TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORP - Quarter Report: 2023 June (Form 10-Q)

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Balance Sheets

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. Description of the Business and Basis of Presentation

Company Operations

Technical Communications Corporation (“TCC”) was incorporated in Massachusetts in 1961; its wholly-owned subsidiary, TCC Investment Corp., was organized in that jurisdiction in 1982. Technical Communications Corporation and TCC Investment Corp. are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “Company”. The Company’s business consists of only one industry segment, which is the design, development, manufacture, distribution, marketing and sale of communications security devices, systems and services. The secure communications solutions provided by TCC protect vital information transmitted over a wide range of data, video, fax and voice networks. TCC’s products have been sold into over 115 countries and are in service with governments, military agencies, telecommunications carriers, financial institutions and multinational corporations.

Interim Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Technical Communications Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary include all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the periods presented and in order to make the financial statements not misleading. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023.

The September 24, 2022 consolidated balance sheet contained herein was derived from the Company’s audited consolidated balance sheet at September 24, 2022 as contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year then ended as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted as allowed by SEC rules and regulations. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2022 included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC (the “2022 Annual Report”).

The Company follows accounting standards set by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, commonly referred to as the FASB. The FASB sets generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) that the Company follows to ensure it consistently reports its financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. References to GAAP issued by the FASB in these footnotes are to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification - sometimes referred to as the Codification or ASC.

Liquidity and Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

For the nine months ended June 24, 2023, the Company generated a net loss of approximately $1,943,619 and for the fiscal years ended September 24, 2022 and September 25, 2021, the Company generated net losses of approximately $2,331,000 and $1,088,000, respectively. The Company has experienced declining revenues during the first nine months ended June 24, 2023 and has an accumulated deficit of approximately $8,428,725 at June 24, 2023. These factors continue to raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Such consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

In December 2022 the Company implemented a partial furlough plan for the majority of salaried employees. The plan reduces the workweek to 24 hours and salaries have been reduced commensurately. In January of 2023 the Company reduced the workweek further to 16 hours. With this furlough plan in place we anticipate our current liquidity will be sufficient to fund our activities through September 2023. In order to have sufficient cash to fund our operations beyond that point, we will need to secure new customer contracts, raise additional equity or debt capital, and reduce expenses, including payroll and payroll-related expenses through another employee furlough and/or separations.

In February 2023, the Company entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Promissory Note with Carl H. Guild, Jr., the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “Amended Notes Payable”). The amendment fixed the rate of interest at 6.5% per annum, removed the demand aspect of the note and added Michelle S. Guild as a holder of the Amended Notes Payable. Under the terms of the Amended Notes Payable, the Company shall repay the principal balance of $4,000,000 in sixty consecutive monthly payments of principal and interest commencing on March 23, 2023 and ending February 23, 2028 (the “Maturity Date”). The Company has not made a principal payment on the Amended Notes Payable as of June 24, 2023.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont’d)

In order to have sufficient capital resources to fund operations, the Company has been working diligently to secure several large orders with new and existing customers. The receipt of these orders has been significantly delayed and will continue to be difficult to predict due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our customers as a result of their operations being reduced or shut down. TCC has been able to maintain its operations during this sustained period of disruption, but a continuation of the disruption in either our customers’ operations or those of the Company will continue to have a material adverse impact on sales activity and revenue.

The Company is working diligently to secure additional capital through equity or debt arrangements in addition to the recent funding received from the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and Mr. Guild (see Note 7). The Company is actively working with equity investors as well as debt investors, such as the SBA and Mr. Guild to secure additional funding, although we cannot provide assurances we will be able to secure such new funding. Moreover, the Company’s common stock was delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market effective January 25, 2021; while the common stock is quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the change in listing may have a negative impact on the liquidity of the stock and the Company’s ability to raise capital through offerings of its equity securities.

Should the Company be unsuccessful in these efforts, it would be forced to implement headcount reductions, additional employee furloughs and/or reduced hours for certain employees, or cease operations completely.

Reporting Period

The Company’s by-laws call for its fiscal year to end on the Saturday closest to the last day of September, unless otherwise decided by its Board of Directors.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of TCC and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations are based on the unaudited consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these unaudited consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.

