CBAK Energy Technology (CBAT) 10-K/A2023 FY Annual report (amended)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K/A

(Amendment No. 1)

(Mark One)

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2023

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ____________to _____________

Commission File No. 001-32898

CBAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(86) (411)-3918-5985

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act) Yes ☐ No ☒

As of June 30, 2023 (the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter), the aggregate market value of the shares of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates (based upon the closing sale price of $1.22 per share) was approximately $95.2 million. Shares of the registrant’s common stock held by each executive officer and director and by each person who owns 10% or more of the outstanding common stock have been excluded from the calculation in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates of the registrant. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

There was a total of 89,919,190 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of April 26, 2024.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. (the “Company”) is filing this Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (the “Form 10-K/A”) to amend its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (together with the Form 10-K/A, the “Form 10-K”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 15, 2024. The purpose of this Form 10-K/A is solely to disclose the information required in Part III (Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) of Form 10-K, which information was previously omitted in reliance on General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K. Accordingly, the Company hereby amends and replaces in its entirety Part III of the Form 10-K.

In addition, pursuant to the rules of the SEC, Item 15 of Part IV has been amended to include the currently dated certifications of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. New certifications of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer are filed with this Form 10-K/A as Exhibits 31.3 and 31.4 hereto. Because no financial statements have been included in this Form 10-K/A and this Form 10-K/A does not contain or amend any disclosure with respect to Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K, paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of the certifications have been omitted. The Company is not including a new certification under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as no financial statements are being filed with this Form 10-K/A.

Except as described above, this Form 10-K/A does not amend any other information set forth in the Form 10-K, and the Company has not updated disclosures included therein to reflect any subsequent events. This Form 10-K/A should be read in conjunction with the Form 10-K and with the Company’s filings with the SEC subsequent to the Form 10-K.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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.

Yunfei Li has served as the chairman of our board, our president and chief executive officer since March 1, 2016. Mr. Yunfei Li has more than 20 years of management experience in industries of battery, new energy and real estate development. 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. Yunfei 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. Yunfei Li holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Liao Yuan Vocational Technical College.

Xiangyu Pei served as our Interim Chief Financial Officer from August 23, 2019 to August 22, 2023. After resigning as our Interim Chief Financial Officer, she has continued to serve in our finance department. Prior to that, she served as the financial controller of the Company’s subsidiary, CBAK Power since 2017. Ms. Pei was also the Company’s secretary from 2017 to August 2023. While serving as our Interim Chief Financial Officer, she oversaw auditing, accounting, financial reporting and investor relations for the Company. Ms. Pei received a PhD in World Economics from Jilin University in China.

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 Doctor degree in 1988 from Baylor University.

J. Simon Xue has served as our director since February 1, 2016. Dr. Xue has approximately 40 years of 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 retired but remains a member of energy storage strategic division of the Expert Committee for “Chinese Industrial Association of Power Sources”, energy storage strategic division. 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 has 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. 

Jianjun He has served as our director since November 4, 2013. Mr. He has more than 16 years of 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 Cybernaut Lvke 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 Juyuan Hanyang 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.

Jiewei Li has served as our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company since August 2023. Mr. Li has been the Company’s investor relations manager since 2021. Prior to joining the Company, from 2018 to 2021, Mr. Li had worked at multiple fund management companies in China where he focused on structuring various investment products. Before that, from 2014 to 2018, he had worked for several renowned American real estate developers in their fund management departments, responsible for capital market affairs. Mr. Li received a Master’s Degree in Political and Public Administration from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2014.

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.

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.

Board Diversity Matrix

The matrix below summarizes the gender and ethnic diverse attributes on our Board.

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.

Ms. Pei, has been with the Company since 2017 and served as the Company’s interim chief financial officer from August 23, 2019 to August 22, 2023. She contributes valuable financial expertise and management insights to the Board.

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.

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.

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.

Family Relationships

There are no family relationships among our directors or officers.

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:

Board Composition and Committees

Our board of directors is comprised of Yunfei Li, Xiangyu Pei, Martha C. Agee, J. Simon Xue and Jianjun He.

