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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices [Text Block]

2.          Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices

(a)

Principles of Consolidation

   
 

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated prior to consolidation.

(b)

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   
 

Cash consists of cash on hand and in banks excluding pledged deposits. The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments, with initial terms of less than three months to be cash equivalents. As of September 30, 2012 and 2013, there were no cash equivalents.

(c)

Trade Accounts Receivable

   
 

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount, net of allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company's best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company's existing trade accounts receivable. The Company determines the allowance based on historical write-off experience, customer specific facts and economic conditions. Bad debt expense is included in general and administrative expenses.
   
 

Outstanding accounts receivable balances are reviewed individually for collectability. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.

(d)

Inventories

   
 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost of inventories is determined using the weighted average cost method, and includes expenditures incurred in acquiring the inventories and bringing them to their existing location and condition. In case of finished goods and work in progress, the cost includes an appropriate share of production overhead based on normal operating capacity.
   
 

The Company regularly reviews the cost of inventories against their estimated fair market value and records a lower of cost or market write-down for inventories that have costs in their excess of estimated market value.

(e)

Property, Plant and Equipment

   
 

Property, plant and equipment (except construction in progress) are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment charges. Depreciation is calculated based on the straight-line method (after taking into account their respective estimated residual values) over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:

Buildings 30 - 40 years
Machinery and equipment 5 - 12 years
Office equipment 5 years
Motor vehicles 5 - 8 years

The cost and accumulated depreciation of property, plant and equipment sold are removed from the consolidated balance sheets and resulting gains or losses are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Construction in progress mainly represents expenditures in respect of the Company's corporate campus, including offices, factories and staff dormitories, under construction. All direct costs relating to the acquisition or construction of the Company's corporate campus and equipment, including interest charges on borrowings, are capitalized as construction in progress. No depreciation is provided in respect of construction in progress.

A long-lived asset to be disposed of by abandonment continues to be classified as held and used until it is disposed of.

(f)

Prepaid Land Use Rights

   
 

Land use rights are carried at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of rights of 50 years.


(g)

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation

   
 

The reporting currency of the Company is the United States dollar (“US dollar”). The financial records of the Company's PRC operating subsidiaries are maintained in their local currency, the Renminbi (“RMB”), which is the functional currency. The financial records of the Company's subsidiaries established in other countries are maintained in their local currencies. Assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries are translated into the reporting currency at the exchange rates at the balance sheet date, equity accounts are translated at historical exchange rates, and income and expenses items are translated using the average rate for the period. The translation adjustments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income under shareholders' equity.
   
 

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the applicable functional currencies are translated into the functional currencies at the prevailing rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. Nonmonetary assets and liabilities are re-measured into the applicable functional currencies at historical exchange rates. Transactions in currencies other than the applicable functional currencies during the period are converted into the functional currencies at the applicable rates of exchange prevailing at the transaction dates. Transaction gains and losses are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.
   
 

RMB is not a fully convertible currency. All foreign exchange transactions involving RMB must take place either through the People's Bank of China (the “PBOC”) or other institutions authorized to buy and sell foreign exchange. The exchange rates adopted for the foreign exchange transactions are the rates of exchange quoted by the PBOC, which are determined largely by supply and demand. Translation of amounts from RMB into US dollars has been made at the following exchange rates for the respective years:

  September 30, 2013  
  Balance sheet, except for equity accounts RMB6.1211 to US$1.00
  Income statement and cash flows RMB6.1894 to US$1.00
     
  September 30, 2012  
  Balance sheet RMB6.2857 to US$1.00
  Income statement and cash flows RMB6.3374 to US$1.00

(h)

Intangible Assets

   
 

Intangible assets are stated in the balance sheet at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment, if any. The costs of the intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The respective amortization periods for the intangible assets are as follows:
  Trademarks 10 years
  Technology 7 - 10 years
  Computer software 3 - 10 years
   
(i)

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

   
 

Long-lived assets, which include property, plant and equipment, prepaid land use rights and intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.
   
 

Recoverability of long-lived assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.
   