On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including but not limited to those related to revenue recognition, inventory reserves, receivable reserves, marketable securities, impairment of long-lived assets, income taxes, fair value of financial instruments and stock-based compensation. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. By their nature, estimates are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

NOTE 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in “Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in its 2022 Annual Report and are supplemented by the notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The financial statements and related notes included in this Quarterly Report should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2022 Annual Report.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont’d)

NOTE 3. Stock-Based Compensation

The following table summarizes stock-based compensation costs included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the first three and nine months of fiscal 2023 and 2022:

As of June 24, 2023, there was approximately $48,000 of unrecognized compensation expense related to options outstanding. The unrecognized compensation expense will be recognized over the remaining requisite service period. As of June 24, 2023, the weighted average period over which the compensation expense is expected to be recognized is 3 years.

On May 6, 2021 the Company adopted the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan authorizes the issuance of up to 300,000 shares. The Plan has not been approved by shareholders and allows for non-qualified stock option grants, stock appreciation rights (SARS), restricted stock and stock units and other stock and stock based awards. There were 28,000 shares outstanding under this plan as of June 24, 2023. Vesting periods are at the discretion of the Board of Directors and typically range between zero and five years. Options under the 2021 plan are granted with an exercise price equal to fair value at time of grant and have a term of ten years from the date of grant.

The Technical Communications Corporation 2005 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan and 2010 Equity Incentive Plan are expired as of December 25, 2021 and options are no longer available for grant thereunder, although vested, unexercised options under such plans remain outstanding. There are an aggregate of 121,900 shares outstanding under both plans at June 24, 2023. Vesting periods are at the discretion of the Board of Directors and typically range between zero and five years. Options under these plans are granted with an exercise price equal to fair value at time of grant and have a term of ten years from the date of grant.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont’d)

The following table summarizes stock option activity:

Information related to the stock options vested and expected to vest as of June 24, 2023 is as follows:

There were no “in-the-money” outstanding and exercisable options as of June 24, 2023 and June 25, 2022 and therefore no aggregate intrinsic value. Nonvested stock options are subject to the risk of forfeiture until the fulfillment of specified conditions.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont’d)

NOTE 4. Revenue

The following table presents the Company’s revenues disaggregated by revenue type:

Engineering services revenue consists of funded research and development and technology development for commercial companies and government agencies primarily under fixed-price contracts. The Company also derives revenue from developing and designing custom cryptographic solutions for customers’ unique secure voice, data and video communications requirements and integrating such solutions into existing systems. These contracts can vary but typically call for fixed monthly payments or payments due upon meeting certain milestones. Customers are billed monthly or upon achieving the milestone

Equipment sales revenue consists of sales of communications security equipment for voice, data, facsimile and video networks for military, government and corporate/industrial applications. Equipment sales are billed to the customer upon shipment with typical payment terms requiring a down payment at the time of order with the balance due prior to shipment. For government and certain long term customers, we may grant net payment terms.

NOTE 5. Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following:

NOTE 6. Leases

The Company maintains a real estate lease with a third party for all manufacturing, research and development, and corporate operations which will expire on March 30, 2024. The Company classifies this lease as an operating lease with the costs recognized as a selling, general and administrative expense in its consolidated statements of operations. The lease expense for each of the nine month periods ended June 24, 2023 and June 25, 2022 was $127,952.

The table below presents the maturity of the Company’s operating lease liability by calendar year as of June 24, 2023:

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont’d)

NOTE 7. Debt

SBA Loan

On August 10, 2020, the Company was granted a loan (the “SBA Loan”) from the SBA in the principal amount of $150,000 pursuant to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. The SBA Loan, which is evidenced by a Promissory Note dated August 10, 2020, is payable in monthly installments of $731, including principal and interest, over 30 years at an interest rate of 3.75% per year. The SBA Loan may be prepaid by the Company at any time prior to maturity with no prepayment penalties. The proceeds from this loan must be used solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Although originally repayable commencing one year after grant, on March 12, 2021 the SBA announced that payments on the SBA Loan would be deferred an additional year.

As part of the SBA Loan, the Company granted the SBA a continuing security interest in and to any and all “Collateral” to secure payment and performance of all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company to the SBA under the SBA Loan. The Collateral includes all tangible and intangible personal property that the Company owns or acquires or creates immediately upon the acquisition or creation thereof, including, but not limited to: (a) inventory, (b) equipment, (c) instruments, including promissory notes, (d) chattel paper, including tangible chattel paper and electronic chattel paper, (e) documents, (f) letter of credit rights, (g) accounts, including health-care insurance receivables and credit card receivables, (h) deposit accounts, (i) commercial tort claims,

(j) general intangibles, including payment intangibles and software, and (k) as-extracted collateral, in each case as such terms may from time to time be defined in the Uniform Commercial Code.

