UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2021
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ____________to _____________
Commission File No. 001-32898
CBAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Nevada
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
88-0442833
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
CBAK Industrial Park, Meigui Street
Huayuankou Economic Zone
Dalian City, Liaoning Province,
People’s Republic of China, 116450
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(86) (411)-3918-5985
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Common Stock, $0.001 par value
Trading Symbol(s)
CBAT
Name of each exchange on which registered
Nasdaq Capital Market
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. 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 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, a smaller reporting company, or an
emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth
company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer
Non-Accelerated Filer
☐
☒
Accelerated Filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
☐
☒
☐
If an emerging growth company, 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. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act) Yes ☐ No ☒
As of June 30, 2021 (the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter), the aggregate market value of the shares of the
registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates (based upon the closing sale price of $4.71 per share) was approximately $363.3 million. Shares of the
registrant’s common stock held by each executive officer and director and by each person who owns 10% or more of the outstanding common stock have
been excluded from the calculation in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates of the registrant. This determination of affiliate status is not
necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.
There was a total of 88,705,016 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of April 13, 2022.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
CBAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Annual Report on Form 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Business
Risk Factors
Unresolved Staff Comments
Properties
Legal Proceedings
Mine Safety Disclosures
PART II
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
[Reserved]
Management’s Discussion And Analysis Of Financial Condition And Results Of Operations
Quantitative And Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Financial Statements And Supplementary Data
Changes In And Disagreements With Accountants On Accounting And Financial Disclosure
Controls And Procedures
Other Information
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions That Prevent Inspections
PART III
Directors, Executive Officers And Corporate Governance
Executive Compensation
Security Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management And Related Stockholder Matters
Certain Relationships And Related Transactions, And Director Independence
Principal Accounting Fees And Services
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 1B.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7.
Item 7A.
Item 8.
Item 9.
Item 9A.
Item 9B.
Item 9C.
Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.
Item 15.
Item 16.
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
Form 10-K Summary
PART IV
i
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41
54
F-1
55
55
56
56
57
62
65
68
68
69
71
Use of Terms
Except as otherwise indicated by the context and for the purposes of this report only, references in this report to:
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
● “Company”, “we”, “us” and “our” are to the combined business of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc., a Nevada corporation, and its consolidated
subsidiaries;
● “BAK Asia” are to our Hong Kong subsidiary, China BAK Asia Holdings Limited;
● “CBAK Trading” are to our PRC subsidiary, Dalian CBAK Trading Co., Ltd.;
● “CBAK Power” are to our PRC subsidiary, Dalian CBAK Power Battery Co., Ltd.;
● “CBAK Suzhou” are to our 90% owned PRC subsidiary, CBAK New Energy (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.;
● CBAK Energy” are to our PRC subsidiary, Dalian CBAK New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.;
● “BAK Investments” are to our Hong Kong subsidiary, BAK Asia Investments Limited;
● “CBAK Nanjing” are to our PRC subsidiary, CBAK New Energy (Nanjing) Co., Ltd;
● “Nanjing CBAK” are to our PRC subsidiary, Nanjing CBAK New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.;
● “Nanjing Daxin” are to our PRC subsidiary, Nanjing Daxin New Energy Automobile Industry Co., Ltd.;
● “Hitrans” are to our 81.56% owned PRC subsidiary, Zhejiang Hitrans Lithium Battery Technology (we, through CBAK Power, hold 81.56% of
registered equity interests of Hitrans, representing 75.57% of paid-up capital);
● “Guangdong Hitrans” are to Hitrans’s 80% owned PRC subsidiary, Guangdong Meidu Hitrans Resources Recycling Technology Co., Ltd.;
● “Haisheng” are to Hitrans’s wholly-owned PRC subsidiary, Shaoxing Haisheng International Trading Co., Ltd.;
● “RMB” are to Renminbi, the legal currency of China;
● “U.S. dollar”, “$” and “US$” are to the legal currency of the United States;
● “SEC” are to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;
● “Securities Act” are to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and
● “Exchange Act” are to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
ii
Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
Statements contained in this report include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of such term in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section
21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual financial
or operating results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements not to occur or be realized. Forward-looking
statements made in this report generally are based on our best estimates of future results, performances or achievements, predicated upon current conditions
and the most recent results of the companies involved and their respective industries. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-
looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “project,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “continue,” “potential,”
“opportunity” or similar terms, variations of those terms or the negative of those terms or other variations of those terms or comparable words or
expressions.
Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in this report and our other filings with the SEC. These reports
attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and prospects. New
risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, 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
we may make. The forward-looking statements made in this report speak only as of the date hereof and we disclaim any obligation to provide updates,
revisions or amendments to any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in our expectations or future events.
Disclosures Related to Our China-Based Operations
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. is a holding company incorporated in Nevada, the United States, with no material operations of its own. We conduct our
business through our operating subsidiaries in China. This structure involves unique risks to investors, and you may never directly hold equity interests in
the operating entities.
There are significant legal and operational risks associated with having substantially all operations in China, including that changes in the legal, political
and economic policies of the Chinese government, the relations between China and the United States, or Chinese or United States regulations may
materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and the market price of our securities. Moreover, the Chinese
government may exercise significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business and may intervene in or influence our operations at any
time, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our securities or 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 be worthless.
The PRC government recently initiated a series of regulatory actions and made a number of public statements on the regulation of business operations in
China, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas using a
variable interest entity (“VIE”) structure, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding efforts in anti-monopoly
enforcement. We do not believe that our subsidiaries in China are directly subject to these regulatory actions or statements, as we have not carried out any
monopolistic behavior, we have never adopted a VIE structure, and our business does not involve any restricted industry or implicate cybersecurity.
However, since these statements and regulatory actions by the PRC government are newly published and detailed official guidance and related
implementation rules have not been issued or taken effect, uncertainties exist as to how soon the regulatory bodies in China will finalize implementation
measures, and the impacts the modified or new laws and regulations will have on our daily business operation, the ability to accept foreign investments and
list our securities on an U.S. or other foreign exchange. For a detailed description of various risks related to doing business in China, see “Risk Factors —
Risks Related to Doing Business in China” beginning on page 14.
iii
Pursuant to the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCA Act”) enacted in 2020, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the
“PCAOB”) issued a Determination Report on December 16, 2021 which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered
public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong because of a position taken by the authorities in such jurisdictions. The
PCAOB’s report identified specific registered public accounting firms which are subject to these determinations. Our current registered public accounting
firm, Centurion ZD CPA & Co., is headquartered in Hong Kong and was identified in this report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determination. Trading
in our securities may be prohibited under the HFCA Act if the PCAOB determines our audit work is performed by auditors that the PCAOB is unable to
inspect or investigate completely for three consecutive years, and as a result, U.S. national securities exchanges, such as the Nasdaq, may determine to
delist our securities. Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which, if
enacted, would amend the HFCA Act and require the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not
subject to the PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three. We plan to identify and engage an independent public accounting firm that
satisfies the PCAOB inspection requirements for the audit of our consolidated financial statements, subject to compliance with SEC and other requirements
prior to the three-year (or two-year under the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act) deadline of the HFCA Act. See “Risk Factor—
Risks Related to Doing Business in China— The audit report included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K was prepared by an auditor who is not
inspected by the PCAOB and, as such, you are deprived of the benefits of such inspection, we may be subject to additional Nasdaq listing criteria or other
penalties and our securities may be delisted from the U.S. stock market if we were unable to cure the situation to meet the PCAOB inspection requirement
in time.” on page 14.
Summary of Risk Factors
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The following is a summary of significant risk factors and uncertainties that may affect our
business, which are discussed in more detail below under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
● The audit report included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K was prepared by an auditor who is not inspected by the PCAOB and, as such, you
are deprived of the benefits of such inspection, we may be subject to additional Nasdaq listing criteria or other penalties and our securities may be
delisted from the U.S. stock market if we were unable to cure the situation to meet the PCAOB inspection requirement in time.
● The Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations in China at any time, or may exert more control over offerings conducted
outside China by and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in our operations and in the value of
our securities. Any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted outside China by
and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer securities to investors and cause
the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
● Changes in U.S. and Chinese regulations or in relations between the United States and China may adversely impact our business, our operating
results, our ability to raise capital and the value of our securities. Any such changes may take place quickly and with very little notice.
● There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations.
● CBAK Energy Technology, Inc., as a holding company incorporated in Nevada, the United States, without material operations of its own, relies on
dividends and other distributions on equity paid by its PRC operating subsidiaries for its cash needs.
● Investors may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing original actions in China based
upon U.S. laws, including the federal securities laws or other foreign laws against us or our management.
● The approval of the CSRC or other Chinese regulatory agencies may be required in connection with our future capital-raising activities outside
China under Chinese law.
● Our independent auditors have expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
● If the COVID-19 pandemic is not effectively controlled in a short period of time, our business operation and financial condition in the long-term
may be materially and adversely affected as a result of any slowdown in economic growth, operation disruptions or other factors that we cannot
predict.
● The acquisition of a controlling interest in Hitrans may fail to result in anticipated benefits but has involved significant investment and
commitment of financial and other resources.
● There are inherent risks associated with new product development and our efforts to develop and market new products could fail.
● Our failure, if any, to keep up with rapid technological changes and evolving industry standards may cause our products to become obsolete and
less marketable, resulting in loss of market share to our competitors.
● Our efforts to enter into the light electric vehicle business could fail.
● Maintaining our R&D activities and manufacturing operations require significant capital expenditures, and our inability or failure to maintain our
operations could have a material adverse impact on our market share and ability to generate revenue.
● We face intense competition from other battery manufacturers and cathode material and precursor producers, many of which have significantly
greater resources.
● We are dependent on a limited number of customers for a significant portion of our revenues and this dependence is likely to continue.
iv
● Our business depends on the growth in demand for light electric vehicles, electric vehicles, electric tools, energy storage, such as UPS application,
and other high-power electric devices.
● Our success, in part, depends on the success of manufacturers of the end applications that use our products, and our failure to gain acceptance of
our products from such manufacturers could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and profitability.
● We do not have product liability insurance for claims against our product quality. Defects in our products could result in a loss of customers and
decrease in revenue, unexpected expenses and a loss of market share.
● We do not have long-term purchase commitments from our customers, which may result in significant uncertainties and volatility with respect to
our revenue from period to period.
● We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to remediate the material weaknesses or maintain
an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud, and
investor confidence and the market price of our shares may be adversely affected.
● Numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, may cause the market price of common stock to fluctuate significantly.
● Techniques employed by short sellers may drive down the market price of the common stock of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.
● Other risks identified in this report and in our other reports filed with the SEC, including those identified in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” below.
v
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
Overview of Our Business
PART I
We are a manufacturer of new energy high power lithium batteries that are mainly used in light electric vehicles, electric vehicles, electric tools, energy
storage including but not limited to uninterruptible power supply (UPS) application, and other high-power applications. Our primary product offering
consists of new energy high power lithium batteries, but we are also seeking to expand into the production and sale of light electric vehicles. After
completing the acquisition of 81.56% of registered equity interests (representing 75.57% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans in November 2021, we entered into
the business of developing and manufacturing NCM precursor and cathode materials. Hitrans is a leading developer and manufacturer of ternary precursor
and cathode materials in China, whose products have a wide range of applications including electric vehicles, electric tools, high-end digital products and
storage, among others.
We acquired most of our operating assets, including customers, employees, patents and technologies from our former subsidiary BAK International
(Tianjin) Ltd. (“BAK Tianjin”). We acquired these assets in exchange for a reduction in accounts receivable from our former subsidiaries that were
disposed of in June 2014.
As of December 31, 2021, we report financial and operational information in two segments: (i) producing high-power lithium battery cells, and (ii)
manufacture and sale of materials used in high-power lithium battery cells.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to our operations in 2021. Our Dalian facility’s operations were suspended in November 2021 due to the
COVID-19 containment measures adopted by the local government. Hitrans’s production facility in Shangyu, Zhejiang was also temporarily closed from
December 9 to 24, 2021 to comply with the local lockdown policy in response to a surge of COVID-19 cases. Notwithstanding, the COVID-19 pandemic
has had limited adverse impacts on our operating results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. We generated revenues of $52.7 million and $37.6
million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We had a net profit of $61.6 million and net loss of $7.8 million in the fiscal
years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, we had an accumulated deficit of $122.5 million and net assets of
$140.9 million. We had negative cash flows from operating activities, an accumulated deficit from recurring net losses incurred for the prior years and
significant short-term debt obligations maturing in less than one year as of December 31, 2021.
In the second half of 2021, we completed the capital intensive construction undertakings in Nanjing to expand the Company’s manufacturing capabilities
for lithium batteries. In addition, we have been expanding our business by developing new products, fostering new partnerships and strategic acquisition of
companies that complement and augment our business.
Favorable Policies for New Energy Vehicles
Due to the growing environmental pollution problem, the Chinese government has been providing support to the development of new energy facilities and
vehicles for several years. It is expected that we will be able to secure more potential orders from the new energy market. We believe that with the booming
market demand in high power lithium-iron products, we can continue as a going concern and return to profitability.
1
In 2015, to promote the development of electric vehicles industry, the Chinese government issued a subsidy policy named Notice of 2016-2020 New
Energy Vehicles Promotion with Financial Support, which regulated subsidies for consumers in purchase of electric vehicles from the central government
and local governments. The policy sets forth subsidy standards for various types of electric vehicles based upon the endurance mileage, battery pack energy
density, energy consumption level and others, which means new energy vehicles providing long driving range and high technical performance will get
higher subsidies. From 2017 to 2020, the Chinese government has gradually reduced the subsidy standards for electric vehicles year by year. On April 23,
2020, the Chinese government extended the subsidy for another two years and the subsidy standards would continue to fall by 10%, 20% and 30% in 2020,
2021 and 2022, respectively. On December 31, 2021, the Chinese government announced to reduce new energy electric vehicle subsidies by 30% in 2022
from 2021. These subsidies are set to be scrapped on December 31, 2022.
On the other hand, for the purposes of establishing a long-term mechanism for the administration of energy conservation and new energy vehicles, and
promoting the development of the automobile industry, the Chinese government has implemented several policies to stimulate the increase of new energy
vehicles. On December 26, 2017, the Chinese government issued a policy for exemption of purchase tax for electric vehicles for another three years until
2020. In March 2020, the Chinese government extended the purchase tax exemption from 2020 to 2022.
On September 28, 2017, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a new policy named Measures for Parallel Administration of
the Average Fuel Consumption and New Energy Vehicle Credits of Passenger Vehicle Enterprises (“Measures for Parallel Administration”). According to
the Measures for Parallel Administration, the Chinese government will calculate and examine the Average Fuel Consumption Credits and New Energy
Vehicle Credits of enterprises manufacturing passenger vehicles. If the enterprises get negative credits on the declaration day, their production of high-fuel
consumption vehicles will be suspended. The positive credits of average fuel consumption of passenger vehicle makers may be carried forward or
transferred among affiliated enterprises. A passenger vehicle manufacturer’s negative credits with respect to new energy vehicles shall subject the
manufacturer to compensation obligations and need to be zeroing through purchasing positive credits of new energy vehicles. Accordingly, the automobile
makers are required to produce more new energy vehicles or pay money to other enterprises to get positive credits if their credits are negative. The
Measures for Parallel Administration became effective on April 1, 2018.
2
On October 20, 2020, the State Council of PRC issued a new round of “Development Plan for New Energy Vehicles Industry (2021-2035)” (“Plan”), which
is a successor to the previously published “Development Plan for Energy Conservation and New Energy Vehicles Industry (2012-2020)”. The Plan admits
several key problems facing Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturers and stresses that these manufacturers should be committed to improving their R&D
ability, building more infrastructure and promoting the integration of the whole industry. The Plan further outlined the policy and administrative supports
that would be given to the industry, and again certified the importance of the development of new energy vehicles for China.
On January 21, 2021, the Ministry of Transport of PRC issued a new policy named “the 14th Five-year Development Plan for Green Transport” (the “14th
Five-year Plan”), which accelerates the promotion of new energy and clean energy vehicles in the area of urban bus system, taxis and logistical vehicles.
The 14th Five-year Plan clearly stipulates that the percentage of new energy vehicles in buses, taxis and logistical vehicles in designated national ecological
experimental zones and air pollution control zones shall be no lower than 80%.
On October 24, 2021, the State Council of PRC issued a new policy named the “Action Plan to Peak Carbon Dioxide Emissions before 2030” (the “Action
Plan”), which further emphasizes the significance of promotion of clean energy generation facilities and the charging networks for new energy vehicles.
The Action Plan reflects the determination of the Chinese government in reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and provides tremendous supports to the
development of the new energy industry.
On November 15, 2021, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a new policy named “the 14th Five-year Plan for Green
Industrial Development”, which clearly sets a target to reach significant achievements in the recycling of batteries in energy storage and power battery area
by 2025.
We believe these energy efficiency policies in the long term will result in a healthy development of the new energy vehicles market as a whole. In the short
term, the extension of subsidies, to some extent, helps ease the pressure on electric vehicle manufacturers and as a result, will be beneficial to the market of
EV batteries in China. In the long term, as the subsidy policy officially comes to an end at the end of 2022, the electric vehicle market will be in full
competition. We believe that the market for light electric vehicles including electric bicycles, under this circumstance, will have a big potential to grow. We
plan to continue to maintain our focus on the existing cylindrical batteries for UPS market, while directing resources to the light electric vehicle market
with our new products featuring higher energy density. Meanwhile, we are also researching new products for electric vehicle market to cater to the EV
market demand. We will closely monitor market changes and adjust our operations at appropriate time.
Expansion of Manufacturing Capabilities
In June 2020, our wholly-owned subsidiary, BAK Asia entered into a framework investment agreement with Jiangsu Gaochun Economic Development
Zone Development Group Company (“Gaochun EDZ”), pursuant to which we intend to develop certain lithium battery projects which are expected to have
a total production capacity of 8 GWh per year. As of December 31, 2021, we had received government subsidies in an amount of RMB47.1 million
(approximately $7.4 million) from Gaochun EDZ. We plan to attain a total capacity of 8 GWh per year to produce lithium batteries for the light electric
vehicle (LEV), electric vehicle, and energy storage industries. The Company expects to achieve such capacity expansion through two phases of
construction: Phase I is to be completed by the end of 2022 to reach an annual production capacity of 2 GWh. Phase II is to be completed by the end of
2023 to reach the remaining 6 GWh of the planned annual production capacity expansion. The actual production capacity and construction timelines of
such battery projects are subject to revision and adjustment based on the market acceptance of our new battery products. We are currently in the first phase
construction of facilities, which occupy an area of approximately 10,260 square meters and the second-phase construction is at the design stage. As part of
the first phase, we are constructing the production lines of model 32140 battery, a new battery model as further described below. As of December 31, 2021,
a total capacity of 0.7 GWh per year was put into operation in Phase I.
Further, we have been constructing a new production line with an annual capacity of 0.4 GWh to produce additional 100,000 model 26650 batteries per day
in Dalian due to increased demands for our model 26650 batteries. As of December 31, 2021, the production line was put into operation. At the same
time, the Company continues to renovate its existing facilities, upgrade its equipment, add new equipment, improve its product functionality, and enhance
the raw materials and components used for production.
Development of New Battery Models
Currently, our primary battery product offering consists of model 26650, 26700 and 32140 lithium cells which account for approximately 82% of our
battery sales in 2021. Model 26650 26700 and 32140 batteries can be used in light electric vehicles, electric vehicles, electric tools, energy storage such as
uninterruptible power supply (UPS) application, and other high-power applications.
To maintain our competitive position, we have developed model 32140 large-sized cylindrical “tabless” battery which is being produced in our Nanjing
manufacturing center. Model 32140 batteries can be used in end applications such as light electric vehicles, electric vehicles, electric tools and energy
storage.
3
We also announced in February 2021 that we have started the trial production of special 26650 lithium battery, which was designed for application in ultra-
low temperature. Capable of operating with high efficiency in low-temperature environments, the special 26650 battery has several use cases in high-
latitude and high-altitude low temperature environments, such as energy storage in ultra-low-temperature environment, base stations, transportation,
unmanned drones, aviation and aerospace areas, as well as other specific circumstances that require ultra-low-temperature cells.
Acquisition of a Raw Materials Manufacturer
On July 20, 2021, CBAK Power, a wholly-owned Chinese subsidiary of the Company, entered into a framework agreement relating to CBAK Power’s
investment in Zhejiang Hitrans Lithium Battery Technology Co., Ltd, pursuant to which CBAK Power agreed to acquire 81.56% of registered equity
interests (representing 75.57% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans (the “Acquisition”). The Acquisition was completed on November 26, 2021.
CBAK Power paid approximately RMB40.74 million ($6.4 million) in cash to acquire 21.56% of registered equity interests (representing 21.18% of paid-
up capital) of Hitrans from Hitrans management shareholders. In addition, CBAK Power entered into a loan agreement with Hitrans to lend Hitrans
approximately RMB131 million ($20.6 million) (the “Hitrans Loan”) by remitting approximately RMB131 million ($20.6 million) into the account of
Shaoxing Intermediate People’s Court to remove the freeze on Zhejiang Meidu Graphene Technology Co., Ltd. (“Meidu Graphene”)’s 60% of registered
equity interests (representing 54.39% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans which freeze was imposed as a result of a lawsuit for Hitrans’s failure to make
payments in connection with the purchase of land use rights, plants, equipment, pollution discharge permit and other assets (the “Assets”). CBAK Power
assigned RMB118 million ($18.5 million) of the Hitrans Loan to Mr. Junnan Ye as consideration for the acquisition of 60% of registered equity interests
(representing 54.39% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans from Mr. Ye who, acting as an intermediary, first purchased the 60% of registered equity interests
(representing 75.57 % of paid-up capital) of Hitrans from Meidu Graphene. After such assignment, Hitrans shall repay Mr. Ye at least RMB70 million
($10.84 million) within two months of obtaining title to the Assets and the rest RMB48 million ($7.43 million) by December 31, 2021, along with a fixed
interest of RMB3.5 million ($0.54 million) which can be reduced by up to RMB1 million ($0.15 million) if the loan is repaid before its due date. Hitrans
shall repay the remaining approximately RMB13 million ($2.01 million) of the Hitrans Loan to CBAK Power at an interest rate of 6% per annum. As of
January 29, 2022, Hitrans repaid all the loan principal of RMB118 million ($18.5 million) and interest of RMB3.5 million ($0.54 million) to Mr. Ye.
Prior to the Acquisition, CBAK Power and Hangzhou Juzhong Daxin Asset Management Co., Ltd. (“Juzhong Daxin”) entered into a framework investment
agreement (the “Letter of Intent”) for a potential acquisition of Hitrans, and CBAK Power paid RMB20 million ($3.10 million) to Juzhong Daxin as a
security deposit under the Letter of Intent. On July 27, 2021, Juzhong Daxin returned RMB7 million ($1.1 million) of the security deposit to CBAK Power.
The remaining RMB3 million ($0.5 million) had not yet been repaid by Juzhong Daxin up to the date of this report. The Company is still negotiating with
Juzhong Daxin, as Juzhong Daxin believes that according to the Security Acquisition Framework Agreement entered into between CBAK Power and
Juzhong Daxin, CBAK Power should pay RMB3 million ($0.5 million) as risk premium for facilitating the acquisition. CBAK Power believes it is not
reasonable to pay any of the risk premium in accordance with the terms of the agreement and Juzhong Daxin should return RMB3 million ($0.5 million) to
CBAK Power. CBAK Power has taken legal action for the outstanding balance.
As part of the Acquisition, Hitrans obtained title to the Assets. Upon the closing of the Acquisition, CBAK Power became the largest shareholder of
Hitrans holding 81.56% of its registered equity interests (representing 75.57% of paid-up capital). As required by applicable Chinese laws, CBAK Power is
obliged to make capital contributions for the portion of Hitrans’s registered capital subscribed but unpaid in accordance with the articles of association of
Hitrans.
We believe that the acquisition of Hitrans is beneficial in enhancing the Company’s competitiveness in the supply chain.
Trends in End Applications of Our Products
Our business, financial condition and results of operations depend on whether end-application manufacturers are willing to use our products. We target the
battery markets for light electric vehicles, electric vehicles, electric tools, energy storage including but not limited to UPS application, and other high-
power electric devices. However, our revenues derived from a specific end-application have been fluctuating depending on various factors such as
governmental policies, technological changes, evolving industry standards and customer needs and preferences.
During the period from 2017 to 2019, our largest electric vehicle customers included Dongfeng Autos, Dayun Motor and Yema Auto. Our battery sales in
the electric vehicle market have decreased significantly during the period of 2018–2021 as a result of changes to the Chinese government’s new energy
vehicle subsidy policies. More specifically, under the subsidy policies, new energy vehicles receive different subsidies based on their driving range and
technical performance. New energy vehicles providing long driving range and high technical performance qualify for higher subsidies and the Chinese
government has gradually raised the performance thresholds for electric vehicles to receive subsidies over the years. Since 2019, as the battery packs
comprising our primary model 26650 batteries were only able to support energy vehicles that qualify for the lowest level of subsidies, electric vehicle
producers do not have the incentive to purchase batteries from us. As a result, we had only generated approximately $0.2 million in revenues from electric
vehicle customers in 2021. The market where we mainly sell now is the energy storage market. However, we have been looking for opportunities to re-
enter the electric vehicle battery market by continuing to develop batteries suitable for electric vehicles and actively cooperating with previous electric
vehicle customers in battery pack after-sales service and technical support.
4
Our Corporate History and Structure
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. was incorporated in the State of Nevada on October 4, 1999. The shares of common stock of CBAK Energy Technology,
Inc. traded in the over-the-counter market through the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board from 2005 until May 31, 2006, the date when CBAK Energy
Technology, Inc. obtained approval to list its common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market, and trading commenced that same date under the symbol
“CBAK.” Effective November 30, 2018, the trading symbol for the common stock of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. was changed from CBAK to CBAT.
Effective June 21, 2019, CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.’s common stock started trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
We currently conduct our business primarily through (i) three wholly-owned operating subsidiaries in China that we own through BAK Asia, an investment
holding company formed under the laws of Hong Kong on July 9, 2013; (ii) CBAK Nanjing, a wholly-owned subsidiary in China that we own through
BAK Investments, an investment holding company formed under the laws of Hong Kong and acquired by us on July 14, 2020; (iii) Nanjing CBAK, a
100% owned subsidiary of CBAK Nanjing; (iv) Nanjing Daxin, a 100% owned subsidiary of CBAK Nanjing; and (v) Hitrans, a subsidiary of CBAK
Power, which we owned 81.56% of registered equity interests (representing 75.57% of paid-up capital) owned subsidiary of CBAK Power:
● CBAK Trading, wholly-owned by BAK Asia, located in Dalian, China, incorporated on August 14, 2013, focuses on the wholesale of lithium
batteries and lithium batteries’ materials, import & export business and related technology consulting service.
● CBAK Power, wholly-owned by BAK Asia, located in Dalian, China, incorporated on December 27, 2013, focuses on the development and
manufacture of high-power lithium batteries.
● CBAK Suzhou, 90% owned by CBAK Power, located in Suzhou, China, incorporated on May 4, 2018, used to focus on the development and
manufacture of new energy high power battery packs. CBAK Suzhou currently does not have any employees working locally. Since its lease
expired in October 2019, CBAK Suzhou has stopped using the facilities located at its registered address. Some of its business has been transferred
to our subsidiaries in Dalian and CBAK Suzhou’s remaining assets are temporarily stored in our facilities in Dalian. We plan to dissolve CBAK
Suzhou in 2022.
● Hitrans, 81.56% owned by CBAK Power, located in Shangyu, Shaoxing, China, incorporated on December 16, 2015, principally engaged in the
business of research and development, production and sales of cathode materials and precursors of lithium batteries.
● Guangdong Hitrans, 80% owned by Hitrans, located in Dongguan, Guangdong, China, incorporated on July 6, 2018, principally engaged in the
business of wastes recycling.
● Haisheng, wholly-owned by Hitrans, located in Shangyu, Shaoxing, China, incorporated on October 9, 2021, principally engaged in the business
of raw materials trading.
● CBAK Energy, wholly-owned by BAK Asia, located in Dalian, China, incorporated on November 21, 2019, focuses on the development and
manufacture of lithium batteries, wholesale of lithium batteries and lithium batteries’ materials, import & export business and related technology
consulting service.
● CBAK Nanjing, wholly-owned by BAK Investments located in Nanjing, China, incorporated on July 31, 2020, focuses on the development and
manufacture of lithium batteries, wholesale of lithium batteries and lithium batteries’ materials, import & export business and related technology
consulting service.
● Nanjing CBAK, wholly owned by CBAK Nanjing, located in Nanjing, China, incorporated on August 6, 2020, focuses on the development and
manufacture of lithium batteries, wholesale of lithium batteries and lithium batteries’ materials, import & export business and related technology
consulting service.
● Nanjing Daxin, wholly-owned by CBAK Nanjing, incorporated on November 9, 2020, focuses on the development and manufacture of electric
bicycle, motorcycle and automobile spare parts, import & export business and related technology consulting service.
5
Almost all of our business operations are conducted primarily through our Chinese subsidiaries. The chart below presents our current corporate structure:
Our Products
The use of new materials has enabled the configuration of high-power lithium battery cells to contain much higher energy density and higher voltage and
have a longer life cycle and shorter charge time than other types of lithium-based batteries. These special attributes, coupled with intrinsic safety features,
are suitable for batteries used for high-power applications, such as electric cars, electric bicycles, electric tools, and energy storage such as uninterruptible
power supply, or UPS application.
We currently are manufacturing the following high power lithium batteries, which can be used for various applications:
Battery Cell Type
High-power lithium battery
* Bracketed numbers denote number of cells per particular battery.
End applications*
Electric bus [6,000-20,000]
Electric car [1,500-3,5000]
Hybrid electric vehicle [500-2000]
Light electric vehicle [10-150]
Cordless power tool [10-30]
Energy Storage including UPS [>30]
6
On November 29, 2021, we announced the completion of the acquisition of 81.56% equity interests of Hitrans. We thus incorporate the manufacture and
sale of the following materials used in high power lithium batteries as part of our operations:
Material Type
Cathode
Precursor
End applications*
High-power lithium battery
Cathode materials
Precursors are in general made from nickel salts, cobalt salts and manganese salts, and are used in manufacturing cathode materials. Cathode materials are
crucial raw materials to manufacture lithium-ion batteries.
Key High Power Lithium Battery Applications
End-product applications that are driving the demand for high power lithium batteries include electric vehicles, such as electric cars, electric buses, hybrid
electric cars and buses; light electric vehicles, such as electric bicycles, electric motors, sight-seeing cars; and electric tools, energy storage including but
not limited to uninterruptible power supply application, and other high-power applications.
Electric Vehicles
An electric vehicle, sometimes referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more electric motors for propulsion. Electric vehicles include electric
cars, electric buses, electric trains, electric lorries, electric airplanes, electric boats, and hybrid electric vehicles, plug in hybrid electric vehicles and electric
spacecraft. Electric cars and electric buses are propelled by one or more electric motors powered by rechargeable battery packs. Electric cars and buses
have the potential to significantly reduce city pollution by having zero tail pipe emissions. Electric cars and buses are also expected to have less
dependence on oil. World governments are pledging significant funds to fund the development of electric vehicles and their components due in part to these
advantages. Due to these factors and a lithium battery’s relatively environmentally-friendly, light-weight and high-capacity features, the demand for lithium
batteries in the field of electric cars and buses is increasing.
Due to such recent trends as renewed concerns relating to the availability and price of oil, increased legal fuel-efficiency requirements and incentives, and
heightened interest in environmentally-friendly or “green” technologies, hybrid electric vehicles are likely to continue to attract substantial interest from
vehicle manufacturers and consumers. Hybrid electric vehicles include automobiles, trucks, buses, and other vehicles that combine a conventional
propulsion system with a rechargeable energy storage system to achieve better fuel economy than conventional vehicles. As these vehicles tend to be large
and heavy, their rechargeable energy storage system generally consists of a large quantity of rechargeable high-power lithium cells.
The year 2014 was seen as the first real year for the development of China’s new energy vehicle industry by many industry insiders. After explosive growth
in 2017, the production and sales of new energy vehicles continued to grow tremendously in 2018, 2020 and 2021, despite of a slightly decline in 2019.
According to Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China (“MIIT”), from January to December 2018, the production of new energy vehicles
in China reached 1,270,000 units - up 43.4 percent year-on-year; and sales in China reached 1,256,000 units - up 61.7 percent year-on-year. In 2019, the
production and sales of new energy vehicles reached 1,242,000 units and 1,206,000 units, down 2.3 percent and 4.0 percent year-on-year, respectively. In
2020, the production and sales of new energy vehicles reached 1,366,000 units and 1,267,000 units, up 10.0 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively, from
2019. In 2021, the production and sales of new energy vehicles continued to grow significantly, reaching a record high of 3,545,000 units and 3,521,000
units, both up almost 1.6 times from last year. The subsidy policy on new energy vehicles is set to be scrapped on December 31, 2022. We believe that
Chinese electric vehicle market is adversely impacted by the gradually decreasing subsidy in the short term. In the long term, we believe that the Chinese
market for new energy vehicles will gradually grow into a fully competitive market in which new energy vehicles will be rapidly popularized.
Light Electric Vehicles
Light electric vehicles include bicycles, scooters, and motorcycles, with rechargeable electric motors. Due to their relatively small size and light design,
approximately 10-150 high-power lithium cells can be used to power light electric vehicles. We believe that the electric bicycle market in China is very
large.
7
Light electric vehicles have drawn great attention from the international market as a solution to the global environment and energy problems. With
governments in China, Japan, Europe, South Asia, and North America promoting the application of light electric vehicles, this market has been growing
tremendously. Typically, China’s domestic market for light electric vehicles is predicted to peak from 2022 to 2023. China has the world’s biggest electric
bicycle market, promoted by the adoption of new “national standard” of electric bicycles by the Chinese government, which leads to a nation-wide
upgrading of electric bicycles from old “national standard.” Plus, the popularity of the concept of shared electric bicycles in China further creates
momentum to the growth of the market. The pandemic of Covid-19 stimulates the development of food delivery industry that increases the demand for
shared electric bicycles. We believe that the adoption of new “national standard” and the increasing demand for shared electric bicycles will rapidly boost
the market.
In India, Southeast Asia and European markets, thanks to the carbon emission and pollution reduction policies promoted by local governments, electric
vehicles have been viewed as a solution to replace traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. Unlike electric vehicles whose market has already been fully
competitive, light electric vehicles including electric bicycles still have a great potential to grow.
Energy Storage & Uninterruptible Power Supplies (“UPS”)
Energy storage mainly means storage of electric energy by battery, inductor, and capacitor. Battery energy storage is mainly used for storage of emergency
supply, battery car, and redundant energy of power plants. A UPS is a form of energy storage application. A UPS provides emergency power from a
separate source when utility power is not available. The most common type of battery used in UPS is Sealed Lead-Acid, however, due to the lithium
battery’s relatively small size, light design and environmentally friendly features, the demand for lithium batteries in this industry is increasing.
Electric Tools
Electric tools such as drills, saws and grinders are used for both commercial and personal use. Due to high power requirements, many electric tools have
historically used small combustion engines, used heavier nickel metal hydride batteries or relied on external power sources. Manufacturers of electric tools,
such as Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., the Bosch Group, Metabowerke GmbH and Rigid Tool Company have begun
to use lithium-ion technology. The market for portable high-powered electric tools is rapidly growing and has prompted many users, both commercial and
personal, to replace or upgrade their current power tools.
Sales and Marketing
We plan to build an extensive sales and service network in China, highlighted by our presence in the regions where China’s main lithium battery
productions located, such as Tianjin, Shandong Province, Guangdong Province and Jiangsu Province. We intend to gradually establish post-sales service
offices in these areas to serve brand owners and pack manufacturers in each designated area as currently our marketing department at headquarters is
responsible for our promoting efforts. In doing so, our sales staff works closely with our customers to understand their needs and provide feedback to us so
that we can better address their needs and improve the quality and features of our products.
We also engage in marketing activities such as attending industry-specific conferences and exhibitions to promote our products and brand name. We
believe these activities are conducive in promoting our products and brand name among key industry participants.
8
Suppliers
The primary raw materials used in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries include electrode materials, cases and caps, foils, electrolyte and separators. The
primary raw materials used in our materials business include cobaltous sulfates, manganese sulfates, lithium hydroxides, lithium carbonates and liquid
nickel sulfates. Cost of these raw materials is a key factor in pricing our products. We source such raw materials from a couple of suppliers across China.
We believe that there is an ample supply of most of the raw materials we need in China. We are seeking to identify alternative raw material suppliers to the
extent there are viable alternatives and to expand our use of alternative raw materials.
We aim to maintain multiple supply sources for each of our key raw materials to ensure that supply problems with any one supplier will not materially
disrupt our operations. In addition, we strive to develop strategic relationships with new suppliers to secure a stable supply of materials and introduce
competition in our supply chain, thereby increasing our ability to negotiate better pricing and reducing our exposure to possible price fluctuations.
Intellectual Property
On August 25, 2014, we entered into an intellectual property rights use agreement with Shenzhen BAK Battery Co., Ltd (“Shenzhen BAK”), pursuant to
which we are authorized to use Shenzhen BAK’s registered logo, trademarks and patents obtained as of June 30, 2014 for a period of 5 years for free from
June 30, 2014. As of June 30, 2014, Shenzhen BAK had registered 80 trademarks in the PRC, including BAK in both English and in Chinese characters as
well as its logo, and had registered 49 trademarks in the United States, European Union, Korea, Russia, Taiwan, India, Canada and Hong Kong. As of June
30, 2014, Shenzhen BAK had registered 522 patents in the PRC and other countries relating to battery cell materials, design and manufacturing processes.
As of December 31, 2019, our intellectual property rights use agreement with Shenzhen BAK had expired, and we no longer have rights to use the
foregoing trademarks and patents of Shenzhen BAK. We believe that our proprietary patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights are adequate
to fulfill our operational needs.
As of December 31, 2021, CBAK Power has 62 patents in the PRC, 2 of which will expire before 2025 while the remaining 60 will expire between 2025 to
2039. Two of these patents were acquired by BAK Asia, from an unrelated third party at RMB1 and were contributed as paid-in capital of CBAK Power.
CBAK Energy has 7 patents in the PRC, all of which will expire between 2030 and 2040. Nanjing CBAK has 1 patent in PRC which will expire in 2040.
Hitrans has 18 patents in the PRC, all of which will expire between 2026 and 2041.
We have registered the following Internet and WAP domain name: www.cbak.com.cn.
We also have unpatented proprietary technologies for our product offerings and key stages of the manufacturing process. Our management and key
technical personnel have entered into agreements requiring them to keep confidential all information relating to our customers, methods, business and trade
secrets during their terms of employment with us and thereafter and to assign to us their inventions, technologies and designs they develop during their
term of employment with us.
9
We have institutionalized our efforts to safeguard our intellectual property rights by establishing an internal department that includes professionals such as
attorneys, engineers, information managers and archives managers responsible for handling matters relating to our intellectual property rights. We have
published internally a series of rules to protect our intellectual property rights.
While our intellectual property rights in the aggregate are important to the operation of each of our businesses, we do not believe that our business would
be materially affected by the expiration of any particular intellectual property right.
Seasonality
Seasonality does not materially affect our business or operating results. As our battery cell and battery material products have a wide range of applications,
we have not experienced significant seasonal fluctuations in market demands or sales recently. Market demands for our products generally slightly drop
during the Chinese New Year holiday, a major national holiday in China.
Customers
Currently, major customers for our high power lithium batteries business include Viessmann Faulquemont S.A.S, ShenZhen ZTS Technology, Co., Ltd.,
Northvolt Battery System AB and SolaX Power. Major customers for our materials segment include Hunan Brunp Recycling Technology Co., Ltd.,
Beijing Easpring Material Technology Co., Ltd. and Farasis Energy (GanZhou) Co., Ltd. We believe that we will continue to increase our revenue and
market share as we gradually increase our high-power batteries production as the demand for these batteries has been increasing.
Geography of Sales
Before June 30, 2014, we sold our products domestically and internationally. Thereafter, we sell high-power lithium battery primarily to customers in
China. The following table sets forth certain information relating to our total revenues by location of our customers for the last two fiscal years:
Fiscal Years ended
December 31, 2020
December 31, 2021
Amount
% of Net
Revenues
Amount
% of Net
Revenues
Mainland China
USA
Korea
Europe
Others
Total
$
$
10
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except percentages)
94 $
0
1
5
0
100 $
43,745,765
440
-
8,503,338
420,190
52,669,733
35,464,245
3,592
246,453
1,776,000
75,862
37,566,152
83
0
16
1
100
Competition
We face intense competition from high-power lithium battery makers and raw materials manufacturers in China, as well as in Korea and Japan for each of
our product types. The following table sets forth our major competitors in the battery market broken down by the EV market, LEV market and UPS market
as of December 31, 2021, as well as in the materials market:
Product Type
EV battery
LEV battery
UPS battery
Cathode & Precursor
Competitors
Japan:
Korea:
China:
Panasonic Corporation
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd LG Chemical
Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-stock Co., Ltd Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd Hefei
Guoxuan Hi-Tech Power Energy Co., Ltd China Aviation Lithium Battery Co., Ltd
China:
Tianneng Power International Limited Chaowei Power Holdings Limited Phylion Battery Co.,
Ltd
China:
Shandong Goldencell Electronics Technology Co., Ltd DLG Power Battery (Shanghai) Co., Ltd
Dongguan Power Long Battery Technology Co., Limited
Japan:
Korea:
China:
Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
Umicore N.V.
Beijing Easpring Material Technology Co., Ltd. Ningbo Ronbay Lithium Battery Material Co.,
Ltd.
We believe that we are able to leverage our low-cost advantage to compete favorably with our competitors. Compared to Korean and Japanese battery
makers, we are able to source our needs for skilled labor and raw materials locally and economically. Compared to Chinese battery makers, we believe we
have higher consistency and safety in product quality, which enables us to compete favorably with local competitors.
Research and Development
The R&D of next-generation advanced lithium battery and its key materials – characterized by high energy density, high security, long-lasting life, and low
cost – as well as the training of related technical talents, have become a major demand in the development of advanced electric vehicles in China.
We have an advanced R&D center in Dalian for lithium battery, receiving almost all the R&D achievements, R&D equipment and staff of BAK Tianjin.
BAK Tianjin began its R&D manufacturing and distribution of high-power lithium battery and battery modules in December 2006, for use in electric cars,
electric bicycles, UPS, and other applications.
In addition to our efforts to develop new batteries at lower cost and higher energy density, we are also focusing on the research and development of high-
nickel low-cobalt materials characterized by high energy density, low cost and broader applications. We have an advanced R&D center in Shaoxing for
materials. Besides, significant R&D resources are invested to develop single-crystal high-voltage products as well as high-rate materials which enable 15C
discharge rate.
Regulatory Compliance
Environmental Regulations
As we conduct our manufacturing activities in China, we are subject to the requirements of PRC environmental laws and regulations on air emission,
wastewater discharge, solid waste and noise. The major environmental regulations applicable to us include the PRC Environmental Protection Law, the
PRC Law on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution and its Implementation Rules, the PRC Law on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution and
its Implementation Rules, the PRC Law on the Prevention and Control of Solid Waste Pollution, and the PRC Law on the Prevention and Control of Noise
Pollution. We aim to comply with environmental laws and regulations. We have built environmental treatment facilities concurrently with the construction
of our manufacturing facilities, where waste air, wastewater and waste solids we generate can be treated in accordance with the relevant requirements. We
outsource the disposal of solid waste we generate in the Dalian facility to a third-party contractor. Certain key materials used in manufacturing, such as
cobalt dioxide, electrolyte and separators, have proven innocuous to worker’s health and safety as well as the environment. We are not subject to any
admonitions, penalties, investigations or inquiries imposed by the environmental regulators, nor are we subject to any claims or legal proceedings to which
we are named as a defendant for violation of any environmental law or regulation. We do not have any reasonable basis to believe that there is any
threatened claim, action or legal proceedings against us that would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of
operations.
11
Regulations Relating to Foreign Investment
The establishment, operation and management of corporate entities in mainland China are governed by the Company Law of the People’s Republic of
China, or the China Company Law, which was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (“SCNPC”) in December 1993,
implemented in July 1994, and subsequently amended in December 1999, August 2004, October 2005, December 2013 and October 2018. Under the China
Company Law, companies are generally classified into two categories: limited liability companies and companies limited by shares. The China Company
Law also applies to foreign-invested limited liability companies and foreign-invested companies limited by shares. Pursuant to the China Company Law,
where laws on foreign investment have other stipulations, such stipulations shall prevail. In December 2021, the SCNPC issued the draft amendment to the
China Company Law for comment. The draft amended China Company Law has made roughly 70 substantive changes to the 13 chapters and 218 articles
of the current Company Law (rev. 2018). It would (i) refine special provisions on state-funded companies; (ii) improve the company establishment and exit
system; (iii) optimize corporate structure and corporate governance; (iv) optimize the capital structure; (v) tighten the responsibilities of controlling
shareholders and management personnel; and (vi) strengthen corporate social responsibility.
Investment activities in mainland China by foreign investors are governed by the Guiding Foreign Investment Direction, which was promulgated by the
State Council on February 11, 2002, and came into effect on April 1, 2002, and the latest Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for Foreign
Investment Access (2021), or the Negative List, which was promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”) and the National Development and
Reform Commission (“NDRC”) on December 27, 2021, and took effect on January 1, 2022. The Negative List set out in a unified manner the restrictive
measures, such as the requirements on shareholding percentages and management, for the access of foreign investments, and the industries that are
prohibited for foreign investment. The Negative List covers 12 industries, and any field not falling in the Negative List shall be administered under the
principle of equal treatment to domestic and foreign investment.
The Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China, or the Foreign Investment Law was promulgated by the NPC in March 2019 and become
effective in January 2020. After the Foreign Investment Law came into force, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Wholly Foreign-Owned
Enterprises, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Sino-foreign Equity Joint Ventures and the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Sino-
foreign Contractual Joint Ventures have been repealed simultaneously. The investment activities of foreign natural persons, enterprises or other
organizations (hereinafter referred to as foreign investors) directly or indirectly within the territory of mainland China shall comply with and be governed
by the Foreign Investment Law, including: 1) establishing by foreign investors of foreign-invested enterprises in mainland China alone or jointly with other
investors; 2) acquiring by foreign investors of shares, equity, property shares, or other similar interests of Chinese domestic enterprises; 3) investing by
foreign investors in new projects in mainland China alone or jointly with other investors; and 4) other forms of investment prescribed by laws,
administrative regulations or the State Council.
In December 2019, the State Council issued the Regulations on Implementing the Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect in January 2020. After
the Regulations on Implementing the Foreign Investment Law came into effect, the Regulation on Implementing the Law on Sino-foreign Equity Joint
Ventures, Provisional Regulations on the Duration of Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures, the Regulations on Implementing the Law on Wholly Foreign-
Owned Enterprises and the Regulations on Implementing the Law on Sino-Foreign Cooperative Joint Ventures have been repealed simultaneously.
12
In December 2019, the MOFCOM and the State Administration for Market Regulation (“SAMR”) issued the Measures for the Reporting of Foreign
Investment Information, which came into effect in January 2020. After the Measures for the Reporting of Foreign Investment Information came into effect,
the Interim Measures on the Administration of Filing for Establishment and Change of Foreign Invested Enterprises has been repealed simultaneously.
Since January 1, 2020, for foreign investors carrying out investment activities directly or indirectly in mainland China, the foreign investors or foreign-
invested enterprises shall submit investment information to the relevant commerce administrative authorities pursuant to these measures.
None of our PRC subsidiaries’ business falls within the 2021 Negative List, and therefore, all of our PRC subsidiaries are able to conduct their business
without being subject to restrictions imposed by foreign investment laws and regulations in China.
Human Capital
We had a total of approximately 1,054 employees as of December 31, 2021, all of whom are full-time employees. The following table sets forth the number
of our employees by function.
Function
Production
Research and development
Sales and marketing
General and administrative
Total
Number
582
146
56
270
1,054
Our employees are not represented by a labor organization or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We have not experienced any work stoppages.
We believe we maintain good relations with our employees.
Available Information
We make available free of charge, on or through our website, http://www.cbak.com.cn, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-
Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and amendments to such
filings, as soon as reasonably practicable after each is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains our
reports, proxy and information statements, and our other SEC filings. The address of the SEC’s website is www.sec.gov. Information appearing on our
website is not part of any report that we file with the SEC.
13
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
RISKS RELATED TO DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA
The audit report included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K was prepared by an auditor who is not inspected by the PCAOB and, as such, you are
deprived of the benefits of such inspection, we may be subject to additional Nasdaq listing criteria or other penalties and our securities may be delisted
from the U.S. stock market if we were unable to cure the situation to meet the PCAOB inspection requirement in time.
Auditors of companies that are registered with the SEC and traded publicly in the United States, including the independent registered public accounting
firm of the Company, must be registered with the PCAOB, and are required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB
to assess their compliance with the laws of the United States and professional standards. However, the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate
completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China of the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong, a Special
Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in such jurisdictions. Inspections of other firms
that the PCAOB has conducted outside China have identified deficiencies in those firms’ audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be
addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. The inability of the PCAOB to conduct full inspections of auditors operating in
China makes it more difficult to evaluate our auditors’ audit procedures or quality control procedures.
