Yasheng ECO-Trade Corporation (YASH.OB) is a publicly traded independent emerging resources company. The Company's focus is on the acquisition, exploration, and development of undervalued assets. The Company's objective is to find, acquire and develop resources at the lowest cost possible and recycle its cash flows into new projects yielding the highest returns with controlled risk. The company competencies include financial services, mergers and acquisitions, accounting, real estate development, and natural resources exploration. The company was established in 1992 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California.
Corporate Strategy
Acquisition of Natural Resources and Land
Yasheng ECO Trade Corporation seeks to accumulate natural resources throughout the world for production and hedging purposes. By controlling the natural resources and land necessary for business the company can control its own destiny as it grows in the future.
Best in Class Products
Yasheng ECO Trade Corporation in conjunction with the Yasheng Group strives to exceed International standards for all products. These goals are attained through a modern organizational structure that seeks out new technologies and higher education and training throughout the organization. The parent company has been honored with many Industry, Technology, and Quality awards.
US Distribution via YaSheng Asia Pacific Cooperative Zone
The company is actively seeking out partners to establish manufacturing facilities in the United States. The strategy will be to import unfinished goods and complete production in the United States. The goal will be to create the highest quality goods along with an efficient time/cost to market in order to provide the greatest value to our customers.
International Distribution via Cooperative Zones throughout the World
These distribution centers and offices will be strategically located to provide headquarters and distribution in centralized key locations throughout the world for the companies who participate. The company is preparing to receive 50 large companies from Gansu province and China that have committed to participate in the Cooperative Zone in the United States. We believe these same companies will participate in the Cooperative Zones around the world as well. In addition, we believe more companies will participate once the facilities are operational. The Cooperative Zones will provide economies of scale for the companies in areas including sales, marketing, customer service, product completion, administration, product storing and tracking among other custom services.
International Joint Ventures for Product Completion
Once the company establishes Cooperative Zones around the world it plans to seek out partners to establish manufacturing facilities around the World. The goal is to import the unfinished goods and complete production at the location of the cooperative zone. The goal is to be able to create the highest quality goods along with an efficient time/cost to market in order to provide the greatest value to our customers.
Deals
Asian Pacific Trade Zone Overview
The goal of this venture is to build an international platform for driving Gansu Province and other Chinese Province's overseas investment enterprises and exports. The project will be positioned to combine the agricultural and industrial advantages of the Gansu Province with the logistics and distribution services of the Cooperation Zone's service platform to provide a basis for expanding markets through local representation. The projected economic impact on the company are Annual Sales income of almost $70 million with $21 million coming from import and export freight income, $16, million coming from domestic direct sales, $15 million from lease agreements with participating companies and the remaining $22 million coming from the sales of pharmaceutical and drip irrigation products.
The project is currently scheduled for construction to begin in 2009. The location of the project is in The California Enterprise Zone in the Southern California. This strategic location provides easy access to all major export transportation services. The port of Long Beach & Los Angeles are within 45 minutes of the location and linked by a high speed container rail system. The Southern California Logistics Airport is just 15 minutes south of the location with a full range of global logistics services (rail, truck, air, and container link to the two ports in Los Angeles County.
Yasheng Group (The Parent Company) Overview
The Yasheng Group is a U.S. company that conducts business operations in China in two major segments: agriculture and livestock. The company's agriculture products include hops, onion, maize, barley, cotton, potato, apple, pear, alfalfa, cumin, apricots, wolfberry, corn, flax, beet, wheat, sunflower, peas, soybeans, flaxseeds, apples, pears, apricots, etc. Our major customers include world class conglomerates such as Tsingtao Beer, KFC, and McDonalds.
The constantly growing population in China and the world drives the demand for food, which presents the long term growth opportunity for Yasheng Group.
Advantages
Yasheng Group (The Parent Company) has a full range of advantages in the agricultural industry. These advantages have allowed the company to expand over the past 20 years and laid the foundation for expansion well into the future. North West China is a region that has many benefits to agro industry. Gansu Province is considered the heart of Chinese agro industry because of the geographical location and climate conditions ideal for a wide range of agro products.
GanSu Province climate, where Yasheng has the majority of agro operations, has long sunshine days and short nights during the growing seasons allowing larger yields then other areas. The days are very warm and nights very cold giving the agro products a more rich flavor. The air is dry with very little humidity, greatly reducing the threat from pest and reducing the need for pesticides. The soil is very aerated and the chemical balance is suitable making it very favorable for growing without heavy uses of artificial fertilizers. Land is abundant and manufacturing industry is low reducing exposure to pollution. Much of Yasheng's Agro bases are fed by the glaciers of the Qilian Mountains and the upper reaches of the Yellow river. The water from these sources is pollution free compared to other parts of China.
