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CBAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Annual Report on Form 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
Use of Terms
Except as otherwise indicated by the context and for the purposes of this report only, references in this report to:
● | “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
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
Overview of Our Business
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.
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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.
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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. |
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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 | End applications* | |
High-power lithium battery | 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] |
* | Bracketed numbers denote number of cells per particular battery. |
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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 | End applications* | |
Cathode | High-power lithium battery | |
Precursor | 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 | |||||||||||||||
% of Net | % of Net | |||||||||||||||
Amount | Revenues | Amount | Revenues | |||||||||||||
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except percentages) | ||||||||||||||||
Mainland China | $ | 35,464,245 | 94 | $ | 43,745,765 | 83 | ||||||||||
USA | 3,592 | 0 | 440 | 0 | ||||||||||||
Korea | 246,453 | 1 | - | |||||||||||||
Europe | 1,776,000 | 5 | 8,503,338 | 16 | ||||||||||||
Others | 75,862 | 0 | 420,190 | 1 | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 37,566,152 | 100 | $ | 52,669,733 | 100 |
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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 | Competitors | |||
EV battery | Japan: | Panasonic Corporation | ||
Korea: | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd LG Chemical | |||
China: | 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 | |||
LEV battery | China: | Tianneng Power International Limited Chaowei Power Holdings Limited Phylion Battery Co., Ltd | ||
UPS battery | China: | Shandong Goldencell Electronics Technology Co., Ltd DLG Power Battery (Shanghai) Co., Ltd Dongguan Power Long Battery Technology Co., Limited | ||
Cathode & Precursor | Japan: | Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. | ||
Korea: | Umicore N.V. | |||
China: | 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.
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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.
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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 | Number | |||
Production | 582 | |||
Research and development | 146 | |||
Sales and marketing | 56 | |||
General and administrative | 270 | |||
Total | 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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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.
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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.
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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 | Usage | Area (m2) | ||||
Constructions completed | Manufacturing | 72,959 | ||||
R&D and administrative | 6,812 | |||||
Warehousing | 6,328 | |||||
Other facilities | 4,317 | |||||
Total | 90,416 | |||||
Constructions in progress | Warehousing | 12,421 | ||||
Total | 12,421 | |||||
Facilities rented | Manufacturing | 31,281 | ||||
Warehousing | 9,097 | |||||
Administrative | 4,935 | |||||
R&D and administrative | 3,335 | |||||
Total | 48,648 |
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 | Total | 74,257 | ||||
Nanjing Daxin facility site area | Total | 21,475 | ||||
Nanjing CBAK facilities site area | Total | 27,173 | ||||
Hitrans facilities site area | Total | 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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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
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.
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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.
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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 | $ | 37,566 | $ | 52,670 | 15,104 | 40 | ||||||||||
Cost of revenues | (34,852 | ) | (47,559 | ) | (12,707 | ) | 36 | |||||||||
Gross profit | 2,714 | 5,111 | 2,397 | 88 | ||||||||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
Research and development expenses | (1,679 | ) | (5,274 | ) | (3,595 | ) | 214 | |||||||||
Sales and marketing expenses | (701 | ) | (2,302 | ) | (1,601 | ) | 228 | |||||||||
General and administrative expenses | (3,746 | ) | (10,027 | ) | (6,281 | ) | 168 | |||||||||
Impairment charge on property, plant and equipment | (4,346 | ) | - | 4,346 | - | |||||||||||
(Provision for) recovery of doubtful accounts | (722 | ) | 780 | 1,502 | -208 | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | (11,194 | ) | (16,823 | ) | (5,629 | ) | 50 | |||||||||
Operating loss | (8,480 | ) | (11,712 | ) | (3,232 | ) | 38 | |||||||||
