyed to the Company. The restricted shares vest in three (3) tranches, with 100,000 of the shares vesting in two tranches, and all of the unvested shares vesting in one tranche. Each tranche vests upon completion of a certain milestone by the Company relating to the consummation by the Company or its subsidiaries of certain strategic transactions within five (5) years from the date of grant. The independent members of the Board shall have the final determination as to whether the Company has achieved any of the share release milestones.

During the past fiscal year, the Company paid each of the non-executive directors an annual director’s fee of $12,000 and reimbursed them for their reasonable expenses incurred in connection with their services as directors. In addition, the Chairman of any committee is paid an additional fee of $2,000 per year, and the members of a committee are paid an additional fee of $2,000 per year for each committee on which they serve.

Board Practices

Directors of the Company are elected at the Company’s annual meeting of shareholders and serve until their successors take office, or until their death, resignation or removal. The Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide for the classification of our Board of Directors into three classes of directors with staggered terms of office. At each annual meeting, one class of directors will be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of shareholders after their election and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified (i.e. directors will be elected for three year terms).

The Company generally holds its annual meeting of shareholders within 90 days after the filing of its Annual Report on Form 20-F with the Commission. Executive officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of the Company. As of the date of this Annual Report, there are no agreements with any of the Directors that would provide the Directors with any benefits upon termination of employment. However, in the event of a change of control without the approval of the Board of Directors, Mr. Kohl, and the four other senior managers of the Company, are entitled to receive cash payments equal to three times their annual salary.

Audit Committee. During fiscal 2023, the members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors were Irene Wong Ping Yim, Heiko Sonnekalb, and Tiko Aharonov. The Audit Committee reviews, acts on and reports to the Board of Directors on various auditing and accounting matters, including the selection of the Company’s auditors, the scope of the annual audits, fees to be paid to the auditors, the performance of the independent auditors, any additional services to be provided by the auditors, and the Company’s accounting practices. Each of these individuals is a non-employee director and is independent as defined under the Nasdaq Stock Market’s listing standards, and each has significant knowledge of financial matters (one of the members has an advanced degree in business administration). Ms. Wong has been designated by the Board as the “audit committee financial expert” as defined under Item 401(h)(2) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Audit Committee met three times during fiscal 2023. The Audit Committee operates under a formal charter that governs its duties and conduct.

Compensation Committee. During the past fiscal year, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors consisted of Uri Bernhard Oppenheimer until his resignation on August 29, 2022, Tiko Aharonov, George Leung Wing Chan until his resignation on September 1, 2022 and Kevin Yang Kuang Yu until his resignation on August 29, 2022. Since the resignations of George Leung Wing Chan and Kevin Yang Kuang Yu, the Compensation Committee has consisted of Tiko Aharonov, Irene Wong Ping Yim and Heiko Sonnekalb. The Compensation Committee administers the Company’s 2020 Stock Option And Restricted Stock Plan and establishes the salaries and incentive compensation of the executive officers of the Company.

The Board of Directors does not have a separate Nominating Committee. Nominees for the election to the Board are selected and nominated by the independent directors (there currently are five directors, three of whom are independent). The Board of Directors has not established any specific minimum qualifications for director candidates or any specific qualities or skills that a candidate must possess in order to be considered qualified to be nominated as a director. Qualifications for consideration as a director nominee may vary according to the particular areas of expertise being sought as a complement to the existing board composition. In making its nominations, the independent members of the Board of Directors generally will consider, among other things, an individual’s business experience, industry experience, financial background, breadth of knowledge about issues affecting our company, time available for meetings and consultation regarding company matters and other particular skills and experience possessed by the individual.

Option and Restricted Stock Plans

2010 Stock Option And Restricted Stock Plan. On June 26, 2010, the Company adopted the 2010 Stock Option And Restricted Stock Plan (the “2010 Option Plan”) that covered 600,000 shares of the Common Shares. The Option Plan provided for the grant of options to purchase Common Shares to employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company and for the grant of shares of restricted stock. The 2010 Option Plan expired on June 26, 2020. On the date that the 2010 Option Plan expired, awards for all 600,000 shares available for grant under the 2010 Stock Option Plan had been granted, and no additional shares were available for grant under the 2010 Option Plan.

2020 Stock Option And Restricted Stock Plan. Because the 2010 Option Plan was about to expire, on June 20, 2020, the Company adopted the 2020 Stock Option And Restricted Stock Plan (the “2020 Option Plan”). Under the 2020 Option Plan, the Company is authorized to grant options, and to issue restricted shares, for a total of 500,000 shares. In addition, the Board of Directors has approved an increase in the number of options and restricted shares authorized for grant under the 2020 Option Plan by 500,000 shares, such increase subject to approval by the Company’s shareholders at its next annual meeting of shareholders. To date, no options have been granted under the 2020 Option Plan. However, the Company has issued 15,000 shares of restricted stock to three consultants based in Germany, and 300,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Kohl. The 2020 Option Plan became effective upon the approval of the plan by the shareholders at the Company’s October 8, 2020 annual meeting of shareholders.

Employees

As of July 11, 2023, the Company had a total of 170 persons who were working on a full-time basis for the Company. All of the Company’s employees are employed by the Company’s various subsidiaries. Of the foregoing workers and employees, 65 were engaged in the administration of the Company (including marketing, purchasing, personal, bookkeeping, import/export, material control, shipping, security), engineering, design and development, tool and fixture production, and the balance, 105 employees, were engaged in manufacturing, quality assurance, warehousing and other supporting functions.

