Clearday, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2008 September (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)


þ		QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 27, 2008


o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number 0-21074

SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware		77-0158076
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

460 Ward Drive,
Santa Barbara, California 93111-2356
(Address of principal executive offices & zip code)

(805) 690-4500
(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

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 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 þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):


Large accelerated filer o	Accelerated filer o	Non-accelerated filer o	Smaller reporting company þ
		(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o or No þ

The registrant had 17,869,030 shares of the common stock outstanding as of the close of business on October 31, 2008.

SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

Three Months Ended September 27, 2008


SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS			1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			1

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Financial Statements
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations			2
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets			3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows			4
Notes to Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.			5
ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			16
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			21
ITEM 4. Disclosure Controls and Procedures			21

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings			22
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors			22
ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities			22
ITEM 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders			22
ITEM 5. Other Information			22
ITEM 6. Exhibits			22

SIGNATURE			23
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-32.1
EX-32.2

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We claim the protection of the safe harbor contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for these forward looking statements. Our forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance and include, but are not limited to, statements concerning our business strategy, future commercial revenues, market growth, capital requirements, new product introductions, expansion plans and the adequacy of our funding. Other statements contained in this Report that are not historical facts are also forward-looking statements. . We have tried, wherever possible, to identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” and other comparable terminology.

We caution investors that any forward-looking statements presented in this Report, or which we may make orally or in writing from time to time, are based on the beliefs of, assumptions made by, and information currently available to, us. Such statements are based on assumptions and the actual outcome will be affected by known and unknown risks, trends, uncertainties and factors that are beyond our control or ability to predict. Although we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, they are not guarantees of future performance and some will inevitably prove to be incorrect. As a result, our actual future results can be expected to differ from our expectations, and those differences may be material. Accordingly, investors should use caution in relying on past forward-looking statements, which are based on known results and trends at the time they are made, to anticipate future results or trends.

Some of the risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include the following:

	•		limited assets and a history of losses;

	•		limited number of potential customers;

	•		limited number of suppliers for some of our components;

	•		no significant backlog from quarter to quarter;

	•		our market is characterized by rapidly advancing technology;

	•		fluctuations in product demand from quarter to quarter can be significant;

	•		the impact of competitive filter products, technologies and pricing;

	•		manufacturing capacity constraints and difficulties;

	•		market acceptance risks; and

	•		general economic conditions.

For further discussion of these and other factors see, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” in this Report and in our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

This Report and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Report.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

As a public company, we are required to file annually, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any of our materials on file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, DC 20549, as well as at the SEC’s regional office at 5757 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500, Los Angeles, California 90036. Our filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. We also provide copies of our Forms 8-K, 10-K, 10-Q, Proxy and Annual Report at no charge to investors upon request and make electronic copies of our most recently filed reports available through our website at www.suptech.com as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such material with the SEC.

PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 29,			September 27,			September 29,			September 27,
	2007			2008			2007			2008
Net revenues:
Net commercial product revenues	$	2,277,000		$	2,741,000		$	9,463,000		$	6,082,000
Government and other contract revenues		1,844,000			854,000			3,525,000			3,933,000


Total net revenues		4,121,000			3,595,000			12,988,000			10,015,000

Costs and expenses:
Cost of commercial product revenues		2,697,000			3,078,000			9,827,000			7,252,000
Contract research and development		963,000			709,000			2,019,000			3,198,000
Other research and development		528,000			1,006,000			2,251,000			2,156,000
Selling, general and administrative		1,973,000			2,096,000			5,916,000			6,513,000


Total costs and expenses		6,161,000			6,889,000			20,013,000			19,119,000


Loss from operations		(2,040,000	)		(3,294,000	)		(7,025,000	)		(9,104,000	)

Interest income		28,000			66,000			115,000			235,000
Interest expense		(9,000	)		(7,000	)		(30,000	)		(23,000	)


Net loss	$	(2,021,000	)	$	(3,235,000	)	$	(6,940,000	)	$	(8,892,000	)


Basic and diluted loss per common share	$	(0.16	)	$	(0.18	)	$	(0.56	)	$	(0.56	)


Weighted average number of common shares outstanding		12,483,367			17,750,761			12,483,367			15,908,298

See accompanying notes to the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements

SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


	December 31,			September 27,
	2007			2008
	(See Note)			(Unaudited)
ASSETS

Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,939,000		$	10,711,000
Accounts receivable, net		2,413,000			1,409,000
Inventory, net		3,415,000			5,114,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		442,000			367,000

Total Current Assets		10,209,000			17,601,000

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $19,129,000 and $19,604,000, respectively		3,961,000			3,025,000
Patents, licenses and purchased technology, net of accumulated amortization of $1,722,000 and $1,971,000, respectively		2,236,000			2,238,000
Investment in joint venture		—			521,000
Other assets		219,000			244,000

Total Assets	$	16,625,000		$	23,629,000


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	1,467,000		$	806,000
Accrued expenses		1,405,000			1,026,000
Proceeds for shares to be issued		4,000,000			—
Current portion of capitalized lease obligations and long term debt		45,000			72,000

Total Current Liabilities		6,917,000			1,904,000

Other long term liabilities		518,000			499,000

Total Liabilities		7,435,000			2,403,000

Commitments and contingencies-Notes 6 and 7

Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized, 611,523 issued and outstanding		—			1,000
Common stock, $.001 par value, 250,000,000 shares authorized, 12,511,414 and 17,869,030 shares issued and outstanding, respectively		12,000			18,000
Capital in excess of par value		209,163,000			230,084,000
Accumulated deficit		(199,985,000	)		(208,877,000	)

Total Stockholders’ Equity		9,190,000			21,226,000


Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	16,625,000		$	23,629,000

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements
Note-December 31, 2007 balances were derived from audited financial statements

SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)


	Nine Months Ended
	September 29,			September 27,
	2007			2008
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$	(6,940,000	)	$	(8,892,000	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		1,748,000			1,313,000
Share-based compensation		258,000			452,000
Provision for excess and obsolete inventories		160,000			—
Reserve for impairment of note and interest receivable from Stockholder		(583,000	)		—
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(383,000	)		1,003,000
Inventory		1,955,000			(1,699,000	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		597,000			75,000
Patents, licenses and purchased technology		(148,000	)		(252,000	)
Other assets		12,000			(24,000	)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other long- term liabilities		(622,000	)		(1,006,000	)

Net cash used in operating activities		(3,946,000	)		(9,030,000	)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment		26,000			—
Investment in joint venture		—			(521,000	)
Purchases of property and equipment		(91,000	)		(126,000	)

Net cash used in investing activities		(65,000	)		(647,000	)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from shares issued		1,000,000			(4,000,000	)
Payments on long-term obligations		(14,000	)		—
Proceeds from the sale of common stock		—			20,449,000

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		986,000			16,449,000


Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(3,025,000	)		6,772,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		5,487,000			3,939,000

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	2,462,000		$	10,711,000

See accompanying notes to the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. General

Superconductor Technologies Inc. (together with our subsidiaries, “we” or “us”) was incorporated in Delaware on May 11, 1987 and we maintain our headquarters in Santa Barbara, California. We are a leading company in high temperature superconductor (HTS) and related technologies. We operate in a single industry segment, the research, development, manufacture and marketing of products utilizing our HTS materials science and manufacturing expertise. To be successful, we must use our expertise and our technology to generate revenues in various ways, including government contracts, commercial operations, joint ventures and licenses. We are currently focusing our efforts on applications in areas such as government products, wireless networks, reconfigurable handset filters and superconducting power transmission lines.

