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BHIP > SEC Filings for BHIP > Form 10-Q on 14-Aug-2009All Recent SEC Filings

Show all filings for NATURAL HEALTH TRENDS CORP | Request a Trial to NEW EDGAR Online Pro

Form 10-Q for NATURAL HEALTH TRENDS CORP


14-Aug-2009

Quarterly Report


Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Business Overview
We are an international direct-selling and e-commerce company. Subsidiaries controlled by us sell personal care, wellness, and "quality of life" products under the "NHT Global" brand to an independent distributor network that either uses the products themselves or resells them to consumers.
As of June 30, 2009, we are conducting business through approximately 26,000 active distributors. We consider a distributor "active" if they have placed at least one product order with us during the preceding year. Although we have in prior years expended significant efforts to expand into new markets, we do not intend to devote material resources to opening any additional foreign markets in the near future. Our priority is to focus our resources in our most promising markets, namely Greater China and Russia.
During the year 2008 and the first six months of 2009, we generated approximately 93% and 96% of our revenue from subsidiaries located outside North America, with sales in Hong Kong representing approximately 66% and 72% of revenue, respectively. Because of the size of our foreign operations, operating results can be impacted negatively or positively by factors such as foreign currency fluctuations, and economic, political and business conditions around the world. In addition, our business is subject to various laws and regulations, in particular regulations related to direct selling activities that create certain risks for our business, including improper claims or activities by our distributors and potential inability to obtain necessary product registrations.


Table of Contents

In June 2004, NHT Global obtained a general business license in China. The license stipulates a capital requirement of $12 million over a three-year period, including a $1.8 million initial payment we made in January 2005. Direct selling is prohibited in China without a direct selling license that we do not have. In December 2005, we submitted a preliminary application for a direct selling license and fully capitalized our Chinese entity with the remaining capital necessary to fulfill the $12.0 million required cash infusion. In June 2006, we submitted a revised application package in accordance with new requirements issued by the Chinese government. In June 2007, we launched a new e-commerce retail platform in China that does not require a direct selling license and is separate from our current worldwide platform. We believe this model, which offers discounts based on volume purchases, will encourage repeat purchases of our products for personal consumption in the Chinese market. The platform is designed to be in compliance with our understanding of current laws and regulations in China. In November 2007, we filed a new, revised direct selling application incorporating a name change, our new e-commerce model and other developments. These direct selling applications were not approved or rejected by the pertinent authorities, but did not appear to materially progress. By now, the information contained in the most recent application is stale. The Company's application to temporarily withdraw the license application in February 2009 has been granted, and the Company intends to re-submit an updated application. We are unable to predict whether we will be successful in obtaining a direct selling license to operate in China, and if we are successful, when we will be permitted to enhance our e-commerce retail platform with direct selling operations.
Most of the Company's Hong Kong revenue is derived from the sale of products that are delivered to members in China. After consulting with outside professionals, the Company believes that its Hong Kong e-commerce business does not violate any applicable laws in China even though it is used for the internet purchase of our products by buyers in China. But the government in China could, in the future, officially interpret its laws and regulations - or adopt new laws and regulations - to prohibit some or all of our e-commerce activities with China and, if our members engage in illegal activities in China, those actions could be attributable to us. In addition, other Chinese laws regarding how and when members may assemble and the activities that they may conduct, or the conditions under which the activities may be conducted, in China are subject to interpretations and enforcement attitudes that sometimes vary from province to province, among different levels of government, and from time to time. Members sometimes violate one or more of the laws regulating these activities, notwithstanding training that the Company attempts to provide. Enforcement measures regarding these violations, which can include arrests, raise the uncertainty and perceived risk associated with conducting this business, especially among those who are aware of the enforcement actions but not the specific activities leading to the enforcement. The Company believes that this has led some existing members in China - who are signed up as distributors in Hong Kong - to leave the business or curtail their selling activities and has led potential members to choose not to participate. Among other things, the Company is combating this with more training and public relations efforts that are designed, among other things, to distinguish the Company from businesses that make no attempt to comply with the law. This environment creates uncertainty about the future of doing this type of business in China generally and under our business model, specifically. Income Statement Presentation
The Company derives its revenue from sales of its products, sales of its enrollment packages, and from shipping charges. Substantially all of its product sales are to independent distributors at published wholesale prices. We translate revenue from each market's local currency into U.S. dollars using average rates of exchange during the period. The following table sets forth revenue by market and product line for the time periods indicated (dollars in thousands).

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