Unassociated Document
 
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
 
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to sec. 240.14a-11(c) or sec. 240.14a-12
 
HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
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2

 
 
HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
 
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Highpower International, 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 November 22, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. China Standard Time.

The Annual Meeting of the Company is being held for the following purposes:

 
1. 
To elect the following persons to serve as directors:
     
   
Dang Yu Pan
Wen Liang Li
Xinhai Li
T. Joseph Fisher, III
Ping Li
 
 
2.
To ratify the appointment of Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2011.

 
3.
To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
 
The Board of Directors recommends a vote “for” the director nominees and the proposals listed above.
 
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on October 14, 2011 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for determining those stockholders who will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

The Company’s Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2010 is enclosed with this notice.  The following proxy statement and enclosed proxy card is being sent to each stockholder as of the Record Date. You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting, but if you do not expect to attend, or if you plan to attend, but desire the proxy holders to vote your shares, please date and sign your proxy card and return it in the enclosed postage paid envelope. The giving of this proxy card will not affect your right to vote in person in the event you find it convenient to attend. Please return the proxy card promptly to avoid the expense of additional proxy solicitation.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on November 22, 2011.  The 2011 Proxy Statement and the Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2011 are also available at http://Highpowerinternational2011.investorroom.com.


 
FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
   
   
 
   /s/ Henry Sun
 
Henry Sun, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
 
on behalf of the Board of Directors

Dated: October 14, 2011
Shenzhen, China

 
1

 
 
HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT

 
For Annual Meeting to be Held on
November 22, 2011, 10:00 a.m., China Standard Time
 
This proxy statement is delivered to you by Highpower International, 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 November 22, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. China Standard Time (the “Annual Meeting”).  The approximate mailing date for this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy is October 28, 2011.
 
The purpose of the Annual Meeting is to seek stockholder approval of three proposals: (1) electing five directors to the Board of Directors; and (2) ratifying the appointment of Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2011.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to be Held on November 22, 2011:  The Proxy Statement and the Company’s 2011 Annual Report are available at http://Highpowerinternational2011.investorroom.com.
 
Quorum; Voting Rights
 
Holders of our common stock of record at the close of business on October 14, 2011 (“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:

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name – If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting or you may vote by mail by completing, signing, dating and returning the accompanying proxy card in the prepaid envelope provided. You may still attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person if you have already voted by proxy or given your proxy authorization.  Stockholders of record may vote in person by attending the Annual Meeting and completing a ballot distributed at the meeting.

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of Broker, Bank or Other Agent –  Stockholders who hold their shares beneficially in street name through a nominee (such as a bank or broker) may be able to vote by telephone, the Internet or mail. You should follow the instructions you receive from your nominee to vote those shares.  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; and (2) FOR the appointment of Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2011.   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. and our transfer agent will assist us in the tabulation of the votes.

 
2

 
 
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 or but will be counted as votes against the ratification of the appointment of Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP.

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, Proposal 2 is considered a routine matter. Therefore, brokers that do not receive instructions are entitled to vote on the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm.  Should a broker non-vote occur, it will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on any of the proposals.

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: Highpower International, 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.
 
 
3

 
    
PROPOSAL NO. 1
 
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE DIRECTOR-NOMINEES.
   
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, Wen Liang Li, Xinhai Li, T. Joseph Fisher, III, 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 2012 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
 
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO RATIFY
THE APPOINTMENT OF MARCUM BERNSTEIN & PINCHUK LLP
  
The Audit Committee has recommended the appointment of Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP (“MBP”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.  On September 30, 2011, the Company appointed MBP as its independent registered public accounting firm to replace Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. (“DKFC”), who the Company dismissed as its independent registered public accounting firm on September 30, 2011.  DKFC had served as the Company’s auditor since November 2007 and had audited the Company’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.

The decision to change accountants was approved and ratified by the Company’s Audit Committee and Board of Directors. The reports of DKFC on the financial statements of the Company for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principle. Additionally, during the Company’s two most recent fiscal years and any subsequent interim period through the date of dismissal, there were no disagreements with DKFC on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure.

While DKFC was engaged by the Company, there were no disagreements with DKFC on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure with respect to the Company, which disagreements if not resolved to the satisfaction of DKFC would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports on the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.

