UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark one)
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2005
   
or
   
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
For the transition period from ____________ to ____________.

Commission File Number: 000-24248

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

Delaware
87-0361799


(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
   
13114 Evening Creek Drive South, San Diego, California
92128


(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
 
(858) 679-2114

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) 

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

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of August 2, 2005.

Common Stock, $0.00001 par value
24,239,840


(Class)
(Number of Shares)

1



AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

INDEX

  Page
    
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 3
 
  Item 1. Financial Statements: 3
 
    Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2005 and September 30, 2004 (unaudited) 3
 
    Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 (unaudited) 4
 
    Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 (unaudited) 5
 
    Notes to Interim Financial Statements (unaudited) 6
 
  Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 16
 
  Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 38
 
  Item 4. Controls and Procedures 38
 
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 39
 
  Item 1. Legal Proceedings 39
 
  Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 39
 
  Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities 39
 
  Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 40
 
  Item 5. Other Information 40
 
  Item 6. Exhibits 41
 
SIGNATURES 42
   
EXHIBIT INDEX 43

2


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

American Technology Corporation
BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

  June 30,
2005
  September 30,
2004 (a)
 


ASSETS            
Current Assets:            
  Cash $ 2,369,591   $ 4,178,968  
  Trade accounts receivable, less allowance of
    $105,000 and $25,000 for doubtful accounts, respectively
  507,308     926,747  
  Inventories, net   1,571,620     651,095  
  Prepaid expenses and other   329,576     156,419  
  Prepaid transaction costs   659,846      


Total current assets   5,437,941     5,913,229  
Equipment, net   692,865     453,355  
Patents, net   1,355,153     1,278,707  


Total assets $ 7,485,959   $ 7,645,291  


             
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY            
Current Liabilities:            
 Accounts payable $ 2,121,358   $ 1,300,075  
 Accrued liabilities:            
   Payroll and related   561,338     302,706  
   Deferred revenue   450,000     322,344  
   Warranty reserve   228,487     331,917  
   Legal settlements       150,000  
   Other   39,890     22,236  
Capital lease short-term portion   11,828     10,967  
Derivative instrument   659,846      


Total current liabilities   4,072,747     2,440,245  
Long-Term Liabilities:            
8% Unsecured Subordinated Promissory Notes, net of $553,447
  and $0 debt discount
  1,446,553      
Capital lease long-term portion   3,148     12,131  


Total liabilities   5,522,448     2,452,376  


Commitments and contingencies            
           
Stockholders’ equity            
Preferred stock, $0.00001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized:            
  Series D Preferred stock 250,000 shares designated: 0 and 50,000
    issued and outstanding, respectively. Liquidation
    preference of $0 and $572,500, respectively.
       
  Series E Preferred stock 350,000 shares designated: 0 and 233,250
    issued and outstanding, respectively. Liquidation preference
    of $0 and $2,556,000, respectively.
      3  
Common stock, $0.00001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized;
  21,336,489 and 19,808,819 shares issued and outstanding respectively.
  213     198  
Additional paid-in capital   51,023,426     47,520,207  
Accumulated deficit   (49,060,128 )   (42,327,493 )


Total stockholders’ equity   1,963,511     5,192,915  


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 7,485,959   $ 7,645,291  



  See accompanying notes to interim financial statements.
 (a) Derived from the audited financial statements as of September 30, 2004.

3


American Technology Corporation
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

 
For the three months ended June 30,
 
For the nine months ended June 30,
 
 
 
 
  
2005
  
2004
  
2005
  
2004
  




Revenues:                        
  Product sales $ 1,378,648   $ 2,089,359   $ 8,539,855   $ 4,201,193  
  Contract and license   15,149     17,922     80,249     174,116  




Total revenues   1,393,797     2,107,281     8,620,104     4,375,309  
Cost of revenues   991,790     1,006,319     3,973,461     2,360,021  




                         
Gross profit   402,007     1,100,962     4,646,643     2,015,288  




                         
Operating expenses:                        
  Selling, general and administrative   2,879,021     1,614,351     6,968,972     3,766,137  
  Research and development   1,268,468     890,299     4,181,476     1,983,518  




Total operating expenses   4,147,489     2,504,650     11,150,448     5,749,655  




                         
Loss from operations   (3,745,482 )   (1,403,688 )   (6,503,805 )   (3,734,367 )




                         
Other income (expense):                        
  Interest income   16,687     13,731     46,035     44,596  
  Interest expense   (131,904 )   (454 )   (274,865 )   (2,263 )
  Unrealized gain on derivative revaluation   451,190         183,259      
  Warrant impairment expense   (183,259 )       (183,259 )    




Total other income (expense)   152,714     13,277     (228,830 )   42,333  




                         
Net loss   (3,592,768 )   (1,390,411 )   (6,732,635 )   (3,692,034 )
Dividend requirements on convertible preferred stock       387,019     1,796,426     1,087,570  




Net loss available to common stockholders $ (3,592,768 ) $ (1,777,430 ) $ (8,529,061 ) $ (4,779,604 )




Net loss per share of common stock - basic and diluted $ (0.17 ) $ (0.09 ) $ (0.41 ) $ (0.24 )




Average weighted number of common shares outstanding   21,328,989     19,719,657     20,599,047     19,534,343  




See accompanying notes to interim financial statements.

4


American Technology Corporation
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

  For the nine months ended June 30,  
 
 
   2005    2004   
 
 
 
Increase (Decrease) in Cash            
Operating Activities:            
Net loss $ (6,732,635 ) $ (3,692,034 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
   used in operations:
           
   Depreciation and amortization   320,158     164,920  
   Allowance for doubtful accounts   80,000      
   Warranty provision   (16,915 )   83,233  
   Provision for obsolete inventory   183,535      
   Options granted for compensation   329,202     150,000  
   Common stock issued for legal settlement   140,175      
   Amortization of debt discount   190,530      
             
Changes in assets and liabilities:            
     Trade accounts receivable   339,439     (1,202,762 )
     Inventories   (1,104,060 )   (488,864 )
     Prepaid expenses and other   (173,157 )   (221,109 )
     Accounts payable   821,283     430,086  
     Warranty payments   (86,515 )   (37,588 )
     Accrued liabilities   253,942     (95,414 )


Net cash used in operating activities   (5,455,018 )   (4,909,532 )


             
Investing Activities:            
Purchase of equipment   (448,535 )   (299,623 )
Patent costs paid   (187,579 )   (254,096 )


Net cash used in investing activities   (636,114 )   (553,719 )


             
Financing Activities:            
Payments on capital lease   (8,122 )   (7,341 )
Proceeds from issuance of unsecured promissory notes   1,979,023      
Proceeds from exercise of common stock warrants   1,661,277     50,000  
Proceeds from exercise of stock options   649,577     1,056,367  


Net cash provided by financing activities   4,281,755     1,099,026  


Net decrease in cash   (1,809,377 )   (4,364,225 )
Cash, beginning of period   4,178,968     9,850,358  


Cash, end of period $ 2,369,591   $ 5,486,133  


             
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information            
Cash paid for interest $ 44,443   $ 2,263  
Cash paid for taxes $   $  
Non-cash financing activities:            
   Warrants issued for offering costs $ 843,105   $  
   Warrants issued for debt financing $ 723,000   $  
   Common stock issued on conversion of Series E preferred stock $ 2,604,238   $ 320,414  
   Common stock issued on conversion of Series D preferred stock $ 581,666   $  
   Common stock issued for legal settlement accrual $   $ 248,000  

See accompanying notes to interim financial statements.

5


1. OPERATIONS

American Technology Corporation (the Company) is engaged in design, development and commercialization of sound, acoustic and other technologies. The Company produces products based on its HyperSonic® Sound (HSS®), Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD™), Medium Range Acoustic Device (MRAD TM ), NeoPlanar® and other sound technologies.

The Company’s operations are organized into two segments by the end-user markets they serve. The Commercial Products Group, (Commercial Group), formerly known as the Business Products and Licensing Group, markets and licenses HSS and NeoPlanar products to companies that employ audio in consumer, commercial and professional applications. The Government and Force Protection Systems Group (Government Group) markets LRAD, MRAD, NeoPlanar, SoundCluster™ and HSS products to government and military customers and to the expanding force protection and commercial security markets.

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

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

2.  STATEMENT OF PRESENTATION AND MANAGEMENT’S PLAN

The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information. In the opinion of management, the interim financial statements reflect all adjustments of a normal recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of the results for interim periods. Operating results for the three and nine months are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year. The interim financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended September 30, 2004 included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K. Certain amounts reported in prior periods have been reclassified to be consistent with the current period presentation.

Other than cash of $2,369,591 at June 30, 2005, accounts receivable collections and the net proceeds of the equity financing completed in July 2005 (see Note 15 below) (the 2005 Equity Financing), the Company has no other material unused sources of liquidity at this time. The Company has financed its operations primarily through cash generated from product sales and from financing activities. Management expects to incur additional operating losses during the balance of fiscal 2005 as a result of expenditures for research and development and marketing costs. The timing and amounts of these expenditures and the extent of the Company’s operating losses will depend on future product sales levels and other factors, some of which are beyond management’s control. Based on the Company’s cash position at June 30, 2005 and the proceeds of the 2005 Equity Financing, and assuming currently planned expenditures and level of operations, management believes the Company will have sufficient capital resources for at least the next twelve months. Management believes product sales will provide additional operating funds. If required, management has significant flexibility to adjust the level of research and development and selling and administrative expenses based on the availability of resources.

3.  NET LOSS PER SHARE

Basic earnings (loss) per share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing income (loss) available to common stockholders, after deduction for cumulative imputed and accreted dividends, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of an entity. The Company’s losses for the periods presented cause the inclusion of potential common stock instruments outstanding to be antidilutive. Stock options and warrants exercisable into 4,442,044 shares of common stock were outstanding at June 30, 2005 and stock options, warrants and convertible preferred stock exercisable or convertible into 5,071,647 shares of common stock were outstanding at June 30, 2004. These securities are not included in the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per share because of the losses but could potentially dilute earnings (loss) per share in future periods.

6


The Company allocated the proceeds from prior preferred stock issuances between the preferred stock and warrants and also calculated the beneficial conversion discount for each series of preferred stock. The value of the beneficial conversion discount and the value of the warrants were recorded as a deemed dividend and were accreted over the conversion period of the preferred stock. Net loss available to common stockholders was increased in each period presented in computing net loss per share by the accretion of the value of these imputed deemed dividends. Such imputed deemed dividends were not included in the Company’s stockholders’ equity as the Company has an accumulated deficit. Amounts were included in net loss available to common stockholders. The imputed deemed dividends were not contractual obligations of the Company to pay such imputed dividends. All of the Company’s outstanding shares of Series D and E Preferred Stock were converted to common stock during the quarter ending March 31, 2005.

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

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
  2005   2004   2005   2004  




Net loss $ (3,592,768 ) $ (1,390,411 ) $ (6,732,635 ) $ (3,692,034 )
Imputed deemed dividends on Series D and E
  warrants issued with preferrd stock
      (100,179 )   (592,137 )   (347,292 )
Imputed deemed dividends on Series D and E
  preferred stock
      (243,396 )   (1,146,917 )   (603,386 )
Accretion on preferred stock at 6% stated rate:                        
  Series D preferred stock       (7,500 )   (9,167 )   (22,500 )
  Series E preferred stock       (35,944 )   (48,205 )   (114,392 )




Net loss available to common stockholders $ (3,592,768 ) $ (1,777,430 ) $ (8,529,061 ) $ (4,779,604 )




On January 18, 2005, the Company gave notice to all holders of Series D and Series E Preferred Stock that it had elected to convert all of the outstanding shares of Series D and Series E Preferred Stock to common stock. The designations, rights and preferences of the Series D and Series E Preferred Stock permitted the Company to exercise this conversion option if the market price of its common stock exceeded $9.50 for ten consecutive trading days and certain other conditions were satisfied. The price condition was satisfied on January 6, 2005. The conversion of the Series D Preferred Stock was effective on January 18, 2005 and resulted in all 50,000 issued and outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock converting into an aggregate of 129,259 shares of common stock. The conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock was effective on February 1, 2005, and resulted in all 233,250 issued and outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock converting into an aggregate of 801,306 shares of common stock.

As all the Series D and Series E Preferred Stock were called for conversion as described above, $1,504,711 of deemed dividends were accelerated and accreted in the quarter ending March 31, 2005, in addition to the accretion of $13,940 at the stated rate of 6%, increasing the net loss available to common stockholders for that period.

7


4.  STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company accounts for employee stock-based compensation using the intrinsic value method. In most cases, the Company does not recognize compensation expense for its employee stock option grants, as they have been granted at the fair market value of the underlying common stock at the grant date. Had compensation expense for the Company’s employee stock option grants been determined based on the fair value at the grant date for awards through June 30, 2005 consistent with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, its after-tax net income and after-tax net income per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
  2005   2004   2005   2004  
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss available to common shareholders $ (3,592,768 ) $ (1,777,430 ) $ (8,529,061 ) $ (4,779,604 )
Plus: Stock-based employee compensation
        expense included in reported net loss
  57,619         324,582      
Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense
         determined using fair value based method
  (326,240 )   (150,489 )   (1,210,466 )   (658,344 )




Pro forma net loss available to common stockholders $ (3,861,389 ) $ (1,927,919 ) $ (9,414,945 ) $ (5,437,948 )




Net loss per common share - basic
  and diluted - as reported
$ (0.17 ) $ (0.09 ) $ (0.41 ) $ (0.24 )




 
Net loss per common share - basic
  and diluted - pro forma
$ (0.18 ) $ (0.10 ) $ (0.46 ) $ (0.28 )




The Company estimates the fair value of each stock award at the grant date by using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for grants in 2005 and 2004, respectively: dividend yield of zero percent for each period; expected volatility of 53 to 58 percent in 2005 and 60 to 75 percent in 2004; risk-free interest rates of 3.82 to 1.84 percent; and expected lives of 2.5 years for each period. The estimated fair value of the options so determined is then amortized to expense over the options’ vesting periods.

5.  RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) 123R, “Share Based Payment” (“Statement 123R”) Although Statement 123R states that it is effective for public companies at the beginning of the first interim or annual period after June 15, 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted a rule delaying the required compliance date to the first interim or annual reporting period of the registrant’s first fiscal year beginning on or after June 15, 2005. Therefore, the Company will first be required to comply with Statement 123R in the quarter ending December 31, 2005. This statement eliminates the ability to account for share-based compensation using the intrinsic value-based method under APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” Statement 123R would require the Company to calculate equity-based compensation expense for stock options and employee stock purchase plan rights granted to employees based on the fair value of the equity instrument at the time of grant. Currently, the Company discloses the pro forma net income (loss) and the related pro forma income (loss) per share information in accordance with FAS 123 and FAS 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Costs-Transition and Disclosure.” The Company has not evaluated the impact that Statement 123R will have on its financial position and results of operations.

In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs an amendment of ARB 43, Chapter 4.” SFAS No. 151 clarifies that abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted materials (spoilage) should be recognized as current-period charges and requires the allocation of fixed production overheads to inventory based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. SFAS No. 151 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company is currently evaluating the financial statement impact of the implementation of SFAS No. 151.

8


In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153, “Exchanges of Non-monetary Assets, an Amendment of APB Opinion No. 29”, which is effective for non-monetary exchanges occurring in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005. SFAS No. 153 amends APB Opinion No. 29, “Accounting for Non-monetary Transactions” to eliminate the exception for non-monetary exchanges of similar productive assets and replaces it with a general exception for exchanges of non-monetary assets that do not have commercial substance. A non-monetary exchange has commercial substance if the future cash flows of the entity are expected to change significantly as a result of the exchange. The Company does not expect SFAS No. 153 to affect the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

In September 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached consensus on EITF Issue 04-8, “The Effect of Contingently Convertible Debt on Diluted Earnings per Share”, which provides guidance on when the dilutive effect of contingently convertible debt securities with a market price trigger should be included in diluted earnings per share. The guidance is effective for all periods ending after December 15, 2004. The Company’s adoption of EITF 04-8 did not have an impact on the Company’s loss per share calculation for the periods presented herein and is not expected to have an impact in the future.

In March 2005, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 47 (“FIN 47”), “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations.” FIN 47 clarifies that an entity must record a liability for a “conditional” asset retirement obligation if the fair value of the obligation can be reasonably estimated. The provision is effective no later than the end of fiscal years ending after December 15, 2005. The Company does not expect FIN 47 to affect the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections”, applying to all voluntary accounting principle changes as well as the accounting for and reporting of such changes. SFAS No. 154 replaces APB Opinion No. 20, “Accounting Changes”, and SFAS No. 3, “Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements.” SFAS No. 154 is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company does not expect SFAS No. 154 to affect the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

In March 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued staff accounting bulletin 107 (“SAB 107”) which expresses views of the SEC staff regarding the interaction between Statement 123R and certain SEC rules and regulations and provide the staff’s views regarding the valuation of share-based payment arrangements for public companies. SAB 107 provides guidance related to share-based payment transactions with non-employees, the transition from nonpublic to public entity status, valuation methods (including assumptions such as expected volatility and expected term), the accounting for certain redeemable financial instruments issued under share-based payment arrangements, the classification of compensation expense, non-GAAP financial measures, first-time adoption of Statement 123R in an interim period, capitalization of compensation cost related to share-based payment arrangements, the accounting for income tax effects of share-based payment arrangements upon adoption of Statement 123R, the modification of employee share options prior to adoption of Statement 123R and disclosures in Management’s Discussion and Analysis subsequent to adoption of Statement 123R. The Company has not evaluated the impact that SAB 107 will have on its financial position and results of operations.

9


6.  INVENTORIES AND CONTRACT MANUFACTURING

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost, which approximates actual costs on a standard cost basis, or market. At June 30, 2005 $104,535 of inventory was located at the Company’s contract manufacturer.

Inventories consisted of the following:

  June 30,
2005
  September 30,
2004
 
 
 
 
Finished goods $ 901,323   $ 342,647  
Raw materials   963,832     418,448  


    1,865,155     761,095  
Reserve for obsolescence   (293,535 )   (110,000 )


  $ 1,571,620   $ 651,095  


During the nine months ended June 30, 2005, the Company shipped materials to its contract manufacturer, booked an amount due from the contract manufacturer and reduced inventory by $439,312. The Company did not recognize any revenue on these transactions. At June 30, 2005, the remaining balance due from the contract manufacturer, for shipments made to it, was $67,619. The contract manufacturer is using these materials to build products for the Company. The amount due from the contract manufacturer of $67,619 has been netted against the payable due to the contract manufacturer.

7.  CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION

For the three months ended June 30, 2005, sales to one customer in the Government Group accounted for 62% of total revenues. At June 30, 2005, this customer accounted for 21% of accounts receivable, net, and three other customers accounted for 30%, 21% and 14% of accounts receivable, net, respectively. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of accounts receivable, net, at June 30, 2005. For the three months ended June 30, 2004, sales to three customers in the Government Group accounted for 62%, 22% and 13% of total revenues. At June 30, 2004 the accounts receivable from these three customers accounted for 40%, 28% and 6% of accounts receivable, net, respectively and no other customer accounted for more than 10% of accounts receivable, net. For the nine months ended June 30, 2005, sales to one customer in the Government Group accounted for 79% of total revenues and sales to a second customer in the Government Group, including affiliates of the customer, accounted for 10% of total revenues. For the nine months ended June 30, 2004, sales to two customers in the Government Group accounted for 51% and 28% of total revenues, respectively. Management believes that the loss of any one of these significant customers would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

8.  INTANGIBLES

Patents are carried at cost and, when granted, are amortized over their estimated useful lives. The carrying value of patents is periodically reviewed and impairments, if any, are recognized when the expected future benefit to be derived from an individual intangible asset is less than its carrying value. Patents consisted of the following:

 
June 30,
 2005
  September 30,
2004
 
 
 
 
Cost $ 1,770,856   $ 1,578,578  
Accumulated amortization   (415,703 )   (299,871 )
 
 
 
Net patent $ 1,355,153   $ 1,278,707  
 
 
 

10


9.  PRODUCT WARRANTY COST

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

Changes in the warranty reserve during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
  2005   2004   2005    2004  
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning balance $ 238,837   $ 325,000   $ 331,917   $ 319,500  
Warranty provision, net   59,809     57,300     (16,915 )   83,233  
Warranty deductions   (70,159 )   (17,155 )   (86,515 )   (37,588 )




Ending balance $ 228,487   $ 365,145   $ 228,487   $ 365,145  




10.  UNSECURED SUBORDINATED PROMISSORY NOTES AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTION

In December 2004, the Company sold an aggregate of $2,000,000 of 8% unsecured subordinated promissory notes due December 31, 2006. Interest on these notes accrues at the rate of 8% per year and is due and payable quarterly in arrears. For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005, the Company recorded interest on these notes of $39,890 and $82,849, respectively. The Company was required to use 40% of the net proceeds of any future equity financing to prepay these notes, and the balance due on the notes and accrued interest were paid in full in July 2005 following the completion of the 2005 Equity Financing (see Note 15). In connection with the issuance of the notes, the purchasers were granted warrants to purchase an aggregate of 150,000 shares of common stock. The exercise price of the warrants was $9.28 per share for purchasers who were directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company, or affiliates of such persons, and $8.60 per share for other purchasers. Warrants exercisable for 75,000 shares were issued at each such exercise price. The fair value of such warrants, which amounted to $723,000, and closing costs of $20,977 were recorded as debt discount and amortized over the term of the notes. The following variables were used to determine the fair value of the warrants under the Black-Scholes option pricing model: volatility of 56%, term of five years, risk free interest of 2.97% and underlying stock price equal to fair market value at the time of grant. For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005, $91,737 and $190,530, respectively, of debt discount was amortized.