Finance expense, net | (1,399 | ) | 785 | 2,184 | -156 | |||||||||||
Other (expense) income, net | (40 | ) | 3,644 | 3,684 | -9,210 | |||||||||||
Impairment of Non-marketable equity securities | - | (693 | ) | (693 | ) | - | ||||||||||
Change in fair value of warrants liability | 2,072 | 61,802 | 59,730 | 2,883 | ||||||||||||
(Loss) income before income tax | (7,847 | ) | 53,826 | 61,673 | -786 | |||||||||||
Income tax credit | - | 7,733 | 7,733 | - | ||||||||||||
Net (loss) income | $ | (7,847 | ) | 61,559 | 69,406 | 884 | ||||||||||
Less: Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests | 40 | (73 | ) | (113 | ) | -283 | ||||||||||
Net (loss) income attributable to shareholders of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. | (7,807 | ) | $ | 61,486 | 69,293 | 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)
Years Ended | Change | |||||||||||||||
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | $ | % | |||||||||||||
High-power lithium batteries used in: | ||||||||||||||||
Electric vehicles | $ | 260 | $ | 244 | (16 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||||||
Light electric vehicles | 39 | 733 | 694 | 1,779 | ||||||||||||
Uninterruptable supplies | 22,749 | 33,308 | 10,559 | 46 | ||||||||||||
Trading of Raw materials used in lithium batteries | 14,518 | 520 | (13,998 | ) | (96 | ) | ||||||||||
37,566 | 34,805 | (2,761 | ) | (7 | ) | |||||||||||
Materials used in manufacturing of lithium batteries | ||||||||||||||||
Cathode | - | 8,726 | 8,726 | - | ||||||||||||
Precursor | - | 9,139 | 9,139 | - | ||||||||||||
- | 17,865 | 17,865 | - | |||||||||||||
Total | $ | 37,566 | $ | 52,670 | 15,104 | 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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)
Year Ended | ||||||||
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (5,097 | ) | $ | (4,270 | ) | ||
Net cash used in investing activities | (5,710 | ) | (38,081 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 25,827 | 48,272 | ||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash | (1,482 | ) | (238 | ) | ||||
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash | 13,538 | 5,683 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the year | 7,134 | 20,672 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year | $ | 20,672 | $ | 26,355 |
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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)
Maximum amount available | Amount borrowed | |||||||
Long-term credit facilities: | ||||||||
Shaoxing Branch of Bank of Communications Co., Ltd | $ | 18,976 | $ | 10,391 | ||||
Other line of credit: | ||||||||
Shaoxing Branch of Bank of Communications Co., Ltd | 10,004 | 10,004 | ||||||
Agricultural Bank of China | 2,813 | 2,813 | ||||||
China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd | 9,029 | 9,029 | ||||||
Bank of Ningbo Co., Ltd | 1,573 | 1,573 | ||||||
23,419 | 23,419 | |||||||
Total | $ | 42,395 | $ | 33,810 |
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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)
Year Ended | ||||||||
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment and construction in progress | $ | 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.
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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.
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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:
RMB per U.S. Dollar | ||||||||
Fiscal Year Ended | ||||||||
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Balance sheet items, except for equity accounts | 6.5286 | 6.3551 | ||||||
Amounts included in the statement of income and comprehensive loss and statement of cash flows | 6.9032 | 6.4525 |
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Not applicable.
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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
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 $4.6 million as of December 31, 2021.
We identified the assessment of allowances for doubtful accounts as a critical audit matter. Specifically, the specific allowance is an estimate that involved assessing the likelihood of collection of a customer’s accounts receivable by considering various factors such as the nature of any dispute, communications from the customer, historical collections, and number of days accounts receivables have been outstanding. Subjective auditor judgment was involved in evaluating the relevance and reliability of the evidence obtained in evaluating these factors.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included the following, among others: (i) investigating significant fluctuations in the specific allowance as compared to net accounts receivable and the prior year specific allowance; (ii) inquiring of Company personnel to evaluate the rationale for establishing a specific allowance for certain customers; (iii) assessing the Company’s estimate of the specific customer allowance by evaluating the underlying contractual documents, historical collection trends, communications with customers and other additional factors; and (iv) evaluating subsequent collections occurring after the balance sheet date and considered the impact of potential subsequent events on the estimate of the specific allowance.
