盐港明珠招股说明书-2019-09-27(15)

盐港明珠招股说明书-2019-09-27

●Advancements in technology may necessitate that we increase investments in order to remain competitive, and our customers may not be willing to accept higher freight rates to cover the cost of these investments.

●Competition from freight logistics and brokerage companies may negatively impact our customer relationships and freight rates.

●Smaller carriers may build economies of scale with procurement aggregation providers, which may improve such carriers’ abilities to compete with us.

The truckload transportation industry is affected by economic and business risks that are largely beyond our control.

The truckload industry is highly cyclical, and our business is dependent on a number of factors that may have a negative impact on our operating results, many of which are beyond our control. We believe that some of the most significant factors beyond our control that may negatively impact our operating results are economic changes that affect supply and demand in transportation markets, such as:

●changes in customers’ inventory levels, including shrinking product/package sizes, and in the availability of funding for their working capital;

●commercial driver shortages;

●industry compliance with an ongoing regulatory environment;

●excess truck capacity in comparison with shipping demand; and

●downturns in customers’ business cycles, which may be caused by declines in consumer spending.

The risks associated with these factors are heightened when the Chinese economy is weakened. Some of the principal risks during such times are as follows:

●low overall freight levels, which may impair our asset utilization;

●customers with credit issues and cash flow problems;

●changing freight patterns resulting from redesigned supply chains, resulting in an imbalance between our capacity and customer demand; and

●customers bidding out freight or selecting competitors that offer lower rates, in an attempt to lower their costs, forcing us to lower our rates or lose freight.

Economic conditions that decrease shipping demand or increase the supply of capacity in the truckload transportation industry can exert downward pressure on rates and equipment utilization, thereby decreasing asset productivity. Declining freight levels and rates, a prolonged recession or general economic instability could result in declines in our results of operations, which declines may be material.

We also are subject to cost increases outside our control that could materially reduce our profitability if we are unable to increase our rates sufficiently. Such cost increases include, but are not limited to, fuel and energy prices, driver wages, taxes and interest rates, tolls, license and registration fees, insurance premiums, regulations, revenue equipment and related maintenance costs and healthcare and other benefits for our associates. We cannot predict whether, or in what form, any such cost increase or event could occur. Any such cost increase or event could adversely affect our profitability.

In addition, events outside our control, such as strikes or other work stoppages at our facilities or at customer, port, border or other shipping locations, weather, actual or threatened armed conflicts or terrorist attacks, efforts to combat terrorism, military action against a foreign country or group located in a foreign country or heightened security requirements could lead to reduced economic demand, reduced availability of credit or temporary closing of shipping locations. Such events or enhanced security measures in connection with such events could impair our operations and result in higher operating costs.

We are, to a certain extent, dependent on the consumer and retail industry in the PRC.

We mainly provide trucking services to our customers in the logistics industry, some of whom ultimately provide logistics services to end customers in the retail and consumer industry in the PRC. As such, our business performance will, to a certain extent, be affected by our customers’ business performance and the retail and consumer industry in the PRC. Although these customers of ours who are consumer goods delivery services providers may not have contributed substantially to our total revenue in the past two years, if these customers’ sales in the PRC decline, such decline may likely lead to a corresponding decrease in demand for our services. Furthermore, as we expand our business, we may solicit new customers who are consumer goods delivery services providers or strengthen our relationships with this type of existing customers, which may lead to stronger reliance on these customers. Any adverse developments in our customers’ business performance could therefore materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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