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Genasys Inc. - Quarter Report: 2004 June (Form 10-Q)



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

FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)
x  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004
 
or
   
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: 0-24248

AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

   
Delaware 87-03261799


(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) 
 (I.R.S. Empl. Ident. No.)

13114 Evening Creek Drive South, San Diego, California 92128


(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)

(858) 679-2114

(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. x YES o NO

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of July 31, 2004.

Common Stock, $0.00001 par value 19,808,819  


 
   (Class)  (Number of Shares)  



AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
INDEX

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Page
       
          Item 1.     Financial Statements:  
       
    Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2004  
      and September 30, 2003 (unaudited) 3
       
    Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended  
      June 30, 2004 and 2003 (unaudited) 4
       
    Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended  
      June 30, 2004 and 2003 (unaudited) 5
       
    Notes to Interim Financial Statements 6
   
  Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition  
      and Results of Operations 13
   
  Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 28
       
  Item 4. Controls and Procedures 28
       
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 28
       
  Item 1. Legal Proceedings 28
  Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds 28
  Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities 29
  Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 29
  Item 5. Other Information 29
  Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 29
   
SIGNATURES 30


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

American Technology Corporation
BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

June 30,
2004
   September 30,
2003 (a)
  


ASSETS
Current Assets:
  Cash $ 5,486,133 $ 9,850,358
  Trade accounts receivable, less allowance of
     $25,000 each period for doubtful accounts 1,386,924 184,162
  Inventories, net 897,808 408,944
  Prepaid expenses and other 254,958 33,849


Total current assets 8,025,823 10,477,313
Equipment, net 406,610 200,262
Patents, net 1,249,247 1,066,796


Total assets $ 9,681,680 $ 11,744,371


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
 Accounts payable $ 1,034,429 $ 604,343
 Accrued liabilities:
   Payroll and related 393,450 463,788
   Deferred revenue and deposits 322,481 276,708
   Warranty reserve 365,145 319,500
   Other 150,000 318,849
Capital lease short-term portion 10,694 9,915


Total current liabilities 2,276,199 1,993,103
Long-Term Liabilities:
Capital lease long-term portion 14,977 23,097


Total liabilities 2,291,176 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 period. Liquidation preference      
    of $565,000 and $542,000, respectively.
  Series E Preferred stock 350,000 shares designated: 233,250      
    and 263,250 issued and outstanding. Liquidation preference      
    of $2,520,000 and $2,725,000, respectively. 3 3
Common stock, $0.00001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized;      
  19,807,319 and  19,342,657 shares issued and outstanding 198 193
  Additional paid-in capital 47,449,394 46,095,032
  Accumulated deficit (40,059,091 ) (36,367,057 )


Total stockholders’ equity 7,390,504 9,728,171


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 9,681,680 $ 11,744,371


See accompanying notes to interim financial statements.
(a) Derived from the audited financial statements as of September 30, 2003.

3


American Technology Corporation
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

For the three months ended
June 30,
  For the nine months ended
June 30,
 


   2004   2003   2004   2003  
  
 
 
 
 
Revenues:
  Product sales $ 2,089,359 $ 274,718 $ 4,201,193 $ 808,296
  Contract and license 17,922 38,894 174,116 166,557




Total revenues 2,107,281 313,612 4,375,309 974,853
Cost of revenues 1,006,319 186,101 2,360,021 858,520




Gross profit 1,100,962 127,511 2,015,288 116,333




Operating expenses:
  Selling, general and administrative 1,614,351 1,728,296 3,766,137 3,393,605
  Research and development 890,299 714,376 1,983,518 2,023,095




Total operating expenses 2,504,650 2,442,672 5,749,655 5,416,700




Loss from operations (1,403,688 ) (2,315,161 ) (3,734,367 ) (5,300,367 )




Other income (expense):
  Interest income 13,731 1,348 44,596 5,000
  Interest expense (454 ) (68,039 ) (2,263 ) (670,769 )
  Other (800 ) (2,467 )




Total other income (expense) 13,277 (67,491 ) 42,333 (668,236 )




Net loss (1,390,411 ) (2,382,652 ) (3,692,034 ) (5,968,603 )
Dividend requirements on convertible preferred stock 387,019 628,445 1,087,570 1,593,736




Net loss available to common stockholders $ (1,777,430 ) $ (3,011,097 ) $ (4,779,604 ) $ (7,562,339 )




Net loss per share of common stock - basic and diluted $ (0.09 ) $ (0.19 ) $ (0.24 ) $ (0.51 )




Average weighted number of common shares outstanding 19,719,657 15,447,015 19,534,343 14,902,786




See accompanying notes to interim financial statements.

4


American Technology Corporation
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

For the nine months ended
June 30,
 
  
 
    2004     2003    


Increase (Decrease) in Cash
Operating Activities:
Net loss $ (3,692,034 ) $ (5,968,603 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
   used in operations:
   Depreciation and amortization 164,920 497,880
   Allowance for doubtful accounts (1,140 )
   Warranty reserve 83,233 63,568
  Common stock issued for services and compensation 410,816
  Options and warrants issued for services 179,995
  Provision for litigation costs 150,000 950,000
  Amortization of debt discount 405,000
Changes in assets and liabilities:
     Trade accounts receivable (1,202,762 ) 97,013
     Inventories (488,864 ) (219,443 )
     Prepaid expenses and other (221,109 ) (15,106 )
     Accounts payable 430,086 (333,033 )
     Change in warranty reserve (37,588 )
     Accrued liabilities (95,414 ) 124,587


Net cash used in operating activities (4,909,532 ) (3,808,466 )


Investing Activities:
Purchase of equipment (299,623 ) (9,700 )
Patent costs paid (254,096 ) (30,777 )


Net cash used in investing activities (553,719 ) (40,477 )


Financing Activities:
Payments on capital lease (7,341 ) (7,252 )
Proceeds from issuance of convertible promissory notes 500,000
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock 2,432,500
Cash paid for offering costs (176,222 )
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants 1,106,367 401,490


Net cash provided by financing activities 1,099,026 3,150,516


Net increase (decrease) in cash (4,364,225 ) (698,427 )
Cash, beginning of period 9,850,358 1,807,720


Cash, end of period $ 5,486,133 $ 1,109,293
 

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
    Cash paid for interest $ 2,263 $ 72,521
    Cash paid for taxes
Non-cash financing activities:
    Sale of equipment for accounts payable $ 117,000
    Secured notes converted to Series E preferred stock $ 1,000,000
    Common stock issued on repayment of 8% promissory note   $ 681,845
    Common stock issued on conversion of preferred stock $ 320,414 $ 2,169,396
    Common stock issued for legal settlement accrual $ 248,000
    Subordinated notes and accrued interest paid in common stock $ 2,435,032

See accompanying notes to interim financial statements.