/s/
Centurion ZD CPA & Co.
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2016.
April 15, 2022
PCAOB ID:
F-4
CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2020 and 2021
(In US$ except for number of shares)
Note | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||
Current assets | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||||||
Pledged deposits | 3 | |||||||||||
Trade and bills receivable, net | 4 | |||||||||||
Inventories | 5 | |||||||||||
Prepayments and other receivables | 6 | |||||||||||
Receivables from former subsidiary | 17 | |||||||||||
Amount due from non-controlling interest, current | 17 | |||||||||||
Amount due from related party, current | 17 | |||||||||||
Income tax recoverable | ||||||||||||
Investment in sales-type lease, net | 10 | |||||||||||
Total current assets | ||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 7 | |||||||||||
Construction in progress | 8 | |||||||||||
Non-marketable equity securities | 9 | |||||||||||
Prepaid land use rights | 10 | |||||||||||
Intangible assets, net | 11 | |||||||||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | ||||||||||||
Investment in sales-type lease, net | 10 | |||||||||||
Amount due from non-controlling interest, non-current | 17 | |||||||||||
Deferred tax assets, net | 20 | |||||||||||
Goodwill | 13 | |||||||||||
Total assets | $ | $ | ||||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||
Current liabilities | ||||||||||||
Trade and bills payable | 14 | $ | $ | |||||||||
Short-term bank borrowings | 15 | |||||||||||
Current maturities of long-term bank loans | 15 | |||||||||||
Other short-term loans | 15 | |||||||||||
Accrued expenses and other payables | 16 | |||||||||||
Payables to former subsidiaries, net | 17 | |||||||||||
Deferred government grants, current | 18 | |||||||||||
Product warranty provisions | 19 | |||||||||||
Warrants liability | 26 | |||||||||||
Operating lease liability, current | 11 | |||||||||||
Total current liabilities | ||||||||||||
Deferred government grants, non-current | 18 | |||||||||||
Product warranty provisions | 19 | |||||||||||
Long term tax payable | ||||||||||||
Operating lease liability, non-current | 10 | |||||||||||
Total liabilities | ||||||||||||
Commitments and contingencies | 27 | |||||||||||
Shareholders’ equity | ||||||||||||
Common stock $ | ||||||||||||
Donated shares | ||||||||||||
Additional paid-in capital | ||||||||||||
Statutory reserves | ||||||||||||
Accumulated deficit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ) | ||||||||||
Less: Treasury shares | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||||||
Total shareholders’ equity | ||||||||||||
Non-controlling interests | ||||||||||||
Total equity | ||||||||||||
Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity | $ | $ |
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)
Year ended | Year ended | |||||||||||
Note | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
Net revenues | 29 | $ | $ | |||||||||
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 | 7 | ( | ) | |||||||||
(Provision for) recovery of doubtful accounts | 4 | ( | ) | |||||||||
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 | 20 | |||||||||||
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 | 25 | |||||||||||
– Basic | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||
– Diluted | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||||||
Weighted average number of shares of common stock: | 25 | |||||||||||
– Basic | ||||||||||||
– Diluted |
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
F-6
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 | Additional | Statutory | Accumulated other | Non- | Treasury shares | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | Donated | paid-in | reserves | Accumulated | comprehensive | controlling | Number | shareholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
of shares | Amount | shares | capital | (Note 26) | deficit | loss | interests | of shares | Amount | equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of January 1, 2020 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss | - | - | - | ( | ) | ( | ) | - | ( | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | $ |
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$)
Year Ended | Year Ended | |||||||
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
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 | $ | $ |
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
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
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 $
In November 2007, Mr. Li delivered the
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
Pursuant to the Li Settlement Agreement, the 2008
Settlement Agreements and upon the release of the
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 $
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 $
On May 4, 2018, CBAK New Energy (Suzhou) Co.,
Ltd (“CBAK Suzhou”) was established as a
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 $
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 $
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 RMB
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 RMB
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 $
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
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
On July 6, 2018, Guangdong Meidu Hitrans Resources
Recycling Technology Co., Ltd.
