Kandi Technolgies Corp (KNDI)

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Kandi Technologies: A Losing Battle For Trapped Short Sellers- A Rebuttal Of Karl Richter's Visit To Fantasyland.. 0 comments
Oct 12, 2014 4:24 PM | about stocks: KNDI

Mr. Richter, I am so glad you came out of the shadows and gave me a venue to respond to you farcical attack on Kandi Technologies (NASDAQ:KNDI) and me personally. You have now given me the opportunity to expose you as the shill you really are.

(Authors Note: I apologize for taking up the first quarter of this response defending Richter's direct challenge against me; feel free at any time to skip down to the section title: "Back to your farcical article- Your Credentials" to get to the important part of challenging his bogus article against Kandi.)

This InstaBlog is in partial response to an attack article against Kandi Technologies and myself for supporting Kandi Tech for over seven years, referenced in a syndicated article published on Oct. 10, 2014 titled:

"Worst stocks win awards in hedge fund 'short' contest"

As one can see in the Comment section of the above article, the original author of the "attack report" which also attacked me personally for supporting KNDI; posted a comment below the main article "Calling Me Out" with the below comment after I had the audacity to make some despairing comments about his "take" on the core published article:

KARL.RICHTER • 14 hours ago

Are you the same Arthur Porcari who got into trouble with the Securities and Exchange Commission for stock manipulation and "predictions without a reasonable basis" in 1994?

http://www.sec.gov/news/digest/1994/dig060794.pdf

Are you the same Arthur Porcari who had his securities registration revoked by the National Association of Securities Dealers?

http://finra.complinet.com/en/display/viewall_display.html?rbid=1189&element_id=1159003969

I certainly am that Arthur Porcari. But you know that and so do thousands of followers of Kandi over the last half dozen years. Why do they know who I am? For two reasons;

1) I am extremely proud of the type of multi-thousand hour detailed Due diligence I have done on Kandi (to include TWO personal trips to visit the Company in China- How many have you done?) for no compensation other than for a few free meals in China. And

2) busting irresponsible short sellers who think they found they key to guaranteed riches by hiring "guns" such as yourself to spend a few hours nitpicking and embellishing worthless antiquated minutia to distort all the positive work of decent Companies. You don't have to be a student of Psychology (which I happen to be by degree), to learn that it is a lot easier to "scare" investors out of a stock, then to scare them into one.

The problem with your article is that it was so poorly done that no one in the Sum-Zero Hedge Fund community, supposedly numbering in the many thousands, gave it any credence so you had to get it featured in some bogus contest article. My claim is proven by the fact your actual attack article was published and dated a month ago on Sept. 12, but got little traction from hedge funds until it was put out to public innocent individual investors on Friday by Mr. Jannarone's syndicated article. I say "little traction" in that the recent short interest report showing 7 million or 30% of the float, has remained stable at that level for the past month.

You see Mr. Richter, I am no "Spring Chicken" when it comes to dealing with short sellers. If you read my bio on Seeking Alpha you would have noted though retired for some 25 years, I was a Market Pro to include a few year Brokerage/Investment Banking stint at Merrill Lynch in the mid-'70's as well as being President and owner of a regional full service stock brokerage firm and head OTC market maker. This followed by a few years of having an IR consulting firm.

In my Brokerage firms days, I dealt with and sometimes joined in with some of the legendary short sellers of the late '70's an '80's. While I respect the good and necessary work done by short sellers to weed out the numerous "bad apple" companies that prey on innocent investors, I also detest the strategies of "bad apple" short sellers who perhaps innocently got trapped into a bad short position just due to the fact this is a China company; and are now desperately trying to sucker innocent investors into selling their stock to let that short seller out of his own trap. Jim Cramer as a former hedge fund manager does a very good job warning investors about how low Short Sellers will stoop to rescue a bad decision in this TV interview.

Jim Cramer reveals dirty tricks short sellers use to manipulate stock prices down

It is for these reasons I publish proudly under my own name (22 published articles on Kandi) and because of this, I have personally been attacked in no less than a dozen KNDI attack articles by incompetent hacks who quickly discovered "if you can't factually attack the message of the Company, then attack the messenger."

Kandi Technologies: If You Don't Like The Message, Attack The Messenger

What I find most hilarious is that all of you shills continue to link my sole interaction with the SEC which dates back to something over 25 years ago in 1989 where I was accused of creating a short squeeze. Obviously no "long" shareholder is going to make such a complaint, so what sympathy do you think you are going to get from Long shareholders pushing this in an article? What is even more hilarious is if you read the last paragraph of the Order, you will note what I was accused of was exactly what you and other shills are doing today on the "short" side with reports such as yours.