(j)

Revenue Recognition

   
 

The Company recognizes revenue on product sales when products are delivered and the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss, collection of the relevant receivable is probable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists and the sales price is fixed or determinable.
   
 

Net sales of products represent the invoiced value of goods sold, net of value added taxes (“VAT”), sales returns, trade discounts and allowances. The Company is subject to VAT which is levied on the majority of the products of Shenzhen BAK, BAK Electronics and BAK Tianjin at the rate of 17% on the invoiced value of sales. Output VAT is borne by customers in addition to the invoiced value of sales and input VAT is borne by the Company in addition to the invoiced value of purchases to the extent not refunded for export sales. Provision for sales returns are recorded as a reduction of revenue in the same period that revenue is recognized. The provision for sales returns, which is based on historical sales returns data, is the Company's best estimate of the amount of goods that will be returned from its customers.


(k)

Cost of Revenues

   
 

Cost of revenues consists primarily of material costs, employee compensation, depreciation and related expenses, which are directly attributable to the production of products. Write-down of inventories to lower of cost or market is also recorded in cost of revenues.

(l)

Income Taxes

   
 

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent management concludes it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates applied to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss in the period that includes the enactment date.
   
 

The impact of an uncertain income tax positions on the income tax return must be recognized at the largest amount that is more-likely-than not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. Interest and penalties on income taxes will be classified as a component of the provisions for income taxes.


(m)

Research and Development and Advertising Expenses

   
 

Research and development and advertising expenses are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses consist primarily of remuneration for research and development staff, depreciation and maintenance expenses of research and development equipment and material costs for research and development. Advertising expenses, including in sales and marketing expenses, amounted to $236,145 and $1,392 for the years ended September 30, 2012 and 2013, respectively.


(n)

Bills Payable

   
 

Bills payable represent bills issued by financial institutions to the Company's vendors. The Company's vendors receive payments from the financial institutions directly upon maturity of the bills and the Company is obliged to repay the face value of the bills to the financial institutions.
   
(o)

Government Grants

   
 

The Company's subsidiaries in China receive government subsidies from local Chinese government agencies in accordance with relevant Chinese government policies. In general, the Company presents the government subsidies received as part of other income unless the subsidies received are earmarked to compensate a specific expense, which have been accounted for by offsetting the specific expense, such as research and development expense or interest expenses. Unearned government subsidies received are deferred for recognition until the criteria for such recognition could be met.
   
 

Grants applicable to land are amortized over the life of the depreciable facilities constructed on it. For research and development expenses, the Company matches and offsets the government grants with the expenses of the research and development activities as specified in the grant approval document in the corresponding period when such expenses are incurred.
   
 

No government grants were offset against the finance costs for the years ended September 30, 2012 and 2013.

(p)

Share-based Compensation

   
 

The Company adopted the provisions of ASC Topic 718 which requires the Company to measure and recognize compensation expenses for an award of an equity instrument based on the grant-date fair value. The cost is recognized over the vesting period (or the requisite service period). ASC Topic 718 also requires the Company to measure the cost of a liability-classified award based on its current fair value. The fair value of the award will be re-measured subsequently at each reporting date through the settlement date. Changes in fair value during the requisite service period are recognized as compensation cost over that period. Further, ASC Topic 718 requires the Company to estimate forfeitures in calculating the expense related to stock-based compensation.
   
 

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes Option Valuation Model. The expected volatility was based on the historical volatilities of the Company's listed common stocks in the United States and other relevant market information. The Company uses historical data to estimate share option exercises and employee departure behavior used in the valuation model. The expected terms of share options granted is derived from the output of the option pricing model and represents the period of time that share options granted are expected to be outstanding. Since the share options once exercised will primarily trade in the U.S. capital market, the risk-free rate for periods within the contractual term of the share option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

(q)

Retirement and Other Post-retirement Benefits

   
 

Contributions to retirement schemes (which are defined contribution plans) are charged to cost of revenues, research and development expenses, sales and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss as and when the related employee service is provided.