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

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11.  STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Summary

The following table summarizes changes in equity components from transactions during the nine months ended June 30, 2005:

 
Preferred Stock  
 
Common Stock  
 
  Additional
Paid-in
   
Accumulated  
   
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
 
Shares
 
Amount  
 
Shares
   
Amount
 
Capital
 
 Deficit
 
 (Deficit) 
 
 Balance, October 1, 2004 283,250   $ 3     19,808,819   $ 198   $ 47,520,207   $ (42,327,493 ) $ 5,192,915  
Stock issued upon exercise of 369,568 warrants         369,568     4     1,661,273         1,661,277  
Conversion of Series D Preferred Stock (50,000 )   (1 )   129,259     1              
Conversion of Series E Preferred Stock (233,250 )   (2 )   801,306     8     (6 )        
Cashless exercise of 25,000 Warrants         20,425                  
Stock issued upon exercise of stock options         189,612     2     649,575         649,577  
Value assigned to extension of time to exercise
92,675 options
                324,582         324,582  
Debt discount for 150,000 warrants granted on 8%
unsecured subordinated promissory notes
                723,000         723,000  
Issuance of stock options and warrants for
services
                4,620         4,620  
Issuance of common stock for legal settlement         17,500         140,175         140,175  
Deemed dividends and accretion on convertible
preferred stock of $1,796,426
                         
Net loss for the period                     (6,732,635 )   (6,732,635 )
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Balance, June 30, 2005   $     21,336,489   $ 213   $ 51,023,426   $ (49,060,128 ) $ 1,963,511  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2005, all previously outstanding shares of Series D and Series E Preferred Stock were converted into an aggregate of 930,565 shares of common stock and no preferred stock was outstanding at June 30, 2005.

Committed Equity Financing Facility

In December 2004, the Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement, registration rights agreement and warrant as part of a Committed Equity Financing Facility (CEFF) with Kingsbridge Capital Ltd., pursuant to which Kingsbridge committed to purchase up to $25 million of the Company’s common stock. As part of the arrangement, the Company issued a warrant to Kingsbridge to purchase 275,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $8.60 per share. The warrant was exercisable beginning six months after the date of grant and for a period of five years thereafter. Subject to certain conditions, including the effectiveness of a registration statement registering the shares issuable to Kingsbridge, the Company had the right to require Kingsbridge to purchase a maximum of 3,684,782 newly-issued shares of its common stock at a price between 88% and 92% of the volume weighted average price during a 15 day purchase period. The 3,684,782 share maximum also included any shares that the Company may have issued in lieu of paying Kingsbridge liquidated damages in the event that a registration statement was unavailable for the resale of the securities purchased by Kingsbridge under the CEFF once the registration statement had been declared effective. The Company had no obligation to draw down all or any portion of the commitment during its 24-month term.

As part of the arrangement, the Company also agreed to file a registration statement, within 45 days after entering into the agreement for the CEFF, for the resale of shares to be acquired under the CEFF, or upon exercise of the warrant. In January 2005, the Company filed the required resale registration statement. In June 2005, the Company decided to terminate the CEFF; and on July 1, 2005, the Company requested withdrawal of the registration statement.

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In July 2005, the Company entered into a termination, settlement and release agreement with Kingsbridge. Under the terms of this agreement, the Company and Kingsbridge agreed that the common stock purchase agreement entered into with Kingsbridge in December 2004, and the related registration rights agreement and warrant issued to Kingsbridge of the same date would be terminated, and Kingsbridge would return the warrant, which was not exercised, to the Company for cancellation. No shares were sold to Kingsbridge under the CEFF prior to the termination. The Company incurred no early termination penalties in connection with this termination. The termination agreement contains a mutual release of claims.

The fair value of the warrant at the date of issuance, which amounted to $843,105, and legal, audit and associated fees of $293,826, were recorded as prepaid transaction costs. The following variables were used to determine the fair value of the warrant under the Black-Scholes option pricing model: volatility of 56%, term of 5.5 years, risk free interest of 2.97% and underlying stock price equal to fair market value at the time of issuance. The warrant has been accounted for as a derivative instrument in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 00-19 “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments, Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in a Company’s Own Stock.” As a derivative, the fair value of the warrant is recorded as a liability at its estimated fair value at each balance sheet date until the effective date of the related registration statement, or upon warrant exercise, when the warrant liability, as may be further revalued, would have been reclassified to equity. Changes in the fair value of the warrant are recorded as other income or expense in the accompanying income statement. For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005, $451,190 and $183,259, respectively, was recorded as unrealized gain on derivative revaluation for the change in valuation of the fair value of the warrant.

Due to the decision to terminate this financing, the Company determined that the value of the prepaid transaction cost asset was impaired at June 30, 2005. Accordingly, the Company recognized an impairment charge in the total amount of $477,085, of which $293,826 is legal, audit and associated fees and is recorded as selling, general and administrative expense for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005, and $183,259,is the excess of the fair value of the warrant over the associated derivative instrument liability and is recorded as warrant impairment expense for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005. The remaining asset of $659,846 in prepaid transaction costs will be offset against the derivative instrument liability of the same amount during the quarter ending September 30, 2005, with no net effect on other income or expense.

Stock Options

During the nine months ended June 30, 2005, the Company recorded non-cash compensation expense of $266,963 for the extension of time to exercise stock options for former employees relating to an aggregate of 92,675 shares of common stock and $57,619 for option expense relating to options for 68,125 shares held by an officer of the Company who transitioned from employee to consultant. For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005, the Company also recognized $1,540 and $4,620 of non-cash compensation expense, respectively, for the value of options granted to non-employees. These options were valued in the same manner as described in Note 4 for employee options. There were no non-cash compensation expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 or for the nine months ended June 30, 2004.

The following table summarizes information about stock option activity during the nine months ended June 30, 2005:

 
Options 
 
 
 
Number of
Shares 
 
Weighted Average
Exercise Price 
 
Outstanding October 1, 2004   1,839,498   $ 4.68  
    Granted   797,500   $ 7.63  
    Exercised   (189,612 ) $ (3.43 )
    Canceled/expired   (313,576 ) $ (6.26 )
 
 
 
Outstanding June 30, 2005   2,133,810   $ 5.53  
 
 
 
Exercisable June 30, 2005   1,000,240   $ 4.26  
 
 
 

Options outstanding are exercisable at prices ranging from $2.50 to $10.06 and expire over the period from 2005 to 2010 with an average life of 3.1 years.

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Stock Purchase Warrants

The following table summarizes information about warrant activity during the nine months ended June 30, 2005:

 
Warrants
 
 
 
Number of
Shares
 
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
 
Outstanding October 1, 2004   2,352,802   $ 3.74  
    Issued   425,000   $ 8.72  
    Exercised   (394,568 ) $ (4.34 )
    Canceled/expired   (75,000 ) $ (11.00 )
 
 
 
Outstanding June 30, 2005   2,308,234   $ 4.32  
 
 
 

At June 30, 2005, the following stock purchase warrants were outstanding arising from offerings and other transactions:

Number of
Shares 
 
Exercise
Price
 
Expiration
Date 
         
655,000   $          2 .00   September 30, 2006
451,880   $          3 .01   March 31, 2007
272,729   $          6 .75   July 10, 2007
100,000   $          4 .25   September 30, 2007
353,625   $          3 .25   December 31, 2007
50,000   $          3 .63   April 8, 2008
75,000   $          8 .60   December 31, 2009
75,000   $          9 .28   December 31, 2009
275,000   $          8 .60   June 14, 2010
   
2,308,234        

As a result of the termination of the Kingsbridge Agreement (see Committed Equity Financing Facility section above), the warrant for 275,000 shares which was exercisable until June 14, 2010 at $8.60 per share was cancelled on July 11, 2005.

The warrants exercisable for 272,729 shares which expire on July 10, 2007 contain anti-dilution provisions, and as a result of the 2005 Equity Financing (see Note 15 below) the exercise price of those warrants will adjust from $6.75 to $6.55 at the option of the holders.

12.  BUSINESS SEGMENT DATA

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

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. The Company does not allocate operating expenses or assets between its two reportable segments. Accordingly the measure of profit for each reportable segment is gross profit.

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  Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
  2005 2004   2005   2004  
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues:                        
  Commercial Products Group $ 172,687   $ 270,494   $ 469,560   $ 807,589  
  Government Group   1,221,110     1,836,787     8,150,544     3,567,720  




  $ 1,393,797   $ 2,107,281   $ 8,620,104   $ 4,375,309  





  Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
  2005   2004   2005   2004  
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Profit (Loss):                        
  Commercial Products Group $ (91,184 ) $ (167,833 ) $ (703,617 ) $ (244,625 )
  Government Group   493,191     1,268,795     5,350,260     2,259,913  




  $ 402,007   $ 1,100,962   $ 4,646,643   $ 2,015,288  




13.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In September 2003, the Company filed a complaint against eSoundIdeas, Inc., in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, alleging breach of contract and seeking a declaratory judgment to the effect that a License, Purchase and Marketing Agreement dated September 28, 2000 (the “ESI License Agreement”) with eSoundIdeas, a California partnership, was properly terminated in May 2003. The principals of eSoundIdeas are Greg O. Endsley and Douglas J. Paschall. The principals also founded a corporation, eSoundIdeas, Inc., which purported to assume the contractual obligations of eSoundIdeas.

In April 2005, the Company, ESI and its two principals entered into a Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release. As part of the settlement, the Company agreed to pay $150,000, which was previously accrued and recorded as a general and administrative expense, and to issue 17,500 shares of common stock to ESI. The fair market value of these as of April 27, 2005 of $140,175 was recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 2005 as a general and administrative expense. In addition, Mr. Endsley and Mr. Paschall will be entitled to receive an aggregate commission equal to 1% of net sales from April 1, 2005 to September 28, 2007, of the Company’s HSS products specifically targeted for use in North America in the point of sale/purchase, kiosk, display, event, trade show and exhibit markets, subject to a maximum aggregate commission of $500,000. The Company also granted the recipients of the shares “piggyback” rights to have their shares included on future registration statements that the Company might file.

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

14.  INCOME TAXES

At June 30, 2005, a valuation allowance has been provided to offset the net deferred tax asset as management has determined that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. At September 30, 2004 the Company had for federal income tax purposes net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $37,400,000, which expire through 2025 of which certain amounts are subject to significant limitations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

15.   SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On July 18, 2005, the Company sold 2,868,851 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $4.88 per share (the 2005 Equity Financing). The Company also issued warrants in two series to the investors to purchase 1,581,919 shares of common stock. The “A” Warrants are exercisable for an aggregate of 717,213 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $6.36 per share until July 18, 2009. The “B” Warrants are exercisable for an aggregate of 864,706 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $7.23 per share and are exercisable from the date the registration statement referred to below becomes effective until the date six months after that effective date.

 

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The gross proceeds from this financing were approximately $14 million. The Company incurred financing and closing costs of approximately $740,000. The Company used approximately $2.0 million of the gross proceeds to discharge the principal balance of and accrued interest on the 8% unsecured subordinated promissory notes due December 31, 2006 (see Note 10). The Company entered into a registration rights agreement with the investors, and agreed to prepare and file, within 30 days following the issuance of the securities, a registration statement covering the resale of the shares of common stock sold and the common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants. Failure to have an effective registration statement within 90 days obligates the Company to pay liquidated damages to the purchasers in the amount of 0.5% of the gross proceeds per month until 180 days after the closing and 1% of the gross proceeds per month thereafter.

The Company has also agreed to submit the financing to a vote of its stockholders for approval prior to June 2006. The Company further agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, if during the next year it sells shares of its common stock, or options or warrants to purchase shares of its common stock, in a private placement or in a public offering using a Form S-3, the purchasers will have certain rights of first refusal to participate in the financing. The Company has also agreed to indemnify the purchasers for certain losses.

The “A” Warrants and “B” Warrants contain provisions that would adjust the exercise price, and in inverse proportion adjust the number of shares subject to the warrant, in the event the Company pays or effects stock dividends or splits, or in the event the Company sells shares of its common stock at a purchase price, or options or warrants to purchase shares of its common stock having an exercise price, less than the exercise price of the applicable warrant. The “A” Warrants also feature a net exercise provision, which enables the holder to choose to exercise the warrant without paying cash by surrendering shares subject to the warrant with a market value equal to the exercise price. This right is available only if a registration statement covering the shares subject to the “A” Warrants is not available after it is initially declared effective. The Company has the right to redeem the “B” Warrants if the closing price of the shares of its common stock is $10.00 or greater for 15 consecutive trading days and the holder does not exercise within 20 days after the Company gives notice of redemption.

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

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited interim financial statements and the related notes included under Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, together with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2004.

The following discussion provides an overview of our results of operations for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004. Significant period-to-period variances in the statements of operations are discussed under the caption “Results of Operations.” Our financial condition and cash flows are discussed under the caption “Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Forward Looking Statements

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

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Overview

We are an innovator of proprietary sound reproduction technologies and products. We believe our sound technologies provide us a significant competitive advantage in our principal markets. We believe we are the leader in developing and commercializing parametric loudspeakers, branded as HyperSonic® Sound or HSS®. We believe we are also the leader in developing and commercializing high intensity directed acoustical devices, branded as Long Range Acoustic Device or LRAD™ and Medium Range Acoustic Device or MRAD™. We have more than 55 patents issued world-wide covering our various sound technologies, of which over 45 are patents issued in the United States. We also have over 265 pending patent applications world-wide, of which over 110 are pending patent applications in the United States.

We make significant investments in research and development to expand our technology and product portfolio. We have recently expanded our acoustic device product family by (a) introducing a new force protection product, the MRAD, a smaller and more portable product that complements our existing LRAD device; (b) introducing and signing the first license agreement for our new SoundVector scaleable, directional sound product; and (c) introducing a new NeoPlanar product line for emergency notification and general announcing markets that require high intelligibility. In our fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2005, we expect to begin deliveries of the H450, our latest generation HSS product model employing a new plastic emitter. The H450 provides improved performance over our previous models at approximately half the cost. We are utilizing our technologies and products to provide solutions for difficult acoustic challenges.

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

    Our HyperSonic sound, or HSS, technology is a new parametric speaker technology that creates sound “in the air.” Sound is generated along an air column using ultrasonic frequencies, which are those above the normal range of hearing. The HSS sound beam is highly directional and maintains sound volume over longer distances than traditional loudspeakers. We believe our substantial intellectual property portfolio and pioneering HSS products support our leadership position in the field of parametric non-linear acoustics for sound reproduction, as we continue to improve and release higher reliability, lower distortion and higher output level models of our HSS products.
     
    Our LRAD and MRAD products incorporate technology which produces variable intensity acoustical sound intended for use in long-range and medium-range delivery of directional sound information, effectively a supercharged megaphone. Both LRAD and MRAD products are designed and used as directed hailing and warning systems by both government and commercial customers. We believe our LRAD and MRAD product innovation, our growing engineering capabilities, and our manufacturing and marketing competencies have established us as the leader in this new marketplace. We are marketing these products throughout the U.S. Department of Defense as “The Sound of Force Protection™”, and expanding target markets to include law enforcement and commercial customers with significant security concerns. In fiscal 2004, we developed a remote controlled pan/tilt version of LRAD for critical infrastructure force protection applications, and we demonstrated our competency to engineer additional new sound solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense. In 2005, we introduced the MRAD. MRAD is about half the size and weight of LRAD, and provides effective hailing and warning at approximately half the range of LRAD. The portable MRAD is expected to be particularly effective on armored vehicles for urban warfare, shorter-range checkpoints and access denial, plus multiple applications for local, national and international law enforcement.
     
    Our NeoPlanar® technology is a thin film magnetic speaker that produces sound of high quality, low distortion and high volume. NeoPlanar applications include high-end sound, emergency notification and public address systems. In fiscal 2004, we began marketing NeoPlanar for use in large indoor spaces and in outdoor environments for emergency notification. NeoPlanar offers customers a new capability by delivering remarkably intelligible communications in difficult spaces such as aircraft hangar bays and at distances up to one-half mile.
     
    Our SoundCluster™ technology is a new multi-element speaker cluster optimized for even sound coverage over large areas. Our SoundCluster product offers an improved level of intelligibility and clarity in high ambient noise environments. The SoundCluster satisfies flight deck safety and large area emergency notification requirements. The flexible and ruggedized SoundCluster design lends itself to installation in harsh environments, where conventional speakers may fail. During fiscal 2004, we deployed the first SoundCluster for use on a U.S. naval warship.
 

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

Our primary products sold to date have been LRAD and HSS products. During the nine months ended June 30, 2005, these products were manufactured for us by Pemstar, Inc., an established contract manufacturer with multiple locations worldwide. However, during the quarter ended June 30, 2005, we terminated the relationship with Pemstar, and starting in our fiscal fourth quarter expect to start manufacturing our products at a new contract manufacturer.

Our sales have been highly dependent on large orders from a small number of customers. We target our products for sale worldwide, but expect the largest markets to be the U.S., Europe and Asia. To date, our sales have been made in U.S. dollars and we do not expect currency fluctuations to have a material impact on our operations.

Overall Performance

For our third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2005, revenues were 34% lower than the same period in the prior fiscal year primarily as a result of reduced LRAD deliveries to government customers. Operating expenses for the third fiscal quarter were 66% higher than the comparable prior year period, and as a result, our net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, was 158% higher than for the comparable prior year period. Our revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2005 were $1,393,797, compared to $2,107,281 for the three months ended June 30, 2004. Our gross profit for the three months ended June 30, 2005 was 29% of revenues, compared to 52% of revenues for the comparable period in the prior fiscal year. We recorded a gross profit of $402,007 for the three months ended June 30, 2005, which was $698,955 lower than the gross profit of $1,100,962 for the three months ended June 30, 2004. Operating expenses increased from $2,504,650 for the three months ended June 30, 2004 to $4,147,489 for the three months ended June 30, 2005. In addition, for the three months ended June 30, 2005, there was $115,217 of net interest expense associated with subordinated notes sold in December 2004. Our net loss increased from $1,390,411 for the three months ended June 30, 2004 to $3,592,768 for the three months ended June 30, 2005.

As a result of our performance for the quarter and the substantial completion of major development projects such as MRAD, HSS 450 and SoundVector, we initiated an effort to reduce expenses while we continue to focus our efforts on near-term revenue and gross margin improvement from our existing, marketable products. As a result we decreased our headcount from 71 employees at March 31, 2005, to 46 employees as of June 30, 2005. The majority of the reductions were in research and development. At June 30, 2005, 9 employees were in research and development, 13 were in production, quality assurance and materials control, 11 were in general and administrative and 13 were in marketing, sales and licensing. We are closely monitoring expenses for all of our departments. Our policy is to establish a compelling business case for all initiatives.

Our various technologies are high risk in nature. Our future is largely dependent upon the success of our sound technologies. We invest significant funds in research and development, marketing and sales and on patent applications related to our proprietary technologies. Unanticipated technical or manufacturing obstacles can arise at any time and disrupt sales or licensing activities and result in lengthy and costly delays. See “Business Risks” below.

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Recent Developments

In May 2005, Carl Gruenler, Vice President, Government and Force Protection Systems Group, left our company. Kalani Jones, President and Chief Operating Officer, assumed Mr. Gruenler’s duties. In July 2005, A.J. Ballard was appointed as Senior Director of the Government and Force Protection Systems Group, reporting to Kalani Jones.

In June 2005 we entered into a design and manufacturing licensing agreement with ECCO Group (ECCO), the world’s largest manufacturer of backup alarms for commercial vehicles. The agreement covers the initial licensing and product development of our SoundVector technology to ECCO and its affiliates for backup vehicle alarms and similar uses. The agreement includes technology transfer, product development assistance and upfront licensing fees, with royalties payable, based on unit volume production. The agreement is renewable on an annual basis after an initial three-year term, with further fees due upon each renewal.

In July 2005 we entered into an agreement to terminate the Committed Equity Financing Facility with Kingsbridge Capital Limited entered into in December 2004. The termination agreement resulted from our determination that the common stock purchase agreement was no longer consistent with our financing plans.

In July 2005 we completed an institutional financing providing gross proceeds of $14 million. After paying financing and closing costs and retiring approximately $2 million of unsecured subordinated promissory notes, we expect to use the net proceeds for marketing, sales and deliveries of our proprietary directed sound products and for general working capital.

Critical Accounting Policies

We have identified the policies below as critical to our business operations and the understandings of our results of operations. Our accounting policies are more fully described in our financial statements located in Item 1 of Part I, “Financial Statements.”

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

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

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

19


Warranty Reserve.  We establish a warranty reserve based on anticipated warranty claims at the time product revenue is recognized. These warranties require us to make estimates regarding the amount and costs of warranty repairs we expect to make over a period of time. Factors affecting warranty reserve levels include the number of units sold and anticipated cost of warranty repairs and anticipated rates of warranty claims. We evaluate the adequacy of the provision for warranty costs each reporting period. See Note 9 to our financial statements for additional information regarding warranties. The estimates we use have an impact on our financial statements. In the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005, we recorded a net warranty reduction of $10,350 and $103,430, respectively, as a result of the following: (a) we reduced the warranty reserve that we had previously established in fiscal 2003 for HSS Generation 1 products, primarily as a result of the expiration of the warranty period for HSS Generation 1 products sold, and (b) we recorded a warranty provision for current sales.