"…The commission further found that, in connection with his efforts to bring about a short squeeze in Cedar's securities, Porcari made predictions, without reasonable basis, to registered representatives that "Cedar's" stock price would rise to a specified levels within specified periods of time. Also, the Commission found that Porcari advised groups of registered representatives to purchase specified amounts of Cedar's securities simultaneously in order to raise the market price of those securities.."

Now in my defense of that charge, I didn't tell the crybaby short seller to get caught in his own trap by shorting almost 100% of that New Issue below $3 which only had a float of around a million shares. (sounds like a modern day "GoPro" but on a much larger scale, doesn't it?) Also, to be clear. If you read the "order" I was not convicted of anything by the SEC. I simple settled after fighting it for five years and a heavy five digit legal fee for me and who knows how much tax payer money for SEC costs, neither admitting nor denying any guilt and was NOT levied any fines, fees or disgorgement.

Regarding the second "FINRA (then, NASD") allegation dated April of 1989, was a fine levied against the Brokerage Firm with many brokers of which I was formally President. The Petra situation had to do with the Firms purchase of some 8,700 shares of a stock purchased at $.30 a share (yes around $2,500 worth of stock) which did shortly go up to over a dollar a share, but collapsed back to our purchase price when the deal did not happen. We Never sold the shares we bought and ultimately wrote them off as worthless. The second part of the NASD allegation was generated based on a closing transfer audit after my partner and I sold the Firm a year earlier in 1988 and voluntarily left the Brokerage Business due to the advent of competitive Discount Brokers like Charles Schwab appearing. Since we were no longer "in the business" and had no interest in returning, we never fought the decision as we were not required to pay the fine unless we elected to return as Registered brokers.

Back to your farcical article- Your Credentials;

I noticed from your Techtonics bio that in your 15 years' market experience, you spent most of your time at Susquehanna and SAC Capital Advisors. In your report, you bring out the Companies lack of institutional following. The one point I agree with you has to do with the Companies small institutional following likely due to the Company not (yet) doing Conference Calls. Yes this is likely true since no Wall Street quality analyst is going to be the first to follow a young company that does not do quarterly conference calls or give forward guidance. HOWEVER: the Company has opened up the Annual Meeting to shareholders telephoning where questions are asked and answered. The very subject that you attempt to distort was a question that was answered at last year's call:

Q: Will the Company start providing quarterly investor conference calls and some "guidance", once sales start to normalize?

A: While we have confidence in launching our EV product offering in China, our progress is still in the early stages. The management is not ready to provide financial guidance at this point. However it's our intention to keep shareholders well informed on the progress. The Company will provide quarterly investor calls when the time is appropriate.

If you know anything about emerging "Disruptive Innovations" in complex societies as the PRC has in China, you would know that any Company which initially relies on announced, but not yet completely implemented actions such as; Grants, Federal and Local tax breaks and subsidies, particularly a young company that come out of a totally unrelated business like Kandi, is going to be subject to a myriad of what seems like "never ending" changes before final long term reliable rules are implemented. Even now, while KNDI has finally received a small first installment of some $31.8 million covering only the PRC Subsidy payments for sales up to March 31, 2014, they, along with all other EV manufacturers are still waiting to be paid the Hangzhou City share of subsidies for all of the EV sold to date; pair this payment along with further PRC subsides up through Sep. 31. and you get in total, the amount now owed KNDI is likely over $100 million. The fact that the PRC did pay its first installment and also requires the local Governments to effectively "match" the PRC payments, takes out the "if" leaving only the "when" for future payments.

While most US based Companies with a primary goal of enhancing their stock price would be willing to gamble with their future by premature public speculation through Conference Calls and Guidance, the heavily China politically connected CEO of KNDI knows when to speak and when to keep his mouth shut. That is how KNDI has jumped into the current #1 slot for Pure EV's in China (#2 behind BYD when Hybrids are included) and #4 Wordwide behind Nissan, Tesla, and Toyota and #9 when hybrids are included.

"Plug-in the first half of global car sales rankings: Top Ten China accounted for two seats"

Brokerage Research Recommendations.

Once again, you prove you have not done your homework. KNDI does have at least two major China based Brokerages firms in China, Though China residents are forbidden from investing in US traded Companies like KNDI, these firms have still each given "Overweight" Ratings to KNDI.

Citi Orient Securities - KNDI Ranking "Overweight"

Shun International Securities- KNDI Ranking "Overweight"

Your Two Former Hedge Fund Employers have been Two of KNDI's Largest Holders over the past year!