5


AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1. OPERATIONS

American Technology Corporation (the “Company”) 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 PureBass sound technologies.

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, NeoPlanar and PureBass speakers to companies that employ audio in consumer, commercial and professional applications. The Government and Force Protection Systems Group (Government Group) markets LRAD, NeoPlanar and HSS products to government and military customers and to the expanding force protection market.

The Company continues to be subject to certain risks, including dependence on a limited number of customers; reliance on third party suppliers and manufacturers; competition; the uncertainty of the market for new sound products; limited manufacturing, marketing and sales experience; uncertainty regarding future warranty costs; and the uncertainty of future profitability and positive cash flow.

2. STATEMENT OF PRESENTATION AND MANAGEMENT’S PLAN

The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information. In the opinion of management, the interim financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of the results for interim periods. Operating results for the three and nine month periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year. The interim financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended September 30, 2003 included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K.

Other than cash of $5,486,133 at June 30, 2004 and accounts receivable collections, the Company has no other material unused sources of liquidity at this time. The Company has financed its operations primarily through the sale of common and preferred stock and warrants, sale of notes and margins from product sales and licensing. Based on the Company’s cash position assuming (a) currently planned expenditures and level of operations and (b) continuation of product sales, management believes the Company will have sufficient capital resources for the next twelve months. Management believes increased product sales will provide additional operating funds. Management has significant flexibility to adjust the level of research and development and selling and administrative expenses based on the availability of resources.

Management expects the Company to incur additional operating losses 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. There can be no assurance that revenues from products and technologies will become sufficient to sustain operations or achieve profits in the future.

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

3. 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 accredited dividends, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of an entity. The Company’s losses for the periods presented cause the inclusion of potential common stock instruments outstanding to be antidilutive. Stock options, warrants and convertible preferred stock exercisable into 5,071,647 shares of common stock were outstanding at June 30, 2004 and stock options, warrants and convertible preferred stock and notes exercisable into 5,280,825 shares of common stock were outstanding at June 30, 2003. 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.

The Company has allocated the proceeds from preferred stock issuance between the preferred stock and warrants and also calculated the beneficial conversion discount for each series of preferred stock. The value of the beneficial conversion discount and the value of the warrants was recorded as a deemed dividend and is being accreted over the conversion period of the preferred stock. Net loss available to common stockholders was increased in each period presented in computing net loss per share by the accretion of the value of these imputed deemed dividends. Such imputed deemed dividends are not included in the Company’s stockholders’ equity as the Company has an accumulated deficit. 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.

6


AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

The provisions of each of the Company’s series of preferred stock also provide for a 6% per annum accretion in the conversion value (similar to a dividend). These amounts also increase the net loss available to common stockholders. Net loss available to common stockholders is computed as follows:

      Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
      2004   2003   2004   2003  




Net loss     $ (1,390,411 ) $ (2,382,652 ) $ (3,692,034 ) $ (5,968,603 )
Imputed deemed dividends on Series D and E    
  warrants issued with preferrd stock       (100,179 )   (310,046 )   (347,292 )   (442,062 )
Imputed deemed dividends on Series D and E    
  preferred stock       (243,396 )   (256,675 )   (603,386 )   (996,267 )
Accretion on preferred stock at 6% stated rate       (43,444 )   (61,724 )   (136,892 )   (155,407 )




Net loss available to common stockholders     $ (1,777,430 ) $ (3,011,097 ) $ (4,779,604 ) $ (7,562,339 )




At June 30, 2004 the balance of deemed dividends attributable to preferred stock warrants and to the preferred discount provision was $2,088,145. This amount will be accreted as the preferred stock is converted or warrants exercised and otherwise ratably over the remaining term of the Series D (June 30, 2006) and Series E Convertible Preferred Stock (December 31, 2006).

4. 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 requirements 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 and 2003, respectively: dividend yield of zero percent for all years; expected volatility of 60 to 75percent in 2004 and expected volatility of 68 to 84 percent in 2003; risk-free interest rates of 1.32 to 2.76 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 period. The Company’s pro forma information is as follows follows:

      Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
      2004   2003   2004   2003  




Net loss available to common shareholders     $ (1,777,430 ) $ (3,011,097 ) $ (4,779,604 ) $ (7,562,339 )
Plus: Stock-based employee compensation    
        expense included in reported net loss                    
Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense    
         determined using fair value based method       (150,489 )   (342,040 )   (658,344 )   (722,267 )




Pro forma net loss available to common stockholders     $ (1,927,919 ) $ (3,353,137 ) $ (5,437,948 ) $ (8,284,606 )




Net loss per common share - basic      
  and diluted -as reported     $ (0.09 ) $ (0.19 ) $ (0.24 ) $ (0.51 )




Net loss per common share - basic      
  and diluted - pro forma     $ (0.10 ) $ (0.22 ) $ (0.28 ) $ (0.56 )




7


AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

5. 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 to the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

6. INVENTORIES

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. Inventories consist of the following:

  June 30,
2004
  September 30,
2003
 


Finished goods $ 51,489   $ 13,690  
Work in process       182,638  
Raw materials   866,319     232,616  


    917,808     428,944  
Reserve for obsolescence   (20,000 )   (20,000 )


  $ 897,808   $ 408,944  


7. CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION

For the nine months ended June 30, 2004 sales to two customers accounted for 51% and 28% of total revenues, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2004 sales to three customers accounted for 62%, 22% and 13% of total revenues, respectively. At June 30, 2004 the accounts receivable from these three customers accounted for 40%, 28% and 6% of accounts receivable, respectively, and no other customer accounted for more than 10% of accounts receivable.