Our commercial efforts have been focused on the design, manufacture, and sale of high performance infrastructure products for wireless voice and data applications, including our SuperLink, AmpLink, and SuperPlex products. For the nine months ended September 27, 2008 and September 29, 2007, commercial revenues accounted for 61% and 73%, respectively, of our net revenues.

We also generate significant revenues from government contracts. We typically own the intellectual property developed under these contracts, and grant the Federal government a royalty-free, non-exclusive and nontransferable license to use it. For the nine months ended September 27, 2008 and September 29, 2007, government related contracts accounted for 39% and 27%, respectively, of our net revenues.

The unaudited consolidated financial information furnished herein has been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and reflects all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations for the periods presented.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences may be material to the financial statements. This quarterly report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 27, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results for all of 2008.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

At September 27, 2008, we had cash and cash equivalents of $10.7 million and working capital of $15.7 million. We believe that existing funds are sufficient to fund our operations for the next twelve months. We believe additional key factors to our liquidity will be our ability to successfully execute our plans to increase sales levels as well as numerous other variable factors, including the rate of growth of sales, the timing and levels of products purchased, payment terms and credit limits from manufacturers, the timing and level of accounts receivable collections and the timing and levels of new product development.

We cannot assure you that if we need additional financing (public or private) that it will be available on acceptable terms or at all. If we issue additional equity securities to raise funds, the ownership percentage of our existing stockholders would be reduced. New investors may demand rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of existing holders of common stock. If we cannot raise any needed funds, we might be forced to make further substantial reductions in our operating expenses, which could adversely affect our ability to implement our current business plan and our viability as a company.

Principles of Consolidation

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Superconductor Technologies Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Cash and cash equivalents are maintained with quality financial institutions and from time to time exceed FDIC limits.

Accounts Receivable

We sell predominantly to entities in the wireless communications industry and to entities of the United States government. We grant uncollateralized credit to our customers. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers before granting credit. Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is our best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in our existing accounts receivable. We determine the allowance based on historical write-off experience. Past due balances are reviewed for collectibility. Accounts balances are charged off against the allowance when we deem it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. We do not have any off balance sheet credit exposure related to our customers.

Revenue Recognition

Commercial revenues are principally derived from the sale of our SuperLink, AmpLink, and SuperPlex products and are recognized once all of the following conditions have been met: a) an authorized purchase order has been received in writing, b) customer’s credit worthiness has been established, c) shipment of the product has occurred, d) title has transferred, and e) if stipulated by the contract, customer acceptance has occurred and all significant vendor obligations, if any, have been satisfied.

Revenue Recognition/Contract Accounting

Contract revenues are principally generated under research and development contracts. Contract revenues are recognized utilizing the percentage-of-completion method measured by the relationship of costs incurred to total estimated contract costs. If the current contract estimate were to indicate a loss, utilizing the funded amount of the contract, a provision would be made for the total anticipated loss. Revenues from research related activities are derived primarily from contracts with agencies of the United States government. Credit risk related to accounts receivable arising from such contracts is considered minimal. These contracts include cost-plus, fixed price and cost sharing arrangements and are generally short-term in nature.

We generate almost all of our contract revenue from two different types of contractual arrangements: cost-plus-fee contracts, and fixed-price contracts. Revenue on cost-plus-fee contracts is recognized to the extent of allowable costs incurred plus an estimate of the applicable fees earned. We consider fees under cost-plus-fee contracts to be earned in proportion to the allowable costs incurred in performance of the contract.

Our fixed price contracts have historically been fixed unit price type contracts. Revenue on fixed unit price contracts, where specified units of output under service arrangements are delivered, is recognized as units and are delivered based on the specified price per unit.

All payments to us for work performed on contracts with agencies of the United States government are subject to adjustment upon audit by the Defense Contract Audit Agency. Based on historical experience and review of current projects in process, management believes that the audits will not have a significant effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Defense Contract Audit Agency audits of us are complete through 2003.

Warranties

We offer warranties generally ranging from one to five years on our commercial products, depending on the product and negotiated terms of purchase agreements with our customers. Such warranties may require us to repair or replace defective product returned to us during such warranty period at no cost to the customer. An estimate by us for warranty related costs is recorded by us at the time of sale based on our actual historical product return rates and expected repair costs. Such costs have been within our expectations.

Guarantees

In connection with the sales and manufacturing of our commercial products, we indemnify, without limit or term, our customers and contract manufacturers against all claims, suits, demands, damages, liabilities, expenses, judgments, settlements and penalties arising from actual or alleged infringement or misappropriation of any intellectual property relating to our products or other claims arising from our products. We cannot reasonably develop an estimate of the maximum

potential amount of payments that might be made under our guarantees because of the uncertainty as to whether a claim might arise and how much it might total. Historically, we have not incurred any expenses related to these guarantees.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and include salary, facility, depreciation and material expenses. Research and development costs incurred solely in connection with research and development contracts are charged to contract research and development expense. Other research and development costs are charged to other research and development expense.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with costs primarily determined using standard costs, which approximate actual costs utilizing the first-in, first-out method. We review inventory quantities on hand and on order and record, on a quarterly basis, a provision for excess and obsolete inventory and/or vendor cancellation charges related to purchase commitments. If the results of the review determine that a write-down is necessary, we recognize a loss in the period in which the loss is identified, whether or not the inventory is retained or disposed. Our inventory reserves establish a new cost basis for inventory and are not reversed until the related inventory is sold or otherwise disposed. Such provisions are established based on historical usage, adjusted for known changes in demands for such products, or the estimated forecast of product demand and production requirements. Costs associated with idle capacity are expensed immediately.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method over its estimated useful life ranging from three to five years. Leasehold improvements and assets financed under capital leases are amortized over the shorter of their useful lives or the lease term. Furniture and fixtures are depreciated over seven years. Expenditures for additions and major improvements are capitalized. Expenditures for minor tooling, repairs and maintenance and minor improvements are charged to expense as incurred. When property or equipment is retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts. Gains or losses from retirements and disposals are recorded in selling, general and administration expenses. During the three and nine months ended September 27, 2008, we disposed of $0 and $598,000 respectively, of older, fully depreciated equipment. There was no gain or loss on these dispositions.

Patents, Licenses and Purchased Technology

Patents and licenses are recorded at cost and are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or approximately seventeen years. Purchased technology acquired through the acquisition of Conductus, Inc. in 2002 was recorded at our estimated fair value and is amortized using the straight-line method over seven years.

Long-Lived Assets

The realizability of long-lived assets is evaluated periodically as events or circumstances indicate a possible inability to recover the carrying amount. Long-lived assets that will no longer be used in business are written off in the period identified since they will no longer generate any positive cash flows for us. Long-lived assets that will continue to be used by us are periodically evaluated for recoverability. Such evaluation is based on various analyses, including cash flow and profitability projections. The analyses necessarily involve significant management judgment. In the event the projected undiscounted cash flows are less than net book value of the assets, the carrying value of the assets is written down to its estimated fair value. We tested our long lived assets for recoverability during 2007 and did not believe that there was any impairment.

While we believe the expected cash flows from these long-lived assets, including intangible assets, exceed the carrying amounts, materially different assumptions regarding future performance and discount rates could result in future impairment losses. In particular, if we no longer believe we will achieve our long-term projected sales or operating expenses, we may conclude, in connection with any future impairment tests, that the estimated fair value of our long-lived assets, including intangible assets, is less than the book value and recognize an impairment charge. Any impairment charge would adversely affect our earnings.