But, irrespective of the fact you either didn't take the time to do a thurough research on the Company, or just chose to ignore the CEO's comment above on the call, I find it very interesting that of the few 50 institutions that have reported as being Kandi Shareholders over the past year alone, both Susquehanna and SAC are included (Go to pg.2 for SAC). While you can see from this link notorious SAC did sell the last of its position in Q2, what I find it even more interesting is that Susquehanna, your home town Philadelphia based Stock and Options Market giant is not only Kandi's current largest Institutional shareholder with some 735,000 shares, but is also one of the two Hedge funds that has participated individually to the tune of over $100 million total (including warrants) in every Kandi financing since the first in 2010, to include likely having 4.9% $30 million of the recent $71 million financing you speak of in your report.

Now; "Inquiring Minds" might just wonder. "Is it just a coincidence that the only two 'Buy Side' firms you worked for in your short career on Wall Street, happened to have had enough confidence in the Company to be recently reported long shareholders of Kandi; or was this bogus report just a way for you to lash back at them for laying you off?" (Based on the poor quality of work you did on this KNDI slam based on "other peoples" antiquated and debunked attacks and maybe some disgruntled former Geely employee, don't for a second think that any intelligent investor would believe that you left a "posh" life as a Big Company Wall Street analyst with your "Bachelors of Engineering" degree to start your own research firm (Techtonic) to sell your independent research except to short sellers that are trapped and will pay for any trash, true or otherwise to be published)

Karl Richter - Portfolio Manager?

?Karl K. Richter is the founder of Tectonic Investments LLC. He has fifteen years of investment experience, including thirteen years investing in long/short equity fundamental hedge fund strategies.

Before founding Tectonic, Karl was a senior portfolio manager and founding partner at AlphaOne Capital Partners. Previously, he had eight years of experience as a portfolio manager and fundamental research analyst at Susquehanna International Group and SAC Capital Advisors. He started his career in equity research at Robertson Stephens and Lehman Brothers in San Francisco.

Education:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering.

KNDI's Auditor

Though KNDI has been publicly trading in the US since 2007, only in the past year did it become recognized enough to break though the $250 million mini-micro-cap barrier. They have used the same auditor for some six years now and have had no problem arise with the SEC regarding their auditor as is likely evidenced by SEC "Effective" rulings on more than a half dozen registration statement; (three so far this year). Which BTW, should likely give a "hint" as to the direction of the SEC Fact Finding Investigation you pointed out in your report that was first published in Kandi's last years 10k.

KNDI/Geely JV- Your Comment is a Joke, Right?

It must be because it is not backed up by the actual facts. However, it is interesting how you painted the "picture" of how Geely "passed off" an "idle factory" to the JV. But wait! Isn't this what Toyota, Tesla's early "Strategic Partner", did with your beloved TSLA's one and only manufacturing facility? However, what you forgot to mention was a year prior to the JV (not KNDI, but the 50-50 JV) taking over the Shanghai Maple plant, Kandi sold their new Changxing EV plant to the same JV.

Kandi Technologies Completed China's First Full Scale Production and Assembly Line Specialized for Pure Electric Vehicles

"…This new production line combines the advanced production equipment and manufacturing technologies. It also integrates the robust manufacturing concepts and experiences of Kandi technologies and its JV partner, Geely Auto…

Mr. Hu Xiaoming, Chairman of Kandi remarked, "With the unprecedented enthusiasm and unwavering support from all levels of government leaders, Kandi Changxing will take full advantage of the technology strengths and expertise of Kandi/Geely Auto in the EV area to develop pure electric vehicles that consumers can afford to buy and drive while adopting practical business models to provide reliable and convenient services to our customers. Carrying the great expectation as well as the social responsibility, we are confident that Kandi will contribute its part in building the green economy in China."

Mr. Yang jian, Vice Chairman of Geely Automobile Holdings Limited congratulates the completion of this new production and assembly line and commented, "We have full confidence with our partnership with Kandi to further expand in the electric vehicle market. With years of exploration, Geely has accumulated rich experience and technological reserves in R&D and marketing of electric vehicles. We believe that the pure electric vehicle industry will witness a great prospect of remarkable growth in the future".

Or how about this joint announcement where Geely sent their Founding VP of Marketing who took Geely from nowhere to the #1 passenger car manufacturer in China to take over the same responsibilities at the JV. (funny how Geely's sales and stock price cratered starting about a month after they lost this SVP to the JV)

Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Co., Ltd. Appointed Mr. Liu Jinliang as Vice President of Sales & Marketing

"…Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Co., Ltd. ('the JV Company') appointed Mr. Liu Jinliang as the Vice President of Sales & Marketing for the JV Company, effective immediately.