Some of the Company’s past reliance on a limited number of customers has been due to the Company’s former strategy of pursuing sales in key markets through distributors who often had exclusive rights to sell to specific customers or for specific uses. The Company’s current strategy is to pursue markets and customers directly or through non-exclusive distributors. However many of the Company’s government sales are made to military contractors who resell to the ultimate end-user agency. Accordingly, the Company may still be dependent on the success and timing of large orders from individual customers that may not be recurring, or may not recur in a predictable fashion. Accordingly, sales to individual customers may continue to represent significant percentages of future sales volume, and the loss or delay in orders to individual customers may significantly impair quarterly results of operations.

8. INTANGIBLES

Patents are carried at cost and, when granted are amortized over their estimated useful lives. 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. Patents consist of the following:

  June 30,
2004
  September 30,
2003
 
 
 
 
Patents at cost $ 1,541,154   $ 1,287,058  
Accumulated amortization   (291,907 )   (220,262 )


Net patent $ 1,249,247   $ 1,066,796  


8


AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

9. PRODUCT WARRANTY COST

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.

Changes in the warranty reserves during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 were as follows:

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
  2004   2003   2004   2003  




Beginning balance $ 325,000   $ 47,855   $ 319,500   $ 6,313  
Warranty provision   57,300     22,026     83,233     63,568  
Warranty payments   (17,155 )       (37,588 )    




Ending balance $ 365,145   $ 69,881   $ 365,145   $ 69,881  




10. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

The following table summarizes changes in equity components from transactions during the nine months ended June 30, 2004: 

          Additional
Paid-In
Capital
  Accumulated
Deficit
 
  Preferred Stock   Common Stock      
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount         






Balance as of October 1, 2003   313,250   $ 3     19,342,657   $ 193   $ 46,095,032   $ (36,367,057 )
Stock issued upon exercise of stock options           291,073     3     1,056,364      
Stock issued upon exercise of warrants           25,000         50,000      
Stock issued upon conversion of
  Series E preferred stock   (30,000 )       98,589     1     (1 )    
Legal settlement and royalty buyout
  at $4.96 per share           50,000     1     247,999      
Deemed dividends and accretion on
  convertible preferred stock of $1,087,570                        
Net loss for the period                       (3,692,034 )






Balance as of June 30, 2004   283,250   $ 3     19,807,319   $ 198   $ 47,449,394   $ (40,059,091 )






At June 30, 2004 the Company’s 50,000 outstanding shares of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock would have been convertible into 125,519 shares of common stock and the 233,250 outstanding shares of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock would have been convertible into 775,466 shares of common stock.

The following table summarizes information about stock option activity during the nine months ended June 30, 2004:

  Number of
Options
  Weighted Average
exercise price
 


Outstanding October 1, 2003   1,612,274   $ 4.00  
        Canceled/expired   (418,341 ) $ 5.45  
        Exercised   (291,073 ) $ 3.63  
        Granted   915,000   $ 5.87  


Outstanding June 30, 2004   1,817,860   $ 4.67  


Exercisable at June 30, 2004   893,122   $ 3.60  


Options outstanding are exercisable at prices ranging from $2.50 to $9.03 and expire over the period from 2004 to 2009 with an average life of 3.7 years.

9


AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

The following table summarizes information about warrant activity during the nine months ended June 30, 2004:

  Number of
Warrants
  Weighted Average
Exercise Price
 


Outstanding October 1, 2003   2,427,802   $ 3.85  
        Canceled/expired   (50,000 ) $ 10.00  
        Exercised   (25,000 ) $ 2.00  


        Issued        


Outstanding June 30, 2004   2,352,802   $ 3.74  


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

  Number   Exercise
Price
  Expiration
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, 2007  

 
  2,352,802  

 

11. 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, NeoPlanar and PureBass products to companies that employ audio in consumer, commercial and professional applications. The Government and Force Protection Systems Group (Government Group) markets LRAD, NeoPlanar and HSS products to government and military customers and to the expanding force protection market. The segments are managed separately because each segment requires different selling and marketing strategies as the class of customers within each segment is different.

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.

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
  2004   2003   2004   2003  




Revenues:                
  Business Group $ 270,494   $ 53,856   $ 807,589   $ 635,043  
  Government Group   1,836,787     259,756     3,567,720     339,810  




  $ 2,107,281   $ 313,612   $ 4,375,309   $ 974,853  




Gross Profit (Loss):
  Business Group $ (167,833 ) $ (62,015 ) $ (244,625 ) $ (88,619 )
  Government Group   1,268,795     189,526     2,259,913     204,952  




  $ 1,100,962   $ 127,511   $ 2,015,288   $ 116,333  




10


AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

12. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

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 eSOUNDideas, 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 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 Company 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 first amended cross-complaint against the Company 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 defendants seek actual and punitive damages in unstated amounts and other relief. The Company filed a demurrer and motion to strike as to the first amended cross-complaint, which was granted, in part, in May 2004. In June 2004, ESI filed a second amended cross-complaint containing allegations similar to the first amended cross-complaint and seeking the same relief. The Company has filed a demurrer and motion to strike as to the second amended cross-complaint which will be heard by the court on August 13, 2004. Discovery has commenced. No trial date has been set.

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 for 2002 of approximately $228,000. 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 demanded 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.

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
NOTES TO INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

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.