Other Investments

We use the equity method of accounting for our joint venture with Hunchun BaoLi Communications (“BAOLI”) in China. We have agreed to license certain technology for our SuperLink^® interference elimination solution for the China market to this joint venture where we own 45 percent of the equity. In the first quarter of 2008, we received orders from the joint venture for our new TD-SCDMA solution to perform lab trial and field trial activities in China. The lab trial was successfully completed in the second quarter 2008. The current schedule is to complete the field trial during the fourth quarter of 2008. Even though we have applied the equity method of accounting, per APB 18, no equity income or loss of the joint venture has been presented in the accompanying statements of operations because the joint venture has not yet generated operating results. The commencement of manufacturing and the transfer of our processes to the joint venture will be driven by product demand from the China market.

The joint venture’s activities remain subject to successful field trial results and other product marketing efforts in addition to a number of other conditions including certain critical approvals from the Chinese and United States governments. In particular, we have been in discussions with the United States government concerning the national security implications of our joint venture and investment from BAOLI. There continues to be no assurance that these conditions will be met, or that all required approvals (if obtained) will be obtained on a timely basis. Even if these conditions are met and the approvals received, the results from our joint venture will be subject to a number of significant risks associated with international operations and new ventures, some of which are set out in our public filings, including in particular the “Risk Factors” included in Item 1A of our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Loss Contingencies

In the normal course of our business we are subject to claims and litigation, including allegations of patent infringement. Liabilities relating to these claims are recorded when it is determined that a loss is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The costs of defense in such matters are expensed as incurred. Insurance proceeds recoverable are recorded when deemed probable.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (“SFAS 109”), which requires that we recognize deferred tax liabilities and assets based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect in the years the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred income tax benefit (expense) results from the change in net deferred tax assets or deferred tax liabilities. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some or all deferred tax assets will not be realized.

In July 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 provides detailed guidance for the financial statement recognition, measurement and disclosure of uncertain tax positions recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS 109. Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date to be recognized upon the adoption of FIN 48 and in subsequent periods. We adopted FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007, and the provisions of FIN 48 have been applied to all income tax positions commencing from that date. There was no material impact from this adoption. As of December 31, 2007, we had net operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $285.1 million and $154.7 million, respectively. Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code imposes an annual limitation on the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards based on a statutory rate of return (usually the “applicable federal funds rate”, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) and the value of the corporation at the time of a “change of ownership” as defined by Section 382. We had changes in ownership in August 1999, December 2002, and as a result of equity sales in the past year. Conductus, from whom we acquired some of our net operating losses, underwent three ownership changes, which occurred in February 1999, February 2001 and December 2002. Our ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards incurred prior to each ownership change will be subject in future periods to future annual limitations which we are currently evaluating. Due to the uncertainty surrounding their realization, we have recorded a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets. Accordingly, no deferred tax asset has been recorded in the accompanying balance sheet.

Marketing Costs

All costs related to marketing and advertising our products are expensed as incurred or at the time the advertising takes place. Advertising costs were not material in each of the three and nine month periods ended September 27, 2008 and September 29 2007.

Net Loss per Share

Basic and diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding in each period. Potentially dilutive shares are not included in the calculation of diluted loss per share because their effect is anti-dilutive.

Stock-based Compensation

For the three and nine months ended September 27, 2008 and September 29, 2007, the weighted average fair value of options was estimated at the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The following are the significant weighted average assumptions used for estimating the fair value under our stock option plans:


	Three months ended						Nine months ended
	September 29,			September 27,			September 29,			September 27,
	2007			2008			2007			2008
Expected life in years		4.0			4.0			4.0			4.0
Risk free interest rate		4.68	%		3.0	%		4.70	%		2.47	%
Expected volatility		95	%		104	%		95	%		109	%
Dividend yield		0	%		0	%		0	%		0	%

The expected life was based on the contractual term of the options and the expected employee exercise behavior. Typically, options to our employees have a 3 or 4 year vesting term and a 10 year contractual term. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U. S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term equal to the expected option life assumed at the grant date. The future volatility is based on our 4 year historical volatility. We used an expected dividend yield of 0% because we have never paid a dividend and do not anticipate paying dividends. We assumed a 10% forfeiture rate.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The significant estimates in the preparation of the financial statements relate to the assessment of the carrying amount of accounts receivable, inventory, intangibles, and estimated provisions for warranty costs, income taxes and litigation. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences may be material to the financial statements.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

We have no items of other comprehensive income (loss) in any period other than our net loss.

Segment Information

We operate in a single business segment, the research, development, manufacture and marketing of products utilizing our high temperature superconductor (HTS) materials science and manufacturing expertise. Our net commercial product revenues are primarily derived from the sales of our SuperLink, AmpLink and SuperPlex products. We currently sell most of our products directly to wireless network operators in the United States. Net revenues derived principally from government research and development contracts are presented separately on the statement of operations for all periods presented.

Certain Risks and Uncertainties

We have continued to incur operating losses. Our long-term prospects and execution of our business plan are dependent upon the continued and increased market acceptance for our products.

We currently sell most of our products directly to wireless network operators in the United States and our product sales have historically been concentrated in a small number of customers. In the nine months ended September 27, 2008, we had two customers that represented 44% and 13% of total net revenues. At September 27, 2008, these two customers represented

59% of accounts receivable. In 2007, we had three customers that represented 40%, 14% and 7% of total net revenues. At December 31, 2007, these three customers represented 43% of accounts receivable. The loss of or reduction in sales, or the inability to collect outstanding accounts receivable, from any of these customers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We currently rely on a limited number of suppliers for key components of our products. The loss of any of these suppliers could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

In connection with the sales of our commercial products, we indemnify, without limit or term, our customers against all claims, suits, demands, damages, liabilities, expenses, judgments, settlements and penalties arising from actual or alleged infringement or misappropriation of any intellectual property relating to our products or other claims arising from our products. We cannot reasonably develop an estimate of the maximum potential amount of payments that might be made under our indemnity because of the uncertainty as to whether a claim might arise and how much it might total.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

There have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the third quarter that are of significance, or potential significance, to us.

3. Short Term Borrowings

We have a line of credit with a bank. The line of credit was renewed in July 2008 for a term of one year. The line of credit expires in July 2009 and is structured as a sale of accounts receivable. The agreement provides for the sale of up to $5.0 million of eligible accounts receivable, with advances to us totaling 80% of the receivables sold. Advances under the agreement are collateralized by all our assets. Under the terms of the agreement, we continue to service the sold receivables and are subject to recourse provisions. Advances bear interest at the prime rate (5.00% at September 27, 2008) plus 2.50% subject to a minimum monthly charge. There was no amount outstanding under this borrowing facility at September 27, 2008.

The agreement contains representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants and events of default customary for financings of this type. The failure to comply with these provisions, or the occurrence of any one of the events of default, would prevent any further borrowings and would generally require the repayment of any outstanding borrowings. Such representations, warranties and events of default include (a) non-payment of debt and interest hereunder, (b) non-compliance with terms of the agreement covenants, (c) insolvency or bankruptcy, (d) material adverse change, (e) merger or consolidation where our shareholders do not hold a majority of the voting rights of the surviving entity, (f) transactions outside the normal course of business, or (g) payment of dividends.