Kayser Myanmar, the Myanmar based company in which the Company currently owns an 84% stake, employed a total of approximately 90 employees as of July 11, 2023.

The number of workers employed by the Company fluctuates largely due to the availability of workers and the time of year, and the Company occasionally experiences temporary shortages of workers. From time to time, the availability of workers has been adversely affected because of the high demand for such workers in Shenzhen due to transportation difficulties in bringing workers to Shenzhen, and due to seasonal demands on labor such as harvesting when the mainly rural-based laborers are required to return to their village. In addition, most workers are unavailable during the traditional Chinese holidays, including the Chinese New Year’s holiday. Due to these factors, the Company experiences high turnover of employees annually.

Since January 1, 2008, Chinese workers are allowed to join an official trade union. However, to the Company’s knowledge, none of the Company’s employees have joined labor unions or become a party to a collective bargaining agreement. Employers in China are required to conclude an “open-ended employment contract” with any employee who either has worked for the employer for 10 years or more or has had two consecutive fixed-term contracts. An “open-ended employment contract” is in effect a lifetime, permanent contract, which is terminable only in specified circumstances, such as a material breach of the employer’s rules and regulations, or for a serious dereliction of duty. Under the new law, reducing the Company’s workforce by 20% or more may occur only under specified circumstances. All of these new labor provisions have significantly increased the Company’s cost of labor and have restricted certain of the Company’s operating procedures.

The Company believes that its relations with its administrative employees in Hong Kong and with its managers and technicians in China are good.

Myanmar has adopted comprehensive labor laws that now allow employees to unionize. However, none of the employees currently employed at the Myanmar facility belong to a union. Similar to China, many of the workers at the Company’s Myanmar facility are seasonal workers who frequently change jobs. As a result, Kayser Myanmar typically only has a short-term relationship with these employees.

Share Ownership

The share ownership of the Company’s officers and directors is listed under Item 7 of this Annual Report.

Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

Major Shareholders. The Company is not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by any other corporation or any foreign government. The following table sets forth, as of July 12, 2023, certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Shares by each person (i) who is an executive officer or director of the Company, (ii) known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding Common Shares outstanding as of such date, and (iii) the officers and directors of the Company as a group.

To the Company’s knowledge, none of the Company’s shareholders resides in the British Virgin Islands. As of July 12, 2023, the Company had 57 record holders, of whom 23 were residents of the United States. To the Company’s knowledge, foreign record holders own 917,214 Common Shares, although a number of the Company’s officers, directors and other foreign shareholders also own shares in streetname. To the Company’s knowledge 1,661,797 of its Common Shares are owned by non-U.S. persons. Based on the Company’s records of shares owned by its officers, by its record holders, and by other foreign holders who hold their shares in street name, the Company estimates that at least 37.6% of the Company’s outstanding shares are owned by non-U.S. shareholders. Roland Kohl was granted 300,000 shares of restricted stock on May 13, 2023, which increased the number of shares he beneficially owns from 674,067 shares to 974,067 shares. Other than the increase in Mr. Kohl’s holdings, to the Company’s knowledge there have been no significant changes in the percentage ownership held by any major shareholders during the past three years, and there are no arrangements known to the Company, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the Company. All holders of the Common Shares have the same voting rights.

Related Party Transactions.

The Company did not engage in any related party transactions during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. However, as described elsewhere in this Annual Report, on March 29, 2019 Kayser Myanmar, the Company’s 84% owned Myanmar subsidiary, entered into a 50-year lease with Konig Company Limited (“Konig Company”), a Myanmar company. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries owns an equity interest in Konig Company, and Konig Company owns no shares of the Company. Furthermore, none of Konig Company’s principals is an officer or director of the Company, nor are any of the Company’s officers or directors affiliated with Konig Company. Accordingly, the Company does not believe that Konig Company is a related party. However, Konig Company is owned by two Myanmar citizens, one of whom is currently s a manager and a shareholder of Kayser Myanmar (he owns a 16% interest in Kayser Myanmar). These two principals of Konig Company also collectively own 15,000 shares of the Company’s restricted stock. All discussions regarding the lease and the other arrangements between the Company and Kayser Myanmar were conducted on behalf of the Company and Kayser Myanmar by officers of the Company, and the two principals of Konig Company represented Konig Company in those interactions.

Item 8. Financial Information.

The Company has included consolidated financial statements as part of this annual report.

The Company has not experienced any significant changes since the date of our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.

The Company pays a cash dividend to the holders of its Common Shares at the discretion of the Board, subject to the Company’s profitability and cash position. The Company declared two dividend payments during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 (the Company’s Board declared a dividend of $0.15 per share dividend that was paid on October 7, 2022, a $0.05 per share dividend that was paid on January 5, 2023).

Dividends are declared and paid at the discretion of the Board of Directors and depend upon, among other things, the Company’s results of operations, the anticipated future earnings of the Company, the success of the Company’s business activities, the Company’s capital requirements, and the general financial conditions of the Company. Furthermore, since the payment of dividends is at the discretion of the Board, no assurance can be given that the Company will pay any dividends in the future even if the Company has a profitable year or is otherwise capable of doing so.

The Company may occasionally become subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of its business. However, the Company is not currently subject to any pending legal proceedings that involve amounts that are material to the Company’s financial condition.