13. INCOME TAXES

At June 30, 2004, a valuation allowance has been provided to offset the net deferred tax asset as management has determined that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. At September 30, 2003 the Company had for federal income tax purposes net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $28,500,000 which expire through 2024 of which certain amounts are subject to limitations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

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

Forward Looking Statements

This Report contains certain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events or the future performance. Words such as  “expects,” “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 Report, including the matters set forth below under the captionBusiness Risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.

Overview

We are an innovator of proprietary sound reproduction technologies and products.

Our HyperSonic Sound (HSS) technology is a new method of sound reproduction that uses parametric acoustics to create sound “in the air.” Sound is generated along an air column using ultrasonic frequencies, 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. Our Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) technology produces variable intensity acoustical sound intended for use in long-range delivery of directional sound information, 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 systems and public address. Our new military sound system (5MC) offers improved intelligibility on flight decks and in other applications. Our PureBass extended range woofer employs unique cabinet construction, novel vent configurations and multiple acoustic filters to minimize distortion and provide high output. It provides a high frequency interface with our NeoPlanar panels and other upper range satellite speaker systems.

We are focusing our marketing efforts on providing sound reproduction products and components to customers and licensing our technologies for customer applications. When we supply systems or components used in other products to customers, distributors or OEMs, we include our intellectual property fees in the selling prices of the systems or components. We currently produce HSS systems and NeoPlanar panels as components of a sound system. When we license a sound technology, we typically receive a flat fee up-front, with the balance of payments based upon a percentage of net revenues of the products in which our technology is incorporated. Revenues from up-front license fees are recognized ratably over the specified term of the particular license. Contract fees are recorded as services are performed.

The following is a summary description of our operating results for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2004. A more detailed discussion of our operating results is included below under the heading “Results of Operations.”

Our third quarter of fiscal 2004 represented a continuation of business and strategic initiatives implemented in the first quarter of fiscal 2004, including:

-        Organization:
 
We changed and added to our senior management team. We now have a management team with significant experience in successfully bringing products to market.
 
We have formed separate Engineering and Advanced Development Departments. The Advanced Development Department will continue to foster creative innovation. The Engineering Department focuses on bringing reliable products to market.
 
We reorganized the sales and marketing of our products by the end-user markets they serve. We now have a Business Products and Licensing Group and a Government and Force Protection Systems Group.
 
-        Management Process:
 
We are implementing a phase gate development process. This process provides executive review of each project at key phases within the development cycle. The goal is to ensure development of products which meet our cost, reliability and business goals.
 
We have instituted a rigorous engineering verification, design verification and product life testing process. The purpose of this process is to ensure that our products are reliable and meet customer requirements.

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-        Sales:
 
We are focusing greater effort on pursuing sales opportunities internally with marketing teams in the Business Group and Government Group experienced in the target markets. In the past, we relied primarily on outside licensees for sales and marketing of our key products.
 
       We are focusing on maintaining acceptable margins for the substantial majority of our sales.
 
Our marketing teams are focused on sales growth and we expect continued revenue growth in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004.
 
-        Business Relationships:
 
We are establishing relationships with established national or global partners for sales, manufacturing and distribution to accelerate the worldwide adoption of our products. We are generally pursuing relationships on a non-exclusive basis to maximize the performance incentives for our partners and market penetration of our products.
 
Relationships are being chosen and structured carefully for complimentary fit with our strategy and achievement of desired objectives.

We believe our third quarter shows positive results deriving from these initiatives. Our revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 were $2.1 million, compared to $1.5 million for the immediately preceding second quarter of fiscal 2004, and $313,600 for the quarter ended June 30, 2003. Our gross profit for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2004 was 52% and 46% of revenues, compared to 40% and 12% gross profit for the comparable three and nine months of the prior fiscal year. We accomplished these significant improvements in sales and margins while increasing only modestly our total operating expenses. Overall, we reduced our net loss from $6.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2003 to $3.7 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2004, and from $2.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2003 to $1.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2004.

Management is continuing to focus efforts upon near-term revenue and gross margin improvement from our existing, marketable products. We have increased the number of personnel to further in-house sales and marketing, grow our Advanced Development Department to develop new products and product applications, and to fill key management and operational positions. Personnel cost increases reflect our objective to assemble the right teams to accelerate quality product development, build market momentum, and generate sales. We believe our new generation HSS and LRAD products, plus quarter-over-quarter sales increases, are direct results of building the proper staff. We are focusing resources on sales, marketing, engineering and production of existing products, and we will closely monitor research and development activities in future periods with a view toward establishing a compelling business case for each Advanced Development initiative.

Our various technologies are high risk in nature. Our future is largely dependent upon the success of our 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 and 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.

Recent Developments

In April 2004, Kalani Jones was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer. He formerly served as Chief Operating Officer. In the new position, he has assumed greater responsibilities for all aspects of our business operations. He is also managing Sales and Marketing for our Business Group pending the hiring of a Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

In June 2004 we announced the hiring of Michael A. Russell as our Chief Financial Officer. Carl Gruenler, who was acting as Interim Chief Financial Officer, is now focused full-time on his duties as Vice President of our Government Group.

In May 2004 we announced a manufacturing partnership with Pemstar, Inc. to build volume HSS® and LRAD(TM) orders. Pemstar is a leading provider of manufacturing services with over 1,000,000 square feet in 15 manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Asia, Europe, South America and Mexico.

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Also in May 2004 we announced that we have been developing a new flight deck voice communications system designated as the 5MC system by the U.S. Navy. This new product was supported in part by a $436,000 contract by the U.S. Navy via a contract with Signal Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of General Dynamics Network Systems. Our 5MC military sound system complements our LRAD and NeoPlanar product offerings to government customers.