The aggregate amounts of principal maturities of the SBA Loan for the following fiscal years are:

Related Party Note Payable

On August 4, 2022, the Company issued a Third Amended and Restated Demand Promissory Note in the principal amount of up to $4,000,000 in favor of Carl H. Guild, Jr. Mr. Guild, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, loaned the money to the Company to provide working capital. The $4,000,000 consists of $1,000,000 previously loaned to the Company at an interest rate of 6% and $2,000,000 previously loaned to the Company at an interest rate of 7.5% and an additional $1,000,000 at an interest rate of 7.5%.

In February 2023, the Company entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Promissory Note with Mr. Guild (the “Amended Notes Payable”). The amendment fixed the rate of interest at 6.5% per annum, removed the demand aspect of the note and added Michelle S. Guild as a holder of the Amended Notes Payable. Under the terms of the Amended Notes Payable, the Company shall repay the principal balance of $4,000,000 in sixty consecutive monthly payments of principal and interest commencing on March 23, 2023 and ending February 23, 2028 (the “Maturity Date”). In an Event of Default or Change in Control, as defined, the Amended Notes Payable may, at the option of the holder, become immediately due and payable.

As of June 24, 2023, the Company had not made a principal payment and the outstanding balance was $4,000,000, plus accrued interest of $298,125.

Interest expense incurred under the related party note payable for the three and nine months ended June 24, 2023 was $64,110 and $191,635, respectively. Interest expense incurred under the related party note payable for the three and nine months ended June 25, 2022 was $35,024 and $76,808 respectively.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont’d)

The aggregate amounts of principal maturities of the related party note payable for the following fiscal years are:

NOTE 8. Income Taxes

The Company has not recorded an income tax benefit on its net loss for the nine month periods ended June 24, 2023 and June 25, 2022 due to its uncertain realizability. During previous fiscal years, the Company recorded a valuation allowance for the full amount of its net deferred tax assets since it could not predict the realization of these assets.

Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) the Company is entitled to Employee Retention Credits for parts of its fiscal 2020 and 2021 years. The Company is entitled to $515,966 in credits of which all was received during the first nine months of fiscal 2023.

NOTE 9. Loss Per Share

Outstanding potentially dilutive stock options, which were not included in the net loss per share amounts as their effect would have been anti-dilutive, were as follows: 149,900 shares at June 24, 2023 and 164,900 shares at June 25, 2022.

NOTE 10.Major Customers and Export Sales

During the three months ended June 24, 2023, two customers represented 100% of net revenue (40% and 60% respectively). During the nine month period ended June 24, 2023, four customers represented 90% of net revenue (11%, 14%, 16% and 48% respectively).

During the three months ended June 25, 2022, two customers represented 100% of net revenue (85% and 15% respectively). During the nine month period ended June 25, 2022, one customer represented 86% of net revenue.

A breakdown of foreign and domestic net revenue is as follows:

The Company sold products into one foreign country during the three-month period ended June 24, 2023 and two foreign countries during the nine month-period ended June 24, 2023. The Company sold products into one foreign country during the three-month period ended June 25, 2022 and two foreign countries during the nine month period ended June 25, 2022.

A sale is attributed to a foreign country based on the location of the contracting party. Domestic revenue may include the sale of products shipped through domestic resellers or manufacturers to international destinations. The table below summarizes foreign revenues by country as a percentage of total foreign revenue.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Cont’d)

A summary of foreign revenue, as a percentage of total foreign revenue by geographic area, is as follows:

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

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein or as may otherwise be incorporated by reference herein that are not purely historical constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements regarding anticipated operating results, future earnings, and the Company’s ability to achieve growth and profitability. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (including its duration and severity) and governmental actions in response thereto; the effect of foreign political unrest; domestic and foreign government policies and economic conditions; future changes in export laws or regulations; changes in technology; the ability to hire, retain and motivate technical, management and sales personnel; the risks associated with the technical feasibility and market acceptance of new products; changes in telecommunications protocols; the effects of changing costs, exchange rates and interest rates; and the Company's ability to secure adequate capital resources. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of the risks facing the Company, see the Company’s filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2022.