As part of a continued regulatory focus in the United States on access to audit and other information currently protected by national law, in particular
China’s, the HFCA Act was signed into law on December 18, 2020. This act amends the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to direct the SEC to prohibit
securities of any registrant from being listed on any of the U.S. securities exchanges or traded “over-the-counter” if the auditor of the registrant’s financial
statements is not subject to PCAOB inspection for three consecutive years after the law becomes effective.
14
On March 24, 2021, the SEC announced that it had adopted interim final amendments to implement the certification and disclosure requirements of the
HFCA Act and that it was seeking public comment on the issuer identification process as well as the submission and disclosure requirements. On May 13,
2021, the PCAOB issued proposed PCAOB Rule 6100 Board Determinations Under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act for public comment.
The proposed rule provides a framework for making determinations as to whether PCAOB is unable to inspect an audit firm in a foreign jurisdiction,
including the timing, factors, bases, publication and revocation or modification of such determinations, and such determinations will be made on a
jurisdiction-wide basis in a consistent manner applicable to all firms headquartered in the jurisdiction.
Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “AHFCA Act”), which if
enacted into law would amend the HFCA Act and require the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is
not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive “non-inspection” years instead of three.
On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCA Act, which provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when
determining, as contemplated under the HFCA Act, whether the Board is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms
located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction.
On December 2, 2021, the SEC adopted amendments to finalize the interim final rules previously issued in March 2021, and established procedures to
identify issuers and prohibit the trading of the securities of certain registrants as required by the HFCA Act. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC
identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that
the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by the authority in foreign jurisdictions. The final amendments
require SEC identified issuers to submit documentation to the SEC establishing that, if true, it is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in the
public accounting firm’s foreign jurisdiction. The amendments also require that an SEC-identified issuer that is a “foreign issuer,” as defined in Exchange
Act Rule 3b-4, provide certain additional disclosures in its annual report for itself and any of its consolidated foreign operating entities. An SEC-identified
issuer will be required to comply with the submission and disclosure requirements in the annual report for each year in which it was identified. If a
registrant is identified as an SEC identified issuer based on its annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, the registrant will be required to
comply with the submission or disclosure requirements in its annual report filing covering the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. As a result, we should
comply with the submission and disclosure requirements in our annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 and each additional year in
which we are identified. In the event that we have had three consecutive “non-inspection” years by the SEC, our securities will be prohibited from trading
on any national securities exchange or over-the-counter markets in the United States. Moreover, if the AHFCA Act is enacted into law, it would reduce the
time before our securities may be prohibited from trading or delisted from three years to two years.
On December 16, 2021, pursuant to the HFCA Act, the PCAOB issued a Determination Report which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or
investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, because of a position taken by one or more
authorities in such jurisdictions. The PCAOB’s report identified specific registered public accounting firms which are subject to these determinations. Our
registered public accounting firm, Centurion ZD CPA & Co., is headquartered in Hong Kong and was identified in this report as a firm subject to the
PCAOB’s determination.
Additionally, in October 2021, Nasdaq adopted additional listing criteria applicable to companies that primarily operate in jurisdictions where local
regulators impose secrecy laws, national security laws or other laws that restrict U.S. regulators from accessing information relating to the issuer, or a
Restrictive Market. Under the new rule, whether a jurisdiction permits PCAOB inspection would be a factor in determining whether a jurisdiction is
deemed by the Nasdaq to be a Restrictive Market. Mainland China and Hong Kong will likely be determined to be Restrictive Markets and, as a result, the
Nasdaq may impose on us additional continued listing criteria or deny continued listing of our securities on the Nasdaq.
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While we understand that there has been dialogue among the CSRC, the SEC and the PCAOB regarding the inspection of PCAOB-registered accounting
firms in China, there can be no assurance that our auditor or us will be able to comply with the requirements imposed by U.S. regulators or Nasdaq. We
plan to identify and engage an independent public accounting firm that satisfies the PCAOB inspection requirements for the audit of our consolidated
financial statements, subject to compliance with SEC and other requirements prior to the three-year (or two-year under the AHFCA Act) deadline of the
HFCA Act. However, the market price of our securities could be materially adversely affected as a result of anticipated negative impacts of the rules
promulgated under the HFCA Act and other executive, regulatory or legislative actions upon, as well as negative investor sentiment towards, companies
with significant operations in China that are listed in the United States, regardless of our actual operating performance.
The Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations in China at any time, or may exert more control over offerings conducted outside
China by and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in our operations and in the value of our
securities. Any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted outside China by and/or
foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer securities to investors and cause the value
of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
Substantially all of our operations are conducted in the PRC. Accordingly, our financial condition and results of operations are affected to a significant
extent by the economic, political and legal developments in the PRC. The PRC economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many
respects, including the extent of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, and control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources.
The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and to guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures
may benefit the overall PRC economy but may also have a negative effect on us. Our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and
adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations that are applicable to us.
The Chinese government recently has published new policies that significantly affected certain industries such as the education and internet industries, and
we cannot rule out the possibility that it will not in the future release regulations or policies regarding our industry that could require us or our PRC
subsidiaries to seek permission from Chinese authorities to continue to operate our business in China, which may adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations. Furthermore, recent statements made by the Chinese government have indicated an intent to increase the government’s
oversight and control over offerings of companies with significant operations in China that are to be conducted in foreign markets, as well as foreign
investment in China-based issuers like us. Any such action, once taken by the Chinese government, could significantly limit or completely hinder our
ability to offer our securities, and could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
For example, in July 2021, the Chinese government provided new guidance on China-based companies raising capital outside of China, including through
arrangements via variable interest entities (“VIEs”). In light of such developments, the SEC has imposed enhanced disclosure requirements on China-based
companies seeking to register securities with the SEC. Although we have never adopted a VIE structure and our business in China does not involve any
type of restricted industry under Chinese regulations, any future Chinese, U.S. or other rules and regulations that place restrictions on capital raising or
other activities by companies with extensive operations in China could adversely affect our business. If the business environment in China deteriorates
from the perspective of domestic or international investment, or if relations between China and the United States or other governments deteriorate, the
Chinese government may intervene with our operations, and our business in China, as well as the value of our securities, may also be adversely affected.
Changes in U.S. and Chinese regulations or in relations between the United States and China may adversely impact our business, our operating
results, our ability to raise capital and the value of our securities. Any such changes may take place quickly and with very little notice.
The U.S. government, including the SEC, has made statements and taken certain actions that led to changes to United States and international relations, and
will impact companies with connections to the United States or China. The SEC has issued statements primarily focused on companies with significant
China-based operations, such as us. For example, on July 30, 2021, Gary Gensler, Chairman of the SEC, issued a Statement on Investor Protection Related
to Recent Developments in China, pursuant to which Chairman Gensler stated that he has asked the SEC staff to engage in targeted additional reviews of
filings for companies with significant China-based operations. The statement also addressed risks inherent in companies with VIE structures. We have
never adopted a VIE structure and are not in any industry that is subject to foreign ownership limitations by China. However, it is possible that the
Company’s filings with the SEC may be subject to enhanced review by the SEC.
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In response to the SEC’s July 30, 2021 statement, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) announced on August 1, 2021, that “it is our
belief that Chinese and U.S. regulators shall continue to enhance communication with the principle of mutual respect and cooperation, and properly address
the issues related to the supervision of China-based companies listed in the U.S. so as to form stable policy expectations and create benign rules framework
for the market.” The CSRC pledged to continue to collaborate “closely with different stakeholders including investors, companies, and relevant authorities
to further promote transparency and certainty of policies and implementing measures,” and emphasized that it “has always been open to companies’
choices to list their securities on international or domestic markets in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.” If any new legislation, executive
orders, laws and/or regulations are implemented, if the U.S. or Chinese governments take retaliatory actions due to the recent U.S.-China tension or if the
Chinese government exerts more oversight and control over securities offerings that are conducted in the United States, such changes could have an
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, our ability to raise capital and the value of our securities.
There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations.
Substantially all of our operations are conducted in the PRC, and are governed by PRC laws, rules and regulations. Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to
laws, rules and regulations applicable to foreign investment in China. The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the
common law system, prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. In 1979, the PRC government began to
promulgate a comprehensive system of laws, rules and regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past
four decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investment in China. However, China has not developed a fully
integrated legal system, and recently enacted laws, rules and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China or may be
subject to significant degrees of interpretation by PRC regulatory agencies. In particular, because these laws, rules and regulations are relatively new, and
because of the limited number of published decisions and the nonbinding nature of such decisions, and because the laws, rules and regulations often give
the relevant regulator significant discretion in how to enforce them, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations involve
uncertainties and can be inconsistent and unpredictable. In addition, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some
of which are not published on a timely basis or at all, and may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies
and rules until after the occurrence of the violation. Any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and
diversion of resources and management attention.
The PRC government has recently announced its plans to enhance its regulatory oversight of Chinese companies listing overseas. The Opinions on Strictly
Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities issued on July 6, 2021 called for:
● tightening oversight of data security, cross-border data flow and administration of classified information, as well as amendments to relevant
regulation to specify responsibilities of overseas listed Chinese companies with respect to data security and information security;
● enhanced oversight of overseas listed companies as well as overseas equity fundraising and listing by Chinese companies; and
● extraterritorial application of China’s securities laws.
On December 24, 2021, the CSRC released the Administrative Provisions of the State Council Regarding Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by
Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments) (the “Administrative Provisions”), and the Measures Regarding Recordation of Overseas Securities Offering
and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments) (the “Measures”). The Administrative Provisions and Measures aim to establish a unified
supervision system and promote cross-border regulatory cooperation. The Measures lay out filing procedures for domestic companies to record their initial
public offerings and follow-on offerings abroad with the CSRC. Issuers are required to file follow-on offerings with the CSRC within 3 business days after
the closing of such offerings.
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According to the Q&A held by CSRC officials for journalists thereafter, the CSRC will adhere to the principle of non-retroactive application of law and
first focus on issuers conducting initial public offerings and follow-on offerings by requiring them to complete the recordation procedures. Other issuers
will be given a sufficient transition period. The CSRC officials also noted that the regulation system contemplated by the draft Administrative Provisions
and Measures differentiates between IPOs and follow-on offerings to take into account overseas capital markets’ fast and efficient features and to reduce
impacts on overseas financing activities by domestic companies. If the Administrative Provisions and the Measures are enacted as proposed, we expect to
perform necessary recordation filings with the CSRC for our listing on the Nasdaq within the prescribed transition period and for future offerings that take
place after the Administrative Provisions and the Measures enter into force.
As there are still uncertainties regarding the enactment, interpretation and implementation of regulations and rules under the umbrella of the Opinions on
Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities, there is no assurance that our business, operating results, cash flows and prospect will not be
negatively affected by new regulatory requirements in the future in China.
PRC laws and regulations establish complex procedures in connection with certain acquisitions of China-based companies by foreign investors, which
could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions or mergers in China.
On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, including the Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”), the State-Owned Assets Supervision and
Administration Commission, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the CSRC, and the State
Administration of Foreign Exchange, jointly adopted the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the
M&A Rules, which came into effect on September 8, 2006 and were amended on June 22, 2009. The M&A Rules include, among other things, provisions
that purport to require that an offshore special purpose vehicle formed for the purpose of an overseas listing of securities of a PRC company obtain the
approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. On September 21, 2006,
the CSRC published on its official website procedures regarding its approval of overseas listings through special purpose vehicles. However, substantial
uncertainty remains regarding the scope and applicability of the M&A Rules to offshore special purpose vehicles.
The regulations also established additional procedures and requirements that are expected to make merger and acquisition activities in China by foreign
investors more time consuming and complex, including requirements in some instances that the MOFCOM be notified in advance of any change-of-control
transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise, or that the approval from the MOFCOM be obtained in circumstances
where overseas companies established or controlled by PRC enterprises or residents acquire affiliated domestic companies.
Moreover, according to the Anti-Monopoly Law of the People’s Republic of China promulgated on August 30, 2007 and the Provisions on Thresholds for
Reporting of Concentrations of Undertakings (the “Prior Reporting Rules”) issued by the State Council in August 2008 and amended in September 2018,
the concentration of business undertakings by way of mergers, acquisitions or contractual arrangements that allow one market player to take control of or to
exert decisive impact on another market player must also be notified in advance to the anti-monopoly enforcement agency of the State Council when the
applicable threshold is crossed and such concentration shall not be implemented without the clearance of prior reporting. In addition, the Regulations on
Implementation of Security Review System for the Merger and Acquisition of Domestic Enterprise by Foreign Investors (the “Security Review Rules”)
issued by the MOFCOM that became effective in September 2011 specify that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense
and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise
“national security” concerns are subject to strict review by the MOFCOM, and the rules prohibit any activities attempting to bypass a security review by
structuring the transaction through, among other things, trusts, entrustment or contractual control arrangements.
In the event that our acquisition of other companies in China falls within the scope of these regulations, compliance with these regulations to complete such
transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including approval from the MOFCOM, may delay or inhibit our ability to
complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.
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CBAK Energy Technology, Inc., as a holding company incorporated in Nevada, the United States, without material operations of its own, relies on
dividends and other distributions on equity paid by its PRC operating subsidiaries for its cash needs.
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. is a holding company, and we conduct all of our operations through our PRC subsidiaries. CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.
relies on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by its PRC subsidiaries for its cash needs, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and
other cash distributions to its stockholders, to service any debt it may incur and to pay its operating expenses. Current regulations in the PRC permit
payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. According to the
articles of association of our PRC subsidiaries, each of our PRC subsidiaries is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profit based on the PRC
accounting standards and regulations each year to its statutory general reserve, until the balance in the reserve reaches 50% of the registered capital of the
company. Funds in the reserve are not distributable to CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. in forms of cash dividends, loans or advances. In addition, if our
PRC subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other
distributions to CBAK Energy Technology, Inc., which in turn will adversely affect its available cash.
In addition, our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends and other cash distributions is subject to foreign exchange restrictions in China. For example, to
address persistent capital outflows and the RMB’s depreciation against the U.S. dollar in the fourth quarter of 2016, the People’s Bank of China and the
State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, implemented a series of capital control measures in the subsequent months, including stricter vetting
procedures for China-based companies to remit foreign currency for overseas acquisitions, dividend payments and shareholder loan repayments. The PRC
government may continue to strengthen its capital controls and our PRC subsidiaries’ dividends and other distributions may be subject to tightened scrutiny
in the future. The PRC government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the
PRC. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment
of dividends from our profits, if any.
As a matter of fact, we have never declared or paid any dividends to CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.’s stockholders, nor do we have any present plan to
pay any cash dividends on the common stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future
earnings to operate and expand our business.
Fluctuations in exchange rates could adversely affect our business and the value of our securities.
The value of our securities will be indirectly affected by the foreign exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and RMB and between those currencies and
other currencies in which our sales may be denominated. Appreciation or depreciation in the value of the RMB relative to the U.S. dollar would affect our
financial results reported in U.S. dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying change in our business or results of operations. Fluctuations in the
exchange rate will also affect the relative value of any dividend we issue that will be exchanged into U.S. dollars, as well as earnings from, and the value
of, any U.S. dollar-denominated investments we make in the future.
Very limited hedging transactions are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any
hedging transactions. While we may enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these transactions may be limited,
and we may not be able to successfully hedge our exposure at all. In addition, our foreign currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange
control regulations that restrict our ability to convert RMB into foreign currencies. As a result, fluctuations in exchange rates may have a material adverse
effect on your investment.
Investors may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing original actions in China based
upon U.S. laws, including the federal securities laws or other foreign laws against us or our management.
All of our current operations are conducted in China. Moreover, most of our current directors and officers are nationals or residents of China. All or a
substantial portion of the assets of these persons are located outside the United States and in the PRC. As a result, it may not be possible to effect service of
process within the United States or elsewhere outside China upon these persons. In addition, uncertainty exists as to whether the courts of China would
recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or such officers and/or directors predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the
securities laws of the United States or any state thereof, or be competent to hear original actions brought in China against us or such persons predicated
upon the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof.
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The approval of the CSRC or other Chinese regulatory agencies may be required in connection with our future capital-raising activities outside China
under Chinese law.
The “M&A Rules” purport to require offshore special purpose vehicles that are controlled by Chinese companies or individuals and that have been formed
for the purpose of seeking a public listing on an overseas stock exchange through acquisitions of Chinese domestic companies or assets in exchange for the
shares of the offshore special purpose vehicles shall obtain CSRC approval prior to publicly listing their securities on an overseas stock exchange.
Based on our understanding of the Chinese laws and regulations currently in effect, CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. or any of our PRC subsidiaries will not
be required to submit an application to the CSRC for its approval of any of our offerings of securities to investors outside China under the M&A Rules.
However, there remains some uncertainties as to how the M&A Rules will be interpreted or implemented, and our view of our obligations under the M&A
Rules is subject to any new laws, rules and regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations in any form relating to the M&A Rules. We cannot
assure you that relevant Chinese government agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion.
Furthermore, on July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council
jointly promulgated the Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities, pursuant to which Chinese regulators are required to
accelerate rulemaking related to the overseas issuance and listing of securities, and update the existing laws and regulations related to data security, cross-
border data flow, and management of confidential information. Numerous regulations, guidelines and other measures have been or are expected to be
adopted under the umbrella of or in addition to the Cybersecurity Law and Data Security Law. On December 24, 2021, the CSRC released the
Administrative Provisions of the State Council Regarding Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments) and the
Measures Regarding Recordation of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (Draft for Comments).
As there are still uncertainties regarding the interpretation and implementation of such regulatory guidance, we cannot assure you that we will be able to
comply with China’s new regulatory requirements relating to our future capital-raising activities outside China and we may become subject to more
stringent requirements with respect to matters including cross-border investigation and enforcement of legal claims. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as of
the date hereof, we are not aware of any Chinese laws or regulations in effect requiring that we or any of our PRC subsidiaries obtain permission from any
Chinese authority to issue securities to investors outside China, and we or any of our PRC subsidiaries have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, or
sanction in relation to the trading of our common stock on the Nasdaq from the CSRC, the Cybersecurity Administration of China (“CAC”) or any other
Chinese authorities.
We believe that we or any of our PRC subsidiaries are not required to submit an application to the CSRC or the CAC for the approval of any of our
offerings of securities to investors outside China or trading of our common stock on the Nasdaq. However, there remains significant uncertainty as to the
enactment, interpretation and implementation of regulatory requirements related to overseas securities offerings and other capital markets activities under
Chinese laws. If it is determined in the future that the approval of the CSRC, CAC or any other regulatory authority is required for any of our offerings, we
may face sanctions by the CSRC, the CAC or other Chinese regulatory agencies. These regulatory agencies may impose fines and penalties on our
operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends out of China, limit our operations in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from
overseas offerings into China or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and
prospects, the value of our securities, as well as our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors or cause such securities to significantly
decline in value or become worthless.
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PRC regulation of loans to, and direct investment in, PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion
may restrict or prevent CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. from making additional capital contributions or loans to its PRC subsidiaries.
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc., as an offshore holding company, is permitted under PRC laws and regulations to provide funding to its PRC subsidiaries
through loans or capital contributions. However, loans by CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. to its PRC subsidiaries to finance their activities cannot exceed
statutory limits and must be registered with the local counterpart of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange and capital contributions to its PRC
subsidiaries are subject to the requirement of making necessary filings in the Foreign Investment Comprehensive Management Information System, and
registration with other governmental authorities in China.
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration
of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or Circular 19, effective on June 1, 2015, in replacement of the Circular on the
Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-
Invested Enterprises, the Notice from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Strengthening the Administration of
Foreign Exchange Businesses, and the Circular on Further Clarification and Regulation of the Issues Concerning the Administration of Certain Capital
Account Foreign Exchange Businesses. According to Circular 19, the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated
registered capital of a foreign-invested company is regulated such that RMB capital may not be used for the issuance of RMB entrusted loans, the
repayment of inter-enterprise loans or the repayment of bank loans that have been transferred to a third party. Although Circular 19 allows RMB capital
converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise to be used for equity investments within the PRC, it also
reiterates the principle that RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly
used for purposes beyond its business scope. Thus, it is unclear whether the State Administration of Foreign Exchange will permit such capital to be used
for equity investments in the PRC in actual practice. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of
Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or Circular 16, effective on
June 9, 2016, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign
currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to grant
loans to non-associated enterprises. Violations of Circular 19 and Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties. Circular 19 and Circular 16 may
significantly limit our ability to transfer any foreign currency CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. holds to its PRC subsidiaries, which may adversely affect our
liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in the PRC.
In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to, and direct investment in, PRC entities by offshore holding companies, we
cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis,
if at all, with respect to future loans or future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiaries. As a result, uncertainties exist as to our ability to provide
prompt financial support to our PRC subsidiaries when needed. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use foreign
currency and to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and
our ability to fund and expand our business.
Failure to comply with PRC regulations relating to the investment in offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC
resident stockholders to personal liability, limit our ability to acquire PRC companies or to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries, limit our PRC
subsidiaries’ ability to distribute profits to us or otherwise materially adversely affect us.
On July 14, 2014, SAFE issued the Circular on Relevant Issues Relating to Domestic Residents’ Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment
through Special Purpose Vehicles (“Circular 37”), which replaced the Circular 75, promulgated by SAFE on October 21, 2005. Circular 37 requires PRC
residents to register with local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of
overseas investment and financing, with such PRC residents’ legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests,
referred to in Circular 37 as a “special purpose vehicle.”
We have notified substantial beneficial owners of our company who we know are PRC residents to comply with the registration obligation. However, we
may not be aware of the identities of all our beneficial owners who are PRC residents. In addition, we do not have control over our beneficial owners and
cannot assure you that all of our PRC resident beneficial owners will comply with Circular 37. The failure of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents
to register or amend their SAFE registrations in a timely manner pursuant to Circular 37 or the failure of future beneficial owners of our company who are
PRC residents to comply with the registration procedures set forth in Circular 37 may subject such beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to fines and
legal sanctions. Failure to register or amend the registration may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries or receive
dividends or other distributions from our PRC subsidiaries or other proceeds from disposal of our PRC subsidiaries, or we may be penalized by SAFE.
These risks may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Under the Enterprise Income Tax Law, we may be classified as a “resident enterprise” of China. Such classification will likely result in unfavorable tax
consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders.
On March 16, 2007, the National People’s Congress of China passed a new Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, and on November 28, 2007, the
State Council of China passed its implementing rules, which took effect on January 1, 2008. Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China
with “de facto management bodies” within China is considered a “resident enterprise,” meaning that it can be treated in a manner similar to a Chinese
enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. The implementing rules of the EIT Law define de facto management as “substantial and overall management
and control over the production and operations, personnel, accounting, and properties” of the enterprise.
On April 22, 2009, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Notice Concerning Relevant Issues Regarding Cognizance of Chinese Investment
Controlled Enterprises Incorporated Offshore as Resident Enterprises pursuant to Criteria of de facto Management Bodies, or the Notice, further
interpreting the application of the EIT Law and its implementation non-Chinese enterprise or group controlled offshore entities. Pursuant to the Notice, an
enterprise incorporated in an offshore jurisdiction and controlled by a Chinese enterprise or group will be classified as a “non-domestically incorporated
resident enterprise” if (i) its senior management in charge of daily operations reside or perform their duties mainly in China; (ii) its financial or personnel
decisions are made or approved by bodies or persons in China; (iii) its substantial assets and properties, accounting books, corporate chops, board and
shareholder minutes are kept in China; and (iv) at least half of its directors with voting rights or senior management often resident in China. A resident
enterprise would be subject to an enterprise income tax rate of 25% on its worldwide income and must pay a withholding tax at a rate of 10% when paying
dividends to its non-PRC shareholders. In addition, the SAT issued the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues concerning the
Determination of Resident Enterprises Based on the Standards of Actual Management Institutions in January 2014 to provide more guidance on the
implementation of Circular 82. This bulletin further provides that, among other things, an entity that is classified as a “resident enterprise” in accordance
with the circular shall file the application for classifying its status of residential enterprise with the local tax authorities where its main domestic investors
are registered. From the year in which the entity is determined to be a “resident enterprise,” any dividend, profit and other equity investment gains from
other resident enterprises within China in previous years (on or after January 1, 2008) shall be taxed in accordance with the enterprise income tax law and
its implementing rules.
We may be deemed to be a resident enterprise by Chinese tax authorities. If the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a “resident enterprise” for PRC
enterprise income tax purposes, a number of unfavorable PRC tax consequences could follow. First, we may be subject to the enterprise income tax at a rate
of 25% on our worldwide taxable income as well as PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. In our case, this would mean that income such as
interest on financing proceeds and non-China source income would be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. Second, although under the
EIT Law and its implementing rules dividends paid to us from our PRC subsidiaries would qualify as “tax-exempt income,” we cannot guarantee that such
dividends will not be subject to a 10% withholding tax, as the PRC foreign exchange control authorities, which enforce the withholding tax, have not yet
issued guidance with respect to the processing of outbound remittances to entities that are treated as resident enterprises for PRC enterprise income tax
purposes. Finally, it is possible that future guidance issued with respect to the new “resident enterprise” classification could result in a situation in which a
10% withholding tax is imposed on dividends we pay to our non-PRC shareholders and with respect to gains derived by our non-PRC stockholders from
transferring our shares. If we were treated as a “resident enterprise” by the PRC tax authorities, we would be subject to taxation in both the U.S. and China,
and our PRC tax may not be used as a credit to reduce our U.S. tax.
22
We and our stockholders face uncertainties with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises or other assets attributed to
a Chinese establishment of a non-Chinese company, or immovable properties located in China owned by non-Chinese companies.
In October 2017, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Bulletin on Issues Concerning the Withholding of Non-PRC Resident Enterprise Income
Tax at Source, or Bulletin 37, which replaced the Notice on Strengthening Administration of Enterprise Income Tax for Share Transfers by Non-PRC
Resident Enterprises issued by the State Administration of Taxation on December 10, 2009, and partially replaced and supplemented rules under the
Bulletin on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Bulletin 7, issued by the State
Administration of Taxation on February 3, 2015. Pursuant to Bulletin 7, an “indirect transfer” of PRC assets, including a transfer of equity interests in an
unlisted non-PRC holding company of a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises may be re-characterized and treated as a direct transfer
of the underlying PRC assets, if such arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of avoiding
payment of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax. According to
Bulletin 7, “PRC taxable assets” include assets attributed to an establishment in China, immoveable properties located in China, and equity investments in
PRC resident enterprises and any gains from the transfer of such asset by a direct holder, who is a non-PRC resident enterprise, would be subject to PRC
enterprise income taxes. When determining whether there is a “reasonable commercial purpose” of the transaction arrangement, features to be taken into
consideration include: whether the main value of the equity interest of the relevant offshore enterprise derives from PRC taxable assets; whether the assets
of the relevant offshore enterprise mainly consists of direct or indirect investment in China or if its income mainly derives from China; whether the offshore
enterprise and its subsidiaries directly or indirectly holding PRC taxable assets have real commercial nature which is evidenced by their actual function and
risk exposure; the duration of existence of the business model and organizational structure; the replicability of the transaction by direct transfer of PRC
taxable assets; and the tax situation of such indirect transfer and applicable tax treaties or similar arrangements. In the case of an indirect offshore transfer
of assets of a PRC establishment, the resulting gain is to be included with the enterprise income tax filing of the PRC establishment or place of business
being transferred, and may consequently be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. Where the underlying transfer relates to immoveable
properties located in China or to equity investments in a PRC resident enterprise, which is not related to a PRC establishment or place of business of a non-
resident enterprise, a PRC enterprise income tax of 10% would apply, subject to available preferential tax treatment under applicable tax treaties or similar
arrangements, and the party who is obligated to make the transfer payments has the withholding obligation. Pursuant to Bulletin 37, the withholding agent
shall declare and pay the withheld tax to the competent tax authority in the place where such withholding agent is located within 7 days from the date of
occurrence of the withholding obligation, while the transferor is required to declare and pay such tax to the competent tax authority within the statutory
time limit according to Bulletin 7. Late payment of applicable tax will subject the transferor to default interest. Both Bulletin 37 and Bulletin 7 do not apply
to transactions of sale of shares by investors through a public stock exchange where such shares were acquired from a transaction through a public stock
exchange.
There is uncertainty as to the application of Bulletin 37 or previous rules under Bulletin 7. We face uncertainties as to the reporting and other implications
of certain past and future transactions where PRC taxable assets are involved, such as offshore restructuring, sale of the shares in our offshore subsidiaries
or investments. Our company may be subject to filing obligations or taxes if our company is transferor in such transactions, and may be subject to
withholding obligations if our company is transferee in such transactions, under Bulletin 37 and Bulletin 7. For transfer of shares in our company by
investors that are non-PRC resident enterprises, our PRC subsidiary may be requested to assist in the filing under Bulletin 37 and Bulletin 7. As a result, we
may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with Bulletin 37 and Bulletin 7 or to request the relevant transferors from whom we purchase
taxable assets to comply with these circulars, or to establish that our company should not be taxed under these circulars, which may have a material adverse
effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We may be exposed to liabilities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Chinese anti-corruption laws, and any determination that we violated
these laws could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (“FCPA”), and other laws that prohibit improper payments or offers of payments to foreign governments
and their officials and political parties by U.S. persons and issuers as defined by the statute, for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. We have
operations, have agreements with third parties, and make most of our sales in China. The PRC also strictly prohibits bribery of government officials. Our
activities in China create the risk of unauthorized payments or offers of payments by the employees, consultants, sales agents, or distributors of our
subsidiaries, even though they may not always be subject to our control. It is our policy to implement safeguards to discourage these practices by our
employees. However, our existing safeguards and any future improvements may prove to be less than effective, and the employees, consultants, sales
agents, or distributors of our subsidiaries may engage in conduct for which we might be held responsible. Violations of the FCPA or Chinese anti-
corruption laws may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be subject to other liabilities, which could negatively affect our business,
operating results and financial condition. In addition, the U.S. government may seek to hold our subsidiaries liable for successor liability FCPA violations
committed by companies in which we invest or that we acquire.
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RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS
If the COVID-19 pandemic is not effectively controlled in a short period of time, our business operation and financial condition in the long-term may
be materially and adversely affected as a result of any slowdown in economic growth, operation disruptions or other factors that we cannot predict.
The spread of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”), which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020, has caused different
countries and cities to mandate curfews, including “shelter-in-place” and closures of most non-essential businesses as well as other measures to mitigate the
spread of the virus. All of our operating subsidiaries are located in China. Our Dalian facility’s operations were suspended in November 2021 due to the
COVID-19 containment measures adopted by the local government. Hitrans’s production facility in Shangyu, Zhejiang was also temporarily closed from
December 9 to 24, 2021 to comply with the local lockdown policy in response to a surge of COVID-19 cases. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has
caused disruptions to our operations, it has had limited adverse impacts on our operating results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. We generated
revenues of $52.7 million and $37.6 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We had a net profit of $61.6 million and
net loss of $7.8 million in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. However, the extent of the long-term adverse impact of
COVID-19 on our business and operations is highly uncertain and depends on several factors, such as the duration, severity, and geographic spread of the
pandemic, development of the testing and treatment and stimulus measures of the government, all of which are out of our control.
Given the uncertainty of the outbreak, the spread of COVID-19 may be prolonged and worsened, and we may be forced to scale back or even suspend our
operations. As COVID-19 spreads outside China, the global economy is suffering a noticeable slowdown. As this outbreak persists, commercial activities
throughout the world have been curtailed with decreased consumer spending, business operation disruptions, interrupted supply chain, difficulties in travel
and reduced workforces. The duration and intensity of disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak is uncertain. It is unclear as to when the outbreak
will be contained, and we also cannot predict if the impact will be short-lived or long-lasting. The extent to which outbreak impacts our long-term financial
results will depend on its future developments. If the COVID-19 pandemic is not effectively controlled in a short period of time, our long-term business
operation and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected as a result of any slowdown in economic growth, operation disruptions or other
factors that we cannot predict.
Our independent auditors have expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
Our independent auditors have added an explanatory paragraph to their audit opinion issued in connection with our financial statements included in this
annual report which states that the financial statements were prepared assuming that we would continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the
consolidated financial statements included herein, we had negative cash flows from operating activities, accumulated deficit from recurring net losses
incurred for the prior years and significant short-term debt obligations maturing in less than one year as of December 31, 2021. These conditions raise
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We plan to renew our bank borrowings upon maturity and raise additional funds through
bank borrowings and equity financing to meet our daily cash demands. However, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining the
financing. The audited consolidated financial statements included in this report do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this
uncertainty.
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The acquisition of a controlling interest in Hitrans may fail to result in anticipated benefits but has involved significant investment and commitment of
financial and other resources.
We consummated the acquisition of 81.56% of registered equity interests (representing 75.57% of paid-up capital) in Hitrans in November 2021. However,
acquisitions generally create risks such as (i) the need to integrate and manage the businesses and products acquired with our own business and products;
(ii) additional demands on our resources, systems, procedures and controls; (iii) disruption of our ongoing business; (iv) potential unknown or
unquantifiable liabilities associated with the target company; and (v) diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns. Moreover, this
acquisition involved substantial investment of funds from our previous equity financings, resulted in one-time charges and expenses and subjected us to
contractual obligations to pay outstanding subscribed registered capital of Hitrans of RMB99.8 million by May 31, 2025. This acquisition may not be
successful in generating revenue, income or other returns, and any resources we committed will not be available to us for other purposes. Moreover, if we
are unable to access the capital markets on acceptable terms or at all, or generate sufficient operating income, we may not be able to perform our
obligations to pay outstanding subscribed registered capital of Hitrans as agreed. Our inability to take advantage of growth opportunities or address risks
associated with this acquisition and investment may negatively affect our operating results.
Additionally, any impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets acquired in an acquisition or charges to earnings associated with any acquisition or
investment activity, may materially reduce our earnings. This acquisition may not result in its anticipated benefits, and we may not be able to properly
integrate acquired products, technologies or businesses with our existing products and operations or successfully combine personnel and cultures. Failure to
do so could deprive us of the intended benefits of this acquisition.
There are inherent risks associated with new product development and our efforts to develop and market new products could fail.
In June 2020, our wholly-owned subsidiary, BAK Asia entered into a framework investment agreement with Gaochun EDZ, pursuant to which intend to
develop certain lithium battery projects which are expected to have a total production capacity of 8 GWh per year. We have put into operation a production
line of model 32140 large-sized cylindrical “tabless” batteries with a production capacity of 0.7 GWh per year in 2021. Model 32140 batteries can be used
in light electric vehicles, electric vehicles, electric tools and energy storage.
However, we cannot provide assurance that market acceptance of this new product will occur due to the highly competitive nature of the business. The
Company competes in the battery industry where there are frequent introductions of new products and line extensions and such product introductions often
require significant investment and support. The ability of the Company to understand end user needs and preferences is key to maintaining and improving
the competitiveness of its product offerings. The development and introduction of new products, as well as the renovation of current products and product
lines, require substantial and effective research, development and marketing expenditures, which the Company may be unable to recoup if the new or
renovated products do not gain widespread market acceptance. There are inherent risks associated with new product development and marketing efforts,
including product development or launch delays, product performance issues during development, changing regulatory frameworks that affect the new
products in development and the availability of key raw materials included in such products. These inherent risks could result in the failure of new products
and product line extensions to achieve anticipated levels of market acceptance, additional costs resulting from failed product introductions and the
Company not being first to market. As the Company continues to focus on innovation and renovation of its products, the Company’s business, financial
condition or results of operations could be adversely affected in the event that the Company is not able to effectively develop and introduce new or
renovated products and line or brand extensions.
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Our failure, if any, to keep up with rapid technological changes and evolving industry standards may cause our products to become obsolete and less
marketable, resulting in loss of market share to our competitors.
The lithium-based battery market, as well as the battery materials industry, are characterized by changing technologies and evolving industry standards,
which are difficult to predict. This, coupled with frequent introduction of new products and models, has shortened product life cycles and may render our
products obsolete or unmarketable. Our ability to adapt to evolving industry standards and anticipate future standards will be a significant factor in
maintaining and improving our competitive position and our prospects for growth. To achieve this goal, we have invested and plan to continue investing
significant financial resources in our R&D infrastructure. Currently, we have facilities in Dalian, Nanjing and Shaoxing, China, which have about 121 R&D
staffers and over 4,000 square meters of space dedicated to R&D activities.
R&D activities, however, are inherently uncertain, and we might encounter practical difficulties in commercializing our research results. Accordingly, our
significant investment in our R&D infrastructure may not bear fruit. On the other hand, our competitors may improve their technologies or even achieve
technological breakthroughs that would render our products obsolete or less marketable. Therefore, our failure to effectively keep up with rapid
technological changes and evolving industry standards by introducing new and enhanced products may cause us to lose our market share and to suffer a
decrease in our revenue.
Our efforts to enter into the light electric vehicle business could fail.
On September 24, 2020, our wholly-owned Hong Kong subsidiary, BAK Investments entered into a framework investment agreement with Gaochun EDZ,
under which we intended to develop light electric vehicle projects. On November 9, 2020, we established our new subsidiary, Nanjing Daxin to launch and
develop our light electric vehicle business.
There are risks and uncertainties associated with this effort, particularly given that the light electric vehicle market is evolving. In developing and
commercializing this new line of business, we may have to invest significant time and resources. External factors, such as regulatory compliance
obligations, competitive alternatives, lack of market acceptance and shifting market preferences, may also affect the successful implementation of this new
line of business. Failure to successfully plan for and manage these risks in the development and implementation of this new line of business could have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Maintaining our R&D activities and manufacturing operations require significant capital expenditures, and our inability or failure to maintain our
operations could have a material adverse impact on our market share and ability to generate revenue.
We incurred capital expenditures of approximately $17.5 million and $19.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. We
may incur significant additional capital expenditures as a result of unanticipated expenses, regulatory changes and other events that impact our business. If
we are unable or fail to timely obtain capital on acceptable terms and adequately maintain our manufacturing capacity, we could lose customers and there
could be a material adverse impact on our market share and our ability to generate revenue.
We face intense competition from other battery manufacturers and cathode material and precursor producers, many of which have significantly greater
resources.
The market for batteries used in electric vehicles and light electric vehicles is intensely competitive and is characterized by frequent technological changes
and evolving industry standards. We expect competition to become more intense. Increased competition may result in declines in average selling prices,
causing a decrease in gross profit margins. We have faced and will continue to face competition from manufacturers of traditional rechargeable batteries,
such as lead-acid batteries other manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries, as well as from companies engaged in the development of batteries incorporating
new technologies. Other manufacturers of high-power lithium batteries currently include Panasonic Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., LG Chem,
Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint Stock Co., Ltd., Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited, BYD Co. Ltd, Hefei Guoxuan Hi-Tech Power Energy Co.,
Ltd and Shandong Goldencell Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.
26
Many of these existing competitors have greater financial, personnel, technical, manufacturing, marketing, sales and other resources than we do. As a
result, these competitors may be in a stronger position to respond quickly to market opportunities, new or emerging technologies and evolving industry
standards. Many of our competitors are developing a variety of battery technologies, such as lithium polymer, prismatic cells and fuel cell batteries, which
are expected to compete with our existing product lines. Other companies undertaking R&D activities of solid-polymer lithium-ion batteries have
developed prototypes and are constructing commercial scale production facilities. It is possible that our competitors will be able to introduce new products
with more desirable features than ours and their new products will gain market acceptance. If our competitors successfully do so, we may not be able to
maintain our competitive position and our future success would be materially and adversely affected.
The market for cathode materials and precursors has been evolving rapidly. Rapid and ongoing changes in technology and product standards could render
our cathode materials and precursor products less competitive, or even obsolete, particularly if we fail to continue to improve the performance of our
cathode materials and precursor products. Competing technologies that outperform our cathode materials and precursor products in one or more
performance attributes could be developed and successfully introduced. We are aware of certain companies, including Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.,
Umicore N.V., Beijing Easpring Material Technology Co., Ltd. and Ningbo Ronbay Lithium Battery Material Co., Ltd. using cell chemistry technology
similar to our technology and these or other companies have introduced or could introduce products that compete directly with our products and could in
the future outperform our products in one or more performance attributes, could be offered to our customers as a cheaper alternative to our products or may
result in increased pricing pressure on our products.
We are dependent on a limited number of customers for a significant portion of our revenues and this dependence is likely to continue.
We have been dependent on a limited number of customers for a significant portion of our revenue. Our top five customers accounted for approximately
54.0% and 80.0% of our revenues for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Dependence on a few customers could make it difficult to
negotiate attractive prices for our products and could expose us to the risk of substantial losses if a single dominant customer stops purchasing our products.
We expect that a limited number of customers will continue to contribute a significant portion of our sales in the near future. Our ability to maintain close
relationships with these top customers is essential to the growth and profitability of our business. If we fail to sell our products to one or more of these top
customers in any particular period, or if a large customer purchases fewer of our products, defers orders or fails to place additional orders with us, or if we
fail to develop additional major customers, our revenue could decline, and our results of operations could be adversely affected.
In addition to our own production, we also rely on a few battery suppliers to fulfill our customers’ orders. If we fail to effectively manage our
relationships with, or lose the services of these suppliers and we cannot substitute suitable alternative suppliers, our operations would be materially
adversely affected.
We generate part of our revenues by outsourcing some of our customers’ orders to Zhengzhou BAK New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd (“BAK New Energy”),
Shenzhen BAK Battery Co., Ltd (“Shenzhen BAK”) and a few other suppliers for certain battery models that we do not produce. If our business
relationship with BAK New Energy, Shenzhen BAK and other suppliers changes negatively or their financial condition deteriorates, or their operating
environment changes, our business may be harmed in many ways. BAK New Energy, Shenzhen BAK and other suppliers may also unilaterally terminate
battery supply to us or increase the prices. As a result, we are not assured of an uninterrupted supply of certain types of high-power lithium batteries of
acceptable quality or at acceptable prices from BAK New Energy, Shenzhen BAK or other suppliers. On the other hand, we may not be able to substitute
them with suitable alternative contract manufacturers in a timely manner on commercially acceptable term or at all. We may be forced to default on the
agreements with our customers. This may negatively impact our revenues and adversely affect our reputation and relationships with our customers, causing
a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
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Failure by us to maintain and strengthen relationships with certain contract battery material producer may materially adversely affect our ability to
fulfill customer orders and our results of operations.
We outsource the production of a portion of our battery material products to a third-party supplier in Xianyang city, Shaanxi province. Our ability to meet
the demands of our customers for battery material products would be affected, if our relationship with this supplier changes negatively, or operations at this
supplier are disrupted. In the event of a significant disruption to the battery material production line of this supplier, our proprietary manufacturing facility
in Shangyu, Zhejiang province, may not have sufficient production capacity to meet demand until the supplier’s production line returns to operation. On the
other hand, we may not be able to replace this supplier with suitable alternative contract manufacturers in a timely manner on commercially acceptable
term or at all. We may be forced to default on orders with our customers. This could negatively impact our revenues and adversely affect our reputation and
relationships with our customers, causing a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Our business depends on the growth in demand for light electric vehicles, electric vehicles, electric tools, energy storage, such as UPS application, and
other high-power electric devices.
As the demand for our battery cell and battery materials is directly related to the market demand for high-power electric devices, a fast-growing high-power
electric devices market will be critical to the success of our business. In anticipation of an expected increase in the demand for high-power electric devices
such as electric vehicles, light electric vehicles, electric tools, and energy storage including UPS application in the next few years, we are building new
manufacturing facilities in Nanjing and have invested in the R&D capability of our newly acquired battery materials business. However, the markets we
have targeted, primarily those in the PRC, may not achieve the level of growth we expect. If this market fails to achieve our expected level of growth, we
may have excess production capacity and may not be able to generate enough revenue to maintain our profitability.
Our success, in part, depends on the success of manufacturers of the end applications that use our products, and our failure to gain acceptance of our
products from such manufacturers could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and profitability.
As we target the battery markets for light electric vehicles, electric vehicles, electric tools, energy storage including but not limited to UPS application, and
other high-power electric devices, our future success in part depends on whether end-application manufacturers are willing to use batteries that incorporate
our products. To secure acceptance of our products, we must constantly develop and introduce more reliable and cost-effective battery cells and battery
materials with enhanced functionality to meet evolving industry standards. Our failure to gain acceptance of our products from these manufacturers could
materially and adversely affect our future success. From 2017 to 2019, our electric vehicle customers included Dongfeng Autos, Dayun Motor and Yema
Auto. Since then, however, our sales to electric vehicle customers have decreased significantly and we only generated approximately $0.2 million revenues
from electric vehicle customers in 2021. On the other hand, we cannot guarantee that the market demand for the cathode materials and precursors will
maintain the current growth rate.
Even if a manufacturer decides to use batteries that incorporate our products, the manufacturer may not be able to market and sell its products successfully.
The manufacturer’s inability to market and sell its products successfully, whether from lack of market acceptance or otherwise, could materially and
adversely affect our business and prospects because this manufacturer may not order new products from us. If we cannot achieve the expected level of
sales, we will not be able to make sufficient profits to offset the expenditures we have incurred to expand our production capacity or develop new
technologies, nor will we be able to grow our business. Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations and future success would be
materially and adversely affected.
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We extend relatively long payment terms to some large customers.
As is customary in the battery industry in the PRC, we extend relatively long payment terms to some large customers. In 2021, it generally took 60 days for
us to collect payments from our major customers. Due to the large size of many of our orders, these extended terms may adversely affect our cash flow and
our ability to fund our operations out of our operating cash flows.
While our revenue grew by $15.1 million, or 40% for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the prior year, our trade accounts and bills receivable
increased by $20.3 million, or 69% as of December 31, 2021 compared to that as of December 31, 2020. Although we attempt to establish appropriate
reserves for our receivables, those reserves may not prove to be adequate in view of large amounts of accounts receivable and actual levels of bad debts.
The failure of our customers to pay us timely would negatively affect our working capital, which could in turn adversely affect our cash flows.
Our customers often place large orders for products, requiring fast delivery, which impacts our working capital. If our customers do not incorporate our
products into their products and sell them in a timely fashion, for example, due to excess inventories, sales slowdowns or other issues, they may not pay us
in a timely fashion, even on our extended terms. Our customers’ failure to pay may force us to defer or delay further product orders, which may adversely
affect our cash flows, sales or income in subsequent periods.
We may not be able to accurately plan our production based on our sales contracts, which may result in excess product inventory or product shortages.
Our sales contracts for battery cells typically provide for a non-binding, three-month forecast on the quantity of products that our customers may purchase
from us. Our sales contracts for battery materials typically provide for a non-binding, two-month forecast on the quantity of products that our customers
may purchase from us. We typically have only a 15-day to 30-day lead time to manufacture battery cell products and 25-day lead time to produce battery
material products to meet our customers’ requirements once our customers place orders with us. To meet the short delivery deadline, we generally make
significant decisions on our production level and timing, procurement, facility requirements, personnel needs and other resources requirements based on
our estimate in light of this forecast, our past dealings with such customers, market conditions and other relevant factors. Our customers’ final purchase
orders may not be consistent with our estimates. If the final purchase orders substantially differ from our estimates, we may have excess product inventory
or product shortages. Excess product inventory could result in unprofitable sales or write-offs as our products are susceptible to obsolescence and price
declines. Producing additional products to make up for any product shortages within a short time frame may be difficult, making us unable to fill out the
purchase orders. In either case, our results of operation would fluctuate from period to period.
We may not be able to substantially increase our manufacturing output in order to maintain our cost competitiveness.
We believe that our ability to provide cost-effective products is one of the most significant factors that contributed to our past success and will be essential
for our future growth. We believe this is one of our competitive advantages over our Japanese and Korean competitors. We need to increase our
manufacturing output to a level that will enable us to substantially reduce the cost of our products on a per unit basis through economies of scale. However,
our ability to substantially increase our manufacturing output is subject to significant constraints and uncertainties, including:
● the need to raise significant additional funds to purchase and prepay raw materials or to build additional manufacturing facilities, which we may
be unable to obtain on reasonable terms or at all;
● delays and cost overruns as a result of a number of factors, many of which may be beyond our control, such as increases in raw material prices and
problems with equipment vendors;
● delays or denial of required approvals by relevant government authorities;
● diversion of significant management attention and other resources; and
● failure to execute our expansion plan effectively.
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If we are unable to increase our manufacturing output because of any of the risks described above, we may be unable to maintain our competitive position
or achieve the growth we expect. Moreover, even if we expand our manufacturing output, we may not be able to generate sufficient customer demand for
our products to support our increased production output.
We may incur significant costs because of the warranties we supply with our battery cell products.
With respect to the sale of our battery products, we typically offer warranties against any defects due to product malfunction or workmanship for a period
of six months-to-eight years from the date of purchase, including a period of six to twenty-four months for battery cells, and a period of twelve to twenty-
seven months for battery modules for electric bicycles, and a period of three years to eight years (or 120,000 or 200,000 km if reached sooner) for battery
modules for electric vehicles. We provide a reserve for these potential warranty expenses, which is based on an analysis of historical warranty issues. There
is no assurance that future warranty claims will be consistent with past history, and in the event that we experience a significant increase in warranty
claims, there is no assurance that our reserves will be sufficient. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
We do not have product liability insurance for claims against our product quality. Defects in our products could result in a loss of customers and
decrease in revenue, unexpected expenses and a loss of market share.
We have not purchased product liability insurance to provide against any claims against us based on our product quality. As a result, defects in our products
could result in a loss of customers and decrease in revenue, unexpected expenses and a loss of market share, and any of our products are found to have
reliability, quality or compatibility problems, we will be required to accept returns, provide replacements, provide refunds, or pay damages. We may be
required to incur substantial amounts to indemnify our customers in respect of their product quality claims against us, which would materially and
adversely affect the results of our operations and severely damage our reputation.