In June 2004 we received our first shipments of Generation III HSS units from our contract manufacturer (Pemstar, Inc.) and commenced testing with selected customers in anticipation of growing production and sales starting in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2004. Generation III HSS features higher SPL (loudness), lower distortion (cleaner sound) and attractive packaging resulting from internal and external industrial design. With the known performance of our Generation III HSS product we are focusing our Business Group marketing efforts on the digital signage, kiosk/display and trade show markets where we believe HSS speakers offer customers compelling advantages by directing sound to target users and reducing noise clutter. Existing Business Group sales and marketing personnel and those we seek to hire will be focused on end-user customers and technology integrators and others specializing in these market segments. In addition to direct sales to end-users, we expect to develop relationships with established national or global partners for sales, distribution and installation of HSS products to accelerate the worldwide adoption of HSS sound solutions. We are also in the early stages of developing opportunities and relationships to employ HSS technology in home theater and related applications.

Critical Accounting Policies

We have identified the policies below as critical to our business operations and the understandings of our results of operations. 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.

In the ordinary course of business, we have made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of results of operations and financial condition in the preparation of our financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates under different assumptions and conditions and operating results for the three and nine month periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year. 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 derive our 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 sale 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 recognized ratably over the specified term of the particular license or agreement.

Intangible Assets.  Intangible assets include purchased technology and patents which are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The carrying value 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.

Warranty Reserve. We establish 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. We evaluate the adequacy of the provision for warranty costs each reporting period.

Guarantees and Indemnifications. Under our charter documents, 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.

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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 our financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 and we adopted the disclosure requirements effective October 1, 2002. In compliance with FAS No. 148, we have elected to continue to follow the intrinsic value method in accounting for our stock-based employee compensation plan as defined by APB No. 25.

Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses are salaries and related expenses associated with the development of our proprietary sound technologies and include compensation paid to engineering personnel and fees to outside contractors and consultants.

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.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. We do not have off-balance sheet arrangements, financings, or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, also known as “special purpose entities” (SPEs).

Results of Operations

Revenues

Revenues increased 349% for the nine month period ended June 30, 2004 to $4,375,309 compared to $974,853 for the comparable first nine months of fiscal 2003. Revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2004 were $2,107,281, a 572% increase over revenues of $313,612 for the comparable three months of fiscal 2003. Revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 included $4,201,193 of product and component sales and $174,116 of contract and license revenues. Revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2003 included $808,296 of product sales and $166,557 of contract and license revenues. The increases in the 2004 period were primarily a result of several large LRAD contracts and one large NeoPlanar contract. The nine month 2003 revenues included $83,261 for portable consumer products. Portable consumer product revenues represented products sourced by us, private labeled under our name and resold to sporting good stores and other retailers. During fiscal 2003 we ceased marketing and selling portable consumer products in order to focus financial, personnel and facility resources on our sound technologies. There were no sales of portable consumer products in the first nine months of fiscal 2004.

Contract and license revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2004 and 2003 were $174,116 and $166,557. Our focus in fiscal 2004 has been on product and component sales rather than contracted development. At June 30, 2004 and 2003 we had $322,481 and $274,170 recorded as deferred revenue or deposits for existing contracts, agreements and licenses.

As we have only recently commenced product manufacturing and sales, have limited record of recurring sales and difficulties producing HSS systems in fiscal 2003 caused delays in order fulfillment, we do not consider order backlog to be an important index of future performance at this time. Our backlog is also affected by the timing of large orders and order deliveries, especially to government customers. Our order backlog was approximately $46,800 and $558,000 at June 30, 2004 and 2003. Backlog orders are subject to modification, cancellation or rescheduling by our customers. Future shipments may also be delayed due to production delays, component shortages and other production and delivery related issues.

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, NeoPlanar and PureBass products to companies which employ audio in consumer, commercial and professional applications. Our Government and Force Protection Systems Group (Government Group) markets LRAD, NeoPlanar, 5MC systems and HSS products to government and military customers and to the expanding force protection market. Although the segments became separately managed in the last quarter of fiscal 2003, we have segmented historical operations for comparable end-user customers for comparison purposes.

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Presented below is a summary of revenues by business segment:

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
2004   2003   2004   2003  




Revenues:                
  Business Group $ 270,494   $ 53,856   $ 807,589   $ 635,043  
  Government Group   1,836,787     259,756     3,567,720     339,810  




  $ 2,107,281   $ 313,612   $ 4,375,309   $ 974,853  




Business Group revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2004 included both HSS and NeoPlanar product sales. Business Group revenues for the comparable nine months of the prior year included $83,261 for portable consumer products with the balance from initial HSS startup sales and NeoPlanar product sales. HSS sales declined and shipments were sporadic in the last three quarters of fiscal 2003 as we worked through manufacturing and materials issues. In the first quarter of fiscal 2004 we began to slowly ramp HSS shipments to selected customers. We expect Business Group HSS product shipments to ramp up during the balance of fiscal 2004 and in fiscal 2005.

Government Group revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2004 included sales of $3,400,105 of LRAD, NeoPlanar and 5MC products and $167,615 of revenues from engineering and contract work. These revenues derived primarily from a limited number of large orders and the timing of follow-on orders, if any, is difficult to predict. Government Group revenues for the prior year’s first nine months were primarily from contract work related to the development of LRAD technology. Our Government Group has only recently been formed and we do not believe historical revenues are indicative of future revenues. We expect continued revenue growth in the last quarter of fiscal 2004.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2004 sales to two customers accounted for 51% and 28% of total revenues, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2004 sales to three customers accounted for 62%, 22% and 13% of total revenues, respectively.

Gross Profit

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

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
2004     2003     2004     2003  




Gross Profit (Loss):                      
  Business Group $ (167,833 )   $ (62,015 )   $ (244,625 )   $ (88,619 )
  Government Group   1,268,795       189,526       2,259,913       204,952  




  $ 1,100,962     $ 127,511     $ 2,015,288     $ 116,333  




The overall gross profit for the nine months ended June 30, 2004 was 46% of revenues, a significant improvement from the 12% gross profit reported for the comparable first nine months of the prior year. We experienced a gross loss on Business Group operations for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 of $244,625 due to a slow ramping of sales efforts following manufacturing and materials issues encountered in fiscal 2003 on HSS systems. We also recognized lower than standard margins on a Business Group NeoPlanar installation that demonstrates the benefits of NeoPlanar speakers in theaters, concert halls and other venues. For the 2003 fiscal year we had a gross loss in Business Group operations primarily as a result of warranty costs incurred in the last quarter of fiscal 2003. We expect Business Group product sales to produce positive margins in late fiscal 2004 or early fiscal 2005 as we ship Generation III HSS units and grow sales.