During the Company’s fiscal years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 and through September 30, 2011, neither the Company, nor anyone acting on its behalf, consulted with MBP regarding the application of accounting principles to a specific completed or proposed transaction or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and no written report or oral advice was provided that MBP concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any such accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue.

 
4

 
 
As required by Instruction 2 to Item 304 of Regulation S-K, the Company has provided DKFC and MBP with a copy of the disclosures contained in this Proxy Statement with respect to the Company’s change of independent registered public accounting firm and has given DKFC and MBP the opportunity to present their respective views with respect to any incorrect or incomplete disclosures made by the Company. Neither DKFC nor MBP submitted a statement to the Company regarding any disagreement with the disclosures provided herein.

The stockholders are being requested to ratify the appointment of MBP at the Annual Meeting.  We are not required to obtain stockholder ratification of the appointment of our independent auditors, and our Audit Committee and Board of Directors retain the authority and discretion to change independent auditors at any time.  See “Report of the Audit Committee,” below, for additional information.

The Company anticipates that representatives of MBP will attend the Annual Meeting to make a statement and to respond to appropriate stockholder questions.  The Company anticipates that representatives of DKFC will not attend the Annual Meeting.

Fees to Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2009

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, 2010 and December 31, 2009 and fees billed for other services rendered by Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. during those periods.

   
Year ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Audit Fees(1)
 
$
80,000
   
$
73,000
 
Audit-Related Fees
   
-
     
-
 
Tax Fees
   
-
     
-
 
All Other Fees
   
-
     
-
 
     Total
 
$
80,000
   
$
73,000
 
 ____
 
(1)
These are fees for professional services performed by Dominic K.F. Chan & Co. for the audit of our annual financial statements and review of our quarterly reports.
 
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 Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP 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 Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP 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.
  
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
Information Concerning Director Nominees

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:

 
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Name
 
Age
 
Position
Dang Yu Pan
 
43
 
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and director nominee
Wen Liang Li
 
46
 
Vice President, Chief Technology Officer,  Director, and director nominee
Xinhai Li(1)(2)(3)
 
48
 
Director and director nominee
T. Joseph Fisher, III (1)(2)(3)
 
59
 
Director and director nominee
Ping Li(1)
 
46
 
Director and director nominee
___

 
(1)  
Member of the Audit Committee (Ping Li, Chair).
 
(2)  
Member of Compensation Committee (Xinhai Li, Chair)
 
(3)  
Member of the Nominating Committee (T. Joseph Fisher, III, Chair)
 
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 14 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 seven years as an officer and director of Shenzhen Highpower, well qualify Mr. Li to serve on our Board.

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.

T. Joseph Fisher, III has served as a director of the Company since April 2011.  Mr. Fisher has been chief executive officer and president of Contour Energy Systems, a power company commercializing customizable battery technologies, since February 2008.  He also serves as president of JCF International, LLC, an advisory and consulting firm for portable power companies, which he founded in May 2007.  Prior to joining Contour, Mr. Fisher was employed for 30 years at Energizer Battery, where he had held numerous senior management positions including Vice President - Global Rechargeable Battery Business Unit from April 2001 to may 2007, Vice President and General Manager - Energizer Power Systems, Vice President - Business Development, General Manager - Miniature Batteries, as well as holding several International Management assignments in Europe, Argentina and South Africa. Fisher received his B.S. in Industrial Management from the University of Cincinnati and also has an MBA from the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies, now a part of Marshall University.  We believe that Mr. Fisher’s qualifications to sit on our Board include his extensive knowledge and over 30 years of experience in the battery industry.

Ping Li has served as a director of the Company since January 2008. Since November 2008, Mr. Li has served as Director at Intel Capital, focusing on Intel’s investment activities in China. From July 2003 to October 2008, Mr. Li 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.