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

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

Valuation of Inventory. Our inventory is comprised of raw materials, assemblies and finished products that we intend to sell to our customers . We must periodically make judgments and estimates regarding the future utility and carrying value of our inventory. The carrying value of our inventory is periodically reviewed and impairments, if any, are recognized when the expected future benefit from our inventory is less than its carrying value. In the quarter ended June 30, 2005, we reviewed the carrying value of our inventory and decreased the reserve for obsolescence to $293,535 from the level of $349,986 at March 31, 2005. The reserve is primarily for raw materials and finished goods that were used on older HSS and PMT products for which there is anticipated to be reduced demand.

Results of Operations

Revenues

Revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2005 were $1,393,797, representing a 34% decrease from $2,107,281 in revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2004. Revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2005 included $1,378,648 of product sales and $15,149 of contract and license revenues. Revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2004 consisted of $2,089,359 of product sales and $17,922 of contract and license revenues. The decrease in revenues was due to reduced sales of LRAD products by our Government Group and reduced sales of HSS products by our Commercial Products Group. The prior year period also included revenues from the sale of a 5MC public address system which we did not market during the current period. Our revenues are highly dependent on the timing of large orders from a small number of customers. We expect continued uneven quarterly revenues in future periods due to the lack of established markets for our proprietary products.

At June 30, 2005, we had $450,000 in deferred revenue consisting of deposits for existing contracts, agreements and licenses.

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Revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 were $8,620,104, representing a 97% increase from $4,375,309 in revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2004. Revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 and June 30, 2004 included $8,539,855 and $4,201,193 of product sales, and $80,249 and $174,116 of contract and license revenues, respectively. The increase in product sales was due primarily to increased sales of LRAD products by our Government Group.

We have only a limited record of recurring sales, so we do not consider order backlog to be an important index of future performance at this time. Our backlog is affected by the timing of large orders and order deliveries, especially to government customers. Our order backlog was approximately $660,000 at June 30, 2005 and approximately $46,800 at June 30, 2004. Backlog orders are subject to modification, cancellation or rescheduling by our customers. Future shipments may also be delayed due to production delays, component shortages and other production and delivery related issues.

Our Commercial Products Group, or Commercial Group, markets and licenses HSS, NeoPlanar and SoundVector products to companies, which employ audio in consumer, commercial and professional applications. Our Government and Force Protection Systems Group, or Government Group, markets LRAD, NeoPlanar, SoundCluster and HSS products to government and military customers and to the expanding force protection and commercial security markets.

Presented below is a summary of revenues by business segment:

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
  2005 2004   2005   2004  
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues:                        
  Commercial Products Group $ 172,687   $ 270,494   $ 469,560   $ 807,589  
  Government Group   1,221,110     1,836,787     8,150,544     3,567,720  




  $ 1,393,797   $ 2,107,281   $ 8,620,104   $ 4,375,309  




Commercial Group revenues for all reported periods consisted primarily of HSS and Neoplanar product sales. Commercial Group revenues for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2004 consisted of multiple small volume sales. Commercial Group revenues for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2005 reflect a shift in our marketing focus to high volume contracts. These contracts require much longer sales cycles, and we had not at June 30, 2005 recognized significant revenues from such contracts.

Government Group revenues for all reported periods consisted primarily of sales of LRAD, NeoPlanar, and 5MC products and engineering services such as installation design and support. These revenues are derived primarily from a limited number of large orders, and the timing of follow-on orders, if any, is difficult to predict. Government Group sales for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2005 consisted primarily of LRAD and NeoPlanar product sales and, to a much lesser extent, engineering services.

For the three months ended June 30, 2005, sales to one customer in the Government Group accounted for 62% of total revenues and sales to a second customer in the Government Group, including affiliates of the customer, accounted for 12% of total revenues. For the nine months ended June 30, 2005, sales to one customer in the Government Group accounted for 79% of total revenues and sales to a second customer in the Government Group, including affiliates of the customer, accounted for 10% of total revenues. For the three months ended June 30, 2004, sales to three customers accounted for 62%, 22% and 13% of total revenues, respectively. For the nine months ended June 30, 2004, sales to two customers in the Government Group accounted for 51% and 28% of total revenues, respectively. The loss of any one of these significant customers would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

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Gross Profit

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

  Three Months Ended
June 30,
  Nine Months Ended
June 30,
 
  2005   2004   2005   2004  
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Profit (Loss):                        
  Commercial Products Group $ (91,184 ) $ (167,833 ) $ (703,617 ) $ (244,625 )
  Government Group   493,191     1,268,795     5,350,260     2,259,913  




  $ 402,007   $ 1,100,962   $ 4,646,643   $ 2,015,288  




The overall gross profit for the three months ended June 30, 2005 was $402,007, or 29% of revenues, compared to gross profit of $1,100,962, or 52% of revenues, for the comparable period of the prior fiscal year. Gross profit as a percentage of revenues declined over the comparable period of the prior fiscal year as a result of reduced gross profit in our Government Group, offset in part by decreased gross losses in our Commercial Group.

The overall gross profit for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 was $4,646,643, or 54% of revenues, compared to gross profit of $2,015,288, or 46% of revenues, for the comparable period of the prior fiscal year. The significant improvement in gross profit as a percentage of revenues reflected improved gross profit in our Government Group, offset in part by increased gross losses in our Commercial Group and increased expenses for inventory reserves.

We experienced gross losses in our Commercial Group for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005 of $91,184 and $703,617, respectively, as limited sales were not sufficient to absorb fixed manufacturing overhead costs and substantial reserves were taken for obsolete and slow moving inventory, particularly for our older HSS products. For the three and nine months ended June 30, 2004, we had gross losses in our Commercial Group of $167,833 and $244,625 respectively, primarily as a result of limited sales compared to fixed overhead and warranty costs. During fiscal year 2003 and fiscal 2004 we changed our HSS Generation 1 emitter design to eliminate the requirement for a vacuum in the emitter, and we improved film quality. During fiscal 2004, we made further raw material improvements in the electronics and the manner in which the film and emitters are produced. In May 2005 we introduced a new, lower-cost model of our HSS product. We believe that the latest generation of our products will be more reliable. We expect that warranty costs will decrease in fiscal 2005, and that as the volume of HSS product sales grow, we will achieve positive gross margins in future periods.

Gross profit for our Government Group for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005, was $493,191 and $5,350,260, respectively, compared to $1,268,795 and $2,259,913 for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2004. Cost of revenues for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005 included $127,214 of costs associated with the partial shipment of an order.  The revenue associated with the order will be recognized upon shipment of complete products which is expected to occur in our fiscal fourth quarter. Gross profit percentage continues to be highly dependent on sales prices, sales volumes, purchasing costs and overhead allocations. Our various sound products have different margins, so product sales mix will materially affect gross profits. In addition, we continue to make model updates and changes including raw material and component changes, which change product costs and may result in expense for raw material and products that are deemed obsolete. We therefore do not believe that historical gross profit margins should be relied upon as an indicator of future gross profit margins.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses were 207% of revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2005 compared to 77% of revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2004. These costs for the three months ended June 30, 2005 totaled $2,879,021, which represents an increase of $1,264,670 from selling, general and administrative expenses of $1,614,351 for the three months ended June 30, 2004.

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The overall increase for the three months ended June 30, 2005 included the following:

$31,989 increase in personnel and related expenses due to increases in headcount and salaries.
 
$296,381 increase in travel and entertainment, marketing expenses and the cost of demonstration units, due to increased sales efforts.
 
$98,069 increase in commission expenses due to a higher commission rate.
 
$29,755 increase in insurance expenses.
 
$259,619 increase in consulting services primarily due to costs associated with compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
$44,275 increase in accounting and auditing expense due to higher fees for services provided.
 
$46,753 increase in expenses related to board of directors fees, filings and shareholder activities.
 
$80,000 increase in bad debt expense due to one overdue payment.
 
$293,826 of impairment charge related to the legal, audit and associated fees originally recorded as prepaid transaction costs associated with the Committed Equity Financing Facility with Kingsbridge. The impairment charge resulted from our decision in June 2005 to terminate such facility.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were 81% of revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 compared to 86% for nine months ended June 30, 2004. These costs for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 totaled $6,968,972, which represents an increase of $3,202,835 from selling general and administrative expenses of $3,766,137 for the nine months ended June 30, 2004. The overall increase for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 included the following:

$591,239 increase in personnel and related expenses due to increases in headcount and salaries.
 
$311,250 increase in commission expenses resulting from increased sales in our Government Group.
 
$439,313 increase in legal expense related to the litigation which settled in April 2005 and increased legal costs of public company compliance.
 
$534,217 increase in travel and entertainment, marketing expenses and the cost of demonstration units, as a result of increased sales efforts.
 
$125,291 increase in insurance expenses due to higher business insurance costs and higher Director’s and Officer’s liability insurance.
 
$101,464 increase in depreciation expenses due to an increase in depreciable capital assets.
 
$76,988 increase in accounting and auditing expense due to higher fees for services provided.
 
$277,709 increase in consulting services primarily due to costs associated with compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
$80,909 increase in bad debt expense primarily due to one overdue payment.
 
$60,091 increase in rent expense due to additional space requirements and higher rental rate.
 
$79,399 non-cash expense for the modification of stock options for a terminated employee.
 
$293,826 of impairment charge related to the legal, audit and associated fees originally recorded as prepaid transaction costs associated with the Committed Equity Financing Facility with Kingsbridge. The impairment charge resulted from our decision in June 2005 to terminate such facility.

We expect selling, general and administrative expenses to increase in future periods as we increase our marketing efforts for our proprietary sound technologies. We will also incur substantial additional expense over the remainder of fiscal 2005 to improve and document our internal control over financial reporting in anticipation of management’s required assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and the attestation of such assessment by our independent registered public accounting firm, required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in connection with our report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005.

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Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses increased by $378,169 from $890,299 to $1,268,468 for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Research and development expenses as a percentage of sales were 91% for the three months ended June 30, 2005 compared to 42% for the three months ended June 30, 2004.

The overall increase for the three months ended June 30, 2005 included the following:

$309,311 increase in personnel and related costs, as we significantly increased our engineering design and development capability.
 
$45,517 increase for prototypes and other parts relating to our continuing effort to design and develop new and more reliable products.
 
$41,683 decrease for professional services and consulting expenses.

Research and development expenses increased by $2,197,958 from $1,983,518 for the nine months ended June 30, 2004 to $4,181,476 for the nine months ended June 30, 2005. Research and development expenses as a percentage of sales were 49% for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 compared to 45% for the nine months ended June 30, 2004.

The overall increase for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 included the following:

$1,306,830 increase in personnel and related costs as we significantly increased our engineering design and development capability.
 
$245,183 non-cash expense associated with the modification of stock options of terminated employees.
 
$583,756 increase for prototypes and other parts relating to our continuing effort to design and develop new and more reliable products.

Research and development expenses vary period to period due to the timing of projects, the availability of funds for research and development and the timing and extent of use of outside consulting, design and development firms. We expect our research and development expenses to decrease in future periods as a result of the completion of major projects and the reduction in the number of employees who are directly involved in product development and technology development.

Loss From Operations

Loss from operations was $3,745,482 for the three months ended June 30, 2005 compared to $1,403,688 for the three months ended June 30, 2004. The increase in loss from operations reflected a $1,642,839 increase in total operating expenses, and a decrease of $698,955 in gross profit.

Loss from operations was $6,503,805 for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 compared to $3,734,367 for the nine months ended June 30, 2004. The increase in loss from operations was due to a $5,400,793 increase in total operating expenses, offset in part by an increase of $2,631,355 in gross profit. Losses from operations are expected to continue in the current fiscal year.

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Other Income (Expense)

We recorded $152,714 of other income and $228,830 of other expense for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005, compared with $13,277 and $42,333 of other income for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2004. Other income for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005 included $451,190 and $183,259, respectively, of unrealized gain on derivative revaluation related to the decrease in the fair value of the warrant issued to Kingsbridge Capital Limited in December 2004. Other income for the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2005 was also reduced by a warrant impairment charge of $183,259 in each period, which represented the difference at June 30, 2005 between the fair value of the warrant determined at the date of issuance and the derivative instrument liability associated with such warrant. The impairment resulted from our decision in June 2005 to terminate that Kingsbridge financing arrangement, which termination became effective in July 2005. The remaining asset of $659,846 in prepaid transaction costs representing the unimpaired fair value of the warrant at June 30, 2005, and the remaining derivative instrument liability of the same amount, will be offset during the quarter ending September 30, 2005, with no net effect on other income or expense. We also incurred interest expense of $131,904 and $274,865 in the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005, primarily due to interest earned on the notes issued in December 2004 and the amortization of the debt discount on those notes. We recognized $16,687 and $46,035 of interest income from invested cash balances during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005. During the three and nine months ended June 30, 2004, we recorded interest expense of $454 and $2,263, respectively, and $13,731 and $44,596, respectively, of interest income from invested cash balances.

Net Loss

Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2005 was $3,592,768 compared to net loss of $1,390,411 for the three months ended June 30, 2004. The increase in net loss resulted primarily from higher operating expenses and decreases in gross margins from the comparable prior period. The unrealized derivative revaluation credit to expense of $451,190 offset in part by the $183,259 warrant impairment expense recorded for the three months ended June 30, 2005 also reduced the net loss for the period. Net loss for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 was $6,732,635 compared to net loss of $3,692,034 for the nine months ended June 30, 2004. The increase in net loss for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 as compared to the comparable period in the prior year resulted primarily from higher operating expenses, offset in part by increases in gross margins.

Net Loss Available to Common Stockholders

Net loss available to common stockholders was increased in each affected period in computing net loss per share by the accretion of the value of imputed deemed dividends arising from the beneficial conversion discount and the value of warrants associated with convertible preferred stock outstanding during each period. The imputed deemed dividends were not contractual obligations to pay such imputed dividends. Net loss available to common stockholders was also increased by the 6% accretion (similar to a dividend) on outstanding preferred stock. These amounts aggregated $-0-and $1,796,426 for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005, and $387,019 and $1,087,570 for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2004. Accordingly, the net loss available to common stockholders was $3,592,768 and $8,529,061 for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005, and $1,777,430 and $4,779,604 for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2004.

On January 18, 2005, we gave notice to all holders of Series D and Series E Preferred Stock that we had elected to convert the shares of Series D and Series E Preferred Stock to common stock. All 50,000 issued and outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock converted into an aggregate of 129,259 shares of common stock on the date of notice, and all 233,250 issued and outstanding shares of Series E Preferred Stock converted into an aggregate of 801,306 shares of common stock on February 1, 2005. As all the Series D and Series E Preferred Stock was called for conversion as described above, $1,504,711 was accreted in the second fiscal quarter, in addition to the accretion of $13,940 at the stated rate of 6%, and increased the net loss available to common stockholders.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have experienced significant negative cash flow from operating activities including developing and introducing our proprietary sound technologies. Our net cash used in operating activities was $5,455,018 for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 compared to $4,909,532 for the nine months ended June 30, 2004. For the nine months ended June 30, 2005, the net loss of $6,732,635 included certain expenses not requiring the use of cash totaling $1,226,685. For the nine months ended June 30, 2005, cash was used in operating activities through an increase of $1,104,060 in inventory, an increase of $173,157 in prepaid expenses and $86,515 in warranty deductions. Cash was provided in operating activities through a decrease of $339,439 in accounts receivable, an increase of $1,075,225 in accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

At June 30, 2005, we had accounts receivable of $507,308 as compared to $926,747 at September 30, 2004. The balance at June 30, 2005 represented approximately 37 days of revenues. One customer accounted for 30% of accounts receivable, two other customers accounted for 21% each of accounts receivable and a fourth customer accounted for 14% of accounts receivable at June 30, 2005. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of accounts receivable at June 30, 2005. Terms with individual customers vary greatly. We typically require pre-payment or a maximum of thirty-day terms for our proprietary sound technology products. Our receivables can also vary substantially due to overall sales volumes and due to quarterly and seasonal variations in sales and timing of shipments to and receipts from large customers and the timing of contract payments.

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For the nine months ended June 30, 2005 and June 30, 2004 we used cash of $448,535 and $299,623, respectively, for the purchase of equipment and software and made investments of $187,579 and $254,096, respectively, in patents and new patent applications. We anticipate a continued investment in patents for the balance of fiscal 2005.

Cash from financing activities provided $4,281,755 and $1,099,026 for the nine months ended June 30, 2005 and June 30, 2004. During the nine months ended June 30, 2005, we received $2,000,000 from the sale of unsecured promissory notes, $1,661,277 from the exercise of common stock warrants and $649,577 from the exercise of stock options. During the nine months ended June 30, 2004, we received $50,000 from the exercise of common stock warrants and $1,056,367 from the exercise of common stock options.

At June 30, 2005, we had working capital of $1,365,194 compared to working capital of $3,472,984 at September 30, 2004.

In December 2004, we sold for cash in a private offering an aggregate of $2,000,000 of unsecured subordinated promissory notes due December 31, 2006. In connection with the financing, we also issued five-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of 150,000 shares, 75,000 of which have an exercise price of $9.28 per share, and 75,000 of which have an exercise price of $8.60 per share. A trust affiliated with Elwood G. Norris, our Chairman and the beneficial owner of 19.5% of our common stock before the financing, purchased a note in the principal amount of $500,000 and received a warrant exercisable for 37,500 shares with an exercise price of $9.28 per share. In July 2005, we redeemed the notes and paid all interest due using proceeds from the financing described below.

In July 2005, we sold 2,868,851 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $4.88 per share. We also issued warrants in two series to the investors to purchase 1,581,919 shares of common stock. The “A” Warrants are exercisable for an aggregate of 717,213 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $6.36 per share until July 18, 2009. The “B” Warrants are exercisable for an aggregate of 864,706 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $7.23 per share and are exercisable from the date the registration statement referred to below becomes effective until the date six months after that effective date.

The gross proceeds from this financing were $14 million. We incurred financing and closing costs of approximately $740,000. We entered into a registration rights agreement with the investors, and agreed to prepare and file, within 30 days a registration statement covering the resale of the shares of common stock sold and the common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants. Failure to have an effective registration statement within 90 days obligates us to pay liquidated damages to the purchasers in the amount of 0.5% of the gross proceeds per month until 180 days after the closing, and 1% of the gross proceeds per month thereafter. We used approximately $2.0 million of the gross proceeds to discharge the principal balance of and accrued interest on the unsecured subordinated promissory notes described above.

We have also agreed to submit the financing to a vote of our stockholders for approval prior to June 2006. We further agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, if during the next year we sell shares of our common stock, or options or warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, in a private placement or in a public offering using a Form S-3, the purchasers will have certain rights of first refusal to participate in the financing. We have also agreed to indemnify the purchasers for certain losses.

The “A” Warrants and “B” Warrants contain provisions that would adjust the exercise price, and in inverse proportion adjust the number of shares subject to the warrant, in the event we pay or effect stock dividends or splits, or in the event we sell shares of our common stock at a purchase price, or options or warrants to purchase shares of our common stock having an exercise price, less than the exercise price of the applicable warrant. The “A” Warrants also feature a net exercise provision, which enables the holder to choose to exercise the warrant without paying cash by surrendering shares subject to the warrant with a market value equal to the exercise price. This right is available only if a registration statement covering the shares subject to the “A” Warrants is not available after it is initially declared effective. We have the right to redeem the “B” Warrants if the closing price of the shares of our common stock is $10.00 or greater for 15 consecutive trading days and the holder does not exercise within 20 days after we give notice of redemption.

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

In July 2005 we entered into a termination, settlement and release agreement with Kingsbridge Capital Limited. Under the terms of this agreement, we and Kingsbridge agreed that the common stock purchase agreement we entered into with Kingsbridge in December 2004, and the related registration rights agreement and warrant we issued to Kingsbridge of the same date, would be terminated, and Kingsbridge would return the warrant, which has not been exercised, to us for cancellation. We incurred no early termination penalties in connection with this termination. The termination agreement contains a mutual release of claims.

The termination agreement resulted from our determination that the common stock purchase agreement was no longer consistent with our financing plans, due to various factors, including anticipated capital requirements and timing, market conditions, and SEC requirements for transaction structure.

Based on our current cash position, and assuming currently planned expenditures and level of operations, we believe we will have sufficient cash for operations for at least the next twelve months. We believe sales of LRAD, MRAD, HSS and, to a lesser extent, NeoPlanar products, will continue to contribute cash in fiscal 2005. In the event that we need additional funds, there can be no guarantee that we will be able to raise funds on terms acceptable to us, or at all. We have flexibility to adjust the level of research and development and selling and administrative expenses based on the availability of resources. However, reductions in expenditures could delay development and adversely affect our ability to generate future revenues.

Contractual Commitments and Commercial Commitments

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations at June 30, 2005, and the effect such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flow in future periods:

 

 
Payments Due by Period
Contractual Obligations  
Total
 
Less than 1
Year
 
1-3 Years
 
4-5 Years
 
After 5
Years
Capital leases $ 18,142   $ 12,806   $ 5,336    
Operating leases   291,282     239,171     52,110    
Long term debt   2,000,000         2,000,000    





Total contractual cash obligations $ 2,309,424   $ 251,977   $ 2,057,446    





The Company had no material purchase obligations at June 30, 2005.

New Accounting Pronouncements

A number of new pronouncements have been issued for future implementation as discussed in the footnotes to our interim financial statements (see Note 5).

Business Risks

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

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

We have incurred significant operating losses and anticipate continued losses in the remainder of fiscal 2005. At June 30, 2005, we had an accumulated deficit of $49,060,128. We need to generate additional revenue to be profitable in future periods. Failure to achieve profitability, or maintain profitability if achieved, may cause our stock price to decline.

We may need additional capital for growth.  

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

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

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

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

Our equity financings impose certain liquidated damages which may impair our liquidity and ability to raise capital.  