F-12
On October 9, 2021, Shaoxing Haisheng International
Trading Co., Ltd.
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
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
In June and July 2015, the Company received advances
of approximately $
In June 2016, the Company received further advances
in the aggregate of $
On February 17, 2017,
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 $
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
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 $
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
On June 28, 2019, each of Mr. Dawei Li and Mr.
Yunfei Li entered into an agreement with CBAK Power to loan approximately $
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 $
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
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 $
On October 10, 2019, each of
On October 14, 2019,
On December 30, 2019,
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 $
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 $
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”).
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 $
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 $
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 $
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 $
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 $
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 $
On October 12, 2020,
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,
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,
On December 8, 2020,
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On February 8, 2021,
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 $
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,
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.
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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
$
(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.
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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 |
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
(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 |
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 |
(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
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:
Gross UTB | Surcharge | Net UTB | ||||||||||
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
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 $
(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:
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
Pledged deposits with banks for: | ||||||||
Bills payable | $ | $ | ||||||
Others* | ||||||||
$ | $ |
* |
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 $
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 $
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 $
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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 $
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 $
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 $
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 $
4. Trade and Bills Receivable, net
Trade and bills receivable as of December 31, 2020 and 2021:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Trade receivable | $ | $ | ||||||
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Bills receivable | ||||||||
$ | $ |
Included in trade and bills receivables are retention
receivables of $
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An analysis of the allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
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:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Raw materials | $ | $ | ||||||
Work in progress | ||||||||
Finished goods | ||||||||
$ | $ |
During the years ended December 31, 2020 and
2021, write-downs of obsolete inventories to lower of cost or net realizable value of $
6. Prepayments and Other Receivables
Prepayments and other receivables as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the following:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Value added tax recoverable | $ | $ | ||||||
Loan receivables * | ||||||||
Prepayments to suppliers | ||||||||
Deposits | ||||||||
Staff advances | ||||||||
Prepaid operating expenses | ||||||||
Others | ||||||||
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
$ | $ |
* |
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7. Property, Plant and Equipment, net
Property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the following:
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
Buildings | $ | $ | ||||||
Leasehold improvements | ||||||||
Machinery and equipment | ||||||||
Office equipment | ||||||||
Motor vehicles | ||||||||
Impairment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Accumulated depreciation | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Carrying amount | $ | $ |
During the years ended December 31, 2020 and
2021, the Company incurred depreciation expense of $
The Company has not yet obtained the property ownership certificates
of the buildings in its Dalian manufacturing facilities with a carrying amount of $
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 $
8. Construction in Progress
Construction in progress as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the following:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Construction in progress | $ | $ | ||||||
Prepayment for acquisition of property, plant and equipment | ||||||||
Carrying amount | $ | $ |
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 $
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9. Non-marketable equity securities
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
Cost | $ | $ | ||||||
Impairment | ( | ) | ||||||
Carrying amount | $ | $ |
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 $
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 $
10. Lease
(a) | Prepaid land use rights |
Prepaid land lease payments | ||||
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 | $ |
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
No impairment loss was made to the carrying amounts of the prepaid land use right for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2021.