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We do not believe historical gross profit results are necessarily indicative of future results. Gross profit percentage is highly dependent on sales prices, volumes, personnel allocations and assignments, purchasing costs and overhead allocations. We have very limited experience with a new contract manufacturer for HSS and LRAD products, and costs of such contract work will vary based on volumes and other factors. Our various sound products have different margins so product sales mix can materially affect gross profits. We continue to make model changes including raw material and component changes thus changing cost inputs. Margins may vary significantly from period to period.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales were 86% for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 compared to 348% in the comparable period for fiscal 2003. These costs in the first nine months of fiscal 2004 totaled $3,766,137, an increase of $372,532 from the $3,393,605 incurred in the first nine months of fiscal 2003. Personnel and consulting costs increased $968,000 in the current nine month period compared to the prior period primarily as a result of personnel additions made in late fiscal 2003 and during fiscal 2004 including the formation of our Government Group and recruiting and related costs. Personnel cost increases reflect our objective to assemble the right teams to accelerate quality product development, build market momentum, and generate sales. Legal and settlement related costs decreased by $892,000, primarily as a result of the $950,000 provision for litigation costs, but may vary significantly quarter to quarter due to licensing and contract initiatives, legal disputes and other matters. Other increases in the current year included an $111,000 increase in our public company and stock market obligations, a $61,000 increase in public relations and product promotion and an $153,000 increase in occupancy costs resulting from increased activity.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the third quarter ended June 30, 2004 were $1,614,351 compared to $1,728,296 for the comparable quarter of fiscal 2003. Personnel and consulting costs increased $551,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2004 compared to the comparable quarter of 2003 reflecting significant increases in sales and administrative personnel. These increases were offset by a reduction of $780,000 in charges related to legal costs and contingencies.

We expect to expend additional resources on growing our management team and in marketing our sound technologies in future periods, which we expect will increase selling, general and administrative expenses.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses declined slightly from fiscal 2003 to 2004. Research and development expenses as a percentage of sales were 45% for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 compared to 208% in the comparable period for fiscal 2003. These costs in the first nine months of fiscal 2004 totaled $1,983,518, a decrease of $39,577 from the $2,023,095 incurred in the first nine months of fiscal 2003. Personnel and consulting costs increased in the first nine months of 2004 by $70,000 while component and prototype related costs increased by $168,000. Fiscal 2003 research and development costs included $315,636 of amortization expense related to purchased technology. There was no comparable amortization in the most recent nine month period as the purchased technology is fully amortized.

Research and development expenses for the third quarter ended June 30, 2004 were $890,299 compared to $714,376 for the comparable quarter of fiscal 2003. The reduction of $105,000 of purchased technology amortization in 2003 was offset in fiscal 2004 by $235,000 increase in personnel and consulting costs and a $67,000 increase in prototyping and testing costs primarily related to HSS systems.

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 2004 development costs to increase compared to the prior year as we have added personnel and develop and test new applications and products based on our sound technologies.

Loss From Operations

Total operating expenses were $5,749,655 for the nine months ended June 30, 2004, compared to the $5,416,700 for the comparable period ended June 30, 2003. Our loss from operations was $3,734,367 for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 representing a significant reduction compared to $5,300,367 for the first nine months of fiscal 2003. We expect increased product sales and margin contributions in fiscal 2004 to continue to reduce the loss from operations from fiscal 2003 levels. The loss from operations for the third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2004 was $1,403,688. This represents a $911,473 reduction compared to $2,315,161 loss from operations for the third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2003. The reduced loss from operations experienced in the most recent quarter resulted primarily from a $973,000 improvement in gross margin contribution.

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Other Income (Expense)

The major items in other income (expense) are interest expense and interest income. In the first nine months of fiscal 2004 we incurred interest expense of $2,263 a reduction of $668,506 from interest expense of $670,769 in the first nine months of fiscal 2003, which included non-cash amortization of debt discount of $405,000. During fiscal 2003 our outstanding long-term debt was converted to equity causing the decline in interest expense. We do not expect any significant interest costs for the balance of fiscal 2004. We recognized $44,596 in interest income for the nine months ended June 30, 2004 from invested cash balances.

Net Loss

The net loss for first nine months of fiscal 2004 was $3,692,034 compared to the net loss of $5,968,603 for the first nine months of the prior year. The $2,276,569 reduction in the net loss resulted primarily from increased revenues and margins and reduced interest expense. The net loss for the third fiscal quarter of 2004 was $1,390,411, representing an improvement of $992,241 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2003.

Net Loss Available to Common Stockholders

Net loss available to common stockholders was increased in each period presented in computing net loss per share by the accretion of the value of imputed deemed dividends arising from the beneficial conversion discount and the value of warrants associated with 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 $1,087,570 in the first nine months of fiscal 2004 and $1,593,736 in the first nine months of fiscal 2003. Accordingly the net loss available to common stockholders was $4,779,604 and $7,562,339 for each nine month period.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have experienced significant negative cash flow from operating activities including developing and introducing our sound technologies. Our net cash used in operating activities was $4,909,532 for the nine months ended June 30, 2004. As of June 30, 2004, the net loss of $3,692,034 included certain expenses not requiring the use of cash totaling $398,153. In addition, cash was used in operating activities through an increase of $1,202,762 in accounts receivable, an increase of $488,864 in inventory and an increase of $221,109 in prepaid expenses. Cash was provided by an increase of $297,084 in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

At June 30, 2004, we had accounts receivable of $1,386,924 as compared to $184,162 at September 30, 2003. The balance at June 30, 2004 represented approximately 60 days of revenues. Terms with individual customers vary greatly. We typically require pre-payment or a maximum of thirty-day terms for our sound technology components and products. Our receivables can also vary substantially due to overall sales volumes and due to quarterly and seasonal variations in sales and timing of shipments to and receipts from large customers and the timing of contract payments.

