Ballard Power Systems - 40-F annual report

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

(Translation of Registrant’s name in English (if applicable))

(Province or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number (if applicable))

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number (if applicable))

     9000 Glenlyon Parkway

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

(Name, address (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code)

of agent for service in the United States)

 

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

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files.)

The Annual Report on Form 40-F shall be incorporated by reference into or as an exhibit to, as applicable, the Registrant's Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933: Form S-8 (File No. 333-156553 and 333-161807).

The following documents that are filed as exhibits to this annual report are incorporated by reference herein:

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

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

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

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

The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to all members of its Board of Directors, as well as its officers and employees.  A copy of the code of ethics is filed as Exhibit 99.4, has been posted on the Registrant’s Internet website at www.ballard.com, and is available in print to any person without charge, upon written request to the corporate secretary of the Registrant.  The Company amended its code of ethics on September 21, 2010.  The code of ethics was amended to (i) prohibit improper payments to government officials; (ii) expand the procedures for reporting wrongdoing or serious misconduct to include making an anonymous report via Ballard’s web reporting site; and (iii) make certain other administrative changes.  No waivers of the code of ethics have been granted to any principal officer of the Registrant or any person performing similar functions.

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

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

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

Pursuant to Rule 5615(a)(3) of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. Marketplace Rules, the Registrant relies on an exemption from Rule 5620(c) of the Marketplace Rules, requiring that each Nasdaq-quoted company have in place a minimum quorum requirement for shareholder meetings of 33 1/3% of the outstanding shares of the company's voting common stock. The Company's by-laws currently provide that a quorum is met if holders of at least 5% of the votes eligible to be cast at a meeting are present or represented by proxy at a shareholder meeting. At the Company's 2010 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, holders of 48.39% of the common shares were present or represented by proxy at the meeting.

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

The Registrant has previously filed with the Commission an Appointment of Agent for Service of Process and Undertaking on Form F-X.

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

Registrant:   Ballard Power Systems Inc.

Date: March 9, 2011