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(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:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Total future minimum lease payments receivable | $ | |||||||
Less: unearned income, representing interest | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Present value of minimum lease payments receivables | ||||||||
Less: Current portion | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Non-current portion | $ |
Vehicle sale net of cost recognized in other
income (expense) from vehicle leasing was $(
Interest income from vehicle leasing was $
The future minimum lease payments receivable for sales type leases are as follows:
Fiscal years ending December | Total Minimum Lease Payments to be Received | Amortization of Unearned Income | Net Investment in Sales Type Leases | |||||||||
2022 | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
2023 | ||||||||||||
2024 | ||||||||||||
2025 | ||||||||||||
2026 | ||||||||||||
Thereafter | ||||||||||||
(c) | Operating lease |
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On
On
On
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 RMB
On
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:
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
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:
Operating leases | ||||
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:
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
Weighted-average remaining lease term | ||||||||
Land use rights | ||||||||
Operating leases | ||||||||
Weighted-average discount rate | ||||||||
Land use rights | ||||||||
Operating leases | % |
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11. Intangible Assets, net
Intangible assets as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the followings:
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
Computer software at cost | $ | $ | ||||||
Sewage discharge permit* | ||||||||
Accumulated amortization | ( | ) | ( | |||||
$ | $ |
Amortization expenses were $
* | The Company had not yet obtained the ownership of sewage discharge
permit in its Zhejiang manufacturing facilities with a carrying amount of $ |
Total future amortization expenses for finite-lived intangible assets were estimated as follows:
2022 | $ | |||
2023 | ||||
2024 | ||||
2025 | ||||
2026 | ||||
Thereafter | ||||
Total | $ |
12. Acquisition of subsidiaries
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
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
As of the date of the Acquisition Agreement, the
F-35
In addition, as of the date of the Acquisition
Agreement, Meidu Graphene’s
As a part of the transaction, CBAK Power
entered into a loan agreement with Hitrans to lend Hitrans approximately RMB
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
As of the date of this report, the transfer of
Upon the closing of the Acquisition, CBAK Power
became the largest shareholder of Hitrans holding
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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 |
The components of the consideration transferred to effect the Acquisition are as follows:
RMB | USD | |||||||
Cash consideration for | ||||||||
Cash consideration for | ||||||||
Total Purchase Consideration |
The transaction resulted in a purchase price allocation
of $
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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 | $ |
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 | 2021 | |||||||
Trade payable | $ | $ | ||||||
Bills payable | ||||||||
– Bank acceptance bills | ||||||||
$ | $ |
All the bills payable are of trading nature and will mature within
The bank acceptance bills were pledged by:
(i) | the Company’s bank deposits (Note 3); |
(ii) | $ |
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15. Loans
Bank loans:
Bank borrowings as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the followings:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Current maturities of long-term bank loans | $ | $ | ||||||
Short-term bank borrowings | ||||||||
$ | $ |
On June 4, 2018,
On June 28, 2020,
On October 15, 2019,
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,
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).
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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 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.
The facilities were also secured by the Company’s assets with the following carrying amounts:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Pledged deposits (note 3) | $ | $ | ||||||
Bills receivables (note 4) | ||||||||
Right-of-use assets (note 10) | ||||||||
Buildings | ||||||||
Machinery and equipment | ||||||||
$ | $ |
As of December 31, 2021, the Company had unutilized
committed banking facilities totaled $
During the years ended December 31, 2020 and
2021, interest of $
Other short-term loans:
Other short-term loans as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the following:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||
Note | 2020 | 2021 | ||||||||||
Advance from related parties | ||||||||||||
– Mr. Xiangqian Li, the Company’s Former CEO | (a) | $ | $ | |||||||||
– Mr. Yunfei Li | (b) | |||||||||||
– Shareholders | (c) | |||||||||||
– Mr. Junnan Ye (Note 12) | ||||||||||||
Advances from unrelated third party | ||||||||||||
– Mr. Wenwu Yu | (d) | |||||||||||
– Ms. Longqian Peng | (d) | |||||||||||
– Suzhou Zhengyuanwei Needle Ce Co., Ltd | (e) | |||||||||||
$ | $ |
(a) | Advances from Mr. Xiangqian Li, the Company’s former CEO, was unsecured, non-interest bearing and repayable on demand. |
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(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,
As of December 31, 2021, earnest money
of $
(d) | Advances from unrelated third parties were unsecured, non-interest bearing and repayable on demand. |
(e) | In 2019, the |
During the years ended December 31,
2020 and 2021, interest of $
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16. Accrued Expenses and Other Payables
Accrued expenses and other payables as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consisted of the following:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
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 | ||||||||
