SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
PROXY
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT
NO.___)
Filed by
the Registrant þ
Filed by
a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the
appropriate box:
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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þ
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Definitive
Proxy Statement
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Definitive
Additional Materials
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Soliciting
Material Pursuant to sec. 240.14a-11(c) or sec.
240.14a-12
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HONG
KONG HIGHPOWER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
(Name of
Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
þ
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Fee
not required.
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¨
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
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(1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee
is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5)
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Total
fee paid:
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
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(1)
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Amount
Previously Paid:
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(2)
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3)
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Filing
Party:
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(4)
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Date
Filed:
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HONG
KONG HIGHPOWER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
You are cordially invited to attend the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Hong Kong Highpower
Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), to be held at Building
A1, Luoshan Industrial Zone, Shanxia, Pinghu, Longgang, Shenzhen, Guangdong,
518111, People’s Republic of China on October 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. China
Standard Time.
The Annual Meeting of the Company is
being held for the following purposes:
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1.
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To
elect the following persons to serve as
directors:
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Dang
Yu Pan
Wen
Liang Li
Xinhai
Li
Chao
Li
Ping
Li
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2.
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To
ratify the appointment of Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. as the independent
registered public accounting firm of the Company for the year ending
December 31, 2010; and
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3.
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To
approve an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation to
change the Company’s name to “Highpower International, Inc.”;
and
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4.
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To
transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or
any adjournments thereof.
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The Board of Directors recommends a
vote “for” the director nominees and the proposal listed above.
The Board of Directors has fixed the
close of business on August 25, 2010 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for
determining those stockholders who will be entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting.
It is important that your shares be
represented and voted at the meeting. You can vote your shares via
the Internet, by telephone, be requesting a paper proxy card to complete and
return by mail or by attending the meeting and voting in
person. Voting instructions for each of these voting methods are
included in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and the
accompanying proxy statement. Please vote as soon as possible to record your
vote promptly, even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting in
person.
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FOR
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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/s/
Henry Ngan
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Chief
Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
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on
behalf of the Board of
Directors
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Dated:
September 3, 2010
Shenzhen,
China
HONG
KONG HIGHPOWER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
PROXY
STATEMENT
For
Annual Meeting to be Held on
October
20, 2010, 10:00 a.m., China Standard Time
This
proxy statement is delivered to you by Hong Kong Highpower Technology, Inc.
(“we,” “us,” the “Company,” or “Highpower”), a Delaware corporation, in
connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held at
Building A1, Luoshan Industrial Zone, Shanxia, Pinghu, Longgang, Shenzhen,
Guangdong, 518111, People’s Republic of China on October 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.
China Standard Time (the “Annual Meeting”). We will mail or make this
proxy statement available via the Internet to stockholders on September 8,
2010.
The
purpose of the Annual Meeting is to seek stockholder approval of three
proposals: (1) electing five directors to the Board of Directors;
(2) ratifying the appointment Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. as the Company’s
independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending
December 31, 2010; and (3) approve an amendment to our certificate of
incorporation to change our name to “Highpower International, Inc.”
Internet
Availability Of Proxy Materials
The
Company will mail, on or about September 8, 2010, a Notice of Internet
Availability of Proxy Materials to most of its stockholders. We are
furnishing proxy materials to most of our stockholders via the Internet. Making
the proxy materials available to stockholders via the Internet will save us the
cost of printing and mailing documents, will expedite receipt of our proxy
materials by stockholders and will reduce the impact of the Annual Meeting on
the environment. Stockholders receiving only a Notice of Internet
Availability will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless you
request it. If you would prefer to receive printed proxy materials,
please follow the instructions included in the Notice of Internet Availability.
The Notice of Internet Availability contains instructions on how to access our
proxy materials, including our proxy statement and our annual report. The Notice
of Internet Availability also instructs you on how to access your proxy card to
be able to vote through the Internet or by telephone. Our stockholders of record
and other stockholders who have previously requested printed copies of our proxy
materials will be mailed paper copies of our proxy materials and a proxy card or
voting form on or about September 8, 2010.
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to
be Held on October 20, 2010: The Proxy Statement and the Company’s
2010 Annual Report are available at
https://materials.proxyvote.com/43858B.
Quorum;
Voting Rights
Holders
of our common stock of record at the close of business on August 25, 2010 (“the
Record Date”) will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. There were
13,582,106 shares of common stock outstanding as of the Record Date. Each share
of our common stock is entitled to one vote, and the presence, in person or by
proxy, of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock,
is necessary to constitute a quorum for the Annual
Meeting. Abstentions and broker “non-votes” will be treated as
present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining the presence of a
quorum. If a quorum is not present at the Annual Meeting, we expect that the
Annual Meeting will be adjourned to solicit additional proxies. Stockholders may
not cumulate their votes.
Voting
Your Proxy
Your vote
is important. Your shares can be voted at the Annual Meeting only if you are
present in person or represented by proxy. Even if you plan to attend
the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote in advance. Please follow the
appropriate instructions described below:
By Internet
– Stockholders who received a Notice of Internet Availability may vote
via the Internet by following the instructions on the Notice. Stockholders who
received a proxy card by mail may vote via the Internet by following the
instructions on the proxy card. When voting via the Internet, all stockholders
must have available the control number included on their Notice of Internet
Availability or proxy card. Under Delaware law, you may transmit a proxy via the
Internet.
By Telephone
– Stockholders who received a Notice of Internet Availability may vote
via telephone by following the instructions on the Notice. Stockholders who
received a proxy card by mail may vote via telephone by following the
instructions on the proxy card. When voting via telephone, all stockholders must
have available the control number included on their Notice of Internet
Availability or proxy card.
By Mail –
Stockholders who received a paper copy of these proxy materials may vote by mail
by completing, signing, dating and returning their proxy card in the prepaid
envelope that will be included with the proxy card. You may also
request a proxy card from Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., or Broadridge,
and indicate your vote by completing, signing and dating the proxy card where
indicated and by returning it in the prepaid envelope that will be included with
the proxy card.