Item 9. The Offer and Listing

The Company’s Common Shares are currently traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “HIHO” and are not listed for trading in any trading market outside the United States. On July 12, 2023, the last reported sale price of our Common Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $2.365 per share. As of July 12, 2023, there were 57 holders of record of the Company’s Common Shares. However, the Company believes that there are a significantly greater number of “street name” shareholders of the Common Shares.

No disclosure is required in response to this Item.

Our Common Shares have been listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market during the past six years, under the symbol “HIHO.”

No disclosure is required in response to this Item.

No disclosure is required in response to this Item.

No disclosure is required in response to this Item.

Item 10. Additional Information

Share Capital

The Company’s authorized capital consists of 20,020,000 shares, of which 20,000,000 are Common Shares, $0.01 par value per share, and 20,000 are shares of Series A Preferred Shares, $0.01 par value per share. As of March 31, 2023 and July 12, 2023, there were 4,086,825 and 4,416,825 Common Shares outstanding respectively; no shares of the Series A Preferred Shares were outstanding. As of March 31, 2023 and July 12, 2023, options to purchase 225,000 and 195,000 Common Shares were outstanding respectively.

On May 11, 2018, the Company filed with the Registrar of Corporate Affairs of the British Virgin Islands the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company setting forth, among other things, the rights and preferences of the Series A Preferred Shares. A description of the rights and preferences of the Series A Preferred Shares is set forth below in “Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association.”

There have been no other events in the last three years that have changed the amount, the number of classes, or voting rights, of the Company’s issued capital.

Amended and Restated Memorandum And Articles Of Association

The following represents a summary of certain key provisions of the Company’s amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. The summary does not purport to be a summary of all of the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association and of all relevant provisions of BVI law governing the management and regulation of BVI companies.

Highway Holdings Limited is registered at Harneys Corporate Services Limited, Craigmuir Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, VG 1110, British Virgin Islands and has been assigned company number 32576. The objectives or purposes of the Company are to engage in any act or activity that is not prohibited under British Virgin Islands law as set forth in Clause 4 of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company (the “Memorandum and Articles”). The Company’s Memorandum and Articles are the instruments governing the Company. These documents are comparable in purpose and effect to certificates or articles of incorporation and bylaws of corporations organized in a state of the United States. The Company does not believe that there are any restrictions in its charter or under British Virgin Island law that materially limit the Company’s current or proposed operations.

Common Shares: The Company has authorized 20,000,000 Common Shares with par value of $0.01 each. Holders of our Common Shares are entitled to one vote for each whole share on all matters to be voted upon by members, including the election of directors. Holders of our Common Shares do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. All of our Common Shares are equal to each other with respect to liquidation and dividend rights. Holders of our Common Shares are entitled to receive dividends if and when declared by our Board of Directors out of surplus in accordance with British Virgin Islands law. In the event of our liquidation, all assets available for distribution to the holders of our Common Shares are distributable among them according to their respective holdings. Holders of our Common Shares have no preemptive rights to purchase any additional, unissued Common Shares.

Series A Preferred Shares: Each Series A Preferred Share will be entitled, when, as and if declared, to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment of the greater of (a) $10.00 per share, and (b) an amount (subject to certain adjustments) equal to 1,000 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares will be entitled to a minimum preferential payment of the greater of (a) $10.00 per share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends), and (b) an amount equal to 1,000 times the payment made per Common Share. Each Series A Preferred Share will (subject to certain adjustments) have 1,000 votes, voting together with the Common Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which outstanding Common Shares are converted or exchanged, each Series A Preferred Share will be entitled to receive 1,000 times the amount received per Common Shares. These rights are protected by customary anti-dilution provisions.

Rights Agreement: On April 28, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding Common Share. The Rights will also attach to Common Shares issued in the future. Each Right initially entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a Series A Preferred Share, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company at a price of $10.00 per one one-thousandth of a Series A Preferred Share (the “Purchase Price”), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of May 8, 2018, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”).

Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has become an Acquiring Person (as defined below) or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors of the Company prior to such time as any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or public announcement of an intention to make, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becoming an Acquiring Person (the earlier of such dates being called the “Distribution Date”), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to certificates representing Common Shares (or book entry Common Shares) outstanding as of the Record Date, by such certificates (or such book entry shares) together with a copy of a Summary of the Rights (the “Summary of Rights”). Except in certain situations, a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an “Acquiring Person” upon acquiring beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares. No such person or group having beneficial ownership of 15% or more of such outstanding shares at the time of the first announcement of adoption of the rights plan reflected in the Rights Agreement will be deemed an Acquiring Person until such time as such person or group becomes the beneficial owner of additional Common Shares (other than by reason of a stock dividend, stock split or other corporate action effected by the Company in which all holders of Common Shares are treated equally).

The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with, and only with, the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuances of Common Shares will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Shares (or book entry Common Shares) outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of the Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented thereby. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights (“Right Certificates”) will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will expire on May 8, 2028 (the “Final Expiration Date”), unless the Final Expiration Date is extended or the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below.

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Series A Preferred Shares or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights is subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Series A Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Series A Preferred Shares of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Series A Preferred Shares at a price, or securities convertible into Series A Preferred Shares with a conversion price, less than the then-current market price of the Series A Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Series A Preferred Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in Series A Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

Because of the nature of the Series A Preferred Shares’ dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-thousandth interest in a Series A Preferred Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one Common Share.