In connection with our July 2005 equity financing, we entered into a registration rights agreement with some of the investors, pursuant to which we agreed to prepare and file a registration statement covering the resale of the shares of common stock sold in the financing as well as the shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants sold in the financing. If, among other reasons, those selling stockholders are unable to re-sell their shares purchased in the financing or acquired upon exercise of their related warrants, we may be obligated to pay liquidated damages to those selling stockholders in the amount of 0.5% of the gross proceeds we received in that financing per month until January 14, 2006, and 1% of those gross proceeds per month thereafter. Similar provisions regarding the payment of liquidated damages apply to a financing we entered into in July 2003. The registration statement for that financing has been filed and is currently effective.

Two customers and their affiliates accounted for approximately 74% of our revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2005, the same two customers and their affiliates accounted for 89% of our revenues for the nine months ended June 30, 2005, and we continue to be dependent on a few large customers.

ADS, Inc., a prime vendor to the U. S. military, accounted for 62% of net revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2005 and a second customer and its affiliates accounted for 12% of revenues for the period. For the nine months ended June 30, 2005, ADS accounted for 79% of our revenues and a second customer and its affiliates accounted for 10% of our revenues. These customers have the right to cease doing business with us at any time. If this were to occur and we could not replace them, our net revenues would decline substantially. Any such decline could result in us incurring net losses, increasing our accumulated deficit and causing us to need to raise additional capital to fund our operations.

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

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

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

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

Although our LRAD and MRAD products are designed for use by both government and commercial customers, the products have, to date, been predominantly sold for government use. Within the Government Group, our largest customer is a reseller of our products to end users in various branches of the military such as the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and the Department of Homeland Security. We have only recently achieved significant sales of LRAD products and are beginning to offer MRAD products for sale in our fiscal fourth quarter, and neither of the products have been widely accepted in the government market. Furthermore, the force protection and emergency response market is itself an emerging market which is changing rapidly. If our LRAD and MRAD products are not widely accepted by the government, military and the developing force protection and emergency response markets, we may not be able to identify other markets, and we may fail to achieve our sales projections.

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

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

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

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

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

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

At June 30, 2005, we had a warranty reserve of $228,487. We recorded substantial warranty reserves for early versions of our HSS products and have little history to predict future warranty costs. Future warranty costs could further adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and business prospects.

We could incur charges for excess and obsolete inventory.

Due to rapidly changing technology and uneven customer demand, product cycles tend to be short and the value of our inventory may be adversely affected by changes in technology that affect our ability to sell the products in our inventory. Therefore, periodically, it may be necessary to write off inventory as excess or obsolete.

While we will make every attempt to successfully manage product transition, including inventory control of older generation products when introducing new products, we have previously experienced and may, in the future, experience reductions in sales of older generation products as customers delay or defer purchases in anticipation of new product introductions. We currently have established reserves for slow moving or obsolete inventory. The reserves we have established for potential losses due to obsolete inventory may, however, prove to be inadequate and may give rise to additional charges for obsolete or excess inventory.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  cease selling, incorporating or using products or services that incorporate the challenged intellectual property;
   
  obtain a license from the holder of the infringed intellectual property right, which license may not be available on reasonable terms, if at all; and
   
  redesign products or services that incorporate the disputed technology.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  changes in tariff regulations;
   
  political instability, war, terrorism and other political risks;
   
  foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;
   
  establishing and maintaining relationships with local distributors and dealers;
   
  lengthy shipping times and accounts receivable payment cycles;
   
  import and export licensing requirements;
   
  compliance with a variety of foreign laws and regulations, including unexpected changes in taxation and regulatory requirements;
   
  greater difficulty in safeguarding intellectual property than in the U.S.; and
   
  difficulty in staffing and managing geographically diverse operations.

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

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

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

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

We are dependent on third - party manufacturers.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  include provisions that allow the government agency to terminate the contract without penalty under some circumstances; 
   
  be subject to purchasing decisions of agencies that are subject to political influence; 
   
  contain onerous procurement procedures; and  
   
  be subject to cancellation if government funding becomes unavailable.

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

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

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

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

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

  problems assimilating the purchased technologies, products or business operations;
     
  problems maintaining uniform standards, procedures, controls and policies; 
     
  unanticipated costs associated with the acquisition;
     
  diversion of management’s attention from our core business;
     
  adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers and customers;
     
  risks associated with entering new markets in which we have no or limited prior experience;
     
  potential loss of key employees of acquired businesses; and
     
  increased legal and accounting costs as a result of the newly adopted rules and regulations related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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

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

Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, our management will be required by the end of fiscal 2005 to perform an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting and have our independent auditor attest to that evaluation. Compliance with these requirements is expected to be expensive and time consuming. If we fail to timely complete this evaluation, or if our independent registered public accounting firm cannot timely attest to our evaluation, we could be subject to regulatory scrutiny and a loss of public confidence in our internal control over financial reporting.

In designing and evaluating our internal control over financial reporting, we recognize that any internal control or procedure, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. No system of internal control can be designed to provide absolute assurance of effectiveness and any material failure of internal control over financial reporting could materially impact our reported financial results and the market price of our stock could significantly decline. In addition, adverse publicity related to a material failure of internal control over financial reporting would have a negative impact on our reputation and business.

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

Technology companies in general and our company in particular have a history of depending upon and using broad based employee stock option programs to hire, incentivize and retain employees in a competitive marketplace. Currently, we do not recognize compensation expense for stock options issued to employees or directors, except in limited cases involving modifications of stock options, and we instead disclose in the notes to our financial statements information about what such charges would be if they were expensed. An accounting standard setting body has recently adopted a new accounting standard that will require us to record equity-based compensation expense for stock options and employee stock purchase plan rights granted to employees based on the fair value of the equity instrument at the time of grant. We will be required to record these expenses beginning with our first quarter of fiscal 2006, which ends December 31, 2005. The change in accounting rules will lead to increased reported net loss or, should we become profitable, a decrease in reported earnings. This may negatively impact our future stock price. In addition, this change in accounting rules could impact our ability to utilize broad based employee stock plans to reward employees and could result in a competitive disadvantage to us in the employee marketplace.

There are a large number of shares that we sold in our 2005 Equity Financing that must be registered in a registration statement, and the sale of these shares may depress the price of our common stock.

To the extent that the investors in our 2005 Equity Financing sell shares of our common stock under an effective registration statement, our stock price may decrease due to the additional selling pressure in the market. The perceived risk of additional shares available for sale in the market may cause holders of our common stock to sell their shares, which could contribute to a decline in our stock price.

The sale of material amounts of shares by the 2005 Equity Financing selling stockholders could encourage short sales by third parties. These sales could contribute to the future decline of our stock price.

The sale of material amounts of common stock by selling stockholders under the registration statement for the 2005 Equity Financing could also encourage short sales by third parties. In a short sale, a prospective seller borrows stock from a stockholder or broker and sells the borrowed stock. The prospective seller hopes that the stock price will decline, at which time the seller can purchase shares at a lower price to repay the lender. The seller profits when the stock price declines because the seller can purchase the shares at a price which is lower than the price at which the seller sold the borrowed stock. Short sales could place downward pressure on the price of our common stock by increasing the number of shares being sold, which could contribute to the future decline of our stock price.

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We may issue additional common stock in the future and this stock may reduce the value of your common stock.  

We may issue additional shares of common stock without further action by our stockholders. Moreover, the economic and voting interests of each stockholder will be diluted as a result of such issuances. Although the number of shares of common stock that stockholders presently own will not decrease, such shares will represent a smaller percentage of our total shares that will be outstanding after such events.

Sales of common stock issuable on the exercise of outstanding options and warrants, may depress the price of our common stock.

As of July 18, 2005, we had outstanding options granted to our employees, directors and consultants to purchase 2,133,810 shares of our common stock, and had outstanding warrants issued to investors and others to purchase 3,890,153 shares of our common stock. The exercise prices for the options and warrants range from $2.00 to $11.00 per share. In the future we may issue additional convertible securities, options and warrants. The issuance of shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of convertible securities, options or warrants could cause substantial dilution to holders of common stock, and the sale of those shares in the market could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. The potential dilution from these shares could negatively affect the terms on which we could obtain equity financing.

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

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

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

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

  our anticipated or actual operating results;
     
  developments concerning our sound reproduction technologies;
     
  technological innovations or setbacks by us or our competitors;
     
  conditions in the consumer electronics market;
     
  announcements of merger or acquisition transactions;
     
  changes in personnel within our company; and
     
  other events or factors and general economic and market conditions.

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

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

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

We are exposed to some market risk through interest rates, related to our investment of current cash and cash equivalents of approximately $2.4 million at June 30, 2005. Based on this balance, a change of one percent in interest rate would cause a change in interest income of $24,000. The risk is not considered material and we manage such risk by continuing to evaluate the best investment rates available for short-term high quality investments.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

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

  (a) As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our co-principal executive officers and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based upon that evaluation, our co-principal executive officers and principal financial officer concluded, as of the date of such evaluation, that the design and operation of such disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of June 30, 2005.
     
  (b) Except as set forth below, no significant changes were made in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. As a result of a notification from our independent registered accounting firm to our Audit Committee that we had not followed all appropriate period close down procedures for our quarter ended December 31, 2004, referencing deficient procedures for evaluation of the accrual for bonuses for which executives were eligible, we have rectified this significant deficiency by accelerating the timing of the Compensation Committee’s assessment for executive bonuses earned in the period.

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

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings.

Reference is made to Note 13 of our Notes to Interim Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this report for information regarding Legal Proceedings.

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

None.

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

Not applicable.

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

At the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 28, 2005, the following individuals, all of the members of the Board of Directors were elected: Elwood G. Norris, Kalani Jones, Richard M. Wagner, David J. Carter and Daniel Hunter. For each elected director, the results of the voting were:

  Affirmative Votes   Votes Withheld  
 
 
 
Elwood G. Norris 18,356,226   133,565  
Kalani Jones 18,361,088   128,703  
Richard M. Wagner 18,270,422   219,369  
David J. Carter 18,353,065   136,726  
Daniel Hunter 18,388,270   101,521  

Our stockholders also voted to ratify the selection of BDO Seidman, LLP as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005. The results of the voting on this proposal were:

Affirmative Votes
 
Negative Votes
 
Abstentions
 
Broker Non-Votes
 

 
 
 
 
18,352,033   119,771   17,987   -0-  

The foregoing proposal was approved and accordingly ratified.

Our stockholders also voted to approve the American Technology Corporation 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. The results of the voting on this proposal were:

Affirmative Votes
 
Negative Votes
 
Abstentions
 
Broker Non-Votes
 

 
 
 
 
8,251,891   629,311   88,615   9,519,974  

The foregoing proposal was approved.

Item 5.  Other Information.

On August 5, 2005, our Compensation Committee approved amendments to our 2005 Equity Incentive Plan and standard forms of Stock Option Agreement and Stock Award Agreement for the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. The amendments were made in response to comments of the California Department of Corporations in connection with our application for qualification of the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan in California. The amendments included a modification of the definition of Change in Control to narrow the circumstances defined as a Change in Control, and clarifications that any right of repurchase we might reserve in an award agreement and any rights of transferability we might permit in an award agreement, must conform to limitations contained in regulations promulgated by the California Department of Corporations. The amended 2005 Equity Incentive Plan and standard forms of Stock Option Agreement and Stock Award Agreement are attached to this report as Exhibits 10.9, 10.11 and 10.12.

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

As disclosed in Note 11 to our financial statements included in this report, as a result of our decision in June 2005 to terminate the Committed Equity Financing Facility with Kingsbridge Capital Limited, we determined that the prepaid transaction costs asset associated with the fair value of the warrant issued to Kingsbridge and the legal, audit and other fees associated with the financing, was impaired at June 30, 2005. Accordingly, we recognized an impairment charge in the total amount of $477,085, $293,826 of which represents legal, audit and associated fees and is recorded as selling, general and administrative expense for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005, and $183,259 of which represents the excess of the fair value of the warrant over the associated derivative instrument liability and is recorded as a warrant impairment expense for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2005. The remaining asset of $659,846 in prepaid transaction costs will be offset against the derivative instrument liability of the same amount in the quarter ending September 30, 2005, with no net effect on other income or expense.

The foregoing disclosure is made in lieu of disclosure under Item 2.06 on Form 8-K.

40


Item 6.  Exhibits

  10.1 Separation and Release Agreement with Carl Gruenler. Filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed June 17, 2005. +
     
  10.2 Consulting Agreement with Carl Gruenler. Filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed June 17, 2005.
     
  10.3 Termination, Settlement and Release Agreement with Kingsbridge Capital Limited dated as of July 8, 2005.
     
  10.4 Securities Purchase Agreement dated July 14, 2005. Filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed July 19, 2005.
     
  10.5 Registration Rights Agreement dated July 14, 2005. Filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed July 19, 2005.
     
  10.6 Form of Warrant-A issued July 18, 2005. Filed as Exhibit 99.3 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed July 19, 2005.
     
  10.7 Form of Warrant-B issued July 18, 2005. Filed as Exhibit 99.4 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed July 19, 2005.
     
  10.8 Engagement letter dated July 15, 2005. Filed as Exhibit 99.5 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed July 19, 2005.
     
  10.9 2005 Equity Incentive Plan as amended August 5, 2005. +
     
  10.10 Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan for grants prior to August 5, 2005. Filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Form S-8 filed June 2, 2005. +
     
  10.11 Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan for grants on or after August 5, 2005. +
     
  10.12 Form of Stock Award Agreement under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. +
     
  10.13 Summary Sheet of Director and Executive Officer Compensation. +
     
  10.14 Agreement of Settlement and Mutual Release, dated April 27, 2005, with eSoundIdeas, Inc., SoundIdeas, Greg O. Endsley, Douglas J. Paschall and Gordon & Holmes.
     
  10.15 Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 27, 2005, with Greg O. Endsley, Douglas J. Paschall and Gordon & Holmes.
     
  31.1 Certification of Elwood G. Norris, Co-Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
  31.2 Certification of Kalani Jones, Co-Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
  31.3 Certification of Michael A. Russell, Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
  32.1 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, executed by Elwood G. Norris and Kalani Jones, Co-Principal Executive Officers, and Michael A. Russell, Principal Financial Officer.
     
  + Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.  

41


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

   AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
   
     
   By: /S/ MICHAEL A. RUSSELL
     
Date:  August 9, 2005    Michael A. Russell, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
and duly authorized to sign on behalf of
the Registrant)

42


Exhibit Index  

  10.1 Separation and Release Agreement with Carl Gruenler. Filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed June 17, 2005. +
     
  10.2 Consulting Agreement with Carl Gruenler. Filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed June 17, 2005.
     
  10.3 Termination, Settlement and Release Agreement with Kingsbridge Capital Limited dated as of July 8, 2005.
     
  10.4 Securities Purchase Agreement dated July 14, 2005. Filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed July 19, 2005.
     
  10.5 Registration Rights Agreement dated July 14, 2005. Filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed July 19, 2005.
     
  10.6 Form of Warrant-A issued July 18, 2005. Filed as Exhibit 99.3 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed July 19, 2005.
     
  10.7 Form of Warrant-B issued July 18, 2005. Filed as Exhibit 99.4 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed July 19, 2005.
     
  10.8 Engagement letter dated July 15, 2005. Filed as Exhibit 99.5 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed July 19, 2005.
     
  10.9 2005 Equity Incentive Plan as amended August 5, 2005. +
     
  10.10 Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan for grants prior to August 5, 2005. Filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Form S-8 filed June 2, 2005. +
     
  10.11 Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan for grants on or after August 5, 2005.+
     
  10.12 Form of Stock Award Agreement under the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. +
     
  10.13 Summary Sheet of Director and Executive Officer Compensation. +
     
  10.14 Agreement of Settlement and Mutual Release, dated April 27, 2005, with eSoundIdeas, Inc., SoundIdeas, Greg O. Endsley, Douglas J. Paschall and Gordon & Holmes.
     
  10.15 Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 27, 2005, with Greg O. Endsley, Douglas J. Paschall and Gordon & Holmes.
     
  31.1 Certification of Elwood G. Norris, Co-Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
  31.2 Certification of Kalani Jones, Co-Principal Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
  31.3 Certification of Michael A. Russell, Principal Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
  32.1 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, executed by Elwood G. Norris and Kalani Jones, Co-Principal Executive Officers, and Michael A. Russell, Principal Financial Officer.
     
  + Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.  

43


Exhibit 10.3

Execution Copy

TERMINATION, SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE AGREEMENT

                                 This TERMINATION, SETTLEMENT AND RELEASE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of July 8, 2005 is by and between KINGSBRIDGE CAPITAL LIMITED (“ Kingsbridge ”) and AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION (“ ATC ”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

                                 WHEREAS, Kingsbridge and ATC have entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement, a Registration Rights Agreement and a Warrant, each dated as of December 14, 2004 (collectively, the “ Documents ”);

                                 WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to terminate the Documents to which they are a party as provided herein;

                                 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements set forth below, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                                 1.                Termination of the Documents .  Each of the parties hereto agrees that, effective upon the (i) receipt by Kingsbridge’s counsel, Clifford Chance US LLP, of $33,264.90 in outstanding fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Documents and this Agreement (the “ Amount Due ”) and (ii) the surrender of the Warrant by Kingsbridge to ATC, or the delivery by Kingsbridge of an affidavit of loss therefor, (a) each Document to which it is a party is hereby terminated and upon such termination the parties hereto shall have no further interest under, or rights, remedies or obligations under or arising out of any of the transactions undertaken pursuant to, any of the Documents, such termination to be effective as of the effectiveness hereof, and, except as provided in this Agreement, each party hereby releases each other party from any and all further obligations thereunder, (b) any requirement for notice (whether written or oral) with respect to the termination of any of the Documents is hereby waived by the respective parties to the Documents, (c) any other requirement or condition precedent to the termination of any of the Documents is hereby waived or shall be deemed to have been satisfied, as the case may be, as of the date hereof, and (d) all assignments, liens and security interests granted in connection with the Documents are hereby terminated and released.

                                 2.               Release .  Upon termination of the Documents, each party agrees to forever release the other and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and assigns from all debts, liabilities, claims and causes of action, whether known or unknown, and whether sounding in contract, tort, law or in equity and whether liquidated, unliquidated, contingent or disputed relating directly or indirectly to the Documents at any time up to and including the date of the execution of this Agreement.

                                                 In giving this release, which includes claims which may be unknown to the parties at present, the parties hereby acknowledge that they have read and understand Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California which reads as follows:

  A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the debtor.

-1-


Execution Copy

                                                   It is the parties intent in giving this release to expressly waive and relinquish all rights and benefits under Section 1542 and any law or legal principle of similar effect in any jurisdiction with respect to claims released hereby.

                                 3.                Negotiations and Discussions .  The existence of any and all negotiations leading up to this Agreement as well as all discussions held subsequent to the execution of this Agreement shall be subject to Federal Rule of Evidence 408, a copy of which is attached hereto.

                                 4.                Further Assurances; Delivery of Instruments .  Each of the parties hereto agrees to authorize, and to promptly execute and deliver, such documents or instruments as any party may reasonably request in order to evidence the termination of the Documents.

                                 5.                Representations and Warranties .  Each person signing this Agreement on behalf of a party which is a corporation, trust, limited liability company, partnership or other entity represents and warrants to the other parties that such person has been duly authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement on behalf of the party for whom it is signing and to bind that party to the terms of this Agreement.

                                 6.                Payment .  The Amount Due under this Agreement shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the following account:

  Citibank, N.A.
  399 Park Avenue
  New York, NY 10043
  Clifford Chance US LLP Account Number:  30440197
  SWIFT Code:  CITIUS33
  ABA Number: 021000089
  Invoice #: 512922

                                 7.                Non-Disparagement .  Each party hereto agrees that, except as required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or trading market applicable to such party , or compelled by process of law, at any time following the date hereof, neither it, nor any person acting on its behalf, shall hereafter (i) make any derogatory, or disparaging statement about the other party or any of the other party’s current officers, directors, employees, shareholders, lenders or counsel or any persons who were officers, directors, employees, shareholders, lenders or counsel of the other party; or (ii) without the other party’s prior written consent, issue any press release concerning the other party or the past or present officers, directors, employees, shareholders, lenders or counsel of the other party.

                                 8.                Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each such counterpart, when executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original and all of such counterparts, taken together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

                                 9.                GOVERNING LAW .   THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

-2-


Execution Copy

                                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed on the date first above written.

  KINGSBRIDGE CAPITAL LIMITED
   
  By:     /s/ Adam Gurney                                                       
  Name:   Adam Gurney                                                         
  Title:   Director                                                                     
   
   
  For AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
   
  By:      /s/ Michael A. Russell                                             
  Name:   Michael A. Russell                                                
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer                                            

-3-


Exhibit 10.9

AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1.               Purpose of the Plan . The purpose of this Plan is to encourage ownership in the Company by key personnel whose long-term service is considered essential to the Company’s continued progress and, thereby, encourage recipients to act in the stockholders’ interest and share in the Company’s success.

2.               Definitions . As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

                                 “Administrator” shall mean the Board, any Committees or such delegates as shall be administering the Plan in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

                                 “Affiliate” shall mean any entity that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company or any entity in which the Company has a significant ownership interest as determined by the Administrator.

                                 “Applicable Laws” shall mean the requirements relating to the administration of stock plans under federal and state laws, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Company has listed or submitted for quotation the Common Stock to the extent provided under the terms of the Company’s agreement with such exchange or quotation system and, with respect to Awards subject to the laws of any foreign jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan, the laws of such jurisdiction.

                                 “Award” shall mean, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock Awards, SARs, or Cash Awards.

                                 “Awardee” shall mean a Service Provider who has been granted an Award under the Plan.