We do not have insurance coverage against all the damages or losses of our facilities.
We currently have insurance coverage for certain pledged machinery and equipment and pledged buildings located at our facilities in Dalian. We expect we
will purchase related insurance for the remaining buildings when we obtain their property ownership certificates. If we were to suffer any losses or
damages to any of the facilities before the purchase of insurance policies that provide adequate coverage, our business, financial condition and results of
operations may be materially and adversely affected.
In addition, Hitrans maintains property insurance coverage against certain property and inventory damages and losses. However, such insurance may not
adequately compensate it for any such losses and will not address a loss of customers as a result of property damages and consequent disruptions to
operations or may have large deductibles insufficient to support its continuing operations. If damages or losses exceed the insurance coverage, it may not be
able to return to operation for an extended period of time, potentially even threatening its viability. In addition, insurance coverage is expensive, may be
difficult to obtain and may not be available in the future on acceptable terms or at all. A significant increase in the cost of insurance coverage could
adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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We depend on third parties to supply key raw materials and components to us. Failure to obtain a sufficient supply of these raw materials and
components in a timely fashion and at reasonable costs could significantly delay our production and shipments, which would cause us to breach our
sales contracts with our customers.
We purchase from Chinese domestic suppliers for certain key raw materials and components such as electrolytes, electrode materials and separators for
our battery cell products and purchase from Chinese domestic suppliers for cobaltous sulfates, manganese sulfates, lithium hydroxides, lithium carbonates
and liquid nickel sulfates. We have purchased raw materials and components on the basis of purchase orders. In the absence of firm and long-term
contracts, we may not be able to obtain a sufficient supply of these raw materials and components from our existing suppliers or alternates in a timely
fashion or at a reasonable cost. If we fail to secure a sufficient supply of key raw materials and components in a timely fashion, it would result in a
significant delay in our production and shipments, which may cause us to breach our sales contracts with our customers. Furthermore, failure to obtain
sufficient supply of these raw materials and components at a reasonable cost could also harm our revenue and gross profit margins.
Fluctuations in prices and availability of raw materials, particularly Ni, Co, Mn, Li2CO3, LiPF6 and LiFePO4, could increase our costs or cause
delays in shipments, which would adversely impact our business and results of operations.
Our operating results could be adversely affected by increases in the cost of raw materials, particularly Ni, Co, Mn, Li2CO3, LiPF6 and LiFePO4, the
primary cost component of our battery products, battery material products or other product parts or components. The price of Ni, Co, Mn, Li2CO3, LiPF6
and LiFePO4 is not stable. For example, we recently experienced significant increases in the costs of nickel and cobalt, as a result of the current Ukrainian-
Russian conflict, as well as in the cost of lithium carbonate due to large market demand and supply imbalance. Although we are not dependent on single
suppliers for supply of raw materials, we mostly purchase raw materials through individual purchase orders or short-term contracts and not pursuant to
long-term contracts. As such, our third-party suppliers may not be able to satisfy our requirements during a period of sustained or growing demand.
In addition, our battery cell products historically have not been able to fully offset the effects of higher costs of raw materials through price increases to
customers or by way of productivity improvements. As a result, a significant increase in the price of one or more raw materials, parts or components or the
inability to successfully implement price increases/surcharges to mitigate such cost increases could have a material adverse effect on our results of
operations.
We do not have long-term purchase commitments from our customers, which may result in significant uncertainties and volatility with respect to our
revenue from period to period.
We do not have long-term purchase commitments from our customers and the term of our sales contracts with our customers is typically one year or less.
Furthermore, these contracts leave certain major terms such as price and quantity of products open to be determined in each purchase order. These contracts
also allow parties to re-adjust the contract price for substantial changes in market conditions. As a result, if our customers hold stronger bargaining power
than us or the market conditions are in their favor, we may not be able to enjoy the price downside protection or upside gain. Furthermore, our customers
may decide not to continue placing purchase orders with us in the future at the same level as in prior periods. As a result, our results of operations may vary
from period to period and may fluctuate significantly in the future.
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Compliance with environmental regulations can be expensive, and our failure to comply with these regulations may result in adverse publicity and a
material adverse effect on our business.
As a manufacturer, we are subject to various PRC environmental laws and regulations on air emission, wastewater discharge, solid waste and noise.
Although we believe that our operations are in substantial compliance with current environmental laws and regulations, we may not be able to comply with
these regulations at all times as the PRC environmental legal regime is evolving and becoming more stringent. Therefore, if the PRC government imposes
more stringent regulations in the future, we will have to incur additional substantial costs and expenses in order to comply with new regulations, which may
negatively affect our results of operations. If we fail to comply with any of the present or future environmental regulations in material aspects, we may
suffer from negative publicity and may be required to pay substantial fines, suspend or even cease operations. Failure to comply with PRC environmental
laws and regulations may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We face risks associated with the marketing, distribution and sale of our products internationally, and if we are unable to effectively manage these
risks, they could impair our ability to expand our business abroad.
For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we derived 17% and 5.6%, respectively, of our sales from outside the PRC mainland. We deem overseas
market as an important revenue source for us, and have been actively exploring overseas customers. The marketing, international distribution and sale of
our products expose us to a number of risks, including:
● fluctuations in currency exchange rates;
● difficulty in engaging and retaining distributors that are knowledgeable about, and can function effectively in, overseas markets;
● increased costs associated with maintaining marketing efforts in various countries;
● difficulty and cost relating to compliance with the different commercial and legal requirements of the overseas markets in which we offer our
products;
● inability to obtain, maintain or enforce intellectual property rights; and
● trade barriers such as export requirements, tariffs, taxes and other restrictions and expenses, which could increase the prices of our products and
make us less competitive in some countries.
Our business depends substantially on the continuing efforts of our senior executives and other key personnel, and our business may be severely
disrupted if we lost their services.
Our future success heavily depends on the continued service of our senior executives and other key employees. In particular, we rely on the expertise and
experience of our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President Mr. Yunfei Li and our Interim Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Xiangyu Pei. If one or more of
our other senior executives are unable or unwilling to continue to work for us in their present positions, we may encounter similar problems, but on a
compounded basis. Moreover, if any of our current or former senior executives joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose customers,
suppliers, know-how and key personnel. Each of our executive officers has entered into an employment agreement with us, which contains non-
competition and confidentiality clauses. However, if any dispute arises between our current or former executive officers and the Company, it is hard to
predict the extent to which any of these agreements could be enforced in China, where these executive officers reside, in light of the uncertainties with
China’s legal system.
32
We have experienced significant management changes which could increase our control risks and have a material adverse effect on our ability to do
business and our results of operations.
Since 2009, we have had a number of changes in our senior management, including multiple changes in our Chief Financial Officer. The magnitude of
these past and potential changes and the short time interval in which they have occurred or may occur, particularly during a time of economic or financial
crisis, add to the risks of control failures, including a failure in the effective operation of our internal control over financial reporting or our disclosure
controls and procedures. Control failures could result in material adverse effects on our financial condition and results of operations. It may take time for
the new management team to become sufficiently familiar with our business and each other to effectively develop and implement our business strategies.
The turnover of key management positions could further harm our financial performance and results of operations. Management attention may be diverted
from regular business concerns by reorganizations.
We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to remediate the material weaknesses or maintain an
effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud, and investor
confidence and the market price of our shares may be adversely affected.
To implement Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or SOX 404, the SEC adopted rules requiring public companies to include a report of
management on the company’s internal control over financial reporting in their annual reports on Form 10-K. Under current law, we are subject to the
requirement that we maintain internal controls and that management perform periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal controls, assuming our
filing status remains as a smaller reporting company. A report of our management is included under Item 9A of this annual report. Our management has
identified the following material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting: we did not have appropriate policies and procedures in place to
evaluate the proper accounting and disclosures of key documents and agreements, and there was insufficient accounting personnel with an appropriate level
of technical accounting knowledge and experience in the application of accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S.
GAAP, commensurate with our financial reporting requirements. 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 the company’s annual or interim financial statements will
not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. We have taken measures and plan to continue to take measures to remedy this material weakness. Since
September 2016, we have regularly offered our financial personnel trainings on internal control and risk management. Since November 2016, we have
regularly provided trainings to our financial personnel on U.S. GAAP accounting guidelines. However, the implementation of these measures may not fully
address the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. Our failure to address any control deficiency could result in inaccuracies in
our financial statements and could also impair our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and related regulatory filings on a
timely basis. Moreover, effective internal control over financial reporting is important to prevent fraud. As a result, our business, financial condition, results
of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of our shares, may be materially and adversely affected.
33
RISKS RELATED TO COMMON STOCK
Numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, may cause the market price of common stock to fluctuate significantly.
There are numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, may cause the market price of common stock of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. to
fluctuate significantly. These factors include:
● our earnings releases, actual or anticipated changes in our earnings, fluctuations in our operating results or our failure to meet the expectations of
financial market analysts and investors;
● changes in financial estimates by us or by any securities analysts who might cover the common stock;
● speculation about our business in the press or the investment community;
● significant developments relating to our relationships with our customers or suppliers;
● stock market price and volume fluctuations of other publicly traded companies and, in particular, those that are in our industries;
● customer demand for our products;
● investor perceptions of our industry in general and our company in particular;
● the operating and stock performance of comparable companies;
● general economic conditions and trends;
● major catastrophic events;
● announcements by us or our competitors of new products, significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships or divestitures;
● changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretation or principles;
● loss of external funding sources;
● sales of our shares, including sales by our directors, officers or significant shareholders; and
● additions or departures of key personnel.
In the past, shareholders of a public company often brought securities class action suits against the company following periods of instability in the market
price of that company’s securities. If we were involved in a class action suit, it could divert a significant amount of our management’s attention and other
resources from our business and operations, which could harm our results of operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit. Any
such class action suit, whether or not successful, could harm our reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, if a claim is
successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and
results of operations.
34
Techniques employed by short sellers may drive down the market price of the common stock of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.
Short selling is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own but rather has borrowed from a third party with the intention of buying identical
securities back at a later date to return to the lender. The short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the
borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares, as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale. As it is in
the short seller’s interest for the price of the security to decline, many short sellers publish, or arrange for the publication of, negative opinions regarding
the relevant issuer and its business prospects in order to create negative market momentum and generate profits for themselves after selling a security short.
These short attacks have, in the past, led to selling of shares in the market.
Public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China have been the subject of short selling. Much of the scrutiny and negative publicity
has centered on allegations of a lack of effective internal control over financial reporting resulting in financial and accounting irregularities and mistakes,
inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud. As a result, a number of targets of such
efforts are now conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations and, in the interim, are subject to shareholder lawsuits and/or SEC
enforcement actions.
We have become the subject of certain unfavorable allegations. Although we believe such allegations are untrue, inaccurate or inflated, we have expended
resources to investigate such allegations and defend ourselves and we may need to expend more resources in connection with these allegations in the future,
which could be costly and time-consuming and could distract our management from growing our business. The allegations against us may severely impact
our stock price and disrupt our business operations. Any investment in the common stock of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. could be greatly reduced or
even rendered worthless due to such allegations.
If we fail to comply with the continued listing requirements of NASDAQ, we would face possible delisting, which would result in a limited public
market for shares of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. and make obtaining future debt or equity financing more difficult for us.
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.’s common stock is traded and listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “CBAT”, which was changed from
“CBAK” on November 30, 2018. The common stock may be delisted if we fail to maintain certain NASDAQ listing requirements.
On February 20, 2020, we received notice from the Listing Qualifications Department of The NASDAQ Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) indicating that, for the
last 30 consecutive business days, the bid price for the common stock had closed below the minimum $1.00 per share and as a result, CBAK Energy
Technology, Inc. was no longer in compliance with the NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). We regained compliance with the minimum bid price rule on
October 2, 2020.
We cannot assure you that CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. will continue to comply with the requirements for continued listing on the NASDAQ Capital
Market in the future. If the common stock loses its status on the NASDAQ Capital Market, the common stock would likely trade in the over-the-counter
market. If our shares were to trade on the over-the-counter market, selling the common stock could be more difficult because smaller quantities of shares
would likely be bought and sold, transactions could be delayed, and security analysts’ coverage of us may be reduced. In addition, in the event the common
stock is delisted, broker-dealers have certain regulatory burdens imposed upon them, which may discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in
the common stock, further limiting the liquidity of the common stock. These factors could result in lower prices and larger spreads in the bid and ask prices
for the common stock. Such delisting from the NASDAQ Capital Market and continued or further declines in our share price could also greatly impair our
ability to raise additional necessary capital through equity or debt financing and could significantly increase the ownership dilution to shareholders caused
by our issuing equity in financing or other transactions.
35
You may experience dilution to the extent that shares of the common stock are issued upon the exercise of outstanding warrants or other securities that
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. may issue in the future.
You may experience dilution to the extent that shares of the common stock are issued upon the exercise of outstanding warrants of CBAK Energy
Technology, Inc., and if CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. issues additional equity securities, or there are any issuances and subsequent exercises of stock
options issued in the future.
On February 10, 2021, pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated February 8, 2021, CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. issued to certain
investors (i) in a private placement, Series A-1 warrants to purchase a total of 4,469,988 shares of common stock, at a per share exercise price of $7.67 and
exercisable for 42 months from the date of issuance; (ii) in a registered direct offering, certain Series B warrants to purchase a total of 4,469,988 shares of
common stock, at a per share exercise price of $7.83 and exercisable for 90 days from the date of issuance; and (iii) in the registered direct offering, certain
Series A-2 warrants to purchase up to 2,234,992 shares of common stock, at a per share exercise price of $7.67 and exercisable for 45 months from the date
of issuance. On May 10, 2021, we entered into that Amendment No. 1 to the Series B Warrant with each of the holders of the Series B warrants, pursuant to
which the expiration date of the Series B warrants was extended from May 11, 2021 to August 31, 2021. On September 1, 2021, all of the Series B warrants
and Series A-2 warrants had expired.
Prior to that, in December 2020, CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. issued to the same investors warrants to purchase an aggregate of 3,795,920 shares of
common stock at an exercise price of $6.46 per share. These warrants are exercisable until 36 months after the date of issuance. The exercise prices of all of
the above warrants are subject to full-ratchet anti-dilution adjustment in the case of future issuances or deemed issuances of shares of common stock below
the warrants’ exercise price then in effect, as well as customary adjustment in case of stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and similar
recapitalization transactions. In addition, CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. issued to Mr. Jian Ke placement agent warrants to purchase up to 379,592 shares
of common stock at an exercise price of $6.475 per share in December 2020 and the placement agent warrant to purchase up to 446,999 shares of common
stock at an exercise price of $9.204 per share in February 2021. These warrants also bear customary anti-dilution protections in the event of stock dividends
or splits, business combination, sale of assets, similar recapitalization transactions, or other similar transactions.
Our directors and executive officers, collectively, own approximately 12.78% of outstanding common stock of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. and may
possess significant influence in or control over our management and affairs.
Mr. Yunfei Li, our president and chief executive officer and chairman of our board, and our other executive officers and directors beneficially own an
aggregate of 12.78% of outstanding common stock of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. as of April 9, 2022. As a result, our directors and executive officers,
acting together, may have significant influence in or control over our management and affairs, including the election of directors and approval of significant
corporate transactions, such as mergers, consolidation, and sale of all or substantially all of our assets. Consequently, this concentration of ownership may
have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control, including a merger, consolidation or other business combination involving us, even if such a
change of control would benefit our stockholders.
GENERAL RISK FACTORS
If we cannot continue to develop new products in a timely manner, and at favorable margins, we may not be able to compete effectively.
The battery industry has been notable for the pace of innovations in product life, product design and applied technology. We have made, and will continue
to make, investments in research and development with the goal of further innovation. The successful development and introduction of new products and
line extensions face the uncertainty of customer acceptance and reaction from competitors, as well as the possibility of cannibalization of sales of our
existing products. In addition, our ability to create new products and line extensions and to sustain existing products is affected by whether we can:
● develop and fund research and technological innovations;
● receive and maintain necessary intellectual property protections;
● obtain governmental approvals and registrations;
● comply with governmental regulations; and
● anticipate customer needs and preferences successfully.
36
The failure to develop and launch successful new products could hinder the growth of our business and any delay in the development or launch of a new
product could also compromise our competitive position. If competitors introduce new or enhanced products that significantly outperform ours, or if they
develop or apply manufacturing technology which permits them to manufacture at a significantly lower cost relative to ours, we may be unable to compete
successfully in the market segments affected by these changes.
A change in our product mix may cause our results of operations to differ substantially from the anticipated results in any particular period.
Our overall profitability may not meet expectations if our products, customers or geographic mix are substantially different than anticipated. Our profit
margins vary among products, customers and geographic markets. Consequently, if our mix of any of these is substantially different from what is
anticipated in any particular period, our profitability could be lower than anticipated.
Manufacturing or use of our products may cause accidents, which could result in significant production interruption, delay or claims for substantial
damages.
Due to the high energy density inherent in lithium-based batteries, our batteries can pose certain safety risks, including the risk of fire. Although we
incorporate safety procedures in the research, development, manufacture and transportation of batteries that are designed to minimize safety risks, the
manufacture or use of our products may still cause accidents. Any accident, whether occurring at the manufacturing facilities or from the use of our
products, may result in significant production interruption, delays or claims for substantial damages caused by personal injuries or property damages.
We may face impairment charges if economic environments in which our businesses operate and key economic and business assumptions substantially
change.
Assessment of the potential impairment of property, plant and equipment and other identifiable intangible assets is an integral part of our normal ongoing
review of operations. Testing for potential impairment of long-lived assets is dependent on numerous assumptions and reflects our best estimates at a
particular point in time, which may vary from testing date to testing date. The economic environments in which our businesses operate and key economic
and business assumptions with respect to projected product selling prices and materials costs, market growth and inflation rates, can significantly affect the
outcome of impairment tests. Estimates based on these assumptions may differ significantly from actual results. Changes in factors and assumptions used in
assessing potential impairments can have a significant impact on both the existence and magnitude of impairments, as well as the time at which such
impairments are recognized. Future changes in the economic environment and the economic outlook for the assets being evaluated could also result in
impairment charges. Any significant asset impairments would adversely impact our financial results.
We may be exposed to infringement or misappropriation claims by third parties, which, if determined adversely to us, could cause our loss of significant
rights and inability to continue providing our existing product offerings.
Our success also depends largely on our ability to use and develop our technology and know-how without infringing the intellectual property rights of third
parties. The validity and scope of claims relating to lithium-ion battery technology patents involve complex scientific, legal and factual questions and
analysis and, therefore, may be highly expensive and time-consuming. If there is a successful claim of infringement against us, we may be required to pay
substantial damages to the party claiming infringement, develop non-infringing technologies or enter into royalty or license agreements that may not be
available on acceptable terms, if at all. Our failure to develop non-infringing technologies or license the proprietary rights on a timely basis would harm our
business. Protracted litigation could result in our customers, or potential customers, deferring or limiting their purchase or use of our products until
resolution of such litigation. Parties making the infringement claim may also obtain an injunction that can prevent us from selling our products or using
technology that contains the allegedly infringing contents. Any intellectual property litigation could have a material adverse effect on our business, results
of operation and financial condition.
37
The success of our business depends on our ability to attract, train and retain highly skilled employees and key personnel.
Because of the highly specialized, technical nature of our business, we must attract, train and retain a sizable workforce comprising highly skilled
employees and other key personnel. Since our industry is characterized by high demand and intense competition for talent, we may have to pay higher
salaries and wages and provide greater benefits in order to attract and retain highly skilled employees or other key personnel that we will need to achieve
our strategic objectives. Our ability to train and integrate new employees into our operations may not meet the requirements of our growing business. Our
failure to attract, train or retain highly skilled employees and other key personnel in numbers that are sufficient to satisfy our needs would materially and
adversely affect our business.
If we become directly subject to the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity involving U.S.-listed Chinese companies, we may have to expend
significant resources to investigate and resolve the matter which could harm our business operations, stock price and reputation and could result in a
loss of your investment in our stock, especially if such matter cannot be addressed and resolved favorably.
U.S. public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China, particularly companies like us which have completed so-called reverse
merger transactions, have been the subject of intense scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity by investors, financial commentators and regulatory
agencies, such as the SEC. Much of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity has centered around financial and accounting irregularities and mistakes, a
lack of effective internal controls over financial accounting, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases,
allegations of fraud. As a result of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity, the publicly traded stock of many U.S. listed Chinese companies has
sharply decreased in value and, in some cases, has become virtually worthless. Many of these companies have also been subject to shareholder lawsuits and
SEC enforcement actions, and have been conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations. If we become the subject of any unfavorable
allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we will have to expend significant resources to investigate such allegations and/or
defend our company. This situation will be costly and time consuming and distract our management from growing our company. If such allegations are not
proven to be groundless, our company and business operations will be severely and your investment in our stock could be rendered worthless.
The disclosures in our reports and other filings with the SEC and our other public pronouncements are not subject to the scrutiny of any regulatory
bodies in the PRC. Accordingly, our public disclosure should be reviewed in light of the fact that no governmental agency that is located in China
where substantially all of our operations and business are located have conducted any due diligence on our operations or reviewed or cleared any of
our disclosures.
We are regulated by the SEC and our reports and other filings with the SEC are subject to SEC review in accordance with the rules and regulations
promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. Unlike public reporting companies whose operations are located primarily in the
United States, however, substantially all of our operations are located in China. Since substantially all of our operations and business take place in China, it
may be more difficult for the Staff of the SEC to overcome the geographic and cultural obstacles that are present when reviewing our disclosures. These
same obstacles are not present for similar companies whose operations or business take place entirely or primarily in the United States. Furthermore, our
SEC reports and other disclosures and public pronouncements are not subject to the review or scrutiny of any PRC regulatory authority. For example, the
disclosure in our SEC reports and other filings are not subject to the review of China Securities Regulatory Commission, a PRC regulator that is tasked
with oversight of the capital markets in China. Accordingly, you should review our SEC reports, filings and our other public pronouncements with the
understanding that no local regulator has done any due diligence on our company and with the understanding that none of our SEC reports, other filings or
any of our other public pronouncements has been reviewed or otherwise been scrutinized by any local regulator.
38
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
We have completed the construction of the facilities in our Dalian site with a total area of 44,928 square meters comprising manufacturing facilities,
warehousing and packaging facilities and administrative offices at the BAK Industrial Park in Dalian. Of that space, approximately 33,138 square meters
are manufacturing facilities. We have completed the construction of a power battery manufacturing plant and a power battery packing plant in Dalian which
started commercial production in July 2015.
We are constructing the facilities of our Phase One Nanjing site, which occupies an area of 10,268 square meters.
Nanjing Daxin has rented facilities in Nanjing, including administrative offices, manufacturing and warehousing facilities occupying an area of 6,615
square meters.
In November 2021, the Company completed the acquisition of Hitrans. Hitrans owned a manufacturing facility, warehousing, R & D and administrative
offices in Zhejiang. Of that space, approximately 22,913 square meters are manufacturing facilities
We believe that these facilities will meet our recent business needs as well as the needs of our expanded operations in the future.
The following table sets forth the breakdown of our facilities as of December 31, 2021 based on use:
Facility
Constructions completed
Constructions in progress
Facilities rented
Usage
Manufacturing
R&D and administrative
Warehousing
Other facilities
Total
Warehousing
Total
Manufacturing
Warehousing
Administrative
R&D and administrative
Total
The following table presents the total acreage of facilities controlled by each of our major operating subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021:
Dalian CBAK Power facilities site area
Nanjing Daxin facility site area
Nanjing CBAK facilities site area
Hitrans facilities site area
Total
Total
Total
Total
Area (m2)
72,959
6,812
6,328
4,317
90,416
12,421
12,421
31,281
9,097
4,935
3,335
48,648
74,257
21,475
27,173
28,580
See Item 1 Business – Overview of Our Business – Expansion of Manufacturing Capabilities for information related to the construction of our Nanjing
facilities.
We currently have insurance coverage for certain pledged machinery and equipment and pledged buildings located at our owned facilities. We expect we
will purchase related insurance for the remaining buildings when we obtain their property ownership certificates. If we were to suffer any losses or
damages to any of the facilities before the purchase of insurance policies that provide adequate coverage, our business, financial condition and results of
operations may be materially and adversely affected.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
See Note 27 (ii) to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this report.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
Not applicable.
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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF
EQUITY SECURITIES.
PART II
Market Information
Effective June 21, 2019, the Company’s Common Stock started trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CBAT.”
Approximate Number of Holders of Our Common Stock
As of April 13, 2022, there were approximately 47 holders of record of our common stock, which does not include the number of stockholders holding
shares of our common stock in “street name.”
Dividend Policy
We have never declared or paid any dividends, nor do we have any present plan to pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.
We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business.
As we are a holding company, we rely on dividends paid to us by our subsidiaries in the PRC through our Hong Kong subsidiaries, BAK Asia and BAK
Investments. In accordance with its articles of association, each of our subsidiaries in the PRC is required to allocate to its statutory general reserve at least
10% of its respective after-tax profits determined in accordance with the PRC accounting standards and regulations. Each of our subsidiaries in the PRC
may stop allocations to its general reserve if such reserve has reached 50% of its registered capital. Allocations to the reserve can only be used for making
up losses and other specified purposes and may not be paid to us in the form of loans, advances, or cash dividends. Dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries
to BAK Asia or BAK Investments, our Hong Kong subsidiaries, will not be subject to Hong Kong capital gains or other income tax under current Hong
Kong laws and regulations because they will not be deemed to be assessable income derived from or arising in Hong Kong. Such dividends, however, may
be subject to a 10% withholding tax in the PRC.
Our board of directors has discretion on whether to pay dividends unless the distribution would render us unable to repay our debts as they become due, as
provided in Chapter 78.288 of the Nevada Revised Statutes. Even if our board of directors decides to pay dividends, the form, frequency and amount will
depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that
the board of directors may deem relevant.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
See Item 12, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters — Securities Authorized for Issuance
Under Equity Compensation Plans.”
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
We have not sold any equity securities during the 2021 fiscal year that were not previously disclosed in a quarterly report on Form 10-Q or a current report
on Form 8-K that was filed during the 2021 fiscal year.
Purchases of Equity Securities
No repurchases of our common stock were made during the fiscal year of 2021.
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following management’s discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the notes thereto and the other
financial information appearing elsewhere in this report. In addition to historical information, the following discussion contains certain forward-looking
information. See “Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements” above for certain information concerning those forward-looking statements. Our
financial statements are prepared in U.S. dollars and in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Overview
We are engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of new energy high power lithium batteries, as well as cathode materials and precursors for
lithium batteries, which are mainly used in the following applications:
● Electric vehicles (“EV”), such as electric cars, electric buses, hybrid electric cars and buses;
● Light electric vehicles (“LEV”), such as electric bicycles, electric motors, sight-seeing cars; and
● Electric tools, energy storage including but not limited to uninterruptible power supply application, and other high-power applications.
In 2021, we added a production line to produce electric bicycles, in light of the great potential for growth in this market. As of the date of this report, this
production line has not commenced commercial production.
We generated revenues from the manufacture and sale of high-power lithium batteries and raw materials for lithium batteries of $52.7 million and $37.6
million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We incurred a net profit of $61.5 million and a net loss of $7.8 million during
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Our revenues in relation to electric vehicles are, to some extent, adversely impacted by
the reduction of government subsidies to new energy vehicles. However, new revenues driven from the sale of materials used in manufacturing of lithium
batteries, through the newly acquired subsidiary, Hitrans, as well as the continuous climb of sales in uninterruptible supplies and light-electric-vehicle
related products, contributed to the increase. For more details, see “Item 1. Business—Overview of Our Business.” Accordingly, net revenues from sales of
batteries for uninterruptable supplies was $33.3 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $22.7 million for fiscal year ended
December 31, 2020, an increase of $10.6 million, or 47%. Net revenue from trading of raw materials for lithium batteries was $0.5 million for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $14.5 million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, a decrease of $14.0 million, or 96%. Net revenue
from sales of cathode materials and precursors was $17.9 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to nil for fiscal year ended
December 31, 2020. With the announced ultra-low-temperature battery technology, we believe that our revenues in the energy storage market will continue
to grow. In addition, net revenues from sales of batteries for light electric vehicles was $0.5 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as
compared to $39,428 for fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, an increase of $0.5 million, or 1,218%. We believe the government policies relating to new
energy will in the long term encourage the production of new energy vehicles, optimize the structure of the new energy vehicles industry, enhance technical
standards of the industry and strengthen its core competitiveness, which ultimately would foster strategic development of the new energy vehicles. In
addition, our latest development of 32140 battery and our planned investment in the R&D of 46800 battery will help us regain competitiveness in both
LEV/EV markets with the appropriate products. Therefore, the demand for new energy likely will grow in the future and we will be able to secure more
potential orders from the new energy market.
We have completed the construction of a cylindrical power battery manufacturing plant and a power battery packing plant of our Dalian facilities which
started commercial production in July 2015. We have received and been utilizing most of BAK Tianjin’s operating assets relocated to our Dalian facilities,
including its machinery and equipment for battery production and battery pack production, customers, management team and technical staff, patents and
technologies. We also started the investments in and construction of our Nanjing facilities, which is designed to comprise of two phases. The first phase is
in the process of interior renovation and equipment purchase. Phase One has an area of approximately 10,000 square meters at nearly no cost due to the
government’s low rentals. Phase Two is currently under construction design. The Nanjing facilities, once built, are expected to provide 18GWh capacity to
support our demand. We have also purchased machinery and equipment to expand our manufacturing capabilities. Moreover, given the equity and debt
financings we have obtained recently, we believe that with the booming future market demand for high power lithium-ion products, we can continue as a
going concern and return to profitability.
In addition, we completed the acquisition of 81.56% of registered equity interests (representing 75.57% of paid-up capital) in Hitrans, a leading developer
and manufacturer of NCM precursor and cathode materials in China, in November 2021. See “Item 1. Business—Overview of Our Business—Acquisition
of A Raw Materials Manufacturer” for more information on the acquisition.
The consolidated financial statements contained in this annual report have been prepared assuming we will continue to operate as a going concern, which
contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business. The consolidated financial statements do not include
any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that
may result from the outcome of this uncertainty related to our ability to continue as a going concern.
41
Financial Statement Presentation
Net revenues. The Company recognizes revenues when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the
consideration which it expects to receive in exchange for those goods. The Company recognizes revenues following the five-step model prescribed under
ASU No. 2014-09: (i) identify contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price;
(iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenues when (or as) we satisfy the performance
obligation.
Revenues from product sales are recognized when the customer obtains control of our product, which occurs at a point in time, typically upon delivery to
the customer. We expense incremental costs of obtaining a contract as and when incurred it the expected amortization period of the asset that it would have
recognized is on year or less or the amount is immaterial.
Revenue from product sales is recorded net of reserves established for applicable discounts and allowances that are offered within contracts with our
customers.
Product revenue reserves, which are classified as a reduction in product revenues, are generally characterized in the categories: discounts and returns. These
reserves are based on estimates of the amounts earned or to be claimed on the related sales and are classified as reductions of accounts receivable as the
amount is payable to the Company’s customer.
Cost of revenues. Cost of revenues consists primarily of material costs, employee remuneration for staff engaged in production activity, share-based
compensation, depreciation and related expenses that are directly attributable to the production of products. Cost of revenues also includes write-downs of
inventory to lower of cost and net realizable value.
Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses primarily consist of remuneration for R&D staff, share-based compensation,
depreciation and maintenance expenses relating to R&D equipment, and R&D material costs.
Sales and marketing expenses. Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of remuneration for staff involved in selling and marketing efforts,
including staff engaged in the packaging of goods for shipment, warranty expenses, advertising cost, depreciation, share-based compensation and travel and
entertainment expenses. We do not pay slotting fees to retail companies for displaying our products, engage in cooperative advertising programs,
participate in buy-down programs or similar arrangements.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee remuneration, share-based compensation,
professional fees, insurance, benefits, general office expenses, depreciation, liquidated damage charges and bad debt expenses.
Finance costs, net. Finance costs consist primarily of interest income and interest on bank loans, net of capitalized interest.
Income tax expenses. Our subsidiaries in PRC are subject to an income tax rate of 25%, except for Hitrans which was recognized as a “High and New
Technology Enterprise” and enjoyed a preferential tax rate of 15% from 2021 to 2023. Our Hong Kong subsidiary BAK Asia is and BAK Investment are
subject to profits tax at a rate of 16.5%. However, because we did not have any assessable income derived from or arising in Hong Kong, BAK Asia and
BAK Investment had not paid any such tax.
42
Results of Operations
Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021
The following table sets forth key components of our results of operations for the years indicated, both in dollars and as a percentage of our revenue.
(All amounts, other than percentages, in thousands of U.S. dollars)
Years Ended
Change
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
$
%
Net revenues
Cost of revenues
Gross profit
$
37,566 $
(34,852)
2,714
52,670
(47,559)
5,111
15,104
(12,707)
2,397
Operating expenses:
Research and development expenses
Sales and marketing expenses
General and administrative expenses
Impairment charge on property, plant and equipment
(Provision for) recovery of doubtful accounts
Total operating expenses
Operating loss
Finance expense, net
Other (expense) income, net
Impairment of Non-marketable equity securities
Change in fair value of warrants liability
(Loss) income before income tax
Income tax credit
Net (loss) income
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests
Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.
$
(1,679)
(701)
(3,746)
(4,346)
(722)
(11,194)
(8,480)
(1,399)
(40)
-
2,072
(7,847)
-
(7,847)
40
(7,807) $
(5,274)
(2,302)
(10,027)
-
780
(16,823)
(11,712)
785
3,644
(693)
61,802
53,826
7,733
61,559
(73)
61,486
(3,595)
(1,601)
(6,281)
4,346
1,502
(5,629)
(3,232)
2,184
3,684
(693)
59,730
61,673
7,733
69,406
(113)
69,293
40
36
88
214
228
168
-
-208
50
38
-156
-9,210
-
2,883
-786
-
884
-283
888
Net revenues. Net revenues were $52.7 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $37.6 million for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2020, an increase of $15.1 million, or 40%.
The following table sets forth the breakdown of our net revenues by end-product applications.
(All amounts, other than percentage, in thousands of U.S. dollars)
High-power lithium batteries used in:
Electric vehicles
Light electric vehicles
Uninterruptable supplies
Trading of Raw materials used in lithium batteries
Materials used in manufacturing of lithium batteries
Cathode
Precursor
Total
Years Ended
Change
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
$
%
$
$
260 $
39
22,749
14,518
37,566
-
-
-
37,566 $
244
733
33,308
520
34,805
8,726
9,139
17,865
52,670
(16)
694
10,559
(13,998)
(2,761)
8,726
9,139
17,865
15,104
(6)
1,779
46
(96)
(7)
-
-
-
40
Net revenues from sales of batteries for electric vehicles were $0.2 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $0.3 million for
2020, a decrease of 6%.
Net revenues from sales of batteries for light electric vehicles was approximately $0.7 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as compared
$39,428 for 2020, representing an increase of $0.7 million, or 1,779%. We will continue to penetrate the market for batteries used in light electric vehicles.
43
Net revenues from sales of batteries for uninterruptable supplies was $33.3 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $22.7
million for fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, an increase of $10.6 million, or 46%. As we focused more on this market in 2021, sale of batteries for
uninterruptable power supplies continue to grow fast.
Net revenues from trading of raw materials used in lithium batteries were $0.5 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as compared with
$14.5 million in the same period in 2020. We obtained favorable prices on bulk purchase of raw materials from certain suppliers, and generated gross profit
in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. We didn’t expand this business during 2021.
Net revenues from sales of materials for use in manufacturing of lithium battery cell were $17.9 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as
compared to nil for 2020. In November, 2021, we completed the acquisition of Hitrans as a raw materials producer, which added the sale of materials for
lithium battery cell to our business lines.
During 2021, we through the newly acquired subsidiary, Hitrans, a raw material producer of cathode and precursor, earned sales of materials used in
manufacturing of lithium batteries of $17.9 million. We look forward to strengthening the battery product ecosystem as we seek stable raw material supply
and drive greater revenue for our business.
Cost of revenues. Cost of revenues increased to $47.6 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $34.9 million for 2020, an
increase of $12.7 million, or 36%. The increase in cost of revenues was mainly due to the increase of net revenues. Included in cost of revenues were write
down of obsolete and slow-moving inventories of $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, while it was $1.5 million for the year ended 2020.
We write down the inventory value whenever there is an indication that it is impaired.
Gross profit. Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $5.1 million, or 9.7% of net revenues as compared to gross profit of $2.7 million, or
7.2% of net revenues, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Gross profit margin improved due to productivity increase, cost control and upgrades to
production lines. With our sustained effort, the quality passing rate of our product has improved due to cost control and enhancement works on production
line.
Research and development expenses. Research and development expenses increased to $5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared
to $1.7 million for 2020, an increase of $3.6 million, or 214%. The increase was primarily resulted from an increase in R&D employees’ salaries and social
insurance expenses by approximately $1.7 million. R&D employees’ salaries and social insurance expenses increased due to the salaries incurred from the
newly acquired subsidiary, Hitrans, and a growing number of employees at Nanjing CBAK and Nanjing Daxin as well as the expiration of Chinese
government’s COVID-19 relief policy that alleviated corporations’ social insurance burdens. We also incurred design and development expenses relating to
light electric vehicles of $0.5 million and nil for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. In addition, we incurred expenses for materials
used in battery research and development of $0.5 million and $0.1 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, as a result of the
Company’s efforts to research and develop upgraded battery products with lower costs and better performance.
Sales and marketing expenses. Sales and marketing expenses increased to $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $0.7 million
for 2020, an increase of $1.6 million, or 228%. As a percentage of revenues, sales and marketing expenses were 4.4% and 1.9% of revenues for the years
ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The increase mainly resulted from an increase in salaries, social insurance and staff welfare expenses for
sales and marketing employees by approximately $0.8 million. Sales and marketing employees’ salaries and social insurance expenses increased is due a
growing number of employees at Nanjing CBAK and Nanjing Daxin as well as the expiration of Chinese government’s COVID-19 relief policy that
alleviated corporations’ social insurance burdens. Moreover, given the growth in revenue, we increased sales and marketing employees’ salaries and
welfare. In addition, we attended several exhibitions to increase our brand awareness and incurred exhibition expenses of approximately $0.2 million and
$nil for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Besides, the transaction costs and declaration charge increased by $0.3 million is due to
the increase of international sales during fiscal 2021.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses increased to $10.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared
to $3.7 million for 2020, an increase of $6.3 million, or 168%. The increase was primarily resulted from the significant increase in administrative
employees’ salaries and social insurance expenses by approximately $2.1 million. Administrative employees’ salaries and social insurance expenses
increased due to the salaries incurred from the newly acquired subsidiary, Hitrans, and a growing number of employees at Nanjing CBAK and Nanjing
Daxin as well as the expiration of Chinese government’s COVID-19 relief policy that alleviated corporations’ social insurance burdens. Our consultancy
fees, legal and professional fee increased by $2.8 million is due to the consultancy charges in related to acquisition of Hitrans and fund raising in 2021. In
addition, our rental expenses increased by approximately $0.3 million, as Nanjing CBAK and Nanjing Daxin rented staff dormitory during 2021.
Property, plant and equipment impairment charge. During the course of our strategic review of our operations, we assessed the recoverability of the
carrying value of certain property, plant and equipment which resulted in impairment losses of $4.3 million and nil for the year ended December 31, 2020
and 2021, respectively.
Provision for (recovery of) doubtful accounts. Recovery of doubtful accounts was $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to a
provision of $0.7 million for the same period in 2020. We determine the allowance based on historical write-off experience, customer specific facts and
economic conditions. We have recovered $1.0 million of cash from customers in 2021.
Operating loss. As a result of the above, our operating loss totaled $11.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $8.5 million for
2020, an increase of $3.2 million or 38%.
Finance (expense) income, net. Finance income, net was $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to Finance expense, net of
$1.40 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, an increase of $2.2 million, or 156% as a result of a lower loan balances in 2021, an increase of $0.4
million interest income generated from our security deposit to finance for the issuance of bills payable.
44
Other income (expenses), net. Other income was $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to other expenses of approximately
$0.04 million for 2020. For the year ended December 31, 2021, we have recognized $1.6 million subsidy from Gaochun EDZ to facilitate our development
and operation in Nanjing.
Changes in fair value of warrants liability. We issued warrants in the financings we consummated in December 2020 and February 2021, respectively. We
determined that these warrants should be accounted for as derivative liabilities, as the warrants are dominated in a currency (U.S. dollar) other than our
functional currency. The change in fair value of warrants liability is mainly due to the share price decline.
Income tax credit. Income tax credit was $7.7 million and nil for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The income tax credit was
primarily due to the decrease of uncertain tax position taken.
Net (loss) income. As a result of the foregoing, we had a net income of $61.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to a net loss of $7.8
million for 2020.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We had financed our liquidity requirements from a variety of sources, including short-term bank loans, other short-term loans and bills payable under bank
credit agreements, advance from our related and unrelated parties, investors and issuance of capital stock.
We incurred a net income of $61.6 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, we had cash and cash equivalents and
restricted cash of $26.4 million. Our total current assets were $122.8 million and our total current liabilities were $112.8 million, resulting in a net working
capital surplus of $9.2 million.
Lending from Financial Institutions
On June 4, 2018, we obtained banking facilities from China Everbright Bank Dalian Branch with a maximum amount of RMB200 million (approximately
$30.63 million) with the term from June 12, 2018 to June 10, 2021, bearing interest at 130% of benchmark rate of the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”)
for three-year long-term loans, which is currently 6.175% per annum. Under the facilities, we borrowed RMB126.0 million ($18.1 million), RMB23.3
million ($3.3 million), RMB9.0 million ($1.3 million) and RMB9.5 million ($1.4 million) on June 12, June 20, September 20, and October 19, 2018,
respectively. The loans are repayable in six installments of RMB0.8 million ($0.12 million) on December 10, 2018, RMB24.3 million ($3.50 million) on
June 10, 2019, RMB0.8 million ($0.12 million) on December 10, 2019, RMB74.7 million ($10.7 million) on June 10, 2020, RMB0.8 million ($0.12
million) on December 10, 2020 and RMB66.3 million ($9.6 million) on June 10, 2021. We repaid the bank loan of RMB0.8 million ($0.12 million),
RMB24.3 million ($3.72 million) and RMB0.8 million ($0.12 million) in December 2018, June 2019 and December 2019, respectively.
On June 28, 2020, the Company entered into a supplemental agreement with China Everbright Bank Dalian Branch to change the repayment schedule.
According to the supplemental agreement, the remaining RMB141.8 million (approximately $21.72 million) loans are repayable in eight instalments
consisting of RMB1.09 million ($0.17 million) on June 10, 2020, RMB1 million ($0.15 million) on December 10, 2020, RMB2 million ($0.31 million) on
January 10, 2021, RMB2 million ($0.31 million) on February 10, 2021, RMB2 million ($0.31 million) on March 10, 2021, RMB2 million ($0.31 million)
on April 10, 2021, RMB2 million ($0.31 million) on May 10, 2021, and RMB129.7 million ($19.9 million) on June 10, 2021, respectively. As of June 30,
2021, the Company repaid all the bank loan.
45
On October 15, 2019, the Company borrowed a total of RMB28 million (approximately $4.12 million) in the form of bills payable from China Everbright
Bank Dalian Branch for a term until October 15, 2020, which was secured by the Company’s cash totaled RMB28 million (approximately $4.12 million).
The Company discounted the bills payable of even date to China Everbright Bank at a rate of 3.3%. The Company repaid the bills on October 15, 2020.
In December 2019, the Company obtained banking facilities from China Everbright Bank Dalian Friendship Branch totaled RMB39.9 million
(approximately $6.1 million) for a term until November 6, 2020, bearing interest at 5.655% per annum. The facility was secured by 100% equity in CBAK
Power held by BAK Asia and buildings of Hubei BAK Real Estate Co., Ltd., which Mr. Yunfei Li, the Company’s CEO holding 15% equity interest. Under
the facilities, the Company repaid the bank loan of RMB39.9 million (approximately $6.1 million) in December 2020.
On November 16, 2021, the Company obtained banking facilities from Shaoxing Branch of Bank of Communications Co., Ltd with a maximum amount of
RMB120.1 million (approximately $19.0 million) with the term from November 18, 2021 to November 18, 2026. The facility was secured by the
Company’s land use rights and buildings. Under the facility, the Company has borrowed RMB 56.0 million (approximately 8.9 million) for a term until
November 16, 2022, bearing interest at 4.35% per annum. On February 28, 2022, the Company borrowed RMB7.1 million loan (approximately $1.1
million) with the term from February 28, 2022 to February 28, 2023 from the above facilities.
The Company borrowed a series of acceptance bills from Shaoxing Branch of Bank of Communications Co., Ltd totaled RMB53.5 million (approximately
$8.4 million) for various terms through January to June 2022, which was secured by the Company’s cash totaled RMB26.6 million (approximately $4.3
million) and bills receivables totaled RMB26.9 million (approximately $4.3 million).
The Company borrowed a series of acceptance bills from Shaoxing Branch of Bank of Communications Co., Ltd totaled RMB20.2 million (approximately
$3.2 million) for various terms through May 2022, which was secured by the Company’s cash totaled RMB10.1 million (approximately $1.6 million) and
the Company’s land use rights and buildings.
In October to December 2020, the Company borrowed a series of acceptance bills from China Merchants Bank totaled RMB13.5 million (approximately
$2.07 million) for various terms through April to June 2021, which was secured by the Company’s cash totaled RMB13.5 million (approximately $2.07
million). The Company repaid the bills through April to June 2021.
The Company borrowed a series of acceptance bills from Agricultural Bank of China totaling RMB17.9 million (approximately $2.8 million) for various
terms through January to June 2022, which was secured by the Company’s cash totaling RMB17.9 million (approximately $2.8 million).
The Company borrowed a series of acceptance bills from China Zheshang Bank Co. Ltd Shenyang Branch totaled RMB57.4 million (approximately $9
million) for various terms through January to June 2022, which was secured by the Company’s cash totaled RMB56.1 million (approximately $8.8 million)
and the Company’s bills receivable totaled RMB1.3 million (approximately $0.2 million).
On April 19, 2021, the Company obtained five-year acceptance bills facilities from Bank of Ningbo Co., Ltd with a maximum amount of RMB84.4 million
(approximately $13.2 million). Any amount drawn under the facilities requires security in the form of cash or bank acceptance bills receivable of at least
the same amount. Under the facilities, as of December 31, 2021, the Company borrowed a total of RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) from Bank
of Ningbo Co., Ltd in the form of bills payable for a various term expiring from January to February 2022, which was secured by the Company’s cash
totaled RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million).
On January 17, 2022, the Company obtained a one-year term facility from Agricultural Bank of China with a maximum amount of RMB10 million
(approximately $1.6 million) bearing interest at 105% of benchmark rate of the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) for short-term loans, which is 3.85% per
annum. The facility was guaranteed by the Company’s CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan. The Company borrowed RMB10
million (approximately $1.6 million) up to the date of this report.
On February 9, 2022, the Company obtained a one-year term facility from Jiangsu Gaochun Rural Commercial Bank with a maximum amount of RMB10
million (approximately $1.6 million) bearing interest at 124% of benchmark rate of the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) for short-term loans, which is
4.94% per annum. The facility was guaranteed by the Company’s CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan. The Company borrowed
RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) up to the date of this report.
On March 8, 2022, the Company obtained a one-year term facility from China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd. Shangyu Branch with a maximum amount of
RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) bearing interest at 5. 5% per annum. The facility was guaranteed by 100% equity in CBAK Power held by
BAK Asia and the Company’s CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li. The Company borrowed RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) up to the date of this report.
46
As of December 31, 2021, we had unutilized committed banking facilities of $8.6 million.
Equity and Debt Financings from Investors
In addition, we have obtained funds through private placements, registered direct offerings and other equity and debt financings:
On July 28, 2016, the Company entered into securities purchase agreements with Mr. Jiping Zhou and Mr. Dawei Li to issue and sell an aggregate of
2,206,640 shares of common stock of the Company, at $2.5 per share, for an aggregate consideration of approximately $5.52 million. On August 17, 2016,
the Company issued the foregoing shares to the two investors.
On February 17, 2017, we signed a letter of understanding with each of eight individual investors, including our CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li, whereby these
shareholders agreed in principle to subscribe for new shares of our common stock totaling $10 million. The issue price was determined with reference to
the market price prior to the issuance of new shares. In January 2017, the shareholders paid us a total of $2.1 million as refundable earnest money, among
which, Mr. Yunfei Li agreed to subscribe new shares totaling $1.12 million and pay a refundable earnest money of $0.2 million. In April and May 2017, we
received cash of $9.6 million from these shareholders. On May 31, 2017, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with these investors, pursuant to
which we agreed to issue an aggregate of 6,403,518 shares of common stock to these investors, at a purchase price of $1.50 per share, for an aggregate
price of $9.6 million, including 764,018 shares issued to Mr. Yunfei Li. On June 22, 2017, we issued the shares to the investors. The issuance of the shares
to the investors was made in reliance on the exemption provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. In 2019, according to the securities purchase
agreement and agreed by the investors, we returned partial earnest money of $966,579 (approximately RMB6.7 million) to these investors.
On January 7, 2019, each of Mr. Dawei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li entered into an agreement with CBAK Power and Tianjin New Energy whereby Tianjin New
Energy assigned its rights to loans to CBAK Power of approximately $3.4 million (RMB23,980,950) and $1.7 million (RMB11,647,890) (totaled $5.1
million, the “First Debt”) to Mr. Dawei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li, respectively. On the same date, the Company entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr.