Martha Agee, J. Simon Xue 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.

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:

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:

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:

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, 2023, 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 2023, except that one Form 4, covering one transaction, was filed late by Mr. Yunfei Li, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, and one Form 4, covering one transaction, was filed late by Ms. Xiangyu Pei, our Director and former Interim Chief Financial Officer. 

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 executive officers for services rendered in all capacities during the noted periods.

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 in the form of our standard employment agreements. We entered into an 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 an 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. Ms. Xiangyu Pei resigned as the Interim Chief Financial Officer on August 22, 2023. We also have entered into a standard employment agreement with Mr. Jiewei Li.

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,

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2023

The following table sets forth the equity awards outstanding at December 31, 2023 for each of our named executive officers. As of December 31, 2023, there were no outstanding stock awards for named executive officers.

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

Compensation of Directors

On April 11, 2023, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, each of our independent directors was granted 10,000 restricted share units, or RSUs, of the Company’s common stock, which vested in two equal installments on June 30 and December 31, 2023, respectively. On the same date, each of our independent directors was granted an option to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock, which vest in four equal installments semi-annually with the first installment vesting on June 30, 2024.

The following table sets forth the total compensation earned by our non-employee directors during our fiscal year ended December 31, 2023:

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.

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 26, 2024 (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 named executive officers and directors as a group:

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, 2023. Options exercisable for all of the securities shown in column (a) below were granted under our 2015 Plan.

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) shares.

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.

On April 11, 2023, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Compensation Committee granted an aggregate of (i) 894,000 restricted share units and (ii) 2,124,000 options to purchase the Company’s common stock, to certain employees, officers and directors of the Company. Such restricted share units vested in two equal installments on June 30 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The options vest in four equal installments semi-annually with the first installment vesting on June 30, 2024.

On August 22, 2023, pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the Compensation Committee granted an aggregate of (i) 40,000 restricted share units and (ii) 160,000 options to purchase the Company’s common stock, to two employees. Such restricted share units vest in two equal installments on October 15, 2023 and April 15, 2024, respectively. The options vest in four equal installments semi-annually with the first installment vesting on February 15, 2025.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.

Transactions with Related Persons

The following is a summary of reportable transactions 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”).

Related party transactions

The Company entered into the following significant related party transactions:

Related party balances

Apart from the above, the Company recorded the following significant related party balances as of December 31, 2022 and 2023:

Receivables from former subsidiary

Balance as of December 31, 2022 and 2023 represented trade receivable for sales of cathode raw materials to Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd.

Other balances due from/ (to) related parties

Payables to a former subsidiary

Payables to a former subsidiary as of December 31, 2022 and 2023 consisted of the following:

Balance as of December 31, 2022 and 2023 consisted of payables for purchase of inventories from Shenzhen BAK Power Battery Co., Ltd.

Guarantees for the Company 

On January 17, 2022, we obtained a one-year term facility from Agricultural Bank of China with a maximum amount of RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 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 and secured by an unrelated third party, Jiangsu Credits Financing Guarantee Co., Ltd. We borrowed RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) on the same date for a term until January 16, 2023. We repaid the loan early on January 5, 2023. On January 6, 2023, we borrowed a one-year term loan of RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) for a period of one year until January 4, 2024, bearing interest at 120% of benchmark rate of the PBOC for short-term loans, which is 3.85% per annum, while other terms and guarantee remain the same.

On February 9, 2022, we obtained a one-year term facility from Jiangsu Gaochun Rural Commercial Bank with a maximum amount of RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 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. We borrowed RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) on February 17, 2022 for a term until January 28, 2023. We repaid the loan early on January 16, 2023. On January 17, 2023, we borrowed a one-year loan of RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) bearing interest at 129% of benchmark rate of PBOC for short-term loans, which is 4.70% per annum for a term until January 13, 2024.

On March 8, 2022, we obtained a one-year term facility from China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd. Shangyu Branch with a maximum amount of RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 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) on the same date. On May 17, 2022, we repaid the loan principal and related loan interests.