                                 “Award Agreement” shall mean an Option Agreement, Stock Award Agreement, SAR Award Agreement, and/or Cash Award Agreement, which may be in written or electronic format, in such form and with such terms as may be specified by the Administrator, evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award. Each Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

                                 “Award Transfer Program” shall mean any program instituted by the Administrator which would permit Participants the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Administrator.

                                 “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

                                 “Cash Award” shall mean a bonus opportunity awarded under Section 13 pursuant to which a Participant may become entitled to receive an amount based on the satisfaction of such performance criteria as are specified in the agreement or other documents evidencing the Award (the “Cash Award Agreement”).


                                 “Change in Control” shall mean any of the following, unless the Administrator provides otherwise:

                   (i)               any merger or consolidation in which the Company shall not be the surviving entity (or survives only as a subsidiary of another entity whose stockholders did not own all or substantially all of the Common Stock in substantially the same proportions as immediately prior to such transaction);
 
                   (ii)              the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to any other person or entity (other than a wholly-owned subsidiary);
 
                   (iii)             the acquisition of beneficial ownership of a controlling interest (including, without limitation, power to vote) in the outstanding shares of Common Stock by any person or entity (including a “group” as defined by or under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act); or
 
                   (iv)             the dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Change in Control” shall not include any under written public offering of Shares registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                 “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                                 “Committee” shall mean a committee of Directors appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

                                 “Common Stock” shall mean the common stock of the Company.

                                 “Company” shall mean American Technology Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or its successor.

                                 “Consultant” shall mean any person engaged by the Company or any Affiliate to render services to such entity as an advisor or consultant.

                                 “Conversion Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(b)(xii) of the Plan.

                                 “Director” shall mean a member of the Board.

                                 “Dividend Equivalent” shall mean a credit, made at the discretion of the Administrator, to the account of a Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one Share for each Share represented by an Award held by such Participant.


                                 “Employee” shall mean a regular, active employee of the Company or any Affiliate, including an Officer and/or Director. Within the limitations of Applicable Law, the Administrator shall have the discretion to determine the effect upon an Award and upon an individual’s status as an Employee in the case of (i) any individual who is classified by the Company or its Affiliate as leased from or otherwise employed by a third party or as intermittent or temporary, even if any such classification is changed retroactively as a result of an audit, litigation or otherwise, (ii) any leave of absence approved by the Company or an Affiliate, (iii) any transfer between locations of employment with the Company or an Affiliate or between the Company and any Affiliate or between any Affiliates, (iv) any change in the Awardee’s status from an employee to a Consultant or Director, and (v) at the request of the Company or an Affiliate an employee becomes employed by any partnership, joint venture or corporation not meeting the requirements of an Affiliate in which the Company or an Affiliate is a party.

                                 “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

                                 “Exchange Program” shall mean a program under which (i) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for Awards of the same type (which may have lower exercise prices and different terms), Awards of a different type, and/or cash, and/or (ii) the exercise price of an outstanding Award is reduced. The terms and conditions of any Exchange Program will be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

                                 “Fair Market Value” shall mean, unless the Administrator determines otherwise, as of any date, the closing price for such Common Stock as of such date (or if no sales were reported on such date, the closing price on the last preceding day for which a sale was reported), as reported in such source as the Administrator shall determine.

                                 “Grant Date” shall mean the date upon which an Award is granted to an Awardee pursuant to this Plan.

                                 “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

                                 “Nonstatutory Stock Option” shall mean an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

                                 “Officer” shall mean a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                                 “Option” shall mean a right granted under Section 8 of the Plan to purchase a certain number of Shares at such exercise price, at such times, and on such other terms and conditions as are specified in the agreement or other documents evidencing the Award (the “Option Agreement”). Both Options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options and Nonstatutory Stock Options may be granted under the Plan.

                                 “Participant” shall mean the Awardee or any person (including any estate) to whom an Award has been assigned or transferred as permitted hereunder.

                                 “Plan” shall mean this American Technology Corporation 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

                                 “Prior Plan” shall mean the Company’s 2002 Stock Option Plan authorizing up to 2,350,000 Shares for issuance pursuant to stock options.


                                 “Qualifying Performance Criteria” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14(b) of the Plan.

                                 “Related Corporation” shall mean any parent or subsidiary (as defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) of the Company.

                                 “Rule 701” shall mean Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                 “Service Provider” shall mean an Employee, Director, or Consultant.

                                 “Share” shall mean a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 15 of the Plan.

                                 “Stock Award” shall mean an award or issuance of Shares or Stock Units made under Section 11 of the Plan, the grant, issuance, retention, vesting and/or transferability of which is subject during specified periods of time to such conditions (including continued service or performance conditions) and terms as are expressed in the agreement or other documents evidencing the Award (the “Stock Award Agreement”).

                                 “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” shall mean an Award, granted alone or in connection with an Option, that pursuant to Section 12 of the Plan is designated as a SAR. The terms of the SAR are expressed in the agreement or other documents evidencing the Award (the “SAR Agreement”).

                                 “Stock Unit” shall mean a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equivalent to the fair market value of one Share, payable in cash, property or Shares. Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, except as otherwise provided for by the Administrator.

                                 “10% Stockholder” shall mean the owner of stock (as determined under Section 424(d) of the Code) possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or any Related Corporation).

                                 “Termination of Service” shall mean ceasing to be a Service Provider. However, for Incentive Stock Option purposes, Termination of Service will occur when the Awardee ceases to be an employee (as determined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder) of the Company or one of its Related Corporations. The Administrator shall determine whether any corporate transaction, such as a sale or spin-off of a division or business unit, or a joint venture, shall be deemed to result in a Termination of Service.

                                 “Total and Permanent Disability” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.


3.              Stock Subject to the Plan .

                 (a)             Aggregate Limits .

                   (i)               The number of Shares initially reserved for issuance under the Plan through Awards is a maximum of 3,312,501 Shares. Such reserve shall consist of (A) the number of Shares available for issuance, as of the effective date of the Plan, under the Prior Plan, plus (B) those Shares that are issuable upon exercise of (x) options granted pursuant to the Prior Plan, or (y) “Prior Plan Options” as such term is defined in the Prior Plan, in either case which expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full after the effective date of the Plan, plus (C) an additional increase of 1,500,000 Shares to be approved by the Company’s shareholders on the effective date of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan through Incentive Stock Options is 3,312.501. The limitations of this Section 3(a)(i) shall be subject to the adjustments provided for in Section 15 of the Plan.
 
                   (ii)              Upon payment in Shares pursuant to the exercise of an Award, the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced only by the number of Shares actually issued in such payment. If any outstanding Award expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if Shares acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company, the Shares allocable to the terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased Shares shall again be available to grant under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall not be increased for restricted Shares that are forfeited or repurchased. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan, or any Award Agreement to the contrary, Shares attributable to Awards transferred under any Award Transfer Program shall not be again available for grant under the Plan. The Shares subject to the Plan may be either Shares reacquired by the Company, including Shares purchased in the open market, or authorized but unissued Shares.

                (b)             Code Section 162(m) Limit .  Subject to the provisions of Section 15 of the Plan, the aggregate number of Shares subject to Awards granted under this Plan during any calendar year to any one Awardee shall not exceed 250,000, except that in connection with his or her initial service, an Awardee may be granted Awards covering up to an additional 500,000 Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, the limitations set forth in this Section 3(b) shall be subject to adjustment under Section 15 of the Plan only to the extent that such adjustment will not affect the status of any Award intended to qualify as “performance based compensation” under Code Section 162(m).

4.              Administration of the Plan .

                 (a)             Procedure .

                   (i)               Multiple Administrative Bodies . The Plan shall be administered by the Board, a Committee and/or their delegates.


                   (ii)              Section 162 . To the extent that the Administrator determines it to be desirable to qualify Awards granted hereunder as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, Awards to “covered employees” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code or Employees that the Committee determines may be “covered employees” in the future shall be made by a Committee of two or more “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
                   (iii)             Rule 16b-3 . To the extent desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act (“Rule 16b-3”), Awards to Officers and Directors shall be made in such a manner to satisfy the requirement for exemption under Rule 16b-3.
 
                   (iv)             Other Administration . The Board or a Committee may delegate to an authorized Officer or Officers of the Company the power to approve Awards to persons eligible to receive Awards under the Plan who are not (A) subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or (B) at the time of such approval, “covered employees” under Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
                   (v)              Delegation of Authority for the Day-to-Day Administration of the Plan . Except to the extent prohibited by Applicable Law, the Administrator may delegate to one or more individuals the day-to-day administration of the Plan and any of the functions assigned to it in this Plan. Such delegation may be revoked at any time.

            (b)             Powers of the Administrator .  Subject to the provisions of the Plan and, in the case of a Committee or delegates acting as the Administrator, subject to the specific duties delegated to such Committee or delegates, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:

                   (i)               to select the Service Providers of the Company or its Affiliates to whom Awards are to be granted hereunder;
 
                   (ii)              to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
 
                   (iii)             to determine the type of Award to be granted to the selected Service Provider;
 
                   (iv)             to approve the forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;
 
                   (v)              to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise and/or purchase price, the time or times when an Award may be exercised (which may or may not be based on performance criteria), the vesting schedule, any vesting and/or exercisability, acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, the acceptable forms of consideration, the term, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine and may be established at the time an Award is granted or thereafter;
 
                   (vi)             to correct administrative errors;


                   (vii)            to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan (including sub-plans and Plan addenda) and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;
 
                   (viii)           to adopt rules and procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized (A) to adopt the rules and procedures regarding the conversion of local currency, withholding procedures and handling of stock certificates which vary with local requirements and (B) to adopt sub-plans and Plan addenda as the Administrator deems desirable, to accommodate foreign laws, regulations and practice;
 
                   (ix)             to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans and Plan addenda;
 
                   (x)               to modify or amend each Award, including, but not limited to, the acceleration of vesting and/or exercisability, provided, however, that any such amendment is subject to Section 16 of the Plan and may not materially impair any outstanding Award unless agreed to in writing by the Participant;
 
                   (xi)             to allow Participants to satisfy withholding tax amounts by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued pursuant to an Award that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld. The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined in such manner and on such date that the Administrator shall determine or, in the absence of provision otherwise, on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. All elections by a Participant to have Shares withheld for this purpose shall be made in such form and under such conditions as the Administrator may provide;
 
                   (xii)             to authorize conversion or substitution under the Plan of any or all stock options, stock appreciation rights or other stock awards held by service providers of an entity acquired by the Company (the “Conversion Awards”). Any conversion or substitution shall be effective as of the close of the merger or acquisition. The Conversion Awards may be Nonstatutory Stock Options or Incentive Stock Options, as determined by the Administrator, with respect to options granted by the acquired entity. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator at the time of conversion or substitution, all Conversion Awards shall have the same terms and conditions as Awards generally granted by the Company under the Plan;
 
                   (xiii)           to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;
 
                   (xiv)           to implement an Award Transfer Program;
 
                   (xv)            to determine whether Awards will be settled in Shares, cash or in any combination thereof;
 
                   (xvi)           to determine whether Awards will be adjusted for Dividend Equivalents;


                   (xvii)          to establish a program whereby Service Providers designated by the Administrator can reduce compensation otherwise payable in cash in exchange for Awards under the Plan;
 
                   (xviii)         to impose such restrictions, conditions or limitations as it determines appropriate as to the timing and manner of any resales by a Participant or other subsequent transfers by the Participant of any Shares issued as a result of or under an Award, including, without limitation, (A) restrictions under an insider trading policy and (B) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales or other transfers;
 
                   (xix)            to provide, either at the time an Award is granted or by subsequent action, that an Award shall contain as a term thereof, a right, either in tandem with the other rights under the Award or as an alternative thereto, of the Participant to receive, without payment to the Company, a number of Shares, cash or a combination thereof, the amount of which is determined by reference to the value of the Award;
 
                   (xx)             to institute an Exchange Program; and
 
                   (xxi)            to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan and any Award granted hereunder.

                 (c)             Effect of Administrator’s Decision .  All decisions, determinations and interpretations by the Administrator regarding the Plan, any rules and regulations under the Plan and the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder, shall be final and binding on all Participants. The Administrator shall consider such factors as it deems relevant, in its sole and absolute discretion, to making such decisions, determinations and interpretations, including, without limitation, the recommendations or advice of any officer or other employee of the Company and such attorneys, consultants and accountants as it may select.

5.               Eligibility .  Awards may be granted to Service Providers of the Company or any of its Affiliates.

6.               Term of Plan .  The Plan shall become effective on the effective date of its approval by stockholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten years from the date the Plan is approved by stockholders of the Company unless terminated earlier under Section 16 of the Plan.

7.               Term of Award .  The term of each Award shall be determined by the Administrator and stated in the Award Agreement. In the case of an Option, the term shall be ten years from the Grant Date or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.


8.               Options .  The Administrator may grant an Option or provide for the grant of an Option, either from time to time in the discretion of the Administrator or automatically upon the occurrence of specified events, including, without limitation, the achievement of performance goals, the satisfaction of an event or condition within the control of the Awardee or within the control of others.

                 (a)            Option Agreemen t .  Each Option Agreement shall contain provisions regarding (i) the number of Shares that may be issued upon exercise of the Option, (ii) the type of Option, (iii) the exercise price of the Shares and the means of payment for the Shares, (iv) the term of the Option, (v) such terms and conditions on the vesting and/or exercisability of an Option as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator, (vi) restrictions on the transfer of the Option and forfeiture provisions, and (vii) such further terms and conditions, in each case not inconsistent with this Plan, as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator.

                 (b)            Exercise Price .  The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Administrator, subject to the following:

                   (i)               In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Employee to whom an Incentive Stock Option is granted is a 10% Stockholder, then the exercise price shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Grant Date.
 
                   (ii)              In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date. The per Share exercise price may also vary according to a predetermined formula; provided, that the exercise price never falls below 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date. In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date.
 
                   (iii)             Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the issuance and sale of securities under this Plan require qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, the per Share exercise price of an Option shall be determined by the Administrator but shall not be less than 100% (or 110% in the case of a person who owns on the date of grant of such Option, securities of the Company possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Related Corporation) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Grant Date.
 
                   (iv)             Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the Administrator’s discretion, Conversion Awards may be granted in substitution and/or conversion of options of an acquired entity, with a per Share exercise price of less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of such substitution and/or conversion. The terms of the Conversion Awards shall be determined by the Administrator in accordance with the rules provided for in Code Section 424(a).


                 (c)             Vesting Period and Exercise Dates .  Options granted under this Plan shall vest and/or be exercisable at such time and in such installments during the period prior to the expiration of the Option’s term as determined by the Administrator. The Administrator shall have the right to make the timing of the ability to exercise any Option granted under this Plan subject to continued service, the passage of time and/or such performance requirements as deemed appropriate by the Administrator. At any time after the grant of an Option, the Administrator may reduce or eliminate any restrictions surrounding any Participant’s right to exercise all or part of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the issuance and sale of securities under this Plan require qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, an Option awarded to anyone other than an Officer, Director or Consultant of the Company shall vest at a rate of at least 20% per year.

                 (d)             Form of Consideration .  The Administrator shall determine the acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment, either through the terms of the Option Agreement or at the time of exercise of an Option. Acceptable forms of consideration may include:

                   (i)               cash;
 
                   (ii)              check or wire transfer;
 
                   (iii)             subject to any conditions or limitations established by the Administrator, other Shares which (A) in the case of Shares acquired upon the exercise of an Option, have been owned by the Participant for more than six months (or such other period of time, as required by the applicable accounting requirements) on the date of surrender or attestation and (B) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender or attestation equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised;
 
                   (iv)             consideration received by the Company under a broker-assisted sale and remittance program acceptable to the Administrator;
 
                   (v)              such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws; or
 
                   (vi)             any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

                 (e)             Buyout Provisions .  The Administrator may at any time offer to buy out for a payment in Shares an Option previously granted based on such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate to the Participant at the time that such offer is made.

9.               Incentive Stock Option Limitations .

                 (a)             Eligibility .  Only employees (as determined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder) of the Company or any of its Related Corporations may be granted Incentive Stock Options.


                 (b)             $100,000 Limitation .  Notwithstanding the designation “Incentive Stock Option” in an Option Agreement, if and to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Awardee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any of its Related Corporations) exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. An Incentive Stock Option is considered to be first exercisable during a calendar year if the Incentive Stock Option will become exercisable at any time during the year, assuming that any condition on the Awardee’s ability to exercise the Incentive Stock Option related to the performance of services is satisfied. If the Awardee’s ability to exercise the Incentive Stock Option in the year is subject to an acceleration provision, then the Incentive Stock Option is considered first exercisable in the calendar year in which the acceleration provision is triggered. For purposes of this Section 9(b), Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. However, because an acceleration provision is not taken into account prior to its triggering, an Incentive Stock Option that becomes exercisable for the first time during a calendar year by operation of such provision does not affect the application of the $100,000 limitation with respect to any Incentive Stock Option (or portion thereof) exercised prior to such acceleration. The Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the Grant Date.

                 (c)             Leave of Absence .  For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no leave of absence may exceed three months, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is provided by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company or a Related Corporation is not so provided by statute or contract, an Awardee’s employment with the Company shall be deemed terminated on the first day immediately following such three month period of leave for Incentive Stock Option purposes and any Incentive Stock Option granted to the Awardee shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option upon the expiration of the three month period following the date the employment relationship is deemed terminated.

                 (d)             Transferability .  The Option Agreement must provide that an Incentive Stock Option cannot be transferable by the Awardee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the lifetime of such Awardee, must not be exercisable by any other person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may allow the Awardee to transfer his or her Incentive Stock Option to a trust where under Section 671 of the Code and other Applicable Law, the Awardee is considered the sole beneficial owner of the Option while it is held in the trust. If the terms of an Incentive Stock Option are amended to permit transferability, the Option will be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

                 (e)             Exercise Price .  The per Share exercise price of an Incentive Stock Option shall be determined by the Administrator in accordance with Section 8(b)(i) of the Plan.

                 (f)              10% Stockholder .  If any Employee to whom an Incentive Stock Option is granted is a 10% Stockholder, then the Option term shall not exceed five years measured from the date of grant of such Option.


                 (g)             Other Terms .  Option Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options shall contain such other terms and conditions as may be necessary to qualify, to the extent determined desirable by the Administrator, with the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

10.             Exercise of Option .

                 (a)            Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder .

                   (i)               Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the respective Award Agreement.
 
                   (ii)              An Option shall be deemed exercised when the Company receives (A) written or electronic notice of exercise (in accordance with the Award Agreement) from the person entitled to exercise the Option; (B) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the related Option is exercised; and (C) with respect to Nonstatutory Stock Options, payment of all applicable withholding taxes.
 
                   (iii)             Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall be issued in the name of the Participant or, if requested by the Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse. Unless provided otherwise by the Administrator or pursuant to this Plan, until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Shares subject to an Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.
 
                   (iv)             The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares as soon as administratively practicable after the Option is exercised. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

                 (b)            Effect of Termination of Service on Options .

                   (i)               Generally . Unless otherwise provided for by the Administrator, if a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon the Participant’s death or Total and Permanent Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the issuance and sale of securities under this Plan require qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, upon Participant’s Termination of Service, other than due to death, Total and Permanent Disability, or cause, the Participant may exercise his or her Option (i) at any time on or prior to the date determined by the Administrator, which date shall be at least 30 days subsequent to the Participant’s termination date (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option), and (ii) only to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option on the termination date. In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the vested portion of the Option will remain exercisable for three months following the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.


                   (ii)              Disability of Awardee . Unless otherwise provided for by the Administrator, if a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Total and Permanent Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the issuance and sale of securities under this Plan require qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, in the event of Participant’s Termination of Service due to his or her Total and Permanent Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option (i) at any time on or prior to the date determined by the Administrator, which date shall be at least six months subsequent to the termination date (but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of his or her Option), and (ii) only to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Option on the termination date. In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve months following the Participant’s termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if at the time of disability the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will immediately revert to the Plan on the date of the Participant’s disability. If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.
 
                   (iii)             Death of Awardee . Unless otherwise provided for by the Administrator, if a Participant dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised following the Participant’s death within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death (but in no event may the Option be exercised later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement), by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to Participant’s death in a form acceptable to the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the issuance and sale of securities under this Plan require qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, in the event that the Participant dies prior to a Termination of Service, the Participant’s Option may be exercised by the Participant’s designated beneficiary (i) at any time on or prior to the date determined by the Administrator, which date shall be at least six months subsequent to the date of death (but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of his or her Option), and (ii) only to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise the Option at the date of death. If no such beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such Option may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the person(s) to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. In the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for twelve months following Participant’s death. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if at the time of death Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will immediately revert to the Plan on the date of the Participant’s death. If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.


11.             Stock Awards .

                 (a)             Stock Award Agreement .  Each Stock Award Agreement shall contain provisions regarding (i) the number of Shares subject to such Stock Award or a formula for determining such number, (ii) the purchase price of the Shares, if any, and the means of payment for the Shares, (iii) the performance criteria, if any, and level of achievement versus these criteria that shall determine the number of Shares granted, issued, retained and/or vested, (iv) such terms and conditions on the grant, issuance, vesting and/or forfeiture of the Shares as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator, (v) restrictions on the transferability of the Stock Award and (vi) such further terms and conditions in each case not inconsistent with this Plan as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator.

                 Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the issuance and sale of securities under this Plan require qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, the purchase price for restricted Shares shall be determined by the Administrator, but shall not be less than 85% (or 100% in the case of a person who owns on the date of grant of such restricted stock, securities of the Company possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Related Corporation) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant of such restricted stock.