Overview

The Company designs, manufactures, markets and sells communications security equipment that utilizes various methods of encryption to protect the information being transmitted. Encryption is a technique for rendering information unintelligible, which information can then be reconstituted if the recipient possesses the right decryption “key”. The Company manufactures several standard secure communications products and also provides custom-designed, special-purpose secure communications products for both domestic and international customers. The Company’s products consist primarily of voice, data and facsimile encryptors. Revenue is generated principally from the sale of these products, which have traditionally been to foreign governments either through direct sale, pursuant to a U.S. government contract, or made as a sub-contractor to domestic corporations under contract with the U.S. government. We also sell these products to commercial entities and U.S. government agencies. We generate additional revenues from contract engineering services performed for certain government agencies, both domestic and foreign, and commercial entities.

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

There have been no material changes in the Company’s critical accounting policies or critical accounting estimates since September 24, 2022 and we have not adopted any accounting policies that have had or are expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. For further discussion of our accounting policies see Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 24, 2022 as filed with the SEC.

Results of Operations

Three Months ended June 24, 2023 compared to Three Months ended June 25, 2022

Revenue

Net revenue for the quarters ended June 24, 2023 and June 25, 2022 was $35,000 and $146,000, respectively, a decrease of $111,000 or 76%. Revenue for the third fiscal quarter of 2023 consisted of $14,000, or 40%, from domestic sources and $21,000, or 60%, from international customers as compared to the same period in fiscal 2022, in which revenue consisted of $124,000, or 85% from domestic sources and $22,000, or 15%, from international customers. International revenues continued to be impacted by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Foreign sales consisted of a shipment to one country during the quarters ended and June 24, 2023 and June 25, 2022. A sale is attributed to a foreign country based on the location of the contracting party. Domestic revenue may include the sale of products shipped through domestic resellers or manufacturers to international destinations. The table below summarizes our principal foreign sales by country during the third quarters of fiscal 2023 and 2022:

For the three months ended June 24, 2023, revenue was derived from sales of our engineering services amounting to $14,000 and a shipment of our narrowband radio encryptors and secure mobile phones for $21,000.

For the three months ended June 26, 2022, revenue was derived from sales of our engineering services amounting to $124,000 and a shipment of our narrowband radio encryptors amounting to $22,000.

Gross Loss

Gross loss for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was $29,000, compared to gross loss of $36,000 for the same period of fiscal 2022, a decrease of 19%. Gross loss expressed as a percentage of total net revenue was 82% for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to 25% for the same period in fiscal 2022. The Company experienced a gross loss during 2023 and 2022 as a result of declining sales.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 were $269,000, compared to $451,000 for the same quarter in fiscal 2022. This decrease of $182,000, or 40%, was attributable to decreases in general and administrative expenses of $110,000 and decreases in selling and marketing expenses of $72,000 during the three months ended June 24, 2023.

The decrease in general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 24, 2023 was primarily attributable to a decrease in payroll and payroll related expenses of $126,000 as a result of the temporary furlough put in place in December 2022 and declines in legal fees of $15,000. These decreases were partially offset by increases in audit fees of $25,000.

The decrease in selling and marketing expenses for the three months ended June 24, 2023 was primarily attributable to decreases in payroll and payroll related expenses of $72,000 as a result of the temporary furlough put in place in December 2022.

Product Development Costs

Product development costs charged to billable projects are recorded as cost of revenue; engineering costs charged to bid and proposal efforts are recorded as selling expenses; and product development costs charged to business development activities are recorded as marketing expenses. Declining revenue in fiscal 2023 has resulted in less product development costs being allocated to cost of revenue.

Product development costs charged to operating expense for the quarter ended June 24, 2023 were $106,000, compared to $319,000 for the quarter ended June 25, 2022. This decrease of $213,000, or 67%, was primarily attributable to a decrease in payroll and payroll related expenses of $218,000. and partially offset by increases in consulting expenses of $47,000.

Net Loss

The Company generated a net loss of $466,000 for the third quarter of fiscal 2023, compared to a net loss of $842,000 for the same period of fiscal 2022. This decrease in net loss is primarily attributable to a 51% decrease in operating expenses.