In Person
– Stockholders of record may vote in person by attending the Annual Meeting and
completing a ballot distributed at the meeting. Stockholders who hold their
shares in street name may vote in person by attending the Annual Meeting only if
they have requested and received a legal proxy from their broker or other
nominee, and deliver the proxy to the inspector of election before or at the
meeting.
Counting
of Votes
Your
shares will be voted in accordance with the instructions you indicate on the
proxy card. If you submit the proxy card but do not indicate your voting
instructions, your shares will be voted as follows: (1) FOR the
election of the nominees for director named herein; (2) FOR the
reappointment of Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. as the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2010;
and (3) FOR the approval of the amendment to the Company’s certificate of
incorporation to change our name to “Highpower International,
Inc.” All properly executed proxies delivered pursuant to this
solicitation and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance
with the directions given. Representatives of Broadridge Financial
Solutions, Inc. will assist us in the tabulation of the votes.
Effect
of Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes
Abstentions
and broker “non-votes” will be treated as present and entitled to vote for
purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.
An
abstention is the voluntary act of not voting by a stockholder who is present at
a meeting and entitled to vote. Abstentions will have no effect on the election
of the director nominees, but will be counted as votes against the ratification
of the appointment of Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. and the approval of the
amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation.
A broker
“non-vote” occurs when a broker nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner
does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have
discretionary power for that particular item and has not received instructions
from the beneficial owner. Brokers that hold shares of our common stock in
“street” name for customers that are the beneficial owners of those shares may
not give a proxy to vote those shares on certain routine matters without
specific instructions from those customers. Of the proposals
contained herein, Proposals 2 and 3 are considered routine matters. Therefore,
brokers that do not receive instructions are entitled to vote on the
ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting
firm and the approval of the amendment to the Company’s certificate of
incorporation. Should a broker non-vote occur, it will have no effect
on the outcome of Proposal 2 (i.e. it will be neither a vote “for” nor “against”
the proposal), but will be treated as a vote against Proposal 3.
Revoking
Your Proxy
Any proxy
given may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise by notifying the
Corporate Secretary of the Company in writing of such revocation, by duly
executing and delivering another proxy bearing a later date, or by attending and
voting in person at the Annual Meeting. The Company’s principal executive office
is located at Building A1, Luoshan Industrial Zone, Shanxia, Pinghu, Longgang,
Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518111, People’s Republic of China.
Appraisal
Rights
Under the
Delaware Code, stockholders entitled to vote will not have any dissenters'
rights of appraisal in connection with any of the matters to be voted on at the
meeting, and we will not independently provide stockholders with any such
right.
Solicitation
of Proxies
The cost
of this solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company. In
addition, the Company will solicit stockholders by mail, and will request banks
and brokers, and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries, to solicit their
customers who have stock of Highpower registered in the names of such persons
and will reimburse them for their reasonable, out-of-pocket costs. The Company
may use the services of its officers, directors, and others to solicit proxies,
personally or by telephone, without additional compensation.
Delivery
of Proxy Materials to Households
“Householding”
is a program, approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”),
which allows companies and intermediaries (e.g. brokers) to satisfy the delivery
requirements for proxy statements and annual reports by delivering only one
package of stockholder proxy material to any household at which two or more
stockholders reside. If you and other residents at your mailing address own
shares of our common stock in street name, your broker or bank may have notified
you that your household will receive only one copy of our proxy materials. Once
you have received notice from your broker that they will be “householding”
materials to your address, “householding” will continue until you are notified
otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish
to participate in “householding” and would prefer to receive a separate proxy
statement, or if you are receiving multiple copies of the proxy statement and
wish to receive only one, please notify your broker if your shares are held in a
brokerage account, or call or write us at the following address or phone number:
Hong Kong Highpower Technology, Inc, Building A1, Luoshan Industrial Zone,
Shanxia, Pinghu, Longgang, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518111, People’s
Republic of China, by telephone at (86) 755-89686238. If you hold shares of our
common stock in your own name as a holder of record, “householding” will not
apply to your shares.
Interest
of Executive Officers and Directors
None of
the Company’s executive officers or directors has any interest in any of the
matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting, except, with respect to each
director, to the extent that a director is named as a nominee for election to
the Board of Directors.
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THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE
DIRECTOR-NOMINEES.
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The
Company currently has five authorized members on its Board of Directors. The
Company’s Bylaws give the Board of Directors the authority to establish,
increase or decrease the number of directors. The nominees for
election at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to the Board of Directors are
Dang Yu Pan, Xinhai Li,
Wen Liang Li, Chao Li, and Ping Li, all of whom currently serve on the
Board of Directors and advised the Company of their willingness to serve as a
member of the Company’s Board of Directors if elected. You can find information
about the nominees below under the section “Board of Directors and Executive
Officers.”
If
elected, the nominees will serve as directors until the Company’s Annual Meeting
of Stockholders in 2011 or until their successors are elected and
qualified. If a nominee declines to serve or becomes unavailable for
any reason, the proxies may be voted for such substitute nominee as the proxy
holders may designate.
Vote
Required
You may
vote in favor or against any or all of the nominees and you may also withhold
your vote as to any or all of the nominees. The affirmative vote of a plurality
of all of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present is necessary
for the election of each of the nominees for director, assuming a quorum is
present. If
stockholders do not specify the manner in which their shares represented by a
validly executed proxy solicited by the board of directors are to be voted on
this proposal, such shares will be voted in favor of all of the nominees.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and will have
no effect on the result of the vote, although they will count toward the
presence of a quorum.
PROPOSAL
NO. 2
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RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
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THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO RATIFY
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THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF DOMINIC K.F. CHAN &
CO.