Dawei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li. Pursuant to the terms of the cancellation agreement, Mr. Dawei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li agreed to cancel the First Debt in
exchange for 3,431,373 and 1,666,667 shares of common stock of the Company, respectively, at an exchange price of $1.02 per share. Upon receipt of the
shares, the creditors released the Company from any claims, demands and other obligations relating to the First Debt.
On April 26, 2019, each of Mr. Jun Lang, Ms. Jing Shi and Asia EVK Energy Auto Limited (“Asia EVK”) entered into an agreement with CBAK Power
and Tianjin New Energy whereby Tianjin New Energy assigned its rights to loans to CBAK Power of approximately $0.3 million (RMB2,225,082), $0.1
million (RMB 912,204) and $5.2 million (RMB35,406,036) (collectively $5.7 million, the “Second Debt”) to Mr. Jun Lang, Ms. Jing Shi and Asia EVK,
respectively. On the same date, the Company entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr. Jun Lang, Ms. Jing Shi and Asia EVK (the creditors). Pursuant
to the terms of the Cancellation Agreement, the creditors agreed to cancel the Second Debt in exchange for 300,534, 123,208 and 4,782,163 shares of
common stock of the Company, respectively, at an exchange price of $1.1 per share. Upon receipt of the shares, the creditors released the Company from
any claims, demands and other obligations relating to the Second Debt.
On June 28, 2019, each of Mr. Dawei Li and Mr.Yunfei Li entered into an agreement with CBAK Power to loan approximately $1.4 million
(RMB10,000,000) and $2.5 million (RMB18,000,000), respectively, to CBAK Power for a terms of six months (collectively $3.9 million, the “Third
Debt”). The loan was unsecured, non-interest bearing and repayable on demand. On July 16, 2019, each of Asia EVK and Mr. Yunfei Li entered into an
agreement with CBAK Power and Dalian Zhenghong Architectural Decoration and Installation Engineering Co. Ltd. (the Company’s construction
contractor) whereby Dalian Zhenghong Architectural Decoration and Installation Engineering Co. Ltd. assigned its rights to the unpaid construction fees
owed by CBAK Power of approximately $2.8 million (RMB20,000,000) and $0.4 million (RMB2,813,810) (collectively $3.2 million, the “Fourth Debt”)
to Asia EVK and Mr. Yunfei Li, respectively. On July 26, 2019, we entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr. Dawei Li, Mr. Yunfei Li and Asia EVK
(the creditors). Pursuant to the terms of the cancellation agreement, Mr. Dawei Li, Mr. Yunfei Li and Asia EVK agreed to cancel the Third Debt and Fourth
Debt in exchange for 1,384,717, 2,938,067 and 2,769,435 shares of common stock of the Company, respectively, at an exchange price of $1.05 per share.
Upon receipt of the shares, the creditors released the Company from any claims, demands and other obligations relating to the Third Debt and Fourth Debt.
47
On October 10, 2019, each of Mr. Shibin Mao, Ms. Lijuan Wang and Mr. Ping Shen entered into an agreement with CBAK Power and Zhengzhou BAK
New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd. (the Company’s supplier) whereby Zhengzhou BAK New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd. assigned its rights to the unpaid
inventories cost owed by CBAK Power of approximately $2.1 million (RMB15,000,000), $1.0 million (RMB7,380,000) and $1.0 million (RMB7,380,000)
(collectively $4.2 million, the “Fifth Debt”) to Mr. Shibin Mao, Ms. Lijuan Wang and Mr. Ping Shen, respectively.
On October 14, 2019, we entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr. Shangdong Liu, Mr. Shibin Mao, Ms. Lijuan Wang and Mr. Ping Shen (the
creditors). Pursuant to the terms of the cancellation agreement, Mr. Shangdong Liu, Mr. Shibin Mao, Ms. Lijuan Wang and Mr. Ping Shen agreed to cancel
and convert the Fifth Debt and the unpaid earnest money in exchange for 528,053, 3,536,068, 2,267,798 and 2,267,798 shares of common stock of the
Company, respectively, at an exchange price of $0.6 per share. Upon receipt of the shares, the creditors released the Company from any claims, demands
and other obligations relating to the Fifth Debt and the unpaid earnest money.
On April 27, 2020, we entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr. Yunfei Li, Asia EVK and Mr. Ping Shen, who loaned an aggregate of approximately
$4.3 million to CBAK Power (the “Sixth Debt”). Pursuant to the terms of the cancellation agreement, the creditors agreed to cancel the Sixth Debt in
exchange for an aggregate of 8,928,193 shares of common stock of the Company at an exchange price of $0.48 per share. According to the amount of loan,
2,062,619, 2,151,017 and 4,714,557 shares were issued to Mr. Yunfei Li, Asia EVK and Mr. Pin Shen, respectively. Upon receipt of the shares, the
creditors released the Company from any claims, demands and other obligations relating to the Sixth Debt.
On July 24, 2019, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with Atlas Sciences, LLC (the “Lender”), pursuant to which we issued a promissory note
(the “Note I”) to the Lender. The Note I has an original principal amount of $1,395,000, bears interest at a rate of 10% per annum and will mature 12
months after the issuance, unless earlier paid or redeemed in accordance with its terms. The Company received proceeds of $1,250,000 after an original
issue discount of $125,000 and payment of Lender’s expenses of $20,000.
On December 30, 2019, we entered into a second securities purchase agreement with Atlas Sciences, LLC, pursuant to which the Company issued a
promissory note (the “Note II”) to the Lender. The Note II has an original principal amount of $1,670,000, bears interest at a rate of 10% per annum and
will mature 12 months after the issuance, unless earlier paid or redeemed in accordance with its terms. We received proceeds of $1,500,000 after an original
issue discount of $150,000 and payment of Lender’s expenses of $20,000.
On January 27, 2020, we entered into an exchange agreement (the “First Exchange Agreement”) with the Lender, pursuant to which we and the Lender
agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $100,000 (the “Partitioned Promissory Note) from the outstanding
balance of certain promissory note that the Company issued to the Lender on July 24, 2019, which has an original principal amount of $1,395,000, and (ii)
exchange the Partitioned Promissory Note for the issuance of 160,256 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, to the Lender.
On February 20, 2020, we entered into another exchange agreement (the “Second Exchange Agreement”) with the Lender, pursuant to which the Company
and the Lender agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $100,000 (the “Partitioned Promissory Note”) from
the outstanding balance of certain promissory note that the Company issued to the Lender on July 24, 2019, which has an original principal amount of
$1,395,000, and (ii) exchange the Partitioned Promissory Note for the issuance of 207,641 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per
share, to the Lender.
On April 28, 2020, we entered into a third exchange agreement (the “Third Exchange Agreement”) with the Lender, pursuant to which the Company and
the Lender agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $100,000 (the “Partitioned Promissory Note”) from the
outstanding balance of certain promissory note that the Company issued to the Lender on July 24, 2019, which has an original principal amount of
$1,395,000, and (ii) exchange the Partitioned Promissory Note for the issuance of 312,500 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per
share, to the Lender.
48
On June 8, 2020, we entered into a fourth exchange agreement (the “Fourth Exchange Agreement”) with the Lender, pursuant to which the Company and
the Lender agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $100,000 from the outstanding balance of certain
promissory note that the Company issued to the Lender on July 24, 2019, which has an original principal amount of $1,395,000, and (ii) exchange the
partitioned promissory note for the issuance of 271,739 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
On June 10, 2020, we entered into a fifth exchange agreement (the “Fifth Exchange Agreement”) with the Lender, pursuant to which the Company and the
Lender agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $150,000 from the outstanding balance of certain promissory
note that the Company issued to the Lender on July 24, 2019, which has an original principal amount of $1,395,000, and (ii) exchange the partitioned
promissory note for the issuance of 407,609 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
On July 6, 2020, we entered into a sixth exchange agreement (the “Sixth Exchange Agreement”) with the Lender, pursuant to which the Company and the
Lender agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $250,000 from the outstanding balance of certain promissory
note that the Company issued to the Lender on July 24, 2019, which has an original principal amount of $1,395,000, and (ii) exchange the partitioned
promissory note for the issuance of 461,595 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
On July 8, 2020, we entered into certain exchange agreement with the Lender, pursuant to which the Company and the Lender agreed to (i) partition a new
promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $250,000 from the outstanding balance of certain promissory note that the Company issued to the
Lender on December 30, 2019, which has an original principal amount of $1,670,000, and (ii) exchange the partitioned promissory note for the issuance of
453,161 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
On July 29, 2020, we entered into a seventh exchange agreement (the “Seventh Exchange Agreement”) with the Lender, pursuant to which the Company
and the Lender agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $365,000 from the outstanding balance of certain
promissory note that the Company issued to the Lender on July 24, 2019, which has an original principal amount of $1,395,000, and (ii) exchange the
partitioned promissory note for the issuance of 576,802 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
On October 12, 2020, we entered into an amendment to promissory notes (the “Amendment”) with the Lender, pursuant to which the Lender has the right
at any time until the outstanding balance of the notes has been paid in full, at its election, to convert all or any portion of the outstanding balance of the
notes into shares of common stock of the Company. The conversion price for each conversion will be calculated pursuant to the following formula: 80%
multiplied by the lowest closing price of the Company common stock during the ten (10) trading days immediately preceding the applicable conversion.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the conversion price be less than $1.00.
According to the Amendment, on October 13, 2020, we exchanged part of the outstanding balances of the notes for the issuance of 709,329 shares of the
Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
On October 20, 2020, the Company exchanged the remaining balance of $778,252 under the notes for the issuance of 329,768 shares of common stock, par
value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
On November 5, 2020, Tillicum Investment Company Limited entered into an agreement with CBAK Nanjing and Shenzhen ESTAR Industrial Company
Limited (the Company’s equipment supplier) whereby Shenzhen ESTAR Industrial Company Limited assigned its rights to the unpaid equipment cost
owed by CBAK Power of approximately $$11.17 million (RMB75,000,000) (the “Seventh Debt”) to Tillicum Investment Company Limited.
49
On November 11, 2020, we entered into a cancellation agreement with Tillicum Investment Company Limited. Pursuant to the terms of the cancellation
agreement, Tillicum Investment Company Limited agreed to cancel the Seventh Debt in exchange for 3,192,291 shares of common stock of the Company,
at an exchange price of $3.5 per share. Upon receipt of the shares, the creditor released the Company from any claims, demands and other obligations
relating to the Seventh Debt.
On December 8, 2020, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional investors, pursuant to which we issued in a registered
direct offering, an aggregate of 9,489,800 shares of common stock of the Company at a per share purchase price of $5.18, and warrants to purchase an
aggregate of 3,795,920 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of $6.46 per share exercisable for 36 months from the date of issuance,
for gross proceeds of approximately $49.16 million, before deducting fees to the placement agent and other offering expenses payable by the Company.
On February 8, 2021, we entered into another securities purchase agreement with the same investors, pursuant to which we issued in a registered direct
offering, an aggregate of 8,939,976 shares of common stock of the Company at a per share purchase price of $7.83. In addition, we issued to the investors
(i) in a concurrent private placement, the Series A-1 warrants to purchase a total of 4,469,988 shares of common stock, at a per share exercise price of
$7.67 and exercisable for 42 months from the date of issuance; (ii) in the registered direct offering, the Series B warrants to purchase a total of 4,469,988
shares of common stock, at a per share exercise price of $7.83 and exercisable for 90 days from the date of issuance; and (iii) in the registered direct
offering, the Series A-2 warrants to purchase up to 2,234,992 shares of common stock, at a per share exercise price of $7.67 and exercisable for 45 months
from the date of issuance. We received gross proceeds of approximately $70 million from the registered direct offering and the concurrent private
placement, before deducting fees to the placement agent and other offering expenses payable by the Company.
On May 10, 2021, we entered into that Amendment No. 1 to the Series B Warrant (the “Series B Warrant Amendment”) with each of the holders of the
Company’s outstanding Series B warrants. Pursuant to the Series B Warrant Amendment, the term of the Series B warrants was extended from May 11,
2021 to August 31, 2021.
As of August 31, 2021, we had not received any notices from the investors to exercise Series B warrants. As of the date of this report, Series B warrants,
along with Series A-2 warrants, had both expired.
We currently are expanding our product lines and manufacturing capacity in our Dalian and Nanjing plants, which require more funding to finance the
expansion. We may also require additional cash due to changing business conditions or other future developments, including any investments or
acquisitions we may decide to pursue. We plan to renew our bank loans upon maturity, if required, and plan to raise additional funds through bank
borrowings and equity financing in the future to meet our daily cash demands, if required. However, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in
obtaining such financing. If our existing cash and bank borrowing are insufficient to meet our requirements, we may seek to sell equity securities, debt
securities or borrow from lending institutions. We can make no assurance that financing will be available in the amounts we need or on terms acceptable to
us, if at all. The sale of equity securities, including convertible debt securities, would dilute the interests of our current shareholders. The incurrence of debt
would divert cash for working capital and capital expenditures to service debt obligations and could result in operating and financial covenants that restrict
our operations and our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders. If we are unable to obtain additional equity or debt financing as required, our business
operations and prospects may suffer.
The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:
(All amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)
Net cash used in operating activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year
50
Year Ended
December 31, December 31,
2020
2021
$
$
(5,097) $
(5,710)
25,827
(1,482)
13,538
7,134
20,672 $
(4,270)
(38,081)
48,272
(238)
5,683
20,672
26,355
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $4.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to net cash used in operating activities of $5.1
million in 2020. The net cash used in operating activities in 2021was mainly attributable to our net profit (before loss on disposal of property, plant and
equipment, impairment charge of non-marketable equity securities and excluding non-cash depreciation and amortization, write-down of inventories, share-
based compensationand changes in fair value of warrants liability) of $4.6 million offset by a decrease of uncertain tax position of 7.5 million.
The net cash used in operating activities in 2020 was mainly attributable to our net loss (before loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment,
impairment charge of property, plant and equipment and excluding non-cash depreciation and amortization and changes in fair value of warrants liability)
of $2.9 million, an increase of $20.8 million for trade accounts and bills receivable partially offset by an increase of $11.1 million on trade accounts and
bills payables, an increase of $3.4 million payable to former subsidiary and $2.9 million government grants received.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities increased to $38.1 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, from $5.7 million in 2020. The net cash used in
investing activities in 2021 comprised of $17.8 million proceeds from acquisition of Hitrans (net of cash acquired), purchase of non-marketable securities
of $1.4 million and purchases of property, plant and equipment and construction in progress of $19.2 million.
Net cash used in investing activities in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 mainly included purchase of property, plant and equipment and
construction in progress of $5.7 million.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $48.3 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, compared with $25.8 million in 2020. The net
cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 mainly comprised of $65.5 million net proceeds from issuance of shares to
institutional investors, partially offset by repayment of bank borrowings of $13.9 million, repayment of $2.8 million loans from Mr. Ye Junnan and
repayment of borrowings from unrelated parties of $0.4 million.
The net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020 mainly comprised of $45.3 million net proceeds from issuance of
shares to institutional investors, $3.5 million borrowings from unrelated parties, partially offset by repayment of bank borrowings of $13.3 million and
repayment of borrowings from unrelated parties of $9.8 million.
As of December 31, 2021, the principal amounts outstanding under our credit facilities and lines of credit were as follows:
(All amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)
Long-term credit facilities:
Shaoxing Branch of Bank of Communications Co., Ltd
Other line of credit:
Shaoxing Branch of Bank of Communications Co., Ltd
Agricultural Bank of China
China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd
Bank of Ningbo Co., Ltd
Total
51
Maximum
amount
available
Amount
borrowed
$
18,976 $
10,391
10,004
2,813
9,029
1,573
23,419
10,004
2,813
9,029
1,573
23,419
$
42,395 $
33,810
Capital Expenditures
We incurred capital expenditures of $19.2 million and $17.5 million in fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. Our
capital expenditures in 2021 were used primarily to construct our Dalian facility and Nanjing facility. The table below sets forth the breakdown of our
capital expenditures by use for the periods indicated.
(All amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)
Purchase of property, plant and equipment and construction in progress
Year Ended
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
$
17,528 $
19,212
We estimate that our total capital expenditures in fiscal year 2022 will reach approximately $30 million. Such funds will be used to construct new plant
with new product lines and battery module packing lines.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our consolidated financial information has been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions
that affect (1) the reported amounts of our assets and liabilities, (2) the disclosure of our contingent assets and liabilities at the end of each fiscal period and
(3) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during each fiscal period. We continually evaluate these estimates based on our own historical
experience, knowledge and assessment of current business and other conditions, our expectations regarding the future based on available information and
reasonable assumptions, which together form our basis for making judgments about matters that are not readily apparent from other sources. Since the use
of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, our actual results could differ from those estimates. Some of our accounting
policies require a higher degree of judgment than others in their application.
52
When reviewing our financial statements, the following should also be considered: (1) our selection of critical accounting policies, (2) the judgment and
other uncertainties affecting the application of those policies, and (3) the sensitivity of reported results to changes in conditions and assumptions. We
believe the following accounting policies involve the most significant judgment and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.
We consider the following to be the most critical accounting policies:
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenues when our customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which it expects to
receive in exchange for those goods. We recognize revenues following the five step model prescribed under ASU No. 2014-09: (i) identify contract(s) with
a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the
performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenues when (or as) we satisfy the performance obligation.
Revenues from product sales are recognized when the customer obtains control of our product, which occurs at a point in time, typically upon delivery to
the customer. We expense incremental costs of obtaining a contract as and when incurred if the expected amortization period of the asset that it would have
recognized is one year or less or the amount is immaterial.
Revenues from product sales are recorded net of reserves established for applicable discounts and allowances that are offered within contracts with our
customers.
Product revenue reserves, which are classified as a reduction in product revenues, are generally characterized in the categories: discounts and returns. These
reserves are based on estimates of the amounts earned or to be claimed on the related sales and are classified as reductions of accounts receivable as the
amount is payable to our customer.
Impairment of Long-lived Assets
Long-lived assets, which include property, plant and equipment, prepaid land use rights and intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events
or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.
Recoverability of long-lived assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future
cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment
charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.
Trade Accounts and Bills Receivable
Trade accounts and bills receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount, net of allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns. The allowance for
doubtful accounts is our best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in our existing trade accounts receivable. We determine the allowance based
on historical write-off experience, customer specific facts and economic conditions.
Outstanding accounts receivable balances are reviewed individually for collectability. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all
means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The cost of inventories is determined using the weighted average cost method, and
includes expenditure incurred in acquiring the inventories and bringing them to their existing location and condition. In case of finished goods and work in
progress, cost includes an appropriate share of production overhead based on normal operating capacity. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices
in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.
We record adjustments to its inventory for estimated obsolescence or diminution in net realizable value equal to the difference between the cost of the
inventory and the estimated net realizable value. At the point of loss recognition, a new cost basis for that inventory is established, and subsequent changes
in facts and circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in that newly established cost basis.
Warranties
We provide a manufacturer’s warranty on all our products. We accrue a warranty reserve for the products sold, which includes our best estimate of the
projected costs to repair or replace items under warranty. These estimates are based on actual claims incurred to date and an estimate of the nature,
frequency and costs of future claims. These estimates are inherently uncertain given our relatively short history of sales of our current products, and
changes to our historical or projected warranty experience may cause material changes to the warranty reserve in the future. The portion of the warranty
reserve expected to be incurred within the next 12 months is included within accrued liabilities and other while the remaining balance is included within
other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
53
Government Grants
Our subsidiaries in China receive government subsidies from local Chinese government agencies in accordance with relevant Chinese government policies.
In general, we present the government subsidies received as income unless the subsidies received are earmarked to compensate a specific expense, which
have been accounted for by offsetting the specific expense, such as research and development expense, interest expenses and removal costs. Unearned
government subsidies received are deferred for recognition until the criteria for such recognition could be met.
Grants applicable to land are amortized over the life of the depreciable facilities constructed on it. For research and development expenses, we match and
offset the government grants with the expenses of the research and development activities as specified in the grant approval document in the corresponding
period when such expenses are incurred.
Share-based Compensation
We adopted the provisions of ASC Topic 718 which requires us to measure and recognize compensation expenses for an award of an equity instrument
based on the grant-date fair value. The cost is recognized over the vesting period (or the requisite service period). ASC Topic 718 also requires us to
measure the cost of a liability classified award based on its current fair value. The fair value of the award will be remeasured subsequently at each reporting
date through the settlement date. Changes in fair value during the requisite service period are recognized as compensation cost over that period. Further,
ASC Topic 718 requires us to estimate forfeitures in calculating the expense related to stock-based compensation.
The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes Option Valuation Model. The expected volatility was based
on the historical volatilities of our listed common stocks in the United States and other relevant market information. We use historical data to estimate share
option exercises and employee departure behavior used in the valuation model. The expected terms of share options granted is derived from the output of
the option pricing model and represents the period of time that share options granted are expected to be outstanding. Since the share options once exercised
will primarily trade in the U.S. capital market, the risk-free rate for periods within the contractual term of the share option is based on the U.S. Treasury
yield curve in effect at the time of grant.
Warrant Liability
For warrants that are not indexed to the Company’s stock, the Company records the fair value of the issued warrants as a liability at each balance sheet date
and records changes in the estimated fair value as a non-cash gain or loss in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. The
warrant liability is recognized in the balance sheet at the fair value (level 3). The fair value of these warrants has been determined using the Binomial
model.
Changes in Accounting Standards
Please refer to note 2 to our consolidated financial statements, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices–Recently Adopted Accounting
Standards,” for a discussion of relevant pronouncements.
Exchange Rates
The financial records of our PRC subsidiaries are maintained in RMB. In order to prepare our financial statements, we have translated amounts in RMB
into amounts in U.S. dollars. The amounts of our assets and liabilities on our balance sheets are translated using the closing exchange rate as of the date of
the balance sheet. Revenues, expenses, gains and losses are translated using the average exchange rate prevailing during the period covered by such
financial statements. Adjustments resulting from the translation, if any, are included in our cumulative other comprehensive income in our stockholders’
equity section of our balance sheet. All other amounts that were originally booked in RMB and translated into U.S. dollars were translated using the closing
exchange rate on the date of recognition. Consequently, the exchange rates at which the amounts in those comparisons were computed varied from year to
year.
The exchange rates used to translate amounts in RMB into U.S. dollars in connection with the preparation of our financial statements were as follows:
Balance sheet items, except for equity accounts
Amounts included in the statement of income and comprehensive loss and statement of cash flows
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Not applicable.
54
RMB per U.S. Dollar
Fiscal Year Ended
December 31, December 31,
2020
2021
6.5286
6.9032
6.3551
6.4525
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CBAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND 2021
CBAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No. 2769)
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Page(s)
F-2 – F-4
F-5
F-6
F-7
F-8
F-9 - F-61
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31,
2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for
each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, 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 consolidated financial position of the Company as of December
31, 2021 and 2020, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in
conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in
Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has negative cash flows from operating activities, accumulated deficit from recurring net
losses incurred for the prior years and significant short-term debt obligations maturing in less than one year as of December 31, 2021. All these factors raise
substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also discussed in Note 1 to the
consolidated financial statements. These consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this
uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’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 Company 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 audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
F-2
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.
Going concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in
Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has negative cash flows from operating activities, accumulated deficit from recurring net
losses incurred for the prior years and significant short-term debt obligations maturing in less than one year as of December 31, 2021. The Company has
contractual obligations such as commitments for purchases of equipment, building constructions cost, payable, capital injection to subsidiaries and short-
term loan (collectively “obligations”). Currently management’s forecasts and related assumptions illustrate their ability to meet the obligations through
management of expenditures and, if necessary, obtaining additional debt financing, loans from existing directors and shareholders and private placements
of capital stock for additional funding to meet its operating needs. Should there be constraints on the ability to access such financing, the Company can
manage cash outflows to meet the obligations through reductions in capital expenditures and other operating expenditures.
We identified management’s assessment of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern as a critical audit matter. Management made judgments to
conclude that it is probable that the Company’s plans will be effectively implemented and will provide the necessary cash flows to fund the Company’s
obligations as they become due. Specifically, the judgments with the highest degree of impact and subjectivity in determining it is probable that the
Company’s plans will be effectively implemented included the revenue growth and gross margin assumptions underlying its forecast operating cash flows,
its ability to reduce capital expenditures and other operating expenditures, its ability to access funding from the capital market and its ability to obtaining
loans from existing directors and shareholders. Auditing the judgments made by management required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased
extent of audit 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) testing key assumptions underlying management’s forecast operating cash
flows, including revenue growth and gross margin assumptions; (ii) evaluating the probability that the Company will be able to access funding from the
capital market; (iii) evaluating the probability that the Company will be able to reduce capital expenditures and other operating expenditures if required and
(iv) evaluating the probability that the Company will be able to obtain the loan from existing directors and shareholders.
Inventory write-down
As described in Note 5 of the consolidated financial statements, inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost determined on a
weighted average cost method. Write-down of potential obsolete or slow moving inventories is recorded based on management’s assumptions about future
demands and market conditions. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded inventory impairment charges of $0.9 million. Inventories
include items that have been written down to the Company’s best estimate of their realizable value, which includes consideration of various factors.
We identified the inventory write-down as a critical audit matter. The Company’s determination of future markdowns is subjective. Specifically, there was a
high degree of subjective auditor judgment in evaluating how the Company’s merchandising strategy and related inventory markdown assumptions affected
the realizable value of inventory.
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) observing the physical condition of inventories during inventory counts;
(ii) evaluating the appropriateness of management's process for developing the estimates of net realizable value; (iii) testing the reasonableness of the
assumptions about quality, damages, future demand, selling prices and market conditions by considering with historical trends and consistency with
evidence obtained in other areas of the audit; and corroborating the assumptions with individuals within the product team; and (iv) assessing the
Company’s adjustments of inventory costs to net realizable value for slow-moving and obsolete inventories by (1) comparing the historical estimate for net
realizable value adjustments to actual adjustments of inventory costs, and (2) analyzing sales subsequent to the measurement date.
Assessment of impairment of long-lived assets
As discussed in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of long-lived assets to be held and used is measured by a
comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount
of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the
asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Fair value is generally measured based on either quoted market prices, if available, or discounted cash flow
analyses. Based upon the analysis performed, the fair value of long-lived assets exceeded its carrying value as of the December 31, 2021 and no
impairment was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2021.
F-3
We identified the assessment of impairment of long-lived assets as a critical audit matter because of the significant estimates and assumptions management
used in the projections of future cash flows, including the expected production and sales volumes, production costs, operating expenses and discount rates
applied to these forecasted future cash flows. 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) comparing the methodology used by the Company, that is, recoverable
amount calculations based on future discounted cash flows, to industry practice and testing the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data used in
the projections; (ii) assessing the reasonableness of the significant assumptions used in the calculations, which comprised of, amongst others, expected
production and sales volumes, production costs, operating expenses and discount rates, by comparing them to external industry outlook reports from a
number of sources and by analyzing the historical accuracy of management’s estimates; and (iii) involving our valuation specialists to assist us with
assessing the appropriateness of the valuation methodologies and the reasonableness of assumptions used, including the discount rates.
Assessment of impairment of goodwill
As described in Notes 12 and 13 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s consolidated goodwill balance was $1.6 million as of
December 31, 2021. The Company performs an assessment of the carrying value of the reporting units at least on an annual basis or when events occur or
circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the estimated fair value of the reporting units below its carrying value. The Company
performed a goodwill impairment analysis as of December 31, 2021. For purposes of impairment testing, management allocates its goodwill to the relevant
cash-generating units (“CGUs”), and compares the recoverable amounts of these CGUs to their respective carrying amounts. Management determined the
recoverable amounts of these CGU based on the value in use (“VIU”) which is calculated based on discounted cash flows expected to be derived from the
respective CGU. Management’s cash flows projections included significant judgments and assumptions relating to the expected production and sales
volumes, production costs, operating expenses and discount rates. The fair value of the CGU exceeded its carrying value as of the December 31, 2021 and
no impairment was recognized for the year ended December 31, 2021.
We identified the assessment of impairment of goodwill as a critical audit matter because of the significant estimates and assumptions management used in
the projections of future cash flows, including the expected production and sales volumes, production costs, operating expenses and discount rates applied
to these forecasted future cash flows. 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) comparing the methodology used by the Company, that is, recoverable
amount calculations based on future discounted cash flows, to industry practice and testing the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data used in
the projections; (ii) assessing the reasonableness of the significant assumptions used in the calculations, which comprised of, amongst others, expected
production and sales volumes, production costs, operating expenses and discount rates, by comparing them to external industry outlook reports from a
number of sources and by analyzing the historical accuracy of management’s estimates; and (iii) involving our valuation specialists to assist us with
assessing the appropriateness of the valuation methodologies and the reasonableness of assumptions used, including the discount rates.
Assessment of allowances for doubtful accounts
As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of
probable credit losses in the Company’s existing trade accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off
experience, customer specific facts and economic conditions. Outstanding accounts receivable balances are reviewed individually for collectability.
Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered
remote. Based upon the analysis performed, the Company maintained an allowance for doubtful account of $4.6 million as of December 31, 2021.
We identified the assessment of allowances for doubtful accounts as a critical audit matter. Specifically, the specific allowance is an estimate that involved
assessing the likelihood of collection of a customer’s accounts receivable by considering various factors such as the nature of any dispute, communications
from the customer, historical collections, and number of days accounts receivables have been outstanding. Subjective auditor judgment was involved in
evaluating the relevance and reliability of the evidence obtained in evaluating these factors.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated
financial statements. These procedures included the following, among others: (i) investigating significant fluctuations in the specific allowance as
compared to net accounts receivable and the prior year specific allowance; (ii) inquiring of Company personnel to evaluate the rationale for establishing a
specific allowance for certain customers; (iii) assessing the Company’s estimate of the specific customer allowance by evaluating the underlying
contractual documents, historical collection trends, communications with customers and other additional factors; and (iv) evaluating subsequent collections
occurring after the balance sheet date and considered the impact of potential subsequent events on the estimate of the specific allowance.
/s/ Centurion ZD CPA & Co.
Centurion ZD CPA & Co.
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2016.
Hong Kong, China
April 15, 2022
PCAOB ID: 2769
F-4
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2020 and 2021
(In US$ except for number of shares)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Pledged deposits
Trade and bills receivable, net
Inventories
Prepayments and other receivables
Receivables from former subsidiary
Amount due from non-controlling interest, current
Amount due from related party, current
Income tax recoverable
Investment in sales-type lease, net
Total current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net
Construction in progress
Non-marketable equity securities
Prepaid land use rights
Intangible assets, net
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net
Investment in sales-type lease, net
Amount due from non-controlling interest, non-current
Deferred tax assets, net
Goodwill
Total assets
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Trade and bills payable
Short-term bank borrowings
Current maturities of long-term bank loans
Other short-term loans
Accrued expenses and other payables
Payables to former subsidiaries, net
Deferred government grants, current
Product warranty provisions
Warrants liability
Operating lease liability, current
Total current liabilities
Deferred government grants, non-current
Product warranty provisions
Long term tax payable
Operating lease liability, non-current
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock $0.001 par value; 500,000,000 authorized; 79,310,249 issued and 79,166,043
outstanding as of December 31, 2020; and 88,849,222 issued and 88,705,016 outstanding as of
December 31, 2021
Donated shares
Additional paid-in capital
Statutory reserves
Accumulated deficit
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Note
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
$
11,681,750 $
8,989,748
29,571,274
5,252,845
7,439,544
-
-
-
-
235,245
7,357,875
18,996,749
49,907,129
30,133,340
12,746,990
2,263,955
125,883
472,061
47,189
790,516
63,170,406 122,841,687
41,040,370
30,193,309
-
7,500,780
11,807
-
850,407
-
-
-
90,042,773
27,343,092
712,930
13,797,230
1,961,739
1,968,032
838,528
62,941
1,403,813
1,645,232
$ 142,767,079 $ 262,617,997
$
28,352,292 $
-
13,739,546
1,253,869
11,645,459
626,990
151,476
155,888
17,783,000
-
65,376,212
8,811,820
-
4,679,122
22,963,700
326,507
3,834,481
127,837
5,846,000
801,797
73,708,520 112,767,476
7,304,832
1,835,717
7,511,182
-
6,189,196
1,900,429
-
876,323
90,360,251 121,733,424
3
4
5
6
17
17
17
10
7
8
9
10
11
10
17
20
13
14
15
15
15
16
17
18
19
26
11
18
19
10
27
79,310
14,101,689
88,849
14,101,689
225,278,113 241,946,362
1,230,511
(183,984,311) (122,498,259)
2,489,017
56,465,703 137,358,169
1,230,511
(239,609)
Less: Treasury shares
(4,066,610)
(4,066,610)
Total shareholders’ equity
Non-controlling interests
Total equity
Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity
52,399,093 133,291,559
7,593,014
52,406,828 140,884,573
7,735
$ 142,767,079 $ 262,617,997
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
F-5
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021
(In US$ except for number of shares)
Net revenues
Cost of revenues
Gross profit
Operating expenses:
Research and development expenses
Sales and marketing expenses
General and administrative expenses
Impairment charge on property, plant and equipment
(Provision for) recovery of doubtful accounts
Total operating expenses
Operating loss
Finance expenses, net
Other(expenses) income, net
Impairment of non-marketable equity securities
Changes in fair value of warrants liability
(Loss) income before income tax
Income tax credit, net
Net (loss) income
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests
Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.
Net (loss) income
Other comprehensive income (loss)
– Foreign currency translation adjustment
Comprehensive (loss) income
Less: Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.
(Loss) Income per share
– Basic
– Diluted
Weighted average number of shares of common stock:
– Basic
– Diluted
Note
29
7
4
20
25
25
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
F-6
Year ended
December 31,
2020
37,566,152 $
(34,852,132)
2,714,020
Year ended
December 31,
2021
52,669,733
(47,559,243)
5,110,490
$
(1,678,895)
(701,404)
(3,745,676)
(4,345,811)
(721,737)
(11,193,523)
(8,479,503)
(1,399,095)
(40,170)
-
2,072,000
(7,846,768)
-
(7,846,768)
39,870
(7,806,898) $
(5,274,316)
(2,301,720)
(10,027,349)
-
780,389
(16,822,996)
(11,712,506)
784,880
3,644,363
(692,639)
61,802,000
53,826,098
7,733,046
61,559,144
(73,092)
61,486,052
(7,846,768)
61,559,144
1,499,949
(6,346,819)
45,042
(6,301,777) $
2,725,768
64,284,912
(70,234)
64,214,678
(0.13) $
(0.13) $
0.70
0.70
61,992,386
61,992,386
87,605,493
87,884,357
$
$
$
$
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
For the years ended 2020 and 2021
(In US$ except for number of shares)
Common stock issued
Number
of shares Amount
Additional
Donated
shares
paid-in
capital
Statutory
reserves
(Note 26)
Accumulated
other
Non-
Treasury shares
Accumulated comprehensive controlling Number
deficit
loss
interests
of shares Amount
Total
shareholders’
equity
Balance as of
January 1,
2020
53,220,902 $
53,222 $ 14,101,689 $ 180,208,610 $ 1,230,511 $ (176,177,413) $
(1,744,730) $
52,777
(144,206) $ (4,066,610) $ 13,658,056
Net loss
-
-
-
-
-
(7,806,898)
-
(39,870)
-
-
(7,846,768)
Share-based
compensation
for employee
and director
stock awards
Common stock
issued to
employees and
directors for
stock award
Common stock
issued to
investors
Issuance of
common stock
and warrants
Foreign currency
translation
adjustment
Balance as of
December 31,
2020
Net profit
Share-based
compensation
for employee
and director
stock awards
Common stock
issued to
employees and
directors for
stock award
Issuance of
common stock
and warrants
Non controlling
interest
through
acquisition
Foreign currency
translation
adjustment
Balance as of
December 31,
2021
-
-
-
803,931
-
-
-
-
-
-
803,931
588,663
588
-
(588)
-
-
-
-
-
-
16,010,884
16,010
- 18,782,068
-
-
-
-
-
18,798,078
9,489,800
9,490
- 25,484,092
-
-
-
-
-
25,493,582
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,505,121
(5,172)
-
-
1,499,949
79,310,249 $
79,310 $ 14,101,689 $ 225,278,113 $ 1,230,511 $ (183,984,311) $
(239,609) $
7,735
(144,206) $ (4,066,610) $ 52,406,828
-
-
-
-
-
61,486,052
-
73,092
-
-
61,559,144
-
-
-
1,047,777
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,047,777
598,997
599
-
(599)
-
-
-
-
-
-
8,939,976
8,940
- 15,621,071
-
-
-
-
-
-
15,630,011
-
-
-
-
-
--
- 7,515,045
-
-
7,515,045
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,728,626
(2,858)
-
-
2,725,768
88,849,222 $
88,849 $ 14,101,689 $ 241,946,362 $ 1,230,511 $ (122,498,259) $
2,489,017 $ 7,593,014
(144,206) $ (4,066,610) $ 140,884,573
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
F-7
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. and subsidiaries
Consolidated statements of cash flows
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021
(In US$)
Cash flows from operating activities
Net (loss) income
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
Provision for (recovery of) doubtful accounts
Write-down of inventories
Share-based compensation
Changes in fair value of warrants liability
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment
Impairment charge on property, plant and equipment
Impairment charge on non-marketable equity securities
Amortization of operating lease
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade and bills receivable
Inventories
Prepayments and other receivables
Investment in sales-type lease
Trade and bills payable
Accrued expenses and other payables and product warranty provisions
Operating lease liabilities
Trade receivable from and payables to former subsidiaries
Income tax payables
Deferred tax assets
Government grants
Net cash used in operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of non-marketable equity securities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment and construction in progress
Proceed from acquisition of a subsidiary, net of cash acquired
Redemption of debt products
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of bank borrowings
Borrowings from unrelated parties
Repayment of borrowings from unrelated parties
Repayment of borrowings from related parties
Borrowings from shareholders
Repayment of borrowings from shareholders
Proceeds from issuance of shares
Net cash provided by financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of year
Supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities:
Transfer of construction in progress to property, plant and equipment
Non-cash payment for purchases of property, plant and equipment and construction in progress by new vehicles
Operating lease assets obtained in exchange for operating lease obligations
Issuance of common stock (Note 1):
– offset repayment of promissory note
– offset payable to Shenzhen Bak (Sixth Debt)
– offset construction cost payable (Seventh Debt)
Cash paid during the year for:
Income taxes
Interest, net of amounts capitalized
Year Ended
Year Ended
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
$
(7,846,768)
61,559,144
2,700,888
721,737
1,450,182
803,931
(2,072,000)
21,317
4,345,811
-
-
(20,767,355)
2,305,697
(2,171,694)
(1,026,739)
11,088,116
(975,687)
-
3,428,010
-
-
2,897,207
(5,097,347)
3,578,695
(780,389)
867,731
1,047,777
(61,802,000)
9,642
-
(692,639)
477,961
18,714,611
(11,805,692)
(4,324,751)
(505,998)
(1,807,896)
(628,973)
(715,782)
(2,335,386)
(7,464,067)
(19,855)
2,357,811
(4,270,056)
-
(5,709,975)
-
-
(5,709,975)
(1,394,808)
(19,211,554)
(17,477,643)
3,100
(38,080,905)
(13,325,849)
3,505,621
(9,778,074)
-
358,358
(281,676)
45,348,582
25,826,962
(13,901,589)
-
(400,904)
(2,789,616)
-
(131,040)
65,495,011
48,271,862
(1,482,090)
13,537,550
7,133,948
20,671,498
(237,775)
5,683,126
20,671,498
26,354,624
8,434,331 $
644,917 $
- $
23,862,234
61,527
2,415,895
3,339,528 $
4,285,532 $
11,173,018 $
-
-
-
- $
989,529 $
3,053
177,544
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
F-8
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. and subsidiaries
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021
(In US$ except for number of shares)
1. Principal Activities, Basis of Presentation and Organization
Principal Activities
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. (formerly known as China BAK Battery, Inc.) (“CBAK” or the “Company”) is a corporation formed in the State of Nevada
on October 4, 1999 as Medina Copy, Inc. The Company changed its name to Medina Coffee, Inc. on October 6, 1999 and subsequently changed its name to
China BAK Battery, Inc. on February 14, 2005. CBAK and its subsidiaries (hereinafter, collectively referred to as the “Company”) are principally engaged
in the manufacture, commercialization and distribution of a wide variety of standard and customized lithium ion (known as “Li-ion” or “Li-ion cell”) high
power rechargeable batteries. Prior to the disposal of BAK International Limited (“BAK International”) and its subsidiaries (see below), the batteries
produced by the Company were for use in cellular telephones, as well as various other portable electronic applications, including high-power handset
telephones, laptop computers, power tools, digital cameras, video camcorders, MP3 players, electric bicycles, hybrid/electric vehicles, and general
industrial applications. After the disposal of BAK International and its subsidiaries on June 30, 2014, the Company will focus on the manufacture,
commercialization and distribution of high power lithium ion rechargeable batteries for use in cordless power tools, light electric vehicles, hybrid electric
vehicles, electric cars, electric busses, uninterruptable power supplies and other high power applications.
The shares of the Company traded in the over-the-counter market through the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board from 2005 until May 31, 2006, when the
Company obtained approval to list its common stock on The NASDAQ Global Market, and trading commenced that same date under the symbol “CBAK”.
On January 10, 2017, the Company filed Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of Nevada to effectuate a merger between the Company and the
Company’s newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary, CBAK Merger Sub, Inc. (the “Merger Sub”). According to the Articles of Merger, effective January
16, 2017, the Merger Sub merged with and into the Company with the Company being the surviving entity (the “Merger”). As permitted by Chapter
92A.180 of Nevada Revised Statutes, the sole purpose of the Merger was to effect a change of the Company’s name.
Effective November 30, 2018, the trading symbol for common stock of the Company was changed from CBAK to CBAT. Effective at the opening of
business on June 21, 2019, the Company’s common stock started trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
Basis of Presentation and Organization
On November 6, 2004, BAK International, a non-operating holding company that had substantially the same shareholders as Shenzhen BAK Battery Co.,
Ltd (“Shenzhen BAK”), entered into a share swap transaction with the shareholders of Shenzhen BAK for the purpose of the subsequent reverse acquisition
of the Company. The share swap transaction between BAK International and the shareholders of Shenzhen BAK was accounted for as a reverse acquisition
of Shenzhen BAK with no adjustment to the historical basis of the assets and liabilities of Shenzhen BAK.
On January 20, 2005, the Company completed a share swap transaction with the shareholders of BAK International. The share swap transaction, also
referred to as the “reverse acquisition” of the Company, was consummated under Nevada law pursuant to the terms of a Securities Exchange Agreement
entered by and among CBAK, BAK International and the shareholders of BAK International on January 20, 2005. The share swap transaction has been
accounted for as a capital-raising transaction of the Company whereby the historical financial statements and operations of Shenzhen BAK are consolidated
using historical carrying amounts.
F-9
Also on January 20, 2005, immediately prior to consummating the share swap transaction, BAK International executed a private placement of its common
stock with unrelated investors whereby it issued an aggregate of 1,720,087 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $17,000,000. In conjunction with
this financing, Mr. Xiangqian Li, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company (“Mr. Li”), agreed to place 435,910 shares of the Company’s
common stock owned by him into an escrow account pursuant to an Escrow Agreement dated January 20, 2005 (the “Escrow Agreement”). Pursuant to the
Escrow Agreement, 50% of the escrowed shares were to be released to the investors in the private placement if audited net income of the Company for the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2005 was not at least $12,000,000, and the remaining 50% was to be released to investors in the private placement if
audited net income of the Company for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006 was not at least $27,000,000. If the audited net income of the Company
for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2005 and 2006 reached the above-mentioned targets, the 435,910 shares would be released to Mr. Li in the amount
of 50% upon reaching the 2005 target and the remaining 50% upon reaching the 2006 target.
Under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”), escrow agreements such as the one established by Mr. Li
generally constitute compensation if, following attainment of a performance threshold, shares are returned to a company officer. The Company determined
that without consideration of the compensation charge, the performance thresholds for the year ended September 30, 2005 would be achieved. However,
after consideration of a related compensation charge, the Company determined that such thresholds would not have been achieved. The Company also
determined that, even without consideration of a compensation charge, the performance thresholds for the year ended September 30, 2006 would not be
achieved.
While the 217,955 escrow shares relating to the 2005 performance threshold were previously released to Mr. Li, Mr. Li executed a further undertaking on
August 21, 2006 to return those shares to the escrow agent for the distribution to the relevant investors. However, such shares were not returned to the
escrow agent, but, pursuant to a Delivery of Make Good Shares, Settlement and Release Agreement between the Company, BAK International and Mr. Li
entered into on October 22, 2007 (the “Li Settlement Agreement”), such shares were ultimately delivered to the Company as described below. Because the
Company failed to satisfy the performance threshold for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, the remaining 217,955 escrow shares relating to the
fiscal year 2006 performance threshold were released to the relevant investors. As Mr. Li has not retained any of the shares placed into escrow, and as the
investors party to the Escrow Agreement are only shareholders of the Company and do not have and are not expected to have any other relationship to the
Company, the Company has not recorded a compensation charge for the years ended September 30, 2005 and 2006.
At the time the escrow shares relating to the 2006 performance threshold were transferred to the investors in fiscal year 2007, the Company should have
recognized a credit to donated shares and a debit to additional paid-in capital, both of which are elements of shareholders’ equity. This entry is not material
because total ordinary shares issued and outstanding, total shareholders’ equity and total assets do not change; nor is there any impact on income or
earnings per share. Therefore, previously filed consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007 will not be restated. This
share transfer has been reflected in these financial statements by reclassifying the balances of certain items as of October 1, 2007. The balances of donated
shares and additional paid-in capital as of October 1, 2007 were credited and debited by $7,955,358 respectively, as set out in the consolidated statements
of changes in shareholders’ equity.
In November 2007, Mr. Li delivered the 217,955 shares related to the 2005 performance threshold to BAK International pursuant to the Li Settlement
Agreement; BAK International in turn delivered the shares to the Company. Such shares (other than those issued to investors pursuant to the 2008
Settlement Agreements, as described below) are now held by the Company. Upon receipt of these shares, the Company and BAK International released all
claims and causes of action against Mr. Li regarding the shares, and Mr. Li released all claims and causes of action against the Company and BAK
International regarding the shares. Under the terms of the Li Settlement Agreement, the Company commenced negotiations with the investors who
participated in the Company’s January 2005 private placement in order to achieve a complete settlement of BAK International’s obligations (and the
Company’s obligations to the extent it has any) under the applicable agreements with such investors.
Beginning on March 13, 2008, the Company entered into settlement agreements (the “2008 Settlement Agreements”) with certain investors in the January
2005 private placement. Since the other investors have never submitted any claims regarding this matter, the Company did not reach any settlement with
them.
F-10
Pursuant to the 2008 Settlement Agreements, the Company and the settling investors have agreed, without any admission of liability, to a settlement and
mutual release from all claims relating to the January 2005 private placement, including all claims relating to the escrow shares related to the 2005
performance threshold that had been placed into escrow by Mr. Li, as well as all claims, including claims for liquidated damages relating to registration
rights granted in connection with the January 2005 private placement. Under the 2008 Settlement Agreement, the Company has made settlement payments
to each of the settling investors of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock equivalent to 50% of the number of the escrow shares related to
the 2005 performance threshold these investors had claimed; aggregate settlement payments as of June 30, 2015amounted to 73,749 shares. Share
payments to date have been made in reliance upon the exemptions from registration provided by Section 4(2) and/or other applicable provisions of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In accordance with the 2008 Settlement Agreements, the Company filed a registration statement covering the resale of
such shares which was declared effective by the SEC on June 26, 2008.
Pursuant to the Li Settlement Agreement, the 2008 Settlement Agreements and upon the release of the 217,955 escrow shares relating to the fiscal year
2006 performance threshold to the relevant investors, neither Mr. Li or the Company have any obligations to the investors who participated in the
Company’s January 2005 private placement relating to the escrow shares.
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had not received any claim from the other investors who have not been covered by the “2008 Settlement
Agreements” in the January 2005 private placement.
As the Company has transferred the 217,955 shares related to the 2006 performance threshold to the relevant investors in fiscal year 2007 and the Company
also have transferred 73,749 shares relating to the 2005 performance threshold to the investors who had entered the “2008 Settlement Agreements” with us
in fiscal year 2008, pursuant to “Li Settlement Agreement” and “2008 Settlement Agreements”, neither Mr. Li nor the Company had any remaining
obligations to those related investors who participated in the Company’s January 2005 private placement relating to the escrow shares.
On August 14, 2013, Dalian BAK Trading Co., Ltd was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of China BAK Asia Holding Limited (“BAK Asia”) with
a registered capital of $500,000. Pursuant to CBAK Trading’s articles of association and relevant PRC regulations, BAK Asia was required to contribute
the capital to CBAK Trading on or before August 14, 2015. On March 7, 2017, the name of Dalian BAK Trading Co., Ltd was changed to Dalian CBAK
Trading Co., Ltd (“CBAK Trading”). On August 5, 2019, CBAK Trading’s registered capital was increased to $5,000,000. Pursuant to CBAK Trading’s
amendment articles of association and relevant PRC regulations, BAK Asia was required to contribute the capital to CBAK Trading on or before August 1,
2033. Up to the date of this report, the Company has contributed $2,435,000 to CBAK Trading in cash.
On December 27, 2013, Dalian BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of BAK Asia with a registered capital of
$30,000,000. Pursuant to CBAK Power’s articles of association and relevant PRC regulations, BAK Asia was required to contribute the capital to CBAK
Power on or before December 27, 2015. On March 7, 2017, the name of Dalian BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd was changed to Dalian CBAK Power Battery
Co., Ltd (“CBAK Power”). On July 10, 2018, CBAK Power’s registered capital was increased to $50,000,000. On October 29, 2019, CBAK Power’s
registered capital was further increased to $60,000,000. Pursuant to CBAK Power’s amendment articles of association and relevant PRC regulations, BAK
Asia was required to contribute the capital to CBAK Power on or before December 31, 2021. Up to the date of this report, the Company has contributed
$60,000,000 to CBAK Power through injection of a series of patents and cash.
