UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

___________________

 

FORM 10-K/A
(Amendment No. 2)

 

 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

 

 

Commission File Number 0-24248

 

AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

DELAWARE

 

87-0361799

 

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

 

Incorporation or organization)

 

Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

13114 Evening Creek Drive South, San Diego, California

 

92128

 

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant's' telephone number, including area code:  (858) 679-2114

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

None

 

          

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:

 

Common Stock, $.00001 par value per share

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding in 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [  ] 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act) Yes [X] NO [  ]

 

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant (based on the closing price as reported on the NASDAQ SmallCap Market on March 31, 2004) was $94,391,214.*

 

The number of shares of Common Stock, $.00001 par value, outstanding on March 15, 2005, was 21,317,239.

 

* Excludes the Common Stock held by executive officers, directors and stockholders whose ownership exceeds 5% of the Common Stock outstanding at March 31, 2004. This calculation does not reflect a determination that such persons are affiliates for any other purpose.

 
 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

PART I

Explanatory Note

1

ITEM 1.

Business

2

 

       Overview

3

 

       Recent Developments

3

 

       Segment Reporting

3

 

       Our Technology and Products

4

 

       Operating Segment Information

6

 

       Business Group

6

 

       Government Group

7

 

       Manufacturing and Suppliers

9

 

       Selling, Marketing and Customers

10

 

       Warranties

10

 

       Competition

10

 

       Seasonality

11

 

       Government Regulation and Environmental Matters

11

 

       Intellectual Property Rights and Proprietary Information

12

 

       Research and Development

14

 

       Executive Officers

14

 

       Employees

15

ITEM 2.

Properties

15

ITEM 3.

Legal Proceedings

16

ITEM 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

16

 

 

 

 PART II

ITEM 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related

 

 

      Stockholder Matters and Issuers Purchases of Equity Securities

16

ITEM 6.

Selected Financial Data

18

ITEM 7.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition

 

 

   and Results of Operations

18

ITEM 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

37

ITEM 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

37

ITEM 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on

 

 

      Accounting and Financial Disclosure

37

ITEM 9A.

Controls and Procedures

37

ITEM 9B.

Other Information

37

 

 

 

 PART III

ITEM 10.

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

39

ITEM 11.

Executive Compensation

40

ITEM 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

 

   and Related Stockholder Matters

44

ITEM 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

47

ITEM 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

48

 

 

 

 PART IV

ITEM 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

49

 

Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules

F-1

  Signatures

54

 

Exhibit Index

55


 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This Amendment No. 2 to Form 10-K/A for American Technology Corporation for the year ended September 30, 2004, which amends and restates the Form 10-K in its entirety, is being filed solely (a) to correct information in Part III, Item 10 regarding Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance to include information previously omitted regarding one late filing by an executive officer, (b) to update the disclosure in Part II, Item 9A concerning controls and procedures, and (c) to include updated certifications pursuant to Section 302 and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Our Form 10-K was originally filed on December 28, 2004, and was amended on January 28, 2005. In order to preserve the nature and character of the disclosures set forth in the Form 10-K, as amended, this Amendment No. 2 does not reflect events occurring after the filing of the original Form 10-K on December 28, 2004, with respect to Parts I and II and the Financial Statements and related notes, or events occurring after the filing of Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A on January 28, 2005, with respect to Parts III and IV.

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PART I

 

Forward Looking Statements

This report contains certain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events or the future performance of our company.  Words such asexpects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the only means of identifying forward-looking statements.  Prospective investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially.  In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should specifically consider various factors identified in this re port, including the matters set forth below under the captionRisk Factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.

 

Item 1. Business

 

Overview

American Technology Corporation is an innovator of proprietary sound reproduction technologies and products. We believe our innovative proprietary sound technologies provide us a significant competitive advantage in our principal markets. We believe we are the leader in developing and commercializing parametric loudspeakers, branded as HyperSonic® sound or HSS®. We believe we are also the leader in developing and commercializing high intensity directed acoustical devices, branded as our Long Range Acoustic Device or LRAD™. We have filed over 70 patent applications in the United States, and over 90 patent applications internationally covering our various sound technologies and products.

 

We make significant investments in research and development to expand our technology and product portfolio. We are expanding our LRAD product family, introducing a new NeoPlanar product line for emergency notification and general announcing markets which require high intelligibility, and are utilizing our products to provide solutions for difficult acoustic challenges.  We offer our products for sale worldwide, but expect the largest markets to be the United States, Europe and Asia.

 

Our four major products from our technology portfolio are listed below.

 

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In order to capitalize on our technology leadership position, we continue to focus on our organization, management processes and business relationships.

 

Recent Developments

In December 2004, we received a firm order for $4.5 million in LRAD products from ADS, Inc. for use by the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.  The order also includes $0.4 million in ancillary products which we are providing on a value-added reseller basis along with the LRAD units.  The order calls for deliveries in December 2004 and January 2005 and customary payment terms. 
 

Segment Reporting

We organize our business into two reporting segments by the end-user markets we serve. Our Business Products and Licensing Group, or Business Group, licenses and markets HSS and NeoPlanar products to companies that employ audio in consumer, commercial and professional applications. Our primary focus in the Business Group has been expanding sales of HSS. We are concentrating our efforts on the following vertical markets:

 

Our Government and Force Protection Systems Group, or Government Group, markets LRAD, NeoPlanar, SoundCluster and HSS products to government and military customers and to the expanding force protection and commercial security markets. We also engineer custom sound solutions for these customers. Based on initial market response for long range hailing and warning, emergency response, and engineered acoustic solutions, we expect significant continued revenue growth for this segment in fiscal 2005.

During fiscal 2004, we improved the quality, performance and manufacturability of our HSS products, and starting in October of 2004, we began deliveries of our HSS Generation III (T120 and T220) products. We also expanded our Government Group product line by adding new LRAD features and new products. During fiscal 2004, we also expanded our Advanced Development and Engineering departments to accelerate new product development and support custom engineering solutions.

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We believe we are uniquely equipped to provide our technologies and products in rapidly growing markets for new sound applications not currently served by conventional sound devices and as an alternative to conventional loudspeakers. We believe market factors such as the rapid growth of plasma and flat panel screens offer significant growth opportunities for our HSS focused sound solutions. We also believe that the growth in defense and homeland security and related protection spending by commercial customers provides a growing market for our sound products to be used for intelligible communication over long distances.

Our shares of common stock trade through the NASDAQ SmallCap Market under the symbol “ATCO.”  Our address is 13114 Evening Creek Drive South, San Diego, California, our telephone number is 858-679-2114 and our internet website is located at www.atcsd.com. We make available, free of charge through our website, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, reports filed by our directors, executive officers and certain significant shareholders pursuant to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act and all amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practical after the reports are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this report nor is it part of this report.

 

Our Technology and Products

 

HyperSonic Sound

We believe we have pioneered a new paradigm in sound production based on well-known principles of physics. The common speaker types in use today such as dynamic, electrostatic, ribbon and other transducer-based designs, are direct radiating, which are fundamentally a piston action directly pumping air molecules into motion to create audible sound waves we hear. Parametric or nonlinear acoustics use changing pressures in air to produce sound indirectly. We believe we are the first company to employ the "non-linearity" of air into a commercial sound product.

 

HSS employs ultrasonic frequencies to carry content, e.g. music and voice, into the air. Proprietary ultrasonic emitters, or transducers which convert electrical energy to high frequency acoustical energy, produce these ultrasonic frequencies beyond the range of hearing.  We have developed the ability to use such devices in lieu of loudspeakers to emit a custom-generated ultrasonic wave with the proper difference frequency characteristics to produce audible sound within and throughout an invisible beam. Sound does not appear on the surface of the ultrasonic emitter, which is a significant departure from a direct radiating loudspeaker.  For example, if the beam is directed towards a wall, the sound first emanates from the surface of the wall, or if the beam is directed to a person, the sound is created at the person. This directionality allows sound to be manipulated in space or diffused from a surface in a wide variety of ways to produce desired effects. The sound does not dissipate at the same rate over distance as it does with traditional speakers. This unique feature provides greater sound volume at selected distant points with less energy than traditional speakers, creating the ability to communicate directed sound at distances up to hundreds of feet.

 

With the rapid growth of alternative advertising such as digital signage, point-of-purchase and in-store TV networks, there is a trend towards sound clutter and even sound pollution. In-store display advertising tends to irritate customers if too intrusive and annoy workers due to the repetition. We have tested our sound with plasma displays to achieve focused controlled sound such that only those customers interested in the promotion are tuned in and nearby clerks do not hear the message. We believe this ability to locate sound will be a driving feature of HSS systems. We believe our HSS technology offers a number of advantages:

 

We expect additional HSS applications to become evident as our products become more widely known. We believe HSS will ultimately have application in much broader consumer, home, vehicle, commercial and industrial environments.

 

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We are currently producing and selling our HSS Generation III hypersonic sound directed audio systems,  (Model T120 and T220), which have important improvements over prior generations including:

 

We expect to develop improved electronics and emitters and introduce new HSS systems in fiscal 2005. We seek to minimize distortion, improve output, reduce electronic packaging size, and trim production costs to expand the applications of HSS to new markets.

 

Long Range Acoustic Device

We believe our Long Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD, technology is a breakthrough directed acoustic beam device for long-range hailing and warning.  LRAD was developed to communicate at operationally-effective ranges with authority and superior intelligibility, even in high ambient noise environments. LRAD meets the need for clear voice communications at a distance to issue instructions, influence behavior, and determine intent.  LRAD was developed to support the security needs of military, government, law enforcement and commercial customers worldwide. Through intense marketing efforts, successful product deployments and extensive product demonstrations, we believe that LRAD is becoming well known by the U.S. Department of Defense as “The Sound of Force Protection™”. LRAD systems are currently in operational use in maritime, checkpoint, vehicular, airborne, and integrated system applications by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard.  Operational feedback by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps. and U.S. Army from LRAD deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom has been favorable. LRAD also supports applications for the Department of Homeland Security, other government and law enforcement agencies and customers where there is a need to protect critical high-value commercial infrastructure, such as buildings, bridges, tunnels, dams, power plants, pipelines, airports, sea ports, communications towers and other similar important commercial facilities.

 

LRAD was developed in parallel with the release of Naval Vessel Protection Zone requirements to enforce a 500-yard Exclusion Zone and 100-yard Protection Zone around U.S. naval warships both in the U.S. and in the foreign ports and restricted waters. LRAD provides the critical long range communication and intense but not harmful ability to warn away friendlies, classify non-compliants as hostile and support lethal rules of engagement.  This ability also allows the LRAD operator to execute proactive responses at extended distances, which in turn increases safety and the time to diffuse tense situations, thereby potentially saving lives on both sides of the device. In the remote-operation pan/tilt configuration, LRAD provides a first responder, immediately escalating non-lethal capability for protecting important commercial facilities.

 

LRAD’s features include:

 

We also have other customized LRAD applications under development to meet specific customer requirements each with broad government and commercial applications.

 

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NeoPlanar Speakers

Our NeoPlanar technology is a thin film planar magnetic type speaker that uses novel films, magnetic materials and a manufacturing process that we believe provides improved cost/performance benefits. Traditional planar magnetic speakers use materials with limited power handling ability and are generally associated with high distortion. Our NeoPlanar technology provides the ability to build flat and thin speakers with the following distinguishing features:

 

At present, we assemble NeoPlanar panels in 3, 8, and 24-inch segments of 3 inch width. Other lengths and widths are manufacturable. Our NeoPlanar Sound Bar product uses panels in an upright column and our NeoPlanar Sound Squares product organizes panels in a square box configuration. Both products are designed for public address with high intelligibility at very high output levels. NeoPlanar products can be engineered and customized to fit the needs of a particular facility or outdoor application. NeoPlanar speakers have been employed successfully for military and government installations in ships and hangars, and for outdoor public address and emergency response applications.

 

NeoPlanar technology provides a loud and clear outdoor and indoor public address and emergency response communication system for military, government and commercial facilities and areas.  Due to their unique intelligibility in high ambient noise environments and robust survivability in most operational environments, NeoPlanar products are useful for multiple military, government and force protection applications. Indoors, particularly in large spaces such as aircraft hangars, NeoPlanar provides a high level of clarity due to engineered reduction of multi-path and distortion. Outdoors, NeoPlanar provides an effective range, up to approximately a half mile, of clear high fidelity-quality communication even over high ambient noise.

 

SoundCluster

SoundCluster is a series of specifically engineered clusters of conventional high intensity ruggedized speakers modeled and designed to provide scalable highly intelligible and even sound coverage across the large areas.  For example, our first SoundCluster installation was for the flight deck of the USS Stennis (CVN-74), one of the most challenging acoustic environments anywhere.  The U.S. Navy is considering SoundCluster as a permanent replacement for the aging 5MC flight deck system. With this product, we have demonstrated that in addition to core proprietary technologies, we possess the core competency to provide a comprehensive engineered solution for unique industry acoustic challenges.
 

Other Proprietary Technologies

We have other sound inventions and technologies in various stages of development including our PureBass® Woofer technology for low frequency speakers, our Stratified Field Technology, or SFT®, that employs a thin form, non-magnetic film to produce high quality sound, and other technologies and products in various stages of development. In 2005, we expect our sales efforts to be focused on HSS, LRAD, NeoPlanar and SoundCluster.

 

Operating Segment Information

We organize our business into two reportable segments by the end-user markets we serve. Our Business Products and Licensing Group (Business Group) licenses and markets HSS and NeoPlanar speakers to companies that employ audio in consumer, commercial and professional applications. Our Government and Force Protection Systems Group (Government Group) markets LRAD, NeoPlanar, SoundCluster and HSS products to government and military customers and to the expanding force protection and commercial security markets.

 

Business Group

Our Business Group licenses and markets HSS and NeoPlanar technology and products to companies which employ audio in consumer, commercial, industrial and professional applications.  Our Business Group's primary marketing focus in fiscal 2005 will be on HSS product sales. Consumer applications for our products include home theater, consumer electronics, vehicle and computer multimedia sound systems. Commercial and industrial applications include digital signage, public address systems, point-of-purchase advertising, entertainment and messaging systems. Professional applications include sound systems for theaters, stadiums, production studios and indoor and outdoor entertainment venues.

 

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We sell our products to a range of customers including end-users, Original Equipment Manufacturers, or OEMs, who package our sound products with other products and system solutions, and to distributors who sell our products to others.

 

Our HSS strategy is to drive use in growing markets that can benefit from directed or narrowcast sound. The following are some key growing markets:

 Our NeoPlanar strategy is to seek customers requiring a simple, rugged, thin, low distortion, high-clarity sound solution. We target customers to use NeoPlanar panels for:

In August 2001, we entered into a non-exclusive license agreement with Harman International Industries to manufacture and use NeoPlanar technology in the OEM automotive market. The term of the agreement is perpetual unless terminated by either party for cause, or terminated by Harman with 30 days advance written notice.

 

Government Group

Late in fiscal 2003, we organized our Government Group to design, manufacture and market LRAD, NeoPlanar and HSS products for military, government and the developing force protection and emergency response markets, including commercial applications. During fiscal 2004, we demonstrated the market potential for LRAD, particularly with wartime implementations in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  We also completed key projects featuring the unique capabilities of NeoPlanar that have established our capabilities as an acoustic engineered solution provider. We are actively expanding relationships with the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Home land Security, other U.S. government agencies, major port authorities and police departments, international government agencies and commercial infrastructure security systems integrators.  

 

During fiscal 2004, we developed an automated pan/tilt model of LRAD for use in a wide variety of applications requiring a remotely operated force protection capability.  Our initial customer was the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane, Indiana, for integration into the Integrated Radar Sighting Surveillance System, or IROS3, for surface combatants, and the Aircraft Carrier Situational Awareness System, or ACSAS.  ACSAS and IROS3 are the U.S. Navy’s shipboard force protections systems, expected to be installed on all aircraft carriers and surface combatants to protect against small boat threats in port, restricted waters and littoral zones. LRAD adds capability to the integrated optics, comma nd and control, and lethal weapon suite by providing a simple, repeatable and reliable way to determine intent through long range hailing and warning. Our LRAD models are also positioned to support a first responder capability for critical infrastructure protection for buildings, dams, bridges, tunnels, airports, power plants, pipelines, ports, communication towers, water treatment facilities and other similar important commercial facilities.

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In December 2004, we received a firm order for $4.5 million in LRAD products from ADS, Inc. for use by the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.  The order also includes $0.4 million in ancillary products which we are providing on a value-added reseller basis along with the LRAD units.

 

During fiscal 2004, we also developed SoundCluster, a new product for which the initial implementation was on the flight deck of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.

 

The landscape of the global defense industry continues to evolve as events, such as those of September 11, 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom, demand alternative strategic defense initiatives. The defense requirements of the United States have shifted from defending against Cold War era threats to focusing on the management of one or more regional conflicts, homeland security and proactive threat identification. As a result of this shift towards low intensity conflicts and military operations other than war, the defense industry is influenced by several key factors which also may impact our Government Group, such as those factors listed below.

 

Our strategy is to position LRAD, NeoPlanar, and our other engineered solutions as the premium sound solution product suite for force protection, emergency response, and advanced audio systems throughout government and the security industry, first in the U.S. and then internationally. The following are examples of how our products are being used in force protection.

 

 

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We believe other military branches, government agencies and allied forces will increasingly employ LRAD systems for long range hailing and warning as part of their force protection strategies.

 

Our Government Group sells products directly to end-user customers and also to agents and distributors specializing in military, government and commercial security sales.

 

Manufacturing and Suppliers

We believe establishing and maintaining quality manufacturing capacity is essential to the performance of our products and the growth of our business.

 

During fiscal 2004, our manufacturing was spread amongst several internal and external resources. NeoPlanar manufacturing for both commercial and government systems remains located in our Carson City, Nevada facility. LRAD and HSS manufacturing transitioned from our San Diego facility to a contract manufacturer, Pemstar, Inc. in San Jose California.


We currently purchase completed products from Pemstar.  These units are stored in Pemstar warehouses and are shipped directly to our customers as required.  Our strategy is to increasingly utilize Pemstar's global contract manufacturing capabilities to allow us to meet our growing production needs.

 

We have refined our internal business processes to improve how we design, test and qualify product designs.  We have implemented more rigorous manufacturing and quality processes to track production and field failures.  Key metrics for line yields, warranty returns, root cause analysis and ongoing reliability testing are being tracked. We expect HSS, LRAD and NeoPlanar product lines to ramp production during 2005. 

 

Suppliers are key members of our production chain and are selected and managed accordingly.  Of particular importance is our HSS piezo-film supplier, which provides significant expertise in the fabrication of component material used in our proprietary HSS emitters. We have recently implemented more stringent testing of this crucial material.

 

Our HSS emitters and NeoPlanar panels employ film as a key part of the product. LRAD systems employ customized emitters. We have identified suppliers for film and other key parts, but some are on a sole source basis. Although other suppliers are believed to be available, the disruption and cost of changing suppliers could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Selling, Marketing and Customers

We market and sell products and services through our direct sales force based in San Diego, California and Topsham, Maine, and our administrative offices are located in San Diego, California.  Our sales and marketing strategy is to secure orders for our products and services by, among other things, providing high performance products that meet customer’s need for communication and notification in acoustically challenging environments.  Sales and marketing expenses include commission expense for our in-house sales people and the cost of participation in technical conferences, preparation of marketing collateral materials, and the acquisition of studies and other materials pertaining to our target markets and customers.

 

For fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, sales of sound products to two Government Group customers, ADS, Inc. and General Dynamics, Armaments and Technical Products, Inc. accounted for 47% and 11% of revenues respectively, with no other single customer accounting for more than 10% of revenues.  ADS, Inc. is a reseller of our products via a prime vendor contract vehicle to end users in various branches of the military such as the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and the Department of Homeland Security.

 

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, sales to one customer, Bath Iron Works Corporation, accounted for 24% of revenues, with no other single customer accounting for more than 10% of revenues.

 

Our revenues have to date relied on a few major customers. The loss of any customer could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.  However, our goal is to diversify sound technology revenues in future periods.

 

We do not consider order backlog to be an important measure of future performance at this time.  Our order backlog was approximately $316,000 at September 30, 2004. Backlog orders are subject to cancellation or rescheduling by our customers.

 

Warranties

We generally warrant our products to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period up to one year from the date of purchase, depending on the product. The warranty is generally a limited warranty, and in some instances imposes certain shipping costs on the customer. To date we have been providing direct warranty service but in the future may establish warranty service, through OEM customers or others. Some of our agreements require OEM customers to stock certain quantities of product for use as warranty replacements. International market warranties are generally similar to the U.S. market.

 

In fiscal 2003, due to performance failures of some of our first generation of HSS systems resulting primarily from a vacuum emitter component, we agreed to replace emitters on approximately 700 HSS Generation I units. At September 30, 2004, we had a warranty reserve of $331,917 of which $186,454 was for HSS Generation I units. Warranty costs on other products have not been material.

 

Competition

Our technologies and products compete with those of other companies. The consumer, commercial and government audio industry markets are fragmented and competitive and include numerous manufacturers with audio products that vary widely in price, quality and distribution channels. Manufacturers of consumer and commercial speakers include Harman International, Bose, Boston Acoustics and many others. Suppliers of government audio industry speakers include IML Sound Commander, Technomad Inc, ATI, Dynalec, Henschel and others. Many of our present and potential future competitors have, or may have, substantially greater resources to devote to further technological and new product developments. We believe we compete primarily on the originality of our concepts, the uniqueness and quality of our technology and designs, the ease and cost of manufacturing and of implementing our technologies, the ability to meet customer needs to differentiate their products, the strength of our intellectual property and the strength of licensee and contract supply arrangements. We may not, however, be competitive with the existing or future products, technologies or services of our competitors.

 

Our HSS and NeoPlanar products are offered by both our Business Group and our Government Group. We believe HSS is the leading parametric speaker with limited direct competition to date. Although others have attempted to use parametric speaker concepts to produce sound, we do not believe they have progressed to the point of cost-effective and directly competitive commercial products who compared to HSS. Holosonic Research Labs, Inc. produces a parametric speaker called the Audio Spotlight. Sennheiser Electronics has announced a parametric speaker product called the AudioBeam Master. These companies employ electrostatic and piezoelectric emitter devices, which we believe are less efficient and more expensive than our proprietary emitters. However, these parametric speaker competitors or others may introduce products with features and performance competitive to our products.

 

We believe our patent portfolio will be a barrier to entrants to penetrate the directed sound market using parametric acoustics. Other companies such as Brown Innovations and others have employed domes and other techniques to try to focus or contain sound for directed sound applications such as point-of-sale. We do not believe these methods are directly competitive to HSS in ease of use, cost and performance.

 

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We also believe our NeoPlanar technology is novel and has distinct market attributes compared to existing and competing flat panel and traditional speaker designs. We believe our NeoPlanar technology produces high intelligibility and reliability for a range of consumer, commercial and government applications. Other companies that are focusing marketing efforts in the flat panel market segment include, but are not limited to (i) high-end electrostatic flat panel manufacturers such as Martin Logan and others, (ii) NXT Plc and its licensees employing the NXT flat panel technology, which uses a magnetic actuator to produce vibrations over a rigid panel, (iii) NCT Group, Inc. and their Gekko line of flat panel speakers using a comparable a ctuated panel. We are not aware of companies offering flat panel technology to the government market comparable to our government NeoPlanar Products, but others may introduce products with features and performance competitive to our government NeoPlanar products.

 

Our LRAD and SoundCluster technology and products are offered by our Government Group. We are not aware of competitors who have achieved the sound output for both voice and warning tone, high directivity, light weight and other attributes necessary to accomplish the government's desired specifications for force protection hailing and non-lethal weapon applications. However, other companies supply a variety of sound products for government customers varying in performance, quality, price and distribution channels, and these products may become more competitive to our products.  Others may also modify existing products or offer new products with features and performance competitive to our LRAD and SoundCluster product s.

 

There are also continuing attempts by a large number of competitors to innovate new methods of sound reproduction to overcome limitations of traditional loudspeakers. It is possible that alternate technologies and systems that would be directly competitive with our sound technology have been developed but are unknown to us. Such systems may also currently be in development, and may be developed by others in the future.

 

Seasonality

We have not experienced any significant seasonality trends to date. Seasonality trends may occur in the future. Government business tends to be seasonal due to the U.S. Government procurement cycle, with the quarter ending September 30 usually producing relatively higher sales and the quarter ending December 31 usually producing relatively lower sales.  Our Government Group business has not experienced this seasonality during calendar year 2004, but we expect increasing seasonality in the future.

 

Government Regulation and Environmental Matters

Certain of our electronic products are subject to various regulations and are required to meet the specifications of agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”). We believe we are in substantial compliance with all current applicable regulations, and that we have all material governmental permits, licenses, qualifications and approvals currently required for our operations.

 

Our HyperSonic Sound technology is subject to control under the Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act of 1968, and the associated regulations promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration, as an electrical emitter of ultrasonic vibrations. Under the terms of such regulations, we were required to provide an abbreviated report to the FDA describing the technology, which we submitted in August 2001. The FDA may respond to such report and request changes or safeguards to the technology, but it has not done so to date. We will also be required to notify the FDA in writing should an HSS product be found to have a defect relating to safety of use due to the emission of electronic product radiation. We do not believe our HSS technology poses any human health risks. However, it is possible that we, or one of our OEM customers or licensees, could be required to modify the technology, or a product incorporating the technology, to comply with requirements that may be imposed by the FDA.

 

Our products are being produced to standard product safety requirements for sale in the United States and to similar requirements for sale in Europe and Canada. We expect to meet the electrical and other regulatory requirements for electronic systems or components we sell throughout the world.

 

Some of our products may be subject to certain export controls by the U.S. government in accordance with various statutory authorities (including, for example the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917, the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, the Export Administration Act of 1979 or the International Emergency Economic Powers Act), regulations and related executive orders. These controls affect the export of products and services to foreign customers and foreign business partners, in addition to exports to foreign persons generally (including ATC employees who are foreign persons or foreign regulatory bodies).

Generally speaking, there are three U.S. regulatory systems in place to implement these export control laws:  

The first main regulatory system is administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), which administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals against targeted individuals and specifically identified foreign countries.  None of our current business dealings or business plans implicates the OFAC regulations.  

- 11 -


 

 

The second main regulatory system is administered by the U.S. Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), which administers the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).  The ITAR requires licenses for the export of any product, service or technology that is specifically designed or adapted for a military application and is listed on the United States Munitions List.  Since our products are directional speaker systems designed for both commercial and government use, we do not believe that our technologies will fall under ITAR restrictions.  However, it is possible that some of our products may be deemed to have been specifically designed or adapted for military application and, if so, would be regulated under the ITAR.  For products, services or technology regulated under the ITAR, we will be required to submit an application for and obtain an exp ort license to DDTC before exporting ITAR-controlled products, services or technology.

The third main regulatory system is administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which administers the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).  The EAR requires licenses only for certain products, services or technology that potentially have both commercial and military uses. Whether a license is required involves analysis of the end use of the product, as well as the destination country for the product, service or technology.  We believe that products such as HSS, LRAD and NeoPlanar are subject to the EAR because they have commercial applications and, unless specifically customized for military applications, were not, in their standard configurations, specifically designed for military use.  Application of the EAR is generally routine, and every company doing business in an international market must comply with these regulations.

We intend to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, as required, in the export of our products.  

As a defense contractor or subcontractor, our contract costs may be subject to audit and review by the U.S. Government. Routine audits and investigations are conducted from time to time to determine if performance and administering of U.S. Government contracts are compliant with applicable contractual requirements, and procurement and other applicable Federal statutes and regulations. Under present U.S. Government procurement regulations, if indicted or adjudged in violation of procurement or other Federal civil laws, a contractor or subcontractor, such as us, could be subject to fines, penalties, repayments or other damages. U.S. Government regulations also provide that certain findings may lead to suspension or debarment from eligibility for awards of new U.S. Government contracts for up to three years. Suspension or debarment may also limit a company's ability to obtain future subcontracts, to receive task orders on certain existing contracts, or to have options exercised on existing contracts.  Additionally, if a company is suspended or debarred the U.S. Government can suspend or revoke a company's foreign export privileges.  We are not currently subject to any suspension or debarment proceedings, nor are we the subject of any investigation by the U.S. Government.  

We do not believe we are materially affected, nor do we expect to be materially affected, by the costs and effects of compliance with environmental laws.

 

Intellectual Property Rights and Proprietary Information

We operate in an industry where innovations, investment in new ideas and protection of resulting intellectual property rights are important to success. We rely on a variety of intellectual property protections for our products and technologies, including patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, and contractual obligations, and we pursue a policy of vigorously enforcing such rights.

 

We have a substantial base of intellectual property assets. We have 38 issued U.S. patents and 4 issued international patents.  We also have approximately 33 U.S. and 91 international patents pending on our proprietary sound technologies. Our issued patents expire between 2006 and 2021. We are preparing and intend to file other sound technology patent applications. We own one U.S. patent on a portable consumer product and two U.S. patents on other technology. We purchased and own one patent on transducer technology primarily targeted for government applications. We target our patent coverage to provide protection in the major manufacturing and commercial centers of the world.