In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon become void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right that number of Common Shares having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.

In the event that, after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold, proper provisions will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person which will have become void) will thereafter have the right to receive upon the exercise of a Right that number of shares of common stock of the person with whom the Company has engaged in the foregoing transaction (or its parent) that at the time of such transaction have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.

At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the earlier of one of the events described in the previous paragraph or the acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person which will have become void), in whole or in part, for Common Shares or Series A Preferred Shares (or a series of the Company’s preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), at an exchange ratio of one Common Share, or a fractional Series A Preferred Share (or other preferred stock) equivalent in value thereto, per Right.

With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional Series A Preferred Shares or Common Shares will be issued (other than fractions of Series A Preferred Shares which are integral multiples of one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred Shares, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), and in lieu thereof an adjustment in cash will be made based on the current market price of the Series A Preferred Shares or the Common Shares.

At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.01 per Right (the “Redemption Price”) payable, at the option of the Company, in cash, Common Shares or such other form of consideration as the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine. The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors of the Company in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.

For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may, except with respect to the Redemption Price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner. After the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, except with respect to the Redemption Price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner that does not adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights.

Until a Right is exercised or exchanged, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.

The Rights Agreement, which includes the form of Rights Certificate as Exhibit A and the Summary of Preferred Share Purchase Rights as Exhibit B, and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association setting forth the terms of the Series A Preferred Shares are attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1 and 2.1, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing descriptions of the Rights and the material terms of the Rights Agreement and the Series A Preferred Shares do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to such Exhibits.

Other: The Memorandum and Articles also contain the following other provisions affecting the management of the Company and the rights of the shareholders.

The Company’s Board of Directors is divided into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as is possible, of one-third of the number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors. At each annual meeting of shareholders, the successors to the class of directors whose terms expire at that meeting will be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of shareholders after their election and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified (i.e. directors will be elected for three year terms).

Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shareholders at a duly convened and constituted meeting of the shareholders. As a result, candidates receiving the highest number of affirmative votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, are elected.

Any action required or permitted to be taken by the shareholders of the Company must be effected at a duly called meeting of the shareholders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by the shareholders.

The directors may convene meetings of the members of the Company at such times and in such manner and places as the directors consider necessary or desirable, and they shall convene such a meeting upon the written request of members holding 25 percent or more of the outstanding voting shares in the Company. Shareholders may nominate directors for election at an annual meeting of shareholders. To nominate a director, the shareholder must provide the information required by the Memorandum and Articles (such as the nominee’s name and qualifications for membership on the Board of Directors) and must give timely notice to our Secretary in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles. An annual meeting of members is held for the election of directors of the Company and in the manner provided in the Memorandum and Articles. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting. If the annual meeting for election of directors is not held on the date designated therefore, the directors shall cause the meeting to be held as soon thereafter as convenient. If the Company fails to hold the annual meeting for a period of 30 days after the date designated for the annual meeting, or if no date has been designated for a period of 13 months after the Company’s last annual meeting, a court of competent jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands may summarily order a meeting to be held upon the application of any member or director.

A meeting of the shareholders can be called only by the Company’s Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Shareholders may not convene a meeting of the shareholders. Any meetings of the shareholders shall be held at such times and in such manner and places within or outside the British Virgin Islands as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the Company’s chief executive officer (as applicable) considers necessary or desirable.

A director may be removed from office only with cause (i) by the Board of Directors, or (ii) by a resolution of the shareholders holding at least 66.66% of the votes of the shares entitled to vote passed at a meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of removing the director.

The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class may only be varied, whether or not the Company is in liquidation in the case of Series A Preferred Shares, with the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares, voting together as a single series, and otherwise with the consent of the holders of a majority of the issued shares of that class or by a resolution approved at a duly convened and constituted meeting of the shares of that class by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes of the shares of that class which were present at the meeting and were voted.

The Company’s Board of Directors without shareholder approval may amend the Memorandum and Articles. This includes amendments to increase or reduce our authorized capital stock. The Company’s ability to amend its Memorandum and Articles without shareholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of the Company, including a tender offer to purchase our Common Shares at a premium over the then current market price.

BVI law does not make a specific reference to cumulative voting, and Memorandum and Articles have no provision authorizing cumulative voting.

The Company may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire and hold its own shares, provided that no purchase, redemption or other acquisition shall be made unless, immediately after the purchase, redemption or other acquisition the value of the Company’s assets will exceed its liabilities and the Company will be able to pay its debts as they fall due.

The directors are entitled to vote compensation to themselves in respect of services rendered to the Company.

There is no provision in the Memorandum and Articles for the mandatory retirement of directors. Directors are not required to own shares of the Company in order to serve as directors.

Under BVI law and the Memorandum and Articles, the Company may indemnify against all expenses, including legal fees, and against all judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and reasonably incurred in connection with legal, administrative or investigative proceedings any person who is or was a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director of the Company or is or was, at the request of the Company, serving as a director of, or in any other capacity is or was acting for, another body corporate or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.

To be entitled to indemnification, these persons must have acted honestly and in good faith and in what he believes to be the best interest of the Company, and they must have had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. Furthermore, such a person must be indemnified by the Company if he has been successful in the defense of any proceedings.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Material Contracts

Other than the leases described in the Property, Plant and Equipment section of Item 4 “Information on the Company” and filed as exhibits to the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, all other material contracts to which the Company or any member of the group is a party that were entered into during the two years immediately preceding the filing of this Annual Report were entered into in the ordinary course of business.