On May 4, 2018, CBAK New Energy (Suzhou) Co., Ltd (“CBAK Suzhou”) was established as a 90% owned subsidiary of CBAK Power with a registered
capital of RMB10,000,000 (approximately $1.5 million). The remaining 10% equity interest was held by certain employees of CBAK Suzhou. Pursuant to
CBAK Suzhou’s articles of association, each shareholder is entitled to the right of the profit distribution or responsible for the loss according to its
proportion to the capital contribution. Pursuant to CBAK Suzhou’s articles of association and relevant PRC regulations, CBAK Power was required to
contribute the capital to CBAK Suzhou on or before December 31, 2019. Up to the date of this report, the Company has contributed RMB9.0 million
(approximately $1.3 million), and the other shareholders have contributed RMB1.0 million (approximately $0.1 million) to CBAK Suzhou through
injection of a series of cash. The Company plans to dissolve CBAK Suzhou in 2022.
F-11
On November 21, 2019, Dalian CBAK Energy Technology Co., Ltd (“CBAK Energy”) was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of BAK Asia with a
registered capital of $50,000,000. Pursuant to CBAK Energy’s articles of association and relevant PRC regulations, BAK Asia was required to contribute
the capital to CBAK Energy on or before November 20, 2022. Up to the date of this report, the Company has contributed $23,519,880 to CBAK Energy.
On July 14, 2020, the Company acquired BAK Asia Investments Limited (“BAK Investments”), a company incorporated under Hong Kong laws, from Mr.
Xiangqian Li, the Company’s former CEO, for a cash consideration of HK$1.00. BAK Asia Investments Limited is a holding company without any other
business operations.
On July 31, 2020, BAK Investments formed a wholly owned subsidiary CBAK New Energy (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. (“CBAK Nanjing”) in China with a
registered capital of $100,000,000. Pursuant to CBAK Nanjing’s articles of association and relevant PRC regulations, BAK Investments was required to
contribute the capital to CBAK Nanjing on or before July 29, 2040. Up to the date of this report, the Company has contributed $55,289,915 to CBAK
Nanjing.
On August 6, 2020, Nanjing CBAK New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (“Nanjing CBAK”) was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of CBAK
Nanjing with a registered capital of RMB700,000,000 (approximately $110 million). Pursuant to Nanjing CBAK’s articles of association and relevant PRC
regulations, CBAK Nanjing was required to contribute the capital to Nanjing CBAK on or before August 5, 2040. Up to the date of this report, the
Company has contributed RMB335,538,138 (approximately $52.8 million) to Nanjing CBAK.
On November 9, 2020, Nanjing Daxin New Energy Automobile Industry Co., Ltd (“Nanjing Daxin”) was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of
CBAK Nanjing with a register capital of RMB50,000,000 (approximately $7.9 million). Up to the date of this report, the Company has contributed
RMB16,416,000 (approximately $2.5 million) to Nanjing Daxin.
On April 21, 2021, CBAK Power, along with Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd (“BAK SZ”), Shenzhen Asian Plastics Technology Co., Ltd (“SZ
Asian Plastics”) and Xiaoxia Liu, entered into an investment agreement with Junxiu Li, Hunan Xintao New Energy Technology Partnership, Xingyu Zhu,
and Jiangsu Saideli Pharmaceutical Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd for an investment in Hunan DJY Technology Co., Ltd (“DJY”). CBAK Power has
paid $1.4 million (RMB9,000,000) to acquire 9.74% of the equity interests of DJY. CBAK Power has appointed one director to the Board of Directors of
DJY. DJY is an unrelated third party of the Company engaging in researching and manufacturing of raw materials and equipment.
On August 4, 2021, Daxin New Energy Automobile Technology (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd (“Jiangsu Daxin”) was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of
Nanjing CBAK with a register capital of RMB 30,000,000 (approximately $4.7 million). Pursuant to Jiangsu Daxin’s articles of association and relevant
PRC regulations, Nanjing Daxin was required to contribute the capital to Jiangsu Daxin on or before July 30, 2061. Up to the date of this report the
Company has contributed nil to Jiangsu Daxin.
On July 20, 2021, CBAK Power entered into a framework agreement relating to CBAK Power’s investment in Zhejiang Hitrans Lithium Battery
Technology Co., Ltd (“Hitrans”, formerly known as Zhejinag Meidu Hitrans Lithium Battery Technology Co., Ltd), pursuant to which CBAK Power
agreed to acquire 81.56% of registered equity interests (representing 75.57% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans (the “Acquisition”). The Acquisition was
completed on November 26, 2021 (Note 12). After the completion of the Acquisition, Hitrans became a 81.56% registered equity interests (representing
75.57% of paid up capital) owned subsidiary of the Company.
On July 6, 2018, Guangdong Meidu Hitrans Resources Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. (“Guangdong Hitrans”) was established as a 80% owned subsidiary
of Hitrans with a registered capital of RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million). The remaining 20% registered equity interest was held by Shenzhen
Baijun Technology Co., Ltd. Pursuant to Guangdong Hitrans’s articles of association, each shareholder is entitled to the right of the profit distribution or
responsible for the loss according to its proportion to the capital contribution. Pursuant to Guangdong Hitrans’s articles of association and relevant PRC
regulations, Hitrans was required to contribute the capital to Guangdong Hitrans on or before December 30, 2038. Up to the date of this report, Hitrans has
contributed RMB1.72 million (approximately $0.3 million), and the other shareholder has contributed RMB0.25 million (approximately $0.04 million) to
Guangdong Hitrans through injection of a series of cash. Guangdong Hitrans was established under the laws of the People’s Republic of China as a limited
liability company on July 6, 2018 with a registered capital RMB10 million (approximately $1.5 million). Guangdong Hitrans is based in Dongguan,
Guangdong Province, and is principally engaged in the business of resource recycling, waste processing, and R&D, manufacturing and sales of battery
materials. The Company plans to dissolve Guangdong Hitrans in 2022.
F-12
On October 9, 2021, Shaoxing Haisheng International Trading Co., Ltd. (“Haisheng”) was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitrans with a
registered capital of RMB5 million (approximately $0.8 million). Pursuant to Haisheng’s articles of association and relevant PRC regulations, Hitrans was
required to contribute the capital to Haisheng on or before May 31, 2025. Up to the date of this report, Hitrans has contributed RMB2.7 million
(approximately $0.4 million) to Haisheng.
The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared under US GAAP.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. This basis of accounting differs in certain material
respects from that used for the preparation of the books of account of the Company and its subsidiaries, which are prepared in accordance with the
accounting principles and the relevant financial regulations applicable to enterprises with limited liability established in the PRC or Hong Kong. The
accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect necessary adjustments not recorded in the books of account of the Company’s subsidiaries to
present them in conformity with US GAAP.
After the disposal of BAK International Limited and its subsidiaries, namely Shenzhen BAK, Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd (formerly BAK
Battery (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.) (“BAK Shenzhen”), BAK International (Tianjin) Ltd. (“BAK Tianjin”), Tianjin Chenhao Technological Development
Limited (a subsidiary of BAK Tianjin established on May 8, 2014, “Tianjin Chenhao”), BAK Battery Canada Ltd. (“BAK Canada”), BAK Europe GmbH
(“BAK Europe”) and BAK Telecom India Private Limited (“BAK India”), effective on June 30, 2014, and as of December 31, 2021, the Company’s
subsidiaries consisted of: i) China BAK Asia Holdings Limited (“BAK Asia”), a wholly owned limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong on
July 9, 2013; ii) Dalian CBAK Trading Co., Ltd. (“CBAK Trading”), a wholly owned limited company established on August 14, 2013 in the PRC; iii)
Dalian CBAK Power Battery Co., Ltd. (“CBAK Power”), a wholly owned limited liability company established on December 27, 2013 in the PRC; iv)
CBAK New Energy (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (“CBAK Suzhou”), a 90% owned limited liability company established on May 4, 2018 in the PRC; v) Dalian
CBAK Energy Technology Co., Ltd (“CBAK Energy”), a wholly owned limited liability company established on November 21, 2019 in the PRC; (vi)
BAK Asia Investments Limited (“BAK Investments”), a wholly owned limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong acquired on July 14, 2020;
(vii) CBAK New Energy (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. (“CBAK Nanjing”), a wholly owned limited liability company established on July 31, 2020 in the PRC; (viii)
Nanjing CBAK New Energy Technology Co., Ltd, (“Nanjing CBAK”), a wholly owned limited liability company established on August 6, 2020 in the
PRC; (ix) Nanjing Daxin New Energy Automobile Industry Co., Ltd (“Nanjing Daxin”), a wholly owned limited liability company established on
November 9, 2020; (x) Daxin New Energy Automobile Technology ( Jiangsu) Co., Ltd (“Jiangsu Daxin”), a wholly owned limited liability company
established on August 4, 2021 in the PRC ; (xi) Zhejiang Hitrans Lithium Battery Technology Co., Ltd (“Hitrans”), a 81.56% registered equity interests
(representing 75.57% of paid-up capital) owned limited liability company established on December 16, 2015 in the PRC; (xii) Guangdong Meidu Hitrans
Resources Recycling Technology Co., Ltd., a 65.25% owned limited liability company established on July 6, 2018 in the PRC and (xiii) Shaoxing
Haisheng International Trading Co., Ltd. (“Haisheng”), a 81.56% registered equity interests (representing 75.57% of paid-up capital) owned limited
liability company established on October 9, 2021 in the PRC.
The Company continued its business and continued to generate revenues from sale of batteries via subcontracting the production to BAK Tianjin and BAK
Shenzhen, former subsidiaries before the completion of construction and operation of its facility in Dalian. BAK Tianjin and BAK Shenzhen are now
suppliers of the Company and the Company does not have any significant benefits or liability from the operating results of BAK Tianjin and BAK
Shenzhen except the normal risk with any major supplier.
F-13
As of the date of this report, Mr. Xiangqian Li is no longer a director of BAK International and BAK Tianjin. He remained as a director of Shenzhen BAK
and BAK Shenzhen.
On and effective March 1, 2016, Mr. Xiangqian Li resigned as Chairman, director, Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary of the Company. On
the same date, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Mr. Yunfei Li as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary of the
Company. On March 4, 2016, Mr. Xiangqian Li transferred 3,000,000 shares to Mr. Yunfei Li for a price of $2.4 per share. After the share transfer, Mr.
Yunfei Li held 3,000,000 shares or 17.3% and Mr. Xiangqian Li held 760,557 shares at 4.4% of the Company’s outstanding stock, respectively. As of
December 31, 2020, Mr. Yunfei Li held 10,785,872 shares or 13.62% of the Company’s outstanding stock, and Mr. Xiangqian Li held none of the
Company’s outstanding stock.
In June and July 2015, the Company received advances of approximately $9.8 million from potential investors. On September 29, 2015, the Company
entered into a Debt Conversion Agreement with these investors. Pursuant to the terms of the Debt Conversion Agreement, each of the creditors agreed to
convert existing loan principal of $9,847,644 into an aggregate 4,376,731 shares of common stock of the Company (“the Shares”) at a conversion price of
$2.25 per share. Upon receipt of the Shares on October 16, 2015, the creditors released the Company from all claims, demands and other obligations
relating to the Debts. As such, no interest was recognized by the Company on the advances from investors pursuant to the supplemental agreements with
investors and the Debt Conversion Agreement.
In June 2016, the Company received further advances in the aggregate of $2.9 million from Mr. Jiping Zhou and Mr. Dawei Li. These advances were
unsecured, non-interest bearing and repayable on demand. On July 8, 2018, the Company received further advances of $2.6 million from Mr. Jiping Zhou.
On July 28, 2016, the Company entered into securities purchase agreements with Mr. Jiping Zhou and Mr. Dawei Li to issue and sell an aggregate of
2,206,640 shares of common stock of the Company, at $2.5 per share, for an aggregate consideration of approximately $5.52 million. On August 17, 2016,
the Company issued these shares to the investors.
On February 17, 2017, the Company signed investment agreements with eight investors (including Mr. Yunfei Li, the Company’s CEO, and seven of the
Company’s existing shareholders) whereby the investors agreed to subscribe new shares of the Company totaling $10 million. Pursuant to the investment
agreements, in January 2017 the 8 investors paid the Company a total of $2.06 million as down payments. Mr. Yunfei Li agrees to subscribe new shares of
the Company totaled $1,120,000 and paid the earnest money of $225,784 in January 2017. On April 1, April 21, April 26 and May 10, 2017, the Company
received $1,999,910, $3,499,888, $1,119,982 and $2,985,497 from these investors, respectively. On May 31, 2017, the Company entered into a securities
purchase agreement with the eight investors, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue an aggregate of 6,403,518 shares of common stock to these
investors, at a purchase price of $1.50 per share, for an aggregate price of $9.6 million, among which 746,018 shares issued to Mr. Yunfei Li. On June 22,
2017, the Company issued the shares to the investors.
In 2019, according to the investment agreements and agreed by the investors, the Company returned partial earnest money of $966,579 (approximately
RMB6.7 million) to these investors.
On January 7, 2019, each of Mr. Dawei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li entered into an agreement with CBAK Power and Tianjin New Energy whereby Tianjin New
Energy assigned its rights to loans to CBAK Power of approximately $3.4 million (RMB23,980,950) and $1.7 million (RMB11,647,890) (totaled $5.1
million, the “First Debt”) to Mr. Dawei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li, respectively.
F-14
On January 7, 2019, the Company entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr. Dawei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li. Pursuant to the terms of the cancellation
agreement, Mr. Dawei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li agreed to cancel the First Debt in exchange for 3,431,373 and 1,666,667 shares of common stock of the
Company, respectively, at an exchange price of $1.02 per share. Upon receipt of the shares, the creditors released the Company from any claims, demands
and other obligations relating to the First Debt.
On April 26, 2019, each of Mr. Jun Lang, Ms. Jing Shi and Asia EVK Energy Auto Limited (“Asia EVK”) entered into an agreement with CBAK Power
and Tianjin New Energy whereby Tianjin New Energy assigned its rights to loans to CBAK Power of approximately $0.3 million (RMB2,225,082), $0.1
million (RMB 912,204) and $5.0 million (RMB35,406,036) (collectively $5.4 million, the “Second Debt”) to Mr. Jun Lang, Ms. Jing Shi and Asia EVK,
respectively.
On April 26, 2019, the Company entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr. Jun Lang, Ms. Jing Shi and Asia EVK (the creditors). Pursuant to the
terms of the cancellation agreement, the creditors agreed to cancel the Second Debt in exchange for 300,534, 123,208 and 4,782,163 shares of common
stock of the Company, respectively, at an exchange price of $1.1 per share. Upon receipt of the shares, the creditors released the Company from any claims,
demands and other obligations relating to the Second Debt.
On June 28, 2019, each of Mr. Dawei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li entered into an agreement with CBAK Power to loan approximately $1.4 million
(RMB10,000,000) and $2.5 million (RMB18,000,000) respectively to CBAK Power for a terms of six months (collectively $3.9 million, the “Third Debt”).
The loan was unsecured, non-interest bearing and repayable on demand.
On July 16, 2019, each of Asia EVK and Mr. Yunfei Li entered into an agreement with CBAK Power and Dalian Zhenghong Architectural Decoration and
Installation Engineering Co. Ltd. (the Company’s construction contractor) whereby Dalian Zhenghong Architectural Decoration and Installation
Engineering Co. Ltd. assigned its rights to the unpaid construction fees owed by CBAK Power of approximately $2.8 million (RMB20,000,000) and $0.4
million (RMB2,813,810) (collectively $3.2 million, the “Fourth Debt”) to Asia EVK and Mr. Yunfei Li, respectively.
On July 26, 2019, the Company entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr. Dawei Li, Mr. Yunfei Li and Asia EVK (the creditors). Pursuant to the
terms of the cancellation agreement, Mr. Dawei Li, Mr. Yunfei Li and Asia EVK agreed to cancel the Third Debt and Fourth Debt in exchange for
1,384,717, 2,938,067 and 2,769,435 shares of common stock of the Company, respectively, at an exchange price of $1.05 per share. Upon receipt of the
shares, the creditors released the Company from any claims, demands and other obligations relating to the Third Debt and Fourth Debt. The cancellation
agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the creditors. The creditors do not have registration rights with respect to the shares.
On July 24, 2019, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Atlas Sciences, LLC (the “Lender”), pursuant to which the Company
issued a promissory note (the “Note 1”) to the Lender. The Note has an original principal amount of $1,395,000, bears interest at a rate of 10% per annum
and will mature 12 months after the issuance, unless earlier paid or redeemed in accordance with its terms. The Company received proceeds of $1,250,000
after an original issue discount of $125,000 and payment of Lender’s expenses of $20,000.
On October 10, 2019, each of Mr. Shibin Mao, Ms. Lijuan Wang and Mr. Ping Shen entered into an agreement with CBAK Power and Zhengzhou BAK
New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd. (the Company’s supplier of which Mr. Xiangqian Li, the former CEO, is a director of this company) whereby Zhengzhou
BAK New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd. assigned its rights to the unpaid inventories cost owed by CBAK Power of approximately $2.1 million
(RMB15,000,000), $1.0 million (RMB7,380,000) and $1.0 million (RMB7,380,000) (collectively $4.2 million, the “Fifth Debt”) to Mr. Shibin Mao, Ms.
Lijuan Wang and Mr. Ping Shen, respectively.
On October 14, 2019, the Company entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr. Shangdong Liu, Mr. Shibin Mao, Ms. Lijuan Wang and Mr. Ping Shen
(the creditors). Pursuant to the terms of the cancellation agreement, Mr. Shangdong Liu, Mr. Shibin Mao, Ms. Lijuan Wang and Mr. Ping Shen agreed to
cancel and convert the Fifth Debt and the Unpaid Earnest Money of approximately $1 million (RMB6,720,000) in exchange for 528,053, 3,536,068,
2,267,798 and 2,267,798 shares of common stock of the Company, respectively, at an exchange price of $0.6 per share. Upon receipt of the shares, the
creditors released the Company from any claims, demands and other obligations relating to the Fifth Debt and the Unpaid Earnest Money. The cancellation
agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the creditors. The creditors do not have registration rights with respect to the shares.
On December 30, 2019, the Company entered into a second securities purchase agreement with Atlas Sciences, LLC (the “Lender”), pursuant to which the
Company issued a promissory note (the “Note II”) to the Lender. The Note II has an original principal amount of $1,670,000, bears interest at a rate of 10%
per annum and will mature 12 months after the issuance, unless earlier paid or redeemed in accordance with its terms. The Company received proceeds of
$1,500,000 after an original issue discount of $150,000 and payment of Lender’s expenses of $20,000.
F-15
On January 27, 2020, the Company entered into an exchange agreement (the “First Exchange Agreement”) with Atlas Sciences, LLC (the “Lender”),
pursuant to which the Company and the Lender agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $100,000 (the
“Partitioned Promissory Note) from the outstanding balance of certain promissory note that the Company issued to the Lender on July 24, 2019, which has
an original principal amount of $1,395,000, and (ii) exchange the Partitioned Promissory Note for the issuance of 160,256 shares of the Company’s
common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
On February 20, 2020, the Company entered into a second exchange agreement (the “Second Exchange Agreement”) with Atlas Sciences, LLC (the
“Lender”), pursuant to which the Company and the Lender agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $100,000
(the “Partitioned Promissory Note”) from the outstanding balance of certain promissory note that the Company issued to the Lender on July 24, 2019,
which has an original principal amount of $1,395,000, and (ii) exchange the Partitioned Promissory Note for the issuance of 207,641 shares of the
Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
On April 10, 2020, each of Mr. Yunfei Li, Mr. Ping Shen and Asia EVK entered into an agreement with CBAK Power and Shenzhen BAK, whereby
Shenzhen BAK assigned its rights to the unpaid inventories cost (note 7) owed by CBAK Power of approximately $1.0 million (RMB7,000,000), $2.3
million (RMB16,000,000) and $1.0 million (RMB7,300,000) (collectively $4.3 million, the “Sixth Debt”) to Mr. Yunfei Li, Mr. Ping Shen and Asia EVK,
respectively.
On April 27, 2020, the Company entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr. Yunfei Li, Mr. Ping Shen and Asia EVK (the “creditors”). Pursuant to the
terms of the cancellation agreement, Mr. Yunfei Li, Mr. Ping Shen and Asia EVK agreed to cancel the Sixth Debt in exchange for 2,062,619, 4,714,557 and
2,151,017 shares of common stock of the Company, respectively, at an exchange price of $0.48 per share. Upon receipt of the shares, the creditors released
the Company from any claims, demands and other obligations relating to the Sixth Debt. The cancellation agreement contains customary representations
and warranties of the creditors. The creditors do not have registration rights with respect to the shares.
On April 28, 2020, the Company entered into a third exchange agreement (the “Third Exchange Agreement”) with Atlas Sciences, LLC (the “Lender”),
pursuant to which the Company and the Lender agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $100,000 (the
“Partitioned Promissory Note”) from the outstanding balance of certain promissory note that the Company issued to the Lender on July 24, 2019, which has
an original principal amount of $1,395,000, and (ii) exchange the Partitioned Promissory Note for the issuance of 312,500 shares of the Company’s
common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
On June 8, 2020, the Company entered into a fourth exchange agreement (the “Fourth Exchange Agreement”) with Atlas Sciences, LLC (the “Lender”),
pursuant to which the Company and the Lender agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $100,000 (the
“Partitioned Promissory Note”) from the outstanding balance of certain promissory note that the Company issued to the Lender on July 24, 2019, which has
an original principal amount of $1,395,000, and (ii) exchange the Partitioned Promissory Note for the issuance of 271,739 shares of the Company’s
common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
On June 10, 2020, the Company entered into a Fifth exchange agreement (the “Fifth Exchange Agreement”) with Atlas Sciences, LLC (the “Lender”),
pursuant to which the Company and the Lender agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $150,000 (the
“Partitioned Promissory Note”) from the outstanding balance of certain promissory note that the Company issued to the Lender on July 24, 2019, which has
an original principal amount of $1,395,000, and (ii) exchange the Partitioned Promissory Note for the issuance of 407,609 shares of the Company’s
common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
On July 6, 2020, the Company entered into a Sixth exchange agreement (the “Sixth Exchange Agreement”) with Atlas Sciences, LLC (the “Lender”),
pursuant to which the Company and the Lender agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $250,000 (the
“Partitioned Promissory Note”) from the outstanding balance of certain promissory note that the Company issued to the Lender on July 24, 2019, which has
an original principal amount of $1,395,000, and (ii) exchange the Partitioned Promissory Note for the issuance of 461,595 shares of the Company’s
common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
F-16
On July 8, 2020, the Company entered into a First exchange agreement for Note II (the “First Exchange Agreement- Note II”) with Atlas Sciences, LLC
(the “Lender”), pursuant to which the Company and the Lender agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to
$250,000 (the “Partitioned Promissory Note”) from the outstanding balance of certain promissory note that the Company issued to the Lender on December
30, 2019, which has an original principal amount of $1,670,000, and (ii) exchange the Partitioned Promissory Note for the issuance of 453,161 shares of
the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
On July 29, 2020, the Company entered into a Seventh exchange agreement (the “Seventh Exchange Agreement”) with Atlas Sciences, LLC (the
“Lender”), pursuant to which the Company and the Lender agreed to (i) partition a new promissory note in the original principal amount equal to $365,000
(the “Partitioned Promissory Note”) from the outstanding balance of certain promissory note that the Company issued to the Lender on July 24, 2019,
which has an original principal amount of $1,395,000, and (ii) exchange the Partitioned Promissory Note for the issuance of 576,802 shares of the
Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender.
On October 12, 2020, the Company entered into an Amendment to Promissory Notes (the “Amendment”) with Atlas Sciences, LLC (the Lender), pursuant
to which the Lender has the right at any time until the outstanding balance of the Notes has been paid in full, at its election, to convert all or any portion of
the outstanding balance of the Notes into shares of common stock of the Company. The conversion price for each conversion will be calculated pursuant to
the following formula: 80% multiplied by the lowest closing price of the Company common stock during the ten (10) trading days immediately preceding
the applicable conversion (the “Conversion Price”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the Conversion Price be less than $1.00.
According to the Amendment, on October 13, 2020, the Company exchange $230,000 in principal and $141,275 coupon interest under the Note I and
$775,000 principal under the Note II for the issuance of 229,750 and 479,579 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the
Lender, respectively.
On October 20, 2020, the Company further exchange $645,000 in principal and $133,252 coupon interests under Note II for the issuance of 329,768 shares
of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share to the Lender. Up to the date of this report, the Company has fully repaid the principal and
coupon interests of Note I and Note II.
On November 5, 2020, each of Tillicum Investment Company Limited , an unrelated party, entered into an agreement with CBAK Nanjing and Shenzhen
ESTAR Industrial Company Limited, whereby Shenzhen ESTAR Industrial Company Limited assigned its rights to the unpaid equipment cost owed by
CBAK Nanjing of approximately $11.17 million (RMB75,000,000) (the “Seventh Debt”) to Tillicum Investment Company Limited.
On November 11, 2020, the Company entered into a cancellation agreement with Tillicum Investment Company Limited (the “creditor”). Pursuant to the
terms of the cancellation agreement, Tillicum Investment Company Limited agreed to cancel the Seventh Debt in exchange for 3,192,291 shares of
common stock of the Company, at an exchange price of $3.5 per share. Upon receipt of the shares, the creditor released the Company from any claims,
demands and other obligations relating to the Seventh Debt. The cancellation agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the creditor.
The creditor does not have registration rights with respect to the shares.
On December 8, 2020, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional investors, pursuant to which the Company
issued in a registered direct offering, an aggregate of 9,489,800 shares of common stock of the Company at a per share purchase price of $5.18, and
warrants to purchase an aggregate of 3,795,920 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price of $6.46 per share exercisable for 36 months
from the date of issuance, for gross proceeds of approximately $49.16 million, before deducting fees to the placement agent and other estimated offering
expenses of $3.81 million payable by the Company. In addition, the placement agent for this transaction also received warrants (“Placement Agent
Warrants”) for the purchase of up to 379,592 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $6.475 per share exercisable for 36 months
after 6 months from the issuance.
F-17
On February 8, 2021, the Company entered into another securities purchase agreement with the same investors, pursuant to which the Company issued in a
registered direct offering, an aggregate of 8,939,976 shares of common stock of the Company at a per share purchase price of $7.83. In addition, the
Company issued to the investors (i) in a concurrent private placement, the Series A-1 warrants to purchase a total of 4,469,988 shares of common stock, at
a per share exercise price of $7.67 and exercisable for 42 months from the date of issuance; (ii) in the registered direct offering, the Series B warrants to
purchase a total of 4,469,988 shares of common stock, at a per share exercise price of $7.83 and exercisable for 90 days from the date of issuance; and (iii)
in the registered direct offering, the Series A-2 warrants to purchase up to 2,234,992 shares of common stock, at a per share exercise price of $7.67 and
exercisable for 45 months from the date of issuance. The Company received gross proceeds of approximately $70 million from the registered direct
offering and the concurrent private placement, before deducting fees to the placement agent and other estimated offering expenses of $5.0 million payable
by the Company. In addition, the placement agent for this transaction also received warrants (“Placement Agent Warrants”) for the purchase of up to
446,999 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $9.204 per share exercisable for 36 months after 6 months from the issuance.
On May 10, 2021, the Company entered into that Amendment No. 1 to the Series B Warrant (the “Series B Warrant Amendment”) with each of the holders
of the Company’s outstanding Series B warrants. Pursuant to the Series B Warrant Amendment, the term of the Series B warrants was extended from May
11, 2021 to August 31, 2021.
As of August 31, 2021, the Company had not received any notices from the investors to exercise Series B warrants. As of the date of this report, Series B
warrants, along with Series A-2 warrants, had both expired.
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $8.8 million bank loans and approximately $98.1 million of other current liabilities (excluding warrants
derivative liability).
The Company is currently expanding its product lines and manufacturing capacity in its Dalian plant and Nanjing plant which requires more funding to
finance the expansion. The Company plans to raise additional funds through banks borrowings and equity financing in the future to meet its daily cash
demands, if required.
COVID-19
The World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) outbreak as a pandemic in March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has
caused disruptions to our operations in 2021. Our Dalian facility’s operations were suspended in November 2021 due to the COVID-19 containment
measures adopted by the local government. Hitrans’s production facility in Shangyu, Zhejiang was also temporarily closed from December 9 to 24, 2021 to
comply with the local lockdown policy in response to a surge of COVID-19 cases. Finally, the Company expects that the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak
on the United States and world economies will continue to have a material adverse impact on the demand for its products. Because of the significant
uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the extent of the business interruption and the related financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated
at this time.
For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company’s revenue increased by $15.1 million, or 40.2%, to $52.7 million, from $37.6 million for the year
ended December 31, 2020 and net income increased $69.4 million, to $61.6 million, from a net loss of $7.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. The Company has
negative cash flows from operating activities, accumulated deficit from recurring net losses incurred for the prior years and significant short-term debt
obligations maturing in less than one year as of December 31, 2021. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company ability to continue as a
going concern. The Company’s plan for continuing as a going concern included improving its profitability, and obtaining additional debt financing, loans
from existing directors and shareholders for additional funding to meet its operating needs. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful
in the plans described above or in attracting equity or alternative financing on acceptable terms, or if at all. These consolidated financial statements do not
include any adjustments to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the
Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
F-18
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices
(a) Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries up to the date of disposal. All significant
intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated prior to consolidation.
(b) Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and demand deposits placed with banks which are unrestricted as to withdrawal or use, and have original
maturities less than three months. The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments, with initial terms of less than three months to be cash
equivalents.
(c) Pledged deposit
Pledged deposit primarily represents bank deposits for bank notes amounted to $8.8 million and $19.0 million as of December 31, 2020 and 2021,
respectively. And deposits amounted to $198,249 and nil, that are restricted due to legal disputes as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
(d) Debt products
All debt products are carried at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Changes in the carrying amount of debt products relating to interest income
calculated using the effective interest method are recognized in consolidated statement of profit or loss. Other changes in the carrying amount of these
products, net of any related tax effects, are excluded form earnings and are included in other comprehensive income or loss and reported as a separate
component of stockholders’ equity or deficit until realized. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other than temporary, if any, on
debt products are included in other income (expense), net.
The Company regularly reviews all of its investments for other-than-temporary declines in estimated fair value. Its review includes the consideration of the
cause of the impairment, including the creditworthiness of the security issuers, the number of securities in an unrealized loss position, the severity and
duration of the unrealized losses, whether the Company has the intent to sell the securities and whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be
required to sell the securities before the recovery of their amortized cost basis. When the Company determines that the decline in estimated fair value of an
investment is below the amortized cost basis and the decline is other-than-temporary, it reduces the carrying value of the security and record a loss for the
amount of such decline. The Company has not recorded any declines in value judged to be other than temporary on its investments in debt securities.
(e) Trade and Bills Receivable
Trade and bills receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount, net of allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns. The allowance for doubtful
accounts is the Company’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company’s existing trade accounts receivable. The Company
determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience, customer specific facts and economic conditions.
Outstanding accounts receivable balances are reviewed individually for collectability. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all
means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.
(f)
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The cost of inventories is determined using the weighted average cost method, and
includes expenditures incurred in acquiring the inventories and bringing them to their existing location and condition. In case of finished goods and work in
progress, the cost includes an appropriate share of production overhead based on normal operating capacity. Net realizable value is the estimated selling
prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.
F-19
The Company records adjustments to its inventory for estimated obsolescence or diminution in net realizable value equal to the difference between the cost
of the inventory and the estimated net realizable value. At the point of loss recognition, a new cost basis for that inventory is established, and subsequent
changes in facts and circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in that newly established cost basis.
(g) Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment (except construction in progress) are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment charges. Depreciation is
calculated based on the straight-line method (after taking into account their respective estimated residual values) over the estimated useful lives of the
assets as follows:
Buildings
Machinery and equipment
Leasehold improvement
Office equipment
Motor vehicles
5 – 38 years
1 – 15 years
Over the shorter of lease term of the estimated useful lives of the assets
1 – 5 years
5 – 12 years
The cost and accumulated depreciation of property, plant and equipment sold are removed from the consolidated balance sheets and resulting gains or
losses are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
Construction in progress mainly represents expenditures in respect of the Company’s corporate campus, including offices, factories and staff dormitories,
under construction. All direct costs relating to the acquisition or construction of the Company’s corporate campus and equipment, including interest charges
on borrowings, are capitalized as construction in progress. No depreciation is provided in respect of construction in progress.
A long-lived asset to be disposed of by abandonment continues to be classified as held and used until it is disposed of.
(h) Lease
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, 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.
F-20
(i) Prepaid land use rights
The land use rights are operating leases with lease terms vary from 36 to 50 years. Land use rights acquired are assessed in accordance with ASC 842 if
they meet the definition of lease.
(ii) Operating lease
The lease terms of operating leases vary from more than a year to five years. Operating leases are included in operating lease right of use assets, current and
non-current operating lease liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, all of the Company’s ROU assets
were generated from leased assets in the PRC.
(iii) Net Investment in Sales Type Leases
The Company derives a portion of its revenue from vehicles leasing arrangements. Such arrangements provide for monthly payments covering the vehicles
sales and interest. These arrangements meet the criteria to be accounted for as sales-type leases. A lease is classified as a sales-type lease if at least one of
the following criteria is met: (1) the lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the lessee, (2) the lease grants the lessee an option to purchase the
underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise, (3) the lease term is for a major part of the remaining economic life of the underlying
asset, (4) the present value of the sum of the lease payments equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the underlying assets, or (5) the
underlying asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative use to the lessor at the end of the lease term. Accordingly, vehicle
sale net of cost is recorded as other income and recognized upon delivery of the vehicle and its acceptance by the customer. Upon the recognition of such
revenue, an asset is established for the investment in sales-type leases. Interests are recognized monthly over the lease term.
(i) Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation
The reporting currency of the Company is the United States dollar (“US dollar”). The financial records of the Company’s PRC operating subsidiaries are
maintained in their local currency, the Renminbi (“RMB”), which is the functional currency. The financial records of the Company’s subsidiaries
established in other countries are maintained in their local currencies. Assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries are translated into the reporting currency at
the exchange rates at the balance sheet date, equity accounts are translated at historical exchange rates, and income and expense items are translated using
the average rate for the period. The translation adjustments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss under shareholders’ equity.
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the applicable functional currencies are translated into the functional currencies at the
prevailing rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. Nonmonetary assets and liabilities are remeasured into the applicable functional currencies at
historical exchange rates. Transactions in currencies other than the applicable functional currencies during the period are converted into the functional
currencies at the applicable rates of exchange prevailing at the transaction dates. Transaction gains and losses are recognized in the consolidated statements
of operations.
RMB is not a fully convertible currency. All foreign exchange transactions involving RMB must take place either through the People’s Bank of China (the
“PBOC”) or other institutions authorized to buy and sell foreign exchange. The exchange rates adopted for the foreign exchange transactions are the rates
of exchange quoted by the PBOC, which are determined largely by supply and demand. Translation of amounts from RMB into US dollars has been made
at the following exchange rates for the respective periods:
Year ended December 31, 2020
Balance sheet, except for equity accounts
Income statement and cash flows
Year ended December 31, 2021
Balance sheet, except for equity accounts
Income statement and cash flows
RMB 6.5286 to US$1.00
RMB 6.9032 to US$1.00
RMB 6.3551 to US$1.00
RMB 6.4525 to US$1.00
F-21
(j)
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are stated in the balance sheet at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment, if any. The costs of the intangible assets are
amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The respective amortization periods for the intangible assets are as follows:
Computer software
Sewage discharge permit
1 - 10 years
5 - 7 years
(k)
Impairment of Long-lived Assets (including amortizable intangible assets) other than goodwill
Long-lived assets, which include property, plant and equipment, prepaid land use rights and intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events
or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.
Recoverability of long-lived assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future
cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment
charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Fair value is generally measured based on
either quoted market prices, if available, or discounted cash flow analyses.
(l) Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities
assumed of the acquired entity as a result of the Company's acquisitions of interests in its subsidiaries. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for
impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might be impaired. The Company first assesses
qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. In the qualitative assessment, the
Company considers primary factors such as industry and market considerations, overall financial performance of the reporting unit, and other specific
information related to the operations. Based on the qualitative assessment, if it is more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit is less than
the carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test is performed.
The Company annually, or more frequently if the Company believes indicators of impairment exist, reviews the carrying value of goodwill to determine
whether impairment may exist.
In performing the two-step quantitative impairment test, the first step compares the fair values of each reporting unit to its carrying amount, including
goodwill. If the fair value of each reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered to be impaired and the second step will not be
required. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step compares the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying value
of a reporting unit's goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in a manner similar to accounting for a business combination with the
allocation of the assessed fair value determined in the first step to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit. The excess of the fair value of the reporting
unit over the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. This allocation process is only performed for the purposes
of evaluating goodwill impairment and does not result in an entry to adjust the value of any assets or liabilities. An impairment loss is recognized for any
excess in the carrying value of goodwill over the implied fair value of goodwill. Application of a goodwill impairment test requires significant management
judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assigning assets, liabilities and goodwill to reporting units, and determining the fair value of each
reporting unit.
The Company performs its annual impairment tests on December 31 of each year.
F-22
(m) Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenues when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which it
expects to receive in exchange for those goods. The Company recognizes revenues following the five step model prescribed under ASU No. 2014-09: (i)
identify contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the
transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenues when (or as) we satisfy the performance obligation.
Revenues from product sales are recognized when the customer obtains control of the Company’s product, which occurs at a point in time, typically upon
delivery to the customer. The Company expenses incremental costs of obtaining a contract as and when incurred if the expected amortization period of the
asset that it would have recognized is one year or less or the amount is immaterial.
Revenues from product sales are recorded net of reserves established for applicable discounts and allowances that are offered within contracts with the
Company’s customers.
Product revenue reserves, which are classified as a reduction in product revenues, are generally characterized in the categories: discounts and returns. These
reserves are based on estimates of the amounts earned or to be claimed on the related sales and are classified as reductions of accounts receivable as the
amount is payable to the Company’s customer.
(n) Cost of Revenues
Cost of revenues consists primarily of material costs, employee compensation, depreciation and related expenses, which are directly attributable to the
production of products. Write-down of inventories to lower of cost or market is also recorded in cost of revenues.
(o) Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences
attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating
loss and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent management concludes it is more likely than not
that the assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates applied to taxable income in the years in which
those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in
the statement of operations and comprehensive loss in the period that includes the enactment date.
The impact of an uncertain income tax positions on the income tax return must be recognized at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be
sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being
sustained. Interest and penalties on income taxes will be classified as a component of the provisions for income taxes.
The significant uncertain tax position arose from the subsidies granted by the local government for the Company’s PRC subsidiary, which may be modified
or challenged by the central government or the tax authority. A reconciliation of January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2021 amount of unrecognized tax
benefits excluding interest and penalties (“Gross UTB”) is as follows:
Balance as of January 1, 2020
Decrease in unrecognized tax benefits taken in current period
Balance as of December 31, 2020 and January 1, 2021
Decrease in unrecognized tax benefits taken in current year
Balance as of December 31, 2021
F-23
Gross UTB Surcharge Net UTB
7,042,582
$
468,600
7,511,182
(7,511,182)
-
7,042,582
468,600
7,511,182
(7,511,182)
- $
-
-
-
-
- $
$
As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Company had not accrued any interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits.
(p) Non-controlling Interests
For the Company’s non-wholly owned subsidiary, a non-controlling interest is recognized to reflect the portion of equity that is not attributable, directly or
indirectly, to the Company. Non-controlling interests are classified as a separate line item in the equity section of the Company’s consolidated balance
sheets and have been separately disclosed in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive loss to distinguish the interests from that of the
Company. Cash flows related to transactions with non-controlling interests are presented under financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash
flows.
(q) Research and Development and Advertising Expenses
Research and development and advertising expenses are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses consist primarily of remuneration for
research and development staff, depreciation and material costs for research and development.
(r) Bills Payable
Bills payable represent bills issued by financial institutions to the Company’s vendors. The Company’s vendors receive payments from the financial
institutions directly upon maturity of the bills and the Company is obliged to repay the face value of the bills to the financial institutions.
(s) Warranties
The Company provides a manufacturer’s warranty on all its products. It accrues a warranty reserve for the products sold, which includes management’s
best estimate of the projected costs to repair or replace items under warranty. These estimates are based on actual claims incurred to date and an estimate of
the nature, frequency and costs of future claims. These estimates are inherently uncertain given the Company’s relatively short history of sales of its current
products, and changes to its historical or projected warranty experience may cause material changes to the warranty reserve in the future.
(t) Government Grants
The Company’s subsidiaries in China receive government subsidies from local Chinese government agencies in accordance with relevant Chinese
government policies. In general, the Company presents the government subsidies received as part of other income unless the subsidies received are
earmarked to compensate a specific expense, which have been accounted for by offsetting the specific expense, such as research and development expense,
interest expenses and removal costs. Unearned government subsidies received are deferred for recognition until the criteria for such recognition could be
met.
Grants applicable to land are amortized over the life of the depreciable facilities constructed on it. For research and development expenses, the Company
matches and offsets the government grants with the expenses of the research and development activities as specified in the grant approval document in the
corresponding period when such expenses are incurred.
(u) Share-based Compensation
The Company adopted the provisions of ASC Topic 718 which requires the Company to measure and recognize compensation expenses for an award of an
equity instrument based on the grant-date fair value. The cost is recognized over the vesting period (or the requisite service period). ASC Topic 718 also
requires the Company to measure the cost of a liability classified award based on its current fair value. The fair value of the award will be remeasured
subsequently at each reporting date through the settlement date. Changes in fair value during the requisite service period are recognized as compensation
cost over that period. Further, ASC Topic 718 requires the Company to estimate forfeitures in calculating the expense related to stock-based compensation.
F-24
The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes Option Valuation Model. The expected volatility was based
on the historical volatilities of the Company’s listed common stocks in the United States and other relevant market information. The Company uses
historical data to estimate share option exercises and employee departure behavior used in the valuation model. The expected terms of share options
granted is derived from the output of the option pricing model and represents the period of time that share options granted are expected to be outstanding.
Since the share options once exercised will primarily trade in the U.S. capital market, the risk-free rate for periods within the contractual term of the share
option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.
(v) Retirement and Other Postretirement Benefits
Contributions to retirement schemes (which are defined contribution plans) are charged to cost of revenues, research and development expenses, sales and
marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss as and when the related employee
service is provided.
Full time employees of the Company in the PRC participate in a government mandated defined contribution plan, pursuant to which certain pension
benefits, medical care, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to the employees. Chinese labor regulations require that the PRC
subsidiary of the Company make contributions to the government for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees’ salaries, up to a
maximum amount specified by the local government. The Company has no legal obligation for the benefits beyond the contributions made. Total amounts
of such employee benefit expenses, which were expensed as incurred, were approximately $466,410 (RMB3,219,718) and $1,541,133 (RMB238,842) for
the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
(w) Income (loss) per Share
Basic income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.
Diluted income (loss) per share is computed similar to basic net income per share except that the denominator is increased to include the number of
additional common shares that would have been outstanding if all the potential common shares pertaining to warrants, stock options, and similar
instruments had been issued and if the additional common shares were dilutive. Diluted income (loss) per share is based on the assumption that all dilutive
convertible shares and stock options and warrants were converted or exercised. Dilution is computed by applying the treasury stock method for the
outstanding unvested restricted stock, options and warrants, and the if-converted method for the outstanding convertible instruments. Under the treasury
stock method, options and warrants are assumed to be exercised at the beginning of the period (or at the time of issuance, if later) and as if funds obtained
thereby were used to purchase common stock at the average market price during the period. Under the if-converted method, outstanding convertible
instruments are assumed to be converted into common stock at the beginning of the period (or at the time of issuance, if later).
(x) Use of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires management of the Company to make a number of
estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the
consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include revenue recognition, the recoverability of the carrying amount of long-lived assets,
unrecognized tax benefits, impairment on goodwill and inventories, valuation allowance for receivables and deferred tax assets, provision for warranty and
sales returns, valuation of share-based compensation expense and warrants liability. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(y) Commitments and Contingencies
Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines and penalties and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a
liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment can be reasonably estimated.
(z) Warrant Liability
For warrants that are not indexed to the Company’s stock, the Company records the fair value of the issued warrants as a liability at each balance sheet date
and records changes in the estimated fair value as a non-cash gain or loss in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. The
warrant liability is recognized in the balance sheet at the fair value (level 3). The fair value of these warrants has been determined using the Binomial
model.
F-25
(aa) Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a company during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances excluding
transactions resulting from investments from owners and distributions to owners. Accumulated other comprehensive income includes cumulative foreign
currency translation adjustment.
(bb) Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic
740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”). ASU 2019-12 simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing certain
exceptions and enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance in ASC 740. ASU 2019-12 was effective January 1, 2021.
The adoption of ASU 2019-12 did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statement presentation or disclosures.
In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-06, Debt — Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—
Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”).
ASU 2020-06 simplifies the accounting for convertible debt by eliminating the beneficial conversion and cash conversion accounting models. Upon
adoption of ASU 2020-06, convertible debt proceeds, unless issued with a substantial premium or an embedded conversion feature that is not clearly and
closely related to the host contract, will no longer be allocated between debt and equity components. This modification will reduce the issue discount and
result in less non-cash interest expense in financial statements. ASU 2020-06 also updates the earnings per share calculation and requires entities to assume
share settlement when the convertible debt can be settled in cash or shares. For contracts in an entity’s own equity, the type of contracts primarily affected
by ASU 2020-06 are freestanding and embedded features that are accounted for as derivatives under the current guidance due to a failure to meet the
settlement assessment by removing the requirements to (i) consider whether the contract would be settled in registered shares, (ii) consider whether
collateral is required to be posted, and (iii) assess shareholder rights. ASU 2020-06 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. Early
adoption is permitted, but no earlier than fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and only if adopted as of the beginning of such fiscal year. The
Company adopted ASU 2020-06 effective January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2020-06 did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated
financial statement presentation or disclosures.
Recently Issued But Not Yet Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) (“ASU 2016-13”), which requires entities to measure
all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable
forecasts. ASU 2016-13 replaces the existing incurred loss model and is applicable to the measurement of credit losses on financial assets measured at
amortized cost. ASU 2016-13 is to be adopted on a modified retrospective basis. As a smaller reporting company, ASU 2016-13 will be effective for the
Company for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption
of ASU 2016-13 will have on its consolidated financial statement presentations and disclosures.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350), Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (“ASU
2017-04”). ASU 2017-04 eliminates Step 2 of the two-step goodwill impairment test, under which a goodwill impairment loss was measured by comparing
the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. ASU 2017-04 requires only a one-step quantitative
impairment test, whereby a goodwill impairment loss is measured as the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value (not to exceed the
total goodwill allocated to that reporting unit). Adoption of the ASUs is on a modified retrospective basis. As a smaller reporting company, the standard
will be effective for the Company for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is currently evaluating the
impact that the adoption of ASU 2017-04 will have on its consolidated financial statement presentation or disclosures.
F-26
In May 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-04, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Debt — Modifications and Extinguishments (Subtopic 470-50),
Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718), and Derivatives and Hedging — Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Issuer’s
Accounting for Certain Modifications or Exchanges of Freestanding Equity-Classified Written Call Options (“ASU 2021-04”). ASU 2021-04 provides
guidance as to how an issuer should account for a modification of the terms or conditions or an exchange of a freestanding equity-classified written call
option (i.e., a warrant) that remains classified after modification or exchange as an exchange of the original instrument for a new instrument. An issuer
should measure the effect of a modification or exchange as the difference between the fair value of the modified or exchanged warrant and the fair value of
that warrant immediately before modification or exchange and then apply a recognition model that comprises four categories of transactions and the
corresponding accounting treatment for each category (equity issuance, debt origination, debt modification, and modifications unrelated to equity issuance
and debt origination or modification). ASU 2021-04 is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim
periods within those fiscal years. An entity should apply the guidance provided in ASU 2021-04 prospectively to modifications or exchanges occurring on
or after the effective date. Early adoption is permitted for all entities, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity elects to early adopt ASU 2021-
04 in an interim period, the guidance should be applied as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The adoption of ASU 2021-
04 is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statement presentation or disclosures.
In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-10, Government Assistance (Topic 832): Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance.
This update requires certain annual disclosures about transactions with a government that are accounted for by applying a grant or contribution accounting
model by analogy. This update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021, and early application is permitted. This guidance should
be applied either prospectively to all transactions that are reflected in financial statements at the date of initial application and new transactions that are
entered into after the date of initial application or retrospectively to those transactions. The Company does not expect the impact of this guidance to have a
material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date
are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption.