 

In addition to such factors as innovation, technological expertise and experienced personnel, we believe that a strong patent position is important to compete effectively in the sound reproduction industry. We believe this is especially important to protect our leadership position in parametric acoustics (HSS). The following table lists some of our key HSS patents and patent applications and the inventions they cover:

 

- 12 -


 

Key Patent Title

 

Coverage

Acoustic Heterodyne Device and Method

 

Virtual loudspeaker projection, controlling virtual projection attributes and direction with a computer driver and in ear applications for HSS
 

Piezoelectric Film Sonic Emitter

 

Piezoelectric film based emitters
 

Parametric Loudspeaker w/ Electro-Acoustical
One stage Diaphragm Transducer
 

 

All film type transducers for HSS

 

Modulator Processing for a Parametric Loudspeaker
 

 

Advanced distortion correction

Parametric Loudspeaker with Improved Phase Characteristics
 

 

Ideal tuning of parametric carriers for
maximum efficiency

Power Amplification for Parametric Loudspeakers

 

All high efficiency switch-mode power amplifiers
for HSS
 

Parametric Virtual Speaker and Surround Sound System
 

 

HSS for virtual surround sound

Pre-encoded Signals for Playback though a
Parametric Loudspeaker System

 

Pre recorded HSS processing for
reduced processing cost and hardware
 

Dynamic Carrier System for Parametric Arrays

 

Reduced power consumption and increased
efficiency in HSS
 


The following table lists some of our other key sound patents and patent applications and the inventions they cover:


 

Key Patent Title

 

Coverage

Single End Planar Magnetic Speaker

 

a) Single Ended, Planar Magnetic loudspeaker w/high
energy magnets
b) High speed/low cost planar magnetic diaphragm
production
c) Specialized film for use in planar magnetic
loudspeakers
 

Acoustically Asymmetric Band-Pass Loudspeaker
With Multiple Acoustic Filters

 

a) Low distortion/High Powered Subwoofer
b) Increased bandwidth subwoofer
 

Dynamic Power Sharing in a Multi-Channel
Sound System

 

Power/cost savings, increased output in surround
sound/home theater systems
 

 

We have an ongoing policy of filing patent applications to seek protection for novel features of our products and technologies. Prior to the filing and granting of patents, our policy is to disclose key features to patent counsel and maintain these features as trade secrets prior to product introduction. We cannot assure you that any additional patents on our products or technology will be granted.

- 13 -


 

 

We are investing significant management, legal and financial resources toward our technology patents. The electronics industry is characterized by frequent litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights. Others, including academic institutions and competitors, hold numerous patents in electronics and sound reproduction. Although we are not aware of any existing patents that would materially inhibit our ability to commercialize our sound technology; others may assert claims in the future. Such claims, with or without merit, may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

The validity of our existing patents has not been adjudicated by any court. Competitors may bring legal action to challenge the validity of our existing or future patents or may attempt to circumvent the protection provided by such patents.  The failure to obtain patent protection or the loss of patent protection on our existing and future technologies or the circumvention of our patents by competitors could have a material adverse effect on our ability to compete successfully.

 

We generally take advantage of the Patent Convention Treaty procedures for patent protection in foreign countries. This procedure is more cost efficient, but results in a delay in the application and issuance of foreign patents; however, any resulting foreign patents, if and when issued, enjoy the same priority date as U.S. counterparts.

 

We also file for trade name and trademark protection when appropriate. We are the owner of federally registered trademarks including HYPERSONIC®, HSS®, SFT®, STRATIFIED FIELD®, PMT®, NEOPLANAR®, PUREBASS® and SHAPING THE FUTURE OF SOUND®. Trade names or trademarks may not be successfully maintained, defended or protected.

 

Our policy is to enter into nondisclosure agreements with each employee and consultant or third party to whom any of our proprietary information is disclosed. These agreements prohibit the disclosure of confidential information to others, both during and subsequent to employment or the duration of the working relationship. There can be no assurance, however, that these agreements will not be breached, that we will have adequate remedies for any breach or that our trade secrets will not otherwise become known or be independently developed by competitors.

 

We are obligated to pay a $2.50 per unit royalty on one electronic component for our HSS product. We are also obligated to pay Elwood G. Norris, our Chairman, a 2% royalty on net sales from certain of our technologies, of which only HSS is a current offering of our company. The royalty obligation continues until at least March 1, 2007, and for any longer period during which we sell products or license technologies subject to any patent assigned to us by Mr. Norris. No royalties were paid or recorded under this agreement in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 or 2002, as these royalties were immaterial and were waived by Mr. Norris. We may owe royalties in future periods based on actual sales or technology revenues.

 

Research and Development

The sound reproduction market is subject to rapid changes in technology and designs with frequent improvements and new product introductions. We believe our future success will depend on our ability to enhance and improve existing technologies and to introduce new technologies on a competitive basis. Accordingly, we have in the past, and we expect in the future, to engage in significant research and development activities.

 

For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 we spent $2,988,784, $2,437,591 and $3,537,355 respectively, on company-sponsored research and development, and $0, $55,760 and $84,708, on customer-sponsored research and development. Future levels of research and development expenditures will vary depending on the timing of further new product development and the availability of funds to carry on additional research and development on currently owned technologies or in other areas.

 

Executive Officers

Our current executive officers of American Technology Corporation and their ages and business experience for the last five years are set forth below.

 

Elwood G. Norris, age 66, has been a Director of our company since August 1980. Mr. Norris served as Chief Executive Officer from October 2000 until February 2003. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board, an executive position.  He served as President from August 1980 to February 1994.  Mr. Norris managed our research and development activities as Chief Technology Officer through December 2000. From 1988 to November 1999, he was a director and Chairman of e.Digital Corporation, a public company engaged in electronic product development, distribution and sales. During that period, he also held various other executive officer positions at e.Digital. From August 1989 to October 1999, he served as director and held vari ous executive officer positions with Patriot Scientific Corporation, a public company engaged in the development of microprocessor technology. He is an inventor with over 44 U.S. patents, primarily in the fields of electrical and acoustical engineering. He is the inventor of our HyperSonic Sound and other technologies.

- 14 -


 

 

Kalani Jones, age 42, was appointed President of our company in April 2004.   He joined us as Vice President of Operations in September 2003 and later that month assumed the position of Chief Operating Officer. From October 1999 to November 2002, he was Vice President Engineering and Product Operations for Tachyon Inc., a San Diego provider of satellite networking solutions. From 1997 to 1999, he was Senior Director for Program Management at Iomega Corporation, a provider of removable computer storage solutions, and previously held engineering management positions at General Instrument and TRW. From November 2002 until being recruited by the Company, Mr. Jones was a self-employed entrepreneur developing technology based remote monitoring solutions. Mr. Jones obtained an M.S.E.E. degree in Digital Comm unications and Digital Signal Processing from USC (1988) and a B.S.E.E. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from California State Polytechnic University (1984).

 

Michael A. Russell, age 58, joined our company in June 2004 as our Chief Financial Officer.  From May 2000 until July 2003, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Metallic Power, Inc, a San Diego developer of zinc-air regenerative fuel cells.  From November 1998 until February of 2000, he was the Group Vice President of Finance for the Financial Solutions Group of HNC Software, Inc. (acquired by Fair Isaac Corporation in July 2002), a developer of fraud detection software. Mr. Russell obtained an M.B.A. degree (1971) and a B.S.E.E. degree in electrical engineering (1968) from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

 

Carl Gruenler, age 51, has served as our Vice President of Government and Force Protection Systems Group since July 2003.  During the period from November 2003 until June 2004, he assumed the additional responsibilities of Interim Chief Financial Officer. From May 1998 to June 2003, he served as Smart Wing Program Manager for the Combat Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing as a Captain in the United States Navy Reserve. He was responsible for identifying and developing new integrated systems for physical security/access control, waterside force protection and mobile computing. Mr. Gruenler’s prior business experience includes serving as president of Thomas D. Mangelsen, Inc., a national retail, manufacturing and distribution company; chief financial officer of Automated Monitoring and Control International, Inc., a railroad systems technology company; and a project manager/financial analyst at Union Pacific Railroad. He holds an M.B.A. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1981) and a B.S. in Business Administration from Oral Roberts University in (1975).

 

We are currently seeking an individual to serve as the Vice President of our Business Group. We are actively recruiting qualified candidates at this time.

 

Employees

At September 30, 2004, we employed a total of 53 people. Of such employees, 15 were in research and development, 16 were in production, quality assurance and materials control, 11 were in general and administrative and 11 were in marketing, sales and licensing.  We also lease technical personnel from time to time on an as needed basis and use outside consultants for various services.  We have not experienced any work stoppages and are not a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and we consider our relations with our employees to be favorable.

 

Item 2. Properties.

 

Our executive offices and our research and development facilities for our Business Group and Government Group are located at 13114 Evening Creek Drive South, San Diego, California.  In January 2004, we amended our lease agreement to increase the office, laboratory, production and warehouse space we occupy to 23,548 square feet and extend the term of the lease until July 31, 2006.  In June 2004, we exercised an option in the lease agreement to reduce the space we occupy to 14,997 square feet. Our current aggregate monthly payments are $17,996, exclusive of utilities and costs.  In order to meet our ongoing needs, we may increase the space we occupy at this facility or seek new facilities during fiscal 2005.
 

 

We rent on a monthly basis office space utilized for development and production of our NeoPlanar technology for our Business Group and Government Group, located at 3170 Research Way, Unit 81, Carson City, Nevada. We occupy approximately 2,200 square feet with a monthly payment of $1,250 excluding utilities.

 

Our East Coast sales office for the Government Group is located at 1 Main Street, Topsham, Maine. We currently rent, on a month-to-month basis, 600 square feet of office space with monthly payments of $919. We believe that we will be seeking additional space at this location to meet our needs for fiscal 2005.   We believe there is adequate availability of office and development space in the general vicinity to meet our future needs.  

 

- 15 -


 

 

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

 

In September 2003, we filed a complaint against eSOUNDideas, Inc., in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, alleging breach of contract and seeking a declaratory judgment to the effect that a License, Purchase and Marketing Agreement dated September 28, 2000, which we refer to as the ESI License Agreement with eSOUNDideas, a California partnership, was properly terminated in May 2003. The principals of eSOUNDideas are Greg O. Endsley and Douglas J. Paschall. The principals also founded a corporation, eSOUNDideas, Inc., which purported to assume the contractual obligations of eSOUNDideas. We amended the complaint in November 2003 to include eSOUNDideas (the general partnership), Mr. Endsley and Mr. Paschall as defendants. For convenience, the following discussion refers to eSOUNDideas and eSOUNDideas, Inc. collectively as “ESI.” In November 2003, we filed complaints in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, against Mr. Endsley and Paschall seeking declaratory judgments that options granted to each of Mr. Endsley and Mr. Paschall in April 2001 were terminated in October 2002.
 

The ESI License Agreement formerly appointed ESI as an exclusive distributor of HSS products specifically targeted to the point of sale/purchase, kiosk and display, and the event, trade show and exhibit markets in North America for five years. In June 2002, we and ESI purported to enter into an amendment to the ESI License Agreement, extending the term to ten years commencing on the first delivery of a commercial HSS product to an end user, and eliminating minimum purchase requirements for the first three years. We believe the amendment was invalid as it was given in consideration for a large order from ESI, which was later withdrawn by ESI due to a dispute over the payment and delivery terms of such order. In May 2003, we gave notice to ESI of termination of the ESI License Agreement. We based our termination on our belief that ESI had failed to fulfill certain covenants contained in the ESI License Agreement related to efforts and resources required to maximize the distribution and sales of HSS products in its product categories. Under the terms of the ESI License Agreement, the termination was effective immediately, but ESI had sixty days to cure conditions giving rise to termination and reinstate the agreement. ESI did not tender a cure within such sixty day period.

 

The three cases were consolidated upon motion by the defendants and order of the court. The defendants filed a cross-action in the consolidated action alleging fraud, breach of contract in connection with the ESI License Agreement and the options, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, intentional interference with contract, negligent interference with contract, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, negligent interference with prospective economic advantage, defamation, and violation of California Business and Professions Code §17200.  We filed our answer to the second amended cross-complaint in August 2004.  Discovery is ongoing.  Trial has been set for May 2005.

 

We intend to vigorously pursue our complaint against the defendants in this case and to vigorously challenge the defendant’s cross complaint.

 

We may at times be involved in litigation in the ordinary course of business. Except as set forth above, there are no pending material legal proceedings to which we are a party or to which any of our property is subject.

 

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

None.

 

PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuers Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

Market Information

Our common stock is traded and quoted on NASDAQ SmallCap Market under the symbol “ATCO”. The market for our common stock has often been sporadic and limited.

 

- 16 -


 

 

The following table sets forth the high and low bid quotations for our common stock for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2003 and 2004:
 

 

Bid Quotations

 

High

 Low

Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2003

 

 

                First Quarter

$4.77

$2.87

                Second Quarter

$3.99

$3.00

                Third Quarter

$6.56

$3.11

                Fourth Quarter

$7.65

$5.43

Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2004

 

 

                First Quarter

$6.19

$4.01

                Second Quarter

$6.07

$4.05

                Third Quarter

$7.77

$5.50

                Fourth Quarter

$6.70

$4.38

 

The above quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail markup, markdown or commission and may not represent actual transactions.

 

We had 1,112 holders of record of our common stock at December 20, 2004 with 19,808,819 shares issued and outstanding. We have never paid a cash dividend on our common stock or preferred stock and do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.  The terms of our Series D and Series E Preferred Stock require preferred dividends be paid to the holders of such stock in preference to dividends to holders of our common stock.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

At September 30, 2004, we had two equity incentive plans under which equity securities are or have been authorized for issuance to our employees, consultants or directors: the 2002 Stock Option Plan and the 1997 Stock Option Plan.  These plans have been approved by our stockholders. In addition, from time to time we issue to employees, directors and service providers special stock options, inducement grants and warrants to purchase common shares, and these grants have not been approved by stockholders. The following table gives information as of September 30, 2004:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 (excluding securities reflected in column (a))

 

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

 

 

 

1,652,498

 

 

 

$4.59

 

 

 

284,928

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders  

       
        337,000 (1)

 

 

$4.84

 

 

--

Total

 

1,989,498

 

$4.63

 

284,928


(1)    Consists of 187,000 of individual stock option grants and 150,000 of warrant grants to employees, directors
        and service providers approved by the Board of Directors from time to time.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

In March 2004, we issued 32,733 shares of common stock upon conversion of 10,000 shares of our Series E Preferred Stock.  We received no consideration in connection with such issuance.  For this issuance, we relied on the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act.

 

- 17 -


 

In April 2004, we issued 65,856 shares of common stock upon conversion of 20,000 shares of our Series E Preferred Stock.  We received no consideration in connection with such issuance.  For this issuance, we relied on the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act.

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

 

The following selected financial data has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes. This information should be read in conjunction with Item 7 of this report - "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes set forth at the pages indicated in Item 15(a) of this report.

 

For the fiscal years ended September 30,
 
 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
 
Statement of Operations:
   
   
   
   
   
 
Net revenues
 
$
5,752,549
 
$
1,315,426
 
$
1,010,752
 
$
855,342
 
$
1,433,050
 
Gross profit (loss)
 
$
2,282,728
 
$
(228,651
)
$
326,908
 
$
277,066
 
$
382,155
 
Net loss
 
$
(5,960,436
)
$
(8,227,013
)
$
(8,220,132
)
$
(5,046,219
)
$
(3,068,046
)
Net loss available to common stockholders
 
$
(7,325,785
)
$
(10,636,241
)
$
(8,503,044
)
$
(5,166,941
)
$
(7,948,994
)
Net loss per share-basic and diluted
 
$
(0.37
)
$
(0.67
)
$
(0.60
)
$
(0.38
)
$
(0.67
)
Weighted average number of shares-basic
    and diluted
   
19,603,265
   
15,857,569
   
14,193,508
   
13,563,101
   
11,868,511
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
As of September 30,
 
 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
2001
 
2000
 
Working capital
 
$
3,472,984
 
$
8,484,210
 
$
554,713
 
$
892,040
 
$
4,794,743
 
Total assets
 
$
7,645,291
 
$
11,744,371
 
$
3,789,634
 
$
3,837,284
 
$
7,275,614
 
Long-term obligations
 
$
12,131
 
$
23,097
 
$
3,153,012
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)
 
$
5,192,915
 
$
9,728,171
 
$
(884,882
)
$
2,993,495
 
$
6,829,875
 
 

 

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

This discussion should be read in conjunction with the information presented in other sections of this report on Form 10-K, including “Item 1. Business,” “Item 6. Selected Financial Data,” and “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” This discussion contains forward-looking statements which are based on our current expectations and industry experience, as well as our perception of historical trends, current market conditions, current economic data, expected future developments and other factors that we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested in the forward-looking statements.

 

We begin this discussion with an overview to give you an understanding of our business and the markets we serve. We then discuss our critical accounting policies. This is followed by a discussion of our results of operations for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002. We include in this discussion additional disclosure regarding our two reportable business segments, the Business Group and the Government Group. We then discuss our financial condition at September 30, 2004 with a comparison to September 30, 2003 and 2002. This section includes information regarding our liquidity and capital resources, cash flows, and contractual obligations. Finally, we provide risk factors at the end of this discussion.

 

Overview

We are an innovator of proprietary sound reproduction technologies and products. Our HyperSonic Sound, or HSS, technology is a new method of sound reproduction that creates sound “in the air.”  Sound is generated along an air column using ultrasonic frequencies, which are those above the normal range of hearing. The HSS sound beam is highly directional and maintains sound volume over longer distances than traditional loudspeakers. We believe HyperSonic Sound’s unique features are useful in new sound applications. We believe we are the leader in developing and commercializing parametric loudspeakers.

- 18 -


 

 

Our Long Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD, technology produces variable intensity acoustical sound intended for use in long-range delivery of directional sound information, which is effectively a supercharged megaphone. LRAD products are used as directed long-range hailing and warning systems.

 

Our NeoPlanar technology is a thin film magnetic speaker that produces sound of high quality, low distortion and high volume. NeoPlanar applications include high-end sound and public address systems. Our SoundCluster technology is a new multi-transducer, speaker cluster optimized for even sound coverage over large areas such as aircraft hangar decks.  We have other proprietary sound technologies and products in various stages of development.

 

Our primary products sold to date have been LRAD and HSS products. These products are currently manufactured for us by Pemstar, Inc., an established contract manufacturer with multiple locations worldwide. Our sales have been highly dependent on large orders from a few customers.  We target our products for sale worldwide, but expect the largest markets to be the U.S., Europe and Asia. To date, our sales have been made in U.S. dollars and we do not expect currency fluctuations to have a material impact on our operations.

 

Fiscal 2004 was a good year for our company. We successfully introduced new products, transitioned to contract manufacturing to allow for increased production capacity and achieved record revenues. Our Government Group established LRAD as an important new product for protection in defense and homeland security. To date, we have incurred operating losses, as we have not yet achieved revenues sufficient to support our significant expenditures on research and development and our growing sales and administrative support services.

 

Our various technologies are high risk in nature. Our future is largely dependent upon the success of our proprietary sound technologies. We invest significant funds in research and development and on patent applications related to our proprietary technologies. Unanticipated technical or manufacturing obstacles can arise at any time, disrupt sales or licensing activities, and result in lengthy and costly delays. Our technologies may not achieve market acceptance sufficient to sustain operations or achieve future profits. See “Risk Factors” below.

 

We incurred net losses of $5,960,436, $8,227,013, and $8,220,132 in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002.  We have substantial research and development and selling, marketing and general administrative expenses, and our margins from the sale of our products have not yet been sufficient to offset these costs.  We may incur additional operating losses during fiscal 2005, and we may need additional operating funds to support our growth.  See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below. Based on our current plan and without drawing any additional funds from the CEFF described below, we anticipate that we will be able to meet our cash requirements for the next twelve months.  We have significant flexibility to adjust the level of research and development and selling and administrative expenses based on the availability of resources.  However, reductions in expenditures could delay development and adversely affect our ability to generate future revenues. 

 

Recent Developments

In December 2004, we received a firm order for $4.5 million in LRAD products from ADS, Inc. for use by the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.  The order also includes $0.4 million in ancillary products which we are providing on a value-added reseller basis along with the LRAD units.  The order calls for deliveries in December 2004 and January 2005 and customary payment terms.  We expect to recognize approximately 65% of the revenue for this order during the first quarter of fiscal 2005 and the balance during the second quarter of fiscal 2005.
 

In December 2004, we sold for cash in a private offering an aggregate of $2,000,000 of unsecured subordinated promissory notes due December 31, 2006.  In connection with the financing, we also issued five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 150,000 shares, 75,000 of which have an exercise price of $9.28 per share, and 75,000 of which have an exercise price of $8.60 per share.  A trust affiliated with Elwood G. Norris, our Chairman and the beneficial owner of 19.5% of our common stock before the financing, purchased a note in the principal amount of $500,000 and received a warrant exercisable for 37,500 shares with an exercise price of $9.28 per share.  For more information on this financing, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources–Financing Activities” below.

 

In December 2004, we entered into a Committed Equity Financing Facility (CEFF) with Kingsbridge Capital Ltd., pursuant to which Kingsbridge committed, subject to certain significant limiting conditions, to purchase up to $25,000,000 of our common stock, subject to various conditions, at a price that is between 88% and 92% of the volume weighted average price during a 15 day purchase period.  We are obligated to use 40% of the proceeds we may receive from the CEFF to prepay any outstanding interest and principal on the notes sold in December 2004.  We believe the CEFF will offer us flexibility to raise capital to support our growth as required, at the time, price and in the amounts deemed suitable to us.  For more information on the CEFF, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “Risk Factors” below.

 

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Business Outlook

We produced record revenues for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 while reducing our operating losses. In fiscal 2005, we believe revenues will continue to grow primarily due to increased acceptance of our LRAD and other Government Group products and from anticipated growth in HSS product sales. We also expect other products such as NeoPlanar and SoundCluster products will support growth in fiscal 2005. We expect our expenditure levels for research and development and for selling, general and administrative purposes to increase as revenues grow. We are aggressively developing new versions of existing products and new products based on our proprietary sound technologies to support future growth.

 

We believe the success of our LRAD product, growing HSS product shipments and our significant investment in new technologies and new products provide a solid foundation for business growth over the next several years. We also believe that LRAD, NeoPlanar and SoundCluster are positioned for significant long term contract awards in military, government and commercial markets during fiscal 2005.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We have identified the policies below as critical to our business operations and the understandings of our results of operations. Our accounting policies are more fully described in our financial statements located in Item 8 of Part II, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” The impact and any associated risks related to these policies on our business operations is discussed throughout Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations when such policies affect our reported and expected financial results.

 

The methods, estimates and judgments we use in applying our accounting policies, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, have a significant impact on the results we report in our financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. The estimates affect the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe that the following discussion addresses our most critical accounting policies, which are those that are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and require our most difficult, subjective, and complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.

 

Revenue Recognition.  We currently derive our revenue primarily from two sources: (i) component and product sale revenues and associated engineering and installation, which we refer to collectively as Product Sales and (ii) contract and license fee revenue.  Product Sales revenues are recognized in the periods that products are shipped to customers, FOB shipping point or destination, per contract, if a signed contract exists, the fee is fixed and determinable, collection of resulting receivables is probable and there are no remaining obligations. Revenues from engineering contracts are recognized based on milestones or completion of the contracted services. Revenues from ongoing per unit license fees are earned based on units shipped incorporating our patented proprietary technologies and are recognized in the period when the ultimate customer accepts the product and collectibility is reasonably assured. Revenues from up-front license and other fees and annual license fees are generally recognized ratably over the specified term of the particular license or agreement.

 

Valuation of Intangible Assets.  Intangible assets include purchased technology and patents, which are amortized over their estimated useful lives. We must make judgments and estimates regarding the future utility and carrying value of intangible assets. The carrying values of such assets are periodically reviewed and impairments, if any, are recognized when the expected future benefit to be derived from an individual intangible asset is less than its carrying value.  In fiscal 2004, we reviewed the carrying value of our intangible assets and reduced the carrying value of these assets. Our judgments and estimates regarding carrying value and impairment of intangible assets have an impact on our financial statements.

 

Warranty Reserve. We establish a warranty reserve based on anticipated warranty claims at the time product revenue is recognized. These warranties require us to make estimates regarding the amount and costs of warranty repairs we expect to make over a period of time. Factors affecting warranty reserve levels include the number of units sold and anticipated cost of warranty repairs and anticipated rates of warranty claims. We evaluate the adequacy of the provision for warranty costs each reporting period. See Note 8 to our financial statements for additional information regarding warranties. The estimates we use have an impact on our financial statements.

 

Guarantees and Indemnifications.  Under our bylaws, we have agreed to indemnify our officers and directors for certain events. We also enter into certain indemnification agreements in the normal course of our business. We have no liabilities recorded for such indemnities. This estimate has an impact on our financial statements.

 

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Deferred Tax Asset. We have provided a full valuation reserve related to our substantial deferred tax assets. In the future, if sufficient evidence of our ability to generate sufficient future taxable income in certain tax jurisdictions becomes apparent, we may be required to reduce our valuation allowances, resulting in income tax benefits in our consolidated statement of operations. We evaluate the realizability of the deferred tax assets and assess the need for valuation allowance quarterly. The utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards could be substantially limited due to restrictions imposed under federal and state laws upon a change in ownership. Congress passed the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 in October 2004.  The new law contains numerous changes to existing tax laws, including both domestic and foreign tax incentives.  We have not yet determined what impact, if any, this new law may have on our deferred tax asset, or our future results of operations and financial condition.

 

Legal Proceedings.  We are currently involved in certain legal proceedings.  Although unfavorable outcomes in any of these matters could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, liquidity or financial position, we believe the claims are without merit and intend to vigorously defend the actions. We estimate the range of liability relating to pending litigation, where the amount and range of loss can be estimated.  We record our best estimate of a loss when the loss is considered probable.  Where a liability is probable and there is a range of estimated loss with no best estimate in the range, we record the minimum estimated liability related to the claim.  As additional information becomes available, we assess the potential liability related to our pending litigation and revise our estimates.  We have recorded an accrual of $150,000 for contingent liability associated with our legal proceedings.  Revisions in our estimates of the potential liability could materially impact our results of operations.

 

Valuation of Inventory. Our inventory is comprised of raw materials, assemblies and finished products that we intend to sell to our customers. We must periodically make judgments and estimates regarding the future utility and carrying value of our inventory.  The carrying value of our inventory is periodically reviewed and impairments, if any, are recognized when the expected future benefit from our inventory is less than its carrying value.  In fiscal 2004 we reviewed the carrying value of our inventory and increased the reserve for obsolescence by $90,000 for raw materials that were used on our HSS Generation II products but are not required for our HSS Generation III products.

 

Results of Operations

 

Revenues

Revenues increased 337% in fiscal 2004 to $5,752,549 compared to $1,315,426 for fiscal 2003. Fiscal 2003 revenues were 30% higher than fiscal 2002 revenues of $1,010,752. Fiscal 2004 revenues included $5,581,936 of product sales and $170,613 of contract and license revenues. Fiscal 2003 revenues included $1,070,645 of product sales and $244,781 of contract and license revenues. Fiscal 2002 revenues included $693,097 of product sales and $317,655 of contract and license revenues.

 

During fiscal 2002, we recorded revenues of $305,208 for portable consumer products. These revenues represented products sourced by us, private labeled under our name and resold to sporting good stores and other retailers. In fiscal 2003, we reduced our marketing emphasis on portable consumer products in order to focus financial, personnel and facility resources on our proprietary sound technologies. As a result, sales of portable consumer products in fiscal 2003 totaled $94,980. Sound products provided the balance of fiscal 2003 revenues and all of fiscal 2004 revenues.

 

Late in fiscal 2003, with the addition of new personnel, we organized operations into two segments by the end-user markets they serve. Our Business Products and Licensing Group (Business Group) licenses and markets HSS and NeoPlanar speakers to companies which employ audio in consumer, commercial and professional applications. Our Government and Force Protection Systems Group (Government Group) markets LRAD, NeoPlanar, SoundCluster and HSS products to government and military customers and to the expanding force protection and commercial security markets. Although the segments became separately managed in the last quarter of fiscal 2003, we have also segmented historical operations for comparable end-user customers for comparison purposes.

 

Presented below is a summary of revenues by business segment:

 

Years Ended September 30,  

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

 Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Business Group

 

$

933,373

 

$

861,091

 

$

922,542

 

    Government Group

 

 

4,819,176

 

 

454,335

 

 

88,210

 

 

 

$

5,752,549

 

$

1,315,426

 

$

1,010,752

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Business Group - The Business Group reported net revenues of $933,373 in fiscal 2004, representing an 8% increase from net revenues of $861,091 in fiscal 2003. The fiscal 2003 net revenues represented a 7% decrease from net revenues of $922,542 in fiscal 2002. Sound product revenues were $933,373 in fiscal 2004, and there were no consumer portable product sales. Sound product revenues were $594,703 in fiscal 2003, consumer portable product sales were $95,730 and contract and licensing revenues were $170,658. The increase in sound product revenues in fiscal 2004 was primarily the result of increased HSS sales offset in part by reduced NeoPlanar sales in the personal boating market.  During most of fiscal 2004, we were developing and testing our new HSS Generation III product line and HSS sales were l imited to certain older systems. We only recently began shipping HSS Generation III systems manufactured by our contract manufacturer to existing and new customers. Accordingly, we expect increased Business Group HSS revenues in fiscal 2005.