4. Stockholders’ Equity

The following is a summary of stockholders’ equity transactions for the nine months ended September 27, 2008:


	Convertible								Capital in
	Preferred Stock				Common Stock				Excess of		Accumulated
	Shares		Amount		Shares		Amount		Par Value		Deficit			Total

Balance at December 31, 2007		—		—		12,511,414	$	12,000	$	209,163,000		($199,985,000	)	$	9,190,000
Issuance of common stock						5,101,361		5,000		10,563,000					10,568,000
Issuance of preferred stock		611,523		1,000						9,900,000					9,901,000
Issuance of awards and stock based compensation						256,255		1,000		458,000					459,000
Net loss												(8,892,000	)		(8,892,000	)

Balance at September 27, 2008		611,523	$	1,000		17,869,030	$	18,000	$	230,084,000		($208,877,000	)	$	21,226,000

Common Stock

In February 2008, in exchange for net proceeds of $14.9 million in cash, net of offering costs of $89,000, of which $4.0 million was received in 2007 and $10.9 million was received in 2008, we issued to BAOLI and two related purchasers a total of (a) 3,101,361 shares of our common stock and (b) 611,523 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock (convertible into 6,115,230 shares of our common stock). Subject to the terms and conditions of our Series A Preferred and to customary adjustments to the conversion rate, each share of our Series A Preferred is convertible into ten shares of our common stock so long as the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by BAOLI following such conversion does not exceed 9.9% of our outstanding common stock. Except for a preference on liquidation of $.01 per share, each share of Series A Preferred is the economic equivalent of the ten shares of common stock into which it is convertible. In accordance with EITF

issue No. 98-5, “Accounting for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios” and EITF Issue No. 00-27, “Application of Issue No. 98-5 to Certain Convertible Securities”, there is no beneficial conversion feature related to the conversion of the preferred shares, as the value of the common shares into which the preferred shares convert, does not exceed the recorded amount of the preferred at date of issuance. Except as required by law, the Series A Preferred does not have any voting rights.

In a registered direct offering completed in May 2008 we raised net proceeds of $5.6 million, net of offering costs of $442,000, from the sale of 2,000,000 shares of common stock at $3.00 per share based on a negotiated discount to market. We determined the offering price based principally on negotiations between us, the placement agent and the selected institutional investors and on our consideration of the closing prices (including high, low and average prices) and trading volumes of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market primarily during the 30 trading days proceeding the date we determined the offering price.

Stock Options

We currently have one active stock option plan, the 2003 Equity Incentive Plan. Under the 2003 Equity Incentive Plan, stock awards may consist of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, performance awards and performance share awards. Stock awards may be made to our key employees, consultants, and non-employee directors. Stock options granted under these plans must be granted at prices no less than 100% of the market value on the date of grant. Generally, stock options become exercisable in installments over a minimum of three or four years, beginning one year after the date of grant, and expire not more than ten years from the date of grant, with the exception of 10% or greater stockholders which may have options granted at prices no less than the market value on the date of grant, and expire not more than five years from the date of grant. We expect to issue new shares to cover stock option exercises and have no plans to repurchase shares. There were no stock option exercises in the nine months ended September 27, 2008 or in the nine months ended September 29, 2007.

For the three months ended September 27, 2008 and September 29, 2007, option compensation expense affected (i) net income by $132,000 and $25,000, respectively on and (ii) both basic and diluted earnings per share by $0.01 and zero, respectively. For the nine months ended September 27, 2008 and September 29, 2007, option compensation expense affected (i) net income by $322,000 and $90,000, respectively, and (ii) both basic and diluted earnings per share by $0.02 and $0.01, respectively. No stock compensation cost was capitalized during either period. The weighted-average fair value at the grant date for options issued in the first nine months of 2008 was $3.57 per share versus $1.12 per share in the first nine months of 2007.

The following is a summary of stock option transactions under our stock option plans at September 27, 2008:


						Weighted				Weighted
						Average		Number of		Average
	Number of					Exercise		Options		Exercise
	Shares			Price Per Share		Price		Exercisable		Price
Balance at December 31, 2007		741,858		$	1.43 - $493.75	$	34.24		663,174	$	37.87
Granted		576,590		$	1.85 - $ 6.08	$	4.83
Exercised		—			—		—
Canceled		(42,484	)	$	1.58 - $295.00	$	12.53

Balance at September 27,2008		1,275,964		$	1.43 - $493.75	$	21.67		672,101	$	36.83

The outstanding options expire on various dates through the end of July 2018. The weighted-average contractual term of options outstanding is 6.9 years and the weighted-average contractual term of stock options currently exercisable is 4.6 years. The exercise prices for these options range from $1.43 to $493.75 per share, for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $28.0 million. At September 27, 2008, only 600 shares of outstanding stock options, all exercisable, had an exercise price less than the current market value and had an intrinsic value of $48. The total compensation cost related to non-vested awards not yet recognized was $1.7 million and the weighted-average period over which the cost is expected to be recognized was 3.4 years at September 27, 2008 versus $163,000 and 1.4 years at September 29, 2007

Restricted Stock Awards

In July 2006, we issued restricted stock awards totaling 331,000 shares with a cliff vest after two years of service and a per share weighted average grant-date fair value of $1.50. A 10% forfeiture rate was assumed. In July 2008, 302,000 of these shares fully vested in one single installment and have been expensed over the prior periods as compensation expense. We issued 256,255 of these shares and withheld 45,745 shares for statutory minimum tax withholding requirements.

In September 2008, we issued restricted stock awards totaling 20,000 shares with a cliff vest after two years of service and a per share weighted average grant-date fair value of $1.62. A 10% forfeiture rate was assumed.

For the three and nine months ended September 27, 2008 restricted stock compensation expense affected (i) net income by $19,000 and $130,000, respectively, and (ii) both basic and diluted earnings per share by zero and $0.01, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 29, 2007 restricted stock compensation expense affected (i) net income by $56,000 and $168,000, respectively, and (ii) both basic and diluted earnings per share by zero and $0.01, respectively. No stock compensation cost was capitalized during the periods. The total compensation cost related to non-vested awards not yet recognized is $32,000 and the weighted-average period over which the cost will be recognized is two years.

Warrants

The following is a summary of outstanding warrants at September 27, 2008:

Common Shares

Total and

Price

Currently

per

Exercisable

Share

Expiration Date

Warrants related to issuance of common stock

342,466

6.74

August 16, 2010 *

Warrants related to April 2004 Bridge Loans

10,000

18.50

April 28, 2011*

Total

352,466


*		The terms of these warrants contain net exercise provisions, under which holders can elect to receive common stock equal to the difference between the exercise price and the sale price for common shares on the exercise date or the date immediately preceding the exercise date instead of paying the exercise price in cash.

**		These warrants contain special anti-dilution adjustment provisions relating to the price of other issuances.

5. Earnings per Share

We present “basic” and “diluted” earnings per common share pursuant to the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, “Earnings per Share.” Basic earnings (loss) per share is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and diluted earnings (loss) per share is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding.

Since their impact would be anti-dilutive, our loss per common share does not include the effect of the assumed exercise of any of the following shares:


	September 29,		September 27,
	2007		2008
Outstanding stock options		826,053		1,275,964
Outstanding stock awards		318,000		20,000
Outstanding warrants		720,283		352,466

Total		1,864,336		1,648,430

6. Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

We lease our offices and production facilities under a non-cancelable operating lease that expires in November 2011. This lease contains an annual escalation clause and requires us to pay utilities, insurance, taxes and other operating expenses.