F-27
3. Pledged deposits
Pledged deposits as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the following:
Pledged deposits with banks for:
Bills payable
Others*
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
$
$
8,791,499 $
198,249
8,989,748 $
18,996,749
-
18,996,749
*
In October 2019, CBAK Power received notice from Court of Changshou District, Chongqing that Chongqing Zhongrun Chemistry Co., Ltd
(“Chongqing Zhongrun”) filed arbitration claims against the Company for failure to pay pursuant to the terms of the contract. The plaintiff sought a
total amount of $0.4 million (RMB2,484,948), including material cost of $0.4 million (RMB2,397,660) and interest of $13,370 (RMB87,288). On
October 31, 2019, CBAK Power and Chongqing Zhongrun reached an agreement that CBAK Power would pay the material cost by the end of
December 31, 2019. In 2020, CBAK Power had paid $198,144 (RMB1,293,600). In August 2020, upon the request of Chongqing Zhongrun for
property preservation, the Court of Changshou District ordered to freeze CBAK Power’s bank deposits totaling $0.2 million (RMB1,249,836) for a
period of one year to August 2021. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has accrued the remaining material purchase cost of $0.2 million
(RMB1,104,007) and $2,224 (RMB14,521) was frozen by bank. The property preservation was released in March, 2021 upon CBAK Power
settlement.
In November 2019, CBAK Suzhou received notice from Court of Suzhou city that Suzhou Industrial Park Security Service Co., Ltd (“Suzhou
Security”) filed a lawsuit against CBAK Suzhou for the failure to pay pursuant to the terms of the sales contract. Suzhou Security sought a total
amount of $21,672 (RMB139,713), including services expenses amount of $21,547 (RMB138,908) and interest of $125 (RMB805). Upon the request
of Suzhou Security for property preservation, the Court of Suzhou froze CBAK Suzhou’s bank deposits totaling $0.02 million (RMB150,000) for a
period of one year. As of December 31, 2020, $5,062 (RMB33,048) was frozen by bank. CBAK Power settled the amount due in July 2021, and the
frozen bank deposits were then released.
In February 2020, CBAK Power received notice from Court of Zhuanghe that Dongguan Shanshan Battery Material Co., Ltd (“Dongguan Shanshan”)
filed lawsuit against CBAK Power for the failure to pay pursuant to the terms of the purchase contract. Dongguan Shanshan sought a total amount of
$0.7 million (RMB4,434,209). Upon the request of Dongguan Shanshan for property preservation, the Court of Zhuanghe ordered to freeze CBAK
Power’s bank deposits totaling $0.7 million (RMB4,434,209) for a period of one year to December 17, 2020. In July 2020, CBAK Power and
Dongguan Shanshan have come to a settlement amount of $0.6 million (RMB3,635,192) and the bank deposit was then released. In October 2020,
CBAK Power fail to pay according to the settlement, Dongguan Shanshan sought a total amount of $0.6 million (RMB3,635,192). Upon the request of
Dongguan Shanshan for property preservation, the Court of Zhuanghe ordered to freeze CBAK Power’s bank deposits totaling $0.6 million
(RMB3,365,192) for a period of one year to October 21, 2021. As of December 31, 2020, $55,230 (RMB360,576) was frozen by bank. In late
February 2021, CBAK Power and Dongguan Shanshan entered into a settlement agreement that CBAK would pay $260,393, $76,586, $76,586,
$76,586, and $32,088 (RMB1,700,000, RMB500,000, RMB500,000, RMB500,000 and RMB209,487) by March 5, March 31, April 30, May 31 and
June 30, 2021, respectively, and after the first payment of RMB 1,700,000 by March 5, 2021, Dongguan Shanshan would release all the enforcement
measures against CBAK Power. CBAK Power had made full payment on time and the bank deposit was then release.
On March 20, 2020, CBAK Power received notice from Court of Nanpi County, Hebei Province that Cangzhou Huibang Engineering Manufacturing
Co., Ltd (“Cangzhou Huibang”) filed a lawsuit against CBAK Power for the failure to pay pursuant to the terms of the purchase contract. Cangzhou
Huibang sought a total amount of $0.31 million (RMB2,029,594), including materials purchase cost of $0.3 million (RMB1,932,947), and interest of
$14,804 (RMB96,647). As of December 31, 2020, the Company has accrued materials purchase cost of $0.3 million (RMB1,932,947). Upon the
request of Cangzhou Huibang for property preservation, the Court of Nanpi ordered to freeze CBAK Power’s bank deposits totaling $0.4 million
(RMB2,650,000) for a period of two year to March 2, 2022. As of December 31, 2020, $18,518 (RMB120,898) was frozen by bank. In March 2021,
CBAK Power had made full payment and bank deposit was released.
F-28
In May 2020, CBAK Power received notice from Court of Wuqing District, Tianjin that Tianjin Changyuan Electric Material Co., Ltd (“Tianjin
Changyuan”) filed lawsuit against CBAK Power for failure to pay pursuant to the terms of the purchase contract. The plaintiff sought a total amount of
$13,040 (RMB85,136), including material cost of $12,166 (RMB79,429) and interest of $874 (RMB5,707). In July, 2020, upon the request of the
plaintiff for property preservation, the Court of Wuqing District, Tianjin ordered to freeze CBAK Power’s bank deposits totaling $13,041
(RMB85,136) for a period of one year. As of December 31, 2020, $13,041 (RMB85,136) was frozen by bank. CBAK Power had made full payment in
March, 2021 and the property preservation was then released.
In June 2020, CBAK Power received notice from Court of Dalian Economic and Technology Development Zone that Nanjing Jinlong Chemical Co.,
Ltd. (“Nanjing Jinlong”) filed a lawsuit against CBAK Power for the failure to pay pursuant to the terms of the purchase contract. Nanjing Jinlong
sought a total amount of $125,443 (RMB822,000). Upon the request of Nanjing Jinlong for property preservation, the Court of Dalian Economic and
Technology Development Zone ordered to freeze CBAK Power’s bank deposits totaling $125,443 (RMB822,000) for a period of one year. As of
December 31, 2020, $16 (RMB107) was frozen by bank and the Company had accrued the material purchase cost of $125,443 (RMB822,000). In
April 2021, CBAK Power has mad full settlement to Nanjing Jinlong and the property preservation was then released.
In June 2020, CBAK Power received notice from Court of Dalian Economic and Technology Development Zone that Xi’an Anpu New Energy
Technology Co. LTD (“Xi’an Anpu”) filed a lawsuit against CBAK Power for the failure to pay pursuant to the terms of the equipment purchase
contract. Xi’an Anpu sought a total amount of $129,270 (RMB843,954), including $117,636 (RMB768,000) for equipment cost and $11,634
(RMB75,954) for liquidated damages. Upon the request of Xi’an Anpu for property preservation, the Court of Dalian Economic and Technology
Development Zone ordered to freeze CBAK Power’s bank deposits $0.1 million (RMB843,954) for a period to May 11, 2021. As of December 31,
2020, $98,284 (RMB641,656) was frozen by bank. The property preservation was released on February 25, 2021 upon CBAK Power settlement.
In October 2020, CBAK Power received a notice from Court of Dalian Economic and Technology Development Zone that Jiuzhao New Energy
Technology Co., Ltd. (“Jiuzhao”) filed a lawsuit against CBAK Power for failure to pay pursuant to the terms of certain purchase contract. Jiuzhao
sought a total amount of $0.9 million (RMB6.0 million), including material cost of $0.9 million (RMB5,870,267) and interest of $19,871
(RMB129,732). Upon the request of the plaintiff for property preservation, the Court of Dalian Economic and Technology Development Zone, Jiuzhao
ordered to freeze CBAK Power’s bank deposits totaling $0.9 million (RMB6.0 million) for a period to September 17, 2021. As of December 31, 2020,
$5,874 (RMB38,346) was frozen by bank. CBAK Power has fully paid off the debts to Jiuzhao, and the frozen bank deposits were released in April
2021.
4. Trade and Bills Receivable, net
Trade and bills receivable as of December 31, 2020 and 2021:
Trade receivable
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts
Bills receivable
December 31, December 31,
2020
33,305,997 $
(5,266,828)
28,039,169
1,532,105
29,571,274 $
2021
48,707,457
(4,618,269)
44,089,188
5,817,941
49,907,129
$
$
Included in trade and bills receivables are retention receivables of $1,896,068 and $1,944,034 as of December 31, 2020 and 2021. Retention receivables are
interest-free and recoverable either at the end of the retention period of three to five years since the sales of the EV batteries or 200,000 km since the sales
of the motor vehicles (whichever comes first).
F-29
An analysis of the allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows:
Balance at beginning of year
Provision for the year
Reversal - recoveries by cash
Charged to consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income
Write off
Foreign exchange adjustment
Balance at end of year
5. Inventories
Inventories as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the following:
Raw materials
Work in progress
Finished goods
December 31, December 31,
2020
4,650,686 $
1,656,128
(934,391)
721,737 $
(431,684)
326,089
5,266,828 $
2021
5,266,828
225,875
(1,006,264)
(780,389)
-
131,830
4,618,269
$
$
$
December 31, December 31,
2020
757,857 $
2,338,342
2,156,646
5,252,845 $
2021
11,323,638
8,093,002
10,716,700
30,133,340
$
$
During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, write-downs of obsolete inventories to lower of cost or net realizable value of $1,450,182 and
$867,731, respectively, were charged to cost of revenues.
6. Prepayments and Other Receivables
Prepayments and other receivables as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the following:
Value added tax recoverable
Loan receivables *
Prepayments to suppliers
Deposits
Staff advances
Prepaid operating expenses
Others
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts
December 31, December 31,
2020
4,524,475 $
1,358,637
424,311
17,385
67,867
529,401
524,468
7,446,544
(7,000)
7,439,544 $
2021
7,144,712
-
4,663,431
75,179
122,531
683,648
64,489
12,753,990
(7,000)
12,746,990
$
$
* Nanjing CBAK entered into a loan agreement with Shen Zhen Asian Plastics Technology Co., Ltd (SZ Asian Plastics), to loan SZ Asian Plastics a total
amount of $1.4 million (RMB8,870,000) for a period of 6 months from December 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021. The loan is unsecured and bears fixed
interest at 6% per annum. The Company’s shareholder Mr. Jiping Zhao, holding 2.39% equity interest in the Company, at the same time held 79.13%
equity interests in SZ Asian Plastics. In March 2021, SZ Asian Plastics has fully repaid the loan principal.
F-30
7. Property, Plant and Equipment, net
Property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the following:
Buildings
Leasehold improvements
Machinery and equipment
Office equipment
Motor vehicles
Impairment
Accumulated depreciation
Carrying amount
December 31,
2020
28,150,137 $
-
32,753,952
258,458
197,790
December 31,
2021
48,418,782
5,543,792
58,899,248
1,200,758
486,570
61,360,337 114,549,150
(9,194,132)
(8,980,020)
(15,312,245)
(11,339,947)
90,042,773
41,040,370 $
$
$
During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Company incurred depreciation expense of $2,677,238 and $3,664,917, respectively.
The Company has not yet obtained the property ownership certificates of the buildings in its Dalian manufacturing facilities with a carrying amount of
$24,611,468 as of December 31, 2020. The Company has obtained the property ownership certificates of the buildings on October 22, 2021.
During the course of the Company’s strategic review of its operations in the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Company assessed the
recoverability of the carrying value of certain property, plant and equipment which resulted in impairment losses of approximately $4.3 million and nil,
respectively. The impairment charge represented the excess of carrying amounts of the Company’s property, plant and equipment over the estimated fair
value of the Company’s production facilities in Dalian primarily for the production of high-power lithium batteries.
8. Construction in Progress
Construction in progress as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the following:
Construction in progress
Prepayment for acquisition of property, plant and equipment
Carrying amount
December 31, December 31,
2020
27,070,916 $
3,122,393
30,193,309 $
2021
21,619,522
5,723,570
27,343,092
$
$
Construction in progress as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 mainly comprised capital expenditures for the construction of the facilities and production
lines of CBAK Power and Nanjing CBAK.
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Company capitalized interest of $1,308,274 and $307,426, respectively, to the cost of construction in
progress.
F-31
9. Non-marketable equity securities
Cost
Impairment
Carrying amount
December 31,
2020
$
$
- $
-
- $
December 31,
2021
1,416,185
(703,255)
712,930
On April 21, 2021, CBAK Power, along with Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd (BAK Shenzhen), Shenzhen Asian Plastics Technology Co., Ltd (SZ
Asian Plastics) and Xiaoxia Liu (collectively the “Investors”), entered into an investment agreement with Junxiu Li, Hunan Xintao New Energy
Technology Partnership, Xingyu Zhu, and Jiangsu Saideli Pharmaceutical Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd for an investment in Hunan DJY Technology
Co., Ltd ("DJY"), a privately held company. CBAK Power has paid $1.40 million (RMB9,000,000) to acquire 9.74% of the equity interests of DJY. CBAK
Power along with other three new investors has appointed one director on behalf of the Investors to the Board of Directors of DJY. DJY is unrelated third
party of the Company engaging in in research and development, production and sales of products and services to lithium battery positive cathode materials
producers, including the raw materials, fine ceramics, equipment and industrial engineering.
Non-marketable equity securities are investments in privately held companies without readily determinable market value. The Company measures
investments in non-marketable equity securities without a readily determinable fair value using a measurement alternative that measures these securities at
the cost method minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes on a non-recurring basis. The fair value of non-
marketable equity securities that have been remeasured due to impairment are classified within Level 3. The Company adjusts the carrying value of non-
marketable equity securities which have been remeasured during the period and recognize resulting gains or losses as a component of other operating
income (expense), net. The Company recognized an impairment loss of $692,639 on the non-marketable equity securities for the year ended December 31,
2021.
10. Lease
(a) Prepaid land use rights
Balance as of January 1, 2020
Amortization charge for the year
Foreign exchange adjustment
Balance as of December 31, 2020
Addition for the year
Amortization charge for the year
Foreign exchange adjustment
Balance as of December 31, 2021
Prepaid
land lease
payments
$
$
7,194,195
(162,763)
469,348
7,500,780
6,188,764
(189,044)
296,730
13,797,230
In August 2014 and November 2021, the Group acquired land use rights to build a factory of the Company in Dalian and Zhejiang, PRC.
Lump sum payments were made upfront to acquire the leased land from the owners with lease periods of 36 to 50 years, and no ongoing payments will be
made under the terms of these land leases.
No impairment loss was made to the carrying amounts of the prepaid land use right for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2021.
F-32
(b) Company as Lessor
The Company derives a portion of its revenue from leasing arrangements of these vehicles to end users. Such arrangements provide for monthly payments
covering the vehicles sales and interest. These arrangements meet the criteria to be accounted for as sales-type leases. Accordingly, vehicle sale net of cost
is recorded as other income and recognized upon delivery of the vehicle and its acceptance by the end user. Upon the recognition of such revenue, an asset
is established for the investment in sales-type leases. Interests are recognized monthly over the lease term. The components of the net investment in sales-
type leases as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 are as follows:
Total future minimum lease payments receivable
Less: unearned income, representing interest
Present value of minimum lease payments receivables
Less: Current portion
Non-current portion
December 31, December 31,
2020
1,210,305
(124,653)
1,085,652
(235,245)
850,407
2021
1,737,817
(108,773)
1,629,044
(790,516)
838,528
$
$
Vehicle sale net of cost recognized in other income (expense) from vehicle leasing was $(410,774) and $(92,272) for the year ended December 31, 2020
and 2021, respectively.
Interest income from vehicle leasing was $13,106 and $99,424 for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
The future minimum lease payments receivable for sales type leases are as follows:
Fiscal years ending December
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Thereafter
(c) Operating lease
Total
Minimum
Lease
Payments to
be Received
Amortization
of Unearned
Income
$
862,929 $
683,546
191,342
-
-
-
1,737,817
72,413 $
33,589
2,771
-
-
-
108,773
Net
Investment
in Sales
Type Leases
790,516
649,957
188,571
-
-
-
1,629,044
In April 2018, Hitrans entered into a lease agreement for staff quarters spaces in Zhejiang with a five year term, commencing on May 1, 2018 and expiring
on April 30, 2023. The monthly rental payment is approximately RMB18,000 ($2,832) per month. In 2018, lump sum payments were made to landlord for
the rental of staff quarter spaces and no ongoing payments will be made under the terms of these leases.
F-33
On January 14, 2021, Nanjing Daxin entered into a lease agreement for manufacturing, warehouse and office space in Tianjing with a three year term,
commencing on March 1, 2021 and expiring on February 29, 2024. The monthly rental payment is approximately RMB73,143 ($11,509) per month.
On April 6, 2021, Nanjing CBAK entered into a lease agreement for warehouse space in Nanjing with a three year term, commencing on April 15, 2021
and expiring on April 14, 2024. The monthly rental payment is approximately RMB97,743 ($15,380) per month.
On June 1, 2021, Nanjing Daxin entered into a lease agreement for manufacturing, warehouse and office space in Wuxi with a three year term,
commencing on June 1, 2021 and expiring on May 31, 2024. The monthly rental payment is approximately RMB238,095 ($37,465) per month for the first
year and approximately RMB277,778 ($43,709) per month from the second year.
On June 1, 2021, Hitrans entered into a lease agreement with liquid gas supplier for a five year term for supplying liquid nitrogen and oxygen, commencing
on July 1, 2021. The monthly rental payment is app roximately RMB5,310 ($836) per month.
On December 9, 2021, Hitrans entered into a lease agreement for another staff quarters spaces in Zhejiang with a three year term, commencing on
December 10, 2021 and expiring on December 9, 2024.
The monthly rental payment is approximately RMB9,905 ($1,559) per month for the first year, RMB10,103 ($1,590) and RMB10,305 ($1,622) per month
from the second year and third year, respectively.
Operating lease expenses for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 for the capitation agreement was as follows:
Operating lease cost – straight line
Total lease expense
The following is a schedule, by years, of maturities of lease liabilities as of December 31, 2021:
Fiscal years ending December
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Thereafter
Total undiscounted cash flows
Less: imputed interest
Present value of lease liabilities
Lease term and discount rate:
Weighted-average remaining lease term
Land use rights
Operating leases
Weighted-average discount rate
Land use rights
Operating leases
F-34
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
$
$
- $
- $
477,569
477,569
Operating
leases
$
$
876,291
876,672
10,027
10,027
5,012
-
1,778,029
(99,909)
1,678,120
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
43
-
Nil
-
38.4
2.32
Nil
5.88%
11. Intangible Assets, net
Intangible assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the followings:
Computer software at cost
Sewage discharge permit*
Accumulated amortization
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
$
$
32,686 $
-
32,686
(20,879)
11,807 $
108,560
1,915,740
2,024,300
(62,561)
1,961,739
Amortization expenses were $4,143 and $41,132 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
*
The Company had not yet obtained the ownership of sewage discharge permit in its Zhejiang manufacturing facilities with a carrying amount of
$1,873,168 as of December 31, 2021. The sewage discharge permit was registered under the name of New Era (note 12). The Company has obtained a
five years sewage discharge permit on January 27, 2022.
Total future amortization expenses for finite-lived intangible assets were estimated as follows:
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Thereafter
Total
12. Acquisition of subsidiaries
$
$
526,641
526,477
525,006
351,010
8,594
24,011
1,961,739
On April 1, 2021, CBAK Power entered into a framework investment agreement with Hangzhou Juzhong Daxin Asset Management Co., Ltd. (“Juzhong
Daxin”) for a potential acquisition of Hitrans. Juzhong Daxin is the trustee of 85% of registered equity interests (representing 78.95% of paid-up capital) of
Hitrans and has the voting right over the 85% of registered equity interests. Subject to definitive acquisition agreements to be entered into among the
parties, including shareholders owning the 85% of equity interests of Hitrans, CBAK Power intends to acquire 85% of equity interests of Hitrans in cash in
2021. CBAK Power has paid $3.10 million (RMB20,000,000) to Juzhong Daxin as a security deposit in April 2021. Hitrans is an unrelated third party of
the Company engaging in researching, manufacturing and trading of raw materials and is one of the major suppliers of the Company in fiscal 2020.
On July 20, 2021, CBAK Power entered into a framework agreement relating to CBAK Power’s investment in Hitrans, pursuant to which CBAK Power
will acquire 81.56% of registered equity interests (or representing 75.57% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans (the “Acquisition Agreement”). Under the
Acquisition Agreement, CBAK Power will acquire 60% of registered equity interests (representing 54.39% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans from Zhejiang
Meidu Graphene Technology Co., Ltd. (“Meidu Graphene”) valued at RMB118 million ($18.5 million) and 21.56% of registered equity interests
(representing 21.18% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans from Hitrans’s management shareholders valued at approximately RMB40.74 million ($6.4 million).
Two individuals among Hitrans management shareholders, including Hitrans’s CEO, Mr. Haijun Wu (“Mr. Wu”), will keep 2.50% registered equity
interests (representing 2.46% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans and New Era Group Zhejiang New Energy Materials Co., Ltd. (“New Era”) will continue to
hold 15% registered equity interests (representing 21.05% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans after the acquisition.
As of the date of the Acquisition Agreement, the 25% registered equity interests (representing 24.56% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans held by Hitrans
management shareholders was frozen as a result of a litigation arising from the default by Hitrans management shareholders on debts borrowed from
Zhejiang Meidu Pawn Co., Ltd. (“Pawn Co.”) whereby the 25% registered equity interests (representing 24.56% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans was pledged
as collateral. Mr. Junnan Ye (“Mr. Ye”), acting as an intermediary, will first acquire 22.5% registered equity interests (representing 22.11% of paid-up
capital) of Hitrans, free of any encumbrances, from Hitrans management shareholders. Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, within five days of CBAK
Power’s obtaining 21.56% registered equity interests (representing 21.18% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans from Mr. Ye, CBAK Power will pay
approximately RMB40.74 million ($6.4 million) in cash, which amount shall be used toward the repayment of debts due to Pawn Co. On July 23, 2021,
CBAK Power paid RMB40.74 million (approximately $6.4 million) in cash to Mr. Ye.
F-35
In addition, as of the date of the Acquisition Agreement, Meidu Graphene’s 60% registered equity interests (representing 54.39% of paid-up capital) of
Hitrans was frozen as a result of a litigation arising from Hitrans’s failure to make payments to New Era in connection with the purchase of land use rights,
plants, equipment, pollution discharge permit and other assets (the “Assets”) under certain asset transfer agreements as well as Meidu Graphene’s guarantee
for Hitrans’s payment obligations thereunder.
As a part of the transaction, CBAK Power entered into a loan agreement with Hitrans to lend Hitrans approximately RMB131 million ($20.6 million) (the
“Hitrans Loan”) by remitting approximately RMB131 million ($20.6 million) into the account of Shaoxing Intermediate People’s Court (the “Court”) to
remove the freeze on Meidu Graphene’s 60% registered equity interests (representing 54.39% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans. Moreover, Juzhong Daxin will
return RMB10 million ($1.6 million) of the security deposit to CBAK Power before CBAK Power wires approximately RMB131 million ($20.6 million) to
the Court. Juzhong Daxin retained RMB5 million ($0.78 million) as commission for facilitating the acquisition and RMB5 million ($0.78 million)
recognized as compensation expense to another potential buyer. On July 27, 2021, Juzhong Daxin returned RMB7 million ($1.1 million) of the security
deposit to CBAK Power. The remaining RMB3 million ($0.5 million) had not yet been repaid by Juzhong Daxin up to the date of this report (Note 17). The
Company is still negotiating with Juzhong Daxin, as Juzhong Daxin believes that according to the Security Acquisition Framework Agreement entered into
between CBAK Power and Juzhong Daxin, CBAK Power should pay RMB3 million ($0.5 million) as risk premium for facilitating the acquisition. CBAK
Power believes it is not reasonable to pay any of the risk premium in accordance with the terms of the agreement and Juzhong Daxin should return RMB3
million ($0.5 million) to CBAK Power. CBAK Power has taken legal action for the outstanding balance.
CBAK Power shall pay all other fees due to Juzhong Daxin in accordance with the Letter of Intent. According to the Acquisition Agreement, Mr. Ye will
first acquire 60% registered equity interests (representing 54.39% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans, free of any encumbrances, from Meidu Graphene.
Thereafter, CBAK Power will assign RMB118 million ($18.5 million) of the Hitrans Loan to Mr. Junnan Ye as consideration for the acquisition of 60%
registered equity interests (representing 54.39% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans from Mr. Ye (the “Assignment”). Hitrans shall repay RMB118 million ($18.5
million) to Mr. Ye in accordance with a separate loan repayment agreement (the “Loan Repayment Agreement”) entered into among Mr. Ye, Hitrans,
CBAK Power and Mr. Wu in July 2021. Under the Loan Repayment Agreement, Hitrans shall repay Mr. Ye at least RMB70 million ($10.86 million) within
two months of obtaining the title to the Assets from New Era and the remaining RMB 48 million ($7.41 million) by December 31, 2021, with a fixed
interest of RMB3.5 million ($0.54 million) which can be reduced by up to RMB1 million ($0.15 million) if the loan is settled before its due date. CBAK
Power provides guarantee to Mr. Ye on Hitrans’s repayment obligations under the Loan Repayment Agreement. Hitrans shall repay the remaining
approximately RMB13 million ($2.02 million) of the Hitrans Loan to CBAK Power at an interest rate of 6% per annum, maturing in one year from the date
of the Assignment. As of December 31, 2021, Hitrans has repaid RMB93 million ($14.6 million) and interest incurred was RMB0.9 million ($0.1 million)
recorded as finance cost for the year ended December 31, 2021. As of January 29, 2022, Hitrans has repaid all the loan principals of RMB118 million
($18.5 million) and interests of RMB3.5 million ($0.54 million) to Mr. Ye (Note 15).
As of the date of this report, the transfer of 81.56% registered equity interests (representing 75.57% of paid-up capital) of Zhejiang Hitrans to CBAK Power
has been registered with the local government and CBAK Power had paid approximately RMB40.74 million (approximately $6.4 million) in cash to Mr.
Ye. In addition, CBAK Power had wired approximately RMB131 million (approximately $20.6 million) to the Court and the Acquisition was completed on
November 26, 2021.
Upon the closing of the Acquisition, CBAK Power became the largest shareholder of Hitrans holding 81.56% of the Company’s registered equity interests
(representing 75.57% of paid-up capital of the Company). As required by applicable Chinese laws, CBAK Power and Management Shareholders are
obliged to make capital contributions of RMB11.1 million ($1.7 million) and RMB0.4 million ($0.06 million), respectively, for the unpaid portion of
Hitrans’s registered capital in accordance with the articles of association of Hitrans.
F-36
After the completion of the Acquisition, Hitrans became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
The Company completed the valuations necessary to assess the fair values of the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, resulting
from which the amount of goodwill was determined and recognized as of the respective acquisition date. The following table summarizes the estimated
aggregate fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the closing date, November 26, 2021.
Cash and bank
Debts product
Trade and bills receivable, net
Inventories
Prepayments and other receivables
Income tax recoverable
Amount due from trustee
Property, plant and equipment, net
Construction in progress
Intangible assets, net
Prepaid land use rights, noncurrent
Leased assets, net
Deferred tax assets
Short term bank loan
Other short term loans – CBAK Power
Trade accounts and bills payable
Accrued expenses and other payables
Deferred government grants
Land appreciation tax
Deferred tax liabilities
Net assets
Less: Waiver of dividend payable
Total net assets acquired
Non-controlling interest (24.43%)
Goodwill
Total identifiable net assets
$
7,323,654
3,144
37,759,688
13,616,922
1,384,029
47,138
11,788,931
21,190,890
2,502,757
1,957,187
6,276,898
48,394
1,715,998
(8,802,402)
(20,597,522)
(38,044,776)
(7,439,338)
(290,794)
(464,162)
(333,824)
29,642,812
1,250,181
30,892,993
(7,547,158)
1,606,518
24,952,353
The components of the consideration transferred to effect the Acquisition are as follows:
Cash consideration for 60% registered equity interest (representing 54.39% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans from Meidu
Graphene
Cash consideration for 21.56% registered equity interest (representing 21.18% of paid-up capital) of Hitrans from
Hitrans management
Total Purchase Consideration
RMB
USD
118,000,000
18,547,918
40,744,376
158,744,376
6,404,435
24,952,353
The transaction resulted in a purchase price allocation of $1,606,518 to goodwill, representing the financial, strategic and operational value of the
transaction to the Company. Goodwill is attributed to the premium that the Company paid to obtain the value of the business of Hitrans and the synergies
expected from the combined operations of Hitrans and the Company, the assembled workforce and their knowledge and experience in provision of raw
materials used in manufacturing of lithium batteries. The total amount of the goodwill acquired is not deductible for tax purposes.
F-37
13. Goodwill
The movement of the goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2021 is as follows:
Balance as of January 1, 2021
Acquisition of Hitrans
Foreign exchange adjustment
Balance as of December 31, 2021
$
$
-
1,606,518
38,714
1,645,232
To assess potential impairment of goodwill, the Company performs an assessment of the carrying value of the reporting units at least on an annual basis or
when events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the estimated fair value of the reporting units below its carrying value.
The Company performed a goodwill impairment analysis as of December 31, 2021. When determining the fair value on reporting unit comprises of NCM
precursor and cathode materials products (“Hitrans Reporting unit”), the Company used a discounted cash flow model that included a number of significant
unobservable inputs. Key assumptions used to determine the estimated fair value include: (a) internal cash flows forecasts including expected revenue
growth, operating margins and estimated capital needs, (b) an estimated terminal value using a terminal year long-term future growth rate determined based
on the growth prospects of the reporting units; and (c) a discount rate that reflects the weighted-average cost of capital adjusted for the relevant risk
associated with the Hitrans Reporting unit’s operation and the uncertainty inherent in the Company’s internally developed forecasts. Based on the
Company’s assessment as of December 31, 2021, the fair value of Hitrans Reporting unit exceeded their carrying value.
14. Trade and Bills Payable
Trade and bills payable as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the followings:
December 31, December 31,
2020
19,560,793 $
2021
40,352,638
$
8,791,499
25,023,574
$
28,352,292 $
65,376,212
Trade payable
Bills payable
– Bank acceptance bills
All the bills payable are of trading nature and will mature within one year from the issue date.
The bank acceptance bills were pledged by:
(i)
the Company’s bank deposits (Note 3);
(ii) $4.4 million of the Company’s bills receivable as of December 31, 2021 (Note 4).
F-38
15. Loans
Bank loans:
Bank borrowings as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the followings:
Current maturities of long-term bank loans
Short-term bank borrowings
December 31, December 31,
2020
13,739,546 $
-
13,739,546 $
2021
-
8,811,820
8,811,820
$
$
On June 4, 2018, the Company obtained banking facilities from China Everbright Bank Dalian Branch with a maximum amount of RMB200 million
(approximately $30.63 million) with the term from June 12, 2018 to June 10, 2021, bearing interest at 130% of benchmark rate of the People’s Bank of
China (“PBOC”) for three-year long-term loans, at current rate 6.175% per annum. The facilities were secured by the Company’s land use rights, buildings,
machinery and equipment. According to the original repayment schedule, the loans are repayable in six installments of RMB0.8 million ($0.12 million) on
December 10, 2018, RMB24.3 million ($3.72 million) on June 10, 2019, RMB0.8 million ($0.12 million) on December 10, 2019, RMB74.7 million
($11.44 million) on June 10, 2020, RMB0.8 million ($0.12 million) on December 10, 2020 and RMB66.3 million ($10.16 million) on June 10, 2021. The
Company repaid the bank loan of RMB0.8 million ($0.12 million), RMB24.3 million ($3.72 million) and RMB0.8 million ($0.12 million) in December
2018, June 2019 and December 2019, respectively.
On June 28, 2020, the Company entered into a supplemental agreement with China Everbright Bank Dalian Branch to change the repayment schedule.
According to the modification agreement, the remaining RMB141.8 million (approximately $21.72 million) loans are repayable in eight instalments
consisting of RMB1.09 million ($0.17 million) on June 10, 2020, RMB1 million ($0.15 million) on December 10, 2020, RMB2 million ($0.31 million) on
January 10, 2021, RMB2 million ($0.31 million) on February 10, 2021, RMB2 million ($0.31 million) on March 10, 2021, RMB2 million ($0.31 million)
on April 10, 2021, RMB2 million ($0.31 million) on May 10, 2021, and RMB129.7 million ($19.9 million) on June 10, 2021, respectively. As of December
31, 2021, the Company repaid all the bank loan.
On October 15, 2019, the Company borrowed a total of RMB28 million (approximately $4.12 million) in the form of bills payable from China Everbright
Bank Dalian Branch for a term until October 15, 2020, which was secured by the Company’s cash totaled RMB28 million (approximately $4.12 million).
The Company discounted the bills payable of even date to China Everbright Bank at a rate of 3.3%. The Company repaid the bills on October 15, 2020.
In December 2019, the Company obtained banking facilities from China Everbright Bank Dalian Friendship Branch totaled RMB39.9 million
(approximately $6.1 million) for a term until November 6, 2020, bearing interest at 5.655% per annum. The facility was secured by 100% equity in CBAK
Power held by BAK Asia and buildings of Hubei BAK Real Estate Co., Ltd., which Mr. Yunfei Li (“Mr. Li”), the Company’s CEO holding 15% equity
interest. Under the facilities, the Company repaid the bank loan of RMB39.9 million (approximately $6.1 million) in December 2020.
On November 16, 2021, the Company obtained banking facilities from Shaoxing Branch of Bank of Communications Co., Ltd with a maximum amount of
RMB120.7 million (approximately $19.0 million) with the term from November 18, 2021 to November 18, 2026. The facility was secured by the
Company’s land use rights and buildings. Under the facility, the Company has borrowed RMB 56.0 million (approximately $8.8 million) for a term until
November 16, 2022, bearing interest at 4.35% per annum.
On February 28, 2022, the Company borrowed RMB7.1 million loans (approximately $1.1 million) with the term from February 28, 2022 to February 28,
2023 from the above facilities.
The Company borrowed a series of acceptance bills from Shaoxing Branch of Bank of Communications Co., Ltd totaled RMB53.5 million (approximately
$8.4 million) for various terms through January to June 2022, which was secured by the Company’s cash totaled RMB26.6 million (approximately $4.1
million) (Note 3) and bills receivables totaled RMB26.9 million (approximately $4.3 million) (Note 4).
F-39
The Company borrowed a series of acceptance bills from Shaoxing Branch of Bank of Communications Co., Ltd totaled RMB20.2 million (approximately
$3.2 million) for various terms through May 2022, which was secured by the Company’s cash totaled RMB10.1 million (approximately $1.6 million) (Note
3) and the Company’s land use rights and buildings.
In October to December 2020, the Company borrowed a series of acceptance bills from China Merchants Bank totaled RMB13.5 million (approximately
$2.07 million) for various terms through April to June 2021, which was secured by the Company’s cash totaled RMB13.5 million (approximately $2.07
million). The Company repaid the bills through April to June 2021.
The Company borrowed a series of acceptance bills from Agricultural Bank of China totaled RMB17.9 million (approximately $2.8 million) for various
terms through January to June 2022, which was secured by the Company’s cash totaled RMB17.9 million (approximately $2.8 million) (Note 3).
The Company borrowed a series of acceptance bills from China Zheshang Bank Co. Ltd Shenyang Branch totaled RMB57.4 million (approximately $9.0
million) for various terms through January to June 2022, which was secured by the Company’s cash totaled RMB56.1 million (approximately $8.8 million)
(Note 3) and the Company’s bills receivable totaled RMB1.3 million (approximately $0.2 million) (Note 4).
On April 19, 2021, the Company obtained five-year acceptance bills facilities from Bank of Ningbo Co., Ltd with a maximum amount of RMB84.4 million
(approximately $13.2 million). Any amount drawn under the facilities requires security in the form of cash or bank acceptance bills receivable of at least
the same amount. Under the facilities, as of December 31, 2021, the Company borrowed a total of RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) from Bank
of Ningbo Co., Ltd in the form of bills payable for a various term expiring from January to February 2022, which was secured by the Company’s cash
totaled RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) (Note 3).
On January 17, 2022, the Company obtained a one-year term facility from Agricultural Bank of China with a maximum amount of RMB10 million
(approximately $1.6 million) bearing interest at 105% of benchmark rate of the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) for short-term loans, which is 3.85% per
annum. The facility was guaranteed by the Company’s CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan. The Company borrowed RMB10
million (approximately $1.6 million) up to the date of this report.
On February 9, 2022, the Company obtained a one-year term facility from Jiangsu Gaochun Rural Commercial Bank with a maximum amount of RMB10
million (approximately $1.6 million) bearing interest at 124% of benchmark rate of the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) for short-term loans, which is
4.94% per annum. The facility was guaranteed by the Company’s CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan. The Company borrowed
RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) up to the date of this report.
On March 8, 2022, the Company obtained a one-year term facility from China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd. Shangyu Branch with a maximum amount of
RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) bearing interest at 5.5% per annum. The facility was guaranteed by 100% equity in CBAK Power held by
BAK Asia and the Company’s CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li. The Company borrowed RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) up to the date of this report.
The facilities were also secured by the Company’s assets with the following carrying amounts:
Pledged deposits (note 3)
Bills receivables (note 4)
Right-of-use assets (note 10)
Buildings
Machinery and equipment
December 31, December 31,
2020
8,791,499 $
-
7,500,780
16,721,178
4,926,886
37,940,343 $
2021
18,996,749
4,446,553
6,286,473
8,565,837
-
38,295,612
$
$
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had unutilized committed banking facilities totaled $8.6 million.
During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, interest of $1,710,183 and $339,935 were incurred on the Company’s bank borrowings, respectively.
Other short-term loans:
Other short-term loans as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the following:
Advance from related parties
– Mr. Xiangqian Li, the Company’s Former CEO
– Mr. Yunfei Li
– Shareholders
– Mr. Junnan Ye (Note 12)
Advances from unrelated third party
– Mr. Wenwu Yu
– Ms. Longqian Peng
– Suzhou Zhengyuanwei Needle Ce Co., Ltd
December 31, December 31,
Note
2020
2021
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(d)
(e)
$
$
100,000 $
278,739
92,446
-
471,185
16,823
689,275
76,586
782,684
1,253,869 $
100,000
153,300
94,971
3,933,848
4,282,119
17,282
301,044
78,677
397,003
4,679,122
(a) Advances from Mr. Xiangqian Li, the Company’s former CEO, was unsecured, non-interest bearing and repayable on demand.
F-40
(b) Advances from Mr. Yunfei Li, the Company’s CEO, was unsecured, non-interest bearing and repayable on demand.
(c) The earnest money paid by certain shareholders in relation to share purchase (note 1) were unsecured, non-interest bearing and repayable on
demand.
In 2019, according to the investment agreements and agreed by the investors, the Company returned partial earnest money of $966,579
(approximately RMB6.7 million) to these investors.
On October 14, 2019, the Company entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr. Shangdong Liu, Mr. Shibin Mao, Ms. Lijuan Wang and Mr.
Ping Shen (the creditors). Pursuant to the terms of the cancellation agreement, Mr. Shangdong Liu, Mr. Shibin Mao, Ms. Lijuan Wang and Mr.
Ping Shen agreed to cancel and convert the Fifth Debt (note 1) and the Unpaid Earnest Money in exchange for 528,053, 3,536,068, 2,267,798 and
2,267,798 shares of common stock of the Company, respectively, at an exchange price of $0.6 per share. Upon receipt of the shares, the creditors
will release the Company from any claims, demands and other obligations relating to the Fifth Debt and the Unpaid Earnest Money.
As of December 31, 2021, earnest money of $94,971 remained outstanding.
(d) Advances from unrelated third parties were unsecured, non-interest bearing and repayable on demand.
(e)
In 2019, the Company entered into a short term loan agreement with Suzhou Zhengyuanwei Needle Ce Co., Ltd, an unrelated party to loan
RMB0.6 million (approximately $0.1 million), bearing annual interest rate of 12%. As of December 31, 2021, loan amount of RMB0.5 million
($78,677) remained outstanding.
During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, interest of $587,620 and $145,034 were incurred on the Company’s borrowings from
unrelated parties, respectively.
F-41
16. Accrued Expenses and Other Payables
Accrued expenses and other payables as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the following:
Construction costs payable
Equipment purchase payable
Liquidated damages*
Accrued staff costs
Customer deposits
Deferred revenue
Accrued expenses
Dividend payable to non-controlling interest to Hitrans
Other payables
December 31, December 31,
2020
273,279 $
5,431,132
1,210,119
2,083,660
394,536
-
2,038,174
-
214,559
11,645,459 $
2021
2,036,008
8,697,637
1,210,119
3,924,1105
1,420,414
784,000
4,161,548
1,444,737
285,132
22,963,700
$
$
* On August 15, 2006, the SEC declared effective a post-effective amendment that the Company had filed on August 4, 2006, terminating the
effectiveness of a resale registration statement on Form SB-2 that had been filed pursuant to a registration rights agreement with certain shareholders to
register the resale of shares held by those shareholders. The Company subsequently filed Form S-1 for these shareholders. On December 8, 2006, the
Company filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2006 (the “2006 Form 10-K”). After the filing of the 2006 Form 10-
K, the Company’s previously filed registration statement on Form S-1 was no longer available for resale by the selling shareholders whose shares were
included in such Form S-1. Under the registration rights agreement, those selling shareholders became eligible for liquidated damages from the
Company relating to the above two events totaling approximately $1,051,000. As of December 31, 2019 and 2020, no liquidated damages relating to
both events have been paid.
On November 9, 2007, the Company completed a private placement for the gross proceeds to the Company of $13,650,000 by selling 3,500,000 shares of
common stock at the price of $3.90 per share. Roth Capital Partners, LLC acted as the Company’s exclusive financial advisor and placement agent in
connection with the private placement and received a cash fee of $819,000. The Company may have become liable for liquidated damages to certain
shareholders whose shares were included in a resale registration statement on Form S-3 that the Company filed pursuant to a registration rights agreement
that the Company entered into with such shareholders in November 2007. Under the registration rights agreement, among other things, if a registration
statement filed pursuant thereto was not declared effective by the SEC by the 100th calendar day after the closing of the Company’s private placement on
November 9, 2007, or the “Effectiveness Deadline”, then the Company would be liable to pay partial liquidated damages to each such investor of (a) 1.5%
of the aggregate purchase price paid by such investor for the shares it purchased on the one month anniversary of the Effectiveness Deadline; (b) an
additional 1.5% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such investor every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) until
the earliest of the effectiveness of the registration statement, the ten-month anniversary of the Effectiveness Deadline and the time that the Company is no
longer required to keep such resale registration statement effective because either such shareholders have sold all of their shares or such shareholders may
sell their shares pursuant to Rule 144 without volume limitations; and (c) 0.5% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such investor for the shares it
purchased in the Company’s November 2007 private placement on each of the following dates: the ten-month anniversary of the Effectiveness Deadline
and every thirtieth day thereafter (prorated for periods totaling less than thirty days), until the earlier of the effectiveness of the registration statement and
the time that the Company no longer is required to keep such resale registration statement effective because either such shareholders have sold all of their
shares or such shareholders may sell their shares pursuant to Rule 144 without volume limitations. Such liquidated damages would bear interest at the rate
of 1% per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full.
On December 21, 2007, pursuant to the registration rights agreement, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3, which was declared
effective by the SEC on May 7, 2008. As a result, the Company estimated liquidated damages amounting to $561,174 for the November 2007 registration
rights agreement. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Company had settled the liquidated damages with all the investors and the remaining provision
of approximately $159,000 was included in other payables and accruals.
F-42
17. Balances and Transactions with Related Parties
The principal related parties with which the Company had transactions during the years presented are as follows:
Name of Entity or Individual
New Era Group Zhejiang New Energy Materials Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Baijun Technology Co., Ltd
Zhengzhou BAK Battery Co., Ltd
Zhengzhou BAK New Energy Technology Co., Ltd
Shenzhen BAK Battery Co., Ltd
Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd
BAK International (Tianjin) Limited
Zhejiang New Era Zhongneng Recycling Technology Co., Ltd.
Hangzhou Juzhong Daxin Asset Management Co., Ltd
Mr. Junnan Ye (Note 13)
Relationship with the Company
Shareholder of company’s subsidiary
Shareholder of company’s subsidiary
Note a
Note b
Former subsidiary and refer to Note c
Former subsidiary and refer to Note c
Former subsidiary and refer to Note c
Note d
Note e
Former shareholder of Zhejiang Hitrans Lithium Battery Technology Co.,
Ltd
(a) Mr. Xiangqian Li, the Company’s former CEO, is a director of Zhengzhou BAK Battery Co., Ltd.
(b) Mr. Xiangqian Li is a director of Zhengzhou BAK New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd, which has 29% equity interests in Zhengzhou BAK New Energy
Technology Co., Ltd.
(c) Mr. Xiangqian Li is a director of Shenzhen BAK Battery Co., Ltd, Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd and Shenzhen BAK Battery Co., Ltd.
(d) New Era Group Zhejiang New Energy Materials Co., Ltd. (note 12) is a shareholder of Zhejiang New Era Zhongneng Recycling Technology Co., Ltd.,
holding 27.08% equity interests.
(e) Hangzhou Juzhong Daxin Asset Management Co., Ltd. is the trustee of 85% of registered equity interests of Hitrans (note 12)
Related party transactions
The Company entered into the following significant related party transactions:
Purchase of finished goods from Zhengzhou BAK New Energy Technology Co., Ltd
Purchase of finished goods from Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd
Sales of finished goods and raw materials to Zhengzhou BAK Battery Co., Ltd
Sales (return) of finished goods and raw materials to Zhengzhou BAK New Energy Technology Co., Ltd
Sales of finished goods and raw materials to Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd
Interest expense charge by Mr. Junnan Ye
F-43
For the
year ended
December 31,
2020
For the
year ended
December 31,
2021
$
- $
3,884,309
12,770,075
1,562,637
-
-
5,522,832
-
8,339,088
(91,974)
10,032
135,606
Related party balances
Apart from the above, the Company recorded the following significant related party balances as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021:
Receivables from former subsidiary
Receivables from Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
$
- $
2,263,955
Balance as of December 31, 2021 consisted of receivable for sales of cathode and precursor to Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd. Up to the date of
this report, Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd repaid $1.4 million to the Company.
Amount due from non-controlling interest
Shenzhen Baijun Technology Co., Ltd
Current
Non-current
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
$
- $
-
-
125,883
62,941
188,824
In August 2018, Guangdong Hitrans and Shenzhen Baijun entered into a services contract for the provision of consultancy service to assist Guangdong
Hitrans to obtain the license for recycling solid wastes with a contract sum of RMB3,000,000 ($465,362). During August and September 2018,
RMB1,500,000 ($232,681) was paid to Shenzhen Baijun as deposit. In 2020, Guangdong Hitrans and Shenzhen Baijun entered into supplemental
agreement to cancel the services contract and Shenzhen Baijun agreed to refund the deposit paid by four installments from 2021 throughout 2023. The
amount due from Shenzhen Baijun is interest fee and RMB300,000 ($45,952) repayable by December 2020, RMB400,000 ($62,048) repayable by
December 30, 2021, RMB400,000 ($62,048) repayable by December 30, 2022 and RMB400,000 ($62,049) repayable by December 30, 2023.
Amount due from related party
Hangzhou Juzhong Daxin Asset Management Co., Ltd (Note 12)
The above balances are due on demand, interest-free and unsecured.
Other balances due from/ (to) related parties
Trade receivable, net – Zhengzhou BAK Battery Co., Ltd (i)
Trade receivable, net – Zhengzhou BAK New Energy Technology Co., Ltd (ii)
Trade payable, net – Zhengzhou BAK Battery Co., Ltd
Dividend payable to non-controlling interest of Hitrans
(i) Up to the date of this report, Zhengzhou BAK Battery Co., Ltd. repaid 14,583,061 to the Company.
(ii) Up to the date of this report, Zhengzhou BAK New Energy Technology Co., Ltd repaid nil to the Company.
Payables to former subsidiaries
Payables to former subsidiaries as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the following:
Payables to BAK International (Tianjin) Limited
Payables to Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd
F-44
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
-
472,061
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
$
$
$
$
15,258,164 $
1,759,050 $
- $
- $
14,583,061
459,714
(572,768)
1,444,737
December 31, December 31,
2020
$
$
$
(29,852) $
(597,138) $
(626,990) $
2021
-
(326,507)
(326,507)
Balance as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021 consisted of payables for purchase of inventories from BAK International (Tianjin) Limited and
Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd. From time to time, to meet the needs of its customers, the Company purchased products from these former
subsidiaries that it did not produce to meet the needs of its customers.
On April 10, 2020, each of Mr. Yunfei Li, Mr. Ping Shen and Asia EVK entered into an agreement with CBAK Power and Shenzhen BAK, whereby
Shenzhen BAK assigned its rights to the unpaid inventories cost owed by CBAK Power of approximately $1.0 million (RMB7,000,000), $2.3 million
(RMB16,000,000) and $1.0 million (RMB7,300,000) (collectively $4.3 million, the “Sixth Debt”) to Mr. Yunfei Li, Mr. Ping Shen and Asia EVK,
respectively (see Note 1).
18. Deferred Government Grants
Deferred government grants as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consist of the following:
Total government grants
Less: Current portion
Non-current portion
December 31, December 31,
2020
7,456,308 $
(151,476)
7,304,832 $
2021
10,023,677
(3,834,481)
6,189,196
$
$
In September 2013, the Management Committee of Dalian Economic Zone Management Committee (the “Management Committee”) provided a subsidy of
RMB150 million to finance the costs incurred in moving the Company facilities to Dalian, including the loss of sales while the new facilities were being
constructed. For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Company recognized $23,103,427 as income after offset of the related removal expenditures of
$1,004,027. No such income or offset was recognized for the yearsended December 31, 2020 and 2021.