For the first nine months of fiscal 2004, we used $299,623 for the purchase of equipment and software and made a $254,096 investment in patents and new patent applications. We anticipate a continued investment in patents in the balance of fiscal 2004. Dollar amounts to be invested on these patents are not currently estimable by management.

At June 30, 2004, we had working capital of $5,749,624 compared to working capital of $8,484,210 at September 30, 2003.

We have financed our working capital requirements primarily through sales of common and preferred stock and warrants, exercises of stock options and warrants, sales of convertible and non-convertible notes, and margins from product sales. Private equity and debt capital has generally been available to us when needed. The availability of such capital in the future will depend on a number of factors, some of which are outside our control. These include general market conditions, conditions in the private equity markets where we have historically raised capital, the then-current market price of our common stock, and our historical financial performance and future prospects. Our ability to raise capital could also be affected by any of the risks affecting our business discussed below under the heading “Business Risks.”

In July 2003, we raised approximately $9.4 million in net proceeds from an equity financing, and since that financing, we have not needed outside capital to fund our operations. Cash from financing activities of $1,099,026 consisted almost entirely of option and warrant exercises, the timing and amount of which are not in our control.

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Based on our current cash position and assuming (a) currently planned expenditures and level of operations and (b) continuation of product sales, we believe we have sufficient cash for operations for the next twelve months. We believe increased sales of HSS, LRAD and NeoPlanar products will also contribute cash during the next twelve months. 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.

Other than cash of $5,486,133 at June 30, 2004 and accounts receivable collections, we have no other material 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 sound products. The timing and amounts of these expenditures and the extent of our operating losses will depend on future product sales levels and other factors, some of which are beyond management’s control. There can be no assurance that revenues from products and technologies will become sufficient to sustain operations or achieve profits in the future.

Contractual Commitments and Commercial Commitments

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

 

Payments Due by Period

             
Contractual Obligations  Total Less than 1
Year
1-3 Years   3-5 Years  

More Than
5 Years

 






Capital leases$ 25,612   $ 12,806   $ 12,806   $ -0-   $ -0-  
Operating leases 526,756    250,880    262,440    13,436    -0-  
Purchase obligations 73,400    73,400    -0-    -0-    -0-  
Employment agreements 30,500    30,500    -0-    -0-    -0-  





Total contractual cash obligations$ 656,268   $ 367,586   $ 275,246   $ 13,436   $ -0-  





In January 2004 we executed a new operating lease on our corporate offices, which resulted in a substantial increase in our operating lease commitments.

Other than included above we had no purchase obligations or long-term debt obligations at June 30, 2004.

New Accounting Pronouncements

A number of new pronouncements have been issued for future implementation as discussed in the footnotes to our interim financial statements (see page 8, Note 5). As discussed in the notes to the interim financial statements, the implementation of these new pronouncements is not expected to have a material effect on our financial statements.

Business Risks

You should consider each of the following factors as well as the other information in this Quarterly Report in evaluating our business and our prospects. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial may also impair our business operations. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business and financial results could be harmed. In that case the trading price of our common stock could decline. You should also refer to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, including our financial statements and the related notes.

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 2004. At June 30, 2004, we had an accumulated deficit of $40 million. 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.

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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, PureBass 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 or by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) 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 technologies have been sporadic to date, and we cannot guarantee significant revenues in the future. The development and introduction of our products has taken longer than anticipated by management and could be subject to additional delays. Customers may not wait for our products and may elect to purchase products from competitors. We have experienced manufacturing quality control problems with some of our initial commercial HSS systems, and we may not be able to resolve future manufacturing problems in a timely and cost effective manner. Products employing our sound technologies 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 technologies, 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.  We have incurred substantial warranty costs related to our first generation HSS systems, which caused a negative gross margin for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003.

None of our products has been mass produced in quantity, and certain of our technologies, including HSS and LRAD, 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.

Due to performance failures of components in some of our first generation of HSS systems, we are voluntarily replacing emitters on an estimated 700 Generation I HSS units. At June 30, 2004 we had a warranty reserve of $365,145 with $241,000 allocated for this replacement program. Future warranty costs could further adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and business prospects.

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.

Our historical revenues have included sales of portable consumer products. The majority of our fiscal 2003 and all of our fiscal 2004 to date revenues were generated from our sound reproduction technologies, and we expect these to be the source of substantially all of our future revenues. Revenues from our sound 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; and
 
- general economic conditions that could affect the timing of customer orders and capital spending and result in order cancellations or rescheduling.

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

Some 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; and
 
-        the timing of personnel and consultant hiring.

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 established markets. As a result, our technologies, even if successful, may become obsolete before we recoup our investment.

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.

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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 the Export Administration Act of 1979, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 and the Arms Export Control Act of 1976. We may not be able to obtain the necessary licenses in order to conduct business abroad. In the case of certain sales of defense equipment and services to foreign governments, the U.S. Department of State must notify Congress at least 15 to 30 days, depending on the size and location of the sale, prior to authorizing these sales. During that time, Congress may take action to block the proposed sale. Failure to receive required licenses or authorization would hinder our ability to sell some of our products outside the United States.

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 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.

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.

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Our agreements with General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc. were recently terminated. Our business was formerly highly dependent on our level of sales to that company and its affiliates.

In April 2004, we and General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc. (GD-ATP), agreed to the formal termination of two licensing and sales agreements 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.