                 (b)             Restrictions and Performance Criteria .  The grant, issuance, retention and/or vesting of each Stock Award may be subject to such performance criteria and level of achievement versus these criteria as the Administrator shall determine, which criteria may be based on financial performance, personal performance evaluations and/or completion of service by the Awardee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the issuance and sale of securities under this Plan require qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, restricted stock awarded to anyone other than an Officer, Director or Consultant of the Company shall vest at a rate of at least 20% per year.

                 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the performance criteria for any Stock Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements for “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be established by the Administrator based on one or more Qualifying Performance Criteria selected by the Administrator and specified in writing.

                 (c)             Forfeiture .  Unless otherwise provided for by the Administrator, upon the Awardee’s Termination of Service, the Stock Award and the Shares subject thereto shall be forfeited, provided that to the extent that the Participant purchased any Shares, the Company shall have a right to repurchase the unvested Shares at the original price paid by the Participant, provided that for so long as the issuance and sale of securities under this Plan require qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, the Company must exercise such right to repurchase (i) for either cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness for such unvested Shares, and (ii) within 90 days of such Termination of Service.


                 (d)             Rights as a Stockholder .  Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, the Participant shall have the rights equivalent to those of a stockholder and shall be a stockholder only after Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) to the Participant. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, a Participant holding Stock Units shall be entitled to receive dividend payments as if he or she was an actual stockholder.

12.            Stock Appreciation Rights .  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a SAR may be granted to a Service Provider at any time and from time to time as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

                 (a)             Number of SARs .  The Administrator shall have complete discretion to determine the number of SARs granted to any Service Provider.

                 (b)             Exercise Price and Other Terms .  The per SAR exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the Grant Date. The Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, shall have complete discretion to determine the other terms and conditions of SARs granted under the Plan.

                 (c)             Exercise of SARs .  SARs shall be exercisable on such terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine.

                 (d)             SAR Agreement .  Each SAR grant shall be evidenced by a SAR Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the SAR, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine.

                 (e)             Expiration of SARs .  A SAR granted under the Plan shall expire upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the SAR Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 10(b) will also apply to SARs.

                 (f)              Payment of SAR Amount .  Upon exercise of a SAR, the Participant shall be entitled to receive a payment from the Company in an amount equal to the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the SAR. This amount shall be paid in Shares of equivalent value.

13.           Cash Awards .  Each Cash Award will confer upon the Participant the opportunity to earn a future payment tied to the level of achievement with respect to one or more performance criteria established for a performance period.

                 (a)             Cash Award .  Each Cash Award shall contain provisions regarding (i) the performance goal(s) and maximum amount payable to the Participant as a Cash Award, (ii) the performance criteria and level of achievement versus these criteria which shall determine the amount of such payment, (iii) the period as to which performance shall be measured for establishing the amount of any payment, (iv) the timing of any payment earned by virtue of performance, (v) restrictions on the alienation or transfer of the Cash Award prior to actual payment, (vi) forfeiture provisions, and (vii) such further terms and conditions, in each case not inconsistent with the Plan, as may be determined from time to time by the Administrator. The maximum amount payable as a Cash Award that is settled for cash may be a multiple of the target amount payable, but the maximum amount payable pursuant to that portion of a Cash Award granted under this Plan for any fiscal year to any Awardee that is intended to satisfy the requirements for “performance based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code shall not exceed $1,000,000.


                 (b)             Performance Criteria .  The Administrator shall establish the performance criteria and level of achievement versus these criteria which shall determine the target and the minimum and maximum amount payable under a Cash Award, which criteria may be based on financial performance and/or personal performance evaluations. The Administrator may specify the percentage of the target Cash Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements for “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the performance criteria for any portion of a Cash Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements for “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be a measure established by the Administrator based on one or more Qualifying Performance Criteria selected by the Administrator and specified in writing.

                 (c)             Timing and Form of Payment .  The Administrator shall determine the timing of payment of any Cash Award. The Administrator may specify the form of payment of Cash Awards, which may be cash or other property, or may provide for an Awardee to have the option for his or her Cash Award, or such portion thereof as the Administrator may specify, to be paid in whole or in part in cash or other property.

                 (d)             Termination of Service .  The Administrator shall have the discretion to determine the effect of a Termination of Service on any Cash Award due to (i) disability, (ii) retirement, (iii) death, (iv) participation in a voluntary severance program, or (v) participation in a work force restructuring.

14.            Other Provisions Applicable to Awards .

                 (a)             Non-Transferability of Awards .  An Award may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant, and may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will, by the laws of descent and distribution, or as permitted by Rule 701; provided that so long as the issuance and sale of securities under this Plan does not require qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, the Administrator may in each case determine otherwise. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, either at the time of grant or thereafter, such Award shall contain such additional terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate, and any transferee shall be deemed to be bound by such terms upon acceptance of such transfer.


                 (b)             Qualifying Performance Criteria .  For purposes of this Plan, the term “Qualifying Performance Criteria” shall mean any one or more of the following performance criteria, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a business unit, Affiliate or business segment, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to a pre-established target, to previous years’ results or to a designated comparison group, in each case as specified by the Committee in the Award: (i) cash flow; (ii) earnings (including gross margin, earnings before interest and taxes, earnings before taxes, and net earnings); (iii) earnings per share; (iv) growth in earnings or earnings per share; (v) stock price; (vi) return on equity or average stockholders’ equity; (vii) total stockholder return; (viii) return on capital; (ix) return on assets or net assets; (x) return on investment; (xi) revenue; (xii) income or net income; (xiii) operating income or net operating income; (xiv) operating profit or net operating profit; (xv) operating margin; (xvi) return on operating revenue; (xvii) market share; (xviii) contract awards or backlog; (xix) overhead or other expense reduction; (xx) growth in stockholder value relative to the moving average of the S&P 500 Index or a peer group index; (xxi) credit rating; (xxii) strategic plan development and implementation; (xxiii) improvement in workforce diversity, (xxiv) EBITDA, and (xxv) any other similar criteria. The Committee may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a Qualifying Performance Criteria to exclude any of the following events that occurs during a performance period: (A) asset write-downs; (B) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (C) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results; (D) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs; and (E) any extraordinary non-recurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to stockholders for the applicable year.

                 (c)             Certification .  Prior to the payment of any compensation under an Award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall certify the extent to which any Qualifying Performance Criteria and any other material terms under such Award have been satisfied (other than in cases where such relate solely to the increase in the value of the Common Stock).

                 (d)             Discretionary Adjustments Pursuant to Section 162(m) .  Notwithstanding satisfaction of any completion of any Qualifying Performance Criteria, to the extent specified at the time of grant of an Award to “covered employees” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the number of Shares, Options or other benefits granted, issued, retained and/or vested under an Award on account of satisfaction of such Qualifying Performance Criteria may be reduced by the Committee on the basis of such further considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion shall determine.

                 (e)              Section 409A .  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, it is the intent of the Company that all Awards granted under this Plan shall not cause an imposition of the additional taxes provided for in Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code.

                 (f)              Financial Information .  For so long as the issuance and sale of securities under this Plan require qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, the Company shall at least annually provide financial statements to Participants as required by Section 260.140.46 of the California Code of Regulations.


15.            Adjustments upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Merger or Asset Sale .

                 (a)             Changes in Capitalization .  Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, (i) the number and kind of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the number and kind of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Award, (ii) the price per Share subject to each such outstanding Award, and (iii) the Share limitations set forth in Section 3 of the Plan, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number or kind of issued shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Award.

                 (b)             Dissolution or Liquidation .  In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator shall notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. The Administrator in its discretion may provide for an Option to be fully vested and exercisable until ten days prior to such transaction. In addition, the Administrator may provide that any restrictions on any Award shall lapse prior to the transaction, provided the proposed dissolution or liquidation takes place at the time and in the manner contemplated. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed transaction.

                 (c)             Change in Control .  In the event there is a Change in Control of the Company, as determined by the Board or a Committee, the Board or Committee may, in its discretion, (i) provide for the assumption or substitution of, or adjustment to, each outstanding Award; (ii) accelerate the vesting of Options and SARs and terminate any restrictions on Stock Awards or Cash Awards; and (iii) provide for the cancellation of Awards for a cash payment to the Participant.

16.            Amendment and Termination of the Plan .

                 (a)             Amendment and Termination .  The Administrator may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan or any Award Agreement, but any such amendment shall be subject to approval of the stockholders of the Company in the manner and to the extent required by Applicable Law.

                 (b)             Effect of Amendment or Termination .  No amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall impair the rights of any Award, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan shall not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.


                 (c)             Effect of the Plan on Other Arrangements .  Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board or a Committee nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or any Committee to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it or they may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of restricted stock or stock options otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

17.           Designation of Beneficiary .

                 (a)             An Awardee may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive the Awardee’s rights pursuant to Awardee’s Award or the Awardee may include his or her Awards in an omnibus beneficiary designation for all benefits under the Plan. To the extent that Awardee has completed a designation of beneficiary such beneficiary designation shall remain in effect with respect to any Award hereunder until changed by the Awardee to the extent enforceable under Applicable Law.

                 (b)             Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the Awardee at any time by written notice. In the event of the death of an Awardee and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the time of such Awardee’s death, the Company shall allow the executor or administrator of the estate of the Awardee to exercise the Award, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its discretion, may allow the spouse or one or more dependents or relatives of the Awardee to exercise the Award to the extent permissible under Applicable Law.

18.            No Right to Awards or to Service .  No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award and the grant of any Award shall not be construed as giving an Awardee the right to continue in the service of the Company or its Affiliates. Further, the Company and its Affiliates expressly reserve the right, at any time, to dismiss any Service Provider or Awardee at any time without liability or any claim under the Plan, except as provided herein or in any Award Agreement entered into hereunder.

19.            Legal Compliance .  Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares shall comply with Applicable Laws and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, it is the intent of the Company that the Plan shall be administered so that the additional taxes provided for in Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code are not imposed.

20.            Inability to Obtain Authority .  To the extent the Company is unable to or the Administrator deems that it is not feasible to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, the Company shall be relieved of any liability with respect to the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.


21.           Reservation of Shares .  The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

22.           Notice .  Any written notice to the Company required by any provisions of this Plan shall be addressed to the Secretary of the Company and shall be effective when received.

23.           Governing Law; Interpretation of Plan and Awards .

                 (a)             This Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto shall be governed by the substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the state of Delaware.

                 (b)             In the event that any provision of the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan is declared to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be reformed, if possible, to the extent necessary to render it legal, valid and enforceable, or otherwise deleted, and the remainder of the terms of the Plan and/or Award shall not be affected except to the extent necessary to reform or delete such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision.

                 (c)             The headings preceding the text of the sections hereof are inserted solely for convenience of reference, and shall not constitute a part of the Plan, nor shall they affect its meaning, construction or effect.

                 (d)             The terms of the Plan and any Award shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective permitted heirs, beneficiaries, successors and assigns.

                 (e)             All questions arising under the Plan or under any Award shall be decided by the Administrator in its total and absolute discretion. In the event the Participant believes that a decision by the Administrator with respect to such person was arbitrary or capricious, the Participant may request arbitration with respect to such decision. The review by the arbitrator shall be limited to determining whether the Administrator’s decision was arbitrary or capricious. This arbitration shall be the sole and exclusive review permitted of the Administrator’s decision, and the Awardee shall as a condition to the receipt of an Award be deemed to explicitly waive any right to judicial review.

24.           Limitation on Liability .  The Company and any Affiliate which is in existence or hereafter comes into existence shall not be liable to a Participant, an Employee, an Awardee or any other persons as to:

                 (a)             The Non-Issuance of Shares .  The non-issuance or sale of Shares as to which the Company has been unable to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares hereunder; and

                 (b)             Tax Consequences .  Any tax consequence expected, but not realized, by any Participant, Employee, Awardee or other person due to the receipt, exercise or settlement of any Option or other Award granted hereunder.


25.            Unfunded Plan .  Insofar as it provides for Awards, the Plan shall be unfunded. Although bookkeeping accounts may be established with respect to Awardees who are granted Stock Awards under this Plan, any such accounts will be used merely as a bookkeeping convenience. The Company shall not be required to segregate any assets which may at any time be represented by Awards, nor shall this Plan be construed as providing for such segregation, nor shall the Company nor the Administrator be deemed to be a trustee of stock or cash to be awarded under the Plan. Any liability of the Company to any Participant with respect to an Award shall be based solely upon any contractual obligations which may be created by the Plan; no such obligation of the Company shall be deemed to be secured by any pledge or other encumbrance on any property of the Company. Neither the Company nor the Administrator shall be required to give any security or bond for the performance of any obligation which may be created by this Plan.

                                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, by its duly authorized officer, has executed this Plan, effective as of August __, 2005.

                                                                                              

  AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION,
a Delaware corporation
   
Date:  August __, 2005               By:  /s/ Michael A. Russell                       
  Its: Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

  


 

Exhibit 10.11

   
  AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
  FORM:   STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
  APPROVED BY:   COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
  VERSION:   AUGUST 2005

AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

                                 Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the American Technology Corporation 2005 Equity Incentive Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Option Agreement.

I.               NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT .

                 You have been granted an option to purchase Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, as follows:

  Name of Optionee:   
     
  Total Number of Shares Granted:  
     
  Type of Option: _____ Incentive Stock Option
     
    _____ Nonstatutory Stock Option
     
  Exercise Price per Share: $
     
  Grant Date:    
     
  Vesting Commencement Date:  
     
  Vesting Schedule: This option may be exercised, in whole or in part, in accordance with the following schedule:
     
    [[___]% of the Shares subject to the option shall vest [__] months after the Vesting Commencement Date, and [__]% of the Shares subject to the option shall vest each [year/quarter/month] thereafter, subject to the optionee continuing to be a Service Provider on such dates.]
     
  Termination Period: This option may be exercised for thirty (30) days after the optionee ceases to be a Service Provider. The Administrator determines when the optionee incurs a Termination of Service for this purpose. Upon the death or Total and Permanent Disability of the optionee, this option may be exercised for 12 months after the optionee ceases to be a Service Provider. In no event shall this option be exercised later than the Term/Expiration Date provided for below. These time periods may be extended as set forth in Section II.I and II.J below.
     
  Term/Expiration Date:  
     


II.             AGREEMENT .

                 A.              Grant of Option . The Administrator hereby grants to the optionee named in the Notice of Stock Option Grant attached as Part I of this Option Agreement (the “Optionee”) an option (the “Option”) to purchase the number of Shares, as set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant, at the exercise price per Share set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant (the “Exercise Price”), subject to the terms and conditions of this Option Agreement and the Plan. This Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”) or a Nonstatutory Stock Option (“NSO”), as provided in the Notice of Stock Option Grant.

                 B.              Exercise of Option .

                                 1.              Vesting/Right to Exercise . This Option is exercisable during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant, this Option Agreement and the applicable provisions of the Plan. This Option will in no event become exercisable for additional Shares after a Termination of Service for any reason. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Option becomes exercisable in full if the Company is subject to a Change in Control before the Optionee’s Termination of Service, and the Optionee is subject to an Involuntary Termination (defined below) in anticipation of or within 24 months after the Change in Control. For purposes of this Option, the term “Change in Control” shall not include any underwritten public offering of Shares registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). This Option may also become exercisable in accordance with Section II.J. below.

                                              The term “Involuntary Termination” shall mean the Optionee’s Termination of Service by reason of: (i) the involuntary discharge of the Optionee by the Company (or the Affiliate employing him or her) for reasons other than Cause (defined below), death or Total and Permanent Disability; or (ii) the voluntary resignation of the Optionee following (A) a material adverse change in his or her title, stature, authority or responsibilities with the Company (or the Affiliate employing him or her), (B) a material reduction in his or her base salary or annual bonus opportunity or (C) receipt of notice that his or her principal workplace will be relocated by more than 50 miles. The term “Cause” shall mean (1) the Optionee’s theft, dishonesty, or falsification of any documents or records of the Company or any Affiliate; (2) the Optionee’s improper use or disclosure of confidential or proprietary information of the Company or any Affiliate that results or will result in material harm to the Company or any Affiliate; (3) any action by the Optionee which has a detrimental effect on the reputation or business of the Company or any Affiliate; (4) the Optionee’s failure or inability to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from the Company or an Affiliate, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure or inability; (5) any material breach by the Optionee of any employment or service agreement between the Optionee and the Company or an Affiliate, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement; (6) the Optionee’s conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere) of any criminal act which impairs the Optionee’s ability to perform his or her duties with the Company or an Affiliate; or (7) violation of a material Company policy.

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                                 2.               Method of Exercise . This Option is exercisable by delivering to the Administrator a fully executed “Exercise Notice” or by any other method approved by the Administrator. The Exercise Notice shall provide that the Optionee is electing to exercise the Option, the number of Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised (the “Exercised Shares”), and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Administrator. The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the full aggregate Exercise Price as to all Exercised Shares. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Administrator of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by such aggregate Exercise Price. The Optionee is responsible for filing any reports of remittance or other foreign exchange filings required in order to pay the Exercise Price.

                 C.              Limitation on Exercise . The grant of this Option and the issuance of Shares upon exercise of this Option is subject to compliance with all Applicable Laws. This Option may not be exercised if the issuance of Shares upon exercise would constitute a violation of any Applicable Laws. In addition, this Option may not be exercised unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act is in effect at the time of exercise of this Option with respect to the Shares or (ii) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the Shares issuable upon exercise of this Option may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. THE OPTIONEE IS CAUTIONED THAT THE OPTION MAY NOT BE EXERCISED UNLESS THE FOREGOING CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED. ACCORDINGLY, THE OPTIONEE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THE OPTION WHEN DESIRED EVEN THOUGH THE OPTION IS VESTED. As a condition to the exercise of this Option, the Company may require the Optionee to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company. Any shares which are issued will be “restricted securities” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and will bear an appropriate restrictive legend, unless they are registered under the Securities Act. The Company is under no obligation to register the Shares issuable upon exercise of this Option.

                 D.              Method of Payment . Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be by any of the following methods; provided, however, the payment shall be in strict compliance with all procedures established by the Administrator:

                                 1.               cash;

                                 2.               check or wire transfer;

                                 3.               subject to any conditions or limitations established by the Administrator, other Shares which (i) in the case of Shares acquired upon the exercise of an option, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six months on the date of surrender or attestation and (ii) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender or attestation equal to the aggregate Exercise Price;

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                                 4.               consideration received by the Company under a broker-assisted sale and remittance program acceptable to the Administrator (Officers and Directors shall not be permitted to use this procedure if this procedure would violate Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended); or

                                 5.               any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

                 E.               Leave of Absence . The Optionee shall not incur a Termination of Service when the Optionee goes on a military leave, a sick leave or another bona fide leave of absence, if the leave was approved by the Company (or Affiliate employing him or her) in writing and if continued crediting of service is required by the terms of the leave or by applicable law. However, the Optionee incurs a Termination of Service when the approved leave ends, unless the Optionee immediately returns to active work.

                                   For purposes of ISOs, no leave of absence may exceed three months, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is provided by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company (or Affiliate employing him or her) is not so provided by statute or contract, the Optionee shall be deemed to have incurred a Termination of Service on the first day immediately following such three month period of leave for ISO purposes and this Option shall cease to be treated as an ISO and shall terminate upon the expiration of the three month period following the date the employment relationship is deemed terminated.

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                 F.               Non-Transferability of Option . This Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms of this Option Agreement and the Plan shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee. This Option may not be assigned, pledged or hypothecated by the Optionee whether by operation of law or otherwise, and is not subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if this Option is designated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, (i) allow the Optionee to transfer this Option as permitted by Rule 701, or (ii) if the issuance and sale of securities under the Plan does not require qualification under the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, allow the Optionee to transfer this Option as a gift to one or more family members. For purposes of this Option Agreement, “family member” means a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law (including adoptive relationships), any individual sharing the Optionee’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which one or more of these individuals have more than 50% of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which the Optionee or one or more of these persons control the management of assets, and any entity in which the Optionee or one or more of these persons own more than 50% of the voting interest.

                 G.              Term of Option . This Option may be exercised only within the term set out in the Notice of Stock Option Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in accordance with this Option Agreement and the Plan.

                 H.             Tax Obligations .

                                 1.               Withholding Taxes . The Optionee agrees to make appropriate arrangements with the Administrator for the satisfaction of all applicable Federal, state, local, and foreign income taxes, employment tax, and any other taxes that are due as a result of the Option exercise. With the Administrator’s consent, these arrangements may include withholding Shares that otherwise would be issued to the Optionee pursuant to the exercise of this Option. The Optionee acknowledges and agrees that the Company may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise.

                                 2.               Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares . If the Option is an ISO, and if the Optionee sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the ISO on or before the later of (i) the date two years after the Grant Date, or (ii) the date one year after the date of exercise, the Optionee shall immediately notify the Administrator in writing of such disposition. The Optionee agrees that the Optionee may be subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income recognized by the Optionee.

                 I.               Extension if the Optionee Subject to Section 16(b) . If a sale within the applicable Termination Period set forth in Section I of Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Option would subject the Optionee to suit under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, this Option shall remain exercisable until the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth (10th) day following the date on which a sale of such shares by the Optionee would no longer be subject to such suit, (ii) the one hundred and ninetieth (190th) day after the Optionee’s Termination of Service, or (iii) the Expiration Date.

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                 J.               Special Termination Period . The Company has established an Insider Trading Policy (as such policy shall be amended from time to time, the “Policy”) relative to trading while in possession of material, undisclosed information. Under the Policy, officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from trading in securities of the Company during certain “Blackout Periods” as described in the Policy. If (i) the last day of the Termination Period set forth in Section I is during such a Blackout Period, or (ii) exercise of the Option on the last day of the Termination Period set forth in Section I is prevented by operation of Section II.C above, then this Option shall automatically remain exercisable until fourteen (14) days after the date that the Company gives notice to the Optionee that there is no longer in effect a Blackout Period applicable to the Optionee (if sale of Shares was prevented by clause (i) above) and/or that the Option is exercisable (if exercise was prevented by clause (ii) above). Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section II.J, in no event may this Option by exercised after the Expiration Date.