Information Concerning Executive Officers
 
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our executive officers who are not also members of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 
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Name
 
Age
 
Position
Wen Wei Ma
 
41
 
Vice President of Manufacturing
Henry Sun
 
39
 
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
Michael Wang
 
40
 
Vice President of International Business Development
Bin Ran
 
41
 
Vice President of Strategy and Human Resources
Wen Jia Xiao
 
35
 
Vice President of Quality Control

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 Sun has served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company since January 2011. Mr. Sun joined the Company in November 2010 as the President’s Assistant.  Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Sun was the Chief Financial Officer of Zoomlion Concrete Machinery Company from November 2009 to October 2010.  From November 2008 to September 2009, Mr. Sun served as the Finance Director of Yasheng Group USA (OTCBB: YHGG). From December 2006 to November 2008, he was the senior finance manager of Cepheid, Inc. (NASDAQ: CPHD).  From October 2003 to September 2006, he was a financial consultant at Merrill Lynch.  Mr. Sun is a graduate of the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Michael Wang joined Highpower in November 2009 as Director of Sales and was appointed Vice President of Sales and Marketing in March 2011.  Before joining Highpower, from September 2001 to October 2009, Mr. Wang served at various positions at Vale Inco, one of the world’s largest nickel miners and producers. Mr. Wang first joined Vale Inco’s Shanghai Office late 2001, in charge of the sales of Inco Special Products. In June 2005, Michael began working at Vale Inco’s Headquarters in Canada as the segment leader of Li-ion cathode materials. In June 2006, Michael returned to Vale Inco’s Shanghai Office, as the Director of Marketing for Nickel Downstream Products, focusing primarily on battery materials. From May 1997 to August 2001, Mr. Wang worked in various departments of Beijing Zhongke Sanhuan Hi-Tech Co., Ltd. Mr. Wang received his masters degree in materials science and engineering from the Beijing Institute of Technology in 1997, and received a second masters degree in Enterprise Management from the University of International Business and Economics of China in 2002.

Bin Ran joined Highpower in June 2010 as General Manager of Human Resources.and was appointed Vice President of Strategy and Human Resources in March 2011. From April 2004 to April 2010, he worked for Shenzhen Joint Financial Group Co., Ltd, serving in positions at various of its portfolio companies, including General Manager of several companies such as Shenzhen Cbhandsun Management Consulting Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Cbhandsun Management Consulting Co., Ltd, Shenzhen Flink Training Center and Singapore Flink Training Center.  From July 1998 to March 2004, he worked as a management consultant at various companies including Shenzhen Quanxi Management Consulting Company, Singapore Corey Consulting Company. He was also invited as MBA professor of Zhongshan University, University of Northern Virginia, Inter American University.  From 1995 to 1997, Mr. Ran worked as an Engineer of GP Batteries International Limited. Mr. Ran received a bachelors degree in Electrochemistry from the Sichuan Light Chemical Engineering Institute in 1993.

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.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS

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, T. Joseph Fisher, III 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.

 
7

 
 
Board Committees

Audit Committee

We established our Audit Committee in January 2008. The Audit Committee consists of Xinhai Li, T. Joseph Fisher, III 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 2010.  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.highpowertech.com.

Compensation Committee

We established our Compensation Committee in January 2008. The Compensation Committee consists of Xinhai Li and T. Joseph Fisher, III, each of whom is an independent director. Xinhai Li is the Chairman of the Compensation Committee.  The Compensation Committee held 1 meeting during 2010.  The Compensation Committee is responsible for the design, review, recommendation and approval of compensation arrangements for the Company’s directors, executive officers 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 also reviews and determines compensation of our executive officers, including our Chief Executive Officer. 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.highpowertech.com.

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee consists of Xinhai Li and T. Joseph Fisher, III, each of whom is an independent director. T. Joseph Fisher, III is the Chairman of the Nominating Committee.  The Nominating Committee held 1 meeting during 2010.  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.highpowertech.com.
 
Code of Ethics

The Company’s board of directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to all directors, officers and employees. The purpose of the Code is to promote honest and ethical conduct. The Code is posted on the Company’s Web site located at www.highpowertech.com, and is available in print, without charge, upon written request to the Company at Highpower International, 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.

Attendance of Directors at Board Meetings and Annual Meeting of Stockholders
 
During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Board of Directors met 4 times.  Each of the current directors who was on the Board of Directors during 2010 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 2010.

 
8

 
 
The Company does not have a policy requiring its directors to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. All directors attended our 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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 2 times in executive session in 2010.

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.

 
9

 
 
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.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of the following two Board members: Xinhai Li and T. Joseph Fisher, III.  No member of the Compensation Committee is a former or current officer or employee of the Company or had any relationship requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  No interlocking relationship exists between our board of directors and the board of directors or compensation committee of any other company.

Family Relationships

There are no family relationships among any of the officers and directors.
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table
 
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 of the principal executive officer and up to two other officers who compensation exceeded $100,000 during such years (our “named executive officers”).

Name and Position
 
Year
 
Salary
   
Bonus
   
Stock
Awards (1)
   
All other
compensation
   
Total
 
Dang Yu Pan
 
2010
 
$
18,000
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
25,000
(2)
 
$
43,000
 
Chief Executive Officer and
 
2009
 
$
18,000
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
25,000
(2)
 
$
43,000
 
Chairman of the Board
                                           
                                             
Henry Ngan (3)
 
2010
 
$
150,000
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
150,000
 
Former Chief Financial Officer
 
2009
 
$
137,500
   
$
-
   
$
137,870
   
$
-
   
$
275,370
 
 

 
(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)  
Includes $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.  Mr. Ngan resigned as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer in January 2011.

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2010 Fiscal Year End

There were no unexercised options or unvested stock awards outstanding held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2010.

Employment Agreements and Termination of Employment and Change of Control Arrangements

We entered into an Offer Letter of Employment with our former Chief Financial Officer, Henry Ngan, in February 2009. Mr. Ngan resigned as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer on January 4, 2011.  Pursuant to the Offer Letter, Mr. Ngan was 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 vested on December 2, 2010, the vesting of which was accelerated by the Compensation Committee.  Mr. Ngan was also entitled to reasonable vacation and sick time and reimbursement for the cost of standard medical and dental insurance premiums and for business expenses.  
 
 
10

 
 
Director Compensation
 
The following table shows information regarding the compensation earned during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 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 $3,000 per month.

Directors are eligible to receive, from time to time, grants of options to purchase shares under our equity incentive plan.

Chao Li resigned from the Board of Directors on April 25, 2011. T. Joseph Fisher, III was appointed to the Board of Directors on April 30, 2011.

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
 
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2010 regarding compensation plans, including any individual compensation arrangements, under which equity securities of Highpower International, 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
   
100,000
   
$
3.85
     
1,883,000
(1)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
     Total
   
-
     
N/A
     
1,883,000
 
 

(1)
In October 2008, the Company adopted the 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. 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 as of the Record Date certain information with respect to beneficial ownership of our common stock based on 13,582,106 issued and outstanding shares of common stock, by:

 
11

 
 
 
·
Each person known to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of the outstanding common stock of our company;

 
·
Each named executive officer;

 
·
Each director; and

 
·
All of the executive officers and directors as a group.

The number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of the Record Date excludes 47,500 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants and 590,000 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options.  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 Building A1, Luoshan Industrial Zone, Shanxia, Pinghu, Longgang, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518111, People’s Republic of China.

Name and Address 
of Beneficial Owner
 
Title
 
Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
   
Percent of
Class
 
                 
Directors and Executive Officers
               
Dang Yu Pan
 
Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board
   
3,692,073
 (1)
   
27.2
%
                     
Wen Liang Li
 
Vice President, Chief Technology Officer and Director
   
2,034,770
     
15.0
%
                     
Henry Sun
 
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
   
25,000
 (2)
   
0.2
%
                     
Xinhai Li
 
Director
   
-
     
-
 
                     
                     
T. Joseph Fisher, III
 
Director
   
-
     
-
 
                     
Ping Li
 
Director
   
-
     
-
 
                     
Officers and Directors as a Group (total of 10 persons)
       
6,783,858
(3)
   
50.1
%
 ____

 
(1)
Includes 269,959 shares held by a company that is 100% owned by Mr. Pan.

(2)           Represents 25,000 shares underlying options exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date.

(2)           Includes 35,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options exercisable within 60 days of the Record Date.

 SECTION 16 (A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
 
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, we believe that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, our directors, officers and owners of more than 10% of our common stock complied with all applicable filing requirements.