$ | $ |
* | 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 $ |
On November 9, 2007, the Company completed a private
placement for the gross proceeds to the Company of $
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 $
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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 | Relationship with the Company | |
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) |
(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 |
(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 |
(e) | Hangzhou Juzhong Daxin Asset Management Co., Ltd. is the trustee of |
Related party transactions
The Company entered into the following significant related party transactions:
For the year ended December 31, 2020 | For the year ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||
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 |
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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
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
Receivables from Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd | $ | $ |
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 $
Amount due from non-controlling interest
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
Shenzhen Baijun Technology Co., Ltd | ||||||||
Current | $ | $ | ||||||
Non-current | ||||||||
In August 2018,
Amount due from related party
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
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
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
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:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Payables to BAK International (Tianjin) Limited | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
Payables to Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd | $ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) | ||
$ | ( | ) | $ | ( | ) |
F-44
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 $
18. Deferred Government Grants
Deferred government grants as of December 31, 2020 and 2021 consist of the following:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
Total government grants | $ | $ | ||||||
Less: Current portion | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
Non-current portion | $ | $ |
In September 2013, the Management Committee of
Dalian Economic Zone Management Committee (the “Management Committee”) provided a subsidy of RMB
On October 17, 2014, the Company received a subsidy
of RMB
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 RMB
Part of the subsidy of RMB
The Company offset government grants of $
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:
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
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 | $ | $ |
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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:
December 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2020 | 2021 | |||||||
PRC income tax | $ | $ | ||||||
Current income tax credit, net | ||||||||
Deferred income tax credit | ||||||||
$ | - | $ |
United States Tax
CBAK is a Nevada corporation that is subject
to U.S. corporate income tax on its taxable income at a rate of up to
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
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
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.
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A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes determined at the statutory income tax rate to the Company’s income taxes is as follows:
Year ended December 31, 2020 | Year ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||
(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 |
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:
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
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 | $ | $ |
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.
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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
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, $
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.
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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 $
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 (
On June 30, 2015, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Compensation
Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors granted an aggregate of
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,
Restricted shares granted on April 19, 2016
On April 19, 2016, pursuant to
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
Restricted share units granted on August 23, 2019
On August 23, 2019, pursuant to
The Company recorded non-cash share-based compensation
expense of $
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The Company recorded non-cash share-based compensation
expense of $
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 |
As of December 31, 2021, there was unrecognized stock-based
compensation $
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
The Company recorded non-cash share-based compensation
expense of $
The Company recorded non-cash share-based compensation
expense of $
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
As of December 31, 2021, there was unrecognized stock-based
compensation $
Employees Stock Ownership Program on November 29, 2021
On November 29, 2021, pursuant
to
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.
Stock option activity under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans is shown below:
Number of Shares | Average Exercise Price per Share | Aggregate Intrinsic Value* | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term in Years | |||||||||||||
Outstanding at January 1, 2021 | - | $ | $ | - | ||||||||||||
Exercisable at January 1, 2021 | $ | - | ||||||||||||||
Granted | ||||||||||||||||
Exercised | - | |||||||||||||||
Forfeited | - | |||||||||||||||
Outstanding at December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Exercisable at December 31, 2021 | $ | $ | - |
* | 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 $ |
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.