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The Audit
Committee has recommended the reappointment of Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. as
the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year
ending December 31, 2010. Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. has served
as the Company’s independent accountant since November 2,
2007. Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. previously served as the
independent registered public accounting firm of the Company’s wholly-owned
subsidiary, Hong Kong Highpower Technology Company Limited. The stockholders are
being requested to ratify the reappointment of Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. at
the Annual Meeting. The Company anticipates that a representative of Dominic
K.F. Chan & Co. will attend the Annual Meeting to make a statement and to
respond to appropriate stockholder questions.
Fees
to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Fiscal Years 2009 and
2008
The
following table presents fees, including reimbursements for expenses, for
professional audit services rendered by Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. for the
audits of the Company’s annual financial statements and interim reviews of the
Company’s quarterly financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2009
and December 31, 2008 and fees billed for other services rendered by Dominic
K.F. Chan & Co. during those periods.
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Audit
Fees(1)
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$ |
73,000 |
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$ |
73,000 |
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Audit-Related
Fees
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- |
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- |
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Tax
Fees
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- |
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- |
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All
Other Fees
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- |
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- |
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Total
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$ |
73,000 |
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$ |
73,000 |
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(1)
These are fees for professional services performed by Dominic K.F. Chan &
Co. for the audit of our annual financial statements, review of our quarterly
reports, and review of our Registration Statement on Form S-1.
Pre-Approval
Policy
The Audit
Committee on an annual basis reviews audit and non-audit services performed by
the independent registered public accounting firm for such services. The audit
committee pre-approves (i) auditing services (including those performed for
purposes of providing comfort letters and statutory audits) and (ii)
non-auditing services that exceed a de minimis standard established by the
committee, which are rendered to the Company by its outside auditors (including
fees).
Vote
Required
You may
vote in favor or against this proposal and you may also withhold your
vote. The affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast or
represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to
ratify the appointment Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. as Highpower’s independent
registered public accounting firm. If stockholders do not specify the manner in
which their shares represented by a validly executed proxy solicited by the
board of directors are to be voted on this proposal, such shares will be voted
in favor of the appointment of Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. as our independent
registered public accounting firm. For purposes of the vote on this
matter, abstentions will be counted as votes cast against the proposal, whereas
broker non-votes are not applicable as brokers are entitled to vote on this
matter. However, should a broker non-vote occur, it will not be
counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will count toward the presence of a
quorum.
PROPOSAL
NO. 3
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APPROVAL
OF AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
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THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO
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APPROVE
THE AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION
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On August 24, 2010, our Board of
Directors unanimously approved and recommended that our stockholders approve an
amendment to our certificate of incorporation to change our name to “Highpower
International, Inc.”
We
want to change our name from “Hong Kong Highpower Technology, Inc.” to
“Highpower International, Inc.” in order to reflect the growing
international aspect of your business. This proposed name change is a
key component of our effort to emphasize our growing market.
If
approved by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting, the new name will become
effective upon the filing of an amendment to our certificate of incorporation
with the Delaware Secretary of State. The change of corporate name will be
accomplished by amending Article I of our certificate of incorporation to
read as follows:
"The
name of this corporation is Highpower International, Inc. (the
"Corporation")."
The change in corporate name will not
affect the validity or transferability of stock certificates presently
outstanding, and our stockholders will not be required to exchange their stock
certificates to reflect the new name. Stockholders should keep the certificates
they now hold, which will continue to be valid, and should not send them to us
or our transfer agent. Our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Global Market
Market, and if the proposal is approved, the symbol under which our common stock
is traded will remain "HPJ."
If there exists any circumstances which
would make consummation of the name change inadvisable in the judgment of our
Board of Directors, the proposal to amend our articles of incorporation may be
terminated by our Board of Directors either before or after approval of the name
change by our shareholders.
Vote Required
Approval of the amendment to
our certificate of incorporation will require the affirmative vote of at least a
majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy
and voting at the Annual Meeting, assuming the presence of a
quorum. For purposes of the vote on this matter, abstentions and
broker non-votes will be counted as votes cast against the proposal, although
each type of vote will count toward the presence of a quorum. If the
stockholders do not approve Proposal No. 3, the certificate of amendment to our
certificate of incorporation will not be filed and the name of our company will
remain “Hong Kong Highpower Technology, Inc.”
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Information
Concerning Director Nominees
Our executive officers, our current
directors, and our director nominees who have been nominated for election as
directors at the Annual Meeting, the positions held by them and their ages as of
the date of this proxy statement are as follows:
Name
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Age
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Position
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Dang
Yu Pan.
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42
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Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board and director
nominee
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Wen
Liang Li
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45
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Vice
President, Chief Technology Officer, Director and director
nominee
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Wen
Wei Ma
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39
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Vice
President of Manufacturing
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Henry
Ngan
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37
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Chief
Financial Officer
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Wen
Jia Xiao
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33
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Vice
President of Quality Control
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Xinhai
Li
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47
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Director
and director nominee
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Chao
Li
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65
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Director
and director nominee
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Ping
Li
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45
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Director
and director
nominee
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Dang Yu
Pan has been the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive officer of the
Company and HKHT since November 2007 and July 2003, respectively. Mr. Pan is the
founder of Shenzhen Highpower and has served as the Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer of Shenzhen Highpower since October 2002. From May 2001
to October 2002, Mr. Pan was the General Manager and Chairman of the Board of
Guangzhou HaoPeng Technology Co., Ltd. From January 1997 to July 2000, Mr. Pan
was the Vice General Manager of Nanhai Shida Battery Co., Ltd. From January 1995
to December 1996, Mr. Pan served as a director of the HuangPu Aluminum Factory.
Additionally, from August 1990 to December 1994, Mr. Pan worked in the sales
department of the Guangzhou Aluminum Products Factory. Mr. Pan received a
bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from Central South University in
China in 1990. We believe Mr. Pan’s qualifications to sit on our Board
include his extensive understanding of our business, our products and the
battery industry that he has acquired over his 12 years working in the battery
industry, including over 7 years as an officer and director of as a director of
Shenzhen Highpower.