 

Government Group – Government Group net revenues for fiscal 2004 were $4,819,176 compared to $454,335 in fiscal 2003, a 961% increase.  Net revenues for fiscal 2003 were $454,335 compared to $88,210 in fiscal 2002, a 415% increase. Fiscal 2004 revenues included LRAD revenues of $3,907,291, NeoPlanar revenues of $265,520, SoundCluster revenues of $484,827 and contract fees and other fees of $161,538.  Fiscal 2003 revenues included LRAD revenues of $261,106, NeoPlanar revenues of $124,674 and contract fees and other fees of $68,555. LRAD revenues were $85,849 in fiscal 2002 and contract fees and other were $2,361.  The increase in LRAD revenues in fiscal 2004 was primarily the result of increased customer knowledge of the capabilities of LRAD products and their acceptance of the product.  Our marketing efforts, successful product deployments and extensive product demonstrations have contributed to customer acceptance of the force protection capabilities of LRAD.  We expect LRAD revenues to continue to grow in fiscal 2005 as market awareness increases and as we improve the product and introduce multiple versions with optional feature sets.


Gross Profit

Gross profit for fiscal 2004 was $2,282,728 or 40% of revenues, compared to a gross loss on revenues for fiscal 2003 of $228,651. The gross loss in fiscal 2003 was principally the result of our $319,500 for special warranty reserve for HSS Generation I units. We had a gross profit in fiscal 2002 of $326,908 or 32% of revenues.

 

Presented below is the gross profit or loss by business segment.

 

Years Ended September 30,  

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

 Gross Profit (Loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Business Group

 

$

(534,174)

 

$

(501,748)

 

$

256,779

 

    Government Group

 

 

2,816,902 

 

 

273,097 

 

 

70,129 

 

 

 

$

2,282,728 

 

$

(228,651)

 

$

326,908 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During fiscal year 2003 and fiscal 2004 we changed our HSS Generation I emitter design to eliminate the requirement for a vacuum in the emitter, and we improved film quality. During fiscal 2004, we made further raw material improvements in the electronics and the manner in which the film and emitters are produced.  We believe that our recently introduced HSS Generation III product is more reliable. We therefore expect that warranty costs will decrease in fiscal 2005, and that HSS product sales will produce positive margins.

 

Gross profit for our Government Group was $2,816,902 in fiscal 2004, or 58% of revenue.  Gross profit percentage continues to be highly dependent on sales prices, volumes, purchasing costs and overhead allocations.  Our various sound products have different margins, so product sales mix will materially affect gross profits. In addition, we continue to make model updates and changes including raw material and component changes thus changing product costs. We therefore do not believe that historical gross profit margins should be relied upon as an indicator of future gross profit margins.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales were 92% in fiscal 2004, 370% in fiscal 2003 and 301% in fiscal 2002. These costs in fiscal 2004 totaled $5,309,547, an increase of $445,836 from the $4,863,711 incurred in fiscal 2003. Legal and professional costs decreased $1,316,323 to $852,644 in fiscal 2004 compared to $2,168,967 in fiscal 2003. Included in legal and professional costs in fiscal 2004 was an estimated settlement cost accrual of $150,000 associated with an ongoing legal action with a former licensee. Included in legal and professional costs in fiscal 2003 were settlement costs and accruals of $1,233,754 related to legal settlements and a buyout of NeoPlanar royalties due. Personnel costs increased from $1,562,852 in fiscal 2003 to $2,449,739 in fiscal 2004 as a result of increased headcount.

 

We incurred non-cash selling, general and administrative expenses in each of the three years. In fiscal 2004 we incurred $65,863 of non-cash compensation from extending the exercise period of options for certain terminated employees due to stock trading restrictions. In fiscal 2003, we incurred $410,816 of non-cash compensation from the issuance of 109,844 common shares related to purchased technology and $179,995 for the issuance of stock options and warrants to non-employees. In fiscal 2002, we had non-cash compensation of $304,920 for services paid through the issuance of 74,129 shares of common stock and $517,836 for the issuance of stock options and warrants to non-employees.

 



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During fiscal 2004, we reviewed the ongoing value of our capitalized patent expenses and identified some of these costs as being associated with patents that are no longer associated with our business strategy.  As a result, we incurred a charge in fiscal 2004 of $37,798 for the impairment of previously capitalized patent expenditures.

 

We may expend additional resources on marketing our proprietary sound technologies in future periods, which may increase selling, general and administrative expenses. We also expect to incur additional costs in fiscal 2005 to comply with various sections of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, particularly those related to Section 404 concerning management assessment of internal controls. We do not currently have an estimate of these increased costs, but they are expected to include increased staffing, outside consultants and increased legal and audit costs.

 

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses increased from fiscal 2003 to fiscal 2004.  Fiscal 2004 expenses were $2,988,784 of which salaries, benefits and consultant expenses accounted for $2,015,828 or 67% of total costs.  Fiscal 2003 research and development expenses declined from fiscal 2002 to fiscal 2003. Fiscal 2003 expenses totaled $2,493,351, including $315,636 of NeoPlanar technology amortization. Salaries and benefits and consultant costs accounted for $1,780,345 or 71% of these costs. Fiscal 2002 expenses totaled $3,622,063, including $420,808 of amortization. Salaries and benefits and consultant costs accounted for $2,243,586 or 62% of fiscal 2002 research and development costs. In fiscal 2003, we issued stock options to an electronics design consultant and incurred non-cash costs of $47,782 in that year. Outside consulting costs and testing supplies totaled $1,066,597 in fiscal 2002 and declined to $207,390 in fiscal 2003 as we made the transition from research and development to product manufacturing and sales.

 

Research and development costs vary period to period due to the timing of projects, the availability of funds for research and development and the timing and extent of use of outside consulting, design and development firms. We expect fiscal 2005 research and development costs to be somewhat higher than fiscal 2004 levels based on current plans and staffing.

 

Loss From Operations

Total operating expenses were $8,298,331 in fiscal 2004 compared to $7,332,549 in fiscal 2003 and $6,689,292 in fiscal 2002. The increase in fiscal 2004 operating expenses resulted from the increase in both research and development and selling, general and administrative expenses.  The increase in operating expenses in fiscal 2003 over fiscal 2002 was due to the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses partially offset by a decrease in research and development expenses.  As a result of the operating expenses incurred in fiscal 2004, our loss from operations was $6,015,603 compared to a loss from operations of $7,561,200 in fiscal 2003, This reduction in loss from operations from fiscal 2003 to fiscal 2004 is due in part to the improvement of $2,511,379 in gross profit in fiscal 2004 versus fiscal 2003, partially offset by higher operating expenses.  We expect increased product sales in fiscal 2005, offset in part by somewhat higher operating expenses, to reduce the loss from operations from fiscal 2004 levels.

 

Other Income (Expense)

In fiscal 2004, we earned $58,056 of interest on our cash balances. In fiscal 2003, we incurred interest expense of $686,639, which included non-cash amortization of debt discount of $405,000, and $169,753 of interest paid in common stock. In fiscal 2002, we incurred interest expense of $1,872,544, which included non-cash amortization of bond discount of $1,620,000. During fiscal 2003, our outstanding long-term debt was converted to equity causing the decline in interest expense from fiscal 2002 to 2003.

 

Net Loss

The net loss for fiscal 2004 was $5,960,436 compared to the net loss of $8,227,013 in fiscal 2003. The net loss for fiscal 2002 was $8,220,132. We had no tax expense for each of the last three fiscal years due to net losses.

 

Net Loss Available to Common Stockholders

Net loss available to common stockholders was increased during fiscal 2004, 2003, and 2002 in computing net loss per share by imputed deemed dividends based on the value of warrants issued in connection with convertible preferred stock. The net loss available to common stockholders was also increased in fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002 by an additional deemed dividend computed from a discount provision in convertible preferred stock. The imputed deemed dividends are not contractual obligations to pay such imputed dividends. Net loss available to common stockholders is also increased by the 6% accretion (similar to a dividend) on outstanding preferred stock. These amounts aggregated $1,365,349 in fiscal 2004, $2,409,228 in fiscal 2003 and $282,912 in fiscal 2002 increasing the net loss in each year. Accordingly, the net loss available to common stockholders was $7,325,785, $10,636,241 and $8,503,044 in fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We continue to experience significant negative cash flow from operating activities including developing, introducing and marketing our proprietary sound technologies.  We have financed our working capital requirements through cash generated from products sales and from financing activities. Cash at September 30, 2004 was $4,178,968 compared to $9,850,358 at September 30, 2003.  The decrease in cash was primarily the result of the operating loss and cash used to support operating activities.



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In December 2004, we received a firm order for $4.5 million in LRAD products from ADS, Inc. for use by the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.  The order also includes $0.4 million in ancillary products which we are providing on a value-added reseller basis along with the LRAD units.  The order calls for deliveries in December 2004 and January 2005 and customary payment terms.

 

In December 2004, we sold for cash in a private offering an aggregate of $2,000,000 of unsecured subordinated promissory notes due December 31, 2006. In connection with the financing, we also issued five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 150,000 shares, 75,000 of which have an exercise price of $9.28 per share, and 75,000 of which have an exercise price of $8.60 per share. A trust affiliated with Elwood G. Norris, our Chairman and the beneficial owner of 19.5% of our common stock before the financing, purchased a note in the principal amount of $500,000 and received a warrant exercisable for 37,500 shares with an exercise price of $9.28 per share. For more information on this financing, see “Financing Activities” below.

 

In December 2004, we entered into a Committed Equity Financing Facility (CEFF) with Kingsbridge Capital Ltd., pursuant to which Kingsbridge committed, subject to certain significant limiting conditions, to purchase up to $25 million of our common stock to support future growth.  As part of the arrangement, we issued a warrant to Kingsbridge to purchase 275,000 shares of our common stock at a price of $8.60 per share. The warrant is exercisable beginning six months after the date of grant and for a period of five years thereafter. Subject to certain conditions and limitations, from time to time under the CEFF, we may require Kingsbridge to purchase newly-issued shares of our common stock at a price that is between 88% and 92% of the volume weighted average price during a 15 day purchase period, and thereby raise capital as required, at the time, price and in the amounts deemed suitable to us. For each election to sell shares to Kingsbridge, we select the lowest threshold price at which our stock may be sold, but the threshold price cannot be lower than $3.00 per share.  Our agreement with Kingsbridge permits Kingsbridge to terminate the CEFF if Kingsbridge determines that a material and adverse event has occurred affecting the business, operations, properties or financial condition of our company, or if any situation occurs that would interfere with our ability to perform any of our obligations under the agreement. 

 

The CEFF requires us to have a resale registration statement filed within 45 days of entering into the CEFF, and to have such registration statement declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) within 45 days or 120 days of filing, depending on whether the SEC elects to review the registration statement. No draws can be made by the Company until the registration statement is effective. As of December 14, 2004, we had not filed the required resale registration statement.

 

The terms of the CEFF require us to pay liquidated damages in the event that a registration statement is not available for the resale of securities purchased by Kingsbridge under the CEFF or by exercise of its warrant.  Except for certain permitted periods of ineffectiveness described below, we are obligated to pay to Kingsbridge an amount, up to $2.5 million, equal to the number of shares purchased under the CEFF and held by Kingsbridge at the date the registration statement becomes unavailable, multiplied by any positive difference in price between the volume weighted average price on the trading day prior to such period of unavailability and the volume weighted average price on the first trading day after the period of unavailability.  We may, in lieu of paying such liquidated damages, offer to repurchase the securities held by Kingsbridge for a price equal to the volume weighted average price on the trading day prior to such period of unavailability.

   

We are permitted to suspend the availability of the registration statement for resale of the shares purchased by Kingsbridge if there is material undisclosed information then existing or if we intend to file another  registration statement with the SEC.  However, we are permitted to suspend the use of the registration statement for only up to 30 days during any calendar year, and no more than six times in any 12 month period. In the event that we exercise this right of suspension within 15 trading days following any settlement date for the purchase of our stock under the CEFF, we must pay to Kingsbridge as liquidated damages a percentage of the decline in value, if any, of shares purchased during the most recent draw down period and held by Kingsbridge, as follows: 75% if such notice of suspension is delivered prior to the fifth trading day after a settlement date, 50% if such notice of suspension is delivered on or after the fifth and prior to the tenth trading day after a settlement date, and 25% if such notice of suspension is delivered on or after the tenth and prior to the fifteenth trading day after a settlement date.  The amount of such liquidated damages for any one period of suspension may not exceed $1.75 million.  We may, in lieu of paying such liquidated damages, offer to repurchase the securities held by Kingsbridge for a price equal to the volume weighted average price on the trading day prior to such period of ineffectiveness.  We may also elect to pay such liquidated damages in shares of common stock valued at the market value on the first trading day after such permitted suspension ends.
 

Based on such factors as market conditions, financing needs and the time required for the SEC to declare the resale registration statement effective, we currently expect that we may begin to utilize the CEFF during fiscal 2005, in order to fund working capital requirements. However, the timing and extent of our ability to utilize the CEFF is uncertain. We are obligated to use 40% of the proceeds we may receive from the CEFF to prepay any outstanding interest and principal on the notes sold in December 2004. Under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, the maximum number of shares we may sell to Kingsbridge without approval of our stockholders is 3,684,782 (exclusive of the warrant shares), which may further limit the amount of proceeds we are able to obtain from the CEFF.   We agreed to pay to a consultant a finder fee equal to 4% of the first $5 million raised under the CEFF, 3% for the second $5 million raised under the CEFF, 2% for the third $5 million raised under the CEFF, and 1.5% for any additional amounts raised under the CEFF. See "Risk Factors" below for a discussion of other risks associated with the CEFF.

 



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Other than cash, cash equivalents, the CEFF and the private offering described above, we have no other unused sources of liquidity at this time. We expect to incur additional operating losses as a result of expenditures for research and development and marketing costs for our sound products and technologies.  The timing and amounts of these expenditures and the extent of our operating losses will depend on many factors, some of which are beyond our control.

 

Principal factors that could affect the availability of our internally generated funds include:

  • government spending levels;
     
  • introduction of competing technologies;
     
  • failure of sales from our Government Group or Business Group to meet planned projections;
     
  • product mix and effect on margins; and
     
  • product acceptance in new markets.

Principal factors that could affect the availability to obtain cash from external sources include:

  • failure to obtain an effective registration statement as required by our CEFF;
     
  • reduction of our stock price to a level below $3.00; at which price Kingsbridge is not obligated to buy our shares;
     
  • volatility in the capital markets; and
     
  • market price and trading volume of our common stock.

Based on our current cash position, our recently received order for $4.9 million in LRAD products, and the private offering, and assuming currently planned expenditures and level of operations, we believe we will have sufficient cash for operations for the next twelve months. We believe increased sales of LRAD, HSS and, to a lesser extent, NeoPlanar products will continue to contribute cash in fiscal 2005. We believe that any investment capital we may require will be available to us, but there can be no guarantee that we will be able to raise funds on terms acceptable to us, or at all. We have flexibility to adjust the level of research and development and selling and administrative expenses based on the availability of resources. However, reductions in expenditures could delay development and adversely affect our ability to generate future revenues.

 

Cash Flows

 

Operating Activities

Our net cash used in operating activities was $6,030,043 for the year ended September 30, 2004 compared to $5,457,369 for the year ended September 30, 2003. For the year ended September 30, 2004, the net loss of $5,960,436 included certain expenses not requiring the use of cash totaling $535,280 or a net of $5,425,156. In addition, in fiscal 2004, cash was used in operating activities through an increase of $332,151 in inventories, an increase of $742,585 in accounts receivable, and an increase of $122,570 in prepaid expenses. Further cash provided by operating activities included a $592,419 increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.
 

At September 30, 2004, we had working capital of $3,472,984 compared to working capital of $8,484,210 at September 30, 2003. Net working capital, excluding cash and short-term debt, was a deficit of $695,017 at September 30, 2004. This represents a decrease of  $661,216 from the net working capital deficit at September 30, 2003 of $1,356,233. The decrease in the deficit in net working capital primarily resulted from increases in receivable balances offset in part by increases in accounts payable. In fiscal 2005, we expect increases in receivable and inventory balances as revenues increase.

 

At September 30, 2004, we had trade accounts receivable of  $926,747.  This compares to $184,162 in trade accounts receivable at September 30, 2003. The level of trade accounts receivable at September 30, 2004 represented approximately 43 days of revenues. Terms with individual customers vary greatly. We typically require thirty-day terms for our sound technology components and products. Our receivables can vary dramatically due to overall sales volumes and due to quarterly variations in sales and timing of shipments to and receipts from large customers and the timing of contract payments.

 

Investing Activities

For the year ended September 30, 2004, capital expenditures were $395,932 for the purchase of laboratory and computer equipment and software and $346,818 for investment in patents and new patent applications. We anticipate continued capital expenditures for patents in fiscal 2005.

 



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Financing Activities

During the 2004, 2003 and 2002 fiscal years, we financed our working capital requirements primarily through the sale of common and preferred stock and warrants, secured promissory notes and the exercise of stock options.  In fiscal 2004, we received cash proceeds from the exercise of options and warrants of $1,111,317.  In January 2003, we received $500,000 from the sale of senior secured promissory notes. In February 2003, we received proceeds of $2,432,500 and converted senior secured promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 from the sale of shares of our Series E Preferred Stock and warrants exercisable for common stock.  In July 2003, we received proceeds of $10,000,000 from the sale of common stock and warrants.  In fiscal 2003, we received proceeds of $1,614,227 from the exercise of options.

 

In December 2004, we sold for cash in a private offering an aggregate of $2,000,000 of unsecured subordinated promissory notes due December 31, 2006.  Interest on these notes accrues at the rate of 8% per year and is due and payable quarterly in arrears.  We are required to use 40% of the net proceeds of any future equity financing to prepay these notes, including any amounts we raise pursuant to the CEFF.  We may also prepay these notes in our discretion at any time without penalty after June 30, 2005.

In connection with the issuance of these notes, each purchaser was granted a warrant to purchase 7,500 shares of our common stock until December 31, 2009 for each $100,000 of notes purchased (prorated for amounts less than $100,000) such that we issued in the aggregate warrants exercisable for an aggregate of 150,000 shares of our common stock.  The exercise price of the warrants was $9.28 per share for purchasers who were directors, officers, employees or consultants of our company, or affiliates of such persons, and $8.60 per share for other purchasers.  Warrants exercisable for 75,000 shares were issued at each such exercise price.  The holders of these warrants are entitled to be included on any registration statement we file after the registration statement for the CEFF described above, subject to customary exceptions and cut-back rights.

A trust affiliated with Elwood G. Norris, our Chairman and the beneficial owner of 19.5% of our common stock before the financing, purchased a note in the principal amount of $500,000 and received a warrant exercisable for 37,500 shares with an exercise price of $9.28 per share.  Mr. Norris now beneficially owns 19.7% of our common stock

In December 2004, we entered into a Committed Equity Financing Facility (CEFF) with Kingsbridge Capital Ltd., pursuant to which Kingsbridge committed to purchase up to $25 million of our common stock to support future growth as described above. We are obligated to use 40% of the proceeds we may receive from the CEFF to prepay any outstanding interest and principal on the notes sold in December 2004.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, financings or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons.

 

Contractual Commitments and Commercial Commitments

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations at September 30, 2004, and the effect such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flow in future periods:

 

Contractual Obligations

Total

 Less than 1 Year

 1-3 Years

 4-5 Years

 After 5 Years

 Capital leases

$   25,612

$   12,806

$   12,806

-   

-  

 Operating leases

457,760

237,262

218,146

$      2,352

-  

 Employment agreements

12,917

12,917

-  

-  

-  

 Total contractual cash obligations

$ 496,289

$ 262,985

$ 230,952

$      2,352

-  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The above table does not include the long term debt obligations associated with the $2,000,000 in subordinated notes we sold in December 2004 and due December 31, 2006, with interest at the rate of 8% per year payable quarterly in arrears.
 

New Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) 123(R), “Share Based Payment”.  Statement 123(R) is effective for public companies at the beginning of the first interim or annual period after June 15, 2005. This statement eliminates the ability to account for share-based compensation using the intrinsic value-based method under APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Statement 123(R) would require the Company to calculate equity-based compensation expense for stock options and employee stock purchase plan rights granted to employees based on the fair value of the equity instrument at the time of grant. Currently, the Company discloses the pro forma net income (loss) and the related pro forma income (loss) per share information in accordance with FAS 123 and FAS 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Costs-Transition and Disclosure.” The Company has not evaluated the impact that Statement 123(R) will have on its financial position and results of operations.



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In December 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46-R, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities - an interpretation of ARB 51 (revised December 2003)”, which replaces FIN 46.  FIN 46-R incorporates certain modifications to FIN 46 adopted by the FASB subsequent to the issuance of FIN 46, including modifications of the scope of FIN 46.  For all non-special purpose entities (“SPE”) created prior to February 1, 2003, public entities will be required to adopt FIN 46-R at the end of the first interim or annual reporting period ending after March 15, 2004.  For all entities (regardless of whether the entity is an SPE) that were created subsequent to January 31, 2003, public entities are already required to apply the provisions of FIN 46, and should continue doing so unless they elect to adopt the provisions of Fin 46-R early as of the first interim or annual reporting period ending after December 15, 2003.  If they do not elect to adopt FIN 46-R early, public entities would be required to apply FIN 46-R to those pos t-January 31, 2003 entities as of the end of the first interim or annual reporting period ending after March 15, 2004. The adoption of FIN 46-R for non-SPEs did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash.

 

In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") reached a consensus on Issue No. 03-1, "The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments." EITF 03-1 provides guidance on other-than-temporary impairment models for marketable debt and equity securities accounted for under SFAS No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities," and SFAS No. 124, "Accounting for Certain Investments Held by Not-for-Profit Organizations," and non-marketable equity securities accounted for under the cost method. The EITF developed a basic three-step model to evaluate whether an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired. On September 30, 2004, the FASB approved the issuance of FASB Staff Position (FSP) EITF 03-1-1, which delays the effective date until additional guidance is issued for the application of the recognition and measurement provisions of EITF 03-1 to investments in securities that are impaired. The Company does not expect the adoption of EITF 03-1 to have a material effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Risk Factors

An investment in our company involves a high degree of risk.  In addition to the other information included in this report, you should carefully consider the following risk factors in evaluating an investment in our company.  You should consider these matters in conjunction with the other information included or incorporated by reference in this report. Our results of operations or financial condition could be seriously harmed, and the trading price of our common stock may decline due to any of these or other risks.

 

We have a history of net losses. We expect to continue to incur net losses and we may not achieve or maintain profitability. 

 

We have incurred significant operating losses and anticipate continued losses in fiscal 2005. At September 30, 2004, we had an accumulated deficit of $42,327,493. In addition, for fiscal 2004, we incurred a net loss of $5,960,436. We need to generate additional revenue to be profitable in future periods. Failure to achieve profitability, or maintain profitability if achieved, may cause our stock price to decline.

 

We may need additional capital for growth.

 

Our current plans indicate that depending on sales, we may need additional capital to support our growth.  We may generate a portion of these funds from operations. 

 

The actual amount of funds that we will need will be determined by many factors, some of which are beyond our control, and we may need funds sooner than currently anticipated.  Principal factors that could affect the availability of our internally generated funds include:

 

                • government spending levels;
 

                • introduction of new competing technologies;
 

                • failure of sales from our Government Group to meet planned projections;
 

                • product mix and effect on margins; and
 

                • acceptance of our products in new markets.
 

When we require additional funds, general market conditions or the then-current market price of our common stock may not support capital raising transactions.  If we require additional funds and we are unable to obtain them on a timely basis or on terms favorable to us, we may be required to scale back our research and development efforts, sell or license some or all of our technology or assets or curtail or cease operations.  If we raise additional funds by selling additional shares of our capital stock or securities convertible into common stock, the ownership interest of our stockholders will be diluted.



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The Committed Equity Financing Facility may have a significant dilutive impact on our stockholders, and the potential unavailability of this facility would negatively affect our financing activities.

We have entered into a Committed Equity Financing Facility, or CEFF, with Kingsbridge Capital Limited. Under the terms of our agreement with Kingsbridge, we may, at our sole discretion, sell to Kingsbridge, and Kingsbridge would be obligated to purchase, shares of our common stock for up to $25 million in proceeds to us. The price at which we may sell shares of common stock under the agreement is based on a discount to the volume weighted average market price of the common stock for 15 trading days following each of our elections to sell shares. For each election to sell shares, we select the lowest threshold price at which our stock may be sold, but the threshold price cannot be lower than $3.00 per share. In the event the market price of our common stock falls below $3.41 per share, which after giving affect to the discount would result in a price per share lower that the $3.00 minimum threshold price, the CEFF will not be an available source of financing. In addition, we are obligated to use 40% of the proceeds we may raise from the CEFF to prepay any outstanding interest and principal on the notes we sold in December 2004. Our agreement with Kingsbridge permits Kingsbridge to terminate the CEFF if Kingsbridge determines that a material and adverse event has occurred affecting the business, operations, properties or financial condition of our company, or if any situation occurs that would interfere with our ability to perform any of our obligations under the agreement.

The issuance of shares under the CEFF will have a dilutive impact on other stockholders and the issuance or even potential issuance of such shares could have a negative effect on the market price of our common stock. In addition, if we draw down the CEFF, we will issue shares to Kingsbridge at a discount ranging from 8% to 12% of the daily volume weighted average prices of our common stock during the 15 day trading period after initiation of each draw down. Issuing shares at such a discount will further dilute the interests of other stockholders.
 

To the extent that Kingsbridge sells shares of our common stock issued under the CEFF to third parties, our stock price may decrease due to the additional selling pressure in the market. The perceived risk of dilution from sales of stock to or by Kingsbridge may cause holders of our common stock to sell their shares, or it may encourage short sales. This could contribute to a decline in our stock price.

 

The Committed Equity Financing Facility imposes certain liquidated damages and limitations on our ability to issue future priced securities. These liquidated damages and limitations may significantly impair our liquidity and ability to raise capital.

 

The terms of the CEFF require us to pay liquidated damages in the event that a registration statement is not available for the resale of securities purchased by Kingsbridge under the CEFF or by exercise of its warrant. These liquidated damages provisions generally require us to pay an amount based on the decline in value, if any, of shares held by Kingsbridge during the time a registration statement is unavailable. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources" above for a further description of these liquidated damages provisions. The liquidated damages could severely affect our liquidity, or to the extent we are permitted to pay such damages through the issuance of common stock, cause dilution to our common stockholders.

 

In addition, during the two-year term of the proposed CEFF, without the prior written consent of Kingsbridge, we are prohibited from issuing securities that are, or may become, convertible or exchangeable into shares of common stock where the purchase, conversion or exchange price for such common stock is determined using a floating or otherwise adjustable discount to the market price of the common stock (including pursuant to an equity line or other financing that is substantially similar to an equity line with an investor other than Kingsbridge) during the two-year term of our agreement with Kingsbridge. In the past, we met our capital needs through the sale of preferred stock and convertible notes which had floating price features. We may have difficulty raising capital if Kingsbridge does not consent to our use of such securities in the future. If we are unable to raise capital from Kingsbridge or from sources that do not demand a floating price feature, we may have to severely curtail our operations, which could cause a significant decrease in the price of our common stock.

 

Two customers collectively accounted for more than half of our net revenues in fiscal 2004 and we continue to be dependent on a few large customers.

 

For fiscal 2004, ADS, Inc. accounted for 47% of our revenues and General Dynamics, Armaments and Technical Products, Inc., or GD-ATP, accounted for 11% of our revenues. Both of these customers distributed products they purchased from us to end users.  GD-ATP is no longer a distributor for our products.  ADS has the right to cease doing business with us at any time.  If that were to occur, due to loss of demand for our products from their customers, our net revenues could decline substantially. Any such decline could result in us incurring net losses, increasing our accumulated deficit and causing us to need to raise additional capital to fund our operations.



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We must expand our customer base in order to grow our business.

 

To grow our business, we must fulfill orders from our existing customers, obtain additional orders from our existing customers, develop relationships with new customers and obtain and fulfill orders from new customers. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to increase our customer base. Further, even if we do obtain new customers, we cannot guarantee that those customers will purchase from us enough quantities of our product or at product prices that will enable us to recover our costs in acquiring those customers and fulfilling those orders. Whether we will be able to sell more of our products will depend on a number of factors, including:

  • our ability to manufacture reliable products that have the features that are required by our customers;
     
  • our ability to expand relationships with existing customers and to develop relationships with new customers that will lead to additional orders for our products;
     
  • our ability to develop and expand new markets for directed sound products; and
     
  • our ability to develop international product distribution directly or through strategic partners.

The growth of our Government Group revenues is materially dependent on acceptance of our LRAD products by government, military and developing force protection and emergency response agencies, and if these agencies do not purchase our products, our revenues will be adversely affected.

 

Although our LRAD products are designed to be used by both government and commercial customers, our LRAD products have to date been predominately sold for government use. Within the Government Group, our largest customer is a reseller of our products to end users in various branches of the military such as the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and the Department of Homeland Security. We have only recently achieved significant sales of LRAD products, and the product has not yet been widely accepted in the government market. Furthermore, the force protection and emergency response market is itself an emerging market which is changing rapidly. If our LRAD product is not widely accepted by the government, military and the developing force protection and emergency response markets, we may not be able to identify other markets, and we may fail to achieve our sales projections.

 

Perceptions that long range hailing devices are unsafe or may be used in an abusive manner may hurt sales of our LRAD products which could cause our revenues to decline.

 

Potential customers for our LRAD products, including government, military and force protection and emergency response agencies may be influenced by claims or perceptions that long range hailing devices are unsafe or may be used in an abusive manner. These claims or perceptions could cause our product sales to decline. In addition, if these agencies have these perceptions, it will be difficult for us to grow our customer base beyond these markets. These factors could reduce future revenues, adversely affecting our financial condition and results of operations.