                 K.             Change in Control . In the event of a Change in Control prior to the Optionee’s Termination of Service, the Option will be assumed or an equivalent option or right substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option, the Optionee will fully vest in and have the right to exercise the Option. In addition, if the Option becomes fully vested and exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator will notify the Optionee in writing or electronically that the Option will be fully vested and exercisable for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Option will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

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                 L.              Restrictions on Resale . The Optionee agrees not to sell any Shares at a time when Applicable Law, Company policies or an agreement between the Company and its underwriters prohibit a sale. This restriction shall apply as long as the Optionee is a Service Provider and for such period of time after the Optionee’s Termination of Service as the Administrator may specify.

                 M.             Lock-Up Agreement . The Optionee hereby agrees that in connection with any underwritten public offering of Shares made by the Company pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act, the Optionee shall not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, hypothecate, grant any option to purchase or make any short sale of, or otherwise dispose of any Shares (including but not limited to Shares subject to this Option) or any rights to acquire Shares of the Company for such period of time beginning on the date of filing of such registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and ending at the time as may be established by the underwriters for such public offering; provided, however, that such period of time shall end not later than one hundred eighty (180) days from the effective date of such registration statement. The foregoing limitation shall not apply to shares registered for sale in such public offering.

                 N.             Entire Agreement; Governing Law . This Option Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee. This Option Agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of California.

                 O.             NO GUARANTEE OF CONTINUED SERVICE . THE OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF THE OPTION PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED AN OPTION OR PURCHASING SHARES HEREUNDER). THE OPTIONEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS OPTION AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE WITH OPTIONEE’S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY’S RIGHT TO TERMINATE OPTIONEE’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

                                 By the Optionee’s signature and the signature of the Company’s representative below, the Optionee and the Company agree that this Option is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of this Option Agreement and the Plan. The Optionee has reviewed this Option Agreement and the Plan in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option Agreement and fully understands all provisions of this Option Agreement and the Plan. The Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions relating to this Option Agreement and the Plan.

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                                 The Optionee further agrees that the Company may deliver by email all documents relating to the Plan or this Option (including, without limitation, prospectuses required by the Securities and Exchange Commission) and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, annual reports and proxy statements). The Optionee also agrees that the Company may deliver these documents by posting them on a web site maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company.

                                 By executing this Stock Option Agreement, the Optionee hereby warrants and represents that it is acquiring this Option for its own account and that it has no intention of distributing, transferring or selling all or any part of this Option except in accordance with the terms of this Stock Option Agreement and Section 25102(f) of the California Corporations Code. The Optionee also hereby warrants and represents that it has either (i) preexisting personal or business relationships with the Company or any of its officers, directors or controlling persons, or (ii) the capacity to protect its own interests in connection with the grant of this Option by virtue of its business or financial expertise, or that of any of its professional advisors who are unaffiliated with and who are not compensated by the Company or any of its Affiliates, directly or indirectly.

OPTIONEE:    AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
     
       
Signature   By  
       
Print Name   Title  
       
Residence Address      
       

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Exhibit 10.12

   
 

AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

  FORM:   STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT
  APPROVED BY:   COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
  VERSION:   AUGUST 2005

AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT

                                 Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the American Technology Corporation 2005 Equity Incentive Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Stock Award Agreement.

I.                NOTICE OF RESTRICTED STOCK GRANT

                 You have been granted restricted shares of Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Stock Award Agreement, as follows:

Name of Awardee:                                                                                                                
   
Total Number of Shares Granted:                                                                                                                 
   
Purchase Price per Share:  $                                                                                                             
   
Fair Market Value per Share: $                                                                                                             
   
Grant Date:                                                                                                                 
   
Vesting Commencement Date:                                                                                                                
   
Vesting Schedule:
[Subject to Section II.H below, the first [    ]% of the Shares subject to this Stock Award Agreement shall vest on the Vesting Commencement Date, and [    ]% of the Shares subject to this Stock Award Agreement shall vest each [month/quarter/year] of the Vesting Commencement Date, subject to the Awardee continuing to be a Service Provider on such dates. Vesting shall accelerate as provided in Section II.C below.]


II.              AGREEMENT

                 A.               Grant of Restricted Stock . Pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Stock Award Agreement (including Section I above) and the Plan, American Technology Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), grants to the Awardee named in Section I above, on the Grant Date set forth in Section I above, the number of Shares set forth in Section I above. The granted Shares may be subject to a purchase price, as set forth in Section I above.

                 B.               Purchase of Restricted Stock . If the granted Shares are subject to a purchase price, as set forth in Section I above, the Awardee shall have the right to purchase such Shares at the specified purchase price in accordance with such procedures as may be established by the Administrator from time to time.

                 C.               Vesting . The Awardee shall vest in the granted Shares in accordance with the vesting schedule provided for in Section I above; provided, however, that the Awardee shall cease vesting in the granted Shares upon the Awardee’s Termination of Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Awardee shall vest in all granted Shares if the Company is subject to a Change in Control before the Awardee’s Termination of Service, and the Awardee is subject to an Involuntary Termination (defined below) in anticipation of or within 24 months after the Change in Control. For purposes of this Award, the term “Change in Control” shall not include any underwritten public offering of Shares registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

                                                The term “Involuntary Termination” shall mean the Awardee’s Termination of Service by reason of the involuntary discharge of the Awardee by the Company (or the Affiliate employing him or her) for reasons other than Cause (defined below), death or Total and Permanent Disability. The term “Cause” shall mean (1) the Awardee’s theft, dishonesty, or falsification of any documents or records of the Company or any Affiliate; (2) the Awardee’s improper use or disclosure of confidential or proprietary information of the Company or any Affiliate that results or will result in material harm to the Company or any Affiliate; (3) any action by the Awardee which has a detrimental effect on the reputation or business of the Company or any Affiliate; (4) the Awardee’s failure or inability to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from the Company or an Affiliate, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure or inability; (5) any material breach by the Awardee of any employment or service agreement between the Awardee and the Company or an Affiliate, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement; (6) the Awardee’s conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere) of any criminal act which impairs the Awardee’s ability to perform his or her duties with the Company or an Affiliate; or (7) violation of a material Company policy.

                 D.               Risk of Forfeiture .

                                   1.              General Rule . The granted Shares shall initially be subject to a risk of forfeiture. The Shares subject to a risk of forfeiture shall be referred to herein as “Restricted Shares.” The Awardee may not transfer, assign, encumber, or otherwise dispose of any Restricted Shares other than in accordance with this Stock Award Agreement and the Plan. If the Awardee transfers any Restricted Shares in accordance with this Stock Award Agreement and the Plan, then this Section shall apply to the transferee to the same extent as to the transferor.

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                                  2.              Lapse of Risk of Forfeiture . The risk of forfeiture shall lapse as the Awardee vests in the granted Shares in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in Section I above.

                                  3.              Forfeiture of Granted Shares . The Restricted Shares shall automatically be forfeited and immediately returned to the Company upon the Awardee’s Termination of Service; provided that if any Restricted Shares were purchased by the Awardee, then upon the Awardee’s Termination of Service, the Company shall have the right to repurchase such Restricted Shares at the original price paid by the Awardee at any time during the 90-day period following the date of the Awardee’s Termination of Service. The certificates evidencing the Restricted Shares shall have stamped on them a special legend referring to the Company’s right of repurchase.

                                  4.               Additional Shares or Substituted Securities . In the event of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued and outstanding Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, any new, substituted or additional securities or other property (including money paid other than as an ordinary cash dividend) which are by reason of such transaction distributed with respect to any Restricted Shares or into which such Restricted Shares thereby become convertible shall immediately be subject to a risk of forfeiture as provided herein.

                                  5.               Escrow . Upon issuance, the certificates representing the granted Shares may, at the discretion of the Administrator, be deposited in escrow with the Company to be held in accordance with the provisions of this Stock Award Agreement. If the granted Shares are held in escrow, as provided in this subsection (5), any new, substituted or additional securities or other property described in subsection (4) above shall immediately be delivered to the Company to be held in escrow, but only to the extent the granted Shares are at the time Restricted Shares. All regular cash dividends on Restricted Shares (or other securities) at the time held in escrow shall be paid directly to the Awardee and shall not be held in escrow. Restricted Shares, together with any other assets or securities held in escrow hereunder, shall be (i) surrendered to the Company for cancellation upon forfeiture thereof, or (ii) released to the Awardee upon request, but only to the extent that the granted Shares are no longer Restricted Shares.

                 E.               Leave of Absence . The Awardee shall not incur a Termination of Service when the Awardee goes on a military leave, a sick leave or another bona fide leave of absence, if the leave was approved by the Company (or Affiliate employing him or her) in writing and if continued crediting of service is required by the terms of the leave or by applicable law. However, the Awardee incurs a Termination of Service when the approved leave ends, unless the Awardee immediately returns to active work.

                 F.               Rights as a Stockholder . The Awardee shall have the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including the right to vote the granted Shares.

                 G.               Regulatory Compliance . The issuance of Common Stock pursuant to this Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to full compliance with all applicable requirements of law and the requirements of any stock exchange or interdealer quotation system upon which the Common Stock may be listed or traded.

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                 H.               Vesting if Sale Prohibited by Insider Trading Policy . The Company has established an Insider Trading Policy (as such policy shall be amended from time to time, the “Policy”) relative to trading while in possession of material, undisclosed information. Under the Policy, officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from trading in securities of the Company during certain “Blackout Periods” as described in the Policy. If a scheduled vesting date for Shares falls on a day during such a Blackout Period, then the Shares that would otherwise have vested on such date shall not vest on such date, but shall instead vest, provided the Awardee remains a Service Provider, on the date that is two (2) business days after the last day of the Blackout Period applicable to the Shares.

                 I.                 Withholding Tax . The Company’s obligation to deliver the granted Shares or to remove any restrictive legends upon vesting of such Shares under the Plan shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable federal, state, local and foreign income, and employment tax withholding requirements. The Awardee shall pay to the Company an amount equal to the withholding amount (or the Company may withhold such amount from the Awardee’s salary) in cash. At the Administrator’s election, the Awardee may pay the withholding amount with Shares (including previously vested granted Shares); provided, however, that payment in Shares shall be limited to the withholding amount calculated using the minimum statutory withholding rates.

                 J.                Certain Federal Income Tax Issues .

                                  1.                Subject to provisions discussed in subsection (2) below, under Section 83 of the Code, the Awardee will recognize ordinary income upon transfer of the Shares to the Awardee, measured as the difference between the fair market value of the granted Shares on the date of transfer and the amount paid for the granted Shares, if any. The capital gain holding period will begin on the date of transfer.

                                  2.                To the extent that the granted Shares are subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” (within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code) on the Grant Date, the Awardee will not recognize ordinary income on the Grant Date. Instead, the Awardee will recognize ordinary income when the granted Shares are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture ( i.e. , as the Shares vest). The Awardee’s ordinary income is measured as the difference between the amount paid for the granted Shares, if any, and the fair market value of the granted Shares when such Shares are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. The capital gain holding period for Shares subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture begins on the date when such Shares are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.

                                  3.                If the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the Awardee may nonetheless accelerate his or her recognition of ordinary income, if any, and begin his or her capital gains holding period by timely filing an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code (the “83(b) Election”). If the Awardee makes an 83(b) Election, the excess of (i) the fair market value of the granted Shares on the Grant Date over (ii) the purchase price, if any, paid for the granted Shares will be included in the Awardee’s ordinary income. However, if the granted Shares are later forfeited, the Awardee will not be entitled to a tax deduction or a refund of the tax already paid. If the Awardee makes the 83(b) Election, the Awardee will not recognize any additional income when the granted Shares vest and any appreciation in the value of the granted Shares after the election is not taxed as compensation but instead is taxed as capital gain when the granted Shares are sold.

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                                 4.                The 83(b) Election must be filed with the Internal Revenue Service within 30 days after the Shares are transferred. Any ordinary income resulting from the election will be subject to applicable tax withholding requirements, if the Awardee is an employee or former employee. The election is generally irrevocable and cannot be made after the 30-day period has expired. In the event that the Awardee makes an 83(b) Election, the Awardee agrees that (i) the Awardee will promptly provide the Company with a copy of the 83(b) Election, as filed with the Internal Revenue Service, and (ii) the Company may withhold from any payments due to the Awardee any applicable federal, state or local taxes and such other deductions as are prescribed by law and/or the Awardee will pay to the Company all such tax withholding amounts promptly upon request.

                                 5.                THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION UPON THE AWARDEE WITH RESPECT TO THE GRANT OF RESTRICTED SHARES UNDER THE PLAN. IT DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE A COMPLETE DISCUSSION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES. IT DOES NOT DISCUSS THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY STATE, MUNICIPALITY OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE AWARDEE’S INCOME OR GAIN MAY BE TAXABLE. IN ANY EVENT, THE AWARDEE IS HEREBY ADVISED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR AS TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF MAKING AN 83(b) ELECTION. IF THE AWARDEE DESIRES TO MAKE AN 83(b) ELECTION, THEN IT IS THE AWARDEE’S RESPONSIBILITY TO TIMELY MAKE A VALID ELECTION.

                 K.               Plan . This Stock Award Agreement is subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan, receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Awardee. The Awardee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive, and final all decisions and interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan and this Stock Award Agreement.

                 L.               Successors . This Stock Award Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their legal representatives, heirs, and permitted successors and assigns.

                 M.              Restrictions on Resale . The Awardee agrees not to sell any Shares at a time when Applicable Laws, Company policies or an agreement between the Company and its underwriters prohibit a sale. This restriction shall apply as long as the Awardee is a Service Provider and for such period of time after the Awardee’s Termination of Service as the Administrator may specify.

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                N.                Lock-Up Agreement . The Awardee hereby agrees that in connection with any underwritten public offering of Shares made by the Company pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act, the Awardee shall not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, hypothecate, grant any option to purchase or make any short sale of, or otherwise dispose of any Shares (including but not limited to Shares subject to this Award) or any rights to acquire Shares of the Company for such period of time beginning on the date of filing of such registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and ending at the time as may be established by the underwriters for such public offering; provided, however, that such period of time shall end not later than 180 days from the effective date of such registration statement. The foregoing limitation shall not apply to shares registered for sale in such public offering.

                O.                Entire Agreement; Governing Law . This Stock Award Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Awardee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Awardee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and the Awardee. This Stock Award Agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of California.

                 P.                NO GUARANTEE OF CONTINUED SERVICE . THE AWARDEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF THE SHARES PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (AND NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED, BEING GRANTED SHARES OR PURCHASING SHARES HEREUNDER). THE AWARDEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE WITH AWARDEE’S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY’S RIGHT TO TERMINATE AWARDEE’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

                 By the Awardee’s signature and the signature of the Company’s representative below, the Awardee and the Company agree that this Award is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of this Stock Award Agreement and the Plan. The Awardee has reviewed this Stock Award Agreement and the Plan in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Stock Award Agreement and fully understands all provisions of this Stock Award Agreement and the Plan. The Awardee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions relating to this Stock Award Agreement and the Plan.

                 The Awardee further agrees that the Company may deliver by email all documents relating to the Plan or this Award (including, without limitation, prospectuses required by the Securities and Exchange Commission) and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including, without limitation, annual reports and proxy statements). The Awardee also agrees that the Company may deliver these documents by posting them on a web site maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company.

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                 By executing this Stock Award Agreement, the Awardee hereby warrants and represents that it is acquiring the Shares for its own account and that it has no intention of distributing, transferring or selling all or any part of the Shares except in accordance with the terms of this Stock Award Agreement and Section 25102(f) of the California Corporations Code. The Awardee also hereby warrants and represents that it has either (i) preexisting personal or business relationships with the Company or any of its officers, directors or controlling persons, or (ii) the capacity to protect its own interests in connection with the grant of this Award by virtue of its business or financial expertise, or that of any of its professional advisors who are unaffiliated with and who are not compensated by the Company or any of its Affiliates, directly or indirectly.

AWARDEE:   AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
     
     
Signature   By:  
     
Printed Name   Title:  
       
Residence      
       

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EXHIBIT 10.13
 
AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

SUMMARY SHEET
OF
DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
 

Compensation of Directors
 
Until June 2005, our non-employee directors did not receive cash fees as compensation for their services. In June 2005, we began compensating our non-employee directors in the amount of $1,000 per month, paid quarterly in arrears. Each of our non-employee directors serving between January 1 and May 31, 2005, was paid a one-time fee of $5,000 in recognition of service during that period. Our directors are also reimbursed for the expenses of attending directors’ or committee meetings. Our directors have received in the past, and may receive in the future, stock option grants. In June 2005, we granted each of our non-employee directors an option exercisable for 50,000 shares of common stock with an exercise price equal to the closing price of the common stock on the date of grant and expiring five years after the date of grant. These options vest quarterly over five years, subject to continued service and other conditions.
 
Compensation of Executive Officers

The executive officers of the Company serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors. From time to time, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reviews and determines the salaries that are paid to the Company's executive officers. The following table sets forth the annual salary rates for the Company’s current executive officers as of the date of this report on Form 10-Q:

Elwood G. Norris, Chairman
$200,000
Kalani Jones, President and Chief Operating Officer
$220,000
Michael A. Russell, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
$185,000
Bruce Gray, Vice President of the Commercial Products Group
$200,000
 
Employment Arrangements with Current Executive Officers
 
The following discussion summarizes the employment arrangements between us and our current executive officers as of the date of this report on Form 10-Q:
 
Mr. Elwood G. Norris - Effective September 1, 1997, we entered into a three year employment contract with Mr. Norris, for his services as Chief Technology Officer. The three-year term expired on August 31, 2000, but the agreement remains in effect until one party gives thirty days advance notice of termination to the other. Mr. Norris now serves as Chairman under the term of this agreement. The agreement, as amended by the Compensation Committee, provides for a base salary of $16,667 per month. The agreement provides that Mr. Norris will participate in bonus, benefit and other incentives at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Mr. Norris has agreed not to disclose trade secrets and has agreed to assign certain inventions to us during employment. We are also obligated to pay Mr. Norris certain royalties. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" in our Form 10-K/A filed March 18, 2005.
 
Mr. Kalani Jones - We entered into a letter agreement dated as of August 28, 2003, as amended on October 20, 2003, under which Mr. Jones was employed as our Senior Vice President of Operations. Mr. Jones has since been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer. The letter agreement provides for an annual base salary of $140,000, and an annual performance bonus of up to 30% of base salary to be determined by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors. Mr. Jones' base salary was $200,000 per year at September 30, 2004.  
 

 

On January 27, 2005, our Compensation Committee increased Mr. Jones’ current annual base salary to $220,000.  For fiscal 2005, the Compensation Committee determined that Mr. Jones' bonus should be based upon a target bonus of 50% of base salary given his increased responsibilities as President and Chief Operating Officer. We expect future bonus determinations for Mr. Jones to be made based upon a target bonus of 50% of base salary. Mr. Jones' employment is terminable at-will by us or by Mr. Jones for any reason, with or without notice.
 
Mr. Michael Russell - We entered into a letter agreement dated June 15, 2004, under which Mr. Russell was employed as our Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Russell has also been appointed as our Secretary. The letter agreement provides for an annual base salary of $185,000, and an annual performance bonus of up to 25% of base salary to be determined by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors. Mr. Russell's employment is terminable at-will by us or by Mr. Russell for any reason, with or without notice.
 
Mr. Bruce Gray -We entered into a letter agreement with Mr. Bruce Gray, under which Mr. Gray was employed as our Vice President of the Commercial Products Group effective March 21, 2005. The letter agreement provides for an annual base salary of $200,000, and an annual sales bonus of up to $100,000, payable on a quarterly basis, based on attaining quarterly and annual goals to be established. Mr. Gray's employment is terminable at-will by us or by Mr. Gray for any reason, with or without notice.

Executive officers in charge of revenue producing business segments also participate in a broad-based commission arrangement. Under our existing commission arrangement, commissions are awarded for each of our business segments based on achievement of operating plan revenue within the segment, with commissions increasing in percentage if operating plan is exceeded. Executive officers in charge of each business unit recommend an allocation of such commissions amongst sales personnel and themselves, which recommendation is reviewed and approved by the Chairman and the President. All commissions payable to executive officers are then reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee.

 
 

 

EXHIBIT 10.14

FINAL

AGREEMENT OF SETTLEMENT AND MUTUAL RELEASE

                 1.              PARTIES . The parties to this Agreement of Settlement and Mutual Release (the “Agreement”) are American Technology Corporation, a Delaware Corporation (“ATC” or the “Company”) on the one hand, and eSoundIdeas, Inc, a California corporation (“eSound”), SoundIdeas, a general partnership (“SoundIdeas”), Greg O. Endsley, an individual (“Endsley”) and Douglas J. Paschall, an individual (“Paschall”), on the other hand. eSound, SoundIdeas, Endsley and Paschall are referred to collectively as the “ESI Parties.” Gordon & Holmes LLP (“Gordon & Holmes”) is a party for the limited purposes set forth in Sections 3.2, 3.5, 4 and its sub-parts, and 7.