Rent expenses totaled $279,000 and $841,000 for the three and nine month periods ended September 27, 2008, and $275,000 and $823,000 for the three and nine month periods ended September 29, 2007, respectively.

Patents and Licenses

We have entered into various licensing agreements requiring royalty payments ranging from 0.13% to 2.5% of specified product sales. Certain of these agreements contain provisions for the payment of guaranteed or minimum royalty amounts. In the event that we fail to pay minimum annual royalties, these licenses may automatically become non-exclusive or be terminated. These royalty obligations terminate at various times from 2009 to 2020. For the three and nine months ended September 27, 2008, royalty expense totaled $38,000 and $113,000, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 29, 2007, royalty expense totaled $43,000 and $129,000, respectively. Under the terms of certain royalty agreements, royalty payments made may be subject to audit. There have been no audits to date and we do not expect any future audit adjustments to be significant.

The minimum payments under operating leases and license obligations are as follows:


Year ending December 31,	Licenses		Operating Leases
Remainder of 2008	$	150,000	$	369,000
2009		150,000		1,474,000
2010		150,000		1,525,000
2011		150,000		1,436,000
2012		150,000		9,000
Thereafter		1,050,000		1,000


Total payments	$	1,800,000	$	4,814,000

7. Contractual Guarantees and Indemnities

During our normal course of business, we make certain contractual guarantees and indemnities pursuant to which we may be required to make future payments under specific circumstances. We have not recorded any liability for these contractual guarantees and indemnities in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Warranties

We establish reserves for future product warranty costs that are expected to be incurred pursuant to specific warranty provisions with our customers. Our warranty reserves are established at the time of sale and updated throughout the warranty period based upon numerous factors including historical warranty return rates and expenses over various warranty periods.

Intellectual Property Indemnities

We indemnify certain customers and our contract manufacturers against liability arising from third-party claims of intellectual property rights infringement related to our products. These indemnities appear in development and supply agreements with our customers as well as manufacturing service agreements with our contract manufacturers, are not limited in amount or duration and generally survive the expiration of the contract. Given that the amount of any potential liabilities related to such indemnities cannot be determined until an infringement claim has been made, we are unable to determine the maximum amount of losses that it could incur related to such indemnifications.

Director and Officer Indemnities and Contractual Guarantees

We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers which require us to indemnify such individuals to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our indemnification obligations under such agreements are not limited in amount or duration. Certain costs incurred in connection with such indemnifications may be recovered under certain circumstances under various insurance policies. Given that the amount of any potential liabilities related to such indemnities cannot be determined until a lawsuit has been filed against a director or executive officer, we are unable to determine the maximum amount of losses that we could incur relating to such indemnifications. Historically, any amounts payable pursuant to such director and officer indemnifications have not had a material negative effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We have also entered into severance and change in control agreements with certain of our executives. These agreements provide for the payment of specific compensation benefits to such executives upon the termination of their employment with us under specific conditions.

General Contractual Indemnities/Products Liability

During the normal course of business, we enter into contracts with customers where we agree to indemnify the other party for personal injury or property damage caused by our products. Our indemnification obligations under such agreements are not generally limited in amount or duration. Given that the amount of any potential liabilities related to such indemnities cannot be determined until a lawsuit has been filed against a director or executive officer, we are unable to determine the maximum amount of losses that we could incur relating to such indemnifications. Historically, any amounts payable pursuant to such guarantees have not had a material negative effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We maintain general and product liability insurance as well as errors and omissions insurance which may provide a source of recovery to us in the event of an indemnification claim.

Short Term Borrowings

Advances under our line of credit with the bank would be collateralized by all our assets. Under the terms of the agreement, we continue to service the sold receivables and are subject to recourse provisions. Under the terms of the agreement, if the bank determines that there is a material adverse change in our business, they can exercise all their rights and remedies under the agreement. There was no amount outstanding under this facility at September 27, 2008. See Note 3—Short Term Borrowings.

Contractual Contingency

We have a contract to deliver several custom products to a government contractor. We are unable to manufacture the products for technical reasons. We have discussed the problem with the contractor and our government customer. They are considering the problem, and further discussions are expected. We do not believe that a loss, if any, is reasonably estimable at this time and therefore have not recorded any liability relating to this matter. We will periodically reassess our potential liability as additional information becomes available. If we later determine that a loss is probable and the amount reasonably estimable, we will record a liability for the potential loss. All costs have been expensed and no revenues recognized on this contract.

8. Details of Certain Financial Statement Components and Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information and Non-Cash Activities

Balance Sheet Data:


	December 31,			September 27,
	2007			2008
Accounts receivable:
Accounts receivable-trade	$	1,242,000		$	984,000
United States government accounts receivable-billed		1,246,000			500,000
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts		(75,000	)		(75,000	)

	$	2,413,000		$	1,409,000


	December 31,			September 27,
	2007			2008
Inventories:
Raw materials	$	1,934,000		$	3,063,000
Work-in-process		679,000			969,000
Finished goods		1,817,000			1,958,000
Less inventory reserve		(1,015,000	)		(876,000	)

	$	3,415,000		$	5,114,000


	December 31,			September 27,
	2007			2008
Property and Equipment:
Equipment	$	15,951,000		$	15,489,000
Leasehold improvements		6,732,000			6,736,000
Furniture and fixtures		407,000			404,000

		23,090,000			22,629,000
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		(19,129,000	)		(19,604,000	)

	$	3,961,000		$	3,025,000

At December 31, 2007 and September 27, 2008, equipment includes $237,000 of assets financed under capital lease arrangements, net of $237,000 of accumulated amortization. Depreciation expense amounted to $359,000 and $1,073,000 for the three and nine month periods ended September 27, 2008 and $501,000 and $1,548,000 for the three and nine month periods ended September 29, 2007, respectively.


	December 31,			September 27,
	2007			2008
Patents and Licenses:
Patents pending	$	705,000		$	911,000

Patents issued		984,000			1,010,000
Less accumulated amortization		(346,000	)		(393,000	)

Net patents issued		638,000			617,000

Licenses Pending		—			19,000

Licenses		563,000			563,000
Less accumulated amortization		(134,000	)		(158,000	)

Net licenses		429,000			405,000

Purchased technology		1,706,000			1,706,000
Less accumulated amortization		(1,242,000	)		(1,420,000	)

Net purchased technology		464,000			286,000


	$	2,236,000		$	2,238,000

Amortization expense related to these items totaled $83,000 and $250,000 for the three and nine month periods ended September 27, 2008 and $82,000 and $248,000 for the three and nine month periods ended September 29, 2007, respectively. Amortization expenses are expected to total $84,000 for the remainder of 2008, $350,000 in 2009 and $119,000 in each of 2010 and 2011.


	December 31,			September 27,
	2007			2008
Accrued Expenses and Other Long Term
Liabilities:
Salaries Payable	$	307,000		$	183,000
Compensated Absences		371,000			456,000
Compensation related		369,000			114,000
Warranty reserve		380,000			310,000
Deferred Rent		373,000			339,000
Other		123,000			195,000

		1,923,000			1,597,000
Less current portion		(1,405,000	)		(1,098,000	)

Long term portion	$	518,000		$	499,000


	For the nine months ended,
	September 29,			September 27,
	2007			2008
Warranty Reserve Activity:
Beginning balance	$	428,000		$	380,000
Additions		75,000			37,000
Deductions		(33,000	)		(107,000	)

Ending balance	$	470,000		$	310,000

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

General

We are a leading company in high temperature superconductor (HTS) materials and related technologies. HTS materials have the unique ability to conduct various signals or energy (e.g. electrical current or radio frequency (RF) signals) with little or no resistance when cooled to “critical” temperatures. Electric currents that flow through conventional conductors encounter resistance that requires power to overcome and generates heat. HTS materials can substantially improve the performance characteristics of electrical systems, reducing power loss, lowering heat generation and decreasing electrical noise. Circuits designed to remove interference inherent in some RF signals can also be made from HTS materials. Commercial use of HTS materials requires a number of cutting edge technologies, including development of HTS materials, specialized manufacturing expertise to create uniform thin layers of these materials, expert designs of circuits optimized for HTS materials, and technologies to maintain an extremely low temperature environment for HTS applications (although the critical temperatures for HTS are “high” compared with traditional superconductors, but they are still extremely cold by other standards).