 

We are an early stage company introducing new products and technologies. If commercially successful products are not produced in a timely manner, we may be unprofitable or forced to cease operations.

 

Our HSS, NeoPlanar and LRAD technologies have only recently been introduced to market and are still being improved. Commercially viable sound technology systems may not be successfully and timely produced by us due to the inherent risks of technology development, new product introduction, limitations on financing, manufacturing problems, competition, obsolescence, loss of key technical personnel and other factors. Revenues from our sound products have been limited to date and we cannot guarantee significant revenues in the future. The development and introduction of our products took longer than anticipated by management and the introduction of new products could also be subject to delays. Customers may not wait for newer versions of existing products or new products and may elect to purchase products from competitors. We experienced quality control problems with some of our initial commercial HSS units, and we may not be able to resolve future similar problems in a timely and cost effective manner. Products employing our sound technology may not achieve market acceptance. Our various sound projects are high risk in nature, and unanticipated technical obstacles can arise at any time and result in lengthy and costly delays or result in a determination that further exploitation is unfeasible. If we do not successfully exploit our technology, our financial condition and results of operations and business prospects would be adversely affected.

 

Our products have never been produced in quantity, and we may incur significant and unpredictable warranty costs as these products are mass produced.

 

None of our products has been produced in sufficient quantities to be considered mass produced. Our technologies are substantially different from proven, mass produced sound transducer designs. We may incur substantial and unpredictable warranty costs from post-production product or component failures. We generally warrant our products to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period up to one year from the date of purchase, depending on the product.



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In fiscal 2003, due to performance failures of components in some of our first generation of HSS systems, we agreed to voluntarily replace emitters on an estimated 700 HSS Generation I units. At September 30, 2004, we had a warranty reserve of $331,917, of which $186,454 was reserved for this replacement program. During fiscal 2004, we incurred warranty expense of $145,463 and we reduced our warranty reserve by $43,792 for products that were no longer under warranty. We also applied $89,254 of incurred costs against the special reserve for HSS Generation I units.  Future warranty costs could further adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and business prospects. The failure rate of our latest HSS Generation III may not be reduced to acceptable levels.

 

We do not have the ability to predict future operating results. Our quarterly and annual revenues will likely be subject to fluctuations caused by many factors, any of which could result in our failure to achieve our revenue expectations.

 

All of our fiscal 2004 revenues were generated from our sound proprietary reproduction technologies, and we expect these to be the source of substantially all of our future revenues. Revenues from our sound proprietary reproduction technologies are expected to vary significantly due to a number of factors. Many of these factors are beyond our control. Any one or more of the factors listed below or other factors could cause us to fail to achieve our revenue expectations. These factors include:

  • our ability to develop and supply sound reproduction components to customers, distributors or OEMs or to license our technologies;
  • market acceptance of and changes in demand for our products or products of our customers;
  • gains or losses of significant customers, distributors or strategic relationships;
  • unpredictable volume and timing of customer orders;
  • the availability, pricing and timeliness of delivery of components for our products and OEM products;
  • fluctuations in the availability of manufacturing capacity or manufacturing yields and related manufacturing costs;
  • the timing of new technological advances, product announcements or introductions by us, by OEMs or licensees and by our competitors;
  • product obsolescence and the management of product transitions and inventory;
  • unpredictable warranty costs associated with new product models;
  • production delays by customers, distributors, OEMs or by us or our suppliers;
  • seasonal fluctuations in sales;
  • the conditions of other industries, such as military and commercial industries, into which our technologies may be licensed;
  • general consumer electronics industry conditions, including changes in demand and associated effects on inventory and inventory practices;
  • general economic conditions that could affect the timing of customer orders and capital spending and result in order cancellations or rescheduling; and
  • general political conditions in this country and in various other parts of the world that could affect spending for the products that we offer.

Some or all of these factors could adversely affect demand for our products or technologies, and therefore adversely affect our future operating results.
 

Most of our operating expenses are relatively fixed in the short term. We may be unable to rapidly adjust spending to compensate for any unexpected sales or license revenue shortfalls, which could harm our quarterly operating results. We do not have the ability to predict future operating results with any certainty.

 

Our expenses may vary from period to period, which could affect quarterly results and our stock price.

 

If we incur additional expenses in a quarter in which we do not experience increased revenue, our results of operations would be adversely affected and we may incur larger losses than anticipated for that quarter. Factors that could cause our expenses to fluctuate from period to period include: 

  • the timing and extent of our research and development efforts;
  • investments and costs of maintaining or protecting our intellectual property;
  • the extent of marketing and sales efforts to promote our products and technologies;
  • the timing of personnel and consultant hiring; and
  • the cost of settling legal disagreements.


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Many potential competitors who have greater resources and experience than we do may develop products and technologies that make ours obsolete.

 

Technological competition from other and longer established electronic and loudspeaker manufacturers is significant and expected to increase. Most of the companies with which we expect to compete have substantially greater capital resources, research and development staffs, marketing and distribution programs and facilities, and many of them have substantially greater experience in the production and marketing of products. In addition, one or more of our competitors may have developed or may succeed in developing technologies and products that are more effective than any of ours, rendering our technology and products obsolete or noncompetitive.

 

Sound reproduction markets are subject to rapid technological change, so our success will depend on our ability to develop and introduce new technologies.

 

Technology and standards in the sound reproduction markets evolve rapidly, making timely and cost-effective product innovation essential to success in the marketplace. The introduction of products with improved technologies or features may render our technologies obsolete and unmarketable. If we cannot develop products in a timely manner in response to industry changes, or if our technologies do not perform well, our business and financial condition will be adversely affected. The life cycles of our technologies are difficult to estimate, particularly those such as HSS and LRAD for which there are no well established markets. As a result, our technologies, even if successful, may become obsolete before we recoup our investment.

 

Our competitive position will be seriously damaged if we cannot obtain patent protection for important  differentiating aspects of our products or otherwise protect intellectual property rights in our technology.

 

We rely on a combination of contracts and trademark, patent and trade secret laws to establish and protect our proprietary rights in our technology. However, we may not be able to prevent misappropriation of our intellectual property, our competitors may be able to independently develop and the agreements we enter into may not be enforceable.
 

Our success, in part, depends on our ability to obtain and enforce intellectual property protection for our technology, particularly our patents.  There is no guarantee any patent will issue on any patent application that we have filed or may file. Claims allowed from existing or pending patents may not be of sufficient scope or strength to protect the economic value of our technologies. Further, any patent that we may obtain will expire, and it is possible that it may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented. If we do not secure and maintain patent protection for our technology and products, our competitive position will be significantly harmed because it will be much easier for competitors to sell products similar to ours. Alternatively, a competitor may independently develop or patent technologies that are substantially equivalent to or superior to our technology.  For exampl e, patent protection on our LRAD product is limited, and we may not be able to prevent others from introducing products with similar functionality.  If this happens, any patent that we may obtain may not provide protection and our competitive position could be significantly harmed.

 

As we expand our product line or develop new uses for our products, these products or uses may be outside the protection provided by our current patent applications and other intellectual property rights. In addition, if we develop new products or enhancements to existing products we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain patents to protect them. Even if we do receive patents for our existing or new products, these patents may not provide meaningful protection. In some countries outside of the United States where our products can be sold or licensed, patent protection is not available. Moreover, some countries that do allow registration of patents do not provide meaningful redress for violations of patents. As a result, protecting intellectual property in these countries is difficult and our competitors may successfully sell products in those countries that have functions and features that infri nge on our intellectual property.
 

We may initiate claims or litigation against third parties in the future for infringement of our proprietary rights or to determine the scope and validity of our proprietary rights or the proprietary rights of our competitors. These claims could result in costly litigation and divert the efforts of our technical and management personnel. As a result, our operating results could suffer and our financial condition could be harmed.

 

Our competitive position will be seriously damaged if our products are found to infringe on the intellectual property rights of others.



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Other companies and our competitors may currently own or obtain patents or other proprietary rights that might prevent, limit or interfere with our ability to make, use or sell our products. As a result, we may be found to infringe the intellectual property rights of others. The electronics industry is characterized by vigorous protection and pursuit of intellectual property rights or positions, which have resulted in significant and often protracted and expensive litigation. In the event of a successful claim of infringement against us and our failure or inability to license the infringed technology, our business and operating results could be adversely affected. Any litigation or claims, whether or not valid, could result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources. An adverse result from intellectual property litigation could force us to do one or more of the following:

  • cease selling, incorporating or using products or services that incorporate the challenged intellectual property;

  • obtain a license from the holder of the infringed intellectual property right, which license may not be available on reasonable terms, if at all; and

  •  redesign products or services that incorporate the disputed technology.

If we are forced to take any of the foregoing actions, we could face substantial costs and shipment delays and our business could be seriously harmed. Although we carry general liability insurance, our insurance may not cover potential claims of this type or be adequate to indemnify us for all liability that may be imposed.

 

In addition, it is possible that our customers or end users may seek indemnity from us in the event that our products are found or alleged to infringe the intellectual property rights of others. Any such claim for indemnity could result in substantial expenses to us that could harm our operating results.

 

Our HSS technology is subject to government regulation, which could lead to unanticipated expense or litigation.

 

Our HyperSonic sound technology emits ultrasonic vibrations, and as such is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. In the event of certain unanticipated defects in an HSS product, a customer or we may be required to comply with FDA requirements to remedy the defect and/or notify consumers of the problem. This could lead to unanticipated expense, and possible product liability litigation against a customer or us. Any regulatory impediment to full commercialization of our HSS technology, or any of our other technologies, could adversely affect our results of operations.
 

We may face personal injury and other liability claims that harm our reputation and adversely affect our sales and financial condition.

Some of our products are capable of sufficient acoustic output to cause damage to human hearing or human health if used improperly, such as when the products are used at close ranges or for long periods of exposure.  A person injured in connection with the use of our products may bring legal action against us to recover damages on the basis of theories including personal injury, negligent design, dangerous product or inadequate warning.  We may also be subject to lawsuits involving allegations of misuse of our products.  Our product liability insurance coverage may be insufficient to pay all such claims. Product liability insurance may become too costly for us or may become unavailable for us in the future.  We may not have sufficient resources to satisfy any product liability claims not covered by insurance which would materially and adversely affect our financial position.  Significant litigation could also result in a diversion of management’s attention and resources, and negative publicity.

 

We may not be successful in obtaining the necessary licenses required for us to sell some of our products abroad.

 

Licenses for the export of certain of our products may be required from government agencies in accordance with various statutory authorities, including, for example, the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917, the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, the Export Administration Act of 1979, or the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, as well as their implementing regulations and executive orders.

 

In the case of certain agreements involving equipment or services controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and sold at specified dollar volumes, the U.S. Department of State must notify Congress at least 15 to 30 days, depending on the intended overseas destination, prior to authorizing these sales. During that time, Congress may take action to block the proposed sale. Based on our current product lines, we do not anticipate the congressional notification requirement to have an immediate impact; however, as our product lines expand, this notification requirement could impact our ability to sell certain controlled products or services in the international market.

 

The need for export licenses and, when required, Congressional notification, can introduce a period of delay in our ability to consummate international transactions. Because issuance of an export license is wholly within the discretion of the controlling U.S. government agency, it is possible that, in some circumstances, we may not be able to obtain the necessary licenses for some potential transactions.

 



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Our operations could be harmed by factors including political instability, natural disasters, fluctuations in currency exchange rates and changes in regulations that govern international transactions.

 

We expect to sell or products worldwide. The risks inherent in international trade may reduce our international sales and harm our business and the businesses of our customers and our suppliers. These risks include:

  • changes in tariff regulations;

  • political instability, war, terrorism and other political risks;

  • foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;

  • establishing and maintaining relationships with local distributors and dealers;

  • lengthy shipping times and accounts receivable payment cycles;

  • import and export licensing requirements;

  • compliance with a variety of foreign laws and regulations, including unexpected changes in taxation and regulatory requirements;

  • greater difficulty in safeguarding intellectual property than in the U.S.; and

  • difficulty in staffing and managing geographically diverse operations.

These and other risks may preclude or curtail international sales or increase the relative price of our products compared to those manufactured in other countries, reducing the demand for our products.

          

Commercialization of our proprietary sound technologies depends on collaborations with other companies. If we are not able to maintain or find collaborators and strategic alliance relationships in the future, we may not be able to develop our proprietary sound technologies and products.

 

An important part of our strategy is to establish business relationships with leading participants in various segments of the electronics, government and sound reproduction markets to assist us in producing, distributing, marketing and selling products that include our proprietary sound technologies.

 

Our success will therefore depend on our ability to maintain or enter into new strategic arrangements with partners on commercially reasonable terms. If we fail to enter into such strategic arrangements with third parties, our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and business prospects will be adversely affected. Any future relationships may require us to share control over our development, manufacturing and marketing programs or to relinquish rights to certain versions of our sound and other technologies.

 

We are dependent on third party manufacturers.

 

We do not have the capacity to manufacture all of our products internally and we are therefore dependent on third party manufacturers.  At present, we manufacture NeoPlanar and SoundCluster internally only in small quantities and would need to outsource our manufacturing if sales of these products were to increase significantly.  In addition, we established a manufacturing relationship with Pemstar, Inc. in fiscal 2004 to manufacture our LRAD and HSS products.  We do not have a formal written agreement with Pemstar. Pemstar, or any other contract manufacturing partner, may not be able or willing to manufacture products for us in the quantities and at the level of quality that we require. If we need to seek additional third party manufacturers for our products, we may not be able to obtain acceptable replacement manufacturing sources on a timely basis. An extended interruption in the supply of our products could result in a substantial loss of sales. In addition, any actual or perceived degradation of product quality as a result of our reliance on third party manufacturers may have an adverse effect on sales or result in increased product returns and buybacks.  Failure to maintain quality contract manufacturing could reduce future revenues, adversely affecting financial condition and results of operations.

 

We rely on outside suppliers to provide a large number of components incorporated in our products.

 

Our products have a large number of components produced by outside suppliers.  In addition, for certain of these items, we qualify only a single source, which can magnify the risk of shortages and decrease our ability to negotiate with our suppliers on the basis of price.  In particular, we depend on our HSS piezo-film supplier to provide expertise and materials used in our proprietary HSS emitters.  If shortages occur, or if we experience quality problems with suppliers, then our production schedules could be significantly delayed or costs significantly increased, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, results of operation and financial position.



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Our contracts and subcontracts that are funded by the U.S. government or foreign governments are subject to government regulations and audits and other requirements.

 

Government contracts require compliance with various contract provisions and procurement regulations. The adoption of new or modified procurement regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations or increase the costs of competing for or performing government contracts. If we violate any of these regulations, then we may be subject to termination of these contracts, imposition of fines or exclusion from government contracting and government-approved subcontracting for some specific time period. In addition, our contract and subcontract costs and revenues may be subject to adjustment as a result of audits by government auditors.

 

We derive revenue from government contracts and subcontracts, which are often non-standard, may involve competitive bidding, may be subject to cancellation with or without penalty and may produce volatility in earnings and revenue.

 

Our Government Group business has involved and is expected in the future to involve providing products and services under contracts or subcontracts with U.S. federal, state, local and foreign government agencies. Obtaining contracts and subcontracts from government agencies is challenging, and contracts often include provisions that are not standard in private commercial transactions. For example, government contracts may:

  • include provisions that allow the government agency to terminate the contract without penalty under some circumstances;  

  • be subject to purchasing decisions of agencies that are subject to political influence;  

  • contain onerous procurement procedures; and  

  • be subject to cancellation if government funding becomes unavailable.

Securing government contracts can be a protracted process involving competitive bidding. In many cases, unsuccessful bidders may challenge contract awards, which can lead to increased costs, delays and possible loss of the contract for the winning bidder.

If our key employees do not continue to work for us, our business will be harmed because competition for replacements is intense.

Our performance is substantially dependent on the performance of our executive officers and key technical employees, including Elwood G. Norris, our Chairman, and Kalani Jones, our President and Chief Operating Officer. We are dependent on our ability to retain and motivate high quality personnel, especially highly skilled technical personnel. Our future success and growth also depends on our continuing ability to identify, hire, train and retain other highly qualified technical, managerial and sales personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense, and we may not be able to attract, assimilate or retain other highly qualified technical, managerial or sales personnel in the future. The inability to attract and retain the necessary technical, managerial or sales personnel could cause our business, operating results or financial condition to suffer.

We may not address successfully the problems encountered in connection with any potential future acquisitions.
 

We expect to continue to consider opportunities to acquire or make investments in other technologies, products and businesses that could enhance our capabilities, complement our current products or expand the breadth of our markets or customer base. We have limited experience in acquiring other businesses and technologies. Potential and completed acquisitions and strategic investments involve numerous risks, including:

  • problems assimilating the purchased technologies, products or business operations;

  • problems maintaining uniform standards, procedures, controls and policies;  

  • unanticipated costs associated with the acquisition;

  • diversion of management’s attention from our core business;

  • adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers and customers;

  • risks associated with entering new markets in which we have no or limited prior experience;

  • potential loss of key employees of acquired businesses; and

  • increased legal and accounting costs as a result of the newly adopted rules and regulations related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

If we fail to properly evaluate and execute acquisitions and strategic investments, our management team may be distracted from our day-to-day operations, our business may be disrupted and our operating results may suffer. In addition, if we finance acquisitions by issuing equity or convertible debt securities, our stockholders would be diluted.

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We are subject to increased costs as a result of newly adopted accounting and SEC regulations.

Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, our management will be required by the end of fiscal 2005 to perform an evaluation of our internal controls over financial reporting and have our independent auditor attest to that evaluation. Compliance with these requirements is expected to be expensive and time consuming. If we fail to timely complete this evaluation, or if our independent registered public accounting firm cannot timely attest to our evaluation, we could be subject to regulatory scrutiny and a loss of public confidence in our internal controls. In designing and evaluating our internal controls over financial reporting, we recognize that any internal control or procedure, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. No system of internal controls can be designed to provide absolute assurance of effectiveness and any material failure of internal controls over financial reporting could materially impact our reported financial results and the market price of our stock could significantly decline. In addition, adverse publicity related to a material failure of internal controls over financial reporting would have a negative impact on our reputation and business.
 

Changes in stock option accounting rules may adversely impact our reported operating results prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, our stock price and our competitiveness in the employee marketplace.
 

Technology companies in general and our company in particular have a history of depending upon and using broad based employee stock option programs to hire, incentivize and retain employees in a competitive marketplace. Any changes requiring that we record compensation expense in the statement of operations for employee stock options using the fair value method could have a significant negative effect on our reported results. On March 31, 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an Exposure Draft, Share-Based Payment: an amendment of FASB Statements No. 123 and 95, which would require a company to recognize, as an expense, the fair value of stock options and other stock-based compensation to employees. The Exposure Draft set an effective date for public companies of fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2004. Currently, we do not recognize compensation expense for stock options, other than to non-employees or upon extensions of time for certain terminated employees related to black-out periods. Such a change would result in lower reported earnings, which may negatively impact our future stock price. In addition, such a change could impact our ability to utilize broad based employee stock plans to reward employees and could result in a competitive disadvantage to us in the employee marketplace.
 

We may issue preferred stock in the future, and the terms of the preferred stock may reduce the value of your common stock.
 

We are authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. Our board of directors may determine the terms of future preferred stock offerings without further action by our stockholders. If we issue additional preferred stock, it could affect your rights or reduce the value of your common stock. In particular, specific rights granted to future holders of preferred stock could be used to restrict our ability to merge with or sell our assets to a third party. These terms may include voting rights, preferences as to dividends and liquidation, conversion and redemption rights, and sinking fund provisions.
 

We may issue additional common stock in the future, including shares under our Committed Equity Financing Facility, and this stock may reduce the value of your common stock.
 

As a result of the CEFF or other financings, we may issue additional shares of common stock without further action by our shareholders. Moreover, although the issuance of our common stock under the CEFF will have no effect on the rights or privileges of existing holders of common stock, the economic and voting interests of each stockholder will be diluted as a result of such issuances. Although the number of shares of common stock that stockholders presently own will not decrease, such shares will represent a smaller percentage of our total shares that will be outstanding after such events. If we satisfy the conditions that allow us to draw down the entire $25 million available under the CEFF, and we choose to do so, then generally, as the market price of our common stock decreases, the number of shares we will have to issue upon each draw down on the CEFF increases, to a maximum of 3,684,782 shares we may issue without shareholder approval. Drawing down on the CEFF when the price of our common stock is decreasing will have an additional dilutive effect to your ownership percentage and may result in additional downward pressure on the price of our common stock.
 



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Our Series D and Series E Preferred Stock financings may result in dilution to our common stockholders.  The holders of Series D and Series E Preferred Stock have a liquidation preference over holders of our common stock, and will receive more common shares on conversion if the market price of our common stock declines.

Dilution of the per share value of our common shares could result from the conversion of the outstanding Series D and Series E Preferred Stock.

The holders of our outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock may convert these shares into shares of our common stock at a conversion price equal to the lower of $4.50 or 90% of volume-weighted average price of our common stock for the five trading days prior to conversion. The conversion rate cannot however be lower than $2.00. The $2.00 floor price may however be adjusted downward if we sell securities for less than an effective price of $2.00 per share. As of September 30, 2004, the outstanding 50,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock were convertible into an aggregate of 127,222 common shares. In addition, the Series D Preferred Stock purchasers received warrants to purchase 2.2 common shares for each share of Series D Preferred Stock purchased.  The exercise price of the warrants was initially $4.50 per share, but was reduced to $3.01 per share as a result of anti-dilution provisions in the warrants. The exercise price for warrants on 495,880 common shares will be subject to further reduction if we sell securities for less than an effective price of $3.01 per share.

The holders of our outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock may convert these shares into shares of our common stock at a conversion price equal to the lower of $3.25 or 90% of volume-weighted average price of our common stock for the five trading days prior to conversion.  The conversion rate cannot however be lower than $2.00. As of September 30, 2004, the 233,250 outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock were convertible into an aggregate of 786,473 common shares. In addition, the Series E Preferred Stock purchasers received warrants to purchase 1.5 shares of common stock for each share of Series D Preferred Stock purchased.  The exercise price of the warrant is $3.25 per share, but is subject to reduction if we sell securities for less than the effective price of $3.25 per share.

In the event of a sale or liquidation of our company, or in the event of certain mergers where our company is not the surviving company, the holders of Series D and Series E Preferred Stock will be entitled to a liquidation preference equal to their original purchase price plus an accretion of 6% per annum, in preference to any payments on liquidation to be made to the common stockholders.  As of September 30, 2004, the amount of this liquidation preference was $3,128,500.

Holders of our common stock could experience substantial dilution from the conversion of the Series D and Series E Preferred Stock and exercise of the related warrants. As a result of the floating conversion price, the holders of Series D and Series E Preferred Stock will receive more common shares on conversion if the price of our common shares declines beyond specific levels.  To the extent that the Series D or Series E stockholders convert and then sell their common shares, the common stock price may decrease due to the additional shares in the market. This could allow the Series D or Series E stockholders to receive greater amounts of common stock, the sales of which would further depress the stock price.  Furthermore, the significant downward pressure on the trading price of our common stock as Series D and Series E Preferred Stock and related warrant holders convert or exercise these securities and sell the common shares received could encourage short sales by the holders of Series D and Series E Preferred Stock and the related warrants, or other stockholders. This would place further downward pressure on the trading price of our common stock.  Even the mere perception of eventual sales of common shares issued on the conversion of the Series D and Series E Preferred Stock or exercise of the related warrants could lead to a decline in the trading price of our common stock.

Our stock price is volatile and may continue to be volatile in the future.

Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ SmallCap Market. The market price of our common stock has fluctuated significantly to date. In the future, the market price of our common stock could be subject to significant fluctuations due to general market conditions and in response to quarter-to-quarter variations in:

  •  our anticipated or actual operating results;

  • developments concerning our sound reproduction technologies;

  • technological innovations or setbacks by us or our competitors;

  • conditions in the consumer electronics market;

  • announcements of merger or acquisition transactions;

  • changes in personnel within our company; and

  • other events or factors and general economic and market conditions.

The stock market in recent years has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected the market price of many technology companies, and that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies.



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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows due to adverse changes in market prices, including interest rate risk and other relevant market rate or price risks. We do not use derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio.

We are currently exposed to some market risk through interest rates, related to our investment of current cash and cash equivalents. Based on our balance of cash and cash equivalents of $4.2 million at September 30, 2004, a change of one percent in interest rate would cause a change in interest income of $42,000. The risk is not considered material and we manage such risk by continuing to evaluate the best investment rates available for short-term high quality investments.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The financial statements required by this item begin on page F-1 with the index to financial statements followed by the financial statements.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that material information related to us, including our consolidated subsidiaries, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms.

  (a)                As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our co-principal executive officers and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based upon that evaluation, our co-principal executive officers and principal financial officer concluded, as of the date of such evaluation, that, except as set forth below, the design and operation of such disclosure controls and procedures were effective. In connection with the preparation of our proxy statement for our 2005 annual meeting of stockholders, we determined that we had failed to disclose in our Form 10-K/A filed January 28, 2005, one late filing required under Section 16 of the Exchange Act by an executive officer. The report was initially identified as late, but due to a miscommunication with our outside counsel, the report was incorrectly identified as timely immediately prior to filing. We have taken steps to improve our tracking of and disclosure relating to Section 16 filings by our executive officers, directors and significant beneficial owners.

  (b)                No significant changes were made in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations. Our management, including our co-principal executive officers and principal financial officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls or internal controls over financial reporting will prevent all errors or all instances  of fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system's objectives will be met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and any design may not succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures. Because of the inherent limitation of a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
 

Item 9B. Other Information.

 

On December 23, 2004, we sold to accredited investors for cash in a private offering an aggregate of $2,000,000 of unsecured subordinated promissory notes due December 31, 2006.  Interest on these notes accrues at the rate of 8% per year and is due and payable quarterly in arrears.  We are required to use 40% of the net proceeds of any future equity financing to prepay these notes, including any amounts we raise pursuant to our Committed Equity Financing Facility, or CEFF.  We may also prepay these notes in our discretion at any time without penalty after June 30, 2005.



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In connection with the issuance of these notes, each purchaser was granted a warrant to purchase 7,500 shares of our common stock until December 31, 2009 for each $100,000 of notes purchased (prorated for amounts less than $100,000) such that we issued in the aggregate warrants exercisable for an aggregate of 150,000 shares of our common stock.  The exercise price of the warrants was $9.28 per share for purchasers who were directors, officers, employees or consultants of our company, or affiliates of such persons, and $8.60 per share for other purchasers.  Warrants exercisable for 75,000 shares were issued at each such exercise price. 

The holders of these warrants are entitled to be included on any registration statement we file after the registration statement for the CEFF, subject to customary exceptions and cut-back rights.

A trust affiliated with Elwood G. Norris, our Chairman and the beneficial owner of 19.5% of our common stock before the financing, purchased a note in the principal amount of $500,000 and received a warrant exercisable for 37,500 shares with an exercise price of $9.28 per share.

The securities were offered and sold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, in reliance upon the exemption provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, and Regulation D, Rule 506 thereunder.  The securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.  Appropriate legends have been placed on the notes and the warrants, and appropriate legends will be placed on the common stock issued upon exercise of the warrants which are not subject to an effective registration statement for their resale.  We sold these securities without an underwriter.

The foregoing disclosure is made in lieu of disclosure under Item 1.01 and Item 3.02 on Form 8-K.

On December 22, 2004, we granted inducement stock options to certain of our new employees.  These options were granted without stockholder approval to 6 new non-executive employees as an inducement material to the individuals' entering into employment with our company, and the issuances were approved by our Compensation Committee pursuant to NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 4350(i)(1)(A)(iv).  The options are exercisable for an aggregate of 76,500 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $10.06 per share.  Each option has a five year term and generally vests 25% on the first anniversary of the grant date and then quarterly thereafter for the next 12 quarters, subject to continued employment and other conditions.  The foregoing disclosure is made in lieu of disclosure under Item 1.01 on Form 8-K.

On November 16, 2004, we granted to Carl Gruenler, our Vice President of Government and Force Protection Systems Group, a five-year stock option under our 2002 Stock Option Plan, to purchase 75,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $6.70 per share.  The option vests over four years, with 25% of the shares vesting on the first anniversary of the date of grant, and the balance vesting in equal quarterly installments thereafter.  This disclosure is made in lieu of disclosure in Item 1.01 of Form 8-K.

On September 9, 2004, Bruce Ehlers, formerly our Vice President, Engineering, separated from our company. We agreed to pay Mr. Ehlers severance in the amount of $12,917, representing one month of base salary. We also agreed that Mr. Ehlers could exercise the vested portion of his stock option, representing 9,375 shares of common stock, until thirty days after Mr. Ehlers is permitted to sell the underlying shares under the terms of our insider trading policy. In exchange for these benefits, Mr. Ehlers executed a general release of claims. The foregoing disclosure is made in lieu of disclosure under Item 1.01 on Form 8-K.



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PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.

The directors and executive officers, their ages, positions held and duration as director as of January 21, 2005, are as follows:

Name Age Position
and Offices
Director
Since
Elwood G. Norris 66 Chairman and Director 1980
Richard M. Wagner (1) 59 Director 1986
David J. Carter (1) 56 Director 1998
Daniel Hunter (1) 54 Director 2001
Kalani Jones 42 President, Chief Operating Officer and Director 2004
Michael A. Russell 58 Chief Financial Officer n/a
Carl Gruenler 51 Vice President of Government and Force Protection Systems Group n/a

(1) Member of Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee.