Nine Months ended June 24, 2023 compared to Nine Months ended June 25, 2022

Revenue

Net revenue for the nine months ended June 24, 2023 and June 25, 2022 was $184,000 and $1,135,000, respectively, a decrease of $951,000 or 84%. Revenue for the first nine months of 2023 consisted of $130,000, or 71%, from domestic sources and $54,000, or 29%, from international customers as compared to the same period in fiscal 2022, in which revenue consisted of $981,000, or 86% from domestic sources and $154,000, or 14%, from international customers. International revenues continued to be impacted by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Foreign sales consisted of a shipment to two countries during the nine months ended June 24, 2023 and June 25, 2022. A sale is attributed to a foreign country based on the location of the contracting party. Domestic revenue may include the sale of products shipped through domestic resellers or manufacturers to international destinations. The table below summarizes our principal foreign sales by country during the third quarters of fiscal 2023 and 2022:        

For the nine months ended June 24, 2023, revenue was derived from sales of our engineering services amounting to $30,000 a shipments of our internet protocol data encryptors, secure mobile phones and narrowband radio encryptors amounted to $154,000.

For the nine months ended June 25, 2022, revenue was derived from sales of our engineering services amounting to $981,000 a shipment of our internet protocol data encryptors amounting to $80,000 and a shipment of our narrowband radio encryptors amounting to $74,000.

Gross (Loss) Profit

Gross loss for the first nine months of fiscal 2023 was $141,000, compared to gross profit of $105,000 for the same period of fiscal 2022, a decrease of 234%. Gross (loss) profit expressed as a percentage of total net revenue was (76%) for the first nine months of fiscal 2023 compared to 9% for the same period in fiscal 2022. The Company experienced a gross loss during 2023 as a result of declining sales.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first nine months of fiscal 2023 were $1,074,000, compared to $1,498,000 for the first nine months of fiscal 2022. This decrease of $424,000, or 28%, was attributable to decreases in general and administrative expenses of $239,000 and decreases in selling and marketing expenses of $185,000 during the nine months ended June 24, 2023.

The decrease in general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended June 24, 2023 was primarily attributable to decreases in payroll and payroll related expenses of $264,000 as a result of the temporary furlough put in place in December 2022. This was partially offset by increases in professional service fees of $25,000.

The decrease in selling and marketing expenses for the nine months ended June 24, 2023 was primarily attributable to decreases in payroll and payroll related expenses of $81,000 as a result of the temporary furlough put in place in December 2022. Also contributing to the decrease were decreases in proposal efforts and demonstration costs of $64,000, consulting expenses of $14,000 and travel costs of $17,000.

Product Development Costs

Product development costs charged to billable projects are recorded as cost of revenue; engineering costs charged to bid and proposal efforts are recorded as selling expenses; and product development costs charged to business development activities are recorded as marketing expenses. Declining revenue in fiscal 2023 has resulted in less product development costs being allocated to cost of revenue.

Product development costs for the nine months ended June 24, 2023 were $546,000, compared to $504,000 for the nine months ended June 25, 2022. This increase of $42,000, or 8%, was attributable to a decrease in billable engineering services contracts during the first nine months of fiscal 2023. During the first nine months of 2022 product development costs of $696,000 were allocated to cost of revenue. During the first nine months of 2023 product development costs of $94,000 were allocated to cost of revenue. The impact of a decline in costs allocated to cost of sales was offset by decreased payroll and payroll related costs of $400,000 as a result of the temporary furlough put in place in December 2022. Other notable cost declines included a $131,000 decline in consulting costs.

Net Loss

The Company generated a net loss of $1,944,000 for the first nine months of fiscal 2023, compared to a net loss of $1,978,000 for the same period of fiscal 2022. This decrease in net loss is primarily attributable to a decrease in operating costs during 2023.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources and Uses of Cash

The following table presents our abbreviated cash flows for the nine month periods ended (unaudited):

Liquidity and Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

Our cash and cash equivalents at June 24, 2023 totaled $45,000. For the nine months ended June 24, 2023, the Company generated a net loss of $1,944,000 and for the fiscal years ended September 24, 2022 and September 25, 2021, the Company generated net losses of approximately $2,331,000 and $1,088,000, respectively. The Company has experienced declining revenues during the nine months ended June 24, 2023 and has an accumulated deficit of $8,429,000 at June 24, 2023. These factors continue to raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Such consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

In December 2022 the Company implemented a partial furlough plan for the majority of salaried employees. The plan reduces the workweek to 24 hours and salaries have been reduced commensurately. In January of 2023 the Company reduced the workweek further to 16 hours. With this furlough plan in place we anticipate liquidity will be sufficient to fund our activities through September 2023. In order to have sufficient cash to fund our operations beyond that point, we will need to secure new customer contracts, raise additional equity or debt capital, and reduce expenses, including payroll and payroll-related expenses through another employee furlough and/or separations.