On April 28, 2022, we obtained a three-year term facility from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Nanjing Gaochun branch, with a maximum amount of RMB12 million (approximately $1.7 million) with the term from April 21, 2022 to April 21, 2025. The facilities were guaranteed by our CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan. Under the facility, we borrowed RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) on April 29, 2022, bearing interest at 3.95% per annum for a term until April 29, 2023. We repaid RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) on April 19, 2023. On April 20, 2023, we borrowed another one-year loan of RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) bearing interest at 102.5% of benchmark rate of PBOC for short-term loans, which is 3.90% per annum for a term until April 19, 2024.

On June 22, 2022, we obtained another one-year term facility from China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd. Shangyu Branch with a maximum amount of RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) bearing interest at 4.5% per annum. The facility was guaranteed by 100% equity in CBAK Power held by BAK Asia and our CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li. The Company borrowed RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) on the same date for a term until June 21, 2023. We repaid the loan on November 10, 2022. 

On September 25, 2022, we entered into a new one-year term facility with Jiangsu Gaochun Rural Commercial Bank with a maximum amount of RMB9 million (approximately $1.3 million) bearing interest rate at 4.81% per annum. The facility was guaranteed by 100% equity in CBAK Nanjing held by BAK Investment and our CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan. We borrowed RMB9 million (approximately $1.3 million) on September 27, 2022 for a term until September 24, 2023. We repaid the loan on September 24, 2023.

We entered into another one-year term facility with Jiangsu Gaochun Rural Commercial Bank with a maximum amount of RMB9 million (approximately $1.2 million) bearing interest rate at 4.6% per annum for a period from September 27, 2023 to August 31, 2024. The facility was guaranteed by 100% equity in CBAK Nanjing held by BAK Investment and the Company’s CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan. We borrowed RMB9 million (approximately $1.3 million) on September 27, 2023 for a term until September August 31, 2024.

On January 7, 2023, we obtained a two-year term facility from Postal Savings Bank of China, Nanjing Tianhe Branch with a maximum amount of RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) for a period from January 7, 2023 to January 6, 2025. The facility was guaranteed by the Company’s CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li, Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan and CBAK New Energy (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. We borrowed RMB5 million (approximately $0.7 million) on January 12, 2023 for a term of one year until January 11, 2024, bearing interest at 3.65% per annum. We repaid the above early on June 15, 2023. On June 27, 2023, we entered into another loan agreement for one year from June 27, 2023 to June 26, 2024 under the two-year term facility for a maximum loan amount of RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) bearing interest rate at 3.65 % per annum. The Company borrowed RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) on the same date. The loan was guaranteed by our CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li, Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan and CBAK New Energy (Nanjing) Co., Ltd.

On April 19, 2023, we and Bank of Nanjing Gaochun Branch entered into a short-term loan agreement for one year from April 10, 2023 to April 9, 2024 for RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) bearing interest rate at 3.7% per annum. We borrowed RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) on April 23, 2023. The loan was guaranteed by our CEO, Mr. Yunfei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan.

On July 31, 2023, we obtained a three-year term facility from Bank of China Gaochun Branch, with a maximum amount of RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) with the term from July 31, 2023 to July 30, 2026. The facility was guaranteed by our CEO, Mr, Yunfei Li and Mr. Yunfei Li’s wife Ms. Qinghui Yuan. Under the facility, we borrowed RMB10 million (approximately $1.4 million) on July 31, 2023, bearing interest rate at 3.15% per annum.

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 ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

On July 18, 2023, the Board of Directors of CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. (the “Company”) approved the dismissal of Centurion ZD CPA & Co. (“Centurion”) as independent registered public accounting firm of the Company, and approved the appointment of ARK Pro CPA & Co (“ARK”) as its independent registered public accounting firm.

Audit Fees

Centurion billed us $513,721 and $256,813 and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2023, 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.

ARK billed us $62,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 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.

Audit-Related Fees

The fees for the audit-related services billed and to be billed by Centurion for the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2023 amounted to $2,500 and nil, respectively.

We did not engage ARK to provide assurance or related services during the year ended December 31, 2023.

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 auditors 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.

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

Exhibit Index

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 29, 2024

17