The terms of all directors will expire at the next annual meeting of stockholders, or when their successors are elected and qualified. Directors are elected each year, and all directors serve one-year terms. Officers serve at the pleasure of the board of directors. There are no arrangements or understandings between us and any other person pursuant to which he was or is to be selected as a director, executive officer or nominee. We have however entered into employment agreements with our chairman and certain of our named executive officers described in Part III, Item 11 below under the heading “Employment Agreements.”

Biographical Information

Biographical information on Mr. Norris, Mr. Jones, Mr. Russell, and Mr. Gruenler is contained in Part I, Item 1 above under the heading “Executive Officers.”

Richard M. Wagner was appointed as a director in 1986 and served as Secretary from February 1994 to March 1999. Since 1986, Mr. Wagner has been President and CEO of Eidon Inc., a San Diego based company involved in the manufacturing and distribution of liquid mineral supplements. Eidon Inc. is the parent company of The Mortgage Company, a residential and commercial mortgage brokerage firm. Mr. Wagner obtained a B.S. in Business in 1968 and an M.S. in Finance in 1974 from the San Diego State University.

David J. Carter was appointed as a director in September 1998. From January 1999 to January 2000, he was Vice President of Copyright Clearance Center, a copyright licensing service. From 1983 until April 1998, he was employed by AT&T, a provider of local, long distance, Internet and transaction-based voice and data services, with his last position as General Manager and Product Development Vice President. He previously served in other positions at AT&T including Business Development Vice President and Consumer Products Marketing Vice President. Prior to his employment with AT&T, he served as a Marketing Research Consultant and Managing Consultant — Marketing and Business Strategy for General Electric Company, a diversified technology, media and financial services company. His career has included technical positions at Temple Barker & Sloane, Inc., a management consulting firm, Decision Research Corp., a marketing research company, and Johnson & Johnson, a manufacturer of health care products and a provider of related services for the consumer, pharmaceutical and medical devices and diagnostics markets. He obtained a B.A. in Mathematics in 1970 and a M.S. in Mathematical Statistics in 1973 from the University of Massachusetts.

Daniel Hunter was appointed as a director in May 2001. Mr. Hunter has been a licensed certified public accountant for the past twenty-five years. He obtained his accounting degree from the University of Utah in 1975. For the past twenty years, Mr. Hunter has operated his own law offices specializing in business and tax law. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Seattle in 1978.

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Audit Committee and Audit Committee Financial Expert

We have a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The members of the audit committee are Messrs. Wagner (chair), Carter and Hunter. The board of directors has determined that Daniel Hunter is an “audit committee financial expert” and “independent” as defined under applicable SEC and NASDAQ rules. The board’s affirmative determination was based, among other things, upon his over 25 years as a certified public accountant.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers, directors and persons who own more than 10% of any class of our securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

Based solely on a review of copies of such reports furnished to us and written representations that no other reports were required during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, we believe that all persons subject to the reporting requirements pursuant to Section 16(a) filed the required reports on a timely basis with the SEC, except that Bruce Ehlers filed late his Form 3 report disclosing no securities held.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

We have adopted a “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics,” a code of ethics that applies to all employees, including our executive officers. A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on our Internet site at www.atcsd.com. In the event we make any amendments to, or grant any waivers of, a provision of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, or principal accounting officer that requires disclosure under applicable SEC rules, we intend to disclose such amendment or waiver and the reasons therefor on a Form 8-K or on our next periodic report.

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

Compensation of Directors

No direct or indirect remuneration was paid or became payable by us to the directors in their capacities as directors or committee members during fiscal 2004 other than in the form of reimbursement of expenses of attending directors’ or committee meetings. Our directors have received in the past, and may receive in the future, stock option grants. We currently have no standard arrangements pursuant to which our directors are compensated for services provided as a director or committee member. During fiscal 2005, the Compensation Committee will be reevaluating our director compensation program.

Summary Compensation Table

There is shown below information concerning the compensation of each person who served as our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, our two most highly compensated executive officers other than the CEO that were serving at September 30, 2004 and an additional individual that served as an executive officer during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 but was no longer serving at September 30, 2004 (each a “named executive officer”). None of our other executive officers serving at the end of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 earned more than $100,000 in salary and bonus in such year.



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Summary Compensation Table

Annual Compensation

Name and
Principal Position
Fiscal
Year
Salary Bonus Other Annual
Compensation
Long Term
Compensation
Securities
Underlying
Options (#)
All Other
Compensation
Elwood G. Norris,   2004   $200,000   -   -   -   $1,385 (1)
Chairman   2003   $132,308   -   -   100,000   $2,054 (1)
    2002   $124,615   -   -   -   $1,800 (1)
 
Kalani Jones   2004   $179,808   -   -   125,000   $1,636 (1)
President/COO   2003   $8,077   -   -   75,000   -  
 
Carl Gruenler   2004   $146,846   $11,000   $15,404 (2) 130,000   $1,286 (1)
Vice President   2003   $21,260   -   -   20,000      
 
Bruce Ehlers   2004   $159,792 (3) -   -   100,000   $1,252  
Former Vice President                          

(1) Represents matching 401(k) contributions.
(2) Represents moving expenses.
(3) Excludes $12,917 earned after September 30, 2004. See “Employment Arrangements” below.

No named executive officer received any form of non-cash compensation from us in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003, or 2002, or currently receives any such compensation, in excess of 10% of the total amount of annual salary and bonus reported for the named executive officer above.


Option Grants

Shown below is further information on grants of stock options in fiscal 2004 to the named executive officers reflected in the Summary Compensation Table shown above for fiscal 2004.



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Option Grants for Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2004

Potential Realizable
Value at Assumed
Annual Rates of
Stock Price
Appreciation for
Option Term (2)
Name   Number of
Options
Granted (1)
Percent of
Total Options
Granted to
Employees in
Fiscal Year
Exercise
Price
Expiration
Date
5% 10%
Elwood G. Norris                   $-      $-   
 
Kalani Jones   25,000      2.3%     $5.75      10/17/08      $39,715      $87,760   
    100,000      9.3%     $6.88      5/20/09      $190,082      $420,030   
 
Carl Gruenler   55,000      5.1%     $5.39      11/18/08      $81,904      $180,985   
    75,000      7.0%     $6.88      5/20/09      $142,561      $315,023   
 
Bruce Ehlers   75,000      7.0%     $4.61      10/29/08      $95,524      $211,084   
    25,000      2.3%     $6.88      5/20/09      $47,520      $105,008   

(1) These options were granted under our 2002 Stock Option Plan. These options have an exercise price that was equal to or greater than the fair market value on the date of grant. Such options vest according to terms of option agreement, with vesting being contingent upon continued service with our company.
(2) Potential gains are net of exercise price, but before taxes associated with exercise. These amounts represent certain assumed rates of appreciation only, in accordance with the SEC’s rules. Actual gains, if any, on stock option exercises are dependent on the future performance of the common stock, overall market conditions and the option holder’s continued employment through the vesting period. The amounts reflected in this table may not necessarily be achieved.

Aggregated Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Values

Number of Unexercised
Options Held At
September 30, 2004
Value of Unexercised
In-The-Money Options At
September 30, 2004 (1)


Name Shares
Acquired
on Exercise
Value
Realized
Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable







Elwood G. Norris       -     -     162,500     12,500   $ 374,216   $ 28,352  
Kalani Jones       -     -     28,125     171,875   $ -   $ -  
Carl Gruenler       -     -     28,125     121,875   $ 7,425   $ 12,375  
Bruce Ehlers       -     -     9,375     -   $ 10,688   $ -  

(1) Based on the closing price reported on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market on September 30, 2004 of $5.75 per share.


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We do not have any stock appreciation rights plans in effect and we have no long-term incentive plans, as those terms are defined in SEC regulations. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, we did not adjust or amend the exercise price of stock options awarded to the named executive officers. We have no defined benefit or actuarial plans covering any named executive officer.

Employment Arrangements

Mr. Elwood G. Norris – Effective September 1, 1997, we entered into a three year employment contract with Mr. Norris, for his services as Chief Technology Officer. The three-year term expired on August 31, 2000, but the agreement remains in effect until one party gives thirty days advance notice of termination to the other. Mr. Norris now serves as Chairman under the term of this agreement. The agreement, as amended by the Compensation Committee, provides for a base salary to $16,667 per month. The agreement provides that Mr. Norris will participate in bonus, benefit and other incentives at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Mr. Norris has agreed not to disclose trade secrets and has agreed to assign certain inventions to us during employment. We are also obligated to pay Mr. Norris certain royalties. See Item 13 — “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” below.

Mr. Kalani Jones – We entered into a letter agreement dated as of August 28, 2003, as amended on October 20, 2003, under which Mr. Jones was employed as our Senior Vice President of Operations. Mr. Jones has since been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer. The letter agreement provides for an annual base salary of $140,000, a 30% annual performance bonus to be determined by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors, and the grant of an option to purchase 75,000 shares of our common stock, which option vests quarterly over a two year period beginning six months after the date of employment. Mr. Jones subsequently received additional option grants. See “Option Grants for Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2004.” Mr. Jones’ current annual base salary, as increased by the Compensation Committee, is $220,000 Mr. Jones employment is terminable at-will by us or by Mr. Jones for any reason, with or without notice.

Mr. Gruenler – We entered into a letter agreement which was amended on July 30, 2003, under which Mr. Gruenler was employed as our Vice President of Military Operations. Mr. Gruenler is currently our Vice President of Government and Force Protection Systems Group. The letter agreement provides for an annual base salary of $110,000, a 10% annual performance bonus, and the grant of an option to purchase 20,000 shares of our common stock, which option vests quarterly over a two year period. Mr. Gruenler subsequently received an additional option grant. See “Option Grants for Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2004.” Mr. Gruenler’s current annual base salary is $185,000 Mr. Gruenler employment is terminable at-will by us or by Mr. Gruenler for any reason, with or without notice.

Mr. Ehlers – On September 9, 2004, Bruce Ehlers, formerly our Vice President, Engineering, separated from our company. We agreed to pay Mr. Ehlers severance in the amount of $12,917, representing one month of base salary. We also agreed that Mr. Ehlers could exercise the vested portion of his stock option, representing 9,375 shares of common stock, until thirty days after Mr. Ehlers is permitted to sell the underlying shares under the terms of our insider trading policy. In exchange for these benefits, Mr. Ehlers executed a general release of claims.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Messrs. Wagner, Hunter and Carter served on the Compensation Committee during fiscal 2004. Mr. Wagner served as our Secretary from February 1994 to March 1999. No executive officer of our company served as a member of a compensation committee, or a board of directors performing equivalent functions, of any entity that had one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our company’s Compensation Committee.



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Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the ownership of our common stock as of December 31, 2004 by: (i) each director; (ii) each of the named executive officers; (iii) all our executive officers and directors as a group; and (iv) all those known by us to be beneficial owners of more than five percent of our common stock.

Title of Class
    Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner

    Amount & Nature of
Beneficial Ownership (1)

  Percent
of Class (1)

Common Stock     Elwood G. Norris
13114 Evening Creek Drive South
San Diego, California 92128
            3,966,515 (2)   19.6 %
 
Common Stock     Kalani Jones
13114 Evening Creek Drive South
San Diego, California 92128
            65,625 (3)   -- %
 
Common Stock     Carl Gruenler
13114 Evening Creek Drive South
San Diego, California 92128
            48,375 (4)   * %
 
Common Stock     Bruce Ehlers
13114 Evening Creek Drive South
San Diego, California 92128
            9,375 (5)   * %
 
Common Stock     Richard M. Wagner
13114 Evening Creek Drive South
San Diego, California 92128
            105,000 (6)   * %
 
Common Stock     David J. Carter
13114 Evening Creek Drive South
San Diego, California 92128
            78,750 (7)   * %
 
Common Stock     Daniel Hunter
13114 Evening Creek Drive South
San Diego, California 92128
            118,000 (8)   * %
 
All directors & executive officers
As a group (7 persons)
                  4,382,265 (9)   21.4 %


* Less than 1%.


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(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Except as otherwise indicated below, this table is based on information supplied by officers, directors and principal stockholders. The inclusion in this table of such shares does not constitute an admission that the named stockholder is a direct or indirect beneficial owner of, or receives the economic benefit of, such shares. Percentage of class is based on 19,851,319 shares of common stock outstanding on December 31, 2004. Except as otherwise stated below, each of the named persons has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares shown (subject to community property laws).

(2) Includes 3,629,015 shares held by a family trust for which Mr. Norris serves as trustee, 162,500 shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant held by such trust, and 175,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options within 60 days of December 31, 2004.

(3) Consists of 65,625 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options within 60 days of December 31, 2004.

(4) Includes 1,500 shares held by spouse and 46,875 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options within 60 days of December 31, 2004.

(5) Consists of 9,375 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options within 60 days of December 31, 2004.

(6) Includes 60,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options within 60 days of December 31, 2004.

(7) Includes 55,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options within 60 days of December 31, 2004.

(8) Includes 44,500 shares held by spouse, 6,000 shares by Profit Sharing Trust and 50,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options within 60 days of December 31, 2004.

(9) Includes 452,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options within 60 days of December 31, 2004 and 162,500 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants.

Other Voting Stock

Preferred Stock

The following security ownership information is set forth as of January 21, 2005, with respect to certain persons or groups known by us to be beneficial owners of more than 5% of any outstanding series of our Preferred Stock. On January 18, 2005, we gave notice to all holders of Series D and Series E Preferred Stock that we had elected to convert the shares of Series D and Series E Preferred Stock to common stock. The notice of conversion was effective immediately for the Series D Preferred Stock, and resulted in all 50,000 issued and outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock converting into an aggregate of 129,259 shares of common stock. The notice of conversion for the Series E Preferred Stock will be effective on February 1, 2005, and it is anticipated that on that date, all 233,250 issued and outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock will convert into an aggregate of 801,306 shares of common stock. See also Part II, Item 13 below for additional information.



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Series E Preferred Stock

Title of Class
  Name and address of Beneficial Owner
  Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
Series E (1)

  Percent of
Class
Series E (1)

 
Series E Preferred Stock   Granite Capital LP
126 East 56th Street Flr. 25
New York, NY 10022
  25,000 (2)   10.7%  
 
Series E Preferred Stock   Granite Capital II LP
126 East 56th Street Flr. 25
New York, NY 10022
  25,000 (2)   10.7%  

Title of Class
  Name and address of Beneficial Owner
  Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership
Series E (1)

  Percent of
Class
Series E (1)

 
Series E Preferred Stock   Canusa Trading Ltd.
PO Box HM 279
Hamilton HMAX, Bermuda
  50,000 (3)   21.4%  
 
Series E Preferred Stock   K. Tucker Anderson
61 Above All Rd.
Warren, CT 06754-1710
  25,000        10.7%  
 
Series E Preferred Stock   Leonard M. Teninbaum Keogh Account
1900 St. James Place Ste. 150
Houston, TX 77056
  42,500 (4)   18.2%  

(1) Represents number of shares of Series E Preferred Stock, held as of January 21, 2004. At such date an aggregate of 233,250 shares of Series E Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, which are expected to convert on February 1, 2005 into an aggregate of 801,306 shares of common stock.

(2) Includes 22,500 shares of Series E Preferred Stock held by Granite Capital LP, which are expected to convert on February 1, 2005 into 77,296 shares of common stock, and 2,500 shares of Series E Preferred Stock held by Granite Capital II LP, which are expected to convert on February 1, 2005 into 8,589 shares of common stock. Granite Capital LLC is the general partner of each of Granite Capital LP and Granite Capital II LP. Mr. Walter F. Harrison, III and Lewis M. Eisenberg are co-managing members of Granite Capital LLC, and are believed by us to have shared voting and investment power with respect to the Series E Preferred Stock held. Granite Capital LP and Granite Capital II LP disclaim beneficial ownership in these securities except to the extent of such person’s pecuniary interest in these securities and disclaim membership in a group with any other entity or person within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(3) Mr. W.A. Manuel is President of Canusa Trading Ltd., and is believed by us to have sole voting and investment power with respect to the Series E Preferred Stock held, which are expected to convert on February 1, 2005 into 171,769 shares of common stock.


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(4) Mr. Leonard M. Teninbaum is trustee of Leonard M. Teninbaum Keogh Account, and is believed by us to have sole voting and investment power with respect to the Series E Preferred Stock held, which are expected to convert on February 1, 2005 into 146,004 shares of common stock.

Equity Incentive Plans

Certain information concerning our equity incentive plans is contained in Part II, Item 5 above under the heading “Equity Compensation and Plan Information.”

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

Under the terms of an Assignment of Technology Agreement dated March 2, 1993 and an Addendum Agreement dated December 2, 1996 we are obligated to pay Elwood G. Norris, our Chairman, a 2% royalty on net sales from certain of our technologies, of which only HSS is a current offering of our company. The royalty obligation continues until at least March 1, 2007, and for any longer period during which we sell products or license technologies subject to any patent assigned to us by Mr. Norris. No royalties were paid or recorded under this agreement in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 or 2002, as these royalties were immaterial and were waived by Mr. Norris. We may owe royalties in future periods based on actual sales or technology revenues.


Mark Norris, the son of Elwood G. Norris, is a full-time non-executive employee of our company. In his role as a Mechanical Engineer, Mark Norris was paid $89,923 in salary for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. Mr. Norris currently holds a fully vested stock option for 15,000 common shares exercisable until May 2008 at $3.30 per share.  No other family member of any executive officer, director or 5% stockholder received compensation of more than $60,000 during the year ended September 30, 2004.

In December 2004, a family trust affiliated with Mr. Elwood G. Norris purchased from our company an unsecured subordinated promissory note in the principal amount of $500,000. Such purchase was in connection with a private offering of an aggregate of $2,000,000 of such notes. The notes are due December 31, 2006, and interest accrues at the rate of 8% per year and is due and payable quarterly in arrears. See Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources” for more information on this financing. In connection with the issuance of these notes, each purchaser, including Mr. Norris’ trust, was granted a warrant to purchase 7,500 shares of our common stock for each $100,000 of notes purchased (prorated for amounts less than $100,000), exercisable until December 31, 2009. The exercise price of the warrants was $9.28 per share for purchasers who were directors, officers, employees or consultants of our company, or affiliates of such persons, and $8.60 per share for other purchasers. Mr. Norris’ trust therefore received a warrant exercisable for 37,500 shares with an exercise price of $9.28 per share.

Canusa Trading Ltd., a significant owner of our Series E Preferred Stock, also purchased an unsecured subordinated promissory note from our company in the principal amount of $300,000 in the December 2004 note and warrant financing, and received a warrant to purchase 22,500 shares at an exercise price of $8.60 per share.

Effective as of January 18, 2005, we gave notice to all holders of Series D Preferred Stock that we had elected to convert the shares of Series D Preferred Stock to common stock, such that all 50,000 issued and outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock converted into an aggregate of 129,259 shares of common stock. Certain significant owners of our then outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock received shares of common stock as follows: Ehrens Family Trust (5,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock converted into 12,926 shares of common stock), Granite Capital LP (35,263 shares of Series D Preferred Stock converted into 91,161 shares of common stock), and Granite Capital II LP (4,737 shares of Series D Preferred Stock converted into 12,246 shares of common stock).

On January 18, 2005, we gave notice to all holders of Series E Preferred Stock that we had elected to convert the shares of Series E Preferred Stock to common stock. The notice of conversion for the Series E Preferred Stock will be effective on February 1, 2005, and it is anticipated that on that date, all 233,250 issued and outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock will convert into an aggregate of 801,306 shares of common stock. Certain significant owners of our outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock are expected to receive shares of common stock as follows: Granite Capital LP (22,500 shares of Series E Preferred Stock will convert into 77,296 shares of common stock), Granite Capital II LP (2,500 shares of Series E Preferred Stock will convert into 8,589 shares of common stock), Canusa Trading Ltd. (50,000 shares of Series E Preferred Stock will convert into 171,769 shares of common stock), K. Tucker Anderson (25,000 shares of Series E Preferred Stock will convert into 85,885 shares of common stock), Leonard M. Teninbaum Keogh Account (42,500 shares of Series E Preferred Stock will convert into 146,004 shares of common stock).



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Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

Principal Accountant Audit Fees and Services Fees

The following table describes fees for professional audit services rendered by BDO Seidman, LLP, our principal independent registered public accounting firm, for the audit of our annual financial statements for the years ended September 30, 2004 and September 30, 2003 and fees billed for other services rendered by BDO Seidman, LLP during those periods.

Type of Fee 2004    2003   

Audit Fees (1) $112,555  $93,013 
Audit Related Fees (2) 3,000  29,700 
Tax Fees (3) 6,013 
All Other Fees (4) 3,000 
Total $124,568  $122,713 

(1) Audit Fees include the aggregate fees paid by us during the fiscal year indicated for professional services rendered by BDO Seidman, LLP for the audit of our annual financial statements and review of financial statements included in our Forms 10-Q.
(2) Audit Related Fees include the aggregate fees paid by us during the fiscal year indicated for assurance and related services by BDO Seidman, LLP that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and not included in Audit Fees. Also included in Audit Related Fees are fees for accounting advice.
(3) Tax Fees include the aggregate fees paid by us during the fiscal year indicated for professional services rendered by BDO Seidman, LLP for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.
(4) All Other Fees include the aggregate fees paid by us during the fiscal year indicated for products and services provided by BDO Seidman, LLP, other than the services reported above. There were no such fees paid to BDO Seidman, LLP during the year ended September 30, 2003.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

All audit and non-audit services are pre-approved by the Audit Committee, which considers, among other things, the possible effect of the performance of such services on the auditors’ independence. The Audit Committee pre-approves the annual engagement of the principal independent registered public accounting firm, including the performance of the annual audit and quarterly reviews for the subsequent fiscal year, and pre-approves specific engagements for tax services performed by such firm. The Audit Committee has also established pre-approval policies and procedures for certain enumerated audit and audit related services performed pursuant to the annual engagement agreement, including such firm’s attendance at and participation at board and committee meetings; services of such firm associated with SEC registration statements, periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC or other documents issued in connection with securities offerings, such as comfort letters and consents; such firm’s assistance in responding to any SEC comments letters; and consultations with such firm as to the accounting or disclosure treatment of transactions or events and/or the actual or potential impact of final or proposed rules, standards or interpretations by the SEC, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), or other regulatory or standard-setting bodies. The Audit Committee is informed of each service performed pursuant to its pre-approval policies and procedures.

The Audit Committee has considered the role of BDO Seidman, LLP in providing services to us for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 and has concluded that such services are compatible with such firm’s independence.



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PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:

Financial Statements:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2
 
Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2004 and 2003 F-3
 
Statements of Operations for the Years Ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 F-4
 
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the Years Ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 F-5
 
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 F-6
 
Summary of Accounting Policies F-7 - F-14
 
Notes to Financial Statements F-14 - F-31
 
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts F-32

Exhibit Index:

3. Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

3.1   Certificate of Incorporation of American Technology Corporation (Delaware) dated March 1, 1992. Filed as Exhibit 2.1 on Form 10-SB effective August 1, 1994.

3.1.1   Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of American Technology Corporation dated March 24, 1997 and filed with Delaware on April 22, 1997. Filed as Exhibit 3.1.1 on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 1997, dated May 13, 1997.

3.1.2   Corrected Certificate of Designations of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock dated and filed with Delaware on August 25, 1997. Filed as Exhibit 3.1.3 on Form 8-K dated August 29, 1997.

3.1.3   Corrected Certificate of Designations of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock filed with Delaware on December 23, 1998. Filed as Exhibit 3.1.4 on Form 10-KSB for the year ended September 30, 1998, dated December 29, 1998.

3.1.4   Corrected Certificate of Designation of Series C Preferred Stock filed with Delaware on April 19, 2000. Filed as Exhibit 3.1.5 on Form 8-K dated April 19, 2000.

3.1.5   Certificate of Designation of Series D Preferred Stock filed with Delaware on May 3, 2002. Filed as Exhibit 3.1 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, dated May 15, 2002.


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3.1.6   Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation filed with Delaware on September 26, 2002. Filed as Exhibit 3.1.6 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2002, dated December 23, 2002.

3.1.7   Certificate of Designation of Series E Preferred Stock filed with Delaware on February 28, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 4.2 on Form 8-K dated March 6, 2003.

3.2   Restated Bylaws of American Technology Corporation. Filed as Exhibit 4.9 on Form S-3 filed on January 24, 2005.

4. Instruments Defining the Rights of SecurityHolders

4.1   Specimen Common Stock Certificate. Filed as Exhibit 4.10 on Form S-3 filed on January 24, 2005.


10. Material Contracts

10.1   Royalty Agreement between ATC and Elwood G. Norris dated September 3, 1985.  Filed as Exhibit 6.2 on Form 10-SB effective August 1, 1994.+

10.2   Assignment of Technology Agreement between ATC and Elwood G. Norris dated March 2, 1992. Filed as Exhibit 6.3 on Form 10-SB effective August 1, 1994.+

10.2.1   Addendum Agreement to Assignment of Technology Agreement between ATC and Elwood G. Norris dated December 2, 1996. Filed as Exhibit 10.3.1 on Form 10-KSB for year ended September 30, 1996, dated December 13, 1996.+

10.3   Amended and Restated Sublease Agreement between ATC and Smiths Industries Aerospace & Defense Systems, Inc. as amended, dated September 1, 2000.  Filed as Exhibit 10.6.1 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2000, dated October 29, 2000.

10.3.1   First Amendment to Amended and Restated Sublease Agreement, dated January 1, 2004.  Filed as Exhibit 10.1 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, dated May 5, 2004.

10.4   Employment Agreement dated as of September 1, 1997 between ATC and Elwood G. Norris. Filed as Exhibit 10.16 on Form 10-KSB for year ended September 30, 1997, dated December 1, 1997.+

10.5   1997 Stock Option Plan as adopted on January 23, 1998. Filed as Exhibit 10.1 on Form S-8 dated July 27, 1998.+

10.5.1   Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under 1997 Stock Option Plan.*+

10.5.2   Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement under 1997 Stock Option Plan.*+

10.6   2002 Stock Option Plan.  Filed as Exhibit 99.1 on Form S-8 dated November 18, 2002.+

10.6.1   Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under 2002 Stock Option Plan.*+

10.7   Form of Stock Purchase Warrant exercisable until September 30, 2006 granted to accredited investors for an aggregate of 1,012,500 common shares (individual warrants differ as to holder, number of shares and issuance date).  Filed as Exhibit 4.12 on Form 8-K dated October 12, 2001.

10.8   Series D Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated May 3, 2002.  Filed as Exhibit 10.1 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, dated May 15, 2002.


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10.8.1   Amendment No. 1 to Series D Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated July 3, 2002.  Filed as Exhibit 10.3 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, dated August 14, 2002.

10.9   Form of Stock Purchase Warrant exercisable until March 31, 2007 granted to investors for an aggregate of 517,880 common shares (individual warrants differ as to holder, number of shares and issuance date). Filed as Exhibit 10.2 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, dated May 15, 2002.

10.10   Form of 8% Senior Secured Promissory Note due December 31, 2003 aggregating $1,500,000 granted to accredited investors (individual notes differed as to holder and amount). Filed as Exhibit 4.1 on Form 8-K dated October 7, 2002.

10.10.1   Form of Amendment to 8% Senior Secured Promissory Note. Filed as Exhibit 4.6 on Form 8-K dated March 6, 2003.

10.11   Form of Security Agreement. Filed as Exhibit 4.2 on Form 8-K dated October 7, 2002.

10.12   License Agreement between ATC and Harman International Industries, Inc. dated August 24, 2001. Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Filed as Exhibit 10.19 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2002, dated December 23, 2002.

10.13   Series E Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated February 28, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 4.1 on Form 8-K filed on March 6, 2003.

10.14   Form of Stock Purchase Warrant exercisable until December 31, 2007 granted to accredited investors for an aggregate of 514,875 common shares (individual warrants differ as to holder, number of shares and issuance date).  Filed as Exhibit 4.3 on Form 8-K dated March 6, 2003.

10.15   Employment letter of James M. Irish dated January 27, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 10.5 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, dated May 15, 2003.+

10.16   Securities Purchase Agreement dated July 11, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 4.1 on Form 8-K dated July 17, 2003.

10.17   Registration Rights Agreement dated July 11, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 4.2 on Form 8-K dated July 17, 2003.

10.18   Form of Common Stock Warrant exercisable until July 10, 2007 granted to accredited investors for an aggregate of 454,547 common shares (individual warrants differ as to holder, number of shares and issuance date). Filed as Exhibit 4.3 on Form 8-K dated July 17, 2003.

10.19   License and Remarketer Agreement between ATC and General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc. dated February 14, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 10.27 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003, dated December 29, 2003. Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

10.20   License and Remarketer Agreement between ATC and Bath Iron Works Corporation dated February 13, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 10.28.1 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003, dated December 29, 2003. Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.


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10.21   Assignment of License and Remarketer Agreement from Bath Iron Works Corporation to General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc., dated September 23, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 10.28.2 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003, dated December 29, 2003.