Wen Liang
Li has been a director of the Company since November 2007 and a director
of HKHT since July 2003. Since January 2003, Mr. Li. has served as a director
and as Vice General Manager and Chief Technology Officer of Shenzhen Highpower.
From January 1996 to December 2002, Mr. Li served as Vice General Manager of
Zhuhai Taiyi Battery Co., Ltd., a battery manufacturer. Mr. Li received a
master’s degree in Electrochemistry from the Harbin Institute of Technology in
China in 1991. We believe that Mr. Li’s 18 years of working experience in the
battery industry, including 7 years as an officer and director of Shenzhen
Highpower, well qualify Mr. Li to serve on our Board.
Wen Wei Ma
has served as the Company’s Vice President of Manufacturing since November 2007
and as a director of HKHT since July 2003. Mr. Ma has served as a director and
as a Vice General Manager of Manufacturing of Shenzhen Highpower since October
2002. Mr. Ma received a diploma in chymic analysis from the Guangzhou Trade
School of Light Industry in China in 1989.
Henry Ngan
has served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company since February
2009. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Ngan had served as Vice President and
Senior Equity Analyst at Brean Murray Carret & Co. in New York City since
July 2008. Prior to that, Mr. Ngan served as an Equity Research
Analyst at Buckingham Research Group in New York from June 2004 to January 2008
and at Robotti & Company from October 2002 until June 2004. Mr.
Ngan received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University at Albany,
State University of New York in 1995 and an MBA in Finance and Information &
Communication Systems from Fordham University in 2004. Mr. Ngan is a
Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York.
Jia Wei
Xiao has served as Vice President of Quality Control of the Company since
November 2007 and as Vice General Manager of Quality Control of Shenzhen
Highpower since October 2005. From October 2002 to September 2005, Mr. Xhio
served as the Minister of the Quality Control Department of Shenzhen Highpower.
Mr. Xiao received a bachelor’s degree in Check Technology and Instrument in 2000
from the China Institute of Metrology.
Xinhai Li
has served as a director of the Company since January 2008. Sine August 1990,
Mr. Li has served as a director and professor at the China Central South
University Metallurgical Science and Engineering School in China. Mr. Li
received a PhD in Physical Chemistry of Metallurgy from China Central South
University in August 1990. We believe that Mr. Li’s qualifications to
sit on our Board include his extensive understanding of our business and his
understanding of U.S. GAAP and financial statements.
Chao Li
has served as a director of the Company since January 2008. Since August 2000,
Mr. Li has served as Chairman of the Guangdong Association of Productivity. From
July 1991 to November 2004, Mr. Li served as the Vice-Chairman of the
Development Research Center for the PRC Government of Guangdong Province. Mr. Li
received a bachelor’s degree in metallurgy from Central South University in
China in August 1969. We believe that Mr. Li’s qualifications to sit
on our Board include his extensive understanding of our business and his
understanding of U.S. GAAP and financial statements.
Ping Li
has served as a director of the Company since January 2008. Since July 2003, Mr.
Li has served as the Managing Director of Investment at ChinaVest, a venture
capital firm. From February 2002 to July 2003, Mr. Li served as Chief Financial
Officer of Great Wall Technology Co., Ltd., an investment technology company.
Mr. Li received a master’s degree in biology from Columbia University in 1989
and an MBA in finance in 1994 from the Wharton School of the University of
Pennsylvania. We believe that Mr. Li’s qualifications to sit on our
Board include his knowledge of the capital market and his experience, expertise
and background with respect to accounting matters, including his experience as a
chief financial officer and familiarity with U.S. GAAP and financial
statements.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS
Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics
Our Board
of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to
all of our directors, officers and employees. The purpose of the Code is to
promote honest and ethical conduct. Our code of ethics is intended to comply
with the requirements of Item 406 of Regulation S-K. The Code is
posted on the Company’s Web site located at www.haopengbattery.com, and
is available in print, without charge, upon written request to the Company at
Hong Kong Highpower Technology, Inc., Building A1, Luoshan Industrial Zone,
Shanxia, Pinghu, Longgang, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518111, People’s Republic of
China. The Company intends to post promptly any amendments to or waivers of the
Code on its Web site.
Director
Independence
Subject
to certain exceptions, under the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market,
LLC, a listed company’s board of directors must consist of a majority of
independent directors. Currently, our board of directors has determined that
each of the non-management directors, Xinhai Li, Chao Li and Ping Li, is an
“independent” director as defined by the listing standards of the NASDAQ
Marketplace Rules currently in effect and approved by the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and all applicable rules and regulations of the
SEC. All members of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating Committees
satisfy the “independence” standards applicable to members of each such
committee. The board of directors made this affirmative determination regarding
these directors’ independence based on discussion with the directors and on its
review of the directors’ responses to a standard questionnaire regarding
employment and compensation history; affiliations, family and other
relationships; and transactions with the Company. The board of directors
considered relationships and transactions between each director or any member of
his immediate family and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates. The
purpose of the board of director’s review with respect to each director was to
determine whether any such relationships or transactions were inconsistent with
a determination that the director is independent under the NASDAQ Marketplace
Rules.
Family
Relationships
There are
no family relationships among any of our executive officers or
directors.
Attendance
of Directors at Board Meetings and Annual Meeting of Stockholders
During
the year ended December 31, 2009, the Board of Directors met
3 times. Each of the current directors who was on the Board of
Directors during 2009 attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings
held by the Board of Directors or committee on which the director served held
during 2009.