 
12

 
 
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 Rules 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 the Company’s financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the qualifications and independence of the Company’s registered public accounting firm and the performance of the Company’s internal controls and of our independent registered public accounting firm.

 
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with the Company’s management, internal finance staff, internal auditors, the Company’s independent auditors, with and without management present, the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting. The Audit Committee has also discussed with the Company’s independent auditors the results of the independent auditors’ examinations and the judgments concerning the quality, as well as the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles and such other matters that the Company is required to discuss with the independent auditors under applicable rules, regulations or generally accepted auditing standards (including Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114). In addition, the Audit Committee has received from the independent auditors the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent auditors’ communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with the independent auditors their independence from the Company 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 the independent auditors 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, 2010 for filing with the SEC.

 
   
Respectfully submitted,

Xinhai Li
Ping Li
T. Joseph Fisher, III
 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
Hong Kong Highpower Technology Co., Ltd.

Hong Kong Highpower Technology Co., Ltd. (“HKHT”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Highpower International, Inc., and each of HKHT’s wholly owned –subsidiaries Shenzhen Highpower Technology Co., Ltd., Huizhou Highpower Technology Co., Ltd., Springpower Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited and Ganzhou Highpower Technology Co., Ltd., each have interlocking executive and director positions with the Company.

Guarantee Agreements

Dang Yu Pan, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, has 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, 2010 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
 
$
13.5 million
   
$
5.0 million
   
Dang Yu Pan
 
Shenzhen Development Bank Co., Ltd
 
$
9.0 million
   
$
3.0 million
   
Dang Yu Pan
 
Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co. Ltd.
   
*
   
$
3.5 million
   
-
 
Citibank (China) Co., Ltd.
 
$
9.5 million
   
$
4.0 million
   
Dang Yu Pan
 
Standard Chartered Bank
 
$
11.0 million
     
-
   
Dang Yu Pan
 
China Everbright Bank
 
$
7.5 million
   
$
4.0 million
   
-
 
China Merchants Bank
 
$
3.7 million
   
$
3.0 million
   
Dang Yu Pan
 
     Total:
 
$
54.2 million
   
$
22.5 million
   
Dang Yu Pan
 
___
* Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co. Ltd. originally granted us an $8.3 million credit line, which expired October 29, 2010. The $3.5 million trade financing currently outstanding with the bank has no underlying guarantees.

 
13

 
 
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 2012 annual meeting of stockholders, they must deliver a written copy of their proposal no later than June 30, 2012. 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 2012 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 13, 2012 (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 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

If the date of our 2012 annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of our 2011 annual meeting, stockholders’ written notices must be received by us a reasonable time before we begin to print and mail proxy materials for our 2012 annual meeting.

Mailing Instructions

Proposals should be delivered to Highpower International, 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, Highpower International, 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.

 
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
   
   
 
   /s/ Henry Sun
 
Henry Sun, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
 
on behalf of the Board of Directors
  
 
14

 
 
Dated: October 14, 2011
Shenzhen, China
 
 
15

 
 
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
 
HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
November 22, 2011, 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 AND “FOR” PROPOSAL 2.  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
                         
1.
 
Election of Directors
 
FOR ALL THE NOMINEES
 
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ALL NOMINEES
 
FOR ALL EXCEPT
(See instructions
below)
   
                         
   
Dang Yu Pan
 
o
 
o
 
o
       
   
Wen Liang Li
                   
   
T. Joseph Fisher, III
                   
   
Xinhai Li
                   
   
Ping Li
                   

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            T. Joseph Fisher, III             Xinhai Li             Ping Li
 
                     
2.
Ratify the selection of Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP, as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2011.
 
                     
       
FOR
 
AGAINST
 
ABSTAIN
   
       
o
 
o
 
o
   
                     

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
         
   
Please check here if you plan to attend the meeting.
 
o

Signature of
Stockholder:
 
Date:
 
Signature of Stockholder:
 
Date:
 
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.
 
 
 

 

HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 
PROXY FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 22, 2011
 
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
The undersigned stockholder(s) of Highpower International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement dated October 14, 2011, 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 Highpower International, Inc. to be held on November 22, 2011, 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 AND “FOR” APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL 2.  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)