Ballard Power Systems (BLDP) 40-F 2020 FY Annual report (Canada)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

____________________

FORM 40-F

☐ Registration statement pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

or

☒ Annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2020 Commission File Number:  000-53543

____________________

Ballard Power Systems Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

British Columbia, Canada	3620	Not Applicable
(Province or Other Jurisdiction of	(Primary Standard Industrial Classification	(I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)	Code Number)	Identification No.)

9000 Glenlyon Parkway

Burnaby, BC

Canada V5J 5J8

(604) 454-0900

(Address and telephone number of registrant’s principal executive offices)

____________________

C T Corporation System

28 Liberty St.

New York, NY 10005

(212) 894-8940

(Name, address (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code) of agent for service in the United States)

____________________

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

Title of Each Class:	Trading Symbol	Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered:
Common Shares	BLDP	NASDAQ Global Market

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Not applicable

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: Not applicable

For annual reports, indicate by check mark the information filed with this form:

☒ Annual Information Form ☒  Audited Annual Financial Statements

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the registrant’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report: As of December 31, 2020, there were 282,078,177 common shares outstanding.

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act 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 such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files). ☒  Yes ☐  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, 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. ☒ 

This Annual Report (this “Annual Report”) on Form 40-F shall be incorporated by reference into or as an exhibit to, as applicable, the following Registration Statements of the Registrant filed under the Securities Act of 1933: Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-225494, 333-161807 and 333-156553); and Form F-10 (File No. 333-238982 and 333-252890).

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The following documents of Ballard Power Systems Inc. (the “Registrant” or the “Company”) are filed as exhibits to this Annual Report and are hereby incorporated by reference herein:

● the Registrant’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2020;

● the Registrant’s Audited Consolidated Financial Statements as at and for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, including the notes thereto, together with the report of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon; and

● the Registrant’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2020.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Company is a Canadian issuer eligible to file its annual report pursuant to Section 13 of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) on Form 40-F. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act and Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Accordingly, the Company’s equity securities are exempt from Sections 14(a), 14(b), 14(c), 14(f) and 16 of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 3a12-3.

The Company is permitted, under a multi-jurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the United States, to prepare this Annual Report on Form 40-F in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, which are different from those of the United States.

The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Financial Accounting Boards, and they may be subject to Canadian auditing and auditor independence standards. Accordingly, the financial statements of the Company incorporated by reference in this Annual Report may not be comparable to financial statements of United States companies.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements concerning anticipated developments in the operations of the Company in future periods, planned development activities, the adequacy of the Company’s financial resources and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “estimate”, “project”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “plan”, “predict”, “may”, “should”, “will” and similar expressions, or by statements that events, conditions or results “will,” “may,” “could” or “should” occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those described in the Annual Information Form incorporated by reference in this Annual Report.

The Company’s forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made and the Company assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements in the future. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The required disclosure is included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis, which is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2.

MANAGEMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

The required disclosure is included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis, which is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2.

ATTESTATION REPORT OF THE REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, independently assessed the effectiveness of the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. KPMG LLP’s attestation is located in the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm included in the Registrant’s Audited Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

During the period covered by this Annual Report, no changes occurred in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

NOTICES PURSUANT TO REGULATION BTR

There were no notices required by Rule 104 of Regulation BTR that the Company sent during the year ended December 31, 2020 concerning any equity security subject to a blackout period under Rule 101 of Regulation BTR.

AUDIT COMMITTEE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

The Board has a separately designated standing audit committee (the “Audit Committee”) established for the purpose of overseeing the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Company and audits of the financial statements of the Company in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. As of the date of this Annual Report, the Company’s Audit Committee is comprised of Douglas P. Hayhurst and Janet Woodruff and James Roche is an ex officio member of the Audit Committee, each of whom the Board has determined is independent, as that term is defined in the listing standards of the NASDAQ Global Market (“Nasdaq”) and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.

The Registrant’s Board of Directors has determined that the Audit Committee has at least two members, Douglas P. Hayhurst and Janet Woodruff, who qualify as an audit committee financial expert under as defined in paragraph (8)(b) of General Instruction B of Form 40-F, and is independent, as defined in the listing standards of Nasdaq. A description of Mr. Hayhurst’s and Ms. Woodruff's qualifications are included in the Annual Information Form, under the heading “Audit Committee Matters”, which is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.3.

CODE OF ETHICS

The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to all members of its Board of Directors, as well as its officers and employees. A copy of the code of ethics is posted on the Registrant’s Internet website at www.ballard.com, and is available in print to any person without charge, upon written request to the corporate secretary of the Registrant at the principal executive offices of the Registrant provided above. If there are any amendments to the code of ethics, the Registrant intends to provide a brief description of the amendment and a copy of the amendment via its website. No waivers of the code of ethics have been granted to any principal officer of the Registrant or any person performing similar functions during the year ended December 31, 2020.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The required disclosure is included in the Annual Information Form, under the heading “Audit Committee Matters,” which is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.3.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

The required disclosure is included under the heading “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements & Contractual Obligations” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis, which is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

The required disclosure is included under the heading “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements & Contractual Obligations” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis, which is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2.

NASDAQ CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Registrant’s common shares are listed on Nasdaq. Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5615(a)(3) permits a foreign private issuer, such as the Registrant, to follow its home country practice in lieu of most of the requirements of the 5600 Series of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. For a discussion of the significant differences between our corporate governance practices and those required to be followed by U.S. domestic issuers under Nasdaq’s corporate governance requirements, please refer to our website at www.ballard.com.

UNDERTAKING

The Company undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the Commission staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the Commission staff, information relating to: the securities registered pursuant to Form 40-F; the securities in relation to which the obligation to file an annual report on Form 40-F arises; or transactions in said securities.

CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS

The Company has previously filed with the Commission a written consent to service of process on Form F-X. Any change to the name or address of the Company’s agent for service shall be communicated promptly to the Commission by amendment to the Form F-X referencing the file number of the Company.

EXHIBIT INDEX

The following documents are being filed with the Commission as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 40-F.

Exhibit	Description
99.1	Ballard Power Systems Inc. Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
99.2	Ballard Power Systems Inc. Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2020
99.3	Annual Information Form for Ballard Power Systems Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2020
99.4	Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.5	Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.6	Consent of KPMG LLP
101	Interactive Data File, formatted as Inline XBRL
104	Cover Page from this Annual Report on Form 40-F, formatted as Inline XBRL

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 40-F and has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

	BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC.
Date: March 11, 2021	By: /s/ Anthony Guglielmin
	Name: Anthony Guglielmin
	Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer