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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 October 2, 2004
     
o
  Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
     
  For the transition period from                                         to                                        

Commission File Number 0-21074

SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware   77-0158076
(State or other jurisdiction of   (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)

460 Ward Drive,
Santa Barbara, California 93111-2356

(Address of principal executive offices & zip code)

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


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes    x    No    o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act

Yes    x    No    o

As of November 5, 2004, there were 92,111,026 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock outstanding.

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SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

Three and Nine Months Ended October 2, 2004

         
    3  
    3  
       
       
    4  
    5  
    6  
    7  
    22  
    31  
    31  
       
    32  
    32  
    33  
    35  
  EX-10.1
  EX-10.2
  EX-10.3
  EX-31.1
  EX-31.2
  EX-32.1
  EX-32.2

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     This report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. We have made these statements in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance and include, but are not limited to, statements concerning our business strategy, future commercial revenues, market growth, capital requirements, new product introductions, expansion plans and our funding requirements. Other statements contained in our filings that are not historical facts are also forward-looking statements. We have tried, wherever possible, to identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” and other comparable terminology.

     Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. They can be affected by many factors, including, those discussed under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Forward-looking statements are based on information presently available to senior management, and we do not assume any duty to update our forward-looking statements.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

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

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

                                 
    Three Months Ended
  Nine Months Ended
    September 27,   October 2,   September 27,   October 2,
    2003
  2004
  2003
  2004
Net revenues:
                               
Net commercial product revenues
  $ 11,570,000     $ 6,053,000     $ 25,630,000     $ 13,788,000  
Government and other contract revenues
    2,586,000       1,246,000       7,328,000       5,239,000  
Sub license royalties
                41,000       28,000  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total net revenues
    14,156,000       7,299,000       32,999,000       19,055,000  
Costs and expenses:
                               
Cost of commercial product revenues
    8,150,000       6,014,000       19,450,000       14,827,000  
Contract research and development
    1,728,000       860,000       4,661,000       3,537,000  
Other research and development
    985,000       1,327,000       4,302,000       3,808,000  
Selling, general and administrative
    4,052,000       3,451,000       16,614,000       12,404,000  
Restructuring expenses
          785,000             3,298,000  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total costs and expenses
    14,915,000       12,437,000       45,027,000       37,874,000  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Loss from operations
    (759,000 )     (5,138,000 )     (12,028,000 )     (18,819,000 )
Interest income
    44,000       36,000       147,000       83,000  
Interest expense
    (136,000 )     (53,000 )     (374,000 )     (1,213,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Net loss
  $ (851,000 )   $ (5,155,000 )   $ (12,255,000 )   $ (19,949,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Basic and diluted loss per common share
  $ (0.01 )   $ (0.06 )   $ (0.20 )   $ (0.25 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
    64,939,896       92,103,424       61,623,747       79,697,019  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements

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SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(Unaudited)
                 
    December 31,   October 2,
    2003
  2004
    (See Note)    
ASSETS
               
Current Assets :
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 11,144,000     $ 7,135,000  
Accounts receivable, net
    8,809,000       2,173,000  
Inventory
    8,802,000       12,653,000  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    760,000       969,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total Current Assets
    29,515,000       22,930,000  
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $15,061,000 and $16,407,000, respectively
    12,534,000       11,344,000  
Patents, licenses and purchased technology, net of accumulated amortization of $3,173,000 and $3,449,000, respectively
    5,367,000       4,108,000  
Goodwill
    20,107,000       20,107,000  
Other assets
    600,000       664,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total Assets
  $ 68,123,000     $ 59,153,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current Liabilities :
               
Line of credit
  $ 3,308,000     $ 669,000  
Accounts payable
    5,154,000       2,909,000  
Accrued expenses
    4,832,000       3,752,000  
Current portion of capitalized lease obligations and long term debt
    645,000       57,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total Current Liabilities
    13,939,000       7,387,000  
Capitalized lease obligations and long term-debt
    76,000       37,000  
Other long term liabilities
    1,888,000       1,324,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total Liabilities
    15,903,000       8,748,000  
Commitments and contingencies-Note 5, 7 and 8
               
Stockholders’ Equity:
               
Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding
           
Common stock, $.001 par value, 125,000,000 shares authorized, 68,907,109 and 92,111,026 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
    69,000       92,000  
Capital in excess of par value
    168,776,000       186,887,000  
Notes receivable from stockholder
    (820,000 )     (820,000 )
Accumulated deficit
    (115,805,000 )     (135,754,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total Stockholders’ Equity
    52,220,000       50,405,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 68,123,000     $ 59,153,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements

Note: December 31, 2003 balances were derived from audited financial statements

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SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
                 
    Nine Months Ended
    September 27,   October 2,
    2003
  2004
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net loss
  $ (12,255,000 )   $ (19,949,000 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    2,341,000       2,623,000  
Asset write-down
          1,862,000  
Warrant charges
    13,000       925,000  
Increased inventory reserve
    252,000       618,000  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    (485,000 )     6,636,000  
Inventory
    (3,306,000 )     (4,469,000 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (86,000 )     (208,000 )
Patents, licenses and purchased technology
    (311,000 )     (354,000 )
Other assets
    (159,000 )     (63,000 )
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities
    589,000       (3,889,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash used in operating activities
    (13,407,000 )     (16,268,000 )
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (2,405,000 )     (1,682,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (2,405,000 )     (1,682,000 )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Proceeds from short-term borrowings
    3,234,000       5,246,000  
Payments on short-term borrowings
    (1,616,000 )     (7,885,000 )
Payments on long-term obligations
    (948,000 )     (627,000 )
Proceeds from sale of common stock and warrants and exercise of stock options and warrants
    10,066,000       17,207,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
    10,736,000       13,941,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (5,076,000 )     (4,009,000 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    18,191,000       11,144,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 13,115,000     $ 7,135,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 

     See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. General

     Superconductor Technologies Inc. was incorporated in Delaware on May 11, 1987 and maintains its headquarters in Santa Barbara, California. The Company has operated in a single industry segment, the research, development, manufacture and marketing of high-performance filters to service providers and original equipment manufacturers in the mobile wireless communications industry. The Company’s principal commercial product, the SuperLink Rx®, combines high-temperature superconductors with cryogenic cooling technology to produce a filter with significant advantages over conventional filters. From 1987 to 1997, the Company was engaged primarily in research and development and generated revenues primarily from government research contracts. The Company began full-scale commercial production of the SuperLink Rx® in 1997 and shipped 1,884 units in 2003 and 1,243 and 605 units in the nine months ended September 27, 2003 and October 2, 2004, respectively.

     The Company continues to be involved as either contractor or subcontractor on a number of contracts with the United States government. These contracts have been and continue to provide a significant source of revenues for the Company. For the nine months ended September 27, 2003 and October 2, 2004, government related contracts account for 22% and 27%, respectively, of the Company’s net revenues.

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

     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences may be material to the financial statements. This quarterly report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended October 2, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2004.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

     The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm has included in their audit report for 2003-year an explanatory paragraph expressing doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern due to past losses and negative cash flows. They included a similar explanatory paragraph in their audit report for 2002. In 2003, the Company incurred a net loss of $11,345,000 and negative cash flows from operations of $18,458,000. For the nine months ended October 2, 2004, the Company had a net loss of $19,949,000 and negative cash flows from operations of $16,268,000. In response during the current year, the Company adjusted its inventory build plan, reduced direct and indirect labor, cut certain fixed costs and implemented a reduced workweek. In the second quarter of 2004, the Company also began a cost restructuring program to consolidate its research and development operations in Sunnyvale into its Santa Barbara facility, eliminate an additional 50 positions and accelerate the implementation of a new lower cost wafer deposition process.

     The Company completed two financing transactions during the nine months ended October 2, 2004. First, the Company closed a transaction on April 28, 2004 to expand its credit facility. Silicon Valley Bank amended the Company’s existing line of credit to increase borrowing capacity from 80% to 95% of eligible accounts receivable. The Company concurrently secured a commitment for a $2.0 million secured bridge loan from an investor. The investor subsequently funded $1.5

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million of the bridge loan. The Company issued to the lenders warrants to purchase in the aggregate 600,000 shares of common stock at $1.85 per share. The bridge loan was subsequently paid in full on May 26, 2004. Upon repayment of the bridge loan the Silicon Valley credit facility reverted back to it original terms.

     Second, the Company completed a public offering of 23,000,000 shares of common stock at $0.80 per share during the second quarter of this year raising net proceeds of $16.7 million.

     The Company expects its existing cash resources, together with its line of credit, will be sufficient to fund planned operations into 2005. The Company expects its liquidity to reach an unacceptably low level in the second quarter of 2005 and anticipates a need for additional working capital to fund growth in the third and fourth quarters of 2005. Accordingly, the Company has concluded that it will need additional funding to provide adequate cash reserves in the event of another downturn in its business and to fund expected growth in the second half of 2005. The Company’s actual cash requirements will depend on numerous factors, including the rate of growth of sales, the timing and levels of products purchased, payment terms and credit limits from manufacturers, the timing and level of accounts receivable collections and its ability to manage the business profitability.

     The Company plans to explore various funding opportunities over the next two quarters. There is no assurance that additional financing (public or private) will be available on acceptable terms or at all. If the Company issues additional equity securities to raise funds, the ownership percentage of its existing stockholders would be reduced. New investors may demand rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of existing holders of common stock. If the Company cannot raise needed funds, it might be forced to make further substantial reductions in its operating expenses, which could adversely affect its ability to implement its current business plan and ultimately its viability as a company.

     The Company’s interim financial statements have been prepared assuming that it will continue as a going concern. The factors described above raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. These financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from this uncertainty.

Principles of Consolidation

     The interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Superconductor Technologies Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (the “Company”). All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

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

Accounts Receivable

     The Company sells predominantly to entities in the wireless communications industry and to entities of the United States government. The Company grants uncollateralized credit to its customers. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers before granting credit.

Revenue Recognition

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

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

     All payments to the Company for work performed on contracts with agencies of the U.S. Government are subject to adjustment upon audit by the Defense Contract Audit Agency. These audits have been completed and agreed to through 2001. Based on historical experience and review of current projects in process, management believes that the audits will not have a significant effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

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Warranties

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

Guarantees

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

Research and Development Costs

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

Inventories

     Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, with costs primarily determined using standard costs, which approximate actual costs utilizing the first-in, first-out method. Provision for potentially obsolete or slow moving inventory is made based on management’s analysis of inventory levels and sales forecasts.

Property and Equipment

     Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives ranging from three to five years. Leasehold improvements and assets financed under capital leases are amortized over the shorter of their useful lives or the lease term. Furniture and fixtures are depreciated over seven years. Expenditures for additions and major improvements are capitalized. Expenditures for minor tooling, repairs and maintenance and minor improvements are charged to expense as incurred. When property or equipment is retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts. Gains or losses from retirements and disposals are recorded as other income or expense.

Patents, Licenses and Purchased Technology

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

Goodwill

     Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually in the fourth quarter after the annual planning process, or earlier if events occur which require an impairment analysis be performed. The first step of the impairment test, used to identify potential impairment, compares the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test shall be performed to measure the amount of impairment loss. The second step of the goodwill impairment test, used to measure the amount of impairment loss, compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of

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that goodwill, an impairment loss shall be recognized in an amount equal to that excess.

Long-Lived Assets

     The realizability of long-lived assets is evaluated periodically as events or circumstances indicate a possible inability to recover the carrying amount. Such evaluation is based on various analyses, including cash flow and profitability projections. The analyses necessarily involve significant management judgment. In the event the projected undiscounted cash flows are less than net book value of the assets, the carrying value of the assets will be written down to their estimated fair value.

Restructuring Expenses

Liability for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity are recognized when the liability is incurred.

Loss Contingencies

     In the normal course of business the Company is subject to claims and litigation. Liabilities relating to these claims are recorded when it is determined that a loss is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The costs of defending the Company in such matters are expensed as incurred.

     The Company is currently involved as a defendant in several lawsuits – a patent infringement case and several substantially identical securities class actions. These matters are discussed below in “Legal Proceedings.” The Company does not believe that a loss is probable or reasonably estimable in any of these cases and therefore has not recorded any liabilities relating to these proceedings. The Company periodically reassesses its potential liability as additional information becomes available. If the Company later determines that a loss is probable and the amount reasonably estimable, the Company would record a reserve for the potential loss. The ultimate amount of the loss, if any, could materially impact its results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

Income Taxes

     The Company accounts for income taxes under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 (“SFAS 109”), “Accounting for Income Taxes.” SFAS 109 utilizes an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. In estimating future tax consequences, SFAS 109 generally considers all expected future events other than enactments of changes in the tax laws or rates. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

Marketing Costs

     All costs related to marketing and advertising the Company’s products are expensed as incurred or at the time the advertising takes place. Advertising costs were not material in each of the quarters and nine months ended September 27, 2003 and October 2, 2004.

Net Loss Per Share

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

Stock-based Compensation

     As permitted under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (“SFAS 123”), “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, the Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” in accounting for its stock options and other stock-based employee awards. Pro forma information regarding net loss and loss per share, as calculated under the provisions of SFAS 123, are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. The Company accounts for equity securities issued to non-employees in accordance with the provision of SFAS 123 and Emerging Issues Task Force 96-18.

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     If the Company had elected to recognize compensation expense for employee awards based upon the fair value at the grant date consistent with the methodology prescribed by SFAS 123, the Company’s net loss and net loss per share would have been increased to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

                                 
    Three Months Ended
  Nine Months Ended
    September 27,   October 2,   September 27,   October 2,
    2003
  2004
  2003
  2004
Net loss:
                               
As reported
  $ (851,000 )   $ (5,155,000 )   $ (12,255,000 )   $ (19,949,000 )
Stock-based employee compensation included in net loss
                       
Stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value method
    (1,117,000 )     (1,233,000 )     (3,036,000 )     (4,591,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Pro forma
  $ (1,968,000 )     (6,388,000 )   $ (15,291,000 )     (24,540,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Basic and Diluted Loss per Share
                               
As reported
  $ (0.01 )   $ (0.06 )   $ (0.20 )   $ (0.25 )
Stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value method
    (0.02 )     (0.01 )     (0.05 )     (0.06 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Pro forma
  $ (0.03 )   $ (0.07 )   $ (0.25 )   $ (0.31 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

     Due to the fact that the Company’s employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options and any changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimates, management does not believe that the existing models provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options. Therefore, the Company believes that the pro forma net expense per SFAS 123 calculated above is not a reliable measure of the costs of the Company’s stock option plans.

Use of Estimates

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

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

     The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The Company estimates that the carrying amount of the debt approximates fair value based on the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

     The Company has no items of other comprehensive income (loss) in any period other than its net loss.

Segment Information

     The Company operates in a single business segment, the development, manufacture and marketing of high performance products to service providers, systems integrators and original equipment manufacturers in the commercial wireless

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telecommunications industry. The Company’s principal commercial product, the SuperLink Rx® combines high-temperature superconductors with cryogenic cooling technology to produce a filter with significant advantages over conventional filters. We currently sell most of our product directly to wireless network operators in the United States. Net revenues derived principally from government research and development contracts are presented separately on the statement of operations for all periods presented. Management views its government research and development contracts as a supplementary source of revenue to fund its development of high temperature superconducting products.

     Net commercial product revenues are derived from the following products:

                                 
    For the three months ended
  For the nine months ended
 
    September 27,   October 2,   September 27,   October 2,
    2003
  2004
  2003
  2004
SuperLink Rx
  $ 10,142,000     $ 4,548,000     $ 22,771,000     $ 10,945,000  
SuperPlex multiplexer
    1,296,000       1,070,000       2,500,000       1,981,000  
SuperLink Tx
    17,000       21,000       68,000       21,000  
Other
    115,000       414,000       291,000       841,000  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 11,570,000     $ 6,053,000     $ 25,630,000     $ 13,788,000  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

Certain Risks and Uncertainties

     During the two year period ended December 31, 2003, the Company sold 2,811 SuperFilter® units and in the nine months ended September 27, 2003 and October 2, 2004 it sold 1,243 and 605 SuperFilter® units, respectively. The Company has continued to incur operating losses. The Company’s long-term prospects and execution of its business plan are dependent upon the continued and increased market acceptance for the product.

     The Company currently sells most of its products directly to wireless network operators in the United States and its product sales have historically been concentrated in a small number of customers. In 2002 U.S. Cellular and ALLTEL accounted for 8% and 84% of our net commercial revenues, respectively, and 19% and 24% of accounts receivable, respectively. In 2003, ALLTEL and Verizon Wireless our two largest customers accounted for 70% and 15% of our net commercial revenues, respectively, and 21% and 25% of accounts receivable, respectively. In the nine months ended October 2, 2004, ALLTEL and Verizon Wireless, our two largest customers, accounted for 63% and 23% of our net commercial revenues, respectively, and 29% and 18% of accounts receivable, respectively. The loss of, or reduction in, sales to any of these customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

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     The Company currently relies on one supplier for purchases of high quality substrates for growth of high-temperature superconductor films and a limited number of suppliers for other key components of its products.

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

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

     In March 2004, the consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 03-06, Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement 128, was published. EITF Issue No.03-06 addresses the computations of earnings per share by companies that have issued securities other than common stock that contractually entitle the holder to participate in dividends and earnings of the company. Further guidance on the application and allocations of the two-class method of calculating earnings per share is also included. The provisions of EITF Issue No. 03-06 will be effective for reporting periods beginning after March 31, 2004. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial results of operations and financial position.

3. Short Term Borrowings

     The Company has a line of credit with a bank. The line of credit expires March 17, 2005 and is structured as a sale of accounts receivable. The agreement provides for the sale of up to $5 million of eligible accounts receivable, with advances to the Company totaling 80% of the receivables sold. Advances under the agreement are collateralized by all the Company’s assets. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company continues to service the sold receivables and is subject to recourse provisions.If the bank determines that there is a material adverse change in the Company’s business, they can exercise all their rights and remedies under the agreement.

     Advances bear interest at the prime rate (4.75% at October 2, 2004) plus 2.50% subject to a minimum monthly charge. Outstanding amounts under this borrowing facility at October 2, 2004 totaled $669,000 and are repaid upon collection of the underlying receivables sold.

     On April 28, 2004 the Company temporarily expanded its credit facility. Silicon Valley Bank temporarily amended the Company’s existing line of credit to increase borrowing capacity from 80% to 95% of eligible accounts receivable on up to the sale of $2.5 million of eligible accounts receivable. Advances under the modified agreement bore interest at prime rate plus 5.125%. Upon repayment of the bridge loan described below this credit facility reverted back to its original terms

     The Company concurrently secured a commitment for a $2.0 million secured bridge loan from an investor. The bridge loan bore interest at 12% per annum, was due by July 31, 2004 and included penalty provisions if there were any defaults under the agreement. The investor subsequently funded $1.5 million of the bridge loan. The bridge loan was collateralized by

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all the Company’s assets and was subordinated to the Silicon Valley Bank line of credit. The bridge loan was subsequently paid in full on May 26, 2004.

     In connection with modification of the existing credit facility with Silicon Valley Bank and $2 million bridge loan, the Company issued to the bank warrants to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock at $1.85 per share and to the bridge lender warrants to purchase 500,000 shares of common stock at $1.85 per share . These warrants expire on April 28, 2011. The fair value of the warrants issued in connection with the bridge loans were estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing method, totaled $802,000 and were accounted for as debt issuances costs and amortized over the term of the loan. Assumptions used in the calculation were: dividends of zero percent each year, expected volatilities of 112%, expected life of 7 years and risk free interest rate of 3.99%.

4. Stockholders’ Equity

Common Stock

     In the nine months ended October 2, 2004 the Company raised net proceeds of $16,699,000, net of offering costs of $1,701,000, from the public sale of 23,000,000 shares of common stock at $0.80 per share based on a negotiated discount to market.

     This transaction caused the exercise price and the number of shares of the warrants issued to the bridge lender under the 2004 Bridge Loan to be adjusted to $1.59 and 581,761, respectively. The exercise price and shares of the warrants issued in connection with the Series E convertible Preferred Stock were not affected.

Stock Options

     The following is a summary of stock option transactions under the Company’s stock option plans:

                                         
                    Weighted           Weighted
                    Average   Number of   Average
    Number of           Exercise   Options   Exercise
    Shares
  Price Per Share
  Price
  Exercisable
  Price
Balance at December 31, 2003
    7,545,321     $ 0.83 - $49.375     $ 6.238       3,268,894     $ 8.21  
Granted
    2,949,459     $ 0.87 - $7.03     $ 3.71                  
Exercised
    (89,777 )   $ 0.83 - $4.57     $ 2.78                  
Canceled
    (922,900 )   $ 1.00 - $41.25     $ 5.40                  
 
   
 
                                 
Balance at October 2, 2004
    9,482,103     $ 0.87 - $49.375     $ 5.60       5,042,587     $ 6.28  
 
   
 
                                 

     Options for 89,777 shares of common stock were exercised for $249,600 during the period. The outstanding options expire by the end of June 2014. The exercise prices for these options range from $0.87 to $49.38 per share, for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $53.1 million. At October 2, 2004, there were 1,184,185 shares of common stock available for granting future options .

Warrants

     In connection with modification of the existing credit facility with Silicon Valley Bank and $2 million bridge loan, the Company issued to the bank warrants to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock at $1.85 per share and to the bridge lender warrants to purchase 500,000 shares of common stock at $1.85 per share . These warrants expire on April 28, 2011. The bridge lender warrants contain “weighted average” antidilution provisions which adjust the warrant exercise price and number of shares in the event the Company sells equity securities at a discount to then prevailing market prices. The amount of the adjustment depends on the size of the below-market transaction and the amount of the discount to the market price. These warrants include call, net exercise, registration rights and penalty provisions if the sale of the shares underlying the warrants were not registered within a certain timeframe or if the registration statement effectiveness is not maintained.

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     The following is a summary of outstanding warrants at October 2, 2004:

                             
    Common Shares
            Currently   Price per    
    Total
  Exercisable
  Share
  Expiration Date
Warrant related to issuance of Series E Preferred Stock
    1,166,477       1,166,477     $ 19.28     September 29, 2005
Warrants related to issuance of common stock
    397,857       397,857       5.50     March 10, 2007
 
    1,406,581       1,406,581       1.19     December 17, 2007*
 
    1,162,790       1,162,790       2.90     June 24, 2008*
Warrants related to April 2004 Bridge Loans
    581,761       581,761       1.59     April 28, 2011*
 
    100,000       100,000       1.85     April 28, 2011*
Warrants assumed in connection with the Conductus, Inc. acquisition
    219,690       219,690       6.667     December 10, 2004*
 
    72,756       72,756       22.383     August 7, 2005
 
    1,095,000       1,095,000       4.583     September 27, 2007
 
    6,000       6,000       31.25     September 1, 2007
 
   
 
     
 
             
Total
    6,208,912       6,208,912              
 
   
 
     
 
             

* The terms of these warrants contain net exercise provisions, wherein instead of a cash exercise investors can elect to receive common stock equal to the difference between the exercise price and the average closing sale price for common shares over 10-30 days immediately preceding the exercise date.

During the nine months ended October 2, 2004 the following warrants were exercised:

                                 
    Warrants
          Common Shares
Issued
                            In Accordance With
    Warrants   Price per           Net Exercise
    Exercised
  Share
  For Cash
  Provisions
Warrants related to bank borrowings
    123,525     $ 3-3.25     $       71,312  
Warrants related to issuance of common stock
    42,857       5.50       235,714        
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
    166,382               235,714       71,312  
 
   
 
             
 
     
 
 

5. Legal Proceedings

      Patent Litigation

     The Company is engaged in a patent dispute with ISCO International, Inc. relating to U.S. Patent No. 6,263,215 entitled “Cryoelectronically Cooled Receiver Front End for Mobile Radio Systems.” ISCO filed a complaint on July 17, 2001 in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware against the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Conductus, Inc. The ISCO complaint alleged that the Company’s SuperFilter product and Conductus’ ClearSite® product infringe ISCO’s patent. The matter went to trial on March 17, 2003.

     On April 3, 2003, the jury returned a unanimous verdict that the Company’s SuperFilter III product does not infringe the patent in question, and that ISCO’s patent is invalid and unenforceable. The jury also awarded the Company $3.8 million in compensatory damages based upon a finding that ISCO engaged in unfair competition and acted in bad faith by issuing press releases and contacting our customers asserting rights under this patent.

     On April 17, 2003, the Company filed a Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Disbursements, in which the Company asked the court to award the Company its attorneys’ fees and other litigation expenses. On the same date, ISCO filed a motion, asking the court to overturn the verdict and grant a new trial. In August 2003, the court rejected ISCO’s request to overturn the jury’s verdict that the patent is invalid and not infringed by the SuperFilter III product, and accepted the jury’s verdict that

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the patent is unenforceable because of inequitable conduct committed by one of the alleged inventors. ISCO subsequently filed a notice of appeal as to this portion of the court’s decision. The court overturned the jury’s verdict of unfair competition and bad faith on the part of ISCO and the related $3.8 million compensatory damage award to the Company, and also denied the Company request for reimbursement of its legal fees associated with the case. The Company has filed a notice of appeal as to this portion of the court’s decision.

     Litigation expenses on the ISCO matter totaled $90,000 and $4,784,000 for the three and nine month periods ended September 27, 2003, respectively, and $25,000 and $438,000 for the three and nine month periods ended October 2, 2004, respectively.

Class Action Lawsuits

     The Company has been named as a defendant in several substantially identical class action lawsuits filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in April 2004. The cases were consolidated in August 2004, and the plaintiffs filed an amended consolidated complaint in October 2004. The plaintiffs allege securities law violations by the Company and certain of its officers and directors under SEC Rule 10b-5 and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The complaint was filed on behalf of a purported class of people who purchased our stock during the period between January 9, 2004 and March 1, 2004. The plaintiffs base their allegations primarily on the fact that the Company did not achieve our forecasted revenue guidance of $10 to $13 million for the first quarter of 2004. The complaint seeks unspecified damages.

6. Earnings Per Share

     The computation of per share amounts for the three and nine month periods ended September 27, 2003 and October 2, 2004 is based on the average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Options and warrants to purchase 18,664,666 and 15,691,015 shares of common stock during the three and nine months periods ended September 27, 2003 and October 2, 2004, respectively, were not considered in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

7. Commitments and Contingencies

Operating Leases

     The Company leases its offices and production facilities under non-cancelable operating leases that expire at various times over the next seven years. Generally leases contain escalation clauses for increases in annual renewal options and require the Company to pay utilities, insurance, taxes and other operating expenses.

     For the three and nine months ended September 27, 2003, rent expense was $299,000 and $922,000, respectively. For the three and nine months ended October 2, 2004, rent expense was $298,000 and $944,000, respectively.

Capital Leases

     The Company leases certain property and equipment under capital lease arrangements that expire at various dates through 2007. The leases bear interest at various rates ranging from 8.56% to 14.95%.

Patents and Licenses

     The Company has entered into various licensing agreements requiring royalty payments ranging from 0.13% to 2.5% of specified product sales. Certain of these agreements contain provisions for the payment of guaranteed or minimum royalty

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amounts. In the event that the Company fails to pay minimum annual royalties, these licenses may automatically become non-exclusive or be terminated. These royalty obligations terminate in 2009 to 2020. Royalty expenses totaled $179,000 in 2001, $294,000 in 2002 and $572,000 in 2003. For the three and nine months ended September 27, 2003, royalty expense totaled $141,000 and $386,000, respectively. For the three and nine months ended October 2, 2004, royalty expense totaled $94,000 and $370,000, respectively. Under the terms of certain royalty agreements, royalty payments made may be subject to audit. There have been no audits to date and the Company does not expect any possible future audit adjustments to be significant.

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

                         
            Operating    
Year ending December 31,
  Licenses
  Leases
  Capital Leases
Remainder of 2004
  $ 68,000     $ 630,000     $ 18,000  
2005
    270,000       2,440,000       52,000  
2006
    270,000       1,552,000       22,000  
2007
    253,000       1,405,000       15,000  
2008
    158,000       1,448,000        
Thereafter
    1,775,000       4,516,000        
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total payments
  $ 2,794,000     $ 11,991,000       107,000  
 
   
 
     
 
         
Less: amount representing interest
                    (13,000 )
 
                   
 
 
Present value of minimum lease
                    94,000  
Less current portion
                    (57,000 )
 
                   
 
 
Long term portion
                  $ 37,000  
 
                   
 
 

     In connection with the acquisition of Conductus, Inc. as of December 31, 2002 operating leases with remaining commitments totaling $2,044,000 and $1,758,000 have been abandoned or are considered unfavorable, respectively. A liability totaling $1,995,000 representing the present value of the minimum lease payments and executory costs was recorded at December 18, 2002 relating to the abandoned leases. A liability totaling $1,140,000 representing the present value of the difference between the fair market rental and lease commitment was recorded at December 31, 2002 relating to unfavorable leases.

     As discussed further in the Restructuring Expenses footnote 9, during the quarter ended October 2, 2004, the Company completed closure of its Sunnyvale facility. A liability totaling $279,000 was recognized representing the present value of the remainder of the lease commitment was recorded. In connection with the closure of this facility, the remaining unfavorable lease commitment of $558,000 recorded in connection with the acquisition of Conductus, Inc. was transferred to lease abandonment costs.

     As of October 2, 2004, the remaining minimum lease commitments on these operating leases totaled $1,593,000 and are included in the above commitment table.At October 2, 2004, the present value of the remaining liability related to the abandoned leases totaled $1,657,000. These amounts are included in accrued liabilities.

Note 8 — Contractual Guarantees and Indemnities

Warranties

     The Company establishes reserves for future product warranty costs that are expected to be incurred pursuant to specific warranty provisions with its customers. The Company’s warranty reserves are established at the time of sale and updated

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throughout the warranty period based upon numerous factors including historical warranty return rates and expenses over various warranty periods.

     During its normal course of business, the Company makes certain contractual guarantees and indemnities pursuant to which the Company may be required to make future payments under specific circumstances. The Company has not recorded any liability for these contractual guarantees and indemnities in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. A description of significant contractual guarantees and indemnities existing as of October 2, 2004 is included below:

Intellectual Property Indemnities

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

Director and Officer Indemnities and Contractual Guarantees

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

     The Company has also entered into severance and change in control agreements with certain of its executives. These agreements provide for the payment of specific compensation benefits to such executives upon the termination of their employment with the Company.

      General Contractual Indemnities/Products Liability

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

      Short Term Borrowings

     Advances under the agreement are collateralized by all the Company’s assets. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company continues to service the sold receivables and is subject to recourse provisions. Under the terms of the agreement, if the bank determines that there is a material adverse change in the Company’s business, they can exercise all their rights and remedies under the agreement.

9. Restructuring Expenses

     During the quarter ended July 3, 2004, the Company announced the implementation of a restructuring program to streamline its operations and reduce its cost structure. In connection with this during the quarter ended July 3, 2004 the Company recorded cash and non-cash restructuring charges of $2.5 million. The Company consolidated its research and

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development operations in Sunnyvale into its Santa Barbara facility. Also, the Company reduced its workforce by approximately 50 positions. The workforce reduction included reductions associated with the Sunnyvale facilities consolidation, as well as other strategic reductions in the organization. In addition, as part of the consolidation the Company accelerated the implementation of a new, lower cost wafer deposition process called Reactive Co-Evaporation.

     In connection with this program in the quarter ended October 2, 2004 the Company incurred additional period expenses of $722,000 to relocate machinery and equipment and employees and lease abandonment costs relating to its Sunnyvale facility closed in July.

     As a result of all cost reduction initiatives, the Company saved approximately $2.3 million in the quarter ended October 2, 2004, as compared to the first quarter of 2004.

     During the quarter ended October 2, 2004, the Company further reduced its workforce primarily associated with its manufacturing operations and recognized an additional $63,000 in severance benefits expenses.

     A summary of the restructuring charges for the quarter and nine months ended October 2, 2004 and estimated charges for subsequent quarters is as follows:

                                 
    Quarter   Nine Months        
    Ended   Ended        
    October 2,   October 2,   Subsequent    
    2004
  2004
  Quarters
  Total
Severance costs
  $ 63,000     $ 742,000     $     $ 742,000  
Fixed assets write offs
    20,000       803,000             803,000  
Purchased technology write-off
          1,051,000             1,051,000  
Lease abandonment costs
    279,000       279,000             279,000  
Facility consolidation costs
    188,000       188,000       50,000       238,000  
Employee relocation cost
    235,000       235,000       190,000       425,000  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total
  $ 785,000     $ 3,298,000     $ 240,000     $ 3,538,000  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

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

Balance Sheet Data :

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    December 31,   October 2,
    2003
  2004
Accounts receivable:
               
Accounts receivable-trade
  $ 6,766,000     $ 1,549,000  
U.S. government accounts receivable-billed
    2,107,000       697,000  
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts
    (64,000 )     (73,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 8,809,000     $ 2,173,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
                 
    December 31,   October 2,
    2003
  2004
Inventories:
               
Raw materials
  $ 1,941,000     $ 3,350,000  
Work-in-process
    4,803,000       3,397,000  
Finished goods
    2,861,000       7,117,000  
Less inventory reserve
    (803,000 )     (1,211,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 8,802,000     $ 12,653,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
                 
    December 31,   October 2,
    2003
  2004
Property and Equipment:
               
Equipment
  $ 21,274,000     $ 21,087,000  
Leasehold improvements
    5,891,000       6,176,000  
Furniture and fixtures
    430,000       488,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    27,595,000       27,751,000  
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (15,061,000 )     (16,407,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 12,534,000     $ 11,344,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 

     At December 31, 2003 and October 2, 2004, equipment includes $237,000 of assets financed under capital lease arrangements, net of $91,000 and $145,000 of accumulated amortization, respectively. Depreciation expense amounted to $628,000 and $1,769,000 for the three and nine month periods ended September 27, 2003, respectively and $729,000 and $2,063,000 for the three and nine month periods ended October 2, 2004, respectively. In connection with a restructuring of the Company’s operations and other abandonments in the second quarter of 2004, $1,526,000 of property and equipment cost and $723,000 of related accumulated depreciation was written off in the quarter ended July 3, 2004.

                 
    December 31,   October 2,
    2003
  2004
Patents and Licenses:
               
Patents pending
  $ 848,000     $ 845,000  
Patents issued
    1,182,000       1,516,000  
Less accumulated amortization
    (332,000 )     (415,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net patents issued
    850,000       1,101,000  
Licenses
    3,310,000       3,334,000  
Less accumulated amortization
    (2,322,000 )     (2,523,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net licenses
    988,000       811,000  
Purchased technology
    3,200,000       1,862,000  
Less accumulated amortization
    (519,000 )     (511,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net purchased technology
    2,681,000       1,351,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
  $ 5,367,000     $ 4,108,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 

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     Amortization expense related to these items totaled $191,000 and $570,000 for the three and nine month periods ended September 27, 2003, respectively and $155,000 and $562,000 for the three and nine months ended October 2, 2004, respectively. In connection with a restructuring of the Company’s operations in the second quarter of 2004, $1,338,000 of purchased technology cost and $287,000 of related accumulated amortization was written off. Amortization expenses are expected to total $160,000 for the remainder of 2004, $500,000 in 2005 and $450,000 in each of the years 2006, 2007 and 2008.

                 
    December 31,   October 2,
    2003
  2004
Accrued Expenses and Other Long Term Liabilities:
               
Compensation related
  $ 2,153,000     $ 1,292,000  
Warranty reserve
    494,000       525,000  
Unfavorable lease costs
    823,000        
Lease abandonment costs
    1,329,000       1,657,000  
Product line exit costs
    913,000       840,000  
Severance costs
    285,000       109,000  
Other
    723,000       653,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    6,720,000       5,076,000  
Less current portion
    (4,832,000 )     (3,752,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Long term portion
  $ 1,888,000     $ 1,324,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
                 
    For the nine months ended,
    September   October 2,
    27, 2003
  2004
Warranty Reserve Activity:
               
Beginning balance
  $ 351,000     $ 494,000  
Additions
    173,000       146,000  
Deductions
    (88,000 )     (115,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $ 436,000     $ 525,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Unfavorable Lease Costs:
               
Beginning balance
  $ 1,140,000     $ 823,000  
Additions
           
Deductions
    (236,000 )     (265,000 )
Transfer to lease abandonment costs
          (558,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $ 904,000     $  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Lease Abandonment Costs:
               
Beginning balance
  $ 1,995,000     $ 1,329,000  
Additions
          279,000  
Transfers from unfavorable lease costs
          558,000  
Deductions
    (495,000 )     (509,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $ 1,500,000     $ 1,657,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 

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    For the nine months ended,
    September   October 2,
    27, 2003
  2004
Product Line Exit Costs:
               
Beginning balance
  $ 1,042,000     $ 913,000  
Additions
           
Deductions
    (98,000 )     (73,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $ 944,000     $ 840,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Severance Costs:
               
Beginning balance
  $ 1,600,000     $ 285,000  
Additions
          742,000  
Deductions
    (1,214,000 )     (918,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Ending balance
  $ 386,000     $ 109,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 

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

General

     We develop, manufacture and market high performance products used in cellular base stations to maximize the performance of wireless telecommunications networks by improving the quality of uplink signals from mobile wireless devices. Our solutions leverage our expertise in high-temperature superconducting filters to “hear” wireless devices with the best possible clarity while rejecting interfering signals. We believe that this combination of interference rejection and receiver sensitivity is only possible using HTS technology. We sell our products directly to wireless carriers in the Americas, and we have plans to expand internationally. Our customers to date include ALLTEL, AT&T Wireless, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon Wireless.

     We derive our commercial revenues from three product lines:

    SuperLink Rx . In order to receive uplink signals from wireless handsets, base stations require a wireless filter system to eliminate, or filter out, out-of-band interference. To address this need, we offer the SuperLink Rx product line for the receiver front-end of base stations. These products combine specialized filters using HTS technology with a proprietary cryogenic cooler and a cryogenically cooled low-noise amplifier. The result is a highly compact and reliable cryogenic receiver front-end that can simultaneously deliver both high selectivity (interference rejection) and high sensitivity (detection of low level signals). SuperLink Rx products thereby offer significant advantages over conventional filter systems.
 
    AmpLink Rx . The recently introduced AmpLink Rx is our lower-cost receiver front-end product designed specifically to address the sensitivity requirements of wireless base stations. The AmpLink Rx is a ground-mounted unit which includes a high-performance amplifier and up to six dual duplexers. The enhanced uplink provided by AmpLink Rx 1900 improves PCS network coverage immediately and avoids the installation and maintenance costs associated with tower mounted amplifiers. As network interference increases, the AmpLink Rx 1900 is easily upgradeable to include a SuperLink Rx front-end, which uses HTS technology to maintain the same sensitivity improvement while eliminating the effects of increasing interference.
 
    SuperPlex . SuperPlex, our antenna sharing solution is a line of multiplexers that provides extremely low insertion loss and excellent cross-band isolation. Products in our SuperPlex line of high-performance multiplexers are designed to eliminate the need for additional base station antennas and reduce infrastructure costs. Relative to competing technologies, these products offer increased transmit power delivered to the base station antenna, higher sensitivity to subscriber handset signals, fast and cost-effective network overlays. The SuperPlex product family offers network performance benefits synergistic with SuperLink Rx.

     We began commercial production of the SuperFilter (the precursor to the SuperLink Rx) in 1997. Our initial commercial sales of our SuperLink products were to small rural providers who had the most immediate need for range extension and coverage enhancement. We sold our first systems in the fourth quarter of 1997. We sold 83 more systems in 1998, 123 systems in 1999, 393 systems in 2000, 438 systems in 2001, 927 systems in 2002, 1,884 systems in 2003 and 1,243

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and 605 units in the nine months ended September 27, 2003 and October 2, 2004. In 2001, U.S. Cellular accounted for 12% of our net commercial revenues and ALLTEL accounted for 73% of our net commercial revenues. In 2002, U.S. Cellular accounted for 8% of our net commercial revenues and ALLTEL for 84% of our net commercial revenues. In 2003, ALLTEL accounted for 70% of our net commercial revenues and Verizon accounted for 15% of our net commercial revenues. In the nine months ended October 2, 2004, ALLTEL accounted for 63% of our net commercial revenues and Verizon accounted for 23% of our net commercial revenues.

     In our business model, we use government contracts as a source of funds for our commercial technology development. We typically own the intellectual property developed under these contracts, and the Federal Government receives a royalty-free, non-exclusive and nontransferable license to use the intellectual property for the United States. We acquired Conductus, Inc. on December 18, 2002. Conductus was a competing supplier of high-temperature superconducting technology for wireless networks. The acquisition of Conductus contributed $4.6 million to our government revenues in 2003.

     During 2002 and 2003, we were marketing a power amplifier product called the SuperLink Tx manufactured by another company. The SuperLink Tx was for wireless networks that suffer from insufficient transmit power on the downlink signal path. A competitor acquired our supplier for this product in November 2003. We have not had significant sales of the SuperLink Tx product to date. We are evaluating alternative sources of power amplifiers for our customers.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

     Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to bad debts, inventories, intangible assets, goodwill, income taxes, warranty obligations, contingencies and litigation. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we 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. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

     We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the financial statements. We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. We write down our inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

     Our net sales consist of revenue from sales of products net of trade discounts and allowances. We recognize revenue when evidence of an arrangement exists, contractual obligations have been satisfied, title and risk of loss have been transferred to the customer and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. At the time revenue is recognized, we provide for the estimated cost of product warranties if allowed for under contractual arrangements. Our warranty obligation is effected by product failure rates and service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure. Should such failure rates or costs differ from these estimates, accrued warranty costs would be adjusted.

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

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

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     All payments to the Company for work performed on contracts with agencies of the U.S. Government are subject to adjustment upon audit by the Defense Contract Audit Agency. Based on historical experience and review of current projects in process, management believes that the audits will not have a significant effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

     We recognized $20 million of goodwill in connection with the acquisition of Conductus, Inc. in December 2002. During the third quarter of 2003 we tested the goodwill for possible impairment and determined that there was no impairment. This goodwill will again be tested for impairment in the fourth quarter of 2004. If the carrying amount exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment loss will be recognized equal to the excess.

     We also review the recoverability of the carrying value of identified intangibles and other long lived assets on an annual basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is determined based upon the forecasted undiscounted future net cash flows from the operations to which the assets relate, utilizing our best estimates, appropriate assumptions and projections at the time. These projected future cash flows may vary significantly over time as a result of increased competition, changes in technology, fluctuations in demand, consolidation of our customers and reductions in average selling prices. If the carrying value is determined not to be recoverable from future operating cash flows, the asset is deemed impaired and an impairment loss is recognized to the extent the carrying value exceeded the estimated fair market value of the asset.

     We account for employee stock-based compensation under the “intrinsic value” method prescribed in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (“APB 25”), as opposed to the “fair value” method prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS 123”). Pursuant to the provisions of APB 25, we generally do not record an expense for the value of stock-based awards granted to employees. If the Financial Accounting Standards Board Proposed Statement of Financial Accounting Standard, “ Share-Based Payment, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 123 and 95” is issued, we may be required to treat the value of stock-based awards granted to employees as compensation expense in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our reported operating results and could negatively affect the price of our Common Stock. If this proposal is issued, we could decide to reduce the number of stock-based awards granted to employees in the future, which could adversely impact our ability to attract qualified candidates or retain existing employees without increasing their cash compensation and, therefore, have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

     As permitted under No. 123, the Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” in accounting for its stock options and other stock-based employee awards. Pro forma information regarding net loss and loss per share, as calculated under the provisions of SFAS 123, are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. The Company accounts for equity securities issued to non-employees in accordance with the provision of SFAS 123 and Emerging Issues Task Force 96-18.

     If the Company had elected to recognize compensation expense for employee awards based upon the fair value at the grant date consistent with the methodology prescribed by SFAS 123, the Company’s net loss and net loss per share would have been increased to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

                                 
    Three Months Ended
  Nine Months Ended
    September 27,   October 2,   September 27,   October 2,
    2003
  2004
  2003
  2004
Net loss:
                               
As reported
  $ (851,000 )   $ (5,155,000 )   $ (12,255,000 )   $ (19,949,000 )
Stock-based employee compensation included in net loss
                       
Stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value method
    (1,117,000 )     (1,233,000 )     (3,036,000 )     (4,591,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Pro forma
  $ (1,968,000 )   $ (6,388,000 )   $ (15,291,000 )     (24,540,000 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Basic and Diluted Loss per Share
                               
As reported
  $ (0.01 )   $ (0.06 )   $ (0.20 )   $ (0.25 )
Stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value method
    (0.02 )     (0.01 )     (0.05 )     (0.06 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Pro forma
  $ (0.03 )   $ (0.07 )   $ (0.25 )   $ (0.31 )
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

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     Our valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets is based on our assessments of historical losses and projected operating results in future periods. If and when we generate future taxable income in the U.S. against which these tax assets may be applied, some portion or all of the valuation allowance would be reversed and an increase in net income would consequently be reported in future years.

     We are currently involved as a defendant in several lawsuits – a patent infringement case and several substantially identical securities class actions. These matters are discussed below in “Legal Proceedings.” We do not believe that a loss is probable or reasonably estimable in any of these cases and therefore have not recorded any liabilities relating to these proceedings. We periodically reassess our potential liability as additional information becomes available. If we later determine that a loss is probable and the amount reasonably estimable, we would record a reserve for the potential loss. The ultimate amount of the loss, if any, could materially impact our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

Backlog

     Our commercial backlog consists of accepted product purchase orders scheduled for delivery within 24 months and consists of purchase orders for both dollar and unit purchase commitments. The exact dollar commitment for unit commitments may vary depending on the exact units purchased. Based on past purchasing patterns and expected purchasing trends of customers with unit commitments, we estimate our backlog at October 2, 2004 to be $380,000, as compared to $250,000 at December 31, 2003.

Results of Operations

Trends for 2004

     We are a manufacturer of equipment to a relatively small number of customers and are highly sensitive to any changes experienced by our customers. We are currently experiencing the downside of such changes with two customers that we consider important for our revenues in 2004. One of our customers was recently acquired. We believe that this customer has suspended work temporarily on certain infrastructure projects because of the acquisition. Some of these projects involved our products. We also believe that another customer has decided to greatly accelerate a project to roll out a new third generation technology that has diverted their human resources. This is delaying some projects to deploy our product for improvements to their existing network. We believe these are temporary impediments but cannot be certain of their duration. We are also aggressively pursuing efforts to have our product incorporated into our customers’ new third generation wireless networks. We believe our product sales will, in the long run, continue to be driven by the need for efficient capital spending and improved network performance of both the existing wireless technologies and the new third generation wireless technologies such as 1X-EVDO, EDGE and W-CDMA.

     We compete directly with venders of other interference solutions such as tower mount amplifiers and conventional filters. This creates customer pressure on our product pricing to match the lower prices of these other vendors.. Our product pricing has always been influenced by this competition, and we have responded by continually and substantially reducing our product costs. We have reduced our product costs in the first nine months of 2004 and expect further product cost reductions over the next 12 months, but we cannot predict whether our costs will decline at a rate sufficient to keep pace with the competitive pricing pressure.

Quarter and nine months ended October 2, 2004 as compared to the quarter and nine months ended September 27, 2003 .

     Total net revenue decreased by $6.9 million, or 48%, from $14.2 million in third quarter of 2003 to $7.3 million in the third quarter of 2004. Total net revenues decreased by $13.9 million, or 42%, from $33.0 million in the first nine months of 2003 to $19.1 million in the same period this year. Total revenues primarily consist of commercial revenue and government contract revenue.

     Net commercial product revenues in the third quarter of 2004 decreased to $6.1 million from $11.6 million in the same period last year, a decrease of $5.5 million, or 48%. For the first nine months of 2004, net commercial product revenues decreased to $13.8 million from $25.6 million in the same period last year, a decrease of 46%. The decrease in the third quarter of 2004 as compared to the prior year period is primarily the result of lower unit sales of our SuperLink Rx products of $5.6 million. The decrease in the first nine months of 2004 as compared to the prior year period is primarily the result of lower unit sales of our SuperLink Rx products of $11.8 million. The average selling price of our SuperLink Rx product is comparable

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between the periods. Our two largest customers accounted for 89% of our net commercial revenues in the nine months ended September 27, 2003 and 86% in the nine months ended October 2, 2004.

     Government contract revenues decreased by $1.3 million, or 52%, from $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2003 to $1.2 million in the same quarter of 2004. For the first nine months of 2003, government contract revenues decreased to $5.2 million from $7.3 million in the same period last year, a decrease of $2.1 million, or 29%. This decrease is primarily attributable to the completion of contracts in 2003 and 2004 that have not been replaced.

     Cost of commercial product revenue includes all direct costs and manufacturing overhead. The cost of commercial product revenue totaled $6.0 million for the third quarter ended October 2, 2004 and $8.2 million for the third quarter ended September 27, 2003. The cost of commercial product revenue totaled $14.8 million for the nine months ended October 2, 2004 and $19.5 million for the nine months ended September 27, 2003. Decreased costs result primarily from decreased unit shipments partially offset by increased provision for inventory reserves in both periods of approximately $350,000. Inventory reserves were increased to align inventory carrying costs with their market value.

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

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

                                                                 
    Three Months Ended
  Nine Months Ended
    September           October           September           October        
Dollars in thousands
  27, 2003
          2, 2004
          27, 2003
          2, 2004
       
Net commercial product sales
  $ 11,570       100 %   $ 6,053       100 %   $ 25,630       100 %   $ 13,788       100 %
Cost of commercial product sales
    8,150       70 %     6,014       99 %     19,450       76 %     14,827       108 %
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Gross profit
  $ 3,420       30 %   $ 39       1 %   $ 6,180       24 %   $ (1,039 )     (8 %)
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

     For the third quarter ended October 2, 2004 we had positive gross profit of $39,000 from sale of our commercial products as compared to positive gross profit of $3.4 million in our third quarter of 2003. For the nine months ended October 2, 2004 we had negative gross profit of $1.0 million from sale of our commercial products as compared to positive gross profit of $6.2 million in the nine months ended September 27, 2003. We experienced negative gross profits because the reduced level of commercial sales was insufficient to cover our fixed manufacturing overhead costs.

     Contract research and development expenses totaled $860,000 in the third quarter of 2004 and $1.7 million in the third quarter of 2003. These expenses totaled $3.5 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $4.7 million in the first nine months of 2003. These decreases were the result of lower expenses associated with performing a fewer number of government contracts.

     Other research and development expenses relate to development of our commercial products. These expenses totaled $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2004, as compared to $985,000 in the same period last year. These expenses increased in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year due to increased commercial research and development efforts. These expenses totaled $3.8 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $4.3 million in the first nine months of 2003. The decline is due to lower commercial product development efforts for the year to date period.

     Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $3.5 million in the third quarter of 2004 as compared to $4.1 million in the same period last year. In the first nine months of 2004 these expenses totaled $12.4 million as compared to $16.6 million in the same period last year. This decrease in the third quarter of 2004 as compared to the same quarter in the prior year is primarily due to lower expenses resulting from the closure of our Sunnyvale facility. The decrease in the first nine months of

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2004 as compared to the prior year results primarily from lower ISCO litigation expenses and the closure of our Sunnyvale facility. In the third quarter of 2004 ISCO litigation expenses totaled $25,000 as compared to $90,000 in the third quarter of 2003. In the first nine months of 2004 these expenses totaled $438,000 as compared to $4.8 million in the same period last year. These decreases were partially offset by higher sales and marketing expenses.

     During the quarter ended July 3, 2004, we announced the implementation of a restructuring program to streamline our operations and reduce its cost structure. In connection with this during the quarter ended July 3, 2004 we recorded cash and non-cash restructuring charges of $2.5 million. We consolidated our research and development operations in Sunnyvale into our Santa Barbara facility. We reduced our workforce by approximately 50 positions. The workforce reduction included reductions associated with the Sunnyvale facility consolidation, as well as other strategic reductions in the organization. In addition, as part of the consolidation we accelerated the implementation of a new, lower cost wafer deposition process called Reactive Co-Evaporation. In connection with this program, in the quarter ended October 2, 2004 we incurred additional period expenses of $722,000 to relocate machinery and equipment and employees and lease abandonment costs relating to the closure of our Sunnyvale facility. In the fourth quarter of 2004, we expect additional restructuring expenses to relocate machinery and employees to total $240,000.

     During the quarter ended October 2, 2004, we further reduced our workforce primarily associated with its manufacturing operations and recognized an additional $63,000 in severance benefit expenses.

     As a result of all cost reduction initiatives, the Company saved approximately $2.3 million in the quarter ended October 2, 2004 as compared to the first quarter of 2004.

     Interest income decreased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2004 as compared to the same periods in the prior year because we had less cash available for investment.

     Interest expense in the quarter ended October 2, 2004 is comparable to the same period in the prior year. For the nine months ended October 2, 2004 interest expense totaled $1.2 million as compared to $374,000 in the nine months ended September 27, 2003. This increase is related primarily to an $802,000 non-cash charge relating to warrants issued in connection with the Bridge Loans entered into in April 2004.

     We had a net loss of $5.2 million for the quarter ended October 2, 2004 as compared to $851,000 in the same period last year. For the nine months ended October 2, 2004 our net loss totaled $19.9 million as compared to $12.3 million in the same period last year.

     The net loss available to common shareholders totaled $0.06 per common share in the current quarter, as compared to $0.01 per common share, in the same period last year. The net loss available to common shareholders totaled $0.25 per common share in the nine months ended October 2, 2004, as compared to $0.20 per common share, in the same period last year.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

     We have historically financed our operations through a combination of cash on hand, cash provided from operations, equipment lease financings, available borrowings under bank lines of credit and both private and public equity offerings. We have effective registration statements on file with the SEC covering the public resale by investors of all the common stock issued in our private placements, as well as any common stock acquired upon exercise of their warrants. Our principal sources of liquidity consist of existing cash balances and funds expected to be generated from future operations. As of October 2, 2004, we had working capital of $15.5 million, including $7.1 million in cash and cash equivalents, as compared to working capital of $15.6 million at December 31, 2003, which included $11.1 million in cash and cash equivalents. We currently invest our excess cash in short-term, investment-grade, money-market instruments with maturities of three months or less. We typically hold such investments until maturity and then reinvest the proceeds in similar money market instruments. We believe that all of our cash investments would be readily available to us should the need arise.

     Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $4.0 million from $11.1 million at December 31, 2003 to $7.1 million at October 2, 2004. Cash was used in operations, for the purchase of property and equipment and for the payment of short and long-term borrowings and was partially offset by cash received from the sale of common stock in a public offering during the second quarter of 2004. Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $5.1 million from $18.2 million at December 31, 2002 to $13.1 million at September 27, 2003. Cash used in operations and investing activities during the first nine months of 2003 was partially offset by cash received from the sale of common stock and warrants in a private placement during the second quarter.

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     Cash used in operations totaled $16.3 million in the first nine months of 2004. We used $13.9 million to fund the cash portion of our net losses. We also used cash to fund a $9.0 million increase in inventory, prepaid expenses and other current assets, patents and licenses and accounts payable payments. Inventory increased during the first nine months of 2004 due to lower than expected sales. These uses were partially offset by cash generated from the collection of accounts receivable of $6.6 million. Cash used in operations totaled $13.4 million in the first nine months of 2003. We used $9.6 million to fund the cash portion of our net losses. We also used cash to fund a $4.3 million increase in accounts receivable, inventory, patents and licenses and other assets. Cash generated from the increase in accounts payable and other accrued expenses totaled $589,000.

     Net cash used to purchase manufacturing related equipment and tenant improvements totaled $1.7 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $2.4 million the same period last year.

     Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $13.9 million in the first nine months of 2004. Cash received from the sale of common stock and exercise of options and warrants totaled $17.2 million and borrowings against our credit and bridge loan facilities totaled $5.3 million. These sources of cash were partially offset by payments against our credit and bridge loan facilities totaling $7.9 million and payments against our long-term debt totaling $627,000. Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $10.7 million in the first nine months of 2003. Cash received from the sale of common stock and warrants totaled $10.1 million and net borrowings against our credit facility totaled $1.6 million and was partially offset by the reduction in long-term borrowings of $948,000.

     We have a line of credit from a bank. It is a material source of funds for our business. The line of credit expires March 17, 2005 and is structured as a sale of our accounts receivable. The bank agreement provides for the sale of up to $5.0 million of eligible accounts receivable, with advances to us totaling 80% of the receivables sold. Advances bear interest at the prime rate (4.75% at October 2, 2004) plus 2.50% subject to a minimum monthly charge. Outstanding amounts under this borrowing facility at October 2, 2004 totaled $669,000. The amount outstanding is repaid upon collection of the underlying accounts receivable. Advances are collateralized by a lien on all of our assets. Under the terms of the agreement, we continue to service the sold receivables and are subject to recourse provisions.

     At October 2, 2004, we had the following cash commitments:

                                         
    Payments Due by Period
            Less than 1            
Contractual Obligations
  Total
  year
  2-3 years
  4-5 years
  After 5 years
Capital lease obligations
  $ 107,000     $ 64,000     $ 43,000     $     $  
Operating leases
    11,991,000       2,450,000       3,224,000       2,921,000       3,396,000  
Minimum license commitment
    2,794,000       270,000       540,000       322,000       1,662,000  
Fixed asset purchase commitments
    167,000       167,000                    
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total contractual cash obligations
  $ 15,059,000     $ 2,951,000     $ 3,807,000     $ 3,243,000     $ 5,058,000  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

     There were no material changes to commitments outside the ordinary course of business.

     We plan to invest approximately $150,000 to $250,000 in fixed assets during the remainder of 2004 to continue to expand manufacturing capacity if there is sufficient market demand for our products.

     Our independent registered public accounting firm has included in their audit report for 2003-year an explanatory paragraph expressing doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern due to past losses and negative cash flows. They included a similar explanatory paragraph in their audit report for 2002. In 2003, we incurred a net loss of $11,345,000 and had negative cash flows from operations of $18,458,000. For the nine months ended October 2, 2004, we had a net loss of $19.9 million and negative cash flows from operations of $16.3 million. In response during the current year, we adjusted our inventory build plan, reduced direct and indirect labor, cut certain fixed costs and implemented a reduced workweek. We also began a cost restructuring program to consolidated our research and development operations in Sunnyvale

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into our Santa Barbara facility, eliminate an additional 50 positions and accelerate the implementation of a new lower cost wafer deposition process.

     We completed two financing transactions during the nine months ended October 2, 2004. First, we closed a transaction on April 25, 2004 to temporarily expand our credit facility. Silicon Valley Bank amended our existing line of credit to increase borrowing capacity from 80% to 95% of eligible accounts receivable. We concurrently secured a commitment for a $2.0 million secured bridge loan from an investor. The investor subsequently funded $1.5 million of the bridge loan. We issued to the lenders warrants to purchase in the aggregate 600,000 shares of common stock at $1.85 per share. The bridge loan was subsequently paid in full on May 26, 2004. Upon repayment of the bridge loan the Silicon Valley credit facility reverted back to it original terms.

     Second, we completed a public offering of 23,000,000 shares of common stock at $0.80 per share during the quarter raising net proceeds of $16.7 million.

     We expect our existing cash resources, together with our line of credit, will be sufficient to fund our planned operations into 2005. We expect our liquidity to reach an unacceptably low level in the second quarter of 2005 and anticipate a need for additional working capital to fund growth in the third and fourth quarters of 2005. Accordingly, we have concluded that the company will need additional funding to provide adequate cash reserves in the event of another downturn in our business and to fund expected growth in the second half of 2005. Our actual cash requirements will depend on numerous factors, including the rate of growth of our sales, the timing and levels of products purchased, payment terms and credit limits from manufacturers, the timing and level of our accounts receivable collections and our ability to manage the business profitability.

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

     In the last several years, we have raised money from investors to cover our operating losses through public and private offerings. Our ability to continue to raise funds using these methods may be adversely impacted by any future NASDAQ listing issues. Our continued NASDAQ listing requires us to maintain a minimum of $1 share price. Our stock has traded at less than $1 per share recently. Although NASDAQ de-listing would not be immediate, our lower share price could make capital raising more difficult.

     Our interim financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. The factors described above raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from this uncertainty.

Net Operating Loss Carryforward

     As of December 31, 2003, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of approximately $215.1 million and for state income tax purposes of $90.6 million which expire in the years 2004 through 2023. Of these amounts $93.9 million and $30.2 million, respectively resulted from the acquisition of Conductus. Included in the net operating loss carryforwards are deductions related to stock options of approximately $24.0 million and $13.0 million for federal and California income tax purposes. To the extent net operating loss carryforwards are recognized for accounting purposes the resulting benefits related to the stock options will be credited to stockholders’ equity. In addition, the Company has research and development and other tax credits for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately $2.6 million and $2.3 million, respectively, which expire in the years 2004 through 2023. Of these amounts $972,000 and $736,000, respectively resulted from the acquisition of Conductus.

     Due to the uncertainty surrounding their realization, the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets. Accordingly, no deferred tax asset has been recorded in the accompanying balance sheet.

     Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code imposes an annual limitation on the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards based on a statutory rate of return (usually the “applicable federal funds rate”, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code) and the value of the corporation at the time of a “change of ownership” as defined by Section 382. Recently, the Company completed an analysis of its equity transactions and determined that it had a change in ownership in August 1999 and December 2002. Therefore, the ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards incurred prior to the change of ownership totaling $101.6 million will be subject in future periods to an annual limitation of $1.3 million. In addition, the Company acquired the right to Conductus’ net operating losses, which are also subject to the limitations imposed by Section 382. Conductus underwent three ownership changes, which occurred in February 1999, February 2001 and December 2002. Therefore, the ability to utilize Conductus’ net operating loss carryforwards of $93.9 million incurred prior to the ownership

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changes will be subject in future periods to annual limitation of $700,000. Net operating losses incurred by the Company subsequent to the ownership changes totaled $19.5 million and are not subject to this limitation.

Future Accounting Requirements

     In March 2004, the consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 03-06, Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement 128, was published. EITF Issue No.03-06 addresses the computations of earnings per share by companies that have issued securities other than common stock that contractually entitle the holder to participate in dividends and earnings of the company. Further guidance on the application and allocations of the two-class method of calculating earnings per share is also included. The provisions of EITF Issue No. 03-06 will be effective for reporting periods beginning after March 31, 2004. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial results of operations and financial position.

Forward-Looking Statements

     This report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. We have made these statements in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance and include, but are not limited to, statements concerning our business strategy, future commercial revenues, market growth, capital requirements, new product introductions, expansion plans and the adequacy of our funding. Other statements contained in this report that are not historical facts are also forward-looking statements. We have tried, wherever possible, to identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” and other comparable terminology.

     Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. They can be affected by many factors, including, but not limited to the following:

    fluctuations in product demand,
 
    the impact of competitive filter products, technologies and pricing,
 
    manufacturing capacity constraints and difficulties,
 
    market acceptance risks, and
 
    general economic conditions.

     Please read Exhibit 99 to our report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 entitled “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” for a description of additional uncertainties and factors that may affect our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on information presently available to senior management, and we do not assume any duty to update our forward-looking statements.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     There was no material change in our exposure to market risk at October 2, 2004 as compared with our market risk exposure on December 31, 2003. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Market Risk” in our 2003 Annual Report on Form 10K.

Item 4. Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

      Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

     The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

     We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”). Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company that as of the Evaluation Date is required to be included in our periodic SEC filings.

      Changes in Internal Controls

     There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15(d) – 15(f)) during the third quarter of 2004 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Patent Litigation

     We are engaged in a patent dispute with ISCO International, Inc. relating to U.S. Patent No. 6,263,215 entitled “Cryoelectronically Cooled Receiver Front End for Mobile Radio Systems.” ISCO filed a complaint on July 17, 2001 in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware against us and our wholly owned subsidiary, Conductus, Inc. The ISCO complaint alleged that our SuperFilter product and Conductus’ ClearSite® product infringe ISCO’s patent. The matter went to trial on March 17, 2003.

     On April 3, 2003, the jury returned a unanimous verdict that our SuperFilter III product does not infringe the patent in question, and that ISCO’s patent is invalid and unenforceable. The jury also awarded us $3.8 million in compensatory damages based upon a finding that ISCO engaged in unfair competition and acted in bad faith by issuing press releases and contacting our customers asserting rights under this patent.

     On April 17, 2003, we filed a Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Disbursements, in which we asked the court to award us our attorneys’ fees and other litigation expenses. On the same date, ISCO filed a motion, asking the court to overturn the verdict and grant a new trial. In August 2003, the court rejected ISCO’s request to overturn the jury’s verdict that the patent is invalid and not infringed by the SuperFilter III product, and accepted the jury’s verdict that the patent is unenforceable because of inequitable conduct committed by one of the alleged inventors. ISCO subsequently filed a notice of appeal as to this portion of the court’s decision. The court overturned the jury’s verdict of unfair competition and bad faith on the part of ISCO and the related $3.8 million compensatory damage award to us, and also denied our request for reimbursement of our legal fees associated with the case. We have filed a notice of appeal as to this portion of the court’s decision.

     If the appellate court overturns the jury’s verdict and grants ISCO a new trial, there is a risk that we may not prevail in a second trial. If this should happen, we could be subject to significant liabilities and be required to cease using key technology. In any case, the cost of defending continued litigation by ISCO, or any other intellectual property lawsuit, could constitute a major financial burden and materially and adversely affect our results of operations, balance sheet and cash flows.

Class Action Lawsuits

     We were named as a defendant in several substantially identical class action lawsuits filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in April 2004. The cases were consolidated in August 2004, and the plaintiffs filed an amended consolidated complaint in October 2004. The plaintiffs allege securities law violations by us and certain of our officers and directors under Rule 10b-5 and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The complaint was filed on behalf of a purported class of people who purchased our stock during the period between January 9, 2004 and March 1, 2004 and seeks unspecified damages. The plaintiffs base their allegations primarily on the fact that we did not achieve our forecasted revenue guidance of $10 to $13 million for the first quarter of 2004. We believe the complaint is without merit and intend to defend this action vigorously. However, we cannot assure you that we will prevail in such litigation and, if the outcome is unfavorable to us, our reputation, profitability, balance sheet, cash flow and share price could be adversely affected.

Item 5. Other Information

(a) Additional Disclosures

     Consulting Agreement. We entered into a consulting agreement with Charles Shalvoy, a director, on November 4, 2004. Under the agreement, we may retain his services from time to time as a consultant on strategic planning matters at the rate

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of $3,000 per day plus reasonable out-of-pocket and travel expenses. As additional consideration, we agreed to continue his health benefits and grant him an option to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock.

     Amendment to Change In Control Agreement. We amended the existing Change in Control Agreement between the company and Mr. Peter Thomas, our President and CEO, on November 4, 2004. The original Change in Control Agreement granted Mr. Thomas certain severance benefits in the event we terminate him in connection with a change in control of the company (as defined in the agreement). The amendment increases the amount of his severance benefits under the agreement from two times his base salary to three times his base salary.

(b) Stockholder Nominations

     There have been no material changes to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to our board of directors. Please see the discussion of our procedures under the heading “Board Meetings and Committees” on pages 4 and 5 of our 2004 Proxy Statement available online at www.sec.gov.

Item 6. Exhibits

     
Number
  Description of Document
3.1
  Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (1)
 
   
3.2
  Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation (2)
 
   
3.3
  Bylaws of the Registrant (3)
 
   
3.4
  Certificate of Amendment of Bylaws dated May 17, 2001 (2)
 
   
3.5
  Certificate of Amendment of Bylaws dated August 8, 2001 (2)
 
   
4.1
  Form of Common Stock Certificate (4)
 
   
4.2
  Third Amended and Restated Stockholders Rights Agreement (3)
 
   
4.3
  Warrant Issued to PNC Bank, National Association in connection with Credit Agreement (3)
 
   
4.4
  Registration Rights Agreement to United States Cellular Corporation (5)
 
   
4.5
  Form of Warrant to United States Cellular Corporation (5)
 
   
4.6
  Warrant Purchase Agreement dated December 1, 1999 with PNC Bank (6)
 
   
4.7
  Warrant Purchase Agreement dated January 12, 2000 with PNC Bank (6)
 
   
4.8
  Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series E Convertible Stock (7)
 
   
4.9
  Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of September 29, 2000 between the Company and RGC International Investors, LDC. (Exhibits and Schedules Omitted) (7)
 
   
4.10
  Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 29, 2000 between the Company and RGC International Investors, LDC. (7)
 
   
4.11
  Initial Stock Purchase Warrant dated as of September 29, 2000 between the Company and RGC International Investors, LDC. (7)
 
   
4.12
  Incentive Stock Purchase Warrant dated as of September 29, 2000 between the Company and RGC International Investors, LDC. (7)
 
   
4.13
  Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 6, 2002 (8)
 
   
4.14
  Warrants to Purchase Shares of Common Stock, dated March 11, 2002 (8)
 
   
4.15
  Registration Rights Agreement dated October 10, 2002 (9)
 
   
4.16
  Warrants to Purchase Common Stock dated October 10, 2002 (9)
 
   
4.17
  Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated March 8, 2002 between Conductus, Inc. and the investors signatory thereto (10)
 
   
4.18
  Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated March 8, 2002 by Conductus, Inc. to certain investors (11)
 
   
4.19
  Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 26, 2002, between Conductus, Inc. and certain investors (11)
 
   
4.20
  Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, dated August 7, 2000, issued by Conductus to Dobson Communications Corporation (12) *

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Number
  Description of Document
4.21
  Form of Series B Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated September 11, 1998 and September 22, 1998 between Conductus and Series B Investors (13)
 
   
4.22
  Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock between Conductus and Series B investors, dated September 28, 1998, issued by Conductus in a private placement (13)
 
   
4.23
  Form of Series C Preferred Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated December 10, 1999, between Conductus and Series C Investors (14)
 
   
4.24
  Form of Warrant Purchase Common Stock between Conductus and Series C investors, dated December 10, 1999, issued by Conductus in a private placement (14)
 
   
4.25
  Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock dated March 28, 2003, issued to Silicon Valley Bank (15)
 
   
4.26
  Form of Warrant (16)
 
   
4.27
  Form of Registration Rights Agreement (16)
 
   
4.28
  Agility Capital Warrant dated May 2004 (17)
 
   
4.29
  Silicon Valley Bank Warrant dated May 2004(17)
 
   
10.1
  Sunpower License Agreement**
 
   
10.2
  Amendment No. 1 to Change in Control Agreement of M. Peter Thomas
 
   
10.3
  Consulting Agreement with Charles Shalvoy
 
   
31.1
  Statement of CEO Pursuant to 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
31.2
  Statement of CFO Pursuant to 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
32.1
  Statement of CEO Pursuant to 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
32.2
  Statement of CFO Pursuant to 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


(1)   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended April 3, 1999.
 
(2)   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended June 30, 2001.
 
(3)   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended July 3, 1999.
 
(4)   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 33-56714).
 
(5)   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended October 2, 1999.
 
(6)   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No. 333-90293).
 
(7)   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999.
 
(8)   Incorporated by reference from Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.
 
(9)   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed October 2, 2002.
 
(10)   Incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 1997.
 
(11)   Incorporated by reference from the Conductus, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 333-85928), filed on April 9, 2002.
 
(12)   Incorporated by reference from Conductus, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on November 16, 1998.
 
(13)   Incorporated by reference from Conductus, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2000.
 
(14)   Incorporated by reference from Conductus, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999.
 
(15)   Incorporate by reference from Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 29, 2003.
 
(16)   Incorporated by reference from Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 25, 2003.
 
(17)   Incorporated by reference from Registrants’ Registration Statement of Form S-3 9Reg. 333-89184)
 
*   Confidential treatment has been previously granted for certain portions of these exhibits.

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**   Confidential treatment requested for certain portions of these 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.

     
  SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC .
 
   
Dated: November 10, 2004
  /s/ Martin S. McDermut
 
 
  Martin S. McDermut
  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
 
   
 
  /s/ M. Peter Thomas
 
 
  M. Peter Thomas
  President and Chief Executive Officer

35

EXHIBIT 10.1

SUNPOWER AND SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.
LICENSE AGREEMENT

This Agreement is made and entered into this 2nd day of May, 1995 by and between Sunpower, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "Sunpower"), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Ohio and having its principal place of business at 6 Byard Street, Athens, Ohio 45701, and Superconductor Technologies Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "STI"), a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and having its principal place of business at 460 Ward Drive, Suite F, Santa Barbara, California 93111-2310.

WHEREAS, Sunpower is a company specializing in free-piston technology and has developed substantial expertise and experience in the design, engineering, and development of free-piston products, including coolers and cryocoolers;

WHEREAS, Sunpower is the owner of certain Patent Rights (as later defined herein), has the right to grant licenses under said Patent Rights, and has developed the know-how to design free-piston products covered under said Patent Rights;

WHEREAS, STI is the owner of certain Patent Rights (as later defined herein), has the right to grant licenses under said Patent Rights, and has developed the know-how to design free-piston products and processes covered under said Patent Rights;

WHEREAS, STI has represented to Sunpower that STI is interested in the research and development, design, commercial production, manufacture; marketing, and sale of the Licensed Product (as later defined herein) and that STI will use good faith reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize the Licensed Product;

WHEREAS, STI desires to obtain a license under Sunpower's Patent Rights and to utilize the know-how possessed by Sunpower relating to the free-piston technology upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

WHEREAS, the parties wish to fully set forth and agree upon all of the terms of said license in one agreement;

WHEREAS, the companies desire to settle and resolve a civil action tiled in the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, styled C2-94-665;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties stipulate and agree as follows:


ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS

As used herein, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

1.1 "Demonstration Rights" shall mean the right to show, describe, fabricate, lend, sell, or permit testing of the Tangible Property to prospective licensees, manufacturers, distributors, or others, but only subject to a confidential disclosure agreement.

1.2 "Field of Use" shall mean incorporation of the Licensed Product, individually, or as a component of a system:

a) into cryocooler devices with less than one (I) kilowatt of cooling capacity for use at temperatures above 30(degree)K and below I50(degree)K to cool electronic components (hereinafter "cryocooler"); or

b) into cooler devices with less than one (1) kilowatt of cooling capacity for use at temperatures at and exceeding I50(degree)K to cool electronic components (hereinafter "cooler").

1.3 "Improvement" shall mean any invention or discovery, whether patentable or not concerning the structure or function or application of either the Licensed Product or the STI Licensed Product, or the means for manufacturing the Licensed Product or the STI Licensed Product, which has the potential to increase the quality or the efficiency or the market of the Licensed product or the STI Licensed Product.

1.4 "Licensed Product" shall mean a free-piston Stirling cryocooler and/or a free-piston Stirling cooler:

a) whose operation, manufacture, use, development or sale would, in the absence of this Agreement, infringe any issued, unexpired claim or a pending claim contained in Sunpower's Patent Rights; or

b) that is manufactured by using a process or is employed to practice a process which is covered in whole or in part by an issued, unexpired claim or a pending claim contained in Sunpower's Patent Rights; or

c) whose operation, manufacture, use, development or sale includes any use of Sunpower Proprietary Information.

1.5 "STI" shall include any individual, partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization, or corporation that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or is under common control with STI, whether such control is exercised through the ownership of equity securities, by contract, or otherwise.

1.6 "STI Licensed Product" shall mean a free-piston design, product or development:

a) whose operation, manufacture, use, development .or sale would, in the absence of this Agreement, infringe any issued, unexpired claim or a pending claim contained in STI's Patent Rights; or

2

b) that is manufactured by using a process or is employed to practice a process which is covered in whole or in part by an issued, unexpired claim or a pending claim contained in STI's Patent Rights; or

c) whose operation, manufacture, use, development or sale includes any use of STI Proprietary Information.

1.7 "STI Proprietary Information" means information belonging to STI related to free-piston design or development identified in writing as proprietary by STI and disclosed to Sunpower including, but not limited to, discoveries, ideas, designs, drawings, specifications, techniques, models, data, programs, documentation, processes, know-how, trade secrets, engineering cost and technical information.

1.8 "STI's Patent Rights" shall mean any subject matter related to the STI Licensed Product described by, claimed in or covered by any of the following (as listed in Appendix B):

a) United States patents and/or patent applications of STI;

b) United States disclosures and patent applications filed and patents issued from the applications of STI and from divisionals, substitutions, and continuations of these applications;

c) claims of U.S. continuation-in-part applications, and of the resulting patents of STI, which are directed to subject matter specifically described in the U.S. applications;

d) any reissues, renewals or extensions of United States patents of STI described in a), b), or c) above;

e) U.S. patent disclosures filed by STI;

f) foreign patent applications filed and foreign patents issued or registered to STI covering the subject matter claimed in or covered by a patent or application described in a) through e) above.

1.9 "Sunpower Proprietary Information" means information belonging to Sunpower related to free-piston Stirling cryocoolers and free-piston Stirling coolers identified in writing as proprietary by Sunpower and disclosed to STI including, but not limited to, discoveries, ideas, designs, drawings, specifications, techniques, models, data, programs, documentation, processes, know-how, trade secrets, engineering cost and technical information.

1.10 "Sunpower's Patent Rights" shall mean any subject matter related to the Licensed Product described by, claimed in or covered by any of the following (as listed in Appendix A):

a) United States patents and/or patent applications of Sunpower;

b) United States disclosures and patent applications filed and patents issued from the applications of Sunpower and from divisionals, substitutions, and continuations of these applications;

3

c) claims of U.S. continuation-in-part applications, and of the resulting patents of Sunpower, which are directed to subject matter specifically described in the U.S. applications;

d) any reissues, renewals or extensions of United States patents of Sunpower described in a), b), or c) above;

e) U.S. patent disclosures filed by Sunpower;

f) foreign patent applications filed and foreign patents issued or registered to Sunpower covering the subject matter claimed in or covered by a patent or application described in a) through e) above.

1.11 "Tangible Property" shall mean any physical prototype unit or component of the Licensed Product.

1.12 "Territory" shall be the entire world.

1.13 "Unit Sales" shall mean the total sales price, as invoiced, for sales of units (either individually or as a component of a system), or total lease price, in the Territory by the seller (and its sublicensees) of the product produced hereunder less the sum of the following:

a) sales, customs, tariff duties and/or use taxes directly imposed and with reference to particular sales;

b) interest and other finance charges paid by customers;

c) transportation, insurance and storage charges;

d) discounts allowed in amounts customary in the trade; and

e) refunds actually paid in connection with product returns.

A unit of a product shall be deemed to have been sold when the product, individually, or as a component, is shipped, invoiced, or paid for, whichever shall occur first. Sunpower agrees that in the event STI makes a sale to a third party that later is documented by STI to be a bad debt, STI may offset any royalties otherwise due under Section 3.1 by the royalty amount which was previously paid to Sunpower for the sale to that third party.

ARTICLE 2 - GRANT

2.1 Sunpower grants to STI a non-exclusive right and license to:

a) develop, commercialize, and exploit Sunpower's Patent Rights described herein;

b) obtain and use Sunpower's Proprietary Information disclosed to STI during the two year technology transfer period set forth in Article 5; and

4

c) research and develop, further design, cost improve, manufacture, and have manufactured (only by a single manufacturer whose sole customer for the Licensed Product is STI), use, lease, market, sell and service the Licensed Product in the Territory for the Field of Use for the term set forth in Section 11.1 of this Agreement, unless this Agreement shall be sooner terminated under the provisions of Section 11.2 or 11.3.

2.2 STI shall have the right to enter into sublicensing agreements and modifications of such agreements for the rights, privileges and licenses granted hereunder for the term set forth in Section 11.1 of this Agreement, but only upon Sunpower's prior written approval, in its own discretion, of such proposed sublicensing agreements, except as provided for STI strategic allies in Section 2.2.1 below. Upon any termination of this Agreement under the provisions of
Section 11.2 or 11.3, sublicensees' rights shall also terminate, subject to the terms of this Agreement.

2.2.1 STI may enter into sublicensing agreements with any format strategic ally of STI which is part of a formal strategic alliance, upon prior written notification of Sunpower, so long as such STI strategic ally is not a customer of Sunpower or in negotiations with Sunpower prior to Sunpower's receipt of such notification from STI. For purposes of this
Section 2.2.1, formal strategic alliance shall be defined as any commercialization effort between STI and any manufacturer or user of superconductors regarding the utilization of the Licensed Product for the Field of Use described in Section 1.2(a) in superconducting that is evidenced by a written agreement, that has a designated coordinator or champion for each member of such alliance, and that includes collaboration and cooperation by the technical staff of the respective alliance members. Royalties shall be paid to Sunpower by STI or formal strategic ally on the same terms, conditions, and definitions set forth in Article 3, except that such royalties shall be paid to Sunpower until the date of expiration or invalidation of all Sunpower's Patent Rights for the Licensed Product.

2.2.2 The royalties due to Sunpower under any sublicensing agreement entered into by STI, including a sublicensing agreement with a STI formal strategically, shall be:

a) For the Field of Use described in Section 1.2(a), either ... of any and all compensation STI receives from the sublicensee, or ... of Unit Sales, ....

b) For the Field of Use described in Section 1.2(b), either ... of any and all compensation STI receives from the sublicensee, or ... of Unit Sales, ....

2.2.3 Royalties or other compensation paid by any sublicensee (including a formal strategic ally) shall not be calculated toward STl's ... maximum royalty payment specified in Section 3.I(c), nor shall any units sold by sublicensees (or formal strategic allies) be exempt from royalties under Section 3.1(e).

2.2.4 STI agrees that all sublicenses granted by it shall provide that the obligations in this Agreement of STI to Sunpower regarding confidentiality, indemnification, recordkeeping and royalties (to be paid for the STI sublicensee's activities related to the Licensed Product the sublicensee manufactures or sells shall be binding upon the sublicensee as if it were a party to this Agreement. STI agrees to forward to Sunpower a copy of any and all executed sublicense agreements and any

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subsequent executed modification agreements within thirty (30) days of execution by the parties.

2.2.5 STI shall not receive from sublicensees anything of value in lieu of cash payments in consideration for any sales, trades, or distribution of the Licensed Product to sublicensees under this Agreement without full disclosure to Sunpower, and without the express prior written permission of Sunpower, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. It is understood that where STI grants additional rights or sells additional products to a sublicensee other than Sunpower's Patent Rights, Sunpower Proprietary Information, or the Licensed Product. consideration paid to STI in exchange for those additional rights or products shall not fall within the meaning of this Section 2.2.5.

2.2.6 In the event Sunpower denies STI approval of a sublicensing agreement other than a formal strategic alliance, Sunpower will not enter into a licensing relationship with the proposed STI sublicensee for the same Licensed Product and Field of Use if the sublicensing agreement with STI includes no less than the royalty from Section 2.2.2 for the applicable Field of Use to be paid to Sunpower, unless Sunpower can show that it had entered into negotiations with the proposed STI sublicensee prior to STI requesting such approval.

2.3 STI grants to Sunpower a non-exclusive right and license to:

a) develop, commercialize, and exploit STI's Patent Rights regarding the STI Licensed Product;

b) obtain and use STI Proprietary Information disclosed to Sunpower during the two year technology transfer period set forth in Article 5; and

c) research and develop, further design, cost improve, manufacture, have manufactured, use, lease, market, sell and service the STI Licensed Product for the term set forth in Section 11.1 in this Agreement, unless this Agreement shall be sooner terminated under the provisions of Section 11.2 or 11.3.

2.4 Sunpower shall have the right to enter into sublicensing agreements and modifications of such agreements for the rights, privileges and licenses granted hereunder to the end of the term set forth in Section 11.1 of this Agreement. but only upon prior written approval of STI, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. STI shall negotiate with Sunpower in good faith to reach an agreement upon reasonable terms for such sublicenses. Upon any termination of this Agreement under the provisions of Section 11.2 or 11.3, sublicensees' rights shall also terminate, subject to the terms of this Agreement. Sunpower agrees that sublicenses granted by it shall provide that the obligations in this Agreement of Sunpower to STI regarding confidentiality, indemnification, and recordkeeping and royalties related to the STI Licensed Product the sublicensee manufactures or sells shall be binding upon the sublicensee as if it were a party to this Agreement. Sunpower agrees to forward to STI a copy of any and all executed sublicense agreements and any subsequent executed modification agreements within thirty (30) days of execution by the parties.

2.4.1 Sunpower shall not receive from sublicensees anything of value in lieu of cash payments in consideration for any sales, trades, or distribution of the STI Licensed Product to sublicensees under this Agreement without full disclosure to STI, and without

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the express prior written permission of STI, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. It is understood that where Sunpower grants additional rights or sells additional products to a sublicensee other than STl's Patent Rights, STI Proprietary Information, or the STI Licensed Product, consideration paid to Sunpower in exchange for those additional rights or products shall not fall within the meaning of this Section 2.4.1.

2.4.2 In the event STI denies Sunpower approval of a sublicensing agreement, STI will not enter into a licensing relationship with the proposed Sunpower sublicensee for the same Licensed Product and Field of Use, unless STI can show that it had entered into negotiations with the proposed Sunpower sublicensee prior to Sunpower requesting such approval.

2.5 The licenses granted hereunder shall not be construed to confer any rights upon either party by implication, estoppel or otherwise, as to any proprietary information, technology or patent rights not specifically conveyed herein.

2.6 Each party reserves the right to practice under its respective Patent Rights and to use and distribute to third parties the Tangible Property for its own research and development and commercial purposes. Each party also reserves the right to exercise Demonstration Rights with respect to the Licensed Product.

ARTICLE 3 - CONSIDERATION

3.1 For the rights, privileges and license granted hereunder, STI shall pay consideration to Sunpower in the manner hereinafter provided for the period set forth in subsection (c), unless this Agreement shall be sooner terminated:

a) A license fee of ... shares of common stock of STI, which shall be conveyed in full within thirty (30) days of the date of this Agreement for the Field of Use described in Section 1.2(a).

b) A license fee of ... shares of common stock of STI, which shall be conveyed within thirty (30) days of the date Sunpower delivers two (2) units of the Licensed Product for the Field of Use described in Section
1.2(b). STI further agrees to pay the following amounts to Sunpower for the Field o! Use described in Section 1.2(b):

i) ... (in U.S. dollars) upon delivery of Sunpower's cold head design documentation; and

ii) ... (in U.S. dollars) upon completion of five (5) units by STI, or eight (8) months after delivery of Sunpower's cold head design documentation, whichever occurs first.

c) Royalties shall be paid by STI to Sunpower for a period of ... years from the date or execution of this Agreement or until STI has paid a total of ... in royalties to Sunpower, whichever is longer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the total term for royalty payments under this Agreement shall not exceed ... years from the date of execution of this Agreement, unless extended by mutual consent of the parties.

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d) STI agrees to pay royalties to Sunpower in the amount of ... of the Royalty Base for the first ... (in U.S. dollars) of accumulated royalty payments and thereafter ... of the Royalty Base.

i) For unit sales of the Licensed Product sold as the total system (stand alone), Royalty Base shall be defined as actual Unit Sales.

ii) For unit sales of products incorporating the Licensed Product as a subsystem or component of the system sold, the Royalty Base shall be defined as ... of Unit Sales for the system or ... of cryocooler capacity or ... watts of cooler capacity, whichever is larger.

iii) To define a cryocooler or cooler as a subsystem or component of a system rather than stand-alone, STI must produce evidence, using standard accounting principles, that the cryocooler or cooler makes up less than ... of the system cost to the manufacturer.

e) The first ... units of the Licensed Product (for each Field of Use) sold by STI ... years from the date of execution of this Agreement shall be exempt from any royalty obligation or payment.

f) In the event that Sunpower desires to manufacture, use or sell a STI Licensed Product, Sunpower shall thereupon notify STI in writing of such intent, and the royalty offset provisions of this Section 3.1(f) shall thereafter be in effect. Sunpower shall then adhere to the same accounting and reporting obligations placed on STI by Sections 3.5 and 3.6 of this Agreement and agrees to compensate STI in the manner set forth below.

i) For each unit of the STI Licensed Product that Sunpower sells to a third party (in excess of ... units per calendar year for the ... years from the date of execution of this Agreement), STI shall receive a per unit royalty credit or offset equal to ... of the royalty percentage amount then otherwise due from STI under Section 3.1(d). For example, if STI is paying a ... per unit royalty, STI may reduce this royalty to ... on a unit by unit basis.

ii) ..., and shall owe STI no other royalty or compensation other than this royalty credit or offset, even if Sunpower's sales significantly exceed STI's sales.

iii) Credits or offsets under this subsection shall not be carried forward or backward from any given calendar year for purposes of determining royalty amounts due and in no instance shall such royalty credits or offsets reduce STI's royalty obligation by more than ... per unit.

3.2 All amounts due hereunder are payable in full to Sunpower without deduction and are net of taxes (including any withholding tax) and customs duties. In addition to such amounts, STI or its customers shall pay sums equal to taxes (including, without limitation, sales, withholding, value-added and similar taxes) and customs duties paid or payable, however designated, levied, or based on amounts payable to Sunpower hereunder or on an end user's use or possession of the Licensed Products under or in accordance with the provision of this

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Agreement, but exclusive of U.S. federal, state, and local taxes based on Sunpower's net income. Any taxes or other fees required to be withheld from royalties due to Sunpower shall be paid by STI to the appropriate governmental agency, and the royalties remitted by STI to Sunpower shall not be reduced by the amount of taxes or other fees withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this provision may not apply if Sunpower chooses, pursuant to Section 3.4 below, to be paid outside of the United States.

3.3 No multiple royalties shall be payable to Sunpower because any Licensed Product or its manufacture in full or in part pursuant to Section 2.1(c), use, lease or sale, is or shall be covered by more than one of Sunpower's Patent Rights licensed under this Agreement.

3.4 Royalty payments shall be paid in United States dollars in Athens, Ohio or at such other place as Sunpower may reasonably designate consistent with the laws and regulations controlling in any foreign country. With respect to sales of Licensed Product during any calendar quarter (i.e., a three-month period ending on March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31 or each year) during which this Agreement is effective, such royalty payment shall be due and payable sixty (60) days after the end of such calendar quarter.

3.5 STI shall keep complete, true and accurate books of account containing all particulars that may be necessary for the purpose of showing the amounts payable to Sunpower hereunder. All such books of account shall be kept at STI's principal place of business and shall be open with five (5) days advance notice by Sunpower to STI and no more than quarterly, for five (5) years following the end of the calendar quarter to which they pertain, to the inspection of Sunpower, through an independent agent selected by Sunpower who agrees to keep all information not directly pertaining to Section 3.6 or Article 4 obtained during the inspection confidential, for the purpose of verifying STI's royalty statement or compliance in other respects with this Agreement. Should such inspection lead to the discovery of a greater than ten percent (10%) overage in the royalty amounts owed to Sunpower above that previously reported or paid by STI, STI agrees to pay the full cost of such inspection within sixty (60) days.

3.6 STI, within sixty (60) days of the close of the calendar quarter, shall deliver to Sunpower complete and accurate reports, giving such particulars of the business conducted by STI and its sublicensees during the preceding three-month period under this Agreement as shall be pertinent to a royalty accounting hereunder. These shall include at least the following:

a) number of units of the Licensed Product manufactured and sold by STI and all sublicensees;

b) number of stand alone units of the Licensed Product sold versus number of units sold as components of systems, together with cost accounting supporting documentation;

c) deductions applicable as provided herein;

d) total royalties due; and

e) names and addresses of all sublicensees that are not customers of STI.

3.7 The royalty payments set forth in this Agreement and any other amounts due to Sunpower from STI shall, if overdue, bear interest until payment at a per annum rate two

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percent (2%) above the prime rate set forth in the Wall Street Journal edition on the due date. The payment of such interest shall not foreclose Sunpower from exercising any other rights it may have as a consequence of the lateness of any payment.

ARTICLE 4 - DUE DILIGENCE

4.1 STI shall use good faith reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize the Licensed Product, individually or as components of a system, throughout the life of this Agreement.

4.2 STI shall spend at least ... per year on the development, manufacture, of sale of the Licensed Product during the term of this Agreement, for which the provisions of Section 3.5 of this Agreement shall apply.

ARTICLE 5 - TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND COMMERCIALIZATION SUPPORT

5.1 For a period of two years from the date of execution of this Agreement, Sunpower shall, upon request, furnish to STI all of its respective Proprietary Information relevant to the Licensed Product for each Field of Use, such as thorough engineering documentation for component and assembly design, materials, specifications, means of manufacturing Licensed Product, training of STI personnel at STL expense, technical consulting, including pursuit of a development program for the Licensed Product, delivery of prototypes, and such other matters as are mutually agreed by the parties. For a period of two years from the date of execution of this Agreement, STI shall, upon request, furnish to Sunpower all of its respective Proprietary Information relevant to the STI Licensed Product, such as thorough engineering documentation for component and assembly design, materials, specifications, means of manufacturing the STI Licensed Product, technical consulting and such other matters as are mutually agreed by the parties. These services shall be provided to the requesting party at reasonable rates of compensation.

5.2 Any Licensed Product manufactured or sold by either STI or Sunpower shall include product markings that indicate Sunpower's name and the registered number of Sunpower's Patent Rights or STl's Patent Rights incorporated into the Licensed Product. Should Sunpower anticipate manufacturing or selling a STI Licensed Product, Sunpower shall negotiate with STI in good faith to reach an agreement upon product markings other than those required by law. Both parties shall comply in all respects with the marking requirements of the patent laws of the United States. Each party shall provide the other with the appropriate information for such product markings.

5.3 STI upon production of the Licensed Product shall sell Sunpower units and components of the Licensed Product at STI's best price and in such amounts as shall not unreasonably interfere with STI's manufacturing or sales. Should Sunpower produce units of the STI Licensed Product, Sunpower agrees to provide STI with units and components of the STI Licensed Product at Sunpower's best price and in such amounts as shall not unreasonably interfere with Sunpower's manufacturing or sales. Best price shall be defined as the lowest price offered for a comparable unit in comparable volume to any other purchaser by the manufacturing or selling party.

5.4 For the twenty-four (24) month period following the date of execution of this Agreement, the parties shall at STl's request convene quarterly meetings to discuss their

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individual and mutual technical progress in the development of the Licensed Product and the STI Licensed Product, and cryocoolers and coolers generally. The site of such meetings shall be at the principal place of business of Sunpower, or alternatively of STI. Each party shall pay for their own expenses associated with such quarterly technical meetings.

5.5 At STI's request during the twenty-four (24) month period following the date of execution of this Agreement, Sunpower shall provide STI with technical consulting services by David Berchowitz or his equivalent for a maximum of fifty (50) days; for which STI shall compensate Sunpower at the rate of $1,000 per day, plus travel and technical expenses, if any. Sunpower, at its discretion, may agree to provide STI with additional technical consulting services upon such terms and conditions as the parties may hereafter mutually agree in writing.

5.6 At the conclusion of the two year period of technology transfer provided in this Article, each party shall update its respective Patent Rights outlined in Appendix A or Appendix B.

ARTICLE 6 - WARRANTIES

6.1 Both Sunpower and STI have full power and authority to execute, deliver, and perform this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement do not conflict with any other agreement to which either Sunpower or STI is a party or is bound.

6.2 With respect to its own technology, Sunpower and STI each make no warranty as to the validity or utility of its Patent Rights or that its Patent Rights and Proprietary Information furnished to the other party prior to the execution of this Agreement does not infringe on any third party intellectual property rights, including patent rights. Sunpower and STI each warrant that:

a) to the best of its knowledge, it owned, now owns and will own, free and clear from contractual and any other restrictions, all of the Patent Rights and all of Proprietary Information furnished to the other party prior to and during the term of this Agreement; and

b) nothing has come to its attention that any of the Patent Rights or any Proprietary Information furnished to the other party prior to the execution of this Agreement infringes upon any such third party rights, or is being infringed by a third party, or that there is pending or threatened any claim or litigation contesting the rights with respect to any of the Patent Rights or any such Proprietary Information.

6.3 Each party acknowledges that the other has not secured patent protection for the Licensed Product or the STI Licensed Product Worldwide.

ARTICLE 7 - IMPROVEMENTS

7.1 During the two year period of technology transfer outlined in Article 5, STI agrees to promptly communicate to Sunpower any Improvement it may discover, make, or develop with respect to STI's Patent Rights or STI Proprietary Information pertaining to the STI Licensed Product and shall fully disclose to Sunpower the nature and manner of applying and utilizing such Improvement.

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7.2 During the two year period of technology transfer outlined in Article 5, Sunpower agrees to promptly communicate to STI any Improvement it may discover, make, or develop with respect to Sunpower's Patent Rights or Sunpower Proprietary Information pertaining to the Licensed Product and shall fully disclose to STI the nature and manner of applying and utilizing such Improvement.

7.3 If during the life of this Agreement, Sunpower and STI shall jointly discover, make or develop any Improvement, it shall be jointly owned by Sunpower and STI and the costs of patent prosecution and maintenance shall be paid for jointly "and equally. Both Sunpower and STI shall have the right to use and license such jointly owned Improvement to any third party, but only with full disclosure to the joint owner of such use and license before the date of the use or licensure. However, if either joint owner shall license to any third party, then said license royalties shall be shared equally by each joint owner. Should either party not elect to file application for letters patent or take other necessary legal steps to protect Such Improvement, the other party shall be free to file application for letters patent at its own expense or to take all necessary legal steps to protect such Improvement; whereupon the party not electing to patent shall assign its patent rights for the Improvement to the party electing to patent. An irrevocable royalty-free license to said patent rights shall then be granted by the party obtaining patent ownership to the party not electing to patent. Should neither party elect to file application for letters patent or the other necessary legal steps to protect such Improvement, the Improvement shall remain jointly owned.

ARTICLE 8 - INFRINGEMENT

8.1 Each party shall promptly advise the other in writing of any claim of infringement or invalidity of its respective Patent Rights or other rights asserted against such party by any third person arising out of the exercise of rights granted under this Agreement.

8.2 Each party shall have the sole right to institute and prosecute at its own expense suits for infringement of its respective Patent Rights. In such event, all recoveries obtained in such suit shall accrue to and shall be the sole property of the party initiating the suit. Each party agrees reasonably to assist in the prosecution of such suit at the patent owner's expense, to cooperate in all respects and, to the extent possible, have its employees testify when requested and make available relevant records, papers, information, samples, specimens, and the like.

ARTICLE 9 - PRODUCT LIABILITY

9.1 STI, for and in consideration of and as a condition to the granting of the license from Sunpower set forth in Section 2.1, hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless and release and forever discharge Sunpower, and its agents, directors, officers, and employees, either in their individual capacities or by reason of their relationship to Sunpower and its successors, from any and all claims, demands, suits, loss, or damage whatsoever arising out of alleged defects in or negligence associated with the Licensed Product as manufactured or produced by STI or its designee, or failure of STI to comply with any applicable laws and regulations, and occurring at any time subsequent to the date of execution of this Agreement.

9.2 Sunpower, for and in consideration of and as a condition to the granting of the license from STI set forth in Section 2.3, hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless and release and forever discharge STI, and its agents, directors, officers, and employees, either in

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their individual capacities or by reason of their relationship to STI and its successors, from any and all claims, demands, suits, loss, or damage whatsoever arising out of alleged defects in or negligence associated with the STI Licensed Product as manufactured or produced by Sunpower or its designee, or failure of Sunpower to comply with any applicable laws and regulations, and occurring at any time subsequent to the date of execution of this Agreement.

9.3 EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, NEITHER SUNPOWER NOR STI MAKES ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR EXTENDS ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND VALIDITY OF PATENT RIGHTS CLAIMS, ISSUED OR PENDING. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS A REPRESENTATION MADE OR WARRANTY GIVEN BY EITHER SUNPOWER OR STI THAT THE PRACTICE BY THE OTHER OF THE LICENSE GRANTED HEREUNDER SHALL NOT INFRINGE THE PATENT RIGHTS OF ANY THIRD PARTY.

ARTICLE 10 - CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

10.1 To more fully pursue the opportunities of the collaborative relationship set forth in this Agreement, the parties will be exchanging information about free-piston technology and its applications (hereinafter "Subject Matter"). While engaging in this exchange, either party, (hereinafter "Owner") may find it necessary or desirable to disclose to the other party (hereinafter "Recipient") Subject Matter related information which such Owner deems to be confidential and proprietary, as well as selected customer, sales, marketing and financial information (hereinafter "Confidential Information"). All information to be treated as confidential under this Agreement shall be identified in a writing provided to the other party, either at the time of the disclosure or within thirty (30) days thereafter. Therefore, the parties agree as follows.

10.2 Throughout the term of this Agreement and for a period of five (5) years following the termination of this Agreement, Recipient shall not communicate or disclose Confidential Information of the other party to any third party and shall use reasonable efforts to prevent inadvertent disclosure of such Confidential Information to any third party.

10.3 Recipient shall neither use Confidential Information of the other party nor circulate it within its own organization, except to the extent necessary for:

a) negotiations, discussions and consultations with personnel or authorized representatives of such other party;

b) supplying such other party with goods or services at its order;

c) preparing bids, estimates and proposals for submission to such other party;

d) fully pursuing the commercialization of the Licensed Product; and

e) any further purpose such other party may hereafter authorize in writing.

It is understood that the inclusion of customer or sales information within the definition of Confidential Information shall not prevent either party from selling products to or doing business

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with any third party, as long as the party did not or does not use or disclose the other party's confidential customer or sales information.

10.4 The obligations of Sections 10.2 and 10.3 hereof shall terminate with respect to any particular portion of the Confidential Information of either party:

a) when Recipient can demonstrate that:

i) it was in the public domain at the time of Owner's initial disclosure thereof to Recipient,

ii) it entered the public domain through no fault of Recipient subsequent to the time of Owner's initial disclosure thereof to Recipient,

iii) it was in Recipient's possession free of any obligation of confidence at the time of Owner's initial disclosure thereof to Recipient,

iv) it was rightfully communicated to Recipient free of any obligation of confidence subsequent to the time of Owner's initial disclosure thereof to Recipient, or

v) it was developed by employees or agents of Recipient independently of and without reference to any Confidential Information of Owner; or

b) when it is communicated by Owner to a third party free of any obligations of confidence; or

c) when disclosure is required by court order or otherwise by law to be disclosed. in which event Recipient shall notify Owner prior to any required disclosure and Recipient shall, upon the request and at the expense of Owner. cooperate with Owner, to the extent permitted by law, in contesting any such disclosure and in attempting to limit any such disclosure; or

d) disclosure is required (as reasonably believed by Recipient) to be used by Recipient to defend itself against any claims asserted under this Agreement, provided that Recipient shall notify Owner prior to disclosure and allow Owner reasonable time to obtain an appropriate protective order.

10.5 All materials including, without limitation, documents, drawings, models, apparatus, sketches, designs, and lists which are furnished to either party by the other party and which are designated in writing to be the property of such other party shall remain the property of such other party and shall be returned to such other party promptly at its request. or disposed of in a mutually agreed manner upon the termination of this Agreement, together with all copies made thereof.

10.6 Communications from either party to personnel and authorized representatives of the other party shall not be in violation of the proprietary rights of any third party. The parties intend to restrict the confidential obligations of this Agreement to Confidential Information pertaining to the Subject Matter.

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10 .7 This Agreement shall govern all Subject Matter related communications between the parties for the term of this Agreement or to the date on which either party receives from the other party written notice that subsequent communications shall not be governed, whichever occurs first.

10.8 Neither party shall export, directly or indirectly, any technical data acquired from the other party under this Agreement or any products utilizing any such data to any country for which the U.S. Government or, any agency thereof at the time of export requires an export license or other Governmental approval without first obtaining such license or approval.

10.9 Neither party makes any representation or commitment under this Agreement to develop or release any future or proposed products other than the Licensed Product. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as limiting or restricting, in any way, the right of either party to conduct its existing and future business independently of the other party.

10.10 In the event that STI should grant any rights by sublicense in the Territory in accordance with Article 2 hereof, STI shall impose upon such sublicensee the same requirements of secrecy and nondisclosure as are set forth herein.

10.11 The terms of this Agreement shall remain confidential between the parties, and neither party shall disclose any of the terms of this Agreement to a third party without the written consent of the other party.

ARTICLE 11 - DURATION OF AGREEMENT

11. 1 The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date of execution of this Agreement by both parties and shall expire fifteen (15) years after the date of execution of this agreement, renewable an additional five (5) years by mutual agreement, unless sooner terminated by Sunpower or STI pursuant to the following Sections. In the event that some, but not all, of the Patent Rights of the Licensed Product are invalidated during the term of this Agreement, and such circumstance causes demonstrable and measurable harm to STI, the parties shall work together to reach a mutually agreeable resolution to such circumstance.

11 .2 Either party may terminate this Agreement in the event of material breach by the other party, provided that such party has given the other party thirty (30) days written notice (in the manner provided in Section 12) of such breach, identified the nature of the breach, and within said notice period such breaching party has failed to cure the asserted breach,

11.3 This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event that STI:

a) makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors;

b) files a voluntary petition in bankruptcy;

c) is adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

d) files a petition or answer seeking for itself any reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, or similar relief under any statute, law, or regulation outside the ordinary course of business;

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e) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any proceeding of the foregoing nature; or

f) seeks, consents to, or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver, or liquidator of itself or of all or substantially all of its properties;

g) sells or otherwise disposes of substantially all of its business or assets to a third party, or control of STI is transferred to a third party.

11.4 Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, STI shall cease the manufacture, sale, licensing, promotion and distribution of the Licensed Product on or in connection within the Territory, except that for a period of ninety (90) days thereafter STI may manufacture, promote, sell and distribute the Licensed Product on hand or in the process of being manufactured at the time of such termination. Termination of this Agreement for any reason shall not release STI from any obligation to pay any royalties under Article 3 accrued and unpaid as of the effective date of such termination or to pay royalties on the Licensed Product sold after termination pursuant to this Section.

11.5 Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, any sublicensee not then in default shall have the right to seek a license from Sunpower. Sunpower agrees to negotiate such licenses in good faith under reasonable terms and conditions.

11.6 STI's and Sunpower's covenants with respect to confidentiality shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement, regardless of the reason for termination, and shall continue for a period of five (5) years from the date of expiration or termination of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 12 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

12.1 Any payment, notice or other communication pursuant to this Agreement shall be sufficiently made or given on the date of mailing if sent to such party by certified first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the parties to this Agreement at their respective addresses stated above.

12.2 This Agreement shall be construed, governed, interpreted and applied in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio. U.S.A.

12.3 The parties hereto acknowledge that this Agreement sets forth the entire Agreement and understanding of the parties hereto as to the subject matter hereof, and shall not be subject to any change or modification except by the execution of a Written instrument subscribed to by the parties hereto.

12.4 The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and in the event that any provisions of this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable under any controlling body of law, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not in any way affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof.

12.5 The failure of either party to assert a right hereunder or to insist upon compliance with any term or condition of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of that right or excuse a similar subsequent failure to perform any such term or condition by the other party.

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12.6 This Agreement is not assignable and any attempt by either party to assign any of the rights granted hereunder shall be void.

12.7 Nothing herein contained shall be construed to place STI and Sunpower in the relationship of legal representatives, partners, joint ventures, or agency and neither party shall have the power to obligate or bind the other in any manner whatsoever.

12.8 If at any time any party hereto shall deem or be advised that any further assignments, licenses, assurances in law or other acts or instruments, including lawful oaths, are necessary or desirable to vest in it the rights provided for herein, the parties hereto agree to do all acts and execute all documents as may reasonably be necessary or proper for that purpose or otherwise to carry out the intent of this Agreement.

12.9 The parties hereto represent and warrant that they are under no legal impediment which would prevent their signing this Agreement.

SUNPOWER, INC.                                SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.

By: /s/ John K. Crawford                      By: /s/Jim Sloan
    -----------------------------------           ---------------------------
    Vice President, C.O.O.                        General Manager, Cryogenics

Date: May 2, 1995                             Date: May 4, 1995

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EXHIBIT 10.2

AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

This AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT (the "Amendment") is entered into as of November 4, 2004, by and between M. Peter Thomas, an individual (the "Executive"), and Superconductor Technologies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with reference to the following facts:

A. The Company and Executive entered into a Change in Control Agreement dated as of March 28, 2003 (the "Agreement").

B. The parties wish to revise the terms and conditions of the Agreement to increase the amount of the Severance Payment (as defined therein).

NOW, THEREFORE, based on the above premises and for good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:

1. Amount Severance Payment. The amount of the Severance Payment is hereby increased from 2.0 times the Executive's annual base salary to 3.0 times the Executive's annual base salary, and the second paragraph of Section 2(a) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows to effect such change:

"For all purposes under this Agreement, the amount of the Severance Payment shall be equal to 3.0 (three) times the Executive's annual base salary, as in effect on the date of the termination of Executive's employment."

2. General. Capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement. This Amendment and the Agreement constitute the parties' entire agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all agreements, representations, warranties, statements, promises and understandings, whether oral or written, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended, altered or modified except by a writing signed by the parties. Except as expressly modified herein, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and to the extent reasonably applicable, the provisions of Section 5 (Miscellaneous) of such agreement are hereby incorporated herein and made a part hereof. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts and by facsimile.

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Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 To Change In Control Agreement

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed, as of the day and year first above written.

EXECUTIVE


M. Peter Thomas

COMPANY
Superconductor Technologies Inc.


By: John D. Lockton, Chairman of the Board

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EXHIBIT 10.3

SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.
460 Ward Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

November 4, 2004

Mr. Charles E. Shalvoy
Executive Chairman & CEO
CANESTA, INC.
2833 Junction Avenue, Suite 200
San Jose, CA 95134

Re: Consulting Services

Dear Charlie:

Superconductor Technologies Inc. ("STI") would like to retain your services from time to time as a consultant on strategic planning matters. You will work directly with the CEO and the Chairman of the Board on these matters. Your engagement under this letter is for a term one (1) year, but STI may terminate the arrangement anytime after six months upon written notice.

STI will compensate you at the rate of $3,000 per day plus reasonable out-of-pocket and travel expenses. STI will also continue your current health benefits during the consulting term. You will submit invoices monthly to STI for your services and expenses, and you will adhere to STI's internal guidelines for travel expenses. You will prorate your per diem charges for services and any required travel time combined as follows: 1/4 day (less than 2 hours), 1/2 day (up to 4 hours), 3/4 day (up to 6 hours) and one day (anything over 6 hours).

As additional consideration for your services, STI will also award you an option at the next meeting of the Compensation Committee to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock at fair market value on the date of the meeting. Your option will vest 50% on the six month anniversary of this agreement, and the remainder will vest ratably in six equal monthly installments thereafter. Vesting will cease in the event you resign from the Board or this agreement is terminated. In the event of a Change of Control (as defined in our 2003 Equity Incentive Plan), you will fully vest in and have the right to exercise the entire option award. Your option will also fully vest in the event of (1) a strategic partnership or (2) the acquisition of another business or product line. The term "strategic partnership" means any new relationship between STI and a third party consisting of both (a) a contractual relationship for manufacturing, distribution, product development or a joint venture and (b) an equity investment of not less than $5 million.

We realize that your consulting work could overlap substantively with your service on the board and its committees. Therefore, we will distinguish your consulting services under this agreement from your services as a director and committee member based on the following bright line test. We will presume that each official board and committee meeting requires 1.5 days of service, and you will continue to be compensated for such meetings in accordance with our Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy. You should bill us for any additional time spent under this consulting agreement. We will also presume any time spent in (or traveling to) meetings with third parties is consulting work billable under this agreement. You will not qualify

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as an independent director for corporate governance purposes while this agreement is in effective and potentially for three years thereafter.

If the foregoing meets with your approval, please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter.

Sincerely,

M. Peter Thomas
President and Chief Executive Officer

ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO BY:


Charles E. Shalvoy

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EXHIBIT 31.1

Statement Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by
Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer
Regarding Facts and Circumstances Relating to Exchange Act Filings

     I, M. Peter Thomas, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Superconductor Technologies Inc.;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
b)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
c)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)   all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 10, 2004
         
     
  /s/ M. Peter Thomas    
  M. Peter Thomas   
  President and Chief Executive Officer   

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EXHIBIT 31.2

Statement Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by
Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer
Regarding Facts and Circumstances Relating to Exchange Act Filings

     I, Martin S. McDermut, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Superconductor Technologies Inc.;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
b)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
c)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)   all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 10, 2004
         
     
  /s/ Martin S. McDermut    
  Martin S. McDermut   
  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary 
 

 

 

         

EXHIBIT 32.1

Statement Pursuant to Section 906 the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
By
Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer

Dated: November 10, 2004

     I, M. Peter Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Superconductor Technologies Inc, herby certify that, to my knowledge, that:

     1. the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Superconductor Technologies for the three and nine month period ended October 2, 2004 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

     2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Superconductor Technologies Inc.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Statement as of the date first written above.
         
     
  /s/ M. Peter Thomas    
  M. Peter Thomas   
  President and Chief Executive Officer   

 

 

         

EXHIBIT 32.2

Statement Pursuant to Section 906 the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
By
Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer

Dated: November 10, 2004

     I, Martin M. McDermut, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Superconductor Technologies Inc, herby certify that, to my knowledge, that:

     1. the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Superconductor Technologies for the three and nine month period ended October 2, 2004 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

     2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Superconductor Technologies Inc.
         
     
  /s/ Martin S. McDermut    
  Martin S. McDermut   
  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary   
 

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