Stockholders should be aware that, according to SEC Release No. 34-29093, the market for penny stocks has suffered in recent years from patterns of fraud and abuse. Such patterns include (i) control of the market for the security by one or a few broker-dealers that are often related to the promoter or issuer; (ii) manipulation of prices through prearranged matching of purchases and sales and false and misleading press releases; (iii) boiler room practices involving high-pressure sales tactics and unrealistic price projections by inexperienced sales persons; (iv) excessive and undisclosed bid-ask differential and markups by selling broker-dealers; and (v) the wholesale dumping of the same securities by promoters and broker-dealers after prices have been manipulated to a desired level, along with the resulting inevitable collapse of those prices and with consequent investor losses.
We are obligated to indemnify our officers and directors for certain losses they suffer.
Our Bylaws provide for the indemnification of our directors, officers, employees, and agents, under certain circumstances, against liabilities, attorney’s fees and other expenses incurred by them in any litigation to which they become a party arising from their association with or activities on behalf of us to the maximum extent permitted by Nevada law. If we are required to indemnify any persons under this policy, the amounts we would have to pay could be material, and we may be unable to recover any of these funds from any source.
We recently adopted amendments to our Bylaws that could entrench our Board of Directors and prevent a change in control.
Effective January 20, 2005, we adopted Amended and Restated Bylaws that (i) increased the percentage of stockholders required to call special meetings of stockholders from 10% to 30%, (ii) eliminated a provision allowing stockholders to fill vacancies in the Board if such vacancies were not filled by the Board, (iii) include a new provision providing that no contract or transaction between us and one or more of our directors or officers is void if certain criteria are met and (iv) allow for the amendment of our Bylaws by the Board of Directors rather than our stockholders. Collectively, these provisions may allow our Board of Directors to entrench the current members and prevent a change in control of our company in situations where a change in control would be beneficial to our stockholders.
On March 21, 2006, by the written consent of holders of a majority of our shares of common stock (the “Majority Stockholders”), Mr. Jay J. Shi was chosen to become a director of CBBI instead of Donald A. Preston, rescinding the original choice of Donald A. Preston which had not yet become effective.
On March 23, 2006, Shenzhen BAK Battery Co., Ltd. (“Shenzhen BAK Battery”) entered into a Comprehensive Credit Facility Agreement of Maximum Amount (the “Agricultural Bank Credit Facility”) with Shatoujiao Branch, Agricultural Bank of China (“Agricultural Bank”). Shenzhen BAK Battery may borrow up to RMB 400 million under the Agricultural Bank Credit Facility, which expires pursuant to its terms on March 17, 2007. In connection with the Agricultural Bank Credit Facility, Xiangqian Li entered into a Guaranty Contract of Maximum Amount (the “Agricultural Bank Guaranty”) on March 23, 2006, whereby Mr. Xiangqian Li will provide an unconditional guaranty of joint and several liability for all indebtedness of Shenzhen BAK Battery under the Agricultural Bank Credit Facility. The Agricultural Bank Guaranty expires pursuant to its terms on March 17, 2008. Also in connection with the Agricultural Bank Credit Facility, Shenzhen BAK Battery entered into four (4) separate loan agreements with Agricultural Bank. The loan agreement dated March 23, 2006 provides for RMB 28 million at a fixed annual interest rate of 5.22% and expires pursuant to its terms on September 20, 2006. The loan agreement dated March 24, 2006 provides for RMB 40 million at a fixed annual interest rate of 5.22% and expires pursuant to its terms on September 24, 2006. The loan agreement dated March 28, 2006 provides for RMB 41 million at a fixed annual interest rate of 5.22% and expires pursuant to its terms on August 28, 2006. The loan agreement dated March 30, 2006 provides for RMB 39 million at a fixed annual interest rate of 5.22% and expires pursuant to its terms on July 30, 2006.
On February 9, 2006, Shenzhen BAK Battery entered into a Comprehensive Credit Facility Agreement of Maximum Amount (the “CITIC Credity Facility”) with Shenzhen Branch, China CITIC Bank (“CITIC”). Shenzhen BAK Battery may borrow up to RMB 50 million under the CITIC Credit Facility, which expires pursuant to its terms on February 17, 2007. In connection with the CITIC Credit Facility, BAK International Limited entered into a Guaranty Contract of Maximum Amount (“CITIC Guaranty I”) on February 9, 2006, whereby BAK International will provide an unconditional guaranty of joint and several liability for all indebtedness of Shenzhen BAK Battery under the CITIC Credit Facility. The CITIC Guaranty I expires pursuant to its terms on February 17, 2006. Also in connection with the CITIC Credit Facility, Mr. Xiangqian Li entered into a Guaranty Contract of Maximum Amount (the “CITIC Guaranty II”) on February 9, 2006, whereby Mr. Xiangqian Li will provide an unconditional guaranty of joint and several liability for all indebtedness of Shenzhen BAK Battery under the CITIC Credit Facility. The CITIC Guaranty II expires pursuant to its terms on February 18, 2007.