The
Company does not have a policy requiring its directors to attend the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders. All directors attended our 2009 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
Board
Committees
Audit Committee
The Audit
Committee consists of Xinhai Li, Chao Li and Ping Li, each of whom is an
independent director. Mr. Ping Li, Chairman of the Audit Committee, is an “audit
committee financial expert” as defined under Item 407(d) of Regulation
S-K. The Audit Committee held 1 meeting during 2009. The
purpose of the Audit Committee is to represent and assist our Board of Directors
in its general oversight of our accounting and financial reporting processes,
audits of the financial statements and internal control and audit functions. The
Audit Committee’s responsibilities include:
|
·
|
The
appointment, replacement, compensation, and oversight of work of the
independent auditor, including resolution of disagreements between
management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting, for
the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other
audit, review or attest services.
|
|
·
|
Reviewing
and discussing with management and the independent auditor various topics
and events that may have significant financial impact on our company or
that are the subject of discussions between management and the independent
auditors.
|
The Board
of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. A copy of
the Audit Committee Charter is posted on the Company’s website at: www.haopengbattery.com.
Compensation Committee
The
Compensation Committee consists of Xinhai Li and Chao Li, each of whom is an
independent director. Xinhai Li is the Chairman of the Compensation Committee.
The Compensation Committee held 1 meeting during 2009. The
Compensation Committee is responsible for the design, review, recommendation and
approval of compensation arrangements for the Company’s directors, executive
officers, including our Chief Executive Officer, and key employees, and for the
administration of our equity incentive plans, including the approval of grants
under such plans to our employees, consultants and directors. The Compensation
Committee conducts an annual review (in connection with the conclusion of our
business planning process) of the compensation packages for each of our named
executive officers. Based on this review, the Compensation Committee approves,
to the extent applicable, (a) base salary changes, (b) equity grants
and (c) targets and potential payout amounts under any performance-based
incentive compensation programs for the new year. The Compensation Committee
will annually review the proposed performance metric(s) applicable to the named
executive officers and approve the performance targets and target payout amounts
for the named executive officers. The Company does not have a general equity
grant policy. The Compensation Committee grants awards under our 2008 Omnibus
Incentive Plan during the year as needed. In reviewing and making compensation
decisions of other executive officers, the Committee may consult with the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer and any others who can review the performance
of the other executive officers, provide annual recommendations for individual
management objectives, and provide input on strategic initiatives. The
Compensation Committee has the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or
appropriate, to retain a compensation consultant and other advisors to assist in
the evaluation of director, Chief Executive Officer or executive officer
compensation
The Board
of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee. A
current copy of the Compensation Committee Charter is posted on the Company’s
website at: www.haopengbattery.com.
Nominating Committee
The
Nominating Committee consists of Xinhai Li and Chao Li, each of whom is an
independent director. Chao Li is the Chairman of the Nominating Committee. The
Nominating Committee held 1 meeting during 2009. The Nominating
Committee assists in the selection of director nominees, approves director
nominations to be presented for stockholder approval at our annual general
meeting and fills any vacancies on our Board of Directors, considers any
nominations of director candidates validly made by stockholders, and reviews and
considers developments in corporate governance practices. The Board of Directors
has adopted a written charter for the Nominating Committee. A current copy of
the Nominating Committee Charter is posted on the Company’s website at: www.haopengbattery.com.
Board
Leadership Structure
The
Company does not have a policy regarding whether the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer roles should be combined or separated. Rather, the Board
retains flexibility to choose its Chairman in any way that it deems best for the
Company at any given time. The Company currently has a combined Chairman and CEO
position. Dang Yu Pan serves as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer. The Board believes that Dang Yu Pan’s in-depth knowledge of
the battery industry and of the businesses and operations of the Company best
equips him to lead Board meetings and focus the Board discussions on the most
critical issues, as well as fostering greater communication between the
Company's management and the Board.
The Board
believes that other aspects of the current leadership structure ensure effective
independent Board leadership and oversight of management. For example, the Board
regularly meets in executive session without the CEO or any other members of
management present. Executive sessions are led by our lead independent director
Mr. Ping Li. The independent directors met 1 time in executive
session in 2009.
The
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
Our
Company faces a variety of risks, including investment risk, liquidity risk, and
operational risk. It is management’s responsibility to manage the day-to-day
risks that we face and bring to the Board of Directors’ attention the most
material risks to the Company. The Board of Directors has oversight
responsibility of the processes established by management to report and monitor
systems for material risks applicable to the Company, with the oversight of
certain risk areas delegated to board committees. For example, our Compensation
Committee is responsible for assessing risks associated with our compensation
programs, and our Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing management of
certain financial and regulatory risk areas. The Board’s oversight role is
supported by management reporting processes that are designed to provide the
Board and committees visibility into the identification, assessment, and
management of critical risks.
The
Director Nomination Process
Our Board
of Directors considers nominees from all sources, including stockholders.
Stockholder nominees are evaluated by the same criteria used to evaluate
potential nominees from other sources. Minimally, nominees should have a
reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards. They
should have demonstrated business experience and the ability to exercise sound
judgment in matters related to the current and long-term objectives of the
Company, and should be willing and able to contribute positively to the
decision-making process of the Company. In addition, they should not have, nor
appear to have, a conflict of interest that would impair the nominee’s ability
to represent the interests of the Company or to fulfill the responsibilities of
a director. Although the Board does not maintain a formal policy regarding
diversity, the Nominating Committee considers diversity to include diversity of
backgrounds, cultures, education, experience, skills, thought, perspectives,
personal qualities and attributes, and geographic profiles (i.e., where the
individuals have lived and worked), as well as race, ethnicity, gender, national
origin and other categories. The value of diversity on the Board should be
considered and the particular or unique needs of the Company shall be taken into
account at the time a nominee is being considered. Our Nominating Committee and
Board believe that a diverse representation on the Board fosters a healthy,
comprehensive, and balanced deliberative and decision-making process that is
essential to the continued effective functioning of the Board and continued
success of the Company.
Additionally,
the Board of Directors considers the respective qualifications needed for
directors serving on various committees of the Board, and serving as chairs of
such committees, should be taken into consideration. In recruiting and
evaluating nominees, the Board of Directors considers the appropriate mix of
skills and experience and background needed for members of the Board and for
members of each of the Board’s committees, so that the Board and its committees
have the necessary resources to perform their respective functions effectively.