The company has established a network of relationships and resources to secure long term business models in commodities that are a necessity for society. The company has a proven record working with the national and provincial agro departments in developing a sustainable agricultural plan that meets the demands. Yasheng Group has successfully developed many projects promoted from the national government. Yasheng Group has preferential treatment when being awarded new government sponsored projects, allowing the company a highway to growth.
High Tech Drip Irrigation techniques have been implemented into Yasheng Groups Agro industries over the past 8 years. The technology is derived from famous Israeli irrigation company. Yasheng Group through its related companies manufactures and market high tech irrigation equipment utilizing this technology. This advantage is key to expansion. GanSu province annual rainfall is low and the drip irrigation allows expansion because of efficient watering techniques. Drip irrigation also reduces the threat from pest.
Yasheng's AGRO R&D Park
Yasheng's Hi-Tech Agricultural Park is in full operations in 2005 after strategic investments into the company's future that started in 2000. The parks high tech agro advantages were results from intellectual advancements from Yasheng Academy of Science. This institute focuses on hi-tech research and development in agricultural bio-engineering, soil-less culture, propagation, and other modern industrial agricultural techniques.
Yasheng has the ability to carry out major agro industrial projects that introduce and breed quality large scale hy-breed crops for use domestically and abroad. The strategic investment allows for the industrialization of culture seedlings, production of flowers, vegetables, ornamentals, & high end agro products. There is also a focus into research and development of bio-pharmaceutical products. These products & techniques are used throughout Yasheng's agricultural segments as well as sold outside the company which has opened up new markets.
The production facilities & research areas of the park are completed & have contributed extensively to the success in increased yields & quality through the company's entire agro industry over the past three years. This project has become a recognized comprehensive hi-tech agricultural and biological demonstration park with modernized equipment, labs and operational facilities.
Two Yasheng Educational Institutes
GansuYaSheng Science Academy
Through Yasheng Groups association with GanSu Yasheng Group, the company has strategic advantages through education and research. Yasheng Group Science Academy undertakes intense research into the Agro Industry which is eventually used within the companies operations. This has allowed the company to make great advances in many sectors of the company. This institute works closely with the National institutes in coordination for advancement of Chinas agro industry.
- Applied Agriculture Technology Research Institute
- Biology Research Institute
- Trans-Genetic Research Institute
- Chinese Medicine Research Institute
- Information Technology Research Institute
- New Biology Material Research Institute
Gansu YaSheng Broadcasting and Further Education College
Gansu Yasheng Broadcasting and Further Education College is a multi-level and multi-grade adult education college with branches in, Shendiwan, Gaotai, Tiaoshan, Xiaheqing, Lanwei, Shuangjia, Jinta, Jiuquan, the last six opened since 1997. This network of education satellites in the key areas of the company allows for detail training of potential employees of Yasheng Group. The College has are 88 staff including 32 lecturers and 27 teachers, currently has approximately 1,500 full and part-time students. With recent investment in equipment and facilities, including laboratories and a computer centre, the college now teaches 17 subjects with a focus on technology and agriculture.
- Post-Doctoral Degree Department
- Masters Department
- Undergraduate Department Broadcast & television specialist Junior College
- Central Broadcast & Television university 'Distance learning'
Product Development
Part of the 5 & 10 year plan to reorganize the company was to steam-line company operations and focus on Key business lines that had potential for long term growth into domestic and international high end markets. Another part of this plan was to implement product quality upgrades through high tech agro technology and high breed strains. The company also made the transformation from the collective family farms to industrial scale farming having more control over the quality and yields of Yasheng Groups products.
Part of the vision for product development was to develop by-products and other related products from the base agro materials that are currently being produced. Yasheng has developed techniques to utilize Bio Mass to produce environmental friendly products. The company has also developed TCM products from their natural herb bases. Vegetable Oils and Livestock feed are two other examples of the range of markets the company's products reach.
The company obtains the know how and ability for large scale industrial farming but also has strategically established a presence in the supporting other agro segments such as fertilizers, irrigation equipment, agro construction materials, food processing and packaging to bring both fresh and processed foods to new high end markets.
The company's development plans are focused on domestic and global demands in the agro and agro by-products industries. Through the reorganization, the company strives for continued strategic management of product planning year to year to meet the ever changing demands in the commodities markets.