10.22   Employment Agreement of Kalani Jones dated August 28, 2003, as amended. Filed as Exhibit 10.29 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003, dated December 29, 2003.+

10.23   Employment Agreement of Carl Gruenler, as amended. Filed as Exhibit 10.30 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003, dated December 29, 2003.+

10.24   Form of Inducement Grant Notice and Inducement Stock Option Agreement. Filed as Exhibit 4.1 on Form 8-K dated September 28, 2004.+

10.25   Table of Inducement Grants.*+

10.26   Form of Special Stock Option.  Filed as Exhibit 99.2 on Form S-8 dated November 18, 2002.+

10.27   Employment Agreement of Michael Russell. Filed as Exhibit 10.1 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, dated August 4, 2004.+

10.28   Inducement Grant Notice and Inducement Stock Option Agreement of Michael Russell.*+

10.29   Employment Agreement of Joseph A. Zerucha.  Filed as Exhibit 10.2 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2003, dated February 12, 2004.+ 

10.30   Separation Agreement of Joseph A. Zerucha.  Filed as Exhibit 10.2 on Form 10-Q for the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, dated August 4, 2004.+

10.31   Employment Agreement of Bruce Ehlers.  Filed as Exhibit 10.1 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2003, dated February 12, 2004.+

10.32   Release Agreement of Bruce Ehlers.*+

10.33   Special Stock Option with Elwood Norris dated November 13, 2000.*+

10.34   Special Stock Option with David Carter dated November 13, 2000.*+

10.35   Special Stock Option with Richard Wagner dated November 13, 2000.*+

10.36   Common Stock Purchase Agreement dated December 14, 2004 with Kingsbridge Capital Limited. Filed as Exhibit 10.1 on Form 8-K filed December 17, 2004.

10.37   Registration Rights Agreement dated December 14, 2004 with Kingsbridge Capital Limited. Filed as Exhibit 10.2 on Form 8-K filed December 17, 2004.

10.38   Warrant dated December 14, 2004 in favor of Kingsbridge Capital Limited. Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed December 17, 2004.

10.39   Promissory Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated December 23, 2004 with the purchasers described therein. *


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10.40   Form of Unsecured Subordinated Promissory Note. *

10.41   Form of Warrant. *

23 Consents of Experts and Council

23.1   Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP.

24 Power of Attorney

24.1   Power of Attorney. Reference is made to the signature page of Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004.

Certifications

31.1   Certification of Elwood G. Norris, Co-Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2   Certification of Kalani Jones, Co-Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.3   Certification of Michael A. Russell, Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, executed by Elwood G. Norris and Kalani Jones, Co-Principal Executive Officers, and Michael A. Russell, Principal Financial Officer.

* Previously filed with Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004.

+  Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.  



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American Technology Corporation
Index to Financial Statements





Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
F-2
   
Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2004 and 2003
F-3
   
Statements of Operations for the Years Ended
 
September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002
F-4
   
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the Years Ended
 
September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002
F-5
   
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
 
September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002
F-6
   
Summary of Accounting Policies
F-7 - F-14
   
Notes to Financial Statements
F-14- F-31
   
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
F-32
   




    
  F-1  

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


 
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
American Technology Corporation
San Diego, California
 
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of American Technology Corporation as of September 30, 2004 and 2003, and the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2004. We have also audited the schedules listed in the accompanying index. These financial statements and schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and schedules. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and schedules. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of American Technology Corporation at September 30, 2004 and 2003, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2004 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
Also, in our opinion, the schedules present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

/s/ BDO SEIDMAN, LLP


Costa Mesa, California
November 10, 2004, except for Note 14 as to which the date is December 23, 2004.




    
  F-2  

 
American Technology Corporation
           
BALANCE SHEETS
           
September 30,
 
2004
 
2003
             
ASSETS
           
Current Assets:
           
Cash
 
$
4,178,968 
 
$
9,850,358  
 
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance of
           
$25,000 and $25,000 for doubtful accounts
   
926,747  
   
184,162  
Inventories, net
   
651,095  
   
408,944  
Prepaid expenses and other
   
156,419  
   
33,849  
Total current assets
   
5,913,229  
   
10,477,313  
 
Equipment, net
   
453,355  
   
200,262  
Patents, net
   
1,278,707  
   
1,066,796  
 
Total assets
 
$
7,645,291 
 
$
11,744,371 
             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
           
Current Liabilities:
           
Accounts payable
 
$
1,300,075  
 
$
604,343  
Accrued liabilities:
           
Payroll and related
   
302,706  
   
463,788  
Deferred revenue
   
322,344  
   
276,708  
Warranty reserve
   
331,917  
   
319,500  
Legal Settlements
   
150,000  
   
292,500  
Other
   
22,236  
   
26,349  
Capital lease short-term portion
   
10,967  
   
9,915  
Total current liabilities
   
2,440,245  
   
1,993,103  
Long-Term Liabilities:
           
Capital lease long-term portion
   
12,131  
   
23,097  
Total liabilities
   
2,452,376  
   
2,016,200 
Commitments and contingencies
           
             
Stockholders' equity
           
Preferred stock, $0.00001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized:
           
Series D Preferred stock 250,000 shares designated: 50,000
           
issued and outstanding each year, respectively. Liquidation
           
preference of $572,500 and $542,000, respectively.
   
-  
   
-  
Series E Preferred stock 350,000 shares designated: 233,250 and 263,250
           
issued and outstanding, respectively. Liquidation preference
           
of $2,556,000 and $2,725,000, respectively.
   
3  
   
3  
Common stock, $0.00001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized;
           
19,808,819 and 19,342,657 shares issued and outstanding respectively.
   
198  
   
193  
Additional paid-in capital
   
47,520,207  
   
46,095,032  
Accumulated deficit
   
(42,327,493)
 
 
(36,367,057)
Total stockholders' equity
   
5,192,915 
   
9,728,171  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
7,645,291  
 
$
11,744,371 
             
 

See accompanying summary of accounting policies and notes to financial statements.
 

  F-3  

 

 
American Technology Corporation
               
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
               
Years Ended September 30,
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
                     
Revenues:
                   
Product sales
 
$
5,581,936
 
$
1,070,645
 
$
649,020
 
Related party product sales
   
-
   
-
   
44,077
 
Contract and license
   
170,613
   
244,781
   
317,655
 
Total revenues
   
5,752,549
   
1,315,426
   
1,010,752
 
Cost of revenues
   
3,469,821
   
1,544,077
   
683,844
 
Gross profit (loss)
   
2,282,728
   
(228,651
)
 
326,908
 
                     
                     
Operating expenses:
                   
Selling, general and administrative
   
5,309,547
   
4,863,711
   
3,046,537
 
Research and development
   
2,988,784
   
2,493,351
   
3,622,063
 
Loss on sales of asset
   
-
   
(24,513
)
 
(11,500
)
Loss on impairment of equipment
   
-
   
-
   
32,192
 
Total operating expenses
   
8,298,331
   
7,332,549
   
6,689,292
 
                     
Loss from operations
   
(6,015,603
)
 
(7,561,200
)
 
(6,362,384
)
                     
Other income (expense):
                   
Interest income
   
58,056
   
23,293
   
15,596
 
Interest expense
   
(2,889
)
 
(686,639
)
 
(1,872,544
)
Other
   
-
   
(2,467
)
 
(800
)
Total other income (expense)
   
55,167
   
(665,813
)
 
(1,857,748
)
                     
Net loss
   
(5,960,436
)
 
(8,227,013
)
 
(8,220,132
)
Dividend requirements on convertible preferred stock
   
1,365,349
   
2,409,228
   
282,912
 
Net loss available to common stockholders
 
$
(7,325,785
)
$
(10,636,241
)
$
(8,503,044
)
Net loss per share of common stock - basic and diluted
 
$
(0.37
)
$
(0.67
)
$
(0.60
)
Average weighted number of common shares outstanding
   
19,603,265
   
15,857,569
   
14,193,508
 
                     
 


See accompanying summary of accounting policies and notes to financial statements.

  F-4  

 
American Technology Corporation
 
Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
 
                                   
Years Ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002
   
Convertible Preferred Stock
 
   
Series B
 
Series C
 
Series D
 
Series E
 
   
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Balance, September 30, 2001
   
168,860
 
$
2
   
10,000
 
$
-
   
-
 
$
-
   
-
 
$
-
 
Issuance of common stock:
                                                 
Upon exercise of stock options
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
For compensation and services
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Value assigned to 130,000 options granted for services
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Value assigned to 100,000 warrants granted for services
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Value assigned to 30,000 options, granted to consultant
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Debt discount on 12% Convertible Notes
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Conversion of Series B preferred stock
   
(168,860
)
 
(2
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Issuance of Series D preferred stock, net of offering costs of $78,752
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
235,400
   
2
   
-
   
-
 
Deemed dividends and accretion on convertible preferred stock of $282,912
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Net loss for the year
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Balance, September 30, 2002
   
-
   
-
   
10,000
   
-
   
235,400
   
2
   
-
   
-
 
Issuance of Series E preferred stock, net of offering costs of $176,225
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
343,250
   
3
 
Issuance of common stock:
                                                 
Upon exercise of stock options
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
For compensation and services
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
For cash at $5.50 per share, net of offering costs of $545,000
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Conversion of Series C preferred stock
   
-
   
-
   
(10,000
)
 
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Conversion of Series D preferred stock
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(185,400
)
 
(2
)
 
-
   
-
 
Conversion of Series E preferred stock
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(80,000
)
 
-
 
Exercise of warrants
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Legal settlement at $5.85 per share
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Conversion of 12% convertible subordinated notes
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Issuance of stock options and warrants for services
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Deemed dividends and accretion on convertible preferred stock of $2,409,228
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Net loss for the year
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Balance, September 30, 2003
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
50,000
   
-
   
263,250
   
3
 
Issuance of common stock:
                                                 
Upon exercise of stock options
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Legal settlement and royalty buyout at $4.96 per share
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Conversion of Series E preferred stock
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(30,000
)
 
-
 
Exercise of warrants
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Value assigned to 28,438 options issued on termination
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Deemed dividends and accretion on convertible preferred stock of $1,365,349
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Net loss for the year
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Balance, September 30, 2004
   
-
 
$
-
   
-
 
$
-
   
50,000
 
$
-
   
233,250
 
$
3
 
                                                   
 


See accompanying summary of accounting policies and notes to financial statements.

 
  F-5a   

 
 
American Technology Corporation
 
Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
 
                           
                           
Years Ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002
                           
   
Common Stock
 
   
Shares
 
Amount
 
Additional Paid-in Capital
 
Accumulated
Deficit
 
Total Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
 
Balance, September 30, 2001
   
13,704,139
 
$
137
 
$
22,913,268
 
$
(19,919,912
)
$
2,993,495
 
Issuance of common stock:
                               
Upon exercise of stock options
   
6,250
   
-
   
18,750
   
-
   
18,750
 
For compensation and services
   
74,129
   
1
   
304,920
   
-
   
304,921
 
Value assigned to 130,000 options granted for services
   
-
   
-
   
256,135
   
-
   
256,135
 
Value assigned to 100,000 warrants granted for services
   
-
   
-
   
218,803
   
-
   
218,803
 
Value assigned to 30,000 options, granted to consultant
   
-
   
-
   
42,898
   
-
   
42,898
 
Debt discount on 12% Convertible Notes
   
-
   
-
   
1,225,000
   
-
   
1,225,000
 
Conversion of Series B preferred stock
   
566,958
   
6
   
(4
)
 
-
   
-
 
Issuance of Series D preferred stock, net of offering costs of $78,752
   
-
   
-
   
2,275,246
   
-
   
2,275,248
 
Deemed dividends and accretion on convertible preferred stock of $282,912
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Net loss for the year
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(8,220,132
)
 
(8,220,132
)
Balance, September 30, 2002
   
14,351,476
   
144
   
27,255,016
   
(28,140,044
)
 
(884,882
)
Issuance of Series E preferred stock, net of offering costs of $176,225
   
-
   
-
   
3,256,272
   
-
   
3,256,275
 
Issuance of common stock:
                               
Upon exercise of stock options
   
408,951
   
4
   
1,614,223
   
-
   
1,614,227
 
For compensation and services
   
109,844
   
1
   
410,815
   
-
   
410,816
 
For cash at $5.50 per share, net of offering costs of $545,000
   
1,818,180
   
18
   
9,454,982
   
-
   
9,455,000
 
Conversion of Series C preferred stock
   
41,130
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Conversion of Series D preferred stock
   
695,266
   
7
   
(5
)
 
-
   
-
 
Conversion of Series E preferred stock
   
253,294
   
3
   
(3
)
 
-
   
-
 
Exercise of warrants
   
347,000
   
3
   
903,718
   
-
   
903,721
 
Legal settlement at $5.85 per share
   
100,000
   
1
   
584,999
   
-
   
585,000
 
Conversion of 12% convertible subordinated notes
   
1,217,516
   
12
   
2,435,020
   
-
   
2,435,032
 
Issuance of stock options and warrants for services
   
-
   
-
   
179,995
   
-
   
179,995
 
Deemed dividends and accretion on convertible preferred stock of $2,409,228
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Net loss for the year
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(8,227,013
)
 
(8,227,013
)
Balance, September 30, 2003
   
19,342,657
   
193
   
46,095,032
   
(36,367,057
)
 
9,728,171
 
Issuance of common stock:
                               
Upon exercise of stock options
   
292,573
   
3
   
1,061,314
   
-
   
1,061,317
 
Legal settlement and royalty buyout at $4.96 per share
   
50,000
   
1
   
247,999
   
-
   
248,000
 
Conversion of Series E preferred stock
   
98,589
   
1
   
(1
)
 
-
   
-
 
Exercise of warrants
   
25,000
   
-
   
50,000
   
-
   
50,000
 
Value assigned to 28,438 options issued on termination
   
-
   
-
   
65,863
   
-
   
65,863
 
Deemed dividends and accretion on convertible preferred stock of $1,365,349
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Net loss for the year
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(5,960,436
)
 
(5,960,436
)
Balance, September 30, 2004
   
19,808,819
 
$
198
 
$
47,520,207
 
$
(42,327,493
)
$
5,192,915
 
                                 

See accompanying summary of accounting policies and notes to financial statements.
 

 
  F-5  

 
 

American Technology Corporation
 
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
               
Years Ended September 30,
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Increase (Decrease) in Cash
                   
Operating Activities:
                   
Net loss
 
$
(5,960,436
)
$
(8,227,013
)
$
(8,220,132
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
                   
used in operations:
                   
Depreciation and amortization
   
239,948
   
549,612
   
737,248
 
Allowance for doubtful accounts
   
-
   
4,809
   
-
 
Warranty provision
   
101,671
   
313,187
   
-
 
Inventory obsolescense
   
90,000
   
-
   
-
 
Gain on sale of asset
   
-
   
-
   
(11,500
)
Common stock issued for services and compensation
   
-
   
410,816
   
304,920
 
Options and warrants granted for services
   
-
   
179,995
   
517,836
 
Options granted for compensation
   
65,863
   
-
   
1,486,701
 
Common stock issued for legal settlement
   
-
   
585,000
   
-
 
Write-off of abandoned patents
   
37,798
   
-
   
58,138
 
Write down for asset held for sale
   
-
   
-
   
32,192
 
Amortization of debt discount
   
-
   
405,000
   
1,620,000
 
Changes in assets and liabilities:
                   
Trade accounts receivable
   
(742,585
)
 
(77,485
)
 
6,098
 
Inventories
   
(332,151
)
 
(272,063
)
 
60,132
 
Prepaid expenses and other
   
(122,570
)
 
(13,719
)
 
47,030
 
Accounts payable
   
695,732
   
(12,188
)
 
411,756
 
Warranty reserve
   
(89,254
)
  -     -  
Accrued liabilities
   
(14,059
)
 
696,680
   
256,996
 
Net cash used in operating activities
   
(6,030,043
)
 
(5,457,369
)
 
(2,692,585
)
                     
Investing Activities:
                   
Purchase of equipment
   
(395,932
)
 
(108,246
)
 
(84,080
)
Patent costs paid
   
(346,818
)
 
(112,007
)
 
(305,418
)
Proceeds from sales of equipment
   
-
   
-
   
11,500
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(742,750
)
 
(220,253
)
 
(377,998
)
                     
Financing Activities:
                   
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock
   
-
   
2,432,500
   
2,354,000
 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
   
-
   
10,000,000
   
-
 
Offering costs paid
   
-
   
(721,225
)
 
(78,752
)
Payments on capital lease
   
(9,914
)
 
(8,963
)
 
(8,066
)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible promissory notes
   
-
   
-
   
1,225,000
 
Proceeds from exercise of common stock warrants
   
50,000
   
221,876
   
-
 
Proceeds from issuance of senior secured promissory notes
   
-
   
500,000
   
1,500,000
 
Payments on senior secured promissory notes
   
-
   
(318,155
)
 
-
 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
   
1,061,317
   
1,614,227
   
18,750
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
1,101,403
   
13,720,260
   
5,010,932
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash
   
(5,671,390
)
 
8,042,638
   
1,940,349
 
Cash, beginning of year
   
9,850,358
   
1,807,720
   
1,354,072
 
Cash, end of year
 
$
4,178,968
 
$
9,850,358
 
$
3,294,421
 

See accompanying summary of accounting policies and notes to financial statements.

 
  F-6  

 
American Technology Corporation
Summary of Accounting Policies


ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS
American Technology Corporation (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, is engaged in design, development and commercialization of sound, acoustic and other technologies. The Company produces products based on its HyperSonic Sound (HSS), Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), NeoPlanar and other sound technologies.

The Company’s principal markets for its proprietary sound reproduction technologies and products are in North America, Europe and Asia.

LIQUIDITY AND MANAGEMENT’S PLAN
The Company incurred net losses of $5,960,436, $8,227,013, and $8,220,013 and negative cash flow from operations of $6,030,043, $5,457,369, and $4,179,286 in the years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  The Company had working capital of $3,472,984 and cash on hand of $4,178,968 at September 30, 2004.  In December 2004, the Company received a firm order for $4,500,000 in LRAD products and $400,000 in ancillary products which the Company is providing on a value-added reseller basis.  The order calls for deliveries in December 2004 and January 2005 and customary payment terms (see Note 14 below).  Also in December 2004, the Company sold for cash in a private offering an aggregate of $2,000,000 of unsecured subordinated promissory notes due December 31, 2006.  In connection with the financing, the Company also issued five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 150,000 shares, 75,000 of which have an exercise price of $9.28 per share, and 75,000 of which have an exercise price of $8.60 per share.  An officer, director and significant stockholder purchased a note in the principal amount of $500,000 and received a warrant exercisable for 37,500 shares with an exercise price of $9.28 per share.

The Company historically has financed its operations primarily through the sale of preferred stock, exercise of stock options, sale of notes, proceeds from the sale of investment securities and margins from product sales and licensing.  Management expects to incur additional operating losses in fiscal 2005 as a result of expenditures for research and development and marketing costs for sound products.  The timing and amounts of these expenditures and the extent of the Company’s operating losses will depend on future product sales levels and other factors, some of which are beyond management’s control.  Based on the Company’s cash position, and assuming currently planned expenditures and level of operations, management believes the Company will have sufficient capital resources for the next twelve months.  Management believes increased product sales will provide additional operating funds.  If required, management has significant flexibility to adjust the level of research and development and selling and administrative expenses based on the availability of resources.  The Company also may have available funds from a Committed Equity Financing Facility (see Note 14 below).  


 
 
     
  F-7  

American Technology Corporation
Summary of Accounting Policies

 
USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions (e.g. reserves for accounts receivable and inventory, patent realizability and warranty reserves) that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
The Company’s financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and trade accounts receivable.

The Company’s cash is placed in quality money market accounts with major financial institutions. This investment policy limits the Company’s exposure to concentrations of credit risk. Such deposit accounts at times may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.

Concentration of credit risk with respect to the trade accounts receivable are limited due to the wide variety of customers and markets that comprise the Company’s customer base, as well as their dispersion across many different geographic areas. The Company routinely assesses the financial strength of its customers and, as a consequence, believes that the trade accounts receivable credit risk exposure is limited. Generally, the Company does not require collateral or other security to support customer receivables.

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS
The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of the Company’s customers to make required payments. The Company considers the following factors when determining if collection of a fee is reasonably assured: customer credit-worthiness, past transaction history with the customer, current economic industry trends and changes in customer payment terms. If the Company has no previous experience with the customer, the Company may obtain reports from various credit organizations to ensure that the customer has a history of paying its creditors. The Company may also request financial information, including financial statements or other documents (e.g., bank statements) to ensure that the customer has the means of making payment. If these factors do not indicate colle ction is reasonably assured, revenue is deferred until collection becomes reasonably assured, which is generally upon receipt of cash. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, adversely affecting their ability to make payments, additional allowances would be required.
     
  F-8  

American Technology Corporation
Summary of Accounting Policies


CONTRACT MANUFACTURER
The Company is reliant on one contract manufacturer for production of HSS and LRAD products on a turnkey basis. The Company is currently in the process of negotiating a formal agreement with this contract manufacturer. This manufacturing relationship has no specified term and the Company could be materially impacted if it ceased doing business with this contract manufacturer and was unable to establish other production in a timely manner. At September 30, 2004 the Company had $530,970 of accounts payable to this contract manufacturer.
 
During fiscal 2004 the Company shipped materials to this contract manufacturer, booked an amount due from contract manufacturer and relieved inventory of $523,080. The Company did not recognize any revenue on these transactions. At September 30, 2004 the remaining balance due from the contract manufacturer, for shipments made to them, was $393,636. The contract manufacturer used these materials to build products for the Company. The above due from contract manufacturer of $393,636 has been netted against the payable to the contract manufacturer of $530,970, and the net is included in accounts payable.

INVENTORIES
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined on a first-in, first-out basis. The Company has inventory reserves for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory which is equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions.

EQUIPMENT AND DEPRECIATION
Equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation is computed over the estimated useful lives of three to five years using the straight-line method. Upon retirement or disposition of equipment, the related cost and accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed and the gain or loss is recorded.

INTANGIBLES
Effective as of the beginning of fiscal 2003, the company fully adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 (FAS 141), “Business Combinations,” and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 (FAS 142), “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” The provisions of FAS 141 (1) require that the purchase method of accounting be used for all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001, (2) provide specific criteria for the initial recognition and measurement of intangible assets apart from goodwill, and (3) require that unamortized negative goodwill be written off immediately as an extraordinary gain instead of being deferred and amortized. FAS 141 also requires that, upon adoption of FAS 142, the Company reclassify the carrying amounts of certain intangible assets into or out o f goodwill, based on certain criteria. The adoption of FAS 142 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

FAS 142 primarily addresses the accounting for goodwill and intangible assets subsequent to their initial recognition. The provisions of FAS 142; (1) prohibit the amortization of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, (2) require that goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets be reviewed periodically to determine if they may be impaired, (3) require that reporting units be identified for the purpose of assessing potential impairments of goodwill, and (4) remove the forty-year limitation on the amortization period of intangible assets that have finite lives.

Purchased technology is carried at cost, and was amortized over three years. Patents are carried at cost and, when granted, are amortized over their estimated useful lives which has been estimated to be 15 years. The carrying value of patents is periodically reviewed and impairments, if any, are recognized when the expected future benefit to be derived from an individual intangible asset is less than its carrying value. The Company wrote off $37,798, $-0- and $58,138 of previously capitalized patent costs during the years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

LEASES
Leases entered into are classified as either capital or operating leases. At the time a capital lease is entered into, an asset is recorded together with its related long-term obligation to reflect the purchase and financing. At September 30, 2004, the Company had recorded $10,967 in short-term and $12,131 in long-term capital lease obligations.

GUARANTEES AND INDEMNIFICATIONS
 
In November 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued FASB Interpretation ("FIN") No. 45 "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others -- an interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5, 57 and 107 and rescission of FIN 34." The following is a summary of the Company's agreements that the Company has determined are within the scope of FIN No. 45:
    
  F-9  

American Technology Corporation
Summary of Accounting Policies


 
The Company provides a one year warranty for most of its products. See “Warranty Reserves.”
 
Under its bylaws, the Company has agreed to indemnify its officers and directors for certain events or occurrences arising as a result of the officer or director serving in such capacity. The term of the indemnification period is for the officer or director's lifetime. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited. However, the Company has a directors and officers’ liability insurance policy that limits its exposure and enables it to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. As a result of its insurance policy coverage, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements is minimal and has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of September 30, 2004.
 
The Company enters into indemnification provisions under (i) its agreements with other companies in its ordinary course of business, typically with business partners, contractors, customers and landlords and (ii) its agreements with investors. Under these provisions the Company generally indemnifies and holds harmless the indemnified party for losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party as a result of the Company's activities or, in some cases, as a result of the indemnified party's activities under the agreement. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification provisions is unlimited. The Company has not incurred material costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification agreements. As a result, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these agreements is minimal. Accordingly, the Company has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of September 30, 2004.
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION
The Company derives its revenue primarily from two sources: (i) component and product sale revenues and associated engineering and installation (“Product Sales”) and (ii) contract and license fee revenue. Component and Product Sales revenues are recognized in the periods that products are shipped to customers, FOB shipping point or destination, when a signed contract exists, the fee is fixed and determinable, collection of resulting receivables is probable and there are no remaining obligations on the part of the Company. Revenues from engineering contracts are recognized based on milestones or completion of the contracted services. Revenues from ongoing per unit license fees are earned based on units shipped incorporating the Company’s patented proprietary technologies and are recognized in the period when the ultimate customer accepts the product and collectibility is reasonably assured. Revenues from up-front license and other fees and annual license fees are generally recognized ratably over the specified term of the particular license or agreement.

SHIPPING AND HANDLING COSTS
Amounts paid by customers for shipping and handling are included in product revenues. Actual shipping and handling costs are included in product cost of revenues. Shipping and handling costs were $211,502, $62,810 and $67,850 for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

ADVERTISING
Advertising costs are charged to expenses as incurred. The Company expensed $69,893, $8,695 and $-0- for the years ended September 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

WARRANTY RESERVES
The Company warrants its products to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase, depending on the product. The warranty is generally a limited warranty, and in some instances imposes certain shipping costs on the customer. The Company currently provides direct warranty service. Some agreements with OEM customers require certain quantities of product be made available for use as warranty replacements. International market warranties are generally similar to the U.S. market.

    
  F-10  

American Technology Corporation
Summary of Accounting Policies



The Company establishes a warranty reserve based on anticipated warranty claims at the time product revenue is recognized. Factors affecting warranty reserve levels include the number of units sold and anticipated cost of warranty repairs and anticipated rates of warranty claims. The Company evaluates the adequacy of the provision for warranty costs each reporting period. See Note 8 for additional information regarding warranties.

INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest expense includes interest expense, redemption premiums and non-cash amortization of debt discount.

INCOME TAXES
The Company accounts for income taxes under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 109. Temporary differences are differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years. A valuation allowance is recorded by the Company to the extent it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The Company follows the provisions of SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income. Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. There were no differences between net loss and comprehensive loss for any of the periods presented.

IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS
Long-lived assets and identifiable intangibles held for use are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If the sum of undiscounted expected future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset or if changes in facts and circumstances indicate, an impairment loss is recognized and measured using the asset’s fair value. The Company wrote off $37,798, $-0- and $58,138 of patent costs during the years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

SEGMENT INFORMATION
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company organized operations into two segments by the end-user markets they serve. The Business Products and Licensing Group (Business Group) licenses and markets HSS and NeoPlanar sound products to companies that employ audio in consumer, commercial and professional applications. The Government and Force Protection Systems Group (Government Group) markets LRAD, NeoPlanar, SoundCluster and HSS sound products to government and military customers and to the growing force protection and commercial security markets. See Note 13.

NET LOSS PER SHARE
Basic earnings (loss) per share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing income (loss) available to common stockholders, after deduction for cumulative imputed and accreted dividends, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflect the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of an entity. The Company’s losses for the years presented cause the inclusion of potential common stock instruments outstanding to be antidilutive. Stock options, warrants and convertible preferred stock exercisable into 5,197,557 shares of common stock were outstanding at September 30, 2004. Stock options, warrants and convertible preferred stock and notes exercisable into 4,999,522 shares of common stock were outstanding at September 30, 2003 and stock options, warrants and convertible preferred stock exercisable into 5,462,166 shares of common stock were outstanding at September 30, 2002. These securities were not included in the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share because of the losses but could potentially dilute earnings (loss) per share in future periods.

    
  F-11  

American Technology Corporation
Summary of Accounting Policies


 

Net loss available to common stockholders was increased during fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002 in computing net loss per share by imputed deemed dividends based on the value of warrants issued in connection with convertible preferred stock (see Note 5). The net loss available to common stockholders was also increased in fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002 by an additional deemed dividend computed from a discount provision in convertible preferred stock (see Note 5). Such imputed deemed dividends are not included in the Company’s stockholders’ equity as the Company has an accumulated deficit and therefore is reflected as an increase and a related decrease to additional paid in capital. Amounts are included in net loss available to common stockholders. The imputed deemed dividends are not contractual obligations of the Company to pay such imputed dividends.
 