The Board of Directors also believes that a prospective nominee should be
willing to limit the number of other corporate boards on which he or she serves
so that the proposed director is able to devote adequate time to his or her
duties to the Company, including preparing for and attending Board and committee
meetings. In addition, the re-nomination of existing directors is not viewed as
automatic, but based on continuing qualification under the criteria set forth
above. In addition, the Board of Directors will consider the existing director’s
performance on the Board and on any committee on which such director serves,
which will include attendance at Board and committee meetings.
Director Nominees by
Stockholders. The Board of Directors will consider nominees recommended
in good faith by our stockholders as long as these nominees for the appointment
to the Board of Directors meet the requirements set forth above. Possible
candidates who have been suggested by stockholders are evaluated by the Board of
Directors in the same manner as are other possible candidates.
Executive
Sessions
Non-management
directors meet in executive sessions without our management. Non-management
directors are those directors who are not also our executive officers and
include directors, if any, who are not independent by virtue of the existence of
a material relationship with our company. Executive sessions are led by our
Audit Committee Chairman. An executive session is typically held in conjunction
with each regularly scheduled Audit Committee meeting and other sessions may be
called by the Audit Committee Chairman in his own discretion or at the request
of the Board of Directors.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Summary
Compensation Table
The
following table sets forth information concerning the compensation earned during
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 by our current Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer. None of our other executive
officers who were employed by us during the year ended December 31, 2009
received compensation exceeding $100,000 during the fiscal 2009.
Name and Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
|
|
|
Bonus
|
|
|
Stock
Awards(1)
|
|
|
All Other
Compensation
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Dang
Yu Pan
|
|
2009
|
|
$ |
18,000 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
25,000 |
(2) |
|
$ |
43,000 |
|
Chief
Executive Officer and
|
|
2008
|
|
$ |
18,000 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
25,000 |
(2) |
|
$ |
43,000 |
|
Chairman
of the Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Henry
Ngan (3)
|
|
2009
|
|
$ |
137,500 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
137,870 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
275,370 |
|
Chief
Financial Officer and
|
|
2008
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Corporate
Secretary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
The
amounts disclosed reflect the value of awards for grants of restricted
stock. These stock awards reflect the full grant date fair values in
accordance with FASB ASC Topic
718.
|
(2)
Represents $25,000 for fees earned or paid in cash for service as a director of
the Company.
(3) Mr.
Ngan was appointed Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of the
Company effective February 1, 2009.
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Number
of
shares of
units of
stock that
have not
vested
(#)
|
|
|
Market
value of
shares or
units of
stock that
have not
vested
($)
|
|
|
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
($)
|
|
Henry
Ngan
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
8,500
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
65,535
|
|
(1) These
shares vest on January 31, 2011.
Employment Agreements and Termination of Employment and
Change of Control Arrangements
We
entered into an Offer Letter of Employment with our new Chief Financial Officer,
Henry Ngan, effective February 2009. Pursuant to the Offer Letter,
Mr. Ngan is entitled to a base salary at an annual rate of $150,000 and 17,000
shares of restricted common stock of the Company under the Company’s 2008
Omnibus Incentive Plan, 8,500 of which vested on January 31, 2010 and 8,500 of
which vest on January 31, 2011. Mr. Ngan is also entitled to
reasonable vacation and sick time and reimbursement for the cost of standard
medical and dental insurance premiums and for business expenses.
We have
no other employment agreements with any of our other executive
officers.
Director
Compensation
The
following table shows information regarding the compensation earned during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 by members of board of directors.
Compensation information for Dang Yu Pan, our Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board, is described in the summary compensation table
above.
Name
|
|
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
|
|
|
All Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Wen
Liang Li
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
20,000 |
|
Chao
Li
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
Xinhai
Li
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
Ping
Li
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
18,000 |
|
Dang Yu
Pan and Wen Liang Li are management board members. We offer our management board
members a total compensation package, which includes salary, bonus and director
fees, based on benchmarks reported by Shenzhen Labor Bureau. Once we determine
the total compensation for our management board members using the benchmarks, we
allocate a portion of their total annual compensation to compensation for
services rendered as board members. In the future, we expect to continue to
allocate a portion of our management board members’ total annual compensation as
compensation for their service as directors.
We do not
have a formal policy with respect to the compensation of our non-executive board
members. We pay our non-executive directors for their services at the
rate of $1,500 to $2,500 per month.
Directors
are eligible to receive, from time to time, grants of options to purchase shares
under our equity incentive plan.
Securities
Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The
following table provides information as of December 31, 2009 regarding
compensation plans, including any individual compensation arrangements, under
which equity securities of Hong Kong Highpower Technology, Inc. are authorized
for issuance.
Plan
Category
|
|
Number
of
Securities
to
be
issued
upon
exercise
of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and
rights
|
|
Weighted-
average
exercise
price
of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and
rights
|
|
Number
of
securities
remaining
available
for
future
issuance
under
equity
compensation
plans
|
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
1,983,000
|
(1)
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
Total
|
|
-
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
1,983,000
|
|
(1)
|
In
October 2008, the Company adopted the 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The
Incentive Plan currently has 1,983,000 shares authorized for
issuance.
|
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes
voting or investment power with respect to the securities. In computing the
number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage of ownership
of that person, shares of common stock subject to options and warrants held by
that person that are currently exercisable or become exercisable within 60 days
of the Record Date are deemed outstanding even if they have not actually been
exercised. Those shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of
computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to beneficial
ownership of the Company’s common stock as of the Record Date, based on
13,582,106 issued and outstanding shares of common stock and no options to
purchase shares of common stock. We also have outstanding warrants that are
exercisable into 47,500 shares of our common stock, subject to adjustment,
by:
|
·
|
Each
person known to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of the Company’s
outstanding common stock;
|
|
·
|
Each
executive officer;
|
|
·
|
All
of the executive officers and directors as a
group.
|
Unless
otherwise indicated, the persons and entities named in the table have sole
voting and sole investment power with respect to the shares set forth opposite
the stockholder’s name, subject to community property laws, where applicable.
Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each stockholder listed in the table
is c/o Hong Kong Highpower Technoloogy, Inc., Building A1, Luoshan Industrial
Zone, Shanxia, Pinghu, Longgang, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518111, People’s Republic
of China.
|
|
|
|
Common Shares
Beneficially Owned
|
|
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Title
|
|
Number of
Shares
|
|
|
Percentage
of Shares
|
|
Officers
and Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dang
Yu Pan
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
|
|
|
4,137,063 |
(1) |
|
|
30.46 |
% |
Wen
Liang Li
|
|
Vice
President, Chief Technology Officer and Director
|
|
|
2,034,770 |
|
|
|
14.98 |
% |
Wen
Wei Ma
|
|
Vice
President of Manufacturing
|
|
|
924,897 |
|
|
|
6.81 |
% |
Henry
Ngan
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
|
|
|
17,000 |
|
|
|
* |
|
Xinhai
Li
|
|
Director
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Chao
Li
|
|
Director
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Ping
Li
|
|
Director
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Officers
and Directors as a group (total of 8 persons)
|
|
|
|
|
7,113,730 |
(1) |
|
|
52.38 |
% |
*
Indicates less than 1%.
(1)
|
Includes
(i) an aggregate of 344,990 shares over which Mr. Pan has voting power and
the right to acquire ownership pursuant to a loan agreement dated February
5, 2007 between Mr. Pan and other shareholders, including, Wen Jia Xiao,
Vice President of Quality Control, who holds 166,482 shares, and (ii)
369,959 shares held by a company that is 100% owned by Mr.
Pan.
|
COMPLIANCE
WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
The
Company’s securities are currently registered under Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As a result, and pursuant to Rule 16a-2, the
Company’s directors and officers and holders of 10% or more of its common stock
are currently required to file statements of beneficial ownership with regards
to their ownership of equity securities under Sections 13 or 16 of the Exchange
Act. Based on a review of written representations from our executive officers
and directors, other than a Form 4 for one transaction by Henry Ngan, we believe
that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, our directors, officers and
owners of more than 10% of our common stock complied with all applicable filing
requirements.
REPORT
OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit
Committee consists of three non-employee directors who are independent under the
standards adopted by the Board of Directors and applicable NASDAQ Stock Market
and SEC standards. The Audit Committee represents and assists the Board of
Directors in fulfilling its responsibility for oversight and evaluation of the
quality and integrity of Highpower’s financial statements, Highpower’s
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the qualifications and
independence of Highpower’s registered public accounting firm, Dominic K.F. Chan
& Co., and the performance of Highpower’s internal controls and of Dominic
K.F. Chan & Co.
The Audit
Committee has reviewed and discussed with Highpower’s management, internal
finance staff, internal auditors and Dominic K.F. Chan & Co., with and
without management present, Highpower’s audited financial statements for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and management’s assessment of the
effectiveness of Highpower’s internal controls over financial reporting. The
Audit Committee has also discussed with Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. the results
of the independent auditors’ examinations and the judgments of Dominic K.F. Chan
& Co. concerning the quality, as well as the acceptability, of Highpower’s
accounting principles and such other matters that Highpower is required to
discuss with the independent auditors under applicable rules, regulations or
generally accepted auditing standards (including Statement on Auditing Standards
No. 61). In addition, the Audit Committee has received from Dominic K.F.
Chan & Co. the written disclosures required by Independence Standards Board
Standard No. 1, as amended, and has discussed with Dominic K.F. Chan &
Co. their independence from Highpower and management, including a consideration
of the compatibility of non-audit services with their independence, the scope of
the audit and the fees paid to Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. during the
year.
Based on
our review and the discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee
recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be
included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2009 for filing with the SEC.
Respectfully
submitted,
Xinhai
Li
Chao
Li
Ping
Li
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Hong
Kong Highpower Technology Co., Ltd.
Hong Kong
Highpower Technology Co., Ltd. (“HKHT”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong
Highpower Technology, Inc., and each of HKHT’s wholly owned–subsidiaries
Shenzhen Highpower Technology Co., Ltd., HZ Highpower Technology Co., Ltd. and
Springpower Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited, each have interlocking
executive and director positions with the Company.
Guarantee
Agreements
Dang Yu
Pan, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wen Liang Li, our Vice President,
Chief Technology Officer and director, and Wen Wei Ma, our Vice President of
Manufacturing, each have provided personal guarantees under our outstanding
banking facilities. The following table shows the amount outstanding on each of
our bank loans as of December 31, 2009 and the identity of the officer(s) who
guaranteed each loan.
Name
of Bank
|
|
Amount Granted
|
|
Amount
Outstanding
Under
Loan
|
|
Guaranteed
by Officers
|
Bank
Of China
|
|
$
|
14.65
million
|
|
$
|
7.07
million
|
|
|
Dang
Yu Pan, Wen Liang Li, Wen Wei Ma
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Shenzhen
Development Bank Co., Ltd
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|
$
|
1.34
million
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|
$
|
1.34
million
|
|
|
Dang
Yu Pan
|
Shanghai
Pudong Development Bank Co. Ltd.
|
|
$
|
8.05
million
|
|
$
|
5.12
million
|
|
|
Dang
Yu Pan
|
Citibank
(China) Co., ltd.
|
|
$
|
2.99
million
|
|
$
|
1.26
million
|
|
|
Dang
Yu Pan, Wen Liang Li, Wen Wei
Ma
|
Policy
for Approval of Related Party Transactions
We do not
currently have a formal related party approval policy for review and approval of
transactions required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 (a) of Regulation
S-K.