Our Proprietary Technology

We are focused on research and development to maintain our technological edge. As of September 27, 2008, we had 35 employees in our research and development division; nine of our employees have Ph.D.s, and fourteen others hold advanced degrees, in physics, materials science, electrical engineering and other fields. Our development efforts over the last 21 years have yielded an extensive patent portfolio as well as critical trade secrets, unpatented technology and proprietary knowledge. As of September 27, 2008, we held 55 U.S. patents in the following categories:

	•		6 patents for technologies directed toward producing thin-film materials and structures. We have developed a proprietary state of the art manufacturing process for producing HTS thin-films of the highest quality.

	•		27 patents for cryogenic and non-microwave circuit designs. The expertise of our highly qualified team has allowed us to design and fabricate extremely small, high-performance circuits including RF signal filters.

	•		17 patents covering cryogenics, packaging and systems. Our proprietary and patented cryogenic packaging innovation provides us with a significant competitive advantage in maintaining our HTS materials at their critical temperatures.

	•		5 patents covering other superconducting technologies.

As of September 27, 2008, we also had 15 issued foreign patents, 26 U.S. patent applications pending and 44 foreign applications patents pending.

We are currently focusing our efforts on applications in areas such as:

	•		Wireless Networks. Our current commercial products help maximize the performance of wireless telecommunications networks by improving the quality of uplink signals from mobile wireless devices. Our products increase capacity utilization, lower dropped and blocked calls, extend coverage, and enable higher wireless data throughput — all while reducing capital and operating costs.

	•		Reconfigurable Handset Filters. The trend in the wireless handset industry is to continually reduce size and cost, while adding more features and making the unit more adaptable to different air interfaces and frequencies throughout the world. This drives the need for more complex and reconfigurable transceivers. We believe our strong intellectual property and expertise in frequency agile and thin film filters position us well to meet this demand.

	•		Superconducting Power Transmission Lines. We have entered into a collaborative effort and signed a Material Transfer Agreement with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to apply our HTS expertise to LANL’s research initiative to develop HTS coated conductors for power transmission lines. If successfully developed, HTS superconducting cables could replace copper power transmission lines, resulting in higher capacity with less resistive cable losses.

	•		Government Products. As the worldwide leader in developing tunable HTS filter systems for military applications, we continue to be a crucial partner in the U.S. government’s future success. Our high-

performance HTS filter systems have been proven to increase the detection range, reduce interference, and in some cases, detect signals that were previously undetectable with conventional technology. Currently, we actively participate in the development of technologies for application in military communications, signals intelligence, and electronic warfare.

Our development efforts can take a significant number of years to commercialize, and we must overcome significant technical barriers and deal with other significant risks, some of which are set out in our public filings, including in particular the “Risk Factors” included in Item 1A of our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our Business Model

To be successful, we must use our expertise and our technology to generate revenues in various ways, including government contracts, commercial operations, joint ventures and licenses:

Government Contracts

We generate significant revenues from government contracts. We typically own the intellectual property developed under these contracts, and grant the Federal government a royalty-free, non-exclusive and nontransferable license to use it. As a result, our government contracts can not only generate a profit for us, but we can also make additional money through exploiting of the resulting technology in our commercial operations as well as government products, or through licenses or joint ventures.

Commercial Applications

We have chosen to manufacture and sell certain commercial products on our own. To date, our commercial efforts have been focused on the design, manufacture, and sale of high performance infrastructure products for wireless voice and data applications. We have three current product lines, all of which relate to wireless base stations:

	•		SuperLink, a highly compact and reliable receiver front-end HTS wireless filter system to eliminate out-of-band interference for wireless base stations, combining filters with a proprietary cryogenic cooler and a cooled low-noise amplifier.

	•		AmpLink, a ground-mounted unit for wireless base stations which includes a high-performance amplifier and up to six dual duplexers.

	•		SuperPlex, a high-performance multiplexer that provides extremely low insertion loss and excellent cross-band isolation designed to eliminate the need for additional base station antennas and reduce infrastructure costs.

We sell most of our current commercial products to a small number of wireless carriers in the United States, including ALLTEL, AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility each accounted for more than 10% of our commercial revenues in the nine months ended September 27, 2008 and for all of 2007. Demand for wireless communications equipment fluctuates dramatically and unpredictably. The wireless communications infrastructure equipment market is extremely competitive and is characterized by rapid technological change, new product development, product obsolescence, evolving industry standards and price erosion over the life of a product. We face constant pressures to reduce prices. Consequently, we expect the average selling prices of our products will continue decreasing over time. We expect these trends to continue and may cause significant fluctuations in our quarterly and annual revenues. Our commercial operations are subject to a number of significant risks, some of which are set out in our public filings, including in particular the “Risk Factors” included in Item 1A of our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Joint Ventures

From time to time we may pursue joint ventures with other entities to commercialize our technology. In particular, we have agreed to license certain technology for our SuperLink^® interference elimination solution for the China market to a joint venture where we own 45 percent of the equity. In the first quarter of 2008, we received orders from the joint venture for our new TD-SCDMA solution to perform lab trial and field trial activities in China. The lab trial was successfully completed in the second quarter 2008. The current schedule is to complete the field trial during the fourth quarter of 2008. The commencement of manufacturing and the transfer of our processes to the joint venture will be driven by product demand from the China market. The joint venture’s activities remain subject to successful field trial results and other product marketing efforts in addition to a number of other conditions including certain critical approvals from the Chinese and United States governments. In particular, we have been in discussions with the United States government concerning the national security implications of our joint venture and investment from BAOLI. There continues to be no assurance that these conditions will be met, or that all required approvals (if obtained) will be obtained on a timely basis. Even if these conditions are met and the approvals received, the results from our joint venture will be subject to a number of significant risks associated with international operations and new ventures, some of which are set out in our public filings, including in particular the “Risk Factors” included in Item 1A of our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Licenses

From time to time we grant licenses for our technology to other companies. Specifically, we have granted licenses to, among others, (1) Bruker for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance application, (2) General Dynamics for government applications and (3) Star Cryoelectronics for Superconducting Quantum Interference Device applications, among others.