On October 17, 2014, the Company received a subsidy of RMB46,150,000 pursuant to an agreement with the Management Committee dated July 2, 2013
for costs of land use rights and to be used to construct the new manufacturing site in Dalian. Part of the facilities had been completed and was operated in
July 2015 and the Company has initiated amortization on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the depreciable facilities constructed
thereon.
On June 23, 2020, BAK Asia, the Company wholly-owned Hong Kong subsidiary, entered into a framework investment agreement with Jiangsu Gaochun
Economic Development Zone Development Group Company (“Gaochun EDZ”), pursuant to which the Company intended to develop certain lithium
battery projects that aim to have a production capacity of 8Gwh. Gaochun EDZ agreed to provide various support to facilitate the development and
operation of the projects. The Company received RMB20 million (approximately $3.2 million) and RMB27.1 million (approximately $4.3 million) subsidy
from Gaochun EDZ for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, in which the Company recognized RMB10 million ($1.6 million) as other income
for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Company will recognize the government subsidies as income or offsets them against the related expenditures
when there are no present or future obligations for the subsidized projects.
Part of the subsidy of RMB20 million (approximately $3.2 million) was granted to facilitates the construction works in Nanjing. The facilities in Nanjing
have been completed and was operated in November 2021 and the Company has initiated amortization on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful
lives of the depreciable facilities constructed thereon.
The Company offset government grants of $143,256 and $316,398 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively, against
depreciation expenses of the Dalian and Nanjing facilities.
19. Product Warranty Provisions
The Company maintains a policy of providing after sales support for certain of its new EV and LEV battery products introduced since October 1, 2015 by
way of a warranty program. The limited cover covers a period of six to twenty four months for battery cells, a period of twelve to twenty seven months for
battery modules for light electric vehicles (LEV) such as electric bicycles, and a period of three years to eight years (or 120,000 or 200,000 km if reached
sooner) for battery modules for electric vehicles (EV). The Company accrues an estimate of its exposure to warranty claims based on both current and
historical product sales data and warranty costs incurred. The Company assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liability at least annually and adjusts
the amounts as necessary.
Warranty expense is recorded as a component of sales and marketing expenses. Accrued warranty activity consisted of the following:
Balance at beginning of year
Warranty costs incurred
Provision for the year
Foreign exchange adjustment
Balance at end of year
Less: Current portion
Non-current portion
F-45
December 31,
2020
2,246,933 $
(395,864)
12,998
(127,538)
1,991,605
(155,888)
1,835,717 $
December 31,
2021
1,991,605
(34,439)
16,995
54,105
2,028,266
(127,837)
1,900,429
$
$
20. Income Taxes, Deferred Tax Assets and Deferred Tax Liabilities
(a) Income taxes in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss(income)
The Company’s provision for income taxes credit consisted of:
PRC income tax
Current income tax credit, net
Deferred income tax credit
United States Tax
December 31, December 31,
2020
2021
$
$
$
-
-
- $
7,713,191
19,855
7,733,046
CBAK is a Nevada corporation that is subject to U.S. corporate income tax on its taxable income at a rate of up to 21% for taxable years beginning after
December 31, 2017 and U.S. corporate income tax on its taxable income of up to 35% for prior tax years. The U.S. Tax Reform signed into law on
December 22, 2017 significantly modified the U.S. Internal Revenue Code by, among other things, reducing the statutory U.S. federal corporate income tax
rate from 35% to 21% for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017; limiting and/or eliminating many business deductions; migrating the U.S. to a
territorial tax system with a one-time transition tax on a mandatory deemed repatriation of previously deferred foreign earnings of certain foreign
subsidiaries; subject to certain limitations, generally eliminating U.S. corporate income tax on dividends from foreign subsidiaries; and providing for new
taxes on certain foreign earnings. Taxpayers may elect to pay the one-time transition tax over eight years, or in a single lump sum.
The U.S. Tax Reform also includes provisions for a new tax on GILTI effective for tax years of foreign corporations beginning after December 31, 2017.
The GILTI provisions impose a tax on foreign income in excess of a deemed return on tangible assets of controlled foreign corporations (“CFCs”), subject
to the possible use of foreign tax credits and a deduction equal to 50 percent to offset the income tax liability, subject to some limitations.
To the extent that portions of CBAK’s U.S. taxable income, such as Subpart F income or GILTI, are determined to be from sources outside of the U.S.,
subject to certain limitations, the Company may be able to claim foreign tax credits to offset its U.S. income tax liabilities. If dividends that CBAK receives
from its subsidiaries are determined to be from sources outside of the U.S., subject to certain limitations, CBAK will generally not be required to pay U.S.
corporate income tax on those dividends. Any liabilities for U.S. corporate income tax will be accrued in the Company’s consolidated statements of
comprehensive loss and estimated tax payments will be made when required by U.S. law.
No provision for income taxes in the United States has been made as CBAK had no taxable income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021.
Hong Kong Tax
BAK Asia is subject to Hong Kong profits tax rate of 16.5% and did not have any assessable profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong for the years
ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 and accordingly no provision for Hong Kong profits tax was made in these periods.
PRC Tax
The CIT Law in China applies an income tax rate of 25% to all enterprises but grants preferential tax treatment to High-New Technology Enterprises.
CBAK Power was regarded as a “High-new technology enterprise” pursuant to a certificate jointly issued by the relevant Dalian Government authorities.
The certificate was valid for three years commencing from year 2019. Under the preferential tax treatment, CBAK Power was entitled to enjoy a tax rate of
15% for the years from 2019 to 2021 provided that the qualifying conditions as a High-new technology enterprise were met. Hitrans was regarded as a
“High-new technology enterprise” pursuant to a certificate jointly issued by the relevant Zhejiang Government authorities. The certificate was valid for
three years commencing from year 2021. Under the preferential tax treatment, Hitrans was entitled to enjoy a tax rate of 15% for the years from 2021 to
2024 provided that the qualifying conditions as a High-new technology enterprise were met.
F-46
A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes determined at the statutory income tax rate to the Company’s income taxes is as follows:
(Loss) income before income taxes
United States federal corporate income tax rate
Income tax credit computed at United States statutory corporate income tax rate
Reconciling items:
Over provision of deferred taxation in prior year
Rate differential for PRC earnings
Non-taxable income
Tax effect of entity at preferential tax rate
Non-deductible expenses
Share based payments
Over provision of tax losses
Decrease of uncertain tax position
Tax effect of utilisation of tax losses previously not recognised
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets
Income tax credit
(b) Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities
Year ended
December 31,
2020
(7,846,768) $
21%
(1,647,821)
$
Year ended
December 31,
2021
53,826,098
21%
11,303,481
(318,383)
(435,120)
-
241,843
168,826
174,558
-
-
1,816,097
-
$
(235,947)
(12,978,422)
(43,449)
215,873
220,033
-
(7,713,191)
(70,067)
1,568,643
(7,733,046)
$
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 are
presented below:
Deferred tax assets
Trade accounts receivable
Inventories
Property, plant and equipment
Non-marketable equity securities
Intangible assets
Accrued expenses, payroll and others
Provision for product warranty
Net operating loss carried forward
Valuation allowance
Deferred tax assets, non-current
Deferred tax liabilities, non-current
Long-lived assets arising from acquisitions
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
$
$
$
1,354,762
575,575
1,271,986
-
-
-
497,901
31,060,254
(34,760,478)
-
2,044,877
624,372
1,671,628
175,813
82,174
286,258
507,067
32,624,714
(36,278,909)
1,737,994
- $
334,181
As of December 31, 2021, the Company’s U.S. entity had net operating loss carry forwards of $103,580,741, of which $102,293 available to reduce future
taxable income which will expire in various years through 2035 and $103,478,448 available to offset capital gains recognized in the succeeding 5 tax years.
As of December 31, 2021, the Company’s PRC subsidiaries had net operating loss carry forwards of $43,929,161, which will expire in various years
through 2021 to 2030. Management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize these potential tax benefits as these operations will
not generate any operating profits in the foreseeable future. As a result, a valuation allowance was provided against the full amount of the potential tax
benefits.
According to the PRC Tax Administration and Collection Law, the statute of limitations is three years if the underpayment of taxes is due to computational
errors made by the taxpayer or its withholding agent. The statute of limitations extends to five years under special circumstances, which are not clearly
defined. In the case of a related party transaction, the statute of limitations is ten years. There is no statute of limitations in the case of tax evasion.
The impact of an uncertain income tax positions on the income tax return must be recognized at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be
sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being
sustained. Interest and penalties on income taxes will be classified as a component of the provisions for income taxes.
F-47
21. Statutory reserves
As stipulated by the relevant laws and regulations in the PRC, company established in the PRC (the “PRC subsidiary”) is required to maintain a statutory
reserve made out of profit for the year based on the PRC subsidiary’ statutory financial statements which are prepared in accordance with the accounting
principles generally accepted in the PRC. The amount and allocation basis are decided by the director of the PRC subsidiary annually and is not to be less
than 10% of the profit for the year of the PRC subsidiary. The aggregate amount allocated to the reserves will be limited to 50% of registered capital for
certain subsidiaries. Statutory reserve can be used for expanding the capital base of the PRC subsidiary by means of capitalization issue.
In addition, as a result of the relevant PRC laws and regulations which impose restriction on distribution or transfer of assets out of the PRC statutory
reserve, $1,230,511 and $1,230,511 representing the PRC statutory reserve of the subsidiary as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, are also considered under
restriction for distribution.
22. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures, defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a
liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the
measurement date. This topic also establishes a fair value hierarchy, which requires classification based on observable and unobservable inputs when
measuring fair value. Certain current assets and current liabilities are financial instruments. Management believes their carrying amounts are a reasonable
estimate of fair value because of the short period of time between the origination of such instruments and their expected realization and, if applicable, their
current interest rates are equivalent to interest rates currently available. The three levels of valuation hierarchy are defined as follows:
● Level 1 inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
● Level 2 inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable
for the assets or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instruments.
● Level 3 inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
Valuation of debt products depends upon a number of factors, including prevailing interest rates for like securities, expected volatility in future interest
rates, and other relevant terms of the debt. Other factors that may be considered include the borrower’s ability to adequately service its debt, the fair market
value of the borrower in relation to the face amount of its outstanding debt and the quality of collateral securing the Company’s debt investments. The fair
value of these debt products classified as Level 2 is established by reference to the prices quoted by respective fund administrators.
The fair value of warrants was determined using the Binomial Model, with level 3 inputs (Note 26).
The fair value of share options was determined using the Binomial Model, with level 3 inputs (Note 24).
The carrying amounts of financial assets and liabilities, such as cash and cash equivalents, pledged deposits, trade accounts and bills receivable, other
receivables, balances with former subsidiaries, notes payable, other short-term loans, short-term and long-term bank loans and other payables approximate
their fair values because of the short maturity of these instruments or the rate of interest of these instruments approximate the market rate of interest.
F-48
23. Employee Benefit Plan
Full time employees of the Company in the PRC participate in a government mandated defined contribution plan, pursuant to which certain pension
benefits, medical care, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to the employees. The Company accrues for these benefits based on
certain percentages of the employees’ salaries, up to a maximum amount specified by the local government. The total employee benefits expensed as
incurred were $466,410 (RMB3,219,718) and $1,541,133 (RMB9,944,162) for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
24. Share-based Compensation
Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units
Restricted shares granted on June 30, 2015
On June 12, 2015, the Board of Director approved the CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”) for Employees,
Directors and Consultants of the Company and its Affiliates. The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan is ten million
(10,000,000) Shares.
On June 30, 2015, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors granted an aggregate of 690,000
restricted shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001, to certain employees, officers and directors of the Company with a fair value of $3.24
per share on June 30, 2015. In accordance with the vesting schedule of the grant, the restricted shares will vest in twelve equal quarterly installments on the
last day of each fiscal quarter beginning on June 30, 2015 (i.e. last vesting period: quarter ended March 31, 2018). The Company recognizes the share-
based compensation expenses on a graded-vesting method.
All the restricted shares granted in respect of the restricted shares granted on June 30, 2015 have been vested on March 31, 2018.
As of December 31, 2021, there was no unrecognized stock-based compensation associated with the above restricted shares. As of December 31, 2021,
1,667 vested shares were to be issued.
Restricted shares granted on April 19, 2016
On April 19, 2016, pursuant to the Company’s 2015 Plan, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company granted an aggregate of
500,000 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 , to certain employees, officers and directors of the Company, of which
220,000 restricted shares were granted to the Company’s executive officers and directors. There are three types of vesting schedules. First, if the number of
restricted shares granted is below 3,000, the shares will vest annually in 2 equal installments over a two year period with the first vesting on June 30, 2017.
Second, if the number of restricted shares granted is larger than or equal to 3,000 and is below 10,000, the shares will vest annually in 3 equal installments
over a three year period with the first vesting on June 30, 2017. Third, if the number of restricted shares granted is above or equal to 10,000, the shares will
vest semi-annually in 6 equal installments over a three year period with the first vesting on December 31, 2016. The fair value of these restricted shares was
$2.68 per share on April 19, 2016. The Company recognizes the share-based compensation expenses over the vesting period (or the requisite service
period) on a graded-vesting method.
All the restricted shares granted in respect of the restricted shares granted on April 16, 2016 had been vested on June 30, 2019.
As of December 31, 2021, there was no unrecognized stock-based compensation associated with the above restricted shares and 4,167 vested shares were
to be issued.
Restricted share units granted on August 23, 2019
On August 23, 2019, pursuant to the Company’s 2015 Plan, the Compensation Committee granted an aggregate of 1,887,000 restricted share units of the
Company’s common stock to certain employees, officers and directors of the Company, of which 710,000 restricted share units were granted to the
Company’s executive officers and directors. There are two types of vesting schedules, (i) the share units will vest semi-annually in 6 equal installments
over a three year period with the first vesting on September 30, 2019; (ii) the share units will vest annual in 3 equal installments over a three year period
with the first vesting on March 31, 2021. The fair value of these restricted shares was $0.9 per share on August 23, 2019. The Company recognizes the
share-based compensation expenses over the vesting period (or the requisite service period) on a graded-vesting method.
The Company recorded non-cash share-based compensation expense of $711,740 for the year ended December 31, 2020, in respect of the restricted shares
granted on August 23, 2019 of which $575,200, $22,631 and $113,909 were allocated to general and administrative expenses, sales and marketing expenses
and research and development expenses.
F-49
The Company recorded non-cash share-based compensation expense of $227,448 for the year ended December 31, 2021, in respect of the restricted shares
granted on August 23, 2019 of which $183,814, $7,232 and $36,402 were allocated to general and administrative expenses, sales and marketing expenses
and research and development expenses.
As of December 31, 2021, non-vested restricted share units granted on August 23, 2019 are as follows:
Non-vested share units as of January 1, 2021
Granted
Vested
Forfeited
Non-vested share units as of December 31, 2021
855,504
-
(565,663)
(12,668)
277,173
As of December 31, 2021, there was unrecognized stock-based compensation $24,033 associated with the above restricted share units and no vested shares
were to be issued.
Restricted share units granted on October 23, 2020
On October 23, 2020, pursuant to the Company’s 2015 Plan, the Compensation Committee granted an aggregate of 100,000 restricted share units of the
Company’s common stock to an employee of the Company. In accordance with the vesting schedule of the grant, the restricted shares will vest semi-
annually in 6 equal installments over a three year period with the first vesting on October 30, 2020. The fair value of these restricted shares was $3 per
share on October 23, 2020. The Company recognizes the share-based compensation expenses over the vesting period (or the requisite service period) on a
graded-vesting method.
The Company recorded non-cash share-based compensation expense of $92,191 for the year ended December 31, 2020, in respect of the restricted shares
granted on October 23, 2020 of which allocated to research and development expenses.
The Company recorded non-cash share-based compensation expense of $160,865 for the year ended December 31, 2021, in respect of the restricted shares
granted on October 23, 2020 of which allocated to research and development expenses.
As of December 31, 2021, non-vested restricted share units granted on October 23, 2020 are as follows:
Non-vested share units as of October 23, 2020
Granted
Vested
Non-vested share units as of December 31, 2020
Vested
Non-vested share units as of December 31, 2021
F-50
100,000
(16,667)
83,333
(33,334)
49,999
As of December 31, 2021, there was unrecognized stock-based compensation $46,944 associated with the above restricted share units and no vested shares
were to be issued.
Employees Stock Ownership Program on November 29, 2021
On November 29, 2021, pursuant to the Company’s 2015 Plan, the Compensation Committee granted options to obtain an aggregate of 2,750,002 share
units of the Company’s common stock to certain employees, officers and directors of the Company, of which options to obtain 350,000 share units were
given to the Company’s executive officers and directors with an option exercise price of $1.96 based on fair market value. The vesting of shares each year
is subject to certain financial performance indicators. The shares will be vested semi-annually in 10 equal installments over a five year period with the first
vesting on May 30, 2022. The options will expire on the 70-month anniversary of the grant date.
The fair value of the stock options granted to directors of the Company is estimated on the date of the grant using the Binomial Model. The fair value of the
options was calculated using the following assumptions: estimated life of six months to five years, volatility of 106.41%, risk free interest rate of 1.26%,
and dividend yield of 0%. The fair value of 350,000 stock options to directors of the Company was $479,599 at the grant date. During the year ended
December 31, 2021, the Company recorded $92,560 as stock compensation expenses.
The fair value of the stock options granted to certain employees and officers of the Company is estimated on the date of the grant using the Binomial
Model. The fair value of the options was calculated using the following assumptions: estimated life of six months to five years, volatility of 106.41%, risk-
free interest rate of 1.26% and dividend yield of 0%. The fair value of 2,400,002 stock options to certain employees and officers of the Company was
$2,805,624 at the grant date. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded $558,900 as stock compensation expenses.
Stock option activity under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans is shown below:
Outstanding at January 1, 2021
Exercisable at January 1, 2021
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Outstanding at December 31, 2021
Exercisable at December 31, 2021
Number of
Shares
Average
Exercise Price
per Share
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value*
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term in Years
- $
-
2,750,002
-
-
2,750,002 $
- $
- $
- $
1.96
-
-
1.96 $
- $
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5.7
-
-
5.7
-
*
The intrinsic value of the stock options at December 31, 2021 is the amount by which the market value of the Company’s common stock of $1.56 as of
December 31, 2021 exceeds the exercise price of the option.
As the Company itself is an investment holding company which is not expected to generate operating profits to realize the tax benefits arising from its net
operating loss carried forward, no income tax benefits were recognized for such stock-based compensation cost under the stock option plan for the year
ended December 31, 2021.
F-51
25. (Loss) Income Per Share
Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is computed
similar to basic net income per share except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been
outstanding if all the potential common shares pertaining to warrants, stock options, and similar instruments had been issued and if the additional common
shares were dilutive. Diluted earnings per share are based on the assumption that all dilutive convertible shares and stock options and warrants were
converted or exercised. Dilution is computed by applying the treasury stock method for the outstanding unvested restricted stock, options and warrants, and
the if-converted method for the outstanding convertible instruments. Under the treasury stock method, options and warrants are assumed to be exercised at
the beginning of the period (or at the time of issuance, if later) and as if funds obtained thereby were used to purchase common stock at the average market
price during the period. Under the if-converted method, outstanding convertible instruments are assumed to be converted into common stock at the
beginning of the period (or at the time of issuance, if later).
The following is the calculation of (loss) income per share:
Year ended
December 31,
2020
(7,846,768) $
39,870
(7,806,898)
Year ended
December 31,
2021
61,559,144
(73,092)
61,486,052
$
61,992,386
-
61,992,386
87,605,493
278,864
87,884,357
$
$
(0.13) $
(0.13) $
0.70
0.70
Net (loss) income
Less: Net loss (income)attributable to non-controlling interests
Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic (note)
Dilutive unvested restricted stock
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted
(Loss) income per share of common stock
Basic
Diluted
Note:
Including 5,834 and nil vested restricted shares granted pursuant to the 2015 Plan that were not yet issued as of December 31, 2020 and 2021,
respectively.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, 938,837 unvested restricted shares and all the outstanding warrants were anti-dilutive and excluded from shares
used in the diluted computation.
For the year ended December 31, 2021 2,750,002 unvested options and all the outstanding warrants were anti-dilutive and excluded from shares used in the
diluted computation.
26. Warrants
On December 8, 2020, the Company entered in a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional investors, pursuant to which the Company issued
in a registered direct offering, an aggregate of 9,489,800 shares of its common stock at a price of $5.18 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds to the
Company of approximately $49 million, before deducting fees to the placement agent and other estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. As
part of the transaction, the institutional investors also received warrants (“Investor Warrants”) for the purchase of up to 3,795,920 shares of the Company’s
common stock at an exercise price of $6.46 per share exercisable for 36 months from the date of issuance. In addition, the placement agent for this
transaction also received warrants (“Placement Agent Warrants”) for the purchase of up to 379,592 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise
price of $6.475 per share exercisable for 36 months after 6 months from the issuance. The Company has performed a thorough reassessment of the terms of
its warrants with reference to the provisions of ASC Topic 815-40-15-7I, regarding its exposure to changes in currency exchange rates. This reassessment
has led to the management’s conclusion that the Company’s warrants issued to the investors should not be considered indexed to the Company’s own stock
because the warrants are denominated in U.S. dollar, which is different from the Company’s functional currency, Renminbi. Warrants are remeasured at fair
value with changes in fair value recorded in earnings in each reporting period.
On February 8, 2021, the Company entered into another securities purchase agreement with the same investors, pursuant to which the Company issued in a
registered direct offering, an aggregate of 8,939,976 shares of common stock of the Company at a per share purchase price of $7.83. In addition, the
Company issued to the investors (i) in a concurrent private placement, the Series A-1 warrants to purchase a total of 4,469,988 shares of common stock, at
a per share exercise price of $7.67 and exercisable for 42 months from the date of issuance; (ii) in the registered direct offering, the Series B warrants to
purchase a total of 4,469,988 shares of common stock, at a per share exercise price of $7.83 and exercisable for 90 days from the date of issuance; and (iii)
in the registered direct offering, the Series A-2 warrants to purchase up to 2,234,992 shares of common stock, at a per share exercise price of $7.67 and
exercisable for 45 months from the date of issuance. The Company received gross proceeds of approximately $70 million from the registered direct
offering and the concurrent private placement, before deducting fees to the placement agent and other estimated offering expenses of $5.0 million payable
by the Company. In addition, the placement agent for this transaction also received warrants (“Placement Agent Warrants”) for the purchase of up to
446,999 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $9.204 per share exercisable for 36 months after 6 months from the issuance.
F-52
On May 10, 2021, the Company entered into that Amendment No. 1 to the Series B Warrant (the “Series B Warrant Amendment”) with each of the holders
of the Company’s outstanding Series B warrants. Pursuant to the Series B Warrant Amendment, the term of the Series B warrants was extended from May
11, 2021 to August 31, 2021.
As of the date of this report, Series B warrant, along with Series A-2 warrants, had both expired.
There was a total of 9,092,499 warrants issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021.
The fair value of the outstanding warrants was calculated using Binomial Model based on backward induction with the following assumptions:
Warrants issued in the 2020 Financing
Warrants holder
Appraisal Date (Inception Date)
Market price per share (USD/share)
Exercise price (USD/price)
Risk free rate
Dividend yield
Expected term/ Contractual life (years)
Expected volatility
Appraisal Date
Market price per share (USD/share)
Exercise price (USD/price)
Risk free rate
Dividend yield
Expected term/ Contractual life (years)
Expected volatility
Appraisal Date
Market price per share (USD/share)
Exercise price (USD/price)
Risk free rate
Dividend yield
Expected term/ Contractual life (years)
Expected volatility
Warrants issued in the 2021 Financing
Warrants holder
Appraisal Date (Inception Date)
Market price per share (USD/share)
Exercise price (USD/price)
Risk free rate
Dividend yield
Expected term/ Contractual life (years)
Expected volatility
Investor
Warrants
December 10,
2020
Placement
Agent
Warrants
December 10,
2020
$
$
5.36
6.46
0.2%
0.0%
5.36
6.475
0.2%
0.0%
3.0 years
211.5%
3.0 years
211.5%
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2020
$
$
5.06
6.46
0.2%
0.0%
5.06
6.475
0.2%
0.0%
2.9 years
187.6%
2.9 years
187.6%
December 31,
2021
December 31,
2021
$
$
1.56
6.46
0.7%
0.0%
1.56
6.475
0.8%
0.0%
1.9 years
140.3%
2.4 years
132.3%
Series A1
February 10,
2021
Investor Warrants
Series A2
February 10,
2021
Series B
February 10,
2021
Placement
Agent
Warrants
February 10,
2021
$
$
7.36
7.67
0.2%
0.0%
$
7.36
7.67
0.3%
0.0%
$
7.36
7.83
0.0%
0.0%
7.36
9.204
0.2%
0.0%
3.5 years
3.8 years
0.3 years
121.8%
119.5%
214.5%
3.5 years
121.8%
F-53
Warrants holder
Appraisal Date
Market price per share (USD/share)
Exercise price (USD/price)
Risk free rate
Dividend yield
Expected term/ Contractual life (years)
Expected volatility
Investor
Warrants
Series A1
December 31,
2021
Placement Agent
Warrants
December 31,
2021
1.56
7.67
0.9%
0.0%
1.56
9.204
0.9%
0.0%
2.6 years
129.2%
2.6 years
129.2%
The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of warrants liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs:
Balance at the beginning of the year
Warrants issued to institution investors
Warrants issued to placement agent
Warrants redeemed
Fair value change of the issued warrants included in earnings
Balance at end of year
The following is a summary of the warrant activity:
$
Year ended
December 31,
2020
Year ended
December 31,
2021
17,783,000
47,519,000
2,346,000
-
(61,802,000)
5,846,000
- $
17,980,000
1,875,000
-
(2,072,000
17,783,000
Outstanding at January 1, 2021
Exercisable at January 1, 2021
Granted
Exercised / surrendered
Expired
Outstanding at December 31, 2021
Exercisable at December 31, 2021
27. Commitments and Contingencies
(i) Capital Commitments
Number of
Warrants
Average
Exercise
Price
Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
in Years
4,175,512 $
3,795,920 $
11,621,967
-
6,704,980
9,092,499
9,092,499
6.46
6.46
7.79
-
7.78
7.19
7.19
3
2.9
2.4
-
-
2.33
2.33
As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Company had the following contracted capital commitments:
For construction of buildings
For purchases of equipment
Capital injection
F-54
$
December 31,
December 31,
2021
2020
1,199,606
2,465,092 $
10,308,416
12,867,786
228,115,914 159,905,519
$ 240,889,422 $ 173,972,911
(ii) Litigation
During its normal course of business, the Company may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings. However, litigation is subject to
inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result may arise from time to time will affect its operation. Other than the legal proceedings set forth below, the
Company is currently not aware of any such legal proceedings or claims that the Company believe will have an adverse effect on the Company’s operation,
financial condition or operating results.
On July 7, 2016, Shenzhen Huijie Purification System Engineering Co., Ltd (“Shenzhen Huijie”), one of the Company’s contractors, filed a lawsuit against
CBAK Power in the Peoples’ Court of Zhuanghe City, Dalian, (the “Court of Zhuanghe”) for failure to pay pursuant to the terms of the contract and
entrusting part of the project of the contract to a third party without their prior consent. The plaintiff sought a total amount of $1,241,648 (RMB8,430,792),
including construction costs of $0.9 million (RMB6.1 million, which the Company already accrued for at June 30, 2016), interest of $29,812 (RMB0.2
million) and compensation of $0.3 million (RMB1.9 million). On September 7, 2016, upon the request of Shenzhen Huijie for property preservation, the
Court of Zhuanghe froze CBAK Power’s bank deposits totaling $1,210,799 (RMB8,430,792) for a period of one year. On September 1, 2017, upon the
request of Shenzhen Huijie, the Court of Zhuanghe froze the bank deposits for another one year until August 31, 2018. The Court further froze the bank
deposits for another one year until August 27, 2019 upon the request of Shenzhen Huijie on August 27, 2018. On August 27, 2019, the Court froze the bank
deposits for another year until August 27, 2020, upon the request of Shenzhen Huijie. On June 28, 2020, the Court of Dalian entered the final judgement as
described below and the frozen bank deposit was released in July 2020.
On June 30, 2017, according to the trial of first instance, the Court of Zhuanghe ruled that CBAK Power should pay the remaining contract amount of
RMB6,135,860 (approximately $0.9 million) claimed by Shenzhen Huijie as well as other expenses incurred including deferred interest, discounted charge
on bills payable, litigation fee and property preservation fee totaled $0.1 million. The Company has accrued for these amounts as of December 31, 2017.
On July 24, 2017, CBAK Power filed an appellate petition to the Intermediate Peoples’ Court of Dalian (“Court of Dalian)” to appeal the adjudication
dated on June 30, 2017. On November 17, 2017, the Court of Dalian rescinded the original judgement and remanded the case to the Court of Zhuanghe for
retrial. The Court of Zhuanghe conducted a retrial and requested an appraisal to be performed by a third-party appraisal institution on the construction cost
incurred and completed by Shenzhen Huijie on the subject project. On November 8, 2018, the Company received from the Court of Zhuanghe the
construction-cost-appraisal report which determined that the construction cost incurred and completed by Shenzhen Huijie for the subject project to be
$1,344,605 (RMB9,129,868). On May 20, 2019, the Court of Zhuanghe entered a judgment that Shenzhen Huijie should pay back to CBAK Power
$261,316 (RMB1,774,337) (the amount CBAK Power paid in excess of the construction cost appraised by the appraisal institution) and the interest
incurred since April 2, 2019. Shenzhen Huijie filed an appellate petition to the Court of Dalian. On June 28, 2020, the Court of Dalian entered the final
judgment that Shenzhen Huijie should pay back to CBAK Power $245,530 (RMB1,667,146) (the amount CBAK Power paid in excess of the construction
cost appraised by the appraisal institution) and the interest incurred since April 2, 2019, and reimburse the litigation fees totaling $30,826 (RMB209,312)
that CBAK Power has paid. As of December 31, 2021, CBAK Power have not received the final judgement amount totaled $276,356 (RMB 1,876,458)
from Shenzhen Huijie. Shenzhen Huijie filed an appellate petition to High Peoples’ Court of Liaoning (“Court of Liaoning”) to appeal the adjudication
dated on June 28, 2020. In April 2021, the Court of Liaoning rescinded the original judgement and remanded the case to the Court of Dalian for retrial. On
December 21, 2021, the Court of Dalian remanded the case to the Court of Zhuanghe for retrial. Upon receiving the notice from the Court of Liaoning,
CBAK Power has accrued the construction cost of $0.9 million (RMB6,135,860) as of December 31, 2021.
F-55
In December 2020, CBAK Power received notice from Court of Dalian Economic and Technology Development Zone that Haoneng filed another lawsuit
against CBAK Power for failure to pay pursuant to the terms of the purchase contract. Haoneng sought a total amount of $1,613,984 (RMB10,257,030),
including equipment cost of $1,427,515 (RMB9,072,000) and interest amount of $186,469 (RMB1,185,030). In August 2021, CBAK Power and Haoneng
reached an agreement that the term of the purchase contract will be extended to December 31, 2023 under which CBAK Power and its related parties shall
execute the purchase of equipment in an amount not lower than $2.4 million (RMB15,120,000) from Haoneng, or CBAK Power has to pay 15% of the
amount equal to RMB 15,120,000 ($2.4 million) net of the purchased amount to Haoneng. Haoneng withdrew the filed lawsuit after the agreement. As of
December 31, 2021, the equipment was not received by CBAK Power, CBAK Power has included the equipment cost of $2.4 million (RMB15,120,000)
under capital commitments.
28. Concentrations and Credit Risk
(a) Concentrations
The Company had the following customers that individually comprised 10% or more of net revenue for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 as
follows:
Sales of finished goods and raw materials
Customer A
Customer B
Customer C
Customer D
Zhengzhou BAK Battery Co., Ltd (note 17)
* Comprised less than 10% of net revenue for the respective period.
Year ended
December 31, 2020
$
8,322,504
3,806,110
*
*
12,770,075
22.15% $
10.13 %
*%
*%
33.99%
Year ended
December 31, 2021
*
*
6,089,524
5,508,616
8,339,088
*
*
11.56%
10.46%
15.83%
The Company had the following customers that individually comprised 10% or more of net trade receivable (included VAT) as of December 31, 2020 and
2021 as follows:
Customer A
Customer D
Zhengzhou BAK Battery Co., Ltd (note 17)
$
December 31,
2020
3,148,737
*
15,258,164
December 31,
2021
*
14,443,551
14,583,061
*
32.76%
33.08%
11.23% $
*%
54.42%
* Comprised less than 10% of net accounts receivable for the respective period.
The Company had the following suppliers that individually comprised 10% or more of net purchase for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 as
follows:
Zhejiang Hitrans Lithium Battery Technology Co., Ltd
Supplier A
Supplier B
Zhengzhou BAK Battery Co., Ltd (note 17)
Shenzhen BAK (note 17)
* Comprised less than 10% of net purchase for the respective period.
F-56
$
Year ended
December 31,
2020
12,396,483
*
*
*
3,884,309
48.90% $
*
*
*
15.32%
Year ended
December 31,
2021
*
6,550,080
5,883,999
5,522,832
*
*
13.92%
12.50%
11.74%
*
The Company had the following suppliers that individually comprised 10% or more of trade payable as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 as follows:
Zhejiang Hitrans Lithium Battery Technology Co., Ltd
Supplier A
Supplier B
Supplier C
(b) Credit Risk
$
December 31,
2020
9,272,478
*
*
2,017,814
December 31,
2021
*
6,837,722
20,592,979
*
47.40% $
*
*
10.32%
*
16.94%
51.03%
*
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a significant concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and
pledged deposits. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, substantially all of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents were held by major financial
institutions located in the PRC, which management believes are of high credit quality.
For the credit risk related to trade accounts receivable, the Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and, if necessary, maintains
reserves for potential credit losses.
29. Segment Information
The Group’s chief operating decision maker has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) who reviews financial information of operating
segments based on US GAAP amounts when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the Company.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, as a result of the Hitrans acquisition discussed in Note 12, the Group determined that Hitrans met the criteria for
separate reportable segment given its financial information is separately reviewed by the Group’s CEO. As a result, the Group determined that for the year
ended December 31, 2021, it operated in two operating segments namely CBAK and Hitrans. CBAK’s segment mainly includes the manufacture,
commercialization and distribution of a wide variety of standard and customized lithium ion rechargeable batteries for use in a wide array of applications.
Hitrans’ segment mainly includes the development and manufacturing of NCM precursor and cathode materials.
The Company primarily operates in the PRC and substantially all of the Company’s long-lived assets are located in the PRC.
The Company’s chief operating decision maker evaluates performance based on each reporting segment’s net revenue, cost of revenues, operating
expenses, operating income, finance income (expense), other income and net income. Net revenue, cost of revenues, operating expenses, operating income,
finance income (expense), other income (expenses) and net income (loss) by segment for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021 were as follows:
For the year ended December 31, 2020
Net revenues
Cost of revenues
Gross profit
Total operating expenses
Operating loss
Finance (expenses) income, net
Other (expenses) income, net
Income tax (expense) credit
Net income (loss)
As of December 31, 2020
Identifiable long-lived assets
Total assets
$
CBAT
37,566,152 $
(34,852,132)
2,714,020
(9,669,828)
(6,955,808)
(969,354)
(40,170)
-
(7,965,332)
Corporate
unallocated
(note)
Consolidated
37,566,152
- $
(34,852,132)
-
2,714,020
-
(11,193,523)
(1,523,695)
(8,479,503)
(1,523,695)
(1,399,095)
(429,741)
2,031,830
2,072,000
-
-
(7,846,768)
118,564
78,734,459
142,767,079
78,734,459
-
- 142,767,079
F-57
For the year ended December 31, 2021
Net revenues
Cost of revenues
Gross profit
Total operating expenses
Operating (loss) income
Finance income (expenses), net
Other income, net
Income tax credit
Net income
As of December 31, 2021
Identifiable long-lived assets
Total assets
$
CBAT
34,804,089 $
(30,946,417)
3,857,672
(13,132,161)
(9,274,489)
286,741
2,641,329
7,713,191
1,366,772
Hitrans
17,865,644 $
(16,612,826)
1,252,818
(979,547)
273,271
(137,178)
310,395
19,855
466,343
Corporate
unallocated
(note)
Consolidated
52,669,733
- $
(47,559,243)
-
5,110,490
-
(16,822,996)
(2,711,288)
(11,712,506)
(2,711,288)
784,880
635,317
64,753,724
61,802,000
7,733,046
-
61,559,144
59,726,029
101,506,039
164,535,145
31,638,795
97,366,372
- 133,144,834
716,480 262,617,997
Note: The Company does not allocate its assets located and expenses incurred outside China to its reportable segments because these assets and activities
are managed at a corporate level.
Net revenues by product:
The Company’s products can be categorized into high power lithium batteries and materials used in manufacturing of lithium batteries.. For the product
sales of high power lithium batteries, the Company manufactured five types of Li-ion rechargeable batteries: aluminum-case cell, battery pack, cylindrical
cell, lithium polymer cell and high-power lithium battery cell. The Company’s battery products are sold to packing plants operated by third parties
primarily for use in mobile phones and other electronic devices. For the product sales of materials used in manufacturing of lithium batteries, the Company,
via its subsidiary, Hitrans, manufactured cathode materials and Precursor for use in manufacturing of cathode. Revenue from these products is as follows:
High power lithium batteries used in:
Electric vehicles
Light electric vehicles
Uninterruptable supplies
Trading of raw materials used in lithium batteries
Materials used in manufacturing of lithium batteries
Cathode
Precursor
Total consolidated revenue
F-58
Year ended
December 31,
2020
Year ended
December 31,
2021
$
259,955 $
39,428
22,748,627
14,518,142
37,566,152
243,837
733,382
33,307,073
519,796
34,804,088
-
-
-
37,566,152 $
8,726,240
9,139,405
17,865,645
52,669,733
$
Net revenues by geographic area:
The Company’s operations are located in the PRC. The following table provides an analysis of the Company’s sales by geographical markets based on
locations of customers:
Mainland China
Europe
Korea
USA
Others
Total
Year ended
December 31,
2020
35,464,245
1,776,000
246,453
3,592
75,862
37,566,152 $
Year ended
December 31,
2021
43,745,765
8,503,338
-
440
420,190
52,669,733
$
$
Substantially all of the Company’s long-lived assets are located in the PRC.
30. CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. (Parent Company)
Under PRC regulations, subsidiaries in PRC (“the PRC subsidiaries”) may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in
accordance with PRC GAAP. In addition, the PRC subsidiaries are required to set aside at least 10% of their after tax net profits each year, if any, to fund
the statutory general reserve until the balance of the reserves reaches 50% of their registered capital. The statutory general reserves are not distributable in
the form of cash dividends to the Company and can be used to make up cumulative prior year losses, if any, and may be converted into share capital by the
issue of new shares to shareholders in proportion to their existing shareholdings, or by increasing the par value of the shares currently held by them,
provided that the reserve balance after such issue is not less than 25% of the registered capital. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, additional transfers of
$164,388,965 and $171,681,915 were required before the statutory general reserve reached 50% of the registered capital of the PRC subsidiaries. As of
December 31, 2020 and 2021, there was $1,230,511 appropriation from retained earnings and set aside for statutory general reserves by the PRC
subsidiaries. The PRC subsidiaries did not have after tax net profits since its incorporation and therefore no appropriation was made to fund its statutory
general reserve as of December 31, 2020 and 2021.
Schedule I of Article 504 of Regulation SX requires the condensed financial information of the registrant (Parent Company) to be filed when the restricted
net assets of consolidated subsidiaries exceed 25 percent of consolidated net assets as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. For purposes of
this test, restricted net assets of consolidated subsidiaries shall mean that amount of the registrant’s proportionate share of net assets of consolidated
subsidiaries (after intercompany eliminations) which as of the end of the most recent fiscal year may not be transferred to the parent company by
subsidiaries in the form of loans, advances or cash dividends without the consent of a third party (i.e., lender, regulatory agency, foreign government, etc.).
F-59
SCHEDULE I – CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
CBAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021
(Unaudited)
REVENUE, net
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Salaries and consulting expenses
General and administrative
Total operating expenses
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS
Finance (expenses) income
Changes in fair value of warrants liability
INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARENT COMPANY
EQUITY IN (LOSS) INCOME OF SUBSIDIARIES
Year ended
December 31,
2020
Year ended
December 31,
2021
$
- $
992,246
531,449
1,212,239
1,499,049
(1,523,695)
(2,711,288)
(1,523,695)
(2,711,288)
(429,741)
2,072,000
636,425
61,802,000
118,564
59,727,137
(7,925,462)
1,758,915
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS
$
(7,806,898) $
61,486,052
F-60
CBAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEETS
As of December 31, 2020 and 2021
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Interests in subsidiaries
Cash and cash equivalents
Total assets
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accrued expenses and other payables
Warrants liability
Total current liabilities
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
F-61
December 31,
2020
December 31,
2021
$
$
66,797,421 $ 140,031,308
5,107,486
716,480
71,904,907 $ 140,747,788
1,722,814
17,783,000
19,505,814 $
1,610,229
5,846,000
7,456,229
52,399,093 133,291,559
71,904,907 $ 140,747,788
$
CBAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021
(Unaudited)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net (loss) income
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Equity in (loss) income of subsidiaries
Share based compensation
Changes in fair value of warrants liability
Change in operating assets and liabilities
Accrued expenses and other payable
Net cash used in operating activities
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Decrease in interest in subsidiaries
Net cash used in investing activities
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of shares
Net cash provided by financing activities
CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of year
Year ended
December 31,
2020
Year ended
December 31,
2021
$
(7,806,898) $
61,486,052
7,925,462
803,931
(2,072,000)
(1,758,915)
1,047,777
(61,802,000)
(8,437)
(1,157,942)
(112,585)
(1,139,671)
(39,083,154)
(39,083,154)
(68,746,346)
(68,746,346)
45,348,582
45,348,582
65,495,011
65,495,011
5,107,486
(4,391,006)
-
5,107,486
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of year
$
5,107,486 $
716,480
The condensed parent company financial statements have been prepared using the equity method to account for its subsidiaries. Refer to the consolidated
financial statements and notes presented above for additional information and disclosures with respect to these financial statements.
31.
Subsequent events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date of the issuance of the consolidated financial statements and the following subsequent event
has been identified.
On January 17, 2022, the Company obtained a one-year term facility from Agricultural Bank of China with a maximum amount of RMB10 million
(approximately $1.6 million) bearing interest at 105% of benchmark rate of the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) for short-term loans, which is 3.85% per
annum. The facility was guaranteed by the Company’s CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan. The Company borrowed RMB10
million (approximately $1.6 million) up to the date of this report.
On February 9, 2022, the Company obtained a one-year term facility from Jiangsu Gaochun Rural Commercial Bank with a maximum amount of RMB10
million (approximately $1.6 million) bearing interest at 124% of benchmark rate of the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) for short-term loans, which is
4.94% per annum. The facility was guaranteed by the Company’s CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan. The Company borrowed
RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) up to the date of this report.
On March 8, 2022, the Company obtained a one-year term facility from China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd. Shangyu Branch with a maximum amount of
RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) bearing interest at 5.5% per annum. The facility was guaranteed by 100% equity in CBAK Power held by
BAK Asia and the Company’s CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li. The Company borrowed RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) up to the date of this report.
F-61
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, our management has carried out an evaluation, with the participation and under the supervision of our
Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of
December 31, 2021. Disclosure controls and procedures refer to controls and other procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed
in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and
forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Interim
Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and
procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of
achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating and implementing possible controls and
procedures.
Management conducted its evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and our Interim Chief
Financial Officer. Based upon, and as of the date of this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer concluded that our
disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective as of December 31, 2021.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Internal control over
financial reporting refers to the process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and our Interim Chief Financial Officer, and
effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and
the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and includes those policies and procedures that:
● pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;
● provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S.
GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with the authorization of our management and directors; and
● provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have
a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of
compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021. In making this assessment, management
used the framework set forth in the report entitled Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of
the Treadway Commission, or COSO. The COSO framework summarizes each of the components of a company’s internal control system, including (i) the
control environment, (ii) risk assessment, (iii) control activities, (iv) information and communication, and (v) monitoring.
55
Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Interim Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2021 were not effective because of the following material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting has been
identified:
– We did not have appropriate policies and procedures in place to evaluate the proper accounting and disclosures of key documents and agreements.
– We do not have sufficient and skilled accounting personnel 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.
In order to cure the foregoing material weakness, we have taken or are taking the following remediation measures:
– We are in the process of hiring a permanent chief financial officer with significant U.S. GAAP and SEC reporting experience. Ms. Xiangyu Pei
was appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company as the Interim Chief Financial Officer on August 23, 2019.
–
Since September 2016, we have regularly offered our financial personnel trainings on internal control and risk management. Since November
2016, we have regularly provided trainings to our financial personnel on U.S. GAAP accounting guidelines. We plan to continue to provide
trainings to our financial team and our other relevant personnel on the U.S. GAAP accounting guidelines applicable to our financial reporting
requirements.
We intend to complete the remediation of the material weaknesses discussed above as soon as practicable but we can give no assurance that we will be able
to do so. Designing and implementing an effective disclosure controls and procedures is a continuous effort that requires us to anticipate and react to
changes in our business and the economic and regulatory environments and to devote significant resources to maintain a financial reporting system that
adequately satisfies our reporting obligations. The remedial measures that we have taken and intend to take may not fully address the material weakness
that we have identified, and material weaknesses in our disclosure controls and procedures may be identified in the future. Should we discover such
conditions, we intend to remediate them as soon as practicable. We are committed to taking appropriate steps for remediation, as needed.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting
Except for the matters described above, there were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year
ended December 31, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.
We have no information to disclose that was required to be disclosed in a report on Form 8-K during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021, but was not
reported.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.
Not applicable.
56
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
Directors and Executive Officers
The following sets forth the name and position of each of our current executive officers and directors.
PART III
NAME
Yunfei Li
J. Simon Xue
Martha C. Agee
Jianjun He
Xiangyu Pei
AGE
56
68
67
50
33
GENDER
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
POSITION
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer
Director
Director
Director
Director and Interim Chief Financial Officer
Yunfei Li has served as the chairman of our board, our president and chief executive officer since March 1, 2016. Mr. Li has more than 20 years
management experience in industries of real estate development, battery and new energy. Since May 2014, he has been Vice President of the Company’s
subsidiary, CBAK Power in charge of the company’s construction of manufacturing facilities, government relationship and development of new customers.
From May 2010 to May 2014, Mr. Li held management positions of various new energy development and real estate development companies in China.
Prior to that, he was Director of Construction Department, Director of Comprehensive Management Department and Assistant to President of Shenzhen
BAK Battery Co., Ltd., a former subsidiary of the Company, from March 2003 to May 2010. Mr. Li holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from
Liao Yuan Vocational Technical College.
J. Simon Xue has served as our director since February 1, 2016. Dr. Xue has approximately 40 years’ experience in nuclear chemistry, solid state
chemistry, superconductivity and materials for Lithium-ion batteries. Within his research career, he has spent 21 years in the research and development of
Lithium-ion battery. Dr. Xue is currently the Senior Director of National Institute for Low-&-Clean Energy in China and a member of National “Thousand
Talent” Plan and a member of Expert Committee for “Chinese Industrial Association of Power Sources.” Prior to that, Dr. Xue was a director of Altair
Nanotechnologies Inc., a Delaware company, between August 2011 and April 2012. From 2010 to 2011, he served as the chief executive officer of Yintong
Energy Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Canon Investment Holdings Ltd. Dr. Xue has also held positions at Ultralife, Duracell, B&K Electronics Co., Ltd.,
Valence Energy-Tech (Suzhou) Co., A123 Systems Inc. and International Battery Inc. He enjoys an extensive reputation in the whole product chain of
lithium-ion battery in China, including materials, equipment, cell manufacturing and testing. He has authored or co-authored over 50 scientific articles, 12
patents relevant to battery chemistry and materials and participated, presented and hosted more than 30 battery or material related international conferences.
Dr. Xue completed his Ph.D. program in Solid State Chemistry in McMaster University in 1992.
Martha C. Agee has served as our director since November 15, 2012. Since 1997, Ms. Agee has been a senior lecturer of business law at Hankamer School
of Business of Baylor University where she teaches courses in the Legal Environment of Business, International Business Law, and Healthcare Law &
Ethics for graduate and undergraduate students. Prior to that, Ms. Agee practiced law from 1988 to 1996. Ms. Agee obtained her bachelor’s degree in
Accounting in 1976 and Juris Doctorate degree in 1988 from Baylor University.
Jianjun He has served as our director since November 4, 2013. Mr. He has more than 15 years’ experience in accounting and finance and is an associate
member of the Chinese Institute of Certificate Public Accounts. Mr. He has been the Managing Director of Jilin CybernautLvke Investment and
Management Co., Ltd., an investment consulting firm in China, since January 1, 2013. From June 30, 2009 to December 31, 2012, Mr. He served as the
Chief Financial Officer of THT Heat Transfer Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: THTI) (“THT Heat”), a provider of heat exchangers and heat exchange solutions
in China. Mr. He was the Chief Financial Officer of Siping City JuyuanHanyang Plate Heat Exchanger Co. Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of THT Heat
from 2007 to December 2012. From 1999 to 2007, Mr. He worked as senior financial officer in Jilin Grain Group, a state-owned enterprise engaged in the
grain processing and trading business. Mr. He graduated from Changchun Taxation College in 1995 with a Bachelor’s degree in Auditing and obtained a
Master’s degree from Jilin University in 2005.