Company wide Drip Irrigation Projects
Modern drip irrigation technology can control both biochemical and physical indices for crop and flower growth and allows precise adjustment of water, fertilizer and insecticide usage. It also moderates the extreme cooling effects sometimes produced by flood-type irrigation. Yasheng Group has introduced the most advanced water-efficient drip irrigation techniques from Israel to ensure efficient water use on large-scale intensive agricultural projects in the fertile but water-scarce Hexi Corridor. The first drip irrigation project in Jiuquan region was completed in September 1998 and is now in successful production. Yasheng group has now received government approval for and begun construction of a further 2,667 Ha arable and 667 Ha hop farm both using drip irrigation.
Legend Transportation Group Overview
Legend Logistics is a hybrid transportation provider that focuses on improving internal logistics processing to reduce costs on a shipment by shipment basis with a suite of offerings. Backed by an extensive network of carriers as well as our own fleet of GPS-equipped trailers, we offer our customers multiple options to reduce both hard and soft cost over multiple modes of transportation. Legend Logistics institutes 'best in class' practices across multiple modes of transportation. Legends ultimate goal is to offer every customer the opportunity to achieve the highest level of efficiency with their transportation program. We achieve this with a combination of technology offerings that can accommodate both small shippers as well as large multi-modal use corporations.
Legend Logistics has a very strong transactional platform with over 5,000 LTL, truck load, and special needs partners to move freight around the world 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Management
Gregory Rubin - Chairman of the Board
Dr. Rubin has been in international export-import business for the last 25 years. He currently serves as the director for Central Asia Franchise Holdings, Ltd., Central Asia Construction and Development, Ltd., and ADR OTC Markets, LLC.
Yossi Attia - Chief Executive Officer
Yossi Attia is a veteran in the financial industry and an experienced real estate developer. He holds a BA in economics and marketing from Haifa University and a MBA from Pepperdine University. Prior to joining Vortex he served as Senior Vice President of Investments at Interfirst Capital, Mr. Attia was also Senior Vice President of Sutro & Co. and Vice President of Investments at Prudential Securities. Mr. Attia currently serves on the Board of Directors for Atia Group, a publicly traded international real estate firm (ATIA.L and ATIA.TA).
Gerald Schaffer - Outside Director
Gerald Schaffer has been extensively active in corporate, community, public, and government affairs for many years, having served on numerous governmental boards and authorities, as well as public service agencies, including his current twenty-one year membership on the Board of Directors for the American Lung Association of Nevada. Additionally, Mr. Schaffer is a past member of the Clark County Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, as well as a former Commissioner for Public Housing on the Clark County Housing Authority. For many years he served as a Planning Commissioner for the Clark County Planning Commission, which included the sprawling Las Vegas Strip. His tenure on these various governmental entities was enhanced by his extensive knowledge of the federal government. Mr. Schaffer is Chairman Emeritus of the Windsor Group and a founding member of both Windsor and its affiliate - Gold Eagle Gaming. Over the years the principals of Windsor have developed shopping and marketing centers, office complexes, hotel/casinos, apartments, residential units and a wide variety of large land parcels. Mr. Schaffer continues to have an active daily role in many of these subsidiary interests. He is also President of the Barclay Corporation, a professional consulting service, as well as the Barclay Development Corporation, dealing primarily in commercial land acquisitions and sales.
Stewart Reich - Outside Director
Mr. Reich previously served as chairman of the Board between 2004 -2008. Prior to joining Vortex Resources Crop, he was the CEO and President of Golden Telecom Inc., Russia's largest alternative voice and data service provider as well as its largest ISP, since 1997. In September 1992, Mr. Reich was employed as Chief Financial Officer at UTEL (Ukraine Telecommunications), of which he was appointed President in November 1992. Prior to that, Mr. Reich held various positions at a number of subsidiaries of AT&T Corp. Mr. Reich have been a Director of the Company since 2002. Mr. Reich is Chairman of the Board, as well as head of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee.
Mace Miller - Outside Director
Mace Miller received his BBA in Accounting and an MBA with International Concentration from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1989 and 1992, respectively. Further, Mr. Mace received his law degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1992. From 2001 to 2006, Mr. Miller has been a principal with Raymond James Financial Services. Mr. Miller, since 2006, has been a partner with Coronado Capital Advisers, where he has been responsible for the administration and creation of proprietary hedge fund. He has been a frequent speaker at various international venues, including the Raymond James National Conference, on tax mitigation and anti-money laundering issues related to hedge funds. Recognized as an expert in international finance, Mr. Miller has consulted on numerous bond offerings in the United States and the Dominican Republic on behalf of institutions and investors alike. Mr. Miller is a licensed Attorney with the State of Texas.