(r)

Loss per Share

   
 

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. Diluted loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the sum of the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding and dilutive potential ordinary shares during the year.

(s)

Use of Estimates

   
 

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires management of the Company to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the recoverability of the carrying amount of long-lived assets; valuation allowance for obsolete inventories, receivables and deferred tax assets; provision for sales returns; valuation of share-based compensation expense; and fair value assessment of financial guarantees. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
   
(t)

Segment Reporting

   
 

The Company uses the “management approach” in determining reportable operating segments. The management approach considers the internal organization and reporting used by the Company's chief operating decision maker for making operating decisions and assessing performance as the source for determining the Company's reportable segments. Management, including the chief operating decision maker, reviews operating results solely by monthly revenue of Li-ion rechargeable batteries (but not by sub-product type or geographic area) and operating results of the Company and, as such, the Company has determined that the Company has one operating segment as defined by ASC Topic 280 “Segment Reporting”.

(u)

Commitments and Contingencies

   
 

Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines and penalties and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment can be reasonably estimated.

(v)

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

   
 

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-11 — Balance Sheet (Topic 210). The objective of this update is to provide enhanced disclosures that will enable users of its financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on an entity's financial position. This includes the effect or potential effect of rights of setoff associated with an entity's recognized assets and recognized liabilities within the scope of this update. The amendments require enhanced disclosures by requiring improved information about financial instruments and derivative instruments that are either (1) offset in accordance with either Section 210-20-45 or Section 815-10-45 or (2) subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether they are offset in accordance with either Section 210-20-45 or Section 815-10-45. An entity is required to apply the amendments for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. An entity should provide the disclosures required by those amendments retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The Company does not expect the adoption of the provisions in this update will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.
   
 

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02 — Comprehensive Income (Topic 220). The objective of this update is to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The amendments in this update seek to attain that objective by requiring an entity to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective line items in net income if the amount being reclassified is required under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to be reclassified in its entirety to net income. For other amounts that are not required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income in the same reporting period, an entity is required to cross-reference other disclosures required under U.S. GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. This would be the case when a portion of the amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income is reclassified to a balance sheet account (for example, inventory) instead of directly to income or expense in the same reporting period. For public entities, the amendments are effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The Company does not expect the adoption of the provisions in this update will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements.
   
 

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-05 — Foreign Currency Matters, (Topic 830): Parent's Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity, to resolve a diversity in accounting for the cumulative translation adjustment of foreign currency upon derecognition of a foreign subsidiary or group of assets. ASU 2013-05 requires the parent to apply the guidance in Subtopic 830-30 to release any related cumulative translation adjustment into net income when a reporting entity (parent) ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets within a foreign entity. Accordingly, the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income only if the sale or transfer results in the complete or substantially complete liquidation of the foreign entity in which the subsidiary or group of assets had resided. Further, ASU 2013-05 clarified that the parent should apply the guidance in subtopic 810-10 if there is a sale of an investment in a foreign entity, including both (1) events that result in the loss of a controlling financial interest in a foreign entity and (2) events that result in an acquirer obtaining control of an acquiree in which it held an equity interest immediately before the acquisition date. Accordingly, the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income upon the occurrence of those events. The guidance is effective prospectively for fiscal years (and interim reporting periods within those years) beginning after December 15, 2013. The guidance should be applied prospectively to derecognition events occurring after the effective date. Prior periods should not be adjusted. Early adoption is permitted. If an entity elects to early adopt the guidance, it should apply the guidance as of the beginning of the entity's fiscal year of adoption. The Company does not expect ASU 2013-05 to have a significant impact on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
   
 

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740). The amendments in this update provide guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carry forward, similar tax loss, or tax credit carry forward exists. These amendments provide that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion thereof, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carry forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry forward, except to the extent that a net operating loss carry forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry forward is not available at the reporting date to settle any additional income taxes that would result from disallowance of a tax position, or the tax law does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, then the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented as a liability. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect ASU 2013-11 to have a significant impact on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
   
 

Other accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standards-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements upon adoption.