57
Xiangyu Pei has served as our director since September 24, 2021 and Interim Chief Financial Officer since August 23, 2019. Prior to that, Ms. Pei has been
the secretary of the Company since 2017. She has also served as the financial controller of the Company’s subsidiary, CBAK Power since 2017. She has
been responsible for the auditing, accounting and investor relationship of CBAK Power, as well as assisting in consolidation and financial reporting of the
Company. Ms. Pei received a PhD in World Economics from Jilin University in China.
There are no agreements or understandings for any of our executive officers or director to resign at the request of another person and no officer or director
is acting on behalf of nor will any of them act at the direction of any other person.
Directors are elected until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
Director Qualifications
Directors are responsible for overseeing the Company’s business consistent with their fiduciary duty to shareholders. This significant responsibility requires
highly skilled individuals with various qualities, attributes and professional experience. The Board believes that there are general requirements for service
on the Company’s Board of Directors that are applicable to all directors and that there are other skills and experience that should be represented on the
Board as a whole but not necessarily by each director. The Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board consider the
qualifications of directors and director candidates individually and in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition and the Company’s current
and future needs.
Qualifications for All Directors
In identifying and evaluating nominees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may consult with the other Board members, management,
consultants, and other individuals likely to possess an understanding of the Company’s business and knowledge of suitable candidates. In making its
recommendations, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assesses the requisite skills and qualifications of nominees and the composition
of the Board as a whole in the context of the Board’s criteria and needs. In evaluating the suitability of individual Board members, the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee may take into account many factors, including general understanding of marketing, finance and other disciplines
relevant to the success of a publicly traded company in today’s business environment; understanding of the Company’s business and technology; the
international nature of the Company’s operations; educational and professional background; and personal accomplishment. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee evaluates each individual in the context of the Board as a whole, with the objective of recommending a group that can best
perpetuate the success of the Company’s business and represent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment, using its diversity of
experience. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also ensures that a majority of nominees would be “independent directors” as defined
under the applicable rules of the SEC and The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC.
Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience to be Represented on the Board as a Whole
In its assessment of each potential candidate, including those recommended by stockholders, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
considers the nominee’s judgment, integrity, experience, independence, understanding of the Company’s business or other related industries and such other
factors the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee determines are pertinent in light of the current needs of the Board. The Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee also takes into account the ability of a Director to devote the time and effort necessary to fulfill his or her responsibilities
to the Company.
58
The Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee require that each Director be a recognized person of high integrity with a proven
record of success in his or her field. Each Director must demonstrate innovative thinking, familiarity with and respect for corporate governance
requirements and practices, an appreciation of multiple cultures and a commitment to sustainability and to dealing responsibly with social issues. In
addition to the qualifications required of all Directors, the Board assesses intangible qualities including the individual’s ability to ask difficult questions
and, simultaneously, to work collegially.
The Board has identified particular qualifications, attributes, skills and experience that are important to be represented on the Board as a whole, in light of
the Company’s current needs and business priorities. The Company’s services are performed in various countries and in significant areas of future growth
located outside of the United States. Accordingly, the Board believes that international experience or specific knowledge of key geographic growth areas
and diversity of professional experiences should be represented on the Board. In addition, the Company’s business is multifaceted and involves complex
financial transactions. Therefore, the Board believes that the Board should include some Directors with a high level of financial literacy and some Directors
who possess relevant business experience as a Chief Executive Officer or President. Our business involves complex technologies in a highly specialized
industry. Therefore, the Board believes that extensive knowledge of the Company’s business and industry should be represented on the Board.
The Board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee do not have a specific diversity policy, but consider diversity of race, ethnicity,
gender, age, cultural background and professional experiences in evaluating candidates for Board membership. Diversity is important because a variety of
points of view contribute to a more effective decision-making process.
Summary of Qualifications of Directors
Set forth below is a narrative disclosure that summarizes some of the specific qualifications, attributes, skills and experiences of our directors. For more
detailed information, please refer to the biographical information for each director set forth above.
Mr. Li, has extensive senior management experience in the industry in which we operate and has held management positions of various new energy
development and real estate development companies in China.
Dr. Xue, Chair of the Compensation Committee, has approximately 40 years’ experience in nuclear chemistry, solid state chemistry, superconductivity and
materials for Lithium-ion batteries. Within his research career, he has spent 21 years in the research and development of Lithium-ion battery.
Ms. Agee, Chair of the Audit Committee, was previously a Certified Public Accountant, worked as Chief Accountant for political sub-division for five and
a half years and worked as Supervisor of Accounting for a large retail chain where the responsibilities included hiring, training, and supervision of
accounting staff; preparation and analysis of 17 monthly financial statements and quarterly consolidated financial statements; budgeting, and internal
auditing.
Mr. He, Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, has more than 15-year experience in accounting and finance and is an associate
member of the Chinese Institute of Certificate Public Accounts.
Ms. Pei, has served with the Company since 2017 and is the Company’s interim chief financial officer. She brings to the Board an outlook from a financial
perspective and expertise in financial management.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among our directors or officers.
59
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
To the best of our knowledge, none of our directors or executive officers has been the subject of the follow events, during the past ten years:
1) A petition under the federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law was filed by or against, or a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer was
appointed by a court for the business or property of such person, or any partnership in which he was a general partner at or within two years before
the time of such filing, or any corporation or business association of which he was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of
such filing;
2) Convicted in a criminal proceeding or is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);
3) The subject of any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction,
permanently or temporarily enjoining him from, or otherwise limiting, the following activities;
i. Acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage
transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or an associated person of any of the
foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any
investment company, bank, savings and loan association or insurance company, or engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in
connection with such activity;
ii. Engaging in any type of business practice; or
iii. Engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any violation of Federal
or State securities laws or Federal commodities laws;
4) The subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any Federal or State authority barring,
suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days the right of such person to engage in any activity described in paragraph 3)i in the
preceding paragraph or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity;
5) Was found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC to have violated any federal or state securities law, and the judgment
in such civil action or finding by the SEC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated;
6) Was found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated any Federal
commodities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has not been subsequently
reversed, suspended or vacated;
7) Was the subject of, or a party to, any federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed,
suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of:
i. Any federal or state securities or commodities law or regulation; or
ii. Any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent
injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and-desist order, or removal or
prohibition order, or
iii. Any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or
8) Was the subject of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization (as
defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26))), any registered entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29) of the Commodity
Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1(a)(29))), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members
or persons associated with a member.
Board Composition and Committees
Our board of directors is comprised of Yunfei Li, J. Simon Xue, Martha C. Agee, Jianjun He and Xiangyu Pei.
J. Simon Xue, Martha Agee and Jianjun He each serves on our board of directors as an “independent director” as defined by as defined by Rule 5605(a)(2)
of the NASDAQ Listing Rules. Our board of directors has determined that Martha Agee possesses the accounting or related financial management
experience that qualifies her as financially sophisticated within the meaning of Rule 5605(c)(2)(A) of the NASDAQ Listing Rule and that she is an “audit
committee financial expert” as defined by the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Our board of directors currently has three standing committees which perform various duties on behalf of and report to the board of directors: (i) audit
committee, (ii) compensation committee and (iii) nominating and corporate governance committee. Each of the three standing committees is comprised
entirely of independent directors. From time to time, the board of directors may establish other committees.
Audit Committee
Our Audit Committee consists of three members: Martha C. Agee, J. Simon Xue and Jianjun He. Pursuant to the determination of our Board of Directors,
Ms. Agee serves as the chair of the Audit Committee and as our Audit Committee financial expert as that term is defined by the applicable SEC rules. Each
director who has served or is serving on our Audit Committee was or is “independent” as that term is defined under the NASDAQ listing rules for Audit
Committee members at all times during their service on such Committee.
60
The Audit Committee oversees our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the financial statements of our Company. The Audit
Committee is responsible for, among other things:
● the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent auditor;
● reviewing and pre-approving all auditing services and permissible non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed by the
independent auditor;
● reviewing and approving all proposed related-party transactions;
● discussing the interim and annual financial statements with management and our independent auditors;
● reviewing and discussing with management and the independent auditor (a) the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls, (b)
the Company’s internal audit procedures, and (c) the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, and
management reports thereon;
● reviewing reported violations of the Company’s code of conduct and business ethics; and
● reviewing and discussing with management and the independent auditor various topics and events that may have significant financial impact on
the Company or that are the subject of discussions between management and the independent auditors.
Compensation Committee
Our Compensation Committee consists of three members: Martha C. Agee, J. Simon Xue and Jianjun He, with Mr. Xue serving as chair. Each director who
has served or is serving on our Compensation Committee was or is “independent” as that term is defined under the NASDAQ listing rules at all times
during their service on such Committee.
The purpose of our Compensation Committee discharge the responsibilities of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to compensation of the
Company’s executives, to produce an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement, if required, and to oversee
and advise the Board on the adoption of policies that govern the Company’s compensation programs, including stock and benefit plans. Our chief executive
officer may not be present at any Compensation Committee meeting during which his compensation is deliberated. The Compensation Committee is
responsible for, among other things:
● reviewing and approving the compensation structure for corporate officers at the level of corporate vice president and above;
● overseeing an evaluation of the performance of the Company’s executive officers and approve the annual compensation, including salary, bonus,
incentive and equity compensation, for the executive officers;
● reviewing and approving chief executive officer goals and objectives, evaluate chief executive officer performance in light of these corporate
objectives, and set chief executive officer compensation consistent with Company philosophy;
● making recommendations to the Board regarding the compensation of board members; and
● reviewing and making recommendations concerning long-term incentive compensation plans, including the use of equity-based plans. Except as
otherwise delegated by the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee will act on behalf of the Board of Directors as the “Committee”
established to administer equity-based and employee benefit plans, and as such will discharge any responsibilities imposed on the Compensation
Committee under those plans, including making and authorizing grants, in accordance with the terms of those plans.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee consists of three members: Martha C. Agee, J. Simon Xue and Jianjun He, with Mr. He serving as
chair. Each director who has served or is serving on our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee was or is “independent” as that term is defined
under the NASDAQ listing standards at all times during their service on such Committee.
The purpose of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is to determine the slate of director nominees for election to the Company’s Board
of Directors, to identify and recommend candidates to fill vacancies occurring between annual shareholder meetings, and to review the Company’s policies
and programs that relate to matters of corporate responsibility, including public issues of significance to the Company and its members. The Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for, among other things:
● annually presenting to the Board a list of individuals recommended for nomination for election to the Board at the annual meeting of stockholders,
and for appointment to the committees of the Board;
● annually reviewing the composition of each committee and present recommendations for committee memberships to the Board as needed; and
● annually evaluating and reporting to the Board of Directors on the performance and effectiveness of the Board of Directors to facilitate the
directors fulfillment of their responsibilities in a manner that serves the interests of the Company’s shareholders.
61
Code of Business Ethics and Conduct
We have adopted a Code of Business Ethics and Conduct relating to the conduct of our business by our employees, officers and directors. We intend to
maintain the highest standards of ethical business practices and compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to our business, including those
relating to doing business outside the United States. A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics has been filed as Exhibit 14.1 to our Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 22, 2006 and is hereby incorporated by reference into this annual report. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is
also available on our website at www.cbak.com.cn. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, there were no amendments to or waivers of our Code
of Business Ethics and Conduct. If we effect an amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our Code of Business Ethics and Conduct, we intend to
satisfy our disclosure requirements by posting a description of such amendment or waiver on our Internet website at www.cbak.com.cn or via a current
report on Form 8-K.
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Under U.S. securities laws, directors, certain executive officers and persons beneficially owning more than 10% of our Common Stock must report their
initial ownership of the Common Stock, and any changes in that ownership, to the SEC. The SEC has designated specific due dates for these reports. Based
solely on our review of copies of such reports filed with the SEC and written representations of our directors and executive offers, we believe that all
persons subject to reporting filed the required reports on time in fiscal year 2021.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information concerning all cash and non-cash compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to the named persons for services
rendered in all capacities during the noted periods.
Name and Principal Position
Yunfei Li,
President, Chief Executive Officer
Xiangyu Pei
Interim Chief Financial Officer
Salary
($)(1)
120,339
120,107
44,208
74,979
Stock
Awards
($)
120,001
120,001
54,000
54,000
Option
Awards
($)(2)
-
53,450
-
40,087
Total
($)
240,340
293,557
98,208
169,066
Year
2020
2021
2020
2021
(1) The amounts reported in this table have been converted from RMB to U.S. dollars based on the average conversion rate between the U.S. dollar and
RMB for the applicable fiscal year, or $1.00 to RMB6.9032 (fiscal year 2020 exchange rate), $1.00 to RMB6.4525 (fiscal year 2021 exchange rate).
(2) On November 29, 2021, the Company granted Mr. Yunfei Li performance-based options to purchase a total of 200,000 shares of common stock, under
the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan, with an exercise price of $1.96 per share. The value of performance-vesting stock options is computed
assuming achievement of performance goals based on probable outcomes of such performance goals under ASC Topic 718. Amount shown does not
reflect compensation actually received or that may be realized in the future by Mr. Li. In accordance with SEC regulations, such amount reflects the
aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 for stock and option awards made in the referenced fiscal year.
This performance-based option award is subject to performance and service-vesting requirements. See Note 24 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements in our Annual Report for information, including assumptions made, regarding the valuation of equity awards.
62
Summary of Employment Agreements
The base salary shown in the Summary Compensation Table is described in each named executive officer’s respective employment agreement. The
material terms of those employment agreements are summarized below.
We entered into employment agreements with three-year initial terms with our named executive officers with standard employment agreements. We entered
into the employment agreement with Mr. Yunfei Li on March 1, 2016. On August 23, 2019, the Board of Directors appointed Ms. Xiangyu Pei as the
Interim Chief Financial Officer, and we entered into the employment agreement with Ms. Xiangyu Pei for a three-year term. Each of our standard
employment agreements is automatically extended by a year at the expiration of the initial term and at the expiration of every one-year extension, until
terminated in accordance with the termination provisions of the agreements, which are described below.
Our standard employment agreement permits us to terminate the executive’s employment for cause, at any time, without notice or remuneration, for certain
acts of the executive, including but not limited to a conviction or plea of guilty to a felony, negligence or dishonesty to our detriment and failure to perform
agreed duties after a reasonable opportunity to cure the failure. An executive may terminate his employment upon one month’s written notice if there is a
material reduction in his authority, duties and responsibilities or if there is a material reduction in his annual salary before the next annual salary review.
Furthermore, we may terminate the executive’s employment at any time without cause by giving one month’s advance written notice to the executive
officer. If we terminate the executive’s employment without cause, the executive will be entitled to a termination payment of up to three months of his or
her then base salary, depending on the length of such executive’s employment with us. Specifically, the executive will receive salary continuation for: (i)
one month following a termination effective prior to the first anniversary of the effective date of the employment agreement; (ii) two months following a
termination effective prior to the second anniversary of the effective date; and (iii) three months following a termination effective prior to or any time after
the third anniversary of the effective date. The employment agreements provide that the executive will not participate in any severance plan, policy, or
program of the Company.
Our standard employment agreement contains customary non-competition, confidentiality, and non-disclosure covenants. Each executive officer has agreed
to hold, both during and after the employment agreement expires or is earlier terminated, in strict confidence and not to use, except as required in the
performance of his duties in connection with the employment, any confidential information, technical data, trade secrets and know-how of our company or
the confidential information of any third party, including our affiliated entities and our subsidiaries, received by us. The executive officers have also agreed
to disclose in confidence to us all inventions, designs and trade secrets which they conceive, develop or reduce to practice and to assign all right, title and
interest in them to us. In addition, each executive officer has agreed to be bound by non-competition restrictions set forth in his or her employment
agreement. Specifically, each executive officer has agreed not to, while employed by us and for a period of one year following the termination or expiration
of the employment agreement,
● approach our clients, customers or contacts or other persons or entities, and not to interfere with the business relationship between us and such
persons and/or entities;
● assume employment with or provide services as a director for any of our competitors, or engage in any business which is in direct or indirect
competition with our business; or
● solicit the services of any of our employees.
63
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2021
The following table sets forth the equity awards outstanding at December 31, 2021 for each of our named executive officers.
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
Option Awards
Stock Awards
Equity
incentive
plan
awards:
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
unearned
options
(#)
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options (#)
exercisable
Number of
securities
underlying
unexercised
options (#)
unexercisable
Number
of shares
or units
of stock
that have
not
vested
(#)
Market
value of
shares or
units of
stock
that have
not
vested
(#)
Option
exercise
price
($)
Option
expiration
date
Equity
incentive
plan
awards:
Market
or
payout
value of
unearned
shares,
units or
other
rights
that have
not
vested
($)
Equity
incentive
plan
awards:
Number
of
unearned
shares,
units or
other
rights that
have not
vested
(#)
-
-
200,000(1)
1.96 09/26/2027
-
-
66,665(1)
59,999
-
-
150,000(2)
1.96 09/26/2027
-
-
30,000(2)
27,000
Name
Yunfei Li,
President,
Chief
Executive
Officer
Xiangyu Pei
Interim
Chief
Financial
officer
(1) On August 23, 2019, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Company granted Mr. Li an aggregate of 400,000 restricted share units of the Company’s common
stock. The share units vest semi-annually in 6 equal installments over a three-year period with the first vesting on September 30, 2019. On November
29, 2021, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Company granted Mr. Li an aggregate of 200,000 performance-based stock options to purchase the Company’s
common stock. Subject to continued service and attainment of the performance goals relating to the Company’s operating results, the options will vest
semi-annually in 10 equal installments over a five-year period with the first vesting on May 30, 2022. The options will expire on the 70-month
anniversary of the grant date.
(2) On August 23, 2019, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Company granted Ms. Pei an aggregate of 180,000 restricted share units of the Company’s
Common Stock. The share units vest semi-annually in 6 equal installments over a three-year period with the first vesting on September 30, 2019. On
November 29, 2021, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Company granted Ms. Pei an aggregate of 150,000 performance-based stock options to purchase
the Company’s common stock. Subject to continued service and attainment of the performance goals relating to the Company’s operating results, the
options will vest semi-annually in 10 equal installments over a 5-year period with the first vesting on May 30, 2022. The options will expire on the 70-
month anniversary of the grant date.
Compensation of Directors
On August 23, 2019, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, each of our independent directors was granted 20,000 restricted share units of the Company’s common
stock. The share units vest semi-annually in 6 equal installments over a three year period with the first vesting on September 30, 2019.
The following table sets forth the total compensation earned by our non-employee directors during our fiscal year ended December 31, 2021:
Name
J. Simon Xue
Martha C. Agee
Jianjun He
Fees
Earned or
Paid in
Cash
($)
Stock
Awards
($)
Total
($)
20,000
20,000
20,000
6,000
6,000
6,000
26,000
26,000
26,000
We do not maintain a medical, dental or retirement benefits plan for the directors.
Except as disclosed in this annual report, we have not compensated, and will not compensate, our non-independent directors, Mr. Yunfei Li and Ms.
Xiangyu Pei, for serving as our directors, although they are entitled to reimbursements for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with attending our
board meetings.
The directors may determine remuneration to be paid to the directors with interested members of the Board refraining from voting. The Compensation
Committee will assist the directors in reviewing and approving the compensation structure for the directors.
64
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS.
Securities Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth information known to us with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of the close of business on April
9, 2022 (the “Reference Date”) for: (i) each person known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our voting securities, (ii) each named executive
officer, (iii) each of our directors and nominees, and (iv) all of our executive officers and directors as a group:
Names of Management and Names of Certain Beneficial Owners (1)
Yunfei Li (5) (7) (8)(12)
J. Simon Xue (6) (9)
Martha C. Agee (4) (9)
Jianjun He (4) (9)
Xiangyu Pei (11)
Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership (1)
Number (2)
Percent (3)
10,985,871
12.38%
30,000
50,000
50,000
237,983
*
*
*
*
All executive officers and directors as a group (5 persons)
11,353,854
12.78%
5% Principal Shareholders
Dawei Li (7) (8)
Ping Shen (10)(12)(13)
* Denotes less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
6,733,359
6,337,873
7.59%
7.14%
(1) The number of shares beneficially owned is determined under SEC rules, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for
any other purpose. Under those rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual has sole or shared voting power or
investment power, and also any shares which the individual has the right to acquire within 60 days of the Reference Date, through the exercise or
conversion of any stock option, convertible security, warrant or other right (a “Presently Exercisable” security). Including those shares in the table does
not, however, constitute an admission that the named stockholder is a direct or indirect beneficial owner of those shares.
(2) Unless otherwise indicated, each person or entity named in the table has sole voting power and investment power (or shares that power with that
person’s spouse) with respect to all shares of Common Stock listed as owned by that person or entity.
(3) A total of 88,705,016 shares of Common Stock are considered to be outstanding on the Reference Date. For each beneficial owner above, any
Presently Exercisable securities of such beneficial owner have been included in the denominator, pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1) under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
(4) On June 30, 2015, each of our independent directors then was granted 30,000 restricted shares of the Company’s Common Stock, under the 2015 Plan.
The restricted shares vest over a three-year period in 12 equal quarterly installments with the first vesting date on June 30, 2015.
(5) On June 30, 2015, Mr. Yunfei Li was granted 30,000 restricted shares of the Company’s Common Stock, under the 2015 Plan. The restricted shares
vest over a three-year period in 12 equal quarterly installments with the first vesting date on June 30, 2015. On April 19, 2016, pursuant to the 2015
Plan, the Company granted Mr. Li an aggregate of 150,000 restricted shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The restricted shares vest semi-
annually in 6 equal installments over a three-year period with the first vesting on December 31, 2016. On February 17, 2017, we signed a letter of
understanding with each of eight individual investors, including our CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li, whereby these stockholders agreed in principle to subscribe
for new shares of our Common Stock totaling $10 million. The issue price would be determined with reference to the market price prior to the issuance
of new shares. In January 2017, the stockholders paid us a total of $2.1 million as refundable deposits, among which, Mr. Yunfei Li agreed to subscribe
new shares totaling $1.12 million and pay a refundable deposit of $0.2 million. In April and May 2017, we received cash of $9.6 million from these
stockholders. On May 31, 2017, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with these investors, pursuant to which we agreed to issue an
aggregate of 6,403,518 shares of Common Stock to these investors, at a purchase price of $1.50 per share, for an aggregate price of $9.6 million,
including 746,018 shares were issued to Mr. Yunfei Li, our CEO. On June 22, 2017, we issued the shares to the investors.
On August 23, 2019, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Company granted Mr. Li an aggregate of 400,000 restricted share units of the Company’s Common
Stock. The share units vest semi-annually in 6 equal installments over a three-year period with the first vesting on September 30, 2019.
Includes 66,665 vested RSUs. The 66,665 shares of common stock underlying such RSUs had not been issued as of the Reference Date.
Excludes 200,000 performance-based stock options that are not vested. On November 29, 2021, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Company granted Mr.
Li an aggregate of 200,000 performance-based stock options to purchase the Company’s common stock. Subject to continued service and attainment of
the performance goals relating to the Company’s operating results, the options will vest semi-annually in 10 equal installments over a 5-year period
with the first vesting on May 30, 2022. The options will expire on the 70-month anniversary of the grant date.
65
(6) On April 19, 2016, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Company granted Dr. Xue an aggregate of 30,000 restricted shares of the Company’s Common
Stock. The restricted shares vest semi-annually in 6 equal installments over a three-year period with the first vesting on December 31, 2016.
(7) On January 7, 2019, we entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr. Yunfei Li and Mr. Dawei Li, who loaned an aggregate of approximately $5.2
million (the “First Debt”) to the Company’s subsidiary, CBAK Power. Pursuant to the terms of the cancellation agreement, the creditors agreed to
cancel the First Debt in exchange for an aggregate of 5,098,040 shares of Common Stock of the Company at an exchange price of $1.02 per share.
According to the amount of loan, 3,431,373 and 1,666,667 shares were issued to Mr. Dawei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li, respectively. Upon receipt of the
shares, the creditors released the Company from any claims, demands and other obligations relating to the First Debt.
(8) On July 26, 2019, we entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr. Dawei Li, Mr. Yunfei Li and Asia EVK, who loaned an aggregate of
approximately $7.1 million to CBAK Power (collectively, the “Third Debt” and “Fourth Debt”). Pursuant to the terms of the cancellation agreement,
the creditors agreed to cancel the Third Debt and Fourth Debt in exchange for an aggregate of 7,092,219 shares of Common Stock of the Company at
an exchange price of $1.05 per share. According to the amount of loan, 1,384,717, 2,938,067 and 2,769,435 shares were issued to Mr. Dawei Li, Mr.
Yunfei Li and Asia EVK, respectively. Upon receipt of the shares, the creditors released the Company from any claims, demands and other obligations
relating to the Third Debt and Fourth Debt.
(9) On August 23, 2019, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, each of our independent directors then was granted 20,000 restricted share units of the Company’s
Common Stock. The share units vest semi-annually in 6 equal installments over a three-year period with the first vesting on September 30, 2019. As of
the Reference Date, each of Mr. J. Simon Xue, Ms. Martha C. Agee and Mr. Jianjun He was entitled to 3,335 vested RSUs but the 3,335 shares of
common stock underlying such RSUs had not been issued yet.
(10) On October 14, 2019, we entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr. Shangdong Liu, Mr. Shibin Mao, Ms. Lijuan Wang and Mr. Ping Shen, who
loaned an aggregate of approximately $4.2 million to CBAK Power (the “Fifth Debt”) and the unpaid earnest money of approximately $1.0 million.
Pursuant to the terms of the cancellation agreement, the creditors agreed to cancel the Fifth Debt and convert the unpaid earnest money in exchange for
an aggregate of 8,599,717 shares of Common Stock of the Company at an exchange price of $0.6 per share. According to the amount of loan, 528,053,
3,536,068, 2,267,798 and 2,267,798 shares were issued to Mr. Shangdong Liu, Mr. Shibin Mao, Ms. Lijuan Wang and Mr. Ping Shen, respectively.
Upon receipt of the shares, the creditors released the Company from any claims, demands and other obligations relating to the Fifth Debt and the
unpaid earnest money.
(11)On April 19, 2016, Ms. Pei was granted 50,000 restricted shares under the 2015 Plan. Such shares vest semi-annually in 6 equal installments over a
three-year period with the first vesting on December 31, 2016. On August 23, 2019, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Company granted Ms. Pei an
aggregate of 180,000 restricted share units of the Company’s Common Stock. The share units vest semi-annually in 6 equal installments over a three-
year period with the first vesting on September 30, 2019.
Includes 30,000 vested RSUs. The 30,000 shares of common stock underlying such RSUs had not been issued as of the Reference Date.
Excludes 150,000 performance-based stock options that are not vested. On November 29, 2021, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Company granted Ms.
Pei an aggregate of 150,000 performance-based stock options to purchase the Company’s common stock. Subject to continued service and attainment
of the performance goals relating to the Company’s operating results, the options will vest semi-annually in 10 equal installments over a 5-year period
with the first vesting on May 30, 2022. The options will expire on the 70-month anniversary of the grant date.
(12) On April 27, 2020, the Company entered into a cancellation agreement with Mr. Yunfei Li, Mr. Ping Shen and Asia EVK (the creditors), who loaned
an aggregate of approximately $4.3 million to CBAK Power (the “Sixth Debt”). Pursuant to the terms of the cancellation agreement, Mr. Yunfei Li,
Mr. Ping Shen and Asia EVK agreed to cancel the Sixth Debt in exchange for 2,062,619, 4,714,557 and 2,151,017 shares of Common Stock,
respectively, at an exchange price of $0.48 per share. Upon receipt of the shares, the creditors released the Company from any claims, demands and
other obligations relating to the Sixth Debt. The cancellation agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the creditors.
(13) 2,000,000 of these shares have been pledged as collateral to Lane Hill Capital Ltd. to secure a loan to Mr. Ping Shen in the principal amount of $2.1
million.
66
Changes in Control
There are no arrangements known to us, including any pledge by any person of our securities, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a
change in control of the Company.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
2015 Equity Incentive Plan
The following table sets forth certain information about the securities authorized for issuance under the 2015 Plan as of December 31, 2021. Options
exercisable for all of the securities shown in column (a) below were granted under our 2015 Plan.
Number of
securities to
be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options,
warrants and
rights
(a)
Weighted-
average
exercise price
of outstanding
options,
warrants and
rights
(b)
Number of
securities
remaining
available for
future
issuance
under equity
compensation
plans
(excluding
securities
reflected in
column
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
3,072,176 $
1.88
4,304,518
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
-
-
-
Total
3,072,176 $
1.88
4,304,518
(a) Amounts include 322,174 outstanding RSUs and 2,750,002 outstanding options.
(b) The weighted-average exercise price is calculated based solely on the exercise price of the outstanding options and does not reflect shares that will
be issued upon the vesting of outstanding RSUs, which have no exercise price.
On June 12, 2015, shareholders of the Company approved the 2015 Plan for employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its affiliates. The
maximum aggregate number of shares that may be issued under the 2015 Plan is ten million (10,000,000).
On June 30, 2015, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Company granted an aggregate of 690,000 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock to certain
employees, officers and directors of the Company. In accordance with the vesting schedule of the grant, the restricted shares vest in twelve equal quarterly
installments on the last day of each fiscal quarter beginning on June 30, 2015 and ending on March 31, 2018.
On April 19, 2016, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Company granted an aggregate of 500,000 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock to certain
employees, officers and directors of the Company. The restricted shares vest semi-annually in 6 equal installments over a three-year period with the first
vesting on December 31, 2016.
On August 23, 2019, pursuant to the 2015 plan, the Company granted an aggregate of 1,887,000 restricted share units of the Company’s common stock to
certain employees, officers and directors of the Company. There are two types of vesting schedules, (i) the share units will vest semi-annually in 6 equal
installments over a three-year period with the first vesting on September 30, 2019; (ii) the share units will vest annually in 3 equal installments over a three-
year period with the first vesting on March 31, 2020.
On October 23, 2020, pursuant to the Company’s 2015 Plan, the Compensation Committee granted an aggregate of 100,000 restricted share units of the
Company’s common stock to an employee of the Company. The restricted shares will vest semi-annually in six equal installments over a three-year period
with the first vesting on October 30, 2020.
On November 29, 2021, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Compensation Committee granted an aggregate of 2,750,002 performance-based stock options to
purchase the Company’s common stock to certain employees, officers and directors of the Company. Subject to continued service and attainment of the
performance goals, these options will vest semi-annually in 10 equal installments over a five-year period with the first vesting on May 30, 2022. The
options will expire on the 70-month anniversary of the grant date.
67
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
Transactions with Related Persons
The following is a summary of reportable transactions, for the period from the beginning of 2021 through the date of this report, in which we were or are to
be a participant and the amount involved exceeded or exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at year end for the last
two completed fiscal years, and in which any related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than compensation described under
Item 11 “Executive Compensation”).
On January 17, 2022, the Company obtained a one-year term facility from Agricultural Bank of China with a maximum amount of RMB10 million
(approximately $1.6 million) bearing interest at 105% of benchmark rate of the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) for short-term loans, which is 3.85% per
annum. The facility was guaranteed by the Company’s CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan. The Company borrowed RMB10
million (approximately $1.6 million) up to the date of this report.
On February 9, 2022, the Company obtained a one-year term facility from Jiangsu Gaochun Rural Commercial Bank with a maximum amount of RMB10
million (approximately $1.6 million) bearing interest at bearing interest at 124% of benchmark rate of the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”) for short-term
loans, which is 4.94% per annum. The facility was guaranteed by the Company’s CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan. The
Company borrowed RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) up to the date of this report.
On March 8, 2022, the Company obtained a one-year term facility from China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd. Shangyu Branch with a maximum amount of
RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) bearing interest at 5.5% per annum. The facility was guaranteed by 100% equity in CBAK Power held by
BAK Asia and the Company’s CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li. The Company borrowed RMB10 million (approximately $1.6 million) up to the date of this report.
Promoters and Certain Control Persons
We did not have any promoters at any time during the past five fiscal years.
Director Independence
J. Simon Xue, Martha C. Agee and Jianjun He each serves on our board of directors as an “independent director” as defined by Rule 5605(a)(2) of the
NASDAQ Listing Rule.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Fees and Services
Audit Fees
Centurion ZD CPA & Co. has billed us $265,000 and $309,000 for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, for professional
services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements, including reviews of the interim financial statements included in our quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q and assistance with the Securities Act filings.
Audit-Related Fees
The fees for the audit-related services billed and to be billed by Centurion ZD CPA & Co. for the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 amounted to
$67,500 and $nil, respectively.
Tax Fees
We did not engage our principal accountants to provide tax compliance, tax advice or tax planning services during the last two fiscal years.
All Other Fees
We did not engage our principal accountants to render services to us during the last two fiscal years, other than as reported above.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
All auditing services and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for the Company by our independent auditor
must be approved by the Audit Committee in advance, except non-audit services (other than review and attestation services) if such services fall within
exceptions established by the SEC. The Audit Committee will pre-approve any permissible non-audit services to be provided by the Company’s
independent auditors on behalf of the Company that do not fall within any exception to the pre-approval requirements established by the SEC. The Audit
Committee may delegate to one or more members the authority to pre-approve permissible non-audit services, but any such delegate or delegates must
present their pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next meeting. All of our accountants’ services described above were pre-approved by the
Audit Committee or by one or more members under the delegate authority described above.
68
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
Financial Statements and Schedules
PART IV
The financial statements are set forth under Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K. Financial statement schedules have been omitted since they are
either not required, not applicable, or the information is otherwise included.
Exhibit List
(a) List of Documents Filed as a Part of This Report:
(1) Index to Consolidated Financial Statements:
● Report of Centurion ZD CPA & Co., Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No. 2769)
● Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2021
● Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021
● Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021
● Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021
● Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2) Index to Financial Statement Schedules:
All schedules have been omitted because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto, or because it is
not required.
(3) Index to Exhibits
See exhibits listed under Part (b) below.
69
(b) Exhibits:
Exhibit No.
Description
2.1
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
4.1
Articles of Merger (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8- K filed on January 17, 2017)
Articles of Incorporation of the registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on
December 8, 2006)
By-laws of the registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on December 19,
2007)
Certificate of Change Pursuant to NRS 78.209 filed by the Company on October 22, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the
registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 26, 2012)
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation filed by the Company on June 23, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 26, 2015)
Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation filed by the Company on December 9, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1
to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 13, 2021)
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix D to the registrant’s Definitive Proxy
Statement on Schedule 14A filed April 24, 2015).
4.2
Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act
4.3
4.4
Form of Amendment No. 1 to Series B Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 11, 2021)
Form of Investors Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 9,
2021)
70
Exhibit No.
Description
4.5
4.6
4.7
Form of Placement Agent Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
February 9, 2021)
Form of Investors Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 9,
2020)
Form of Placement Agent Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on
December 9, 2020)
10.1
Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on January 3, 2011)
10.2
Form of Restricted Share Units Award Agreement Under 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 29, 2019)
10.3
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
on July 6, 2015)
10.4
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the Investors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2021)
10.5
Form of Registration Rights Agreement by and among the Company and the Investors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the
registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2021)
10.6
Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the Investors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 9, 2020)
10.7
English translation of Framework Agreement Relating to Dalian CBAK Power Battery Co., Ltd.’s Investment in Zhejiang Meidu Hitrans
Lithium Battery Technology Co., Ltd., dated July 20, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on July 26, 2021)
14.1
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q filed on August 22, 2006)
21.1
List of subsidiaries of the registrant.
23.1
Consent of Centurion ZD CPA & Co.
31.1
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2
32.1
Certifications of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2
Certifications of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within
the Inline XBRL document
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the iXBRL document).
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
71
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: April 15, 2022
SIGNATURES
CBAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
By: /s/ Yunfei Li
Yunfei Li
Chief Executive Officer
By: /s/ Xiangyu Pei
Xiangyu Pei
Interim Chief Financial Officer
In accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
/s/ Yunfei Li
Yunfei Li
/s/ Xiangyu Pei
Xiangyu Pei
/s/ J. Simon Xue
J. Simon Xue
/s/ Martha C. Agee
Martha C. Agee
/s/ Jianjun He
Jianjun He
Title
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Interim Chief Financial Officer and Director
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Director
Director
Director
72
Date
April 15, 2022
April 15, 2022
April 15, 2022
April 15, 2022
April 15, 2022
EXHIBIT 4.2
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
The following summary describes our common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. (the
“Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our”), which are the only securities of the Company registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
The following summary describes the material terms of our Common Stock. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to our Articles of Incorporation, Certificate of Change Pursuant to NRS 78.209, Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation filed on
June 23, 2015, Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation filed on December 9, 2021, Articles of Merger and By-laws incorporated by
reference as Exhibits 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 2.1 and 3.2, respectively, to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit 4.2 is a part. We encourage you
to read the foregoing exhibits and the applicable provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 78, for a complete description of our Common Stock.
Authorized Capital Stock
The Company is authorized to issue up to 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the
“Preferred Stock”). The Common Stock may be issued from time to time for such consideration as may be fixed by the Board of Directors, provided that
the consideration fixed is not less than par value.
The Board of Directors is authorized, at any time and from time to time, to provide for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series with
such designations, preferences, voting powers and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof as are stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such Preferred Stock adopted by the Board of Directors,
and as are not stated and expressed in the Company’s articles of incorporation or any amendment thereto. As of December 31, 2021, there were 88,705,016
shares of Common Stock and no Preferred Stock outstanding.
Voting Rights
Each outstanding share of Common Stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote per share on all matters coming before the stockholders for a vote. Our
articles of incorporation do not permit cumulative voting for the election of directors. Likewise, our articles of incorporation do not vary the size of the vote
necessary for the stockholders to act on various matters from the size of the vote required by Nevada law, which means, unless a different vote is required
by express provisions of Nevada law, an action by the stockholders on a matter other than the election of directors shall be approved if the number of votes
cast in favor of the action exceeds the number of votes cast in opposition to the action. The directors of a Nevada corporation are elected at the annual
meeting of the stockholders by a plurality of the votes cast at the election.
Dividends
The holders of shares of our Common Stock are entitled to dividends out of funds legally available when and as declared by our board of directors. Our
board of directors has never declared a dividend or otherwise authorized any cash or other distribution with respect to the shares of our Common Stock and
does not anticipate declaring a dividend in the foreseeable future. Should we decide in the future to pay dividends, as a holding company, our ability to do
so and meet other obligations depends upon the receipt of dividends or other payments from our operating subsidiaries and other holdings and investments.
In addition, our operating subsidiaries, from time to time, may be subject to restrictions on their ability to make distributions to us, including as a result of
restrictive covenants in loan agreements, restrictions on the conversion of local currency into dollars or other hard currency and other regulatory
restrictions.
Liquidation
the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our Common Stock are entitled to receive, ratably, the net assets available to stockholders
after payment of all creditors.
Rights and Preferences
Our Common Stock has no preemptive or subscription rights, and no redemption, sinking fund, or conversion provisions.
Fully Paid and Nonassessable
All of the issued and outstanding shares of our Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. To the extent that
additional shares of our Common Stock are issued, the relative interests of existing stockholders will be diluted.
Anti-takeover Effects of Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
articles of incorporation and bylaws contain certain provisions that may have the effect of entrenching our existing board members, delaying, deferring or
preventing a future takeover or change in control of the company unless such takeover or change in control is approved by the board of directors. These
provisions include:
● Special Meetings of Stockholders — Our articles of incorporation provide that special meetings of the stockholders can only be called by our
president or any other executive officer, or the board of directors, or any member thereof, the record holder or holders of at least 10% of all shares
entitled to vote at the meeting, and our bylaws provide that a special meeting will be called by the president or secretary at the written request of
our stockholders holding not less than 30% of all the shares issued, outstanding and entitled to vote.
● Advance Notice Procedures — At an annual meeting, our stockholders elect a board of directors and transact such other business as may properly
be brought before the meeting. By contrast, at a special meeting, our stockholders may transact only the business for the purposes specified in the
notice of the meeting unless all of our stockholders entitled to vote are present at the special meeting and consent.
● Contracts and Transactions with Interested Directors — We may enter into a contract or a transaction with an entity in which our directors or
officers have a financial or other interest as long as such relationship has been disclosed to, or is known by, our board of directors, or is otherwise
fair to the Company at the time it is authorized or approved.
● Amendment of Bylaws — Our Bylaws may be amended by our board of directors alone.
● Authorized but Unissued Shares — Our board of directors may cause us to issue our authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or Preferred
Stock in the future without stockholders’ approval. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future
public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of
Common Stock and Preferred Stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of a majority of the voting power of our
outstanding capital stock by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Nevada Law
Nevada Business Combination Statute
We are subject to the “business combination” provisions of Sections 78.411 to 78.444 of the Nevada Revised Statutes. In general, such provisions prohibit a
Nevada corporation with at least 200 stockholders from engaging in various “combination” transactions with any interested stockholder for a period of two
years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the transaction is approved by the board of directors
prior to the date the interested stockholder obtained such status or the combination is approved by the board of directors and thereafter is approved at a
meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of stockholders representing at least 60% of the outstanding voting power held by disinterested
stockholders, and extends beyond the expiration of the two-year period, unless (a) the combination was approved by the board of directors prior to the
person becoming an interested stockholder; (b) the transaction by which the person first became an interested stockholder was approved by the board of
directors before the person became an interested stockholder; (c) the combination is later approved by a majority of the voting power held by disinterested
stockholders; or (d) if the consideration to be paid by the interested stockholder is at least equal to the highest of: (i) the highest price per share paid by the
interested stockholder within the two years immediately preceding the date of the announcement of the combination or in the transaction in which it
became an interested stockholder, whichever is higher, or (ii) the market value per share of common stock on the date of announcement of the combination
and the date the interested stockholder acquired the shares, whichever is higher.
2
A “combination” is generally defined to include mergers or consolidations or any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer, or other disposition, in
one transaction or a series of transactions, with an “interested stockholder” or any affiliate or associate of an interested stockholder having: (a) an aggregate
market value equal to more than 5% of the aggregate market value of the assets of the corporation, (b) an aggregate market value equal to more than 5% of
the aggregate market value of all outstanding voting shares of the corporation, and (c) more than 10% of the earning power or net income of the
corporation.
An “interested stockholder” is generally defined to mean a beneficial owner of at least 10% of the outstanding voting power or an affiliate or associate of
the corporation that has been a 10% beneficial owner within the preceding 2 years. The statutes could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change
in control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire our company even though such a transaction may offer our stockholders the
opportunity to sell their stock at a price above the prevailing market price.
Nevada Acquisition of Controlling Interest Statute
Nevada’s Acquisition of Controlling Interest Statute (NRS Sections 78.378-78.3793) applies only to Nevada corporations with at least 200 stockholders,
including at least 100 stockholders of record who are Nevada residents, which conduct business directly or indirectly in Nevada and whose articles of
incorporation or bylaws in effect 10 days following the acquisition of a controlling interest by an acquiror do not prohibit its application. As of the date of
this prospectus, we do not believe we have 100 stockholders of record who are residents of Nevada, although there can be no assurance that in the future
the acquisition of controlling interest statutes will not apply to us.
Nevada’s Acquisition of Controlling Interest Statute, prohibits an acquiror, under certain circumstances, from voting shares of a target corporation’s stock
after crossing certain threshold ownership percentages, unless the acquiror obtains the approval of the target corporation’s stockholders. The statute
specifies three thresholds that constitute a controlling interest: (a) at least one-fifth but less than one-third; (b) at least one-third but less than a majority; and
(c) a majority or more, of the outstanding voting power. Once an acquiror crosses one of these thresholds, shares which it acquired in the transaction
exceeding the threshold (or within ninety days preceding the date thereof) become “control shares” which could be deprived of the right to vote until a
majority of the disinterested stockholders restore that right.
A special stockholders meeting may be called at the request of the acquiror to consider the voting rights of the acquiror’s shares. If the acquiror requests a
special meeting and gives an undertaking to pay the expenses of said meeting, then the meeting must take place no earlier than 30 days (unless the acquiror
requests that the meeting be held sooner) and no more than 50 days (unless the acquiror agrees to a later date) after the delivery by the acquiror to the
corporation of an information statement which sets forth the range of voting power that the acquiror has acquired or proposes to acquire and certain other
information concerning the acquiror and the proposed control share acquisition.
3
If no such request for a stockholders meeting is made, consideration of the voting rights of the acquiror’s shares must be taken at the next special or annual
stockholders meeting. If the stockholders fail to restore voting rights to the acquiror, or if the acquiror fails to timely deliver an information statement to the
corporation, then the corporation may, if so provided in its articles of incorporation or bylaws, call certain of the acquiror’s shares for redemption at the
average price paid for the control shares by the acquiror.
In the event the stockholders restore full voting rights to a holder of control shares that owns a majority of the voting stock, then all other stockholders who
do not vote in favor of restoring voting rights to the control shares may demand payment for the “fair value” of their shares as determined by a court in
dissenters rights proceeding pursuant to Chapter 92A of the Nevada Revised Statutes.
Listing
Our Common Stock is listed on Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CBAT.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Our transfer agent and registrar is Securities Transfer Corporation, 2901 N Dallas Parkway, Suite 380, Plano, Texas 75093.
Warrants
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had the following outstanding warrants to purchase the Common Stock:
·
·
warrants to purchase 3,795,920 shares of Common Stock of the Company at an exercise price of $6.46 per share, subject to full-ratchet anti-
dilution adjustment in the case of future issuances or deemed issuances of shares of Common Stock below the warrants’ exercise price then in
effect, as well as customary adjustment in case of stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and similar recapitalization transactions. These
warrants are exercisable for 36 months from the date of issuance, December 10, 2020;
Series A-1 warrants to purchase 4,469,988 shares of Common Stock of the Company, at a per share exercise price of $7.67, subject to full-ratchet
anti-dilution adjustment in the case of future issuances or deemed issuances of shares of Common Stock below the Series A-1 warrants’ exercise
price then in effect, as well as customary adjustment in case of stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and similar recapitalization
transactions. The Series A-1 warrants are exercisable for 42 months from the date of issuance, February 10, 2021.
● warrants to purchase 446,999 shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price of $9.204 per share, with a term of 42 months from the issuance date,
February 10, 2021, subject to customary adjustment in case of stock dividends, stock splits, stock combinations and similar recapitalization
transactions; and
● warrants to purchase 379,592 shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price of $6.475, with a term of 36 months from the issuance date, December
10, 2020, subject to customary adjustment in case of stock dividends, stock splits, stock combinations and similar recapitalization transactions.
4
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES
Name of Subsidiary
China BAK Asia Holdings Limited
Dalian CBAK Trading Co., Ltd.
Dalian CBAK Power Battery Co., Ltd.
Dalian CBAK New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.
CBAK New Energy (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
BAK Asia Investments Limited
CBAK New Energy (Nanjing) Co., Ltd
Nanjing Daxin New Energy Automobile Industry Co., Ltd
Nanjing CBAK New Energy Technology Co., Ltd
Daxin New Energy Automobile Industry Technology (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
Zhejiang Hitrans Lithium Battery Technology Co., Ltd (“Hitrans”)
Guangdong Meidu Hitrans Resources Recycling Technology Co., Ltd.
Shaoxing Haisheng International Trading Co., Ltd.
EXHIBIT 21.1
Percentage of
Ownership
100%
100%
100%
100%
90%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
81.56%
Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or
Organization
Hong Kong
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
Hong Kong
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
80% owned
by Hitrans
100% owned
by Hitrans
Exhibit 23.1
中正達會計師事務所
Centurion ZD CPA & Co.
Certified Public Accountants (Practising)
Unit 1304, 13/F, Two Harbourfront, 22 Tak Fung Street, Hunghom, Hong Kong.
香港 紅磡 德豐街22號 海濱廣場二期 13樓1304室
Tel 電話: (852) 2126 2388 Fax 傳真: (852) 2122 9078
Email 電郵: info@czdcpa.com
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (No. 333-250893, No. 333-253349 and No. 333-257658)
and the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-137747, No. 333-153649, No. 333-153650 and No. 333-205218) of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.
(the “Company”) of our report dated April 15, 2022, relating to the Company’s consolidated financial statements (which report expresses an unqualified
opinion with an emphasis paragraph on the substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern), which appears in this Annual
Report on Form 10-K.
/s/ Centurion ZD CPA & Co.
Centurion ZD CPA & Co.
Hong Kong, China
April 15, 2022
EXHIBIT 31.1
I, Yunfei Li, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.;
CERTIFICATIONS
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to
ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent
fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the
registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably
likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control
over financial reporting.
Date: April 15, 2022
/s/ Yunfei Li
Yunfei Li
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
EXHIBIT 31.2
I, Xiangyu Pei, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.;
CERTIFICATIONS
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
I am responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to
ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent
fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the
registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably
likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control
over financial reporting.
Date: April 15, 2022
/s/ Xiangyu Pei
Xiangyu Pei
Interim Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
EXHIBIT 32.1
The undersigned, Yunfei Li, the Chief Executive Officer of CBAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, INC. (the “Company”), DOES HEREBY
CERTIFY that:
1. The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the “Report”), fully complies with the requirements
of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. Information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operation of the Company.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this statement this 15th day of April, 2022.
/s/ Yunfei Li
Yunfei Li
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. and will be retained by
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
The forgoing certification is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to § 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. It is not being
filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the
Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
EXHIBIT 32.2
The undersigned, Xiangyu Pei, the Interim Chief Financial Officer of CBAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, INC. (the “Company”), DOES
HEREBY CERTIFY that:
1. The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the “Report”), fully complies with the requirements
of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. Information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operation of the Company.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this statement this 15th day of April, 2022.
/s/ Xiangyu Pei
Xiangyu Pei
Interim Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. and will be retained by
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
The forgoing certification is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to § 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. It is not being
filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the
Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.