                 2.              RECITALS . This Agreement is made with reference to the following facts:

                                 2.1            On September 28, 2000, SoundIdeas entered into that certain License, Purchase and Marketing Agreement (the “Original License Agreement”), pursuant to which ATC granted to SoundIdeas certain rights to use and sell certain of ATC’s products and trademarks in exchange for certain license fees and other commitments. The Original License Agreement was purportedly amended on June 20, 2002 pursuant to a First Amendment to License, Purchase and Marketing Agreement (the “First Amendment”) to extend the term thereof and amend certain other provisions. ATC has denied the validity of the First Amendment. The Original License Agreement, to the extent the same was amended by the First Amendment, is referred to herein as the “License Agreement.”

                                 2.2            On or about April 25, 2001, ATC granted to each of Endsley and Paschall a Nonstatutory Stock Option under ATC’s 1997 Stock Option Plan to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $4.50 per share (collectively, the “Stock Options”). On or about December 11, 2002, ATC sent notices to Endsley and Paschall that the exercise period of the Stock Options terminated on or about October 5, 2002, as a result of the termination of Endsley’s and Paschall’s consulting services to the Company on or about July 5, 2002. Endsley and Paschall have disputed the termination of the exercise periods of the Stock Options.

                                 2.3            On or about May 23, 2003, ATC sent a notice of termination under License Agreement to eSound, which purported to be the successor to SoundIdeas under the License Agreement. ATC believes such notice was effective immediately, subject to a 60-day right of reinstatement, which expired. The ESI Parties have disputed the validity of such termination.

                                 2.4            On or about September 17, 2003, ATC filed a civil lawsuit in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Diego entitled, after subsequent amendment, American Technology Corporation v. SOUNDideas, Greg O. Endsley, Douglas J. Paschall, eSOUNDideas, Inc. and Does 1 through 20 , Case No. GIC 818015 (the “Original Action”). On or about November 19, 2003, ATC filed separate civil lawsuits against Endsley and Paschall in the same court entitled, respectively, American Technology Corporation v. Greg O. Endsley , Case No. GIC 821375, and American Technology Corporation v. Douglas J. Paschall , Case No. GIC 821376 (together, the “Stock Option Actions”). Endsley, Paschall and eSound subsequently filed a cross-action against ATC in the Original Action on or about December 5, 2003. The Original Action and the Stock Option Actions (collectively the “Lawsuits”) were thereafter consolidated by the court, with the Original Action designated as the lead case.

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                                 2.5            It is the intention of the parties hereto to settle and dispose of, fully and completely, any and all claims, demands, causes of action, obligations, damages, and liabilities of any nature whatsoever, existing prior to the effective date hereof, whether known or unknown, asserted in, arising out of, connected with or incidental to the relationship and business dealings between ATC and the ESI Parties, the License Agreement, the Stock Options and the Lawsuits.

                 3.              TERMS .

                                 3.1            ATC agrees that within seven (7) days following the date of last signature on this Agreement (the “Effective Date”), ATC will pay the aggregate of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000) to the Gordon & Holmes Client Trust Account for the benefit of eSound. Payment shall be made by ATC corporate check sent to Gordon & Holmes in accordance with Section 11.3. For tax and other reporting purposes, ATC shall treat such payment as having been made to eSound.

                                 3.2            ATC further agrees that within seven (7) days following the Effective Date, ATC will cause its transfer agent to issue the aggregate of Seventeen Thousand Five Hundred (17,500) shares (the “Shares”) of ATC common stock, $0.00001 par value (“Common Stock”), to be divided as follows: 8,750 shares to Endsley and 8,750 shares to Paschall; provided that each of Endsley and Paschall hereby instructs ATC to cause 3,500 shares of his shares (for a total of 7,000 shares) to be issued in the name of Gordon & Holmes as compensation for legal fees incurred by the ESI Parties in the defense and prosecution of the claims described in Section 2.4. The share certificates to be issued by ATC shall therefore be in the following denominations:

Endsley 5,250 shares
   
Paschall 5,250 shares
   
Gordon & Holmes 7,000 shares

                                 ATC’s transfer agent shall be directed to deliver such share certificates by certified mail to Gordon & Holmes as promptly as practicable after issuance, but transfer agent records evidencing such issuances shall be deemed to satisfy the delivery requirement in this Section 3.2. All such shares shall be “restricted securities” as that term is defined in Rule 144(a)(3) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and shall bear an appropriate restrictive legend.

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                                 3.3            ATC further agrees that within seven (7) days following the Effective Date, ATC will deliver to Gordon & Holmes for the benefit of eSound two (2) HSS Generation III emitters, model number T220 (the “Emitters”). eSound will have two (2) business days after receipt to confirm that the Emitters are in good working order. If either Emitter is not in good working order, eSound shall notify ATC in writing and provide the non-confirming Emitter with such correspondence. ATC shall replace such non-conforming Emitter with a new Emitter within seven (7) days of receipt, subject to the same two (2) business day acceptance period in favor of eSound. Emitters not rejected within such two (2) business day period shall be deemed accepted. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH ABOVE, THE EMITTERS ARE BEING DELIVERED ON AN “AS IS, WHERE IS” BASIS, WITHOUT ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES AS TO CONDITION, OPERATION OR SUFFICIENCY WHATSOEVER. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH ABOVE, ATC HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE EMITTERS, INCLUDING ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

                                 3.4            ATC further agrees that Endsley and Paschall shall be entitled to receive a commission based on future sales of HSS Products (as defined below) in certain Product Categories (as defined in Exhibit B ), for the period beginning April 1, 2005 and ending September 28, 2007, equal to an aggregate of 1% of Net Sales Value (defined below), divided equally between Endsley and Paschall (i.e., 0.5% to Endsley and 0.5% to Paschall), subject to a maximum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) in the aggregate (i.e., $250,000 to Endsley and $250,000 to Paschall), all as more particularly described in this Section 3.4, including its sub-parts. The term “HSS Products” shall mean products (including but not limited to Parametric Speakers (defined below), and products incorporating power modulation devices and related systems, devices, methods and processes to cause the generation of desired acoustic frequencies by means of propagation from ultrasonic frequencies), which products, if produced without an appropriate license or assignment of patent, would infringe the protectable rights in the patents and patent applications (to the extent patents were or will be granted upon such applications) set forth on Exhibit A to the Original License Agreement (the “Patent Rights”). “Parametric Speakers” are speakers or devices that indirectly generate audible frequency tones from ultrasonic tones. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth above, the term “HSS Products” shall not include any product or device based on ATC’s Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) platform and designed for long range hailing and warning, whether or not such product contains methods, features, designs or inventions that would infringe the Patent Rights in the absence of an appropriate license or assignment of patent.

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                                                 3.4.1        ATC shall pay to Endsley and Paschall a commission (the “Commission”) equal to an aggregate of One Percent (1%) of Net Sales Value (as defined below), divided equally between Endsley and Paschall (i.e., 0.5% to Endsley and 0.5% to Paschall), for HSS Products sold by the Company after April 1, 2005, for use in the Product Categories (as defined in Exhibit B ). For purposes of this Agreement, the term Net Sales Value shall mean the invoice price or contract price charged by the Company in connection with the sale of an HSS Product for use in the Product Categories; provided that the invoice price shall be reduced by (i) any allowances actually made and taken for returns; (ii) cash discounts, rebates and promotional allowances actually allowed; (iii) sales, use, value-added and similar taxes and duties and similar governmental assessments to the extent included in the invoice or contract price; and (iv) transportation costs, including packing, shipping, customs and insurance charges to the extend included in the invoice or contract price. Net Sales Value shall not include revenues from: (a) extended warranties not included in the standard invoice price for a product; (b) installation, warranty service, maintenance or repair; (c) royalties or license fees (except such licenses that are incidental to the sale of HSS Products); or (d) consulting services. ATC’s internal use or consumption of an HSS Product for purposes of research, development, testing, promotion or demonstration shall not be deemed a sale. If one HSS Product is exchanged for another HSS Product, the exchange shall be considered a sale of the newly provided product but the invoice or contract price for the newly provided product shall be the monetary differential paid by the customer. The ESI Parties acknowledge that certain sales may at the Company’s discretion be made through one or more third-party distributors, and in such case, Net Sales Value shall be determined based upon the invoice price the Company charges to its distributor, reduced pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv) above. For HSS Products sold in combination with one or more other products for a single invoice or contract price, Net Sales Value shall be calculated by multiplying Net Sales Value of the combination product by the fraction A/(A+B) where A is the sales price of the HSS Product in the combination when sold separately and B is the total sales price of all other products in the combination when sold separately. If the HSS Product or the other products included in the combination are not sold separately, ATC shall allocate the total invoice or contract price among the components in good faith, which allocation shall be binding on the parties absent a showing of bad faith. For purposes of this Section 3.4.1, a sale of an HSS Product shall be deemed made when the revenue from such sale is recognized by ATC in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

                                                 3.4.2        ATC shall retain all records pertaining to Net Sales Value (i.e., sales and accounting records for transactions) supporting calculation of Commission payments until a date not earlier than September 28, 2008. Endsley and Paschall, through an independent public accounting firm, shall have the right to jointly audit such records. The costs of such audit will be paid entirely by Endsley and Paschall, unless the audit shows an underpayment of more than the greater of (i) ten percent (10%) of the total Commission due to Endsley and Paschall, combined, for the entire period covered by the audit (which period shall commence no earlier than the completion date of the last audit), or (ii) $2,500 (a “Qualifying Underpayment”). In case of a Qualifying Underpayment, ATC shall pay the reasonable cost of the audit at the same time it pays the Commissions due. Such audit shall be commenced by written notice given by both Endsley and Paschall. Endsley and Paschall shall not be entitled to more than one (1) joint audit per twelve-month period unless a prior audit shall have disclosed a Qualifying Underpayment, in which case, Endsley and Paschall shall thereafter be entitled to two (2) joint audits during any twelve-month period (including the prior audit showing the Qualifying Underpayment). ATC may require Endsley, Paschall and such independent public accountants first to sign a confidentiality and/or a non-disclosure agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Company in which they agree not to use or disclose any confidential information of ATC, including customer identities. The independent public accountants shall provide a written report following each such audit, and shall provide a copy of such report to ATC. Such report shall not be deemed conclusive as to the amount of Commissions due. Disputes concerning the amount of Commissions due shall be handled in the manner set forth in Section 3.4.9 below.

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                                                 3.4.3        Notwithstanding any other provision in this Section 3.4, no Commission shall accrue or be payable by ATC with respect to sales deemed made after September 28, 2007 (determined in accordance with the last sentence of Section 3.4.1).

                                                 3.4.4        Notwithstanding any provision in this Section 3.4 to the contrary, the maximum Commissions that shall be payable to Endsley and Paschall will be Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) in the aggregate (i.e., $250,000 to Endsley and $250,000 to Paschall). Nothing in this Section 3.4 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be construed to grant to any of the ESI Parties any rights to Commissions in excess of $500,000 in the aggregate.

                                                 3.4.5        Commissions payable to Endsley and Paschall under Section 3.4.1 shall be paid on a quarterly basis. Commissions due for sales made during each calendar quarter shall be payable in cash and shall be paid by ATC corporate check made out to the Gordon & Holmes Client Trust Account and delivered to Gordon & Holmes (in accordance with Section 11.3) within forty (40) days following the end of calendar quarter.

                                                 3.4.6        The obligations in this Section 3.4 shall be binding upon ATC and each person or entity who takes by assignment, license or other means ATC’s rights to manufacture and sell HSS Products within the Product Categories. For the avoidance of doubt, the obligations in this Section 3.4 are not binding on persons or entities who distribute HSS Products within the Product Categories, where such products are manufactured by or for ATC, whether or not such distributors have exclusive distribution rights and whether or not such distributors provide specifications for the products so manufactured. Sales to such distributors will be deemed sales by ATC as provided in Section 3.4.1.

                                                 3.4.7        ATC shall have the right but not the obligation to buy out its obligations pursuant to this Section 3.4 at any time by paying to Endsley and Paschall an aggregate amount in cash equal to Five Hundred Thousand ($500,000) minus all Commissions previously paid pursuant to this Section 3.4, to be divided equally between Endsley and Paschall. Such payment shall be made by ATC corporate check made out to the Gordon & Holmes Client Trust Account and sent to Gordon & Holmes in accordance with Section 11.3. Upon such a buy-out, all of ATC’s obligations and all of Endsley’s and Paschall’s rights under Section 3.4, including its sub-parts (including without limitation the audit rights set forth in Section 3.4.2) shall immediately terminate. ATC’s election to buy-out the Commission obligation will not impact the mutual general releases contained in this Agreement, or give any party hereto the right to reinitiate litigation for the claims so released.

                                                 3.4.8        The ESI Parties shall not sell, market or promote HSS Products in the Product Categories, or contact customers or potential customers of ATC with the intent to influence the purchasing decisions of such customers or potential customers.

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                                                 3.4.9        In the event ATC on the one hand, or Endsley and Paschall on the other hand, believe that there has been an error made in the determination of Commissions, it shall provide written notice to the other(s) specifying the specific factual basis for its position, including detail of the transactions or other issues giving rise to its belief. Endsley and Paschall may give such notice only after completion of an audit pursuant to Section 3.4.2, must include in any such written notice a copy of the report of the independent public accountants, and must give such notice jointly. In the event the parties agree that there has been an overpayment of Commissions by ATC, ATC may at its election (i) offset future Commission payments by the amount of the overpayment or (ii) collect the amount of the overpayment from Endsley and Paschall, who shall be jointly and severally liable therefor, in which case payment shall be made to ATC by check within ten (10) business days of the determination of such overpayment. In the event the parties agree that there has been an underpayment of Commissions by ATC, ATC shall pay the amount of such underpayment (plus the reasonable audit fee upon a Qualifying Underpayment, if applicable) to Endsley and Paschall within ten (10) business days following the determination of such underpayment, in the manner provided by Section 3.4.5 above. In the event that ATC and Endsley and Paschall are not able to resolve through negotiation any dispute concerning the determination or payment of Commissions, the dispute shall be submitted to arbitration pursuant to Section 9 below, and any overpayment or underpayment determined by the arbitrator shall be paid or offset in the manner set forth above.

                                 3.5            ATC, Endsley, Paschall and Gordon & Holmes shall, as of the Effective Date, enter into the Registration Rights Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).

                                 3.6            Each of the ESI Parties expressly consents to the allocation of consideration set forth in Section 3 and its sub-parts, and agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify, defend and hold harmless ATC and each of the ATC Released Parties (defined in Section 5.1 below) from and against any and all claims, demands, causes of action, obligations, damages, and liabilities, including reasonable attorneys fees and costs, arising out of or relating to disputes between and among the ESI Parties as to the allocation of consideration or to legal fees due and payable by the ESI Parties to Gordon & Holmes.

                 4.              INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS

                                 Endsley, Paschall and Gordon & Holmes (collectively, the “Investors”) severally represent as follows (Endsley, Paschall and Gordon & Holmes to initial each one). Gordon & Holmes is making these representations solely in its capacity as an intended transferee of 7,000 shares of Common Stock, as set forth in Section 3.2 above.

                                 4.1            Each Investor confirms that it has reviewed the information described in SEC Regulation D, Rule 502(b)(2)(ii)(B) and (C), promulgated under the Securities Act, consisting of (i) ATC’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 (as amended), (ii) ATC’s Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2004 (as amended), (iii) ATC’s Forms 8-K filed December 30, 2004, January 18, 2005 (as amended), January 31, 2005, February 11, 2005, March 25, 2005 and April 1, 2005, and (iv) the description of the Common Stock attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Investors acknowledge that the consideration for issuance of the Shares is the consideration set forth in this Agreement, and is deemed paid upon the Effective Date.

   /s/ GOE       /s/ DJP    /s/ Gordon & Holmes  
Endsley Paschall Gordon & Holmes  

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                                 4.2            Each Investor, or its representatives or advisors, have had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the officers of ATC, or persons acting on their behalf, concerning ATC, and all such questions have been answered to the full satisfaction of each Investor or its representatives or advisors.

   /s/ GOE       /s/ DJP    /s/ Gordon & Holmes  
Endsley Paschall Gordon & Holmes  

                                 4.3            The Investors were not presented with or solicited by any leaflet, public promotional meeting, circular, newspaper or magazine article, radio or television advertisement, or any other form of advertising concerning an investment in ATC.

   /s/ GOE       /s/ DJP    /s/ Gordon & Holmes  
Endsley Paschall Gordon & Holmes  

                                 4.4            Each Investor acknowledges that neither the SEC nor any other state or federal agency has made any determination as to the merits of an investment in the Shares, and that an investment in the Shares involves a high degree of risk.

   /s/ GOE       /s/ DJP    /s/ Gordon & Holmes  
Endsley Paschall Gordon & Holmes  

                                 4.5            Each Investor is acquiring the Shares for investment and for its own accounts, and not with a view to any distribution thereof.

   /s/ GOE       /s/ DJP    /s/ Gordon & Holmes  
Endsley Paschall Gordon & Holmes  

                                 4.6            Each Investor understands that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act in reliance on the exemption provided in SEC Regulation D, Rule 506, promulgated under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, for securities sold in a private offering; and that the Shares have not been registered under the “blue sky” laws of any state including California. The Shares have not been qualified nor a permit obtained for issuance of securities from the California Department of Corporations nor any other agency of the State of California and are being sold pursuant to the exemptions provided in Section 25102(f) of the California Corporations Code. Each Investor further understands that the Company’s action in doing so is based in part on the representations of the Investors made herein.

   /s/ GOE       /s/ DJP    /s/ Gordon & Holmes  
Endsley Paschall Gordon & Holmes  

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                                 4.7            Each Investor understands that the Shares must be held indefinitely unless subsequently registered under the Act and qualified or registered under other applicable state laws or unless an exemption from such qualification or registration is available. Each Investor agrees that a notation of these restrictions shall be placed upon the Shares and in the appropriate records of ATC. (The foregoing representation shall not limit the Company’s obligations set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.)

   /s/ GOE       /s/ DJP    /s/ Gordon & Holmes  
Endsley Paschall Gordon & Holmes  

                                 4.8            Each Investor understands the risks and other considerations related to an investment in the Shares. Each Investor has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it (alone or with the aid of its investment advisors who are not compensated by ATC or any affiliate of ATC, directly or indirectly) is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of acquiring, and protecting its own interests in connection with, the Shares.

   /s/ GOE       /s/ DJP    /s/ Gordon & Holmes  
Endsley Paschall Gordon & Holmes  

                                 4.9            Each Investor (i) is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in ATC, (ii) has the ability to hold the Shares indefinitely, (iii) represents that its overall commitment to investments which are not readily marketable (such as the Shares) is not disproportionate to such Investor’s net worth, and (iv) has the financial ability to suffer a complete loss of its investment in the Shares.

   /s/ GOE       /s/ DJP    /s/ Gordon & Holmes  
Endsley Paschall Gordon & Holmes  

                 5.              MUTUAL GENERAL RELEASES . For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficed of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties, the parties promise, agree, and release and discharge as follows:

                                 5.1            Except for rights or claims created by this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, the ESI Parties hereby release, remise, and forever discharge ATC, including past, present and future parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors, assigns, directors, officers, agents, servants, employees, administrators, insurers, accountants, and attorneys (the “ATC Released Parties”), from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, obligations, damages, and liabilities existing prior to the Effective Date, whether known or unknown, asserted in, arising out of, connected with or incidental to the License Agreement, the Stock Options, the Lawsuits, or any other matter whatsoever including, without limitation on the generality of the foregoing, any and all claims, demands, causes of action, obligations, damages and liabilities which the ESI Parties could have asserted against ATC or any ATC Released Party relating to the subject matter of the Lawsuits.

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                                 5.2            Except as to its rights under the Confidentiality Agreement dated March 18, 2005, and except for such rights or claims as may be created by this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, ATC hereby releases, remises, and forever discharges the ESI Parties, including the ESI Parties’ past and present parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors, assigns, directors, officers, agents, servants, employees, administrators, insurers, accountants, and attorneys (the “ESI Released Parties”), from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, obligations, damages, and liabilities existing prior to the effective date hereof, whether known or unknown, asserted in, arising out of, connected with or incidental to the License Agreement, the Stock Options, the Lawsuits, or any other matter whatsoever including, without limitation on the generality of the foregoing, any and all claims, counterclaims, demands, causes of action, obligations, damages and liabilities which ATC could have asserted against the ESI Parties or the ESI Released Parties relating to the subject matter of the Lawsuits.

                                 5.3            ATC and the ESI Parties specifically waive the benefit of the provisions of Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California and any similar laws of other jurisdictions, to the extent applicable. Section 1542 reads as follows:

                 A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.

                                 5.4            The provisions, waivers and releases set forth in this Section 5 are binding upon each of ATC and the ESI Parties and their respective agents, employees, attorneys, representatives, officers, directors, general partners, limited partners, joint venturers, affiliates, assigns, heirs, successors in interest and shareholders.

                                 5.5            The provisions, waivers and releases of this Section 5 shall inure to the benefit of each of ATC’s and the ESI Parties’ agents, attorneys, employees, representatives, officers, directors, divisions, subsidiaries, affiliates, assigns, heirs, successors in interest and shareholders.

                                 5.6            The provisions of this Section 5 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and full performance of all the terms of this Agreement.

                                 5.7            In entering into this Agreement and the waivers provided for in this Section 5, each of ATC and the ESI Parties assumes the risk of any misrepresentation, concealment or mistake. If either ATC or the ESI Parties should subsequently discover that any fact relied upon by it in entering into this Agreement was untrue, or that any fact was concealed from it or that its understanding of the facts or of the law was incorrect, ATC or the ESI Parties shall not be entitled to any relief in connection therewith, including any alleged right or claim to set aside or rescind this Agreement. This Agreement is intended to be and is final and binding upon the parties hereto, regardless of any claims of misrepresentation, promise made without the intention of performing, concealment of fact, mistake of fact or law, or any other circumstances whatsoever.

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                                 5