Exchange Controls

There are no exchange control restrictions on payment of dividends on the Company’s Common Shares or on the conduct of the Company’s operations either in Hong Kong, where the Company’s administrative offices are located, or the British Virgin Islands, where Highway Holdings is incorporated. There are no restrictions or limitations imposed by the Hong Kong government on the transfer of capital within, into and out of Hong Kong (including funds from Hong Kong to the PRC or Myanmar). Other jurisdictions in which the Company conducts operations may have various exchange controls.

Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payment of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, although it has not yet done so, Nissin PRC could pay us dividends in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE. Approval from, or registration with, appropriate government authorities is, however, required where the RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations.

The PRC and Myanmar have currency and capital transfer regulations that require us to comply with certain requirements for the movement of capital. We are able to transfer funds to our PRC and Myanmar subsidiaries through an investment (by increasing registered capital in the PRC or Myanmar subsidiary) and through inter-company loans. To date, we have not transferred any earnings from our China or Myanmar subsidiaries to us. Rather, our China and Myanmar subsidiaries have used their profits to either repay our intercompany debts or to further develop their respective businesses. Our Hong Kong subsidiaries have generated the substantial portion of our available cash from their international sales operations.

Taxation

No reciprocal tax treaty regarding withholding tax exists between the U.S. and the British Virgin Islands. Under current British Virgin Islands law, dividends, interest or royalties paid by the Company to individuals and gains realized on the sale or disposition of shares are not subject to tax as long as the recipient is not a resident of the British Virgin Islands. The Company is not obligated to withhold any tax for payments of dividends and shareholders receive gross dividends irrespective of their residential or national status.

Under current Hong Kong tax law, dividends, interest or royalties paid by the Company to individuals and gains realized on the sale or disposition of shares are not subject to tax.

Highway Holdings is a holding company incorporated in the BVI that owns all of the equity interests of Nissin Precision Metal Manufacturing Limited (“Nissin Precision”). Nissin Precision is a Hong Kong company and the owner of 100% of the equity interests of Nissin PRC, the Company’s PRC operating subsidiary. The PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law and its implementation rules, provide that a PRC enterprise is subject to a standard income tax rate of 25% and China-sourced income of foreign enterprises, such as dividends paid by a PRC subsidiary to its overseas parent, will normally be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of 10%, unless there are applicable treaties between the overseas parent’s jurisdiction of incorporation and China to reduce such rate. However, the dividend withholding tax rate is reduced to 5% if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns more than 25% of the equity of the PRC company distributing the dividends. As a result, any dividends that Nissin PRC pays to Nissin Precision may be subject to a withholding tax at the rate of 5% if Nissin Precision is not considered to be a PRC “resident enterprise”. However, if Nissin Precision is not considered to be the “beneficial owner” of such dividends, such dividends would be subject to the withholding tax rate of 10%. Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with “de facto management bodies” within the PRC is considered a resident enterprise and will normally be subject to the enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on its global income. If the PRC tax authorities determine that Highway Holdings or Nissin Precision should be classified as a PRC resident enterprise, then such entity’s global income will be subject to PRC income tax at a tax rate of 25%.

Under the U.S. federal income tax law, cash dividends paid to an individual United States citizen or resident alien of the United States (as specifically defined for United States federal income tax purposes) with respect to our Common Shares generally will be taxed as dividend income to the extent such distribution does not exceed the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as calculated for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Cash dividends made with respect of the Company’s Common Shares that are made in the United States or by a United States related financial intermediary will be subject to United States information reporting rules. In addition, such payments may be subject to United States federal backup withholding tax. U.S. shareholders will not be subject to backup withholding provided that the shareholder provides his/her correct United States federal taxpayer identification number and certifies, under penalties of perjury, that he/she is not subject to backup withholding. Amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be credited against the U.S. shareholder’s United States federal income tax, and such shareholder may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS in a timely manner.

Dividends and Paying Agents

The Company has, during the past few years, periodically made dividend payments to its shareholders. Dividends are declared and paid at the discretion of the Board of Directors and depend upon, among other things, the Company’s results of operations, the anticipated future earnings of the Company, the success of the Company’s business activities, the Company’s capital requirements, and the general financial conditions of the Company. The Company is a British Virgin Islands company. British Virgin Islands law prescribes that a company may only pay dividends out of its profits or share premium, and that a company may only pay dividends if, immediately following the date on which the dividend is paid, the value of the company’s assets will exceed its liabilities and the company remains able to pay its debts as they come due in the ordinary course of business. The Company has not set a date on which annual, or other, dividends are paid. The declaration and payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors based on many factors, including but not limited to the Company’s financial conditions, its available cash resources, earnings, capital requirements of its businesses, and other factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that dividends in the future will be equal or similar in amount to the amounts declared and paid in the past or that the Board of Directors will not decide to suspend or discontinue the payment of cash dividends in the future. To date, the Company has used its transfer agent, Computershare, at C/O: Shareholder Services, 150 Royall Street, Suite 101, Canton, MA 02021 U.S.A., as its dividend paying agent.

Statement by Experts

No disclosure is required in response to this Item.

Documents On Display

The documents concerning the Company that are referred to in this Annual Report may be inspected by shareholders of this Company at the offices of this Company in Hong Kong.