In February 2023, the Company entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Promissory Note with Carl H. Guild, Jr., the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “Amended Notes Payable”). The amendment fixed the rate of interest at 6.5% per annum, removed the demand aspect of the note and added Michelle S. Guild as a holder of the Amended Notes Payable. Under the terms of the Amended Notes Payable, the Company shall repay the principal balance of $4,000,000 in sixty consecutive monthly payments of principal and interest commencing on March 23, 2023 and ending February 23, 2028. As of June 24, 2023, the Company has not made a principal payment on the Amended Notes Payable.

In order to have sufficient capital resources to fund operations, the Company has been working diligently to secure several large orders with new and existing customers. The receipt of these orders has been significantly delayed and will continue to be difficult to predict due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our customers as a result of their operations being reduced or shut down. TCC has been able to maintain its operations during this sustained period of disruption, but a continuation of the disruption in either our customers’ operations or those of the Company will continue to have a material adverse impact on sales activity and revenue.

The Company is working diligently to secure additional capital through equity or debt arrangements in addition to the recent funding received from the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and Mr. Guild (see Note 7). The Company is actively working with equity investors as well as debt investors, such as the SBA and Mr. Guild to secure additional funding, although we cannot provide assurances we will be able to secure such new funding. Moreover, the Company’s common stock was delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market effective January 25, 2021; while the common stock is quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, the change in listing may have a negative impact on the liquidity of the stock and the Company’s ability to raise capital through offerings of its equity securities.

Should the Company be unsuccessful in these efforts, it would be forced to implement headcount reductions, additional employee furloughs and/or reduced hours for certain employees, or cease operations completely.

Company Facilities

On April 1, 2014, the Company entered into a lease for its current facilities. This lease is for 22,800 square feet located at 100 Domino Drive, Concord, MA. The Company has been a tenant in this space since 1983. This is the Company’s only facility and houses all manufacturing, research and development, and corporate operations. The initial term of the lease was for five years through March 31, 2019 at an annual rate of $171,000. In addition, the lease contains options to extend the lease for two and one- half years through September 30, 2021 and another two and one-half years through March 31, 2024 at an annual rate of $171,000. In September 2018, the Company exercised its option to extend the term of the lease through September 2021. In March 2021, the Company exercised the second option and the new term will run until March 30, 2024. The lease expense for each of the nine month periods ended June 24, 2023 and June 25, 2022 was $128,000.

Debt Instruments

The Company was granted a loan by the SBA in August 2020. This loan is evidenced by a promissory note dated August 10, 2020 in the principal amount of $150,000 and was made under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program of the SBA. This note is payable monthly over 30 years at an annual interest rate of 3.75% commencing two years from the date of issuance.

On August 4, 2022, the Company issued an amended and restated demand promissory note in the principal amount of up to $4,000,000 in favor of Carl H. Guild, Jr. Mr. Guild, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, loaned the money to the Company to provide working capital. The $4,000,000 consists of $1,000,000 previously loaned to the Company at an interest rate of 6% and $2,000,000 previously loaned to the Company at an interest rate of 7.5% and an additional $1,000,000 at an interest rate of 7.5%. The additional funds will be available to the Company to borrow from Mr. Guild on a revolving basis and the loan has no specified term year and may be prepaid at any time without premium or penalty.

In February 2023, the Company entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Promissory Note with Mr. Guild (the “Amended Notes Payable”). The amendment fixed the rate of interest at 6.5% per annum, removed the demand aspect of the note and added Michelle S. Guild as a holder of the Amended Notes Payable. Under the terms of the Amended Notes Payable, the Company shall repay the principal balance of $4,000,000 in sixty consecutive monthly payments of principal and interest commencing on March 23, 2023 and ending February 23, 2028.

The outstanding principal balance at June 24, 2023 was $4,000,000, plus accrued interest of $298,000.

Backlog

Backlog at June 24, 2023 amounted to $1,600,000. The orders in backlog at June 24, 2023 are expected to ship and/or services are expected to be performed over the next six months depending on customer requirements and product availability.