Mr. Liu Jinliang joined Geely Auto Co., Ltd in 1995, and from 2005, Mr. Liu was in charge of the sales for Geely Auto. Mr. Liu became the Vice President of Geely Auto Holding Group ('Geely') and General Manager of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Automobile Sales Company Limited in 2007.

Mr. Hu Xiaoming, the General Manager of the JV Company, comments, "The appointment of Mr. Liu Jinliang, one of the most seasoned and experienced sales and marketing senior executive in Geely, to become the VP for Sales and Marketing of the JV Company, demonstrates Geely's great support and focus on the new energy vehicles and the JV Company. We are confident that with Mr. Liu Jinliang in charge of sales and marketing, the JV Company will achieve great development in the new energy vehicle business."

Mr. Li Shufu, Chairman of Geely Auto Holdings Ltd., comments, "New energy vehicle is the strategic business sector for Geely. After years' preparation and accumulation in technologies and marketing, especially the cooperation with Kandi, our new energy vehicle business has entered into a fast development lane. We believe that Mr. Liu Jinliang will utilize his experience and expertise, as well as deploy his resources and take action to make a break-through for the sales of the JV Company's new energy vehicles."

You claim Geely has not transferred any of their auto technology to the JV. Once again, you didn't do your homework. Geely and KNDI jointly developed the EV version of Geely's #1 selling ICE car the Panda. This is four door EV designated the SMA7001BEV that is being used in both the carshare and long lease programs.

And let's not forget this comment from a Dec. SEC 8K filing"

"The JV's current panda 7001 pure EV is remodeled based on Geely's original panda vehicle. There are also other models from Geely that are in the process of being remodeled. Volvo is a part of Geely; at the current stage, we aren't working on any of Volvo's vehicle models."

Let Call a "Spade, a Spade".

KNDI over the past four years, has been the target of more than two dozen attack articles such as yours by a half dozen sources. ShareSlueth alone (whom you credit with giving you most of your four and five year old data along with the personal attack on me) has published 13, with a 10 going back to when the stock was trading between $2.5-4.5 a share. During that time the reported short interest has grown from a reported one million shares or around 4% of the float, to the current 7 million shares or close to 30% of the float. (About the same percentage TSLA was when it finally broke out through $50 a couple of years ago)

In all of those articles, never once has any writer, (to include yourself in the current piece) ever accused KNDI of even doing anything illegal, let alone accuse them of "Fraud". All that is ever attempted is to discredit by insinuation, distortion, innuendo, mis and dis-information in order to "raise doubt" in the minds of intelligent investors to sell their stock to let the shorts out of their trap. Why has the short continued to go up along with the stock price? IMO, because of these articles. They draw attention to the Company forcing inquisitive investors to do a little research. Each day more and more intelligent investors who take a little time to truly research the Company in current light; and take the easily attained massive information proliferated all over the China Media (by using Google Translator, search words Kangdi Electric Vehicles); pair it with the "common sense" that tells China with its very cheap electricity is the one Country that has no choice but to use EV's to help alleviate their pollution problems. And the answer is overwhelmingly simple: Investors would rather be long than short KNDI.

In this current time of Stock Market turmoil and unrest, Nothing, I repeat, Nothing, happening anywhere in the rest of the World is going to negatively affect the growth of EV's in China or KNDI specfically. KNDI, with its miniscule $500 million Market cap and very strong cash heavy balance sheet increased by the recent $71 million $17.20 share financing; is going to likely increase its incredible business momentum in its trillion dollar potential sector in China. Even in catastrophe, the last stimulus that the PRC dare cut is the one to help cure their living environment. Air pollution already has the Government on the edge of Anarchy.

Mr. Richter, it is your opinion that KNDI stock price should be somewhere between "0" and $7, you are certainly entitled to your opinion.

It is my opinion that in the next few years KNDI will have a three digit share price. You would not argue that I am entitled to my opinion.

As ridiculous as it might sound in attack articles about a multi-million share a day volume NASDAQ Company such as KNDI, as mentioned above, I have been personally accused of over-supporting the stock. This is not true. I could care less what the stock does on a day to day basis. However, I proudly admit I have been extremely supportive of the Company and its brilliant Management. I have been in KNDI continuously for over seven years and expect to be holding a position on my last days on earth. At age 67. I have been in the market since 1974 when the Dow traded as low as 576 and watched the birth of most of "today's" tech giants without being smart enough to participate.

IMO, at this early stage, KNDI, while still legitimately speculative in the eyes of many, has potential that far exceeds any of those missed passed opportunities at equivalent age levels. I could care less who buys or sells the stock. It's their money and they can do with it what they want. My writings are only to help "Level the Playing Field" and not passively allow investors to sell or not partake for the wrong reasons.

Disclosure: The author is long KNDI.