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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 | Year ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||
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 |
For the year ended December 31, 2020,
For the year ended December 31, 2021
26. Warrants
On December 8, 2020,
On February 8, 2021,
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
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 | Investor Warrants | Placement Agent Warrants | ||||||
Appraisal Date (Inception Date) | December 10,
2020 | December 10,
2020 | ||||||
Market price per share (USD/share) | $ | $ | ||||||
Exercise price (USD/price) | ||||||||
Risk free rate | % | % | ||||||
Dividend yield | % | % | ||||||
Expected term/ Contractual life (years) | ||||||||
Expected volatility | % | % |
Appraisal Date | December 31,
2020 | December 31,
2020 | ||||||
Market price per share (USD/share) | $ | $ | ||||||
Exercise price (USD/price) | ||||||||
Risk free rate | % | % | ||||||
Dividend yield | % | % | ||||||
Expected term/ Contractual life (years) | ||||||||
Expected volatility | % | % |
Appraisal Date | December 31,
2021 | December 31,
2021 | ||||||
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 | Investor Warrants | Placement Agent Warrants | ||||||||||||||
Appraisal Date (Inception Date) | Series
A1 February 10, 2021 | Series
A2 February 10, 2021 | Series
B February 10, 2021 | February 10, 2021 | ||||||||||||
Market price per share (USD/share) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Exercise price (USD/price) | ||||||||||||||||
Risk free rate | % | % | % | % | ||||||||||||
Dividend yield | % | % | % | % | ||||||||||||
Expected term/ Contractual life (years) | ||||||||||||||||
Expected volatility | % | % | % | % |
F-53
Warrants holder | Investor Warrants | Placement
Agent Warrants | ||||||
Appraisal Date | Series
A1 December 31, 2021 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||
Market price per share (USD/share) | ||||||||
Exercise price (USD/price) | ||||||||
Risk free rate | % | % | ||||||
Dividend yield | % | % | ||||||
Expected term/ Contractual life (years) | ||||||||
Expected volatility | % | % |
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:
Year ended December 31, 2020 | Year ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||
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:
Number of Warrants | Average Exercise Price | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term in Years | ||||||||||
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 |
As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Company had the following contracted capital commitments:
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
For construction of buildings | $ | $ | ||||||
For purchases of equipment | ||||||||
Capital injection | ||||||||
$ | $ |
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(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.
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 RMB
F-55
In December 2020,
28. Concentrations and Credit Risk
(a) | Concentrations |
The Company had the following customers that individually
comprised
Year ended | Year ended | |||||||||||||||
Sales of finished goods and raw materials | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||
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. |
The Company had the following customers that individually
comprised
December
31, 2020 | December
31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||
Customer A | $ | % | $ | |||||||||||||
Customer D | % | % | ||||||||||||||
Zhengzhou BAK Battery Co., Ltd (note 17) | % | % |
* | Comprised less than |
The Company had the following suppliers that individually
comprised
Year
ended December 31, 2020 |
Year
ended December 31, 2021 |
|||||||||||||||
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
The Company had the following suppliers that individually
comprised
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||
Zhejiang Hitrans Lithium Battery Technology Co., Ltd | $ | % | $ | * | ||||||||||||
Supplier A | * | * | % | |||||||||||||
Supplier B | * | * | % | |||||||||||||
Supplier C | % | * | * |
(b) | Credit Risk |
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
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 | CBAT | Corporate unallocated (note) | Consolidated | |||||||||
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 |
F-57
For the year ended December 31, 2021 | CBAT | Hitrans | Corporate unallocated (note) | Consolidated | ||||||||||||
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 |
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:
Year ended December 31, 2020 | Year ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||
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
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:
Year
ended December 31, 2020 | Year
ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||
Mainland China | $ | |||||||
Europe | ||||||||
Korea | ||||||||
USA | ||||||||
Others | ||||||||
Total | $ | $ |
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,
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
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)
Year ended December 31, 2020 | Year ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||
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 | ( | ) | ||||||
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS | $ | ( | ) | $ |
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CBAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEETS
As of December 31, 2020 and 2021
(Unaudited)
December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
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 | $ | $ |
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CBAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, INC.
PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021
(Unaudited)
Year ended December 31, 2020 | Year ended December 31, 2021 | |||||||
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 | ||||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of year | $ | $ |
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 RMB
On February 9, 2022, the Company obtained a one-year
term facility from Jiangsu Gaochun Rural Commercial Bank with a maximum amount of RMB
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 RMB
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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.
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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.
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PART III
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.
NAME | AGE | GENDER | POSITION | |||
Yunfei Li | 56 | Male | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | |||
J. Simon Xue | 68 | Male | Director | |||
Martha C. Agee | 67 | Female | Director | |||
Jianjun He | 50 | Male | Director | |||
Xiangyu Pei | 33 | Female | 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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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.
Stock | Option | ||||||||||||||||||
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($)(1) | Awards ($) | Awards ($)(2) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||
Yunfei Li, | 2020 | 120,339 | 120,001 | - | 240,340 | ||||||||||||||
President, Chief Executive Officer | 2021 | 120,107 | 120,001 | 53,450 | 293,557 | ||||||||||||||
Xiangyu Pei | 2020 | 44,208 | 54,000 | - | 98,208 | ||||||||||||||
Interim Chief Financial Officer | 2021 | 74,979 | 54,000 | 40,087 | 169,066 |
(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. |
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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. |
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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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) exercisable | Number of securities underlying unexercised options (#) unexercisable | Equity incentive plan awards: Number of securities underlying unexercised unearned options (#) | Option exercise price ($) | Option expiration date | Number of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#) | Market value of shares or units of stock that have not vested (#) | Equity incentive plan awards: Number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested (#) | Equity incentive plan awards: Market or payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not vested ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yunfei Li, President, Chief Executive Officer |
| - | - | 200,000 | (1) | 1.96 | 09/26/2027 | - | - | 66,665 | (1) | 59,999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Xiangyu Pei Interim Chief Financial officer | - | - | 150,000 | (2) | 1.96 | 09/26/2027 | - | - | 30,000 | (2) | 27,000 |
(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:
Fees Earned or | ||||||||||||
Name | Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($) | Total ($) | |||||||||
J. Simon Xue | 20,000 | 6,000 | 26,000 | |||||||||
Martha C. Agee | 20,000 | 6,000 | 26,000 | |||||||||
Jianjun He | 20,000 | 6,000 | 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.
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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) | Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (1) | |||||||
Number (2) | Percent (3) | |||||||
Yunfei Li (5) (7) (8)(12) | 10,985,871 | 12.38 | % | |||||
J. Simon Xue (6) (9) | 30,000 | * | ||||||
Martha C. Agee (4) (9) | 50,000 | * | ||||||
Jianjun He (4) (9) | 50,000 | * | ||||||
Xiangyu Pei (11) | 237,983 | * | ||||||
All executive officers and directors as a group (5 persons) | 11,353,854 | 12.78 | % | |||||
5% Principal Shareholders | ||||||||
Dawei Li (7) (8) | 6,733,359 | 7.59 | % | |||||
Ping Shen (10)(12)(13) | 6,337,873 | 7.14 | % |
* | Denotes less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. |
(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. |
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(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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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. |
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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.
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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 RMB
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.
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PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
Financial Statements and Schedules
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.
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(b) Exhibits:
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ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
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SIGNATURES
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 | ||
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 | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Yunfei Li | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | April 15, 2022 | ||
Yunfei Li | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
/s/ Xiangyu Pei | Interim Chief Financial Officer and Director | April 15, 2022 | ||
Xiangyu Pei | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||
/s/ J. Simon Xue | Director | April 15, 2022 | ||
J. Simon Xue | ||||
/s/ Martha C. Agee | Director | April 15, 2022 | ||
Martha C. Agee | ||||
/s/ Jianjun He | Director | April 15, 2022 | ||
Jianjun He |
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