Performance guaranties

Certain foreign customers require the Company to guarantee bid bonds and performance of products sold. These guaranties typically take the form of standby letters of credit. Guaranties are generally required in amounts of 5% to 10% of the purchase price and last in duration from three months to one year. At June 24, 2023 and September 24, 2022, the Company had no outstanding letters of credit.

Research and development

Research and development efforts are undertaken by the Company primarily on its own initiative. In order to compete successfully, the Company must improve existing products and develop new products, as well as attract and retain qualified personnel. No assurances can be given that the Company will be able to hire and train such technical management and sales personnel or successfully improve and develop its products.

During the nine-month periods ended June 24, 2023 and June 25, 2022 the Company spent $546,000 and $504,000, respectively, on internal product development. The Company also spent $94,000 and $696,000 on billable development efforts during the first nine months of fiscal 2023 and 2022, respectively. It is expected that total product development expenses will remain lower until we secure a new billable research and development contract.

It is anticipated that cash from operations will fund our near-term research and development and marketing activities. We also believe that, in the long term, based on current billable activities, cash from operations will be sufficient to meet the development goals of the Company, although we can give no assurances. Any increase in development activities - either billable or new product related - will require additional resources, which we may not be able to fund through cash from operations. In circumstances where resources will be insufficient, the Company will look to other sources of financing, including debt and/or equity investments; however, we can provide no guarantees that we will be successful in securing such additional financing.

Other than those stated above, there are no plans for significant internal product development or material commitments for capital expenditures during the remainder of fiscal 2023.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Recent accounting pronouncements were issued by the FASB (including its Emerging Issues Task Force) and the SEC during the first nine months of the Company’s 2023 fiscal year but such pronouncements are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company’s present or future financial statements.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Item 3.          Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Not applicable.

Item 4.          Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer has reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on that review and evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are not effective as of June 24, 2023 due to the material weaknesses described below.

Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting. Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of June 24, 2023. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013). Based on such an assessment, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of June 24, 2023.

Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

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

A goal of the assessment was to determine whether any material weaknesses existed with respect to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. A “material weakness” is defined as a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the registrant’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by the Company’s internal controls.

Based upon that assessment management identified a deficiency that rose to the level of a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to generally accepted accounting principles associated with revenue recognition caused by an error in judgement within the accounting department. The Company identified this material weakness at year end, but remediated those material weaknesses it had identified in prior years, as described below.

As disclosed in the Company’s periodic and annual reports for prior periods through fiscal year end 2019, management had concluded that the Company did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting due to material weaknesses in such internal control related to the misapplication of generally accepted accounting principles associated with revenue recognition, inventory reserves, accruals and the preparation of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the classification and disclosure of financial information, all caused by a lack of adequate skills and experience within the accounting department. In addition, management also previously identified a material weakness due to a lack of sufficient staff to segregate accounting duties.

Nonetheless, management believes that our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have certified that, based on such officer’s knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report. In addition, we initiated a remediation plan for the material weaknesses, described above.

Our management, with oversight from the Audit Committee, actively engaged in remediating the identified material weaknesses. As part of these remediation efforts management undertook education and training for TCC’s accounting staff and management to address certain core competencies that resulted in the lack of operational effectiveness. Management will continue to assess the design of controls to determine if enhancements are needed to increase effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Management has retained a subject matter expert in the area of income tax accounting and is assessing the need to retain additional subject matter experts to ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and SEC rules and regulations. Both management and the Audit Committee have increased their oversight of non-routine transactions. This includes oversight of large revenue contracts as well as judgement areas, including inventory reserves and accruals. This oversight will contribute to the assessment of the need to retain additional subject matter experts.

The Company has made significant progress in improving its internal control over financial reporting but remediation efforts are ongoing; the Company’s goal is to have all material weaknesses remediated by the end of its 2023 fiscal year.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting. The changes in the aforementioned internal control over financial reporting and the remediation efforts undertaken as of year-end and undertaken in the first nine months of the Company’s fiscal 2023 have not materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, during the second quarter, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer retired and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer is now the Acting Chief Financial Officer. No other changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during the 2023 fiscal year.

PART II. Other Information

Item 1.     Legal Proceedings

There were no material pending legal proceedings to which the Company or its subsidiary was a party or which any of their property was subject during the period covered by this quarterly report.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

Not applicable.

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

Not applicable.

Item 3.     Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not applicable.

Item 4.     Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5.     Other Information

Not applicable.

Item 6.     Exhibits

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.