The provisions of each of the Company’s series of preferred stock provided for a 6% per annum accretion in the conversion value (similar to a dividend). Such accretions are not included in the company's stockholders' equity as the company has an accumulated deficit and therefore is reflected as an increase and a related decrease to additional paid in capital. These amounts increase the net loss available to common stockholders. Net loss available to common stockholders is computed as follows:

Years Ended September 30,
 
2,004
 
2,003
 
2,002
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
$
(5,960,436
)
$
(8,227,013
)
$
(8,220,132
)
Imputed deemed dividends on Series D and E
   
   
   
 
warrants issued with preferred stock [note 5]
   
(448,572
)
 
(538,070
)
 
(91,492
)
Imputed deemed dividends on Series D and E
   
   
   
 
preferred stock [note 5]
   
(736,449
)
 
(1,683,500
)
 
(104,444
)
Accretion on preferred stock at 6% stated rate [note 5]:
   
   
   
 
Series B preferred stock
    -     -    
(16,932
)
Series C preferred stock
    -    
(6,000
)
 
(12,000
)
Series D preferred stock
   
(30,171
)
 
(65,844
)
 
(58,044
)
Series E preferred stock
   
(150,157
)
 
(115,814
)
  -  
Net loss available to common stockholders
 
$
(7,325,785
)
$
(10,636,241
)
$
(8,503,044
)
 
   
   
   
 

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
In December 2002, the FASB issued FAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure”, which amended FAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” The new standard provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair market value based method for accounting for stock-based employee compensation. Additionally, the statement amends the disclosure requirements of FAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. This statement is effective for the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 and the Company adopted the disclosure requir ements effective October 1, 2002.  In compliance with FAS No. 148, the Company has elected to continue to follow the intrinsic value method in accounting for its stock-based employee compensation plan as defined by APB No. 25.

The Company estimates the fair value of each stock award at the grant date by using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for grants in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively: dividend yield of zero percent for all years; expected volatility of 57 to 75 percent in 2004, 68 to 84 percent in 2003 and 63 percent in 2002; risk-free interest rates of 1.83 to 6.72 percent; and expected lives of 2.21 to 5 years.

For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options is amortized to expense over the options' vesting periods. The Company's pro forma information follows:

     
  F-12  

American Technology Corporation
Summary of Accounting Policies



Years Ended September 30,
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss available to common stockholders
 
$
(7,325,785
)
$
(10,636,241
)
$
(8,503,044
)
Plus: Stock-based employee compensation
   
   
   
 
expense included in reported net loss
   
65,863
   
-
   
-
 
Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense
 
   
 
determined using fair value based method
   
(940,111
)
 
(972,896
)
 
(933,704
)
Pro forma net loss available to common stockholders
 
$
(8,200,033
)
$
(11,609,137
)
$
(9,436,748
)
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Net loss per common share - basic
   
   
   
 
and diluted - pro forma
 
$
(0.42
)
$
(0.73
)
$
(0.66
)
Net loss per common share - basic
   
   
   
 
and diluted - as reported
 
$
(0.37
)
$
(0.67
)
$
(0.60
)
 
   
   
   
 

COMMON STOCK ISSUED FOR SERVICES
The Company records compensation expense for common stock issued for services based on the estimated fair market value. Estimated fair market value is determined based on the quoted closing stock price on the day prior to the date of issuance.

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less, when purchased, to be cash equivalents.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In December 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46-R, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities — an interpretation of ARB 51 (revised December 2003)”, which replaces FIN 46.  FIN 46-R incorporates certain modifications to FIN 46 adopted by the FASB subsequent to the issuance of FIN 46, including modifications of the scope of FIN 46.  For all non-special purpose entities (“SPE”) created prior to February 1, 2003, public entities will be required to adopt FIN 46-R at the end of the first interim or annual reporting period ending after March 15, 2004.  For all entities (regardless of whether the entity is an SPE) that were created subsequent to January 31, 2003, public entities are already required to apply the provisions of FIN 46, and should continue doing so unless they elect to adopt the provisions of Fin 46-R early as of the first interim or annual reporting period ending after December 15, 2003.  If they do not elect to adopt FIN 46-R early, public entities would be required to apply FIN 46-R to those post-January 31, 2003 entities as of the end of the first interim or annual reporting period ending after March 15, 2004. The adoption of FIN 46-R for non-SPEs did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on Issue No. 03-1, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments.” EITF 03-1 provides guidance on other-than-temporary impairment models for marketable debt and equity securities accounted for under SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities,” and SFAS No. 124, “Accounting for Certain Investments Held by Not-for-Profit Organizations,” and non-marketable equity securities accounted for under the cost method. The EITF developed a basic three-step model to evaluate whether an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired. On September 30, 2004, the FASB approved the issuance of FASB Staff Position (FSP) EITF 03-1-1, which delays th e effective date until additional guidance is issued for the application of the recognition and measurement provisions of EITF 03-1 to investments in securities that are impaired. The Company does not expect the adoption of EITF 03-1 to have a material effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

     
  F-13  

American Technology Corporation
Summary of Accounting Policies


 
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) 123(R), “Share Based Payment”, Statement 123(R) is effective for public companies at the beginning of the first interim or annual period after June 15, 2005. This statement eliminates the ability to account for share-based compensation using the intrinsic value-based method under APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Statement 123(R) would require the Company to calculate equity-based compensation expense for stock options and employee stock purchase plan rights granted to employees based on the fair value of the equity instrument at the time of grant. Currently, the Company discloses the pro forma net income (loss) and the related pro forma income (loss) per share information in accordance with FAS 123 and FAS 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Costs-Transition and Disclosure.” The Company has not evaluated the impact that Statement 123(R) will have on its financial position and results of operations.

RECLASSIFICATIONS
Where necessary, prior year’s information has been reclassified to conform with the fiscal 2004 statement presentation.

1. INVENTORIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inventories consisted of the following at September 30,
 
2004
 
2003
 
Finished goods
 
$
342,647
 
$
13,690
 
Work in process
   
-
   
182,638
 
Raw materials
   
418,448
   
232,616
 
 
   
761,095
   
428,944
 
Reserve for obsolescence
   
(110,000
)
 
(20,000
)
 
 
$
651,095
 
$
408,944
 
     
   
 
 
At September 30, 2004, $79,036 of raw materials and $355,879 of finished goods were located at the Company’s contract manufacturer in San Jose, California.
 
The Company is reliant on one supplier for film for its HSS product and is making efforts to obtain alternative suppliers to reduce its reliance thereon. The Company could be materially impacted if it loses its current film supplier and is unable to find an alternative supplier.

2. EQUIPMENT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equipment consisted of the following at September 30,
 
2004
 
2003
 
Machinery and equipment
 
$
604,994
 
$
571,927
 
Office furniture and equipment
   
816,714
   
480,536
 
Leasehold improvements
   
225,178
   
198,491
 
 
   
1,646,886
   
1,250,954
 
Accumulated depreciation
   
(1,193,531
)
 
(1,050,692
)
Net equipment
 
$
453,355
 
$
200,262
 
     
   
 

Included in office furniture and equipment for the years ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively are $335,691 and $208,817 for purchased software, which is amortized over three years. The unamortized portion of software for the years ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, are $177,930 and $97,731, respectively.

  F-14  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements

Depreciation expense, excluding amortization of software, was $96,164, $130,916 and $211,474 for the years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Amortization of purchased software was $46,675, $26,488 and $43,216 for the years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

3. INTANGIBLES

Purchased Technology
In April 2000, the Company acquired all rights to certain loudspeaker technology. The purchase price consisted of $300,000 cash plus 200,000 shares of common stock. The 200,000 shares of common stock were issued in June 2000 and were valued at $962,500. The Company was obligated to pay up to an additional 159,843 shares of common stock contingent upon the achievement of certain performance milestones relating to gross revenues from the purchased technology. During fiscal 2002 the Company issued 50,000 shares of the contingent common stock, recording compensation expense of $210,000 at an estimated fair market value of $4.20 per share, and during fiscal 2003 issued the balance of 109,844 shares of the contingent common stock, recording compensation expense of $410,816. Two principals involved with the purchased technology were employed under three year agreements, which terminated on February 15, 2003.

Purchased technology consisted of the following at September 30,
 
2004
 
2003
 
Cost
 
$1,262,500
 
$1,262,500
 
Accumulated amortization
   
(1,262,500
)
 
(1,262,500
)
Net purchased technology
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
   
 
Patents consisted of the following at September 30,
   
2004
   
2003
 
Cost
 
$
1,578,578
 
$
1,287,058
 
Accumulated amortization
   
(299,871
)
 
(220,262
)
Net patent
 
$
1,278,707
 
$
1,066,796
 
 
   
   
 

Aggregate amortization expense for the Company’s intangible assets are summarized as follows:


Years Ended September 30,
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
                     
Purchased technology
 
$
-
 
$
315,636
 
$
420,828
 
Patents
   
97,109
   
79,544
   
61,730
 
 
 
$
97,109
 
$
395,180
 
$
482,558
 
                     
  F-15  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements

In addition to amortization, the Company wrote off $37,798, $-0- and $58,138 of patent costs during the years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Estimated Amortization Expense Years Ended September 30,
 
 
   
 
 
2005
   
 
   
 
 
$
105,239
 
2006
   
   
 
$
105,239
 
2007
   
 
   
 
 
$
105,239
 
2008
   
   
 
$
105,239
 
2009
   
 
   
 
 
$
105,239
 
Thereafter
   
   
 
$
752,512
 

4. INCOME TAXES
             
 
             
Income taxes consisted of the following:
             
Years Ended September 30,
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Deferred (benefit)
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Federal
 
$
(2,033,000
)
$
(2,801,000
)
$
(2,053,000
)
State
   
(359,000
)
 
(494,000
)
 
(362,000
)
 
   
(2,392,000
)
 
(3,295,000
)
 
(2,415,000
)
Change in valuation allowance
   
2,392,000
   
3,295,000
   
2,415,000
 
 
 
$
-  
$
-
 
$
-
 
 
   
   
   
 
A reconciliation of income taxes at the federal statutory rate of 34% to the effective tax rate is as follows:
 
   
   
   
 
Years Ended September 30,
   
2004
   
2003
   
2002
 
Income taxes (benefit) computed at the
   
   
   
 
federal statutory rate
 
$
(2,027,000
)
$
(2,797,000
)
$
(2,795,000
)
Tax effect of change in valuation allowance
   
2,392,000
   
3,019,000
   
2,415,000
 
Nondeductible expenses,
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
interest expense and other
   
30,000
   
306,000
   
957,000
 
State income taxes (benefit), net of federal tax benefit
   
(358,000
)
 
(494,000
)
 
(493,000
)
Other
   
(37,000
)
 
(34,000
)
 
(84,000
)
 
 
$
-  
$
-
 
$
-
 

The types of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their approximate tax effects that give rise to a significant portion of the net deferred tax asset (liability) at September 30, 2004 and 2003 are as follows:

Deferred tax assets:
 
2004
 
2003
 
Net operating loss carryforwards
 
$
14,982,000
 
$
12,382,000
 
Research and development credit
   
228,000
   
220,000
 
Equipment
   
75,000
   
176,000
 
Patents
   
59,000
   
47,000
 
Purchased technology
   
75,000
   
93,000
 
Accruals and other
   
365,000
   
294,000
 
Allowances
   
46,000
   
10,000
 
Gross deferred tax asset
   
15,830,000
   
13,222,000
 
Less valuation allowance
   
(15,830,000
)
 
(13,222,000
)
 
 
$
 
$
-
 
 
   
   
 
  F-16  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements

The utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards and research and experimental credits could be substantially limited due to restrictions imposed under federal and state laws upon a change of ownership. The amount of the limitation, if any, has not been determined at this time.

A valuation allowance has been recorded to offset the net deferred tax asset as management has been unable to determine that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will be realized.

At September 30, 2004, the Company, for federal income tax purposes, has net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $37,400,000, which expire through 2025 of which certain amounts are subject to limitations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

5. CAPITAL STOCK

Common Stock
In July 2003 the Company obtained gross proceeds of $10,000,000 from an offering of common stock and warrants. The offering included 1,818,180 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $5.50 per share and warrants to purchase 454,547 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $6.75 per share. The warrants are exercisable until July 10, 2007. The warrants contain certain antidilution rights if the Company sells common stock equivalents, as defined, below $6.75. Offering costs were $545,000.

Preferred Stock
The Company is authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.00001 par value, without any action by the stockholders. The board of directors has the authority to divide any and all shares of preferred stock into series and to fix and determine the relative rights and preferences of the preferred stock, such as the designation of series and the number of shares constituting such series, dividend rights, redemption and sinking fund provisions, liquidation and dissolution preferences, conversion or exchange rights and voting rights, if any. Issuance of preferred stock by the board of directors could result in such shares having dividend and or liquidation preferences senior to the rights of the holders of common stock and could dilute the voting rights of the holders of common stock.

    
  F-17  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements




The following is a summary of the terms of the preferred stock series outstanding during the three fiscal years ended September 30, 2004.

           
 
 
 
Number of
 
 
     
Shares
   
Preferred
Issuance
Aggregate
Authorized/
   
Series
Date
Purchase Price
Issued
 
Terms
6% Series B issued at $10.00 per share
December 1998 and January 1999
$2,500,000
250,000/250,000
 
Purchase price plus 6% accretion convertible at lower of $5.00 per share or 92% of market but not less than $3.50 per share. Callable at market price of $12.00 per share. Automatic conversion to common stock on November 30, 2001.
6% Series C issued at $20.00 per share
March 2000
$6,000,000
300,000/300,000
 
Purchase price plus 6% accretion convertible at lower of $8.00 per share or 92% of market but not less than $5.75 per share. Callable at market price of $20.00 per share. Automatic conversion to common stock on March 31, 2003.
6% Series D issued at $10.00 per share
May 2002
$2,354,000
250,000/235,400
 
Purchase price plus 6% accretion convertible at lower of $4.50 per share or 90% of market but not less than $2.00 per share, subject to antidilution adjustment. Callable at market price of $9.50 per share. Automatic conversion to common stock on March 31, 2006.
6% Series E issued at $10.00 per share
March 2003
$3,432,500
350,000/343,250
 
Purchase price plus 6% accretion convertible at lower of $3.25 per share or 90% of market but not less than $2.00 per share, subject to antidilution adjustment. Callable at market price of $9.50 per share. Automatic conversion to common stock on December 31, 2006.

The above preferred shares were sold for cash except that $1,000,000 of the Series E Stock purchase price resulted from the conversion of Senior Notes. In connection with the Series C Stock financing, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 75,000 shares of common stock at $11.00 per share until March 31, 2005 as a placement fee. The value assigned to the warrant issued as a placement fee was $468,783.

At September 30, 2004 all of the Series B and Series C Stock had been converted into common stock. At September 30, 2004 the remaining 50,000 shares of Series D Stock would have been convertible into 127,222 shares of common stock and the remaining 233,250 shares of Series E Stock would have been convertible into 786,473 shares of common stock.

     
  F-18  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements



The Company granted warrants with each issuance of preferred stock. The cash proceeds of the preferred stock were allocated prorata between the relative fair values of the preferred stock and warrants at issuance using the Black Scholes valuation model for valuing the warrants. After allocating the proceeds between the preferred stock and warrant, an effective conversion price was calculated for the convertible preferred stock to determine the beneficial conversion discount for each share. The value of the beneficial conversion discount and the value of the warrants is recorded as a deemed dividend and accreted over the conversion period of the preferred st ock. The following table summarizes values assigned as a deemed dividend for the value of the warrants and the beneficial conversion feature on each preferred stock issuance.

 
 
 
 
 
Deemed Dividend
         
Value
Value Of
     
Warrant
Warrant
Assigned
Beneficial
Preferred
Issuance
Number
Exercise
Expiration
To
Conversion
Series
Date
Of Warrants
Price
Date
Warrants
Discount
6% Series B
December 1998 and January 1999
250,000
$6.00
11/30/2001
$595,000
$656,000
6% Series C
March 2000
300,000
$11.00
3/31/2003
$1,478,000
$2,509,000
6% Series D
May 2002
517,880
$3.01
3/31/2007
$1,029,519
$994,310
6% Series E
March 2003
514,875
$3.25
12/31/2007
$755,500
$2,677,000

The Series D warrants were originally exercisable at $4.50 per common share and valued at $871,000. The Series E financing resulted in a repricing of the Series D Warrants to $3.01 per common share and an additional $158,519 was assigned to the warrant value. The Series D Warrants were valued using the Black-Scholes model with a dividend yield of zero percent; expected volatility of 78 percent; risk free interest rate of 4.94 percent; and an expected life of five years. The Series E Warrants were valued using the Black-Scholes model with a dividend yield of zero percent; expected volatility of 76.5 percent; risk free interest rate of 4.0 percent; and an expected life of five years.

The following table summarizes information about the deemed dividend activity commencing in May 2002.


     
  F-19  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements


 
 
 
Number
 
Balance
 
 
 
Series D
 
 
 
Series E
 
 
 
of
 
 
 
Preferred
 
Series D
 
Preferred
 
Series E
 
Deemed
 
 
 
Shares
 
Warrants
 
Shares
 
Warrants
 
Dividend
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Series D Issued in May 2002
   
235,400
   
517,880
   
-
   
-
 
$
1,865,310
 
Fiscal 2002 accretion
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(195,936
)
Balance September 30, 2002
   
235,400
   
517,880
   
 
   
 
   
1,669,374
 
Series E Issued in February 2003
   
-
   
-
   
343,250
   
514,875
   
3,432,500
 
Additional deemed dividend
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
on D warrant repricing
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
158,519
 
Deemed dividend on
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
warrants exercised
   
-
   
(22,000
)
 
-
   
(120,000
)
 
(215,904
)
Deemed dividend on
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
preferred stock converted
   
(185,400
)
 
-
   
(80,000
)
 
-
   
(1,324,224
)
Accretion on outstanding
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Series D and E warrants
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(322,166
)
Accretion on outstanding
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Series D and E Preferred Stock
   
-
   
-
    -     -    
(359,276
)
Balance September 30, 2003
   
50,000
   
495,880
   
263,250
   
394,875
 
$
3,038,823
 
Deemed dividend on
   
   
   
   
   
 
warrants exercised
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(30,000
)
 
(44,630
)
Deemed dividend on
   
   
   
   
   
 
preferred stock converted
   
-
   
-
   
(30,000
)
 
-
   
(192,699
)
Accretion on outstanding
   
   
   
   
   
 
Series D and E warrants
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(403,942
)
Accretion on outstanding
   
   
   
   
   
 
Series D and E Preferred Stock
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
(543,750
)
Balance September 30, 2004
   
50,000
   
495,880
   
233,250
   
364,875
 
$
1,853,802
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Deemed dividend accretion fiscal 2004:
 
   
   
   
 
Series D and E Warrants
   
 
     
 
   
 
   
 
 
$
(448,572
)
Series D and E Preferred Stock
   
   
   
   
 
$
(736,449
)
 
   
   
   
   
   
 

 
     
  F-20  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements


Stock Purchase Warrants
A summary of the status of outstanding stock purchase warrants outstanding as of September 30, 2002, 2003 and 2004 and the changes during the years then ended is presented below:

 
 
 
 
Average
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase
 
 
 
Number
 
Price
 
Shares purchasable under outstanding warrants at October 1, 2001
   
1,115,000
 
$
6.87
 
Stock purchase warrants issued
   
1,230,380
 
$
3.26
 
Stock purchase warrants exercised
   
-
   
 
 
Stock purchase warrants expired
   
(240,000
)
$
6.00
 
Shares purchasable under outstanding warrants at September 30, 2002
   
2,105,380
 
$
4.85
 
Stock purchase warrants issued
   
1,019,422
 
$
4.83
 
Stock purchase warrants exercised
   
(347,000
)
$
2.60
 
Stock purchase warrants expired
   
(350,000
)
$
11.71
 
Shares purchasable under outstanding warrants at September 30, 2003
   
2,427,802
 
$
3.85
 
Stock purchase warrants exercised
   
(25,000
)
$
2.00
 
Stock purchase warrants expired
   
(50,000
)
$
10.00
 
Shares purchasable under outstanding warrants at September 30, 2004
   
2,352,802
 
$
3.74
 
 
   
   
 
               

     
  F-21  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements


At September 30, 2004, the following stock purchase warrants were outstanding arising from offerings and other transactions, each exercisable into one common share:

 
 
 
Exercise
 
Expiration
 
Number
 
Price
 
Date
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
75,000
 
$11.00
 
March 31, 2005
 
812,500
 
$2.00
 
September 30, 2006
 
495,880
 
$3.01
 
March 31, 2007
 
454,547
 
$6.75
 
July 10, 2007
 
100,000
 
$4.25
 
September 30, 2007
 
364,875
 
$3.25
 
December 31, 2007
 
50,000
 
$3.63
 
April 8, 2008
 
2,352,802
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The $3.01 warrants, the $3.25 warrants and the $6.75 warrants contain certain antidilution rights if the Company sells securities for less than the exercise price.

6. BENEFIT PLANS

2002 Stock Option Plan
The Company has a Stock Option Plan, expiring September 30, 2012, reserving the issuance of 2,350,000 shares of common stock ("2002 Plan"). The options issued under the 2002 Plan may, in the discretion of the Board, be either Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options. The 2002 Plan provides for grants to employees, directors or consultants, in the discretion of the Board of Directors, of options to purchase common stock of the Company at a price not less than the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant. In the case of a significant stockholder, the option price of shares subject to Incentive Stock Options will not be less than 110 percent of the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant. Any options granted under the 2002 Plan must be exercised within either five or ten years of the dat e they were granted (five years in the case of an Incentive Stock Option to a significant stockholder).

As of September 30, 2004, there were options outstanding covering 1,268,498 shares of common stock under the 2002 Plan. Shares subject to options under the 1997 Plan or the 2002 Plan that expire, are cancelled or are terminated without being exercised, become available for future grants under the 2002 Plan. Accordingly, there were 284,928 shares available for future option grants under the 2002 Plan at September 30, 2004.

1997 Stock Option Plan
The Company’s 1997 Stock Option Plan (“1997 Plan”) reserved for issuance 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Board terminated the 1997 Plan with respect to new grants on August 1, 2002. The 1997 Plan remains in effect for grants prior to that date. Any options granted under the 1997 Plan must be exercised within ten years of the date they were granted (five years in the case of a significant stockholder). As of September 30, 2004, there were options outstanding covering 384,000 shares of common stock under this Plan.

Other Employee Stock Options
During fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 the Company granted options to purchase 147,000 shares of common stock, exercisable at prices ranging from $5.92 to $6.14 per share, outside the above plans as inducements to employment to new employees. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002, the Company granted to two employees options to purchase an aggregate of 200,000 shares of common stock, exercisable at $4.50 per share until April 25, 2006. As of September 30, 2004 there were options remaining outstanding covering 187,000 shares of common stock from grants outside the 1997 and 2002 Plans.
    
  F-22  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements



1997 Employee Stock Compensation Plan (“ESC”)
Effective March 10, 1997, the Company adopted the 1997 Employee Stock Compensation Plan ("ESC Plan"), which was amended on February 22, 2000 to reserve for issuance of an aggregate of 650,000 shares of common stock. The ESC Plan expired March 9, 2002. The Plan provided for compensation awards of the Company’s common stock to non-executive employees (as defined), at the discretion of the ESC Plan committee.

During fiscal 2002, the Company issued 24,129 shares of common stock under the ESC Plan and recorded general and administrative expense of $94,920 for awards valued at the estimated fair market value ranging from $2.29 to $4.12 per common share.

Non-Cash Compensation Expense
During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 the Company recorded non-cash compensation expense of $65,863 for the extension of certain option exercise periods to former employees on an aggregate of 28,438 shares of common stock. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, the Company recorded non-cash compensation expense of $25,597 for the granting of options to purchase 13,000 shares of common stock under its stock options plans to non-employees. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002, the Company recorded non-cash compensation expense of $115,199 for the granting of options to purchase 55,000 shares of common stock under its stock options plans to non-employees.

In October 2001, the Company granted options to purchase a total of 110,000 shares of common stock to a consultant under the 1997 Plan in conjunction with related development and manufacturing agreements. The stock options include options to purchase 65,000 shares of common stock, which vest upon completion of certain project milestones. The Company has estimated the period required to complete the specified milestones each reporting period and recorded consulting expense based on the market price of the Company’s stock and the estimated percentage of the work completed. Consulting expense was adjusted each reporting period until vesting occurs. The Company recorded consulting expense of $87,179 for the Black Scholes value of milestone options for 30,000 shares vested in fiscal 2002 and consulting expense of $47,782 for the Black Scholes value of 10,000 milestone options vested in fiscal 2003. As of September 30, 2004 there remain stock options to purchase 25,000 shares that are non-vested due to unmet project milestones. In addition there were options to purchase 45,000 shares of common stock that vested based on the consultant meeting certain performance criteria. The Company records consulting expense at each vesting date. The Company recorded consulting expense of $96,655 for the Black Scholes value of performance options for 45,000 shares vested during the year ended September 30, 2002.

On September 30, 2002 the Company granted a warrant exercisable for 100,000 common shares at $4.25 per share to a consultant for consulting services. The Company recorded non-cash consulting expense of $218,803 for the value of this warrant.

On April 8, 2003 the Company granted a warrant exercisable for 50,000 common shares at $3.63 per share to a consultant for consulting services. The Company recorded non-cash consulting expense of $106,616 for the value of this warrant.

Stock Option Summary Information
A summary of the status of the Company’s stock option plans as of September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 and the changes during the years ended on those dates is presented below:

     
  F-23  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements

 
                   
Weighted
 
               
Number
 
Average
 
Fiscal 2002:
                     
Outstanding October 1, 2001
             
1,338,200
 
$
2.23
 
Granted
                     
510,000
 
$
3.97
 
Canceled/expired
             
(382,775
)
$
8.17
 
Exercised
                     
(6,250
)
$
3.00
 
Outstanding September 30, 2002
             
1,459,175
 
$
3.97
 
Exercisable at September 30, 2002
             
1,090,575
 
$
3.93
 
                                 
Weighted average fair value of options granted during the year
     
$
1.37
 
                                 
Fiscal 2003:
                               
Outstanding October 1, 2002
             
1,459,175
 
$
3.97
 
Granted
                     
979,000
 
$
3.96
 
Canceled/expired
             
(416,950
)
$
3.86
 
Exercised
                     
(408,951
)
$
3.95
 
Outstanding September 30, 2003
             
1,612,274
 
$
4.00
 
Exercisable at September 30, 2003
             
998,722
 
$
3.79
 
                                 
Weighted average fair value of options granted during the year
     
$
1.78
 
                                 
Fiscal 2004:
                               
Outstanding October 1, 2003
             
1,612,274
 
$
4.00
 
Granted
                     
1,073,500
 
$
5.80
 
Canceled/expired
             
(553,703
)
$
3.63
 
Exercised
                     
(292,573
)
$
5.49
 
Outstanding September 30, 2004
             
1,839,498
 
$
4.68
 
Exercisable at September 30, 2004
             
916,884
 
$
3.60
 
                                 
Weighted average fair value of options granted during the year
     
$
2.37
 
                                 
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at September 30, 2004:
 
           
Weighted
                   
 
          Average    
Weighted
         
Weighted
 
Range of
         
Remaining
   
Average
         
Average
 
Exercise
   
Number
   
Contractual
   
Exercise
   
Number
   
Exercise
 
Prices
   
Outstanding
   
Life
   
Price
   
Exercisable
   
Price
 
$2.50-$4.00
   
824,998
   
2.46
 
$
3.18
   
706,821
 
$
3.16
 
$4.01-$5.50
   
434,000
   
3.98
 
$
4.90
   
172,063
 
$
4.67
 
$5.51-$7.00
   
441,700
   
4.62
 
$
6.49
   
18,450
 
$
6.06
 
$7.01-$9.03
   
138,800
   
1.50
 
$
7.19
   
19,550
 
$
5.72
 
$2.50-$9.03
   
1,839,498
   
3.27
 
$
4.68
   
916,884
 
$
3.60
 
                                 
Employee Benefit - 401K Plan
On January 1, 1998, the Company established a 401(k) plan covering its employees. The plan originated service effectively in June 1998. Matching contributions are made on behalf of all participants at the discretion of the Board of Directors. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002, the Company made matching contributions of approximately $28,385, $18,675 and $20,151 respectively.
     
  F-24  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements



7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Facility Leases
The Company’s executive offices, research and development and operational facilities in San Diego, California, are occupied under a sublease agreement that commenced in January 2004 and expires in July 2006. The Company currently occupies approximately 15,000 square feet of office, laboratory, production and warehouse space in these premises with aggregate monthly payments of approximately $18,000, exclusive of utilities and costs.

The Company rents on a monthly basis office space utilized for development and production of its NeoPlanar technology in Carson City, Nevada. The Company occupies approximately 2,200 square feet with a monthly payment of approximately $1,200 excluding utilities.

The Company’s east coast office for its Government Group is located in Topsham, Maine. The Company has a month to month lease effective, October 1, 2004, for 600 square feet of office space with a monthly payment of $919.

Other Operating Leases
In addition to the facility lease, the Company has one automobile lease obligation expiring in May 2006. The Company also has two business equipment leases expiring in January 2009. These leases are reported as operating leases within the financial statements.

Total operating lease expense, including facilities, automobile and business equipment leases, recorded by the Company for the years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was $345,330, $206,084 and $197,358, respectively.

The obligations under all operating leases are as follows:

Year ending September 30:
 
 
 
2005
 
$
237,262
 
2006
   
196,832
 
2007
   
10,657
 
2008
   
10,657
 
2009
   
2,352
 
 
   
 

Employment Agreements
The Company has no employment agreements with executive officers or other employees providing future benefits or severance arrangements.

Commission and Bonus Plans
The Company has established a sales commission plan, which was approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors and provides cash incentives to certain of the Company’s sales employees based on revenues recognized, provided that revenues are greater than a minimum specified amount. In fiscal 2004, the Company recorded $95,500 of commission expense based on revenues of the Government Group. Because the minimum level was not achieved, no commissions were earned on revenues of the Business Group.