On February 22, 2006, BAK Battery drew an additional 30 million RMB for production working capital under that certain Comprehensive Credit Facility Agreement (No. Jie 2005 Zong 1145042R) with Shenzhen Branch, China Construction Bank, bearing interest at an annual rate of 5.481% and maturing August 23, 2006.
CBBI’s two Registration Statements on Form SB-2, file nos. 333-122209 and 333-130247, registering the resale of 12,626,264 and 8,531,852 shares, respectively, of CBBI common stock, were declared effective by the SEC on March 30, 2006. All the remaining outstanding shares of CBBI common stock either became eligible for sale under Rule 144 beginning January 21, 2006 or were freely tradable on that date.
Shenzhen BAK’s newly constructed manufacturing plant and related facilities described in the Prospectus under the caption “Facilities,” are located at BAK Industrial Park, No. 1 BAK Street, Kuichong Town, Longgang District, Shenzhen, China. Shenzhen BAK also leases additional facilities, also described in the Prospectus under the caption “Facilities,” at Zhenda Industrial Park, Kuichong Town, Longgang District, Shenzhen, China.
Election of Directors and Shareholder Approval of Stock Option Plan and Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors
The election of Dr. Huanyu Mao, Richard Goodner, Joseph R. Mannes, Jay J. Shi, and the approval of the China BAK Battery, Inc. Stock Option Plan and the China BAK Battery, Inc. Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors described under the caption “Election of Directors” and “Approval of New Stock Option Plan and Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors,” respectively, in the Company’s Definitive Information Statement filed with the SEC on April 21, 2006, became effective on May 12, 2006. Dr. Mao and Messrs. Goodner, Mannes and Shi will serve as directors until the next annual meeting of shareholders or their respective successors are elected and qualified.
The biographical information of Messrs. Goodner, Mannes, Shi and Mao is set forth below.
Mr. Goodner currently serves as Vice President – Legal Affairs and General Counsel for U.S. Home Systems, Inc., a Nasdaq National Market System publicly traded company which manufactures, designs, and markets custom quality specialty home improvement products, and has held this position since June 2003. Prior to joining U.S. Home Systems, Inc., Mr. Goodner was a partner in the law firm of Jackson Walker L.L.P., from 1997 to 2003. Mr. Goodner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Eastern New Mexico University and a law degree from Southern Methodist University.
Mr. Mannes currently serves as the Managing Director – Corporate Finance of SAMCO Capital Markets, a division of Penson Financial Services, Inc., and a full-service broker/dealer specializing in serving financial institutions, and has held this position since 2001. Prior to joining SAMCO Capital Markets, Mr. Mannes served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Clearwire Technologies, Inc., a provider of broadband wireless services, from 1998 to 2001. He also serves on the board of Tandy Leather Factory, Inc., on the advisory board of Conchemco, Inc., and as chairman of HiTech Creations, Inc., an independent computer game company. Mr. Mannes holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and French from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the Wharton School Graduate Division of the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Shi currently serves as Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of SoBright Technology, Co., Ltd. Mr. Shi has served in that capacity since October 2005. Mr. Shi also currently serves as President of Big Wave Consulting Co., a provider of technology development and consulting services with respect to advanced Li-ion and rechargeable lithium batteries. Mr. Shi has served in that capacity since March 2005. From April 2002 to February 2005, Mr. Shi served as Senior Manager/Associate Principal of TIAX, LLC, a collaborative product and technology development firm. From January 2001 to April 2002, Mr. Shi served as Senior Manager at Arthur D. Little, Inc., a consulting firm. Mr. Shi holds a Ph.D in Physical Chemistry from St. Andrews University, and an M.S. in Polymer Sciences and a B.S. in Chemistry from Zhejiang University.
Huanyu Mao has served as our Chief Technical Officer since January 20, 2005 and as our Chief Operating Officer since June 30, 2005. Dr. Mao has been Chief Scientist of BAK Battery since September 2004. From 1997 until September 2004, Dr. Mao served as Chief Engineer of Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-Stock Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of Li-ion batteries in China. Dr. Mao received a Doctorate degree in electrochemistry in conducting polymers from Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada.
The above directors will serve on the board along with Xiangqian Li, whose biographical information is set forth below.
Xiangqian Li has served as our Director, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer since January 20, 2005. Mr. Li will serve in such capacities until his death, resignation or removal, or the election and qualification of his successor, whichever comes first. Mr. Li has been Chairman of Board of Directors and General Manager of BAK Battery since April 2001 and has also served as BAK Battery’s general manager since December 2003. Previously, Mr. Li served as (i) Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Manager of Shenzhen BAK Li-ion Battery Co., Ltd., a provider of Li-ion battery cells, from December 2000 until March 2001; (ii) as Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Manager of Jilin Provincial Huaruan Technology Company Limited by Shares (“Huaruan”), a provider of automobile video systems, from March 2001 until June 2001; and (iii) as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Huaruan from June 2001 until June 2003. Prior to 2001 Mr. Li was self employed. Mr. Li graduated from Lanzhou Railway Institute and holds a Bachelors degree in gas engineering. He is pursuing a Doctorate of quantity economics from Jilin University.
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