The Company is subject to the information requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, and, in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company files annual reports on Form 20-F and submit other reports and information under cover of Form 6-K with the SEC. Recent filings and reports are also available free of charge though the EDGAR electronic filing system at www.sec.gov. As a foreign private issuer, the Company is exempt from the rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders.

Subsidiary Information

No disclosure is required in response to this Item.

Annual Report to Security Holders

Not applicable.

Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

The Company sells most of its products in U.S. dollars, Hong Kong dollars, and in Euros. Because the exchange rate between the Euro, the U.S. dollar and Hong Kong dollars fluctuate, the Company experiences currency exchange gains and losses. Although the exchange rate between the U.S. and Hong Kong dollar has fluctuated slightly, such fluctuations have not had a material impact on the Company.

The Company conducts all of its manufacturing and assembly operations through its PRC operating subsidiary and through its majority-owned Myanmar subsidiary. The financial performance and position of the PRC subsidiary are measured in terms of Renminbi, and all of the operations of the Myanmar subsidiary are denominated in Kyat. All of the Company’s costs of manufacturing in the PRC, including its labor costs, are incurred, and paid, in Renminbi, and all costs in Myanmar are paid in Kyat. Any appreciation in the value of the renminbi or Kyat against the U.S. dollar would consequently have an adverse effect on the Company’s operating costs and on its financial performance when measured in terms of U.S. dollars.

The Company has not engaged in currency hedging transactions to offset the risks associated with variations in currency exchange rates. Consequently, significant foreign currency fluctuations and other foreign exchange risks may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. The Company does not currently own any market risk sensitive instruments. The Company does not hedge its currency exchange risks and, therefore, will continue to experience certain gains or losses due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company has, however, attempted to limit its currency exchange rate exposure by (i) requesting that more of the payments made by its clients be paid in U.S. dollars, and (ii) including in certain of its OEM contracts a contractual provision that adjusts the payments the Company receives if the currency exchange rate changes significantly.

The Company’s exposure to interest-rate risk primarily relates to the interest rates on its outstanding debt compared to the interest income it generates on its excess cash. The Company maintains its excess cash in short-term interest-bearing deposits (that are subject to interest rate fluctuations). The Company had no long-term borrowings that are subject to interest rate changes as of March 31, 2023. Because the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $6,952,000 available as of March 31, 2023, and no interest-bearing indebtedness, the Company believes that its interest rate risk is acceptable.

Inflation in China has not materially affected our results of operations. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the year-over-year percent changes in the consumer price index for 2020, 2021 and 2022 increased 2.6%, 1.5%, and 2.0%, respectively. Inflation in the PRC has modestly increased the Company’s cost of operations at its manufacturing facility in the PRC. Continued increase in inflation could have an adverse effect the Company’s costs and margins in the PRC. Inflation on a year-over-year basis in Myanmar has been 16.23% in 2022, 3.64% in 2021 and 5.73% in 2020. Although the inflation rate in Myanmar has increased the Company’s cost of labor in Myanmar, those increases have to date been offset by the continued weaking of the Kyat.

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 Modification to the Rights of Securities Holders and Use of Proceeds.

The Company is a British Virgin Islands company. In the British Virgin Islands, a company’s charter documents that are comparable to a U.S.-domestic corporation’s articles or certificate of incorporation and bylaws are called Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association. On May 11, 2018, the Company filed its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association with the British Virgin Islands Registrar of Corporate Affairs. A copy of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association as filed with the Registrar of Corporate Affairs of the British Virgin Islands is attached hereto as Exhibit 1.5. The principal changes that the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association made to our Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended, include the following:

A. The Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association amended and restated certain provisions of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association. For a description of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, see “Item 10. Additional Information--Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association,” above. The Amended and Restated Memorandum did not change the terms of the Common Shares as in effect as of the date of the amendment.

B. The Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association authorized a new class of securities titled “Series A Preferred Shares.” No Series A Preferred Shares have been issued, and none are outstanding. In connection with the authorization of the Series A Preferred Shares, on April 28, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (the “Rights”) for each outstanding share of Common Share. The Rights entitle the registered holders of the Common Shares to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a Series A Preferred share, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company at a price of $10.00 per one one-thousandth of a Series A Preferred Share if, and when, a person or group announces an acquisition of 15% or more of the Company’s outstanding Common Shares, or announces commencement of a tender offer for 15% or more of the Common Shares. In that event, the Rights permit shareholders, other than the acquiring person, to purchase the Series A Preferred Shares. For a description of the Series A Preferred Shares and the Rights, see “Item 10. Additional Information--Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association,” above.

A detailed description of the Rights and the Series A Preferred Shares is included in the report on Form 6-K that we filed with the SEC on May 11, 2018, which information is hereby incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.

On December 2, 2019, the Company amended Regulation 8.1 of its Amended and Restated Articles of Association to require Directors to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shareholders at a duly convened and constituted meeting of the shareholders. Prior to the amendment, the Company used a modified majority voting system. As a result of the amendment, in future elections, candidates receiving the highest number of affirmative votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, shall be elected.

Item 15. Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures within the meaning of Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our management has concluded that, as of March 31, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective because of the material weaknesses described below under “Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.” We intend to undertake the additional remedial steps to address the material weaknesses in our disclosure controls and procedures as set forth below under “Management’s Plan for Remediation of Material Weaknesses.”