Certain of the Company’s employees, in accordance with their terms of employment, may earn a cash bonus based on the overall financial performance of the Company. Based on the Company’s overall performance, no bonuses were earned for fiscal 2004.

     
  F-25  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements



 
Litigation
In September 2003, the Company filed a complaint against eSOUNDideas, Inc., in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, alleging breach of contract and seeking a declaratory judgment to the effect that a License, Purchase and Marketing Agreement dated September 28, 2000 (the “ESI License Agreement”) with eSOUNDideas, a California partnership, was properly terminated in May 2003. The principals of eSOUNDideas are Greg O. Endsley and Douglas J. Paschall. The principals also founded a corporation, eSOUNDideas, Inc., which purported to assume the contractual obligations of eSOUNDideas. The Company amended the complaint in November 2003 to include eSOUNDideas (the general partnership), Mr. Endsley and Mr. Paschall as defendants. For convenience, the following discussion refers to eSOUNDideas and eSOUNDi deas, Inc. collectively as “ESI.” In November 2003, the Company filed complaints in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, against Mr. Endsley and Mr. Paschall seeking declaratory judgments that options granted to each of Mr. Endsley and Mr. Paschall in April 2001 were terminated in October 2002.

The ESI License Agreement formerly appointed ESI as an exclusive distributor of HSS products specifically targeted to the point of sale/purchase, kiosk and display, and the event, trade show and exhibit markets in North America for five years. In June 2002, the Company and ESI purported to enter into an amendment to the ESI License Agreement, extending the term to ten years commencing on the first delivery of a commercial HSS product to an end user, and eliminating minimum purchase requirements for the first three years. The Company believes the amendment was invalid as it was given in consideration for a large order from ESI, which was later withdrawn by ESI due to a dispute over the payment and delivery terms of such order. In May 2003, the Company gave notice to ESI of termination of the ESI License Agreement. The Comp any based its termination on its belief that ESI had failed to fulfill certain covenants contained in the ESI License Agreement related to efforts and resources required to maximize the distribution and sales of HSS products in its product categories. Under the terms of the ESI License Agreement, the termination was effective immediately, but ESI had sixty days to cure conditions giving rise to termination and reinstate the agreement. ESI did not tender a cure within such sixty day period.

The three cases were consolidated upon motion by the defendants and order of the court. The defendants filed a cross-action in the consolidated action alleging fraud, breach of contract in connection with the ESI License Agreement and the options, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, intentional interference with contract, negligent interference with contract, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, negligent interference with prospective economic advantage, defamation, and violation of California Business and Professions Code §17200.  The Company filed its answer to the second amended cross-complaint in August 2004.  Discovery is ongoing.  Trial has been set for May 2005.

The Company intends to vigorously pursue its complaint against the defendants in this case and to vigorously challenge the defendant’s cross complaint.

Related to the Company’s April 2000 purchase of the NeoPlanar speaker technology, the Company was in dispute with a predecessor owner of the technology regarding a minimum film royalty. In March 2004 the Company settled this matter for a payment of $25,000 and the issuance of 50,000 shares of common stock, which included a buyout of all future royalties.

In February 2004, the Company gave notice of termination of two licensing and sales agreements with General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc. (GD-ATP), originally entered into in February 2003. GD-ATP was the original licensee under one agreement, and took assignment of the rights of Bath Iron Works Corporation, another subsidiary of General Dynamics Corporation, under the other agreement. The agreements gave GD-ATP the right to purchase, market and resell NeoPlanar and HIDA (High Intensity Directional Acoustics) products and components with exclusive rights for specified applications to certain government customers, including the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and certain Federal, State and local agencies. GD-ATP disputed the Company’s right to terminate the agreements and demand ed arbitration. In April 2004 the Company announced that it and GD-ATP had mutually agreed to resolve their disputes in an amicable manner, and to dismiss the arbitration proceedings. GD-ATP and the Company agreed that neither was liable to the other and that no party engaged in any wrongdoing. The resolution resulted in the termination of the two agreements, and in the Company assuming GD-ATP’s role in servicing certain LRAD customers previously serviced by GD-ATP.

     
  F-26  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements




In August 2003 the Company reached an agreement and in September 2003 the Company settled litigation related to the termination of an outside contract manufacturer, Horizon Sports Technologies, Inc. d/b/a HST. As part of the settlement the Company aquired raw materials and equipment for production valued at approximately $145,000. The Company paid settlement costs of $313,000 and recorded additional settlement costs for the $585,000 value assigned to 100,000 shares of common stock issued to HST. As part of the settlement, HST also entered into a nonexclusive royalty-bearing license to manufacture and sell speakers based on the Company’s Stratified Field technology and PureBass subwoofer technology and the Company transferred to HST tooling valued at approximately $43,000.

The Company may at times be involved in litigation in the ordinary course of business. The Company will also, from time to time, when appropriate in management’s estimation, record adequate reserves in the Company’s financial statements for pending litigation. Except as set forth above, there are no pending material legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or to which any of its property is subject.

Royalties
The Company is obligated to pay a $2.50 per unit royalty to an officer/director on one electronic component for its HSS product. The Company is also obligated to pay an officer/director a 2% royalty on net sales from certain of its technologies, of which only HSS is a current offering of the Company. The royalty obligation continues until at least March 1, 2007, and for any longer period during which the Company sells products or licenses technologies subject to any patent assigned to it by the officer/director. No royalties were paid under this agreement in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2004, 2003 or 2002, as such royalties were waived by the officer and director. The Company may owe royalties in future periods based on actual sales or technology revenues.

8. WARRANTY RESERVE

Details of the estimated warranty liability are as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fiscal Year Ending September 30:
   
2004
   
2003
 
Beginning balance
 
$
319,500
 
$
6,313
 
Warranty provision
   
101,671
   
313,187
 
Warranty deductions
   
(89,254
)
 
-
 
Ending balance
 
$
331,917
 
$
319,500
 
 
   
   
 

9. EQUIPMENT UNDER CAPITAL LEASE

On October 1, 2001, the Company entered into a capital lease obligation for the purchase of a phone system. The lease expires September 11, 2006 and bears interest at 10.1%, with monthly principal and interest payments of $1,067. Future minimum lease payments and the present value of the minimum lease payments under the noncancelable lease obligation as of September 30, 2004 are as follows:

     
  F-27  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements




Year ending September 30:
 
 
 
2005
 
$
12,806
 
2006
   
12,806
 
Total:
 
$
25,612
 
 
   
 
Total future minimum lease payments
 
$
25,612
 
Less amounts representing interest
   
(2,514
)
Present value of minimum lease payments
   
23,098
 
Less current maturities
   
(10,967
)
Total long-term obligations
 
$
12,131
 
 
   
 
 
At September 30, 2004, there was property and equipment under capital lease obligations with a total cost of $50,041 and accumulated amortization of $36,697.

10. MAJOR CUSTOMERS

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004, revenues from two customers, both of which are in the Government Group, accounted for 47% and 11% of revenues with no other single customer accounting for more than 10% of revenues. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, revenues from one individual customer in the Government Group accounted for 24% of total revenue. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002, revenues from a customer in the Government Group accounted for 19% of total revenue, and two customers in the Business Group accounted for 12% and 11% of total revenue.
 
At September 30, 2004, accounts receivable from three individual customers accounted for 52%, 19% and 13% of total accounts receivable with no other single customer accounting for more than 10% of the accounts receivable balance. At September 30, 2003, accounts receivable from three individual customers accounted for 53%, 18% and 12% of the accounts receivable balance.

11. SUPPLIER AGREEMENTS

The Company is reliant on one contract manufacturer for production of HSS and LRAD products on a turnkey basis. The Company is currently in the process of negotiating a formal agreement with this contract manufacturer. This manufacturing relationship has no specified term and the Company could be materially impacted if it ceased doing business with this contract manufacturer and was unable to establish other production in a timely manner. At September 30, 2004 the Company had $530,970 of accounts payable to this contract manufacturer.

During fiscal 2004 the Company shipped materials to this contract manufacturer, booked an amount due from contract manufacturer and relieved inventory of $523,080. The Company did not recognize any revenue on these transactions. At September 30, 2004 the remaining balance due from contract manufacturer, for shipments made to them, was $393,636. The contract manufacturer used these materials to build products for the Company.


12. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

On April 19, 2002, the Company offered to stockholders and employees the opportunity to purchase limited edition NeoPlanar Speaker Systems with Purebass Subwoofers. During fiscal 2002 a total of 45 systems were sold for cash receipts of $44,077.

     
  F-28  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements


 

13. BUSINESS SEGMENT DATA

The Company is engaged in design, development and commercialization of sound, acoustic and other technologies. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003 the Company organized operations into two segments by the end-user markets they serve. The Company’s reportable segments are strategic business units that sell the Company’s products to distinct distribution channels. The Business Products and Licensing Group (Business Group) licenses and markets HSS and NeoPlanar sound products to companies that employ audio in consumer, commercial and professional applications. The Government and Force Protection Systems Group (Government Group) markets LRAD, NeoPlanar, Sound Cluster and HSS sound products to government and military customers and to the expanding force protection and commercial security markets. The segments are ma naged separately because each segment requires different selling and marketing strategies as the class of customers within each segment is different.

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. The Company does not allocate operating expenses or assets between its two reportable segments. Accordingly the measure of profit for each reportable segment is based on gross profit. Although the segments became separately managed only in the last quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company has segmented historical operations for comparable customers for comparison.

Years Ended September 30,
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Revenues:
             
Business Group
 
$
933,373
 
$
861,091
 
$
922,542
 
Government Group
   
4,819,176
   
454,335
   
88,210
 
   
$
5,752,549
 
$
1,315,426
 
$
1,010,752
 
Gross Profit (Loss):
                   
Business Group
 
$
(534,174
)
$
(501,748
)
$
256,779
 
Government Group
   
2,816,902
   
273,097
   
70,129
 
   
$
2,282,728
 
$
(228,651
)
$
326,908
 

The following table summarizes revenues by geographic region. Revenues are attributed to countries based on location of customer. There were no material foreign sales in fiscal 2002.

Year Ended September 30,
 
2004
 
2003
 
Revenues:
             
United States
 
$
5,675,088
 
$
1,167,120
 
Other
   
77,461
   
148,306
 
   
$
5,752,549
 
$
1,315,426
 
 

14. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On December 13, 2004, the Company received a firm order from ADS, Inc. for $4.5 million in LRAD products for use by the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.  The order also includes $0.4 million in ancillary products which the Company is providing on a value-added reseller basis along with the LRAD units.  The order calls for deliveries in December 2004 and January 2005 and customary payment terms.

 


     
  F-29  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements



In December 2004, the Company entered into a Committed Equity Financing Facility (CEFF) with Kingsbridge Capital Ltd., pursuant to which Kingsbridge committed to purchase, subject to certain significant limiting conditions, up to $25 million of the Company’s common stock to support future growth. As part of the arrangement, the Company issued a warrant to Kingsbridge to purchase 275,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $8.60 per share. The warrant is exercisable beginning six months after the date of grant and for a period of five years thereafter. Subject to certain conditions and limitations, from time to time under the CEFF, the Company may require Kingsbridge to purchase newly-issued shares of its common stock at a price that is between 88% and 92% of the volume weighted average price during a 15 day purchase period, and thereby raise capital as required, at the time, price and in the amounts deemed suitable to the Company. The CEFF requires the Company to have a resale registration statement filed within 45 days of entering the CEFF, and to have such registration statement declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) within 45 days or 120 days of filing, depending on whether the SEC elects to review the registration statement. No draws can be made by the company until the registration statement is effective.  As of December 14, 2004 the Company had not filed the required resale registration statement. Based on such factors as market conditions, financing needs and the time required for the SEC to declare the resale registration statement effective, the Company currently expects that it may begin to utilize the CEFF during fiscal 2005 in order to fund working capital requirements. However, the timing and extent of the Company's ability to use the CEFF is uncertain.

The Company is obligated to use 40% of the proceeds it may receive from the CEFF to prepay any outstanding interest and principal on the notes sold in December 2004 and discussed below.

Under the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, the maximum number of shares the Company may sell to Kingsbridge without approval of the Company's stockholders is 3,684,728 (exclusive of the warrant), which may further limit the amount of proceeds the Company is able to obtain from the CEFF.

The Company agreed to pay to a consultant a finder fee equal to 4% of the first $5 million raised under the CEFF, 3% for the second $5 million raised under the CEFF, 2% for the third $5 million raised under the CEFF, and 1.5% for any additional amounts raised.

In December 2004, the Company sold for cash in a private offering an aggregate of $2,000,000 of unsecured subordinated promissory notes due December 31, 2006.  Interest on these notes accrues at the rate of 8% per year and is due and payable quarterly in arrears.  The Company is required to use 40% of the net proceeds of any future equity financing to prepay these notes, including any amounts the Company raises pursuant to the CEFF described above.  The Company may also prepay these notes in its discretion at any time without penalty after June 30, 2005.

In connection with the issuance of these notes, each purchaser was granted a warrant to purchase 7,500 shares of the Company's common stock until December 31, 2009 for each $100,000 of notes purchased (prorated for amounts less than $100,000) such that the Company issued in the aggregate warrants exercisable for an aggregate of 150,000 shares of its common stock.  The exercise price of the warrants was $9.28 per share for purchasers who were directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company, or affiliates of such persons, and $8.60 per share for other purchasers.  Warrants exercisable for 75,000 shares were issued at each such exercise price.  The holders of these warrants are entitled to be included on any registration statement the Company files after the registration statement for the CEFF described above, subject to customary exceptions and cut-back rights.

A trust affiliated with an officer, director and significant stockholder of the Company purchased a note in the principal amount of $500,000 and received a warrant exercisable for 37,500 shares with an exercise price of $9.28 per share.

In October 2004, the Company granted an extension of time to exercise options to purchase 75,550 shares of common stock held by certain terminated employees. As a result, the Company will recognize an expense of $215,300 in the first quarter of fiscal 2005 for these options.

On December 22, 2004, the Company granted inducement stock options to certain of our new employees.  These options were granted without stockholder approval to 6 new non-executive employees as an inducement material to the individuals' entering into employment with our company, and the issuances were approved by our Compensation Committee pursuant to NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 4350(i)(1)(A)(iv).  The options are exercisable for an aggregate of 76,500 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $10.06 per share.  Each option has a five year term and vests 25% on the first anniversary of the grant date and then quarterly thereafter for the next 12 quarters, subject to continued employment and other conditions. 

On November 16, 2004, the Company granted to Carl Gruenler, the Vice President of Government and Force Protection Systems Group, a five-year stock option under the 2002 Stock Option Plan, to purchase 75,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $6.70 per share.  The option vests over four years, with 25% of the shares vesting on the first anniversary of the date of grant, and the balance vesting in equal quarterly installments thereafter. 

 
   
  F-30  

American Technology Corporation
Notes to the Financial Statements


15. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
         
               
Years Ended September 30,
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Supplemental Information:
             
Cash paid for interest
 
$
2,889
 
$
111,886
 
$
12,265
 
Cash paid for taxes
 
$
14,537
 
$
2,467
 
$
800
 
                     
Non-cash financing activities:
                   
Senior notes applied to warrant exercise
   
-
 
$
681,845
    -  
Senior notes applied to purchase of Series E stock
   
-
 
$
1,000,000
    -  
Issuance of stock warrants in connection with convertible debt
   
-
   
-
 
$
624,750
 
Purchase of computer equipment with capital lease
   
-
   
-
 
$
50,041
 
12% subordinated notes and interest
                   
converted to common stock
   
-
 
$
2,435,032
   
-
 
Sale of equipment for accounts payable
   
-
 
$
117,000
   
-
 
Common stock issued on conversion of Series B stock
   
-
   
-
 
$
2,101,413
 
Common stock issued on conversion of Series C stock
   
-
 
$
236,498
   
-
 
Common stock issued on conversion of Series D stock
   
-
 
$
1,935,559
   
-
 
Common stock issued on conversion of Series E stock
 
$
320,414
 
$
823,208
   
-
 
Common stock issued for settlement of legal accrual
 
$
248,000
   
-
   
-
 
                     

16. SUMMARIZED QUARTERLY RESULTS (unaudited)

The following table presents unaudited operating results for each quarter within the two most recent years. The Company believes that all necessary adjustments consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, have been included in the amounts stated below to present fairly the following quarterly results when read in conjunction with the financial statements included elsewhere in this report. Results of operations for any particular quarter are not necessarily indicative of results of operations for a full fiscal year.

   
First
 
Second
 
Third
 
Fourth
 
   
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Fiscal 2004
                         
Revenues
 
$
774,778
 
$
1,493,250
 
$
2,107,281
 
$
1,377,240
 
Gross profit (loss) (1)
   
366,300
   
548,026
   
1,100,962
   
267,440
 
Net loss
 
$
(1,136,427
)
$
(1,165,196
)
$
(1,390,411
)
$
(2,268,402
)
Loss per Share (2)
 
$
(0.07
)
$
(0.08
)
$
(0.09
)
$
(0.11
)
                   
   
First
 
Second
 
Third
 
Fourth
 
   
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
                   
Fiscal 2003
                         
Revenues
 
$
423,299
 
$
237,942
 
$
313,612
 
$
340,573
 
Gross profit (loss) (1)
   
101,664
   
(112,842
)
 
127,511
   
(344,984
)
Net loss
 
$
(1,731,645
)
$
(1,854,306
)
$
(2,382,652
)
$
(2,258,410
)
Loss per Share (2)
 
$
(0.13
)
$
(0.18
)
$
(0.19
)
$
(0.12
)
                           

(1)   Gross profit is calculated by subtracting cost of revenues from total revenues.
(2)   Loss per share is computed independently for each quarter and the full year based upon respective average shares outstanding. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly net loss per share amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported.

    
  F-31  

American Technology Corporation
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts




ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Balance at

 

Charged to

 
 
 

Balance

 
 
 

Beginning

 

Cost and

 
 
 

At end of

 
Description
 

Of period

 

Expenses

 

Deductions

 

Period

 
Year ended September 30, 2004
 
$
25,000
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
25,000
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
Year ended September 30, 2003
 
$
20,191
 
$
4,809
 
$
-
 
$
25,000
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
Year ended September 30, 2002
 
$
20,191
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
20,191
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
RESERVE FOR OBSOLESCENCE
   
   
   
   
 
 
 

Balance at

 

Charged to

 
 
 

Balance

 
 
 

Beginning

 

Cost and

 
 
 

At end of

 
Description
 

Of period

 

Expenses

 

Deductions

 

Period

 
                           
Year ended September 30, 2004
 
$
20,000
 
$
90,000
 
$
-
 
$
110,000
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
Year ended September 30, 2003
 
$
20,000
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
20,000
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
Year ended September 30, 2002
 
$
20,000
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
20,000
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
WARRANTY RESERVE
   
   
   
   
 
 
 

Balance at

 

Charged to

 
 
 

Balance

 
 
 

Beginning

 

Cost and

 
 
 

At end of

 
Description
 

Of period

 

Expenses

 

Deductions

 

Period

 
                           
Year ended September 30, 2004
 
$
319,500
 
$
101,671
 
$
89,254
 
$
331,917
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
Year ended September 30, 2003
 
$
6,313
 
$
313,187
 
$
-
 
$
319,500
 
 
   
   
   
   
 
Year ended September 30, 2002
 
$
6,313
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
$
6,313
 






    
  F-32  

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

                                                                                AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                                                                                March 17, 2005

 

                                                                                By: /s/ ELWOOD G. NORRIS 

                                                                                                Elwood G. Norris

                                                                                                Chairman of the Board

                                                                                           

  

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Date:  March 17, 2005                                                        By /s/ ELWOOD G. NORRIS         

                                                                                                Elwood G. Norris

                                                                                                Chairman of the Board and Director

                                                                                                (Co-Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date:  March 17, 2005                                                        By /s/ KALANI JONES       

                                                                                                Kalani Jones

                                                                                                President, Chief Operating Officer and Director

                                                                                                (Co-Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date:  March 17, 2005                                                        By /s/ MICHAEL A. RUSSELL       

                                                                                                Michael A. Russell, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

                                                                                                (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

Date:  March 17, 2005                                                        By /s/      *                                           

                                                                                                Richard M. Wagner

                                                                                                Director

 

Date:  March 17, 2005                                                        By /s/     *                                          

                                                                                                David J. Carter

                                                                                                Director

 

Date:  March 17, 2005                                                        By /s/      *                                        

                                                                                                Daniel Hunter

                                                                                                Director

 

* By: /s/ Elwood G. Norris                 

        Elwood G. Norris
        Attorney-In-Fact

- 54 -


 

 

Exhibit Index

 

3. Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

3.1   Certificate of Incorporation of American Technology Corporation (Delaware) dated March 1, 1992. Filed as Exhibit 2.1 on Form 10-SB effective August 1, 1994.

3.1.1   Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of American Technology Corporation dated March 24, 1997 and filed with Delaware on April 22, 1997. Filed as Exhibit 3.1.1 on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 1997, dated May 13, 1997.

3.1.2   Corrected Certificate of Designations of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock dated and filed with Delaware on August 25, 1997. Filed as Exhibit 3.1.3 on Form 8-K dated August 29, 1997.

3.1.3   Corrected Certificate of Designations of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock filed with Delaware on December 23, 1998. Filed as Exhibit 3.1.4 on Form 10-KSB for the year ended September 30, 1998, dated December 29, 1998.

3.1.4   Corrected Certificate of Designation of Series C Preferred Stock filed with Delaware on April 19, 2000. Filed as Exhibit 3.1.5 on Form 8-K dated April 19, 2000.

3.1.5   Certificate of Designation of Series D Preferred Stock filed with Delaware on May 3, 2002. Filed as Exhibit 3.1 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, dated May 15, 2002.

3.1.6   Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation filed with Delaware on September 26, 2002. Filed as Exhibit 3.1.6 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2002, dated December 23, 2002.

3.1.7   Certificate of Designation of Series E Preferred Stock filed with Delaware on February 28, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 4.2 on Form 8-K dated March 6, 2003.

3.2   Restated Bylaws of American Technology Corporation. Filed as Exhibit 4.9 on Form S-3 filed on January 24, 2005.

4. Instruments Defining the Rights of SecurityHolders

4.1   Specimen Common Stock Certificate. Filed as Exhibit 4.10 on Form S-3 filed on January 24, 2005.



10. Material Contracts

10.1   Royalty Agreement between ATC and Elwood G. Norris dated September 3, 1985.  Filed as Exhibit 6.2 on Form 10-SB effective August 1, 1994.+

10.2   Assignment of Technology Agreement between ATC and Elwood G. Norris dated March 2, 1992. Filed as Exhibit 6.3 on Form 10-SB effective August 1, 1994.+

-55-


 

 

10.2.1   Addendum Agreement to Assignment of Technology Agreement between ATC and Elwood G. Norris dated December 2, 1996. Filed as Exhibit 10.3.1 on Form 10-KSB for year ended September 30, 1996, dated December 13, 1996.+

10.3   Amended and Restated Sublease Agreement between ATC and Smiths Industries Aerospace & Defense Systems, Inc. as amended, dated September 1, 2000.  Filed as Exhibit 10.6.1 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2000, dated October 29, 2000.

10.3.1   First Amendment to Amended and Restated Sublease Agreement, dated January 1, 2004.  Filed as Exhibit 10.1 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, dated May 5, 2004.

10.4   Employment Agreement dated as of September 1, 1997 between ATC and Elwood G. Norris. Filed as Exhibit 10.16 on Form 10-KSB for year ended September 30, 1997, dated December 1, 1997.+

10.5   1997 Stock Option Plan as adopted on January 23, 1998. Filed as Exhibit 10.1 on Form S-8 dated July 27, 1998.+

10.5.1   Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under 1997 Stock Option Plan.*+

10.5.2   Form of Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement under 1997 Stock Option Plan.*+

10.6   2002 Stock Option Plan.  Filed as Exhibit 99.1 on Form S-8 dated November 18, 2002.+

10.6.1   Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under 2002 Stock Option Plan.*+

10.7   Form of Stock Purchase Warrant exercisable until September 30, 2006 granted to accredited investors for an aggregate of 1,012,500 common shares (individual warrants differ as to holder, number of shares and issuance date).  Filed as Exhibit 4.12 on Form 8-K dated October 12, 2001.

10.8   Series D Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated May 3, 2002.  Filed as Exhibit 10.1 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, dated May 15, 2002.

10.8.1   Amendment No. 1 to Series D Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated July 3, 2002.  Filed as Exhibit 10.3 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, dated August 14, 2002.

10.9   Form of Stock Purchase Warrant exercisable until March 31, 2007 granted to investors for an aggregate of 517,880 common shares (individual warrants differ as to holder, number of shares and issuance date). Filed as Exhibit 10.2 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002, dated May 15, 2002.

10.10   Form of 8% Senior Secured Promissory Note due December 31, 2003 aggregating $1,500,000 granted to accredited investors (individual notes differed as to holder and amount). Filed as Exhibit 4.1 on Form 8-K dated October 7, 2002.

10.10.1   Form of Amendment to 8% Senior Secured Promissory Note. Filed as Exhibit 4.6 on Form 8-K dated March 6, 2003.

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10.11   Form of Security Agreement. Filed as Exhibit 4.2 on Form 8-K dated October 7, 2002.

10.12   License Agreement between ATC and Harman International Industries, Inc. dated August 24, 2001. Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Filed as Exhibit 10.19 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2002, dated December 23, 2002.

10.13   Series E Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated February 28, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 4.1 on Form 8-K filed on March 6, 2003.

10.14   Form of Stock Purchase Warrant exercisable until December 31, 2007 granted to accredited investors for an aggregate of 514,875 common shares (individual warrants differ as to holder, number of shares and issuance date).  Filed as Exhibit 4.3 on Form 8-K dated March 6, 2003.

10.15   Employment letter of James M. Irish dated January 27, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 10.5 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, dated May 15, 2003.+

10.16   Securities Purchase Agreement dated July 11, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 4.1 on Form 8-K dated July 17, 2003.

10.17   Registration Rights Agreement dated July 11, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 4.2 on Form 8-K dated July 17, 2003.

10.18   Form of Common Stock Warrant exercisable until July 10, 2007 granted to accredited investors for an aggregate of 454,547 common shares (individual warrants differ as to holder, number of shares and issuance date). Filed as Exhibit 4.3 on Form 8-K dated July 17, 2003.

10.19   License and Remarketer Agreement between ATC and General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc. dated February 14, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 10.27 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003, dated December 29, 2003. Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

10.20   License and Remarketer Agreement between ATC and Bath Iron Works Corporation dated February 13, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 10.28.1 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003, dated December 29, 2003. Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

10.21   Assignment of License and Remarketer Agreement from Bath Iron Works Corporation to General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc., dated September 23, 2003. Filed as Exhibit 10.28.2 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003, dated December 29, 2003.

10.22   Employment Agreement of Kalani Jones dated August 28, 2003, as amended. Filed as Exhibit 10.29 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003, dated December 29, 2003.+

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10.23   Employment Agreement of Carl Gruenler, as amended. Filed as Exhibit 10.30 on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003, dated December 29, 2003.+

10.24   Form of Inducement Grant Notice and Inducement Stock Option Agreement. Filed as Exhibit 4.1 on Form 8-K dated September 28, 2004.+

10.25   Table of Inducement Grants.*+

10.26   Form of Special Stock Option.  Filed as Exhibit 99.2 on Form S-8 dated November 18, 2002.+

10.27   Employment Agreement of Michael Russell. Filed as Exhibit 10.1 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, dated August 4, 2004.+

10.28   Inducement Grant Notice and Inducement Stock Option Agreement of Michael Russell.*+

10.29   Employment Agreement of Joseph A. Zerucha.  Filed as Exhibit 10.2 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2003, dated February 12, 2004.+ 

 
10.30   Separation Agreement of Joseph A. Zerucha.  Filed as Exhibit 10.2 on Form 10-Q for the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, dated August 4, 2004.+

10.31   Employment Agreement of Bruce Ehlers.  Filed as Exhibit 10.1 on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2003, dated February 12, 2004.+

10.32   Release Agreement of Bruce Ehlers.*+

10.33   Special Stock Option with Elwood Norris dated November 13, 2000.*+

10.34   Special Stock Option with David Carter dated November 13, 2000.*+

10.35   Special Stock Option with Richard Wagner dated November 13, 2000.*+

10.36   Common Stock Purchase Agreement dated December 14, 2004 with Kingsbridge Capital Limited. Filed as Exhibit 10.1 on Form 8-K filed December 17, 2004.

10.37   Registration Rights Agreement dated December 14, 2004 with Kingsbridge Capital Limited. Filed as Exhibit 10.2 on Form 8-K filed December 17, 2004.

10.38   Warrant dated December 14, 2004 in favor of Kingsbridge Capital Limited. Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed December 17, 2004.

10.39   Promissory Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated December 23, 2004 with the purchasers described therein. *

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10.40   Form of Unsecured Subordinated Promissory Note. *

10.41   Form of Warrant. *

23 Consents of Experts and Council

23.1   Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP.

24 Power of Attorney

24.1   Power of Attorney. Reference is made to the signature page of Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004.

Certifications

31.1   Certification of Elwood G. Norris, Co-Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2   Certification of Kalani Jones, Co-Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.3   Certification of Michael A. Russell, Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, executed by Elwood G. Norris and Kalani Jones, Co-Principal Executive Officers, and Michael A. Russell, Principal Financial Officer.

* Previously filed with Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004.

+  Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.  


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