NOMINATIONS
AND STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2011 ANNUAL MEETING
Proposals
to be Included in Proxy Statement
Stockholders
are hereby notified that if they wish a proposal to be included in our proxy
statement and form of proxy relating to the 2011 annual meeting of stockholders,
they must deliver a written copy of their proposal no later than June 22, 2011.
If the date of next year’s annual meeting is changed by more than 30 days
from the date of this year’s meeting, then the deadline is a reasonable time
before we begin to print and mail proxy materials. Proposals must comply with
the proxy rules relating to stockholder proposals, in particular Rule 14a-8
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in order to be included in our proxy
materials.
Proposals
to be submitted for the Annual Meeting
A
stockholder may wish to have a proposal presented at the 2011 annual meeting,
but not to have such proposal included in the Company’s proxy statement and form
of proxy relating to that meeting. If notice of any such proposal is not
received by the Company at its principal executive offices on or before
September 5, 2011 (45 calendar days prior to the anniversary of the mailing date
of this proxy statement), then such proposal shall be deemed “untimely” for
purposes of Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 14a-4(c).
Therefore, the persons named in the enclosed proxy card will be allowed to use
their discretionary voting authority to vote on the stockholder proposal when
and if the proposal is raised at the 2011 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
If the
date of our 2011 annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the
date of our 2010 annual meeting, stockholders’ written notices must be received
by us a reasonable time before we begin to print and mail proxy materials for
our 2011 annual meeting.
Proposals
should be delivered to Hong Kong Highpower Technology, Inc., Building A1,
Luoshan Industrial Zone, Shanxia, Pinghu, Longgang, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518111,
People’s Republic of China, Attention: Dang Yu Pan. To avoid controversy and
establish timely receipt by the Company, it is suggested that stockholders send
their proposals by certified mail, return receipt requested.
STOCKHOLDER
COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Stockholders
who wish to contact any of our directors either individually or as a group may
do so by writing them c/o Dang Yu Pan, Hong Kong Highpower Technology, Inc.,
Building A1, Luoshan Industrial Zone, Shanxia, Pinghu, Longgang, Shenzhen,
Guangdong, 518111, People’s Republic of China, by telephone at (86) 755-89686238
specifying whether the communication is directed to the entire Board or to a
particular director. Stockholder letters are screened by Company personnel to
filter out improper or irrelevant topics, such as solicitations, and to confirm
that that such communications relate to matters that are within the scope of
responsibilities of the Board or a committee.
OTHER
BUSINESS
The Board
of Directors does not know of any other matter to be acted upon at the Annual
Meeting. However, if any other matter shall properly come before the Annual
Meeting, the proxyholders named in the proxy accompanying this Proxy Statement
will have authority to vote all proxies in accordance with their
discretion.
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/s/
Henry Ngan
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Chief
Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
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Shenzhen,
China
ANNUAL
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
HONG
KONG HIGHPOWER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
October
20, 2010, 10:00 a.m., China Standard Time
Please
date, sign and mail
your
proxy card in the
envelope
provided as soon
as
possible.
â Please detach along
perforated line and mail in
the envelope provided. â
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY
RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1, “FOR” PROPOSAL
2 AND “FOR” PROPOSAL 3. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD
PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK
AS SHOWN HERE. x
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1.
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|
Election
of Directors
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|
FOR
ALL THE NOMINEES
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|
WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES
|
|
FOR ALL EXCEPT
(See
instructions
below)
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|
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|
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|
|
|
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Dang
Yu Pan
|
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o
|
|
o
|
|
o
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Wen
Liang Li
|
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
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|
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Chao
Li
|
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Xinhai
Li
|
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Ping
Li
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INSTRUCTION:
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark “FOR ALL
EXCEPT” and strike a line through the nominee’s name in the list
below
NOMINEE: Dang
Yu
Pan Wen
Liang
Li Chao
Li Xinhai
Li Ping
Li
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2.
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Ratify
the selection of Dominic K.F. Chan & Co., as the Company’s independent
registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31,
2010.
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FOR
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AGAINST
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ABSTAIN
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o
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o
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o
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3.
|
Approve
the amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation to change the
Company’s name to “Highpower International, Inc.”
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FOR
|
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AGAINST
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|
ABSTAIN
|
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o
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o
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o
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Each of
the persons named as proxies herein are authorized, in such person’s discretion,
to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting,
or any adjournments thereof.
To change
the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new
address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered
name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method. o
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Please check here if you plan
to attend the meeting.
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o
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Signature
of
Stockholder:
|
|
Date:
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Signature
of Stockholder:
|
|
Date:
|
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Note:
|
Please sign exactly as your name
or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder
should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or
guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation,
please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full
title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name
by authorized person.
|
PROXY
FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD ON OCTOBER 20, 2010
THIS
PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned stockholder(s) of Hong
Kong Highpower Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby acknowledges
receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement
dated September 3, 2010, and hereby appoints Dang Yu Pan and Wen Liang Li, or
either of them acting singly in the absence of the other, with full power of
substitution, as attorneys-in-fact and proxies for, and in the name and place
of, the undersigned, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote
all of the shares which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of Hong Kong Highpower Technology, Inc. to be held on
October 20, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., China Standard Time, and at any adjournments
thereof, upon the matters as set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and Proxy Statement, receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged.
THIS
PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED AND RETURNED IN A TIMELY MANNER, WILL BE VOTED AT
THE ANNUAL MEETING AND AT ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN
BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER(S). IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THE PROXY WILL
BE VOTED “FOR” ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1, “FOR” APPROVAL OF
PROPOSAL 2 AND “FOR” THE APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL 3. AS DESCRIBED IN THE
PROXY, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JUDGMENT OF THE PERSONS NAMED AS PROXIES
HEREIN ON ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL
MEETING.
PLEASE
MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE
ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
(continued,
and to be signed and dated, on reverse side)