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined under Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Management, under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) by the Committee on Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”), as supplemented by the related guidance provided in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting – Guidance for Smaller Public Companies, also issued by COSO. Based on that evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of March 31, 2023.

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of a company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

As a result of our management’s evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting, the following three material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting were identified as of March 31, 2023: (i) We have not maintained sufficient internal controls over cash related controls at our Myanmar operations, which pertain to the maintenance of records in reasonable detail to accurately and fairy reflect and record cash transactions. Due to the rudimentary banking system in Myanmar and, more recently as a result of the military’s takeover of the government, substantially all business transactions at the Myanmar factory are effected in cash, and the factory workers are paid in cash; (ii) We do not have sufficient and skilled accounting personnel in the Group with an appropriate level of technical accounting knowledge and experience in the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States commensurate with the Company’s financial reporting requirements; (iii) We do not have appropriate and adequate policies and procedures in place in the Group to evaluate the proper accounting and disclosures of key transactions and documents.

The material weaknesses described above may result in a material misstatement of the Company’s consolidated financial statements that may not be prevented or detected. As a result, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was ineffective as of March 31, 2023, based on the above criteria.

This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

Remediation Implemented During the Year Ended March 31, 2023

The Company’s internal controls over financial reporting were not effective as of March 31, 2023. Accordingly, during the year ended March 31, 2023 the Company undertook the following remedial actions to address the issues it identified in the prior fiscal year: (i) Although practically all of the Myanmar employees currently ask to be paid in cash, the Company plans to pay the salaries of the Myanmar workers by direct credit to their bank accounts, thus reducing the complications associated with cash transactions. (ii) Despite the lifting of travel restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company continues to provide technical accounting training to the accounting personnel in Myanmar through an online video platform; (iii) Key transactions in Myanmar are reviewed by experienced accounting personnel in Hong Kong; (iv) Attended training course in U.S. GAAP to enhance the accounting knowledge on U.S. GAAP.

Management’s Plan for Remediation of Material Weaknesses

The Company has attempted, and continues to attempt to make necessary changes and improvements to its internal control system to address the material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting. However, the military’s takeover of the Myanmar government has exacerbated the banking shortcomings that exist in Myanmar, which banking issues continue to create a material weakness that the Company is trying to correct. The Company’s plan to address these material weaknesses include:

(a) The Company intends to further strengthen its monitoring of cash transactions and to increase the use of cheques and direct debit, although these steps are difficult to implement in Myanmar because of that country’s antiquated and rudimentary banking system.

(b) The Company intends to continue to upgrade its Myanmar finance department staff through additional training and through more frequent in-person reviews from, and more comprehensive monitoring by our Hong Kong employees who are knowledgeable about U.S. GAAP. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 the Company was not able to implement these remediation steps in full scale because of the inability of the Company’s accounting personnel to travel to Myanmar because of the COVID-19 imposed travel restrictions.

(c) The Company intends to hire additional staff and/or outside consultants experienced in U.S. GAAP financial reporting as well as in SEC reporting requirements if necessary.

(d) The Company has designed and plans to implement more robust financial reporting and management controls over its accounting and financial reporting functions among all its facilities.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Company initiated its remediation of material weaknesses identified above during the period covered by this Annual Report.

Item 16. Not applicable.

The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that Ms. Irene Wong Ping Yim of the Audit Committee qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K, adopted pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Ms. Wong is an “independent” director, as defined under the Nasdaq Stock Market’s listing standards. For more than ten years, Ms. Wong was the Chief Accountant of CNIM HK Ltd. in Hong Kong. Ms. Wong holds a Master of Business Administration from Deakin University. From 1994 to 2001 was the Accounting Manager of Highway Holdings. She is currently a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant and a member of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In addition, each of the other members of the audit committee has extensive financial and business experience as presidents, chief operating officers, and directors of various public and private enterprises.

All of the members of the audit committee are independent non-executive directors.

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, which applies to the Company’s principal executive officer and to its principal financial and accounting officers. A copy of the Code of Ethics is attached as Exhibit 11.1. Shareholders can also obtain a copy of the Code of Ethics from:

Highway Holdings Limited
Suite 1801, Level 18, Landmark North
39 Lung Sum Avenue
Sheung Shui
New Territories, Hong Kong Attn: Chief Financial Officer

The following table presents the aggregate fees for professional services and other services rendered by Centurion ZD CPA & Co. and ARK Pro CPA & Co to the Company for the periods indicated.

As part of its policies and procedures, all audit related services, tax services and other services, if any, rendered by our independent registered public accounting firms were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

Not applicable

Not applicable

On May 3, 2023, the Company appointed ARK Pro CPA & Co (“ARK”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to replace Centurion ZD CPA & Co (“Centurion”), the Company’s former independent auditor. Centurion submitted its letter of resignation to the Company’s Board of Directors on May 3, 2023. The appointment of ARK was made after careful consideration and evaluation by the Company, and was approved by the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee of the Company.

Centurion’s audit reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for each of the fiscal years ended March 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During the Company’s fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023 and through the subsequent interim period on or prior to May 3, 2023, there were no disagreements between the Company and Centurion on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Centurion, would have caused Centurion to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its report, and there were no “reportable events” as such term is described in Item 16F(a)(1)(v)(A) through (D) of Form 20-F.

During the Company’s fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023, and through the subsequent interim period on or prior to May 3, 2023, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf has consulted with ARK on either (a) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, or (b) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement, as that term is defined in Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) of Form 20-F (and the related instructions thereto).