Recent Developments

Collaborative Effort

On July 29, 2008, we entered into a collaborative effort with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to apply our high-temperature superconductor (HTS) materials expertise to LANL’s research initiative to develop HTS coated conductors for power transmission lines. We have continued that effort, and on October 20, 2008 we signed a Material Transfer Agreement with LANL allowing us to fabricate our advanced HTS thin film materials on substrates provided by LANL. Under the Material Transfer Agreement, LANL and we will exchange coated conductor materials developed at each institution in order to allow research on their respective properties. The experimental results are expected to guide the creation of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between LANL and us to develop technology intended to commercialize high-performance, low-cost HTS coated conductors.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of our historical financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with those principles requires us to make estimates of certain items and judgments as to certain future events including for example those related to bad debts, inventories, recovery of goodwill and long-lived assets (including intangible assets), income taxes, warranty obligations, and contingencies. These determinations, even though inherently subjective and subject to change, affect the reported amounts of our assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. While we believe that our estimates are based on reasonable assumptions and judgments at the time they are made, some of our assumptions, estimates and judgments will inevitably prove to be incorrect. As a result, actual outcomes will likely differ from our accruals, and those differences—positive or negative—could be material. Some of our accruals are subject to adjustment, as we believe appropriate, based on revised estimates and reconciliation to the actual results when available.

In addition, we identified certain critical accounting policies which affect certain of our more significant estimates and assumptions used in preparing our consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. We have not made any material changes to these policies.

Backlog

Our commercial backlog consists of accepted product purchase orders with scheduled delivery dates during the next twelve months. We had commercial backlog of $217,000 at September 27, 2008 as compared to $352,000 at December 31, 2007.

Results of Operations

Quarter and nine months ended September 27, 2008 as compared to the quarter and nine months ended September 29, 2007

Total net revenues decreased by $526,000 or 13%, to $3.6 million in the third quarter of 2008 from $4.1 million in the third quarter of 2007. Total net revenues decreased by $3.0 million, or 23%, to $10.0 million in the first nine months of 2008 from $13.0 million in the same period last year. Total net revenues consist primarily of commercial product revenues and government contract revenues.

Net commercial product revenues increased $464,000, or 20%, to $2.7 million in the third quarter of 2008 from $2.3 million in the third quarter of 2007. This increase was primarily the result of higher sales of our SuperLink product. For the first nine months of 2008, net commercial product revenues decreased $3.4 million, or 36%, to $6.1 million from $9.5 million in the same period last year. This decrease was primarily the result of lower sales of both our SuperLink and AmpLink products. Our three largest customers accounted for 95% of our total net revenues in the first three quarters of 2008. These customers generally purchase products through non-binding commitments with minimal lead-times. Consequently, our commercial product revenues can fluctuate dramatically from quarter to quarter based on changes in our customers’ capital spending patterns.

Government contract revenues decreased to $854,000 in the third quarter of 2008 from $1.8 million in the third quarter of 2007, a decrease of $990,000, or 54%. The decrease in the third quarter is due to a funding delay on a current contract. For the first nine months of 2008, government contract revenues increased to $3.9 million from $3.5 million in the same period last year, an increase of $408,000 or 12%. The year to date increase is primarily attributable to a new large contract received in the second quarter of 2007, which allowed higher revenue for all the first nine months of 2008 verses the same period in 2007.

Cost of commercial product revenues includes all direct costs, manufacturing overhead, provision for excess and obsolete inventories and restructuring and impairment charges relating to the manufacturing operations. The cost of commercial product revenue totaled $3.1 million for the third quarter of 2008 compared to $2.7 million for the third quarter of 2007, an increase of $381,000, or 14%. For the quarter, increased costs resulted primarily from higher commercial sales of both our SuperLink and AmpLink products. For the first nine months of 2008, the cost of commercial product revenues totaled $7.3 million compared to $9.8 million for the first nine months of 2007, a decrease of $2.5 million, or 26%. For the year to date, decreased costs resulted primarily from lower commercial sales of both our SuperLink and AmpLink products. There was no additional provision for obsolete inventories in the third quarter or nine months ended September 27, 2008 compared to $70,000 and $160,000 in the third quarter and nine months ended September 29, 2007. The nine months ended September 29, 2007 also included decreased costs resulting from the reversal of a $319,000 product line exit cost accrual.

Our cost of sales includes both variable and fixed cost components. The variable component consists primarily of materials, assembly and test labor, overhead, which includes equipment and facility depreciation, transportation costs and warranty costs. The fixed component includes test equipment and facility depreciation, purchasing and procurement expenses and quality assurance costs. Given the fixed nature of such costs, the absorption of our production overhead costs into inventory decreases and the amount of production overhead variances expensed to cost of sales increases as production volumes decline since we have fewer units to absorb our overhead costs against. Conversely, the absorption of our production overhead costs into inventory increases and the amount of production overhead variances expensed to cost of sales decreases as production volumes increase since we have more units to absorb our overhead costs against. As a result, our gross profit margins generally decrease as revenue and production volumes decline due to lower sales volume and higher amounts of production overhead variances expensed to cost of sales; and our gross profit margins generally increase as our revenue and production volumes increase due to higher sales volume and lower amounts of production overhead variances expensed to cost of sales.

The following is an analysis of our commercial product gross profit and margins:


	Three months ended										Nine months ended
	September 29,					September 27,					September 29,					September 27,
Dollars in thousands	2007					2008					2007					2008
Net commercial product sales	$	2,277		100	%	$	2,741		100	%	$	9,463		100	%	$	6,082		100	%

Cost of commercial product sales		2,697		118	%		3,078		112	%		9,827		104	%		7,252		119	%

Gross profit	$	(420	)	(18	)%	$	(337	)	(12	)%	$	(364	)	(4	)%	$	(1,169	)	(19	)%

We had a gross loss of $337,000 in the third quarter of 2008 from the sale of our commercial products compared to a gross loss of $420,000 in the third quarter of 2007. Gross loss was lower for the third quarter 2008 compared to the same period in 2007 due to higher sales in the current period. For the nine months ended September 27, 2008, we had a gross loss of $1.2 million from the sale of our commercial products compared to a gross loss of $364,000 in the nine months ended September 29, 2007. Our gross margins were adversely impacted by significantly lower sales volume in the first nine months of 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007. Charges for excess and obsolete inventory totaled zero and $160,000 in the first nine months of 2008 and 2007, respectively. We regularly review inventory quantities on hand and provide an allowance for excess and obsolete inventory based on numerous factors including sales backlog, historical inventory usage, and forecasted product demand and production requirements for the next twelve months.

Contract research and development expenses totaled $709,000 in the third quarter of 2008 as compared to $963,000 in the third quarter of 2007. The third quarter 2008 expenses are lower compared to the third quarter 2007 due to completion of a large line item on an existing contract and delays in funding the follow-on line item. These expenses totaled $3.2 million in the first nine months of 2008 and $2.0 million in the first nine months of 2007. This year to date increase was the result of higher expenses associated with performing larger government contracts in the nine months ended September 27, 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. As a percentage of government revenue, our 2008 expenses are higher than our 2007 expenses because of different cost recognition criteria on one of our 2008 cost-plus contracts.

Other research and development expenses relate to development of new wireless commercial products and other products related to our expertise. We also incur design expenses associated with reducing the cost and improving the manufacturability of our existing products. These expenses are up for the third quarter due to a decrease in our government contract efforts. In the third quarter of 2008, these expenses totaled $1.0 million as compared to $528,000 in the same quarter of the prior year and totaled $2.2 million in the first nine months of 2008 and $2.3 million in the first nine months of 2007. Year to date these expenses are down due to increases in government contract efforts using relatively more of our limited engineering resources.

Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $2.1 million in the third quarter of 2008, as compared to $2.0 million in the third quarter of the prior year. In the first nine months of 2008, these expenses totaled $6.5 million as compared to $5.9 million in the same period last year. The higher expenses in 2008 resulted primarily from higher legal expenses in 2008 associated with our China joint venture, partly offset by the reversal of a $610,000 reserve, lower insurance premiums and lower selling costs.