Revenues under the GD-ATP agreements and a prior professional services agreement with Bath Iron Works Corporation represented approximately 16% of our revenues during the nine months ended June 30, 2004, and 24% of our revenues during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003. Subsequent to the termination of the agreements we have continued to make sales to General Dynamics divisions and affiliates. Our future results of operations could suffer unless we continue to sell successfully to customers and markets formerly subject to the GD-ADP agreements.

Our business has been highly dependent on a limited number of customers.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2004 sales to two customers accounted for 51% and 28% of total revenues, respectively. For the three months ended June 30, 2004 sales to three customers accounted for 62%, 22% and 13% of total revenues, respectively. Some of the past reliance on a limited number of customers has been due to the former strategy of pursuing sales in key markets through distributors who often had exclusive rights to sell to specific customers or for specific uses. Our current strategy is to pursue markets and customers directly or through non-exclusive distributors. However many of our government sales are made to military contractors who resell to the ultimate end-user agency. Accordingly, we may still be dependent on the success and timing of large orders from individual customers that may not be recurring, or may not recur in a predictable fashion. Accordingly, sales to individual customers may continue to represent significant percentages of future sales volume, and the loss or delay in orders to individual customers may significantly impair quarterly results of operations and could cause our stock price to decline.

Commercialization of our 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 sound technologies and products.

Our strategy includes establishing 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 sound technologies.

Our success will therefore depend in part 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 may 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 will be dependent on outside manufacturers to support our production schedules. We have recently changed manufacturers.

During fiscal 2003, we terminated our manufacturing relationship with HST, Inc., formerly our sub-contract manufacturer of our HSS and NeoPlanar products. In addition, Amtec Manufacturing, previously the sole manufacturer of our PureBass subwoofer units, ceased operations. In May 2004 we established a manufacturing partnership with Pemstar, Inc., an established contract manufacturer. Our experience with this new relationship is limited, and we cannot yet predict cost and production timing at a level of assurance that would come with a longer term relationship. Any difficulties in establishing a long-term contract manufacturing relationship could reduce future revenues and margins, 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 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.

Our Government Group revenues are materially dependant 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.

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. Government, military and the developing 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. Sales of our products to these agencies may also be delayed or limited by these claims or perceptions.

Any inability to adequately protect our proprietary technologies could harm our competitive position.

We are heavily dependent on patent protection to secure the economic value of our technologies. We have both issued and pending patents on our sound reproduction technologies and we are considering additional patent applications. Patents may not be issued for some or all of our pending applications. Claims allowed from existing or pending patents may not be of sufficient scope or strength to protect the economic value of our technologies. Issued patents may be challenged or invalidated. Further, we may not receive patents in all countries where our products can be sold or licensed. Our competitors may also be able to design around our patents. 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. There is currently no pending litigation against us that questions our intellectual property rights. Third parties may charge that our technologies or products infringe their patents or proprietary rights. Problems with patents or other rights could potentially increase the cost of our products, or delay or preclude our new product development and commercialization. If infringement claims against us are deemed valid, we may be forced to obtain licenses, which might not be available on acceptable terms or at all. Litigation could be costly and time-consuming but may be necessary to protect our future patent and/or technology license positions, or to defend against infringement claims. A successful challenge to our sound technology could have a negative effect on our business prospects.

25


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 depend 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 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 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.

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 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 June 30, 2004, the outstanding 50,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock were convertible into an aggregate of 125,519 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 June 30, 2004, the 233,250 outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock were convertible into an aggregate of 775,466 common shares. The Series E Warrants on 364,875 common shares also contain an antidilution adjustment for certain security sales by the Company below $3.25 per share.

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. 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.

26


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; 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.

27


Item 3. 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 exposed to some market risk through interest rates, related to our investment of current cash and cash equivalents of approximately $5.5 million. Based on this balance, a change of one percent in interest rate would cause a change in interest income of $55,000. 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 4. Controls and Procedures.

(a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that material information related to American Technology Corporation, including our consolidated subsidiaries, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms. 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) and 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 the design and operation of such disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

(b) Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting. In October 2003, we implemented a new integrated accounting and supply chain management software system. We have adapted certain of our internal controls to the new system, and we will continue to evaluate, document and monitor any required changes to internal controls in connection with the full implementation of the new system. Other than as described above, there were no significant changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during our most recently completed fiscal quarter.

Limitations of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. 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.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

Reference is made to Footnote 12 on page 11 of this report for information regarding Legal Proceedings.

Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds.

Not applicable

28


Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

Not applicable

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

At the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 27, 2004, the following individuals were elected to the Board of Directors: Elwood G. Norris, Kalani Jones, Richard M. Wagner, David J. Carter and Daniel Hunter. For each elected director, the results of the voting were:

Affirmative Votes Votes Withheld  
   
 
 
Elwood G. Norris   13,506,156   155,030  
Kalani Jones  13,545,712   115,474  
Richard M. Wagner  13,548,448   112,738  
David J. Carter  13,548,948   112,238  
Daniel Hunter  13,554,098   107,088  

Our stockholders also voted to ratify the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004. The results of the voting on this proposal were:

Affirmative Votes Negative Votes Abstentions Broker Non-Votes  

 
 
 
 
13,619,207   21,332   20,647   -0-  

The foregoing proposal was approved and accordingly ratified.

Item 5. Other Information.

Not applicable

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

(a)   Exhibits:
   
10.1 Employment Agreement of Michael A. Russell dated June 17, 2004.
 
10.2 Severance Agreement of Joe Zerucha dated June 14, 2004.
 
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.
   
 (b)  Reports on Form 8-K:
 
On April 28, 2004, we filed a Form 8-K containing disclosure in Items 5 and 7, therein.
On June 25, 2004, we filed a Form 8-K containing disclosure in Items 5 and 7, therein.

29


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.

  AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
     
Date:  August 4, 2004 By:   /s/ MICHAEL A. RUSSELL 
    ———————————————
    Michael A. Russell, Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and duly
    authorized to sign on behalf of the Registrant)

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