The resignation of Centurion was reported by the Company in a report on Form 6-K that was filed with the SEC on May 5, 2023. In accordance with Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K, the Company provided Centurion with a copy of the statements set forth in the May 5, 2023 Form 6-K filing with the SEC. The Company requested that Centurion furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether Centurion agrees with the statements in the Form 6-K filed with the SEC on May 5, 2023, as required by SEC rules, and Centurion has furnished the requested letter, which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 6-K filed with the SEC on May 5, 2023.

The rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market provide that foreign private issuers may follow home country practices in lieu of the Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, subject to certain exceptions and requirements and except to the extent that such exemptions would be contrary to U.S. federal securities laws and regulations. The Company has chosen to comply with the Nasdaq corporate governance rules as though it was a U.S. company. Accordingly, the Company does not believe there are any significant differences between the Company’s corporate governance practices and those followed by U.S. companies under the rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

PART III

Item 17. Financial statements.

The Company has elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18.

Item 18. Financial statements.

See the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements accompanying this report beginning page F-1.

Item 19. Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed as part of this annual report:

SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf.

HIGHWAY HOLDINGS LIMITED

Consolidated Financial Statements

For the years ended March 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

HIGHWAY HOLDINGS LIMITED

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Highway Holdings Limited:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Highway Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) as of March 31, 2023, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity and cash flows for the year ended March 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Group as of March 31, 2023 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended March 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Group’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Group’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Group in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Assessment of impairment of long-lived assets

As discussed in Note 2(k) to the consolidated financial statements, the Group reviews its long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment with finite lives, intangible assets subject to amortization and operating lease right-of-use assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may no longer be recoverable. When these events occur, the Group assesses the recoverability of the assets based on the undiscounted future cash flows the assets are expected to generate and recognize an impairment loss when estimated discounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset plus net proceeds expected from disposition of the asset, if any, are less than the carrying value of the asset. As of March 31, 2023, the Group had incurred an accumulated deficit. Besides, the Group has net loss incurred for the year ended March 31, 2023. The Group considered these as indicators that certain long-lived assets may be impaired as of March 31, 2023. Due to challenging industry and economic conditions, the Group tested its long-lived assets during the year ended March 31, 2023. The Group’s evaluation of long-lived assets is primarily using estimated future undiscounted cash flows over its remaining lease term to its carrying value. In order to assess there is any impairment of operating lease right-of-use assets, the Group tested whether the asset can be recovered in a few aspects, including the expected production and sales volumes, production costs, operating expenses, current and future plan of utilization of the lease space.

We identified the evaluation of the impairment analysis for long-lived assets as a critical audit matter because of the significant estimates and assumptions management used. Performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of these estimates and assumptions required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included the following, among others: (i) obtained an understanding and evaluated the reasonableness of management’s process for developing the undiscounted cash flow of long-lived assets and (ii) observed the current utilization of lease space and gained understanding of the management’s intention and ability of continuity of the lease.

/s/ ARK Pro CPA & Co

ARK Pro CPA & Co

We have served as the Group’s auditor since 2023. 

Hong Kong, China

July 13, 2023 

PCAOB ID: 3299

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Highway Holdings Limited:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Highway Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) as of March 31, 2022, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss) income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended March 31, 2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Group as of March 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended March 31, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Group’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Group’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Group in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Assessment of impairment of long-lived assets

As discussed in Note 2(k) to the consolidated financial statements, the Group reviews its long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment with finite lives, intangible assets subject to amortization and operating lease right-of-use assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may no longer be recoverable. When these events occur, the Group assesses the recoverability of the assets based on the non-discounted future cash flows the assets are expected to generate and recognize an impairment loss when estimated discounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset plus net proceeds expected from disposition of the asset, if any, are less than the carrying value of the asset. As of March 31, 2022, the Group had incurred an accumulated deficit. Besides, the Group has negative operating cash flows for the year ended March 31, 2022. The Group considered these as indicators that certain long-lived assets may be impaired as of March 31, 2022. Due to challenging industry and economic conditions, the Group tested its long-lived assets during the year ended March 31, 2022. The Group’s evaluation of long-lived assets is primarily using estimated future undiscounted cash flows over its remaining lease term to its carrying value. In order to assess there is any impairment of operating lease right-of-use assets, the Group tested whether the asset can be recovered in a few aspects, including the expected production and sales volumes, production costs, operating expenses, current and future plan of utilization of the lease space.

We identified the evaluation of the impairment analysis for long-lived assets as a critical audit matter because of the significant estimates and assumptions management used. Performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of these estimates and assumptions required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included the following, among others: (i) obtained an understanding and evaluated the reasonableness of management’s process for developing the undiscounted cash flow of long-lived assets and (ii) observed the current utilization of lease space and gained understanding of the management’s intention and ability of continuity of the lease.

/s/ Centurion ZD CPA & Co.

Centurion ZD CPA & Co.

We have served as the Group’s auditor from 2020 to 2023.

Hong Kong, China

June 30, 2022

PCAOB ID: 2769

HIGHWAY HOLDINGS LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for shares and per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part to these consolidated financial statements.

HIGHWAY HOLDINGS LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

The accompanying notes are an integral part to these consolidated financial statements.

HIGHWAY HOLDINGS LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for shares and per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part to these consolidated financial statements.

HIGHWAY HOLDINGS LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for shares and per share data)