Interest expense in the three months and nine months ended September 27, 2008 amounted to $7,000 and $23,000, as compared to $9,000 and $30,000 in the three months and nine months ended September 29, 2007.

We had a net loss of $3.2 million for the quarter ended September 27, 2008, as compared to a net loss of $2.0 million in the same period last year. For the nine months ended September 27, 2008, our loss totaled $8.9 million as compared to a net loss of $6.9 million in the same period last year.

The net loss available to common shareholders totaled $0.18 per common share in the third quarter of 2008, as compared to a net loss of $0.16 per common share in the same period last year. The net loss available to common shareholders totaled $0.56 per common share in the first nine months of 2008 and 2007.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flow Analysis

As of September 27, 2008, we had working capital of $15.7 million, including $10.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, as compared to working capital of $3.3 million at December 31, 2007, which included $3.9 million in cash and cash equivalents. We currently invest our excess cash in short-term, investment-grade, money-market instruments with maturities of three months or less. We believe that all of our cash investments would be readily available to us should the need arise.

Cash and cash equivalents increased by $6.8 million to $10.7 million at September 27, 2008 from $3.9 million at December 31, 2007, primarily as a result of proceeds from stock sales and a reduction in accounts receivable and prepaid expenses and other assets partly offset by cash used primarily in operations and to a lesser extent to pay down our accounts payable, accrued expenses and for the purchase of property and equipment.

Cash used in operations totaled $9.0 million in the first nine months of 2008, including $7.1 million to fund the cash portion of our net loss and $1.7 million to fund increases in inventory.

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $647,000 in the first nine months of 2008 as compared to $65,000 used in the first nine months of last year. The 2008 expenditures related primarily to our investing $521,000 into our Chinese joint venture. Other investments in the first half of 2007 and 2008 relate to the purchase and sale of manufacturing equipment.

Financing Activities

We have historically financed our operations through a combination of cash on hand, cash provided from operations, equipment lease financings, available borrowings under bank lines of credit and both private and public equity offerings. We have effective registration statements on file with the SEC covering the public resale by investors of common stock issued in our private placements, as well as any common stock acquired upon exercise of related warrants.

Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $16.5 million in the first nine months of 2008. The cash was provided by $10.9 million, net of $89,000 in expenses, from the $15.0 million August 2007 BAOLI investment and $5.6 million, net of $442,000 in expenses, from the sale of 2,000,000 shares of common stock at $3.00 per share in May 2008. Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $986,000 in the first nine months of 2007 and represented the first $1.0 million from the BAOLI investment less $14,000 to pay down our long term debt.

We have an existing line of credit from a bank. The line of credit was renewed in July 2008 for a term of one year and expires in July 2009. The loan agreement is structured as a sale of our accounts receivable and provides for the sale of up to $5.0 million of eligible accounts receivable, with advances to us totaling 80% of the receivables sold. Advances bear interest at the prime rate (5.00% at September 27, 2008) plus 2.50% per annum subject to a minimum monthly charge. There was no amount outstanding under this borrowing facility at September 27, 2008. Advances are collateralized by a lien on all of our assets. Under the terms of the agreement, we continue to service the sold receivables and are subject to recourse provisions.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

During the three and nine months ended September 27, 2008, there were no material changes outside the ordinary course of our business in the information regarding specified contractual obligations contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Capital Expenditures

We plan to invest less than $50,000 in fixed assets during the remainder of 2008.

Future Liquidity

Our principal sources of liquidity consist of existing cash balances and funds expected to be generated from future operations. We believe one of the key factors to our liquidity will be our ability to successfully execute on our plans to increase sales levels in a highly concentrated industry where we experience significant fluctuations in sales from quarter to quarter as well as numerous other variable factors, including the rate of growth of sales, the timing and levels of products purchased, payment terms and credit limits from manufacturers, and the timing and level of accounts receivable collections.

For the nine months ended September 27, 2008, we incurred a net loss of $8.9 million and had negative cash flows from operations of $9.0 million. In 2007, we incurred a net loss of $9.1 million and had negative cash flows from operations of $5.4 million. Our independent registered public accounting firm has included in their audit reports for 2007 and 2006 an explanatory paragraph expressing doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

At September 27, 2008 we had $10.7 million in cash and working capital of $15.7 million. We believe this cash, combined with our other assets, along with our customer base in North America, our sales plan for 2008 and 2009 and our continued emphasis on cost reduction should fund our business for at least the next twelve months. We cannot assure you that if we need additional financing (public or private) that it will be available on acceptable terms or at all.

Net Operating Loss Carryforward

As of December 31, 2007, we had net operating loss carryforwards for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $285.1 million and $154.7 million, respectively, which expire in the years 2008 through 2027. Of these amounts $88.3 million and $23.5 million, respectively, resulted from the acquisition of Conductus. Included in the net operating loss carryforwards are deductions related to stock options of approximately $24.1 million and $13.1 million for federal and California income tax purposes, respectively. To the extent net operating loss carryforwards are recognized for accounting purposes the resulting benefits related to the stock options will be credited to stockholders’ equity. In addition, we had research and development and other tax credits for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $2.7 million and $1.3 million, respectively, which expire in the years 2008 through 2027. Of these amounts $661,000 and $736,000, respectively resulted from the acquisition of Conductus.

Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code imposes an annual limitation on the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards based on a statutory rate of return (usually the “applicable federal funds rate”, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) and the value of the corporation at the time of a “change of ownership” as defined by Section 382. We had changes in ownership in August 1999, December 2002 and as a result of the equity sales in the past year. Conductus, from whom we acquired some of our net operating loses, underwent three ownership changes, which occurred in February 1999, February 2001 and December 2002. Our ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards incurred prior to each ownership change will be subject in future periods to future annual limitations which we are currently evaluating. Due to the uncertainty surrounding their realization, we have recorded a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets. Accordingly, no deferred tax asset has been recorded in the accompanying balance sheet.

Recent Accounting Requirements

There have been no recent accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting pronouncements during the third quarter that are of significance, or potential significance, to us.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

There was no material change in our exposure to market risk at September 27, 2008 as compared with our market risk exposure on December 31, 2007. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Market Risk” in our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and such information is accumulated and communicated to management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Our Chief Executive Officer and Controller have evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures and have concluded, as of September 27, 2008, that they are effective as described above.

Changes in Internal Controls

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this Report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Because of our inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

PART II
OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

We may be involved in routine litigation arising in the ordinary course of our business, and, while the results of the proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe that the final outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, operating results or cash flows.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

A description of the risk factors associated with our business is contained in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2008. We are not aware of any material changes to these risk factors.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

We did not conduct any offerings of equity securities during the third quarter of this year that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock during the third quarter of this year.

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

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the third quarter of this year.

Item 5. Other Information.

	*(a)*		*Additional Disclosures.*

			None.

	*(b)*		*Stockholder Nominations.*

			There have been no material changes to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to our board of directors.

Item 6. Exhibits.


Number		Description of Document

31.1		Statement of CEO Pursuant to 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (*)
31.2		Statement of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (*)
32.1		Statement of CEO Pursuant to 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (*)
32.2		Statement of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (*)


*		Filed herewith.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.


	SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Dated: November 12, 2008	/s/ William J. Buchanan
	William J. Buchanan
	Controller (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)


	/s/ Jeffrey A. Quiram
	Jeffrey A. Quiram
	President and Chief Executive Officer

Clearday, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2008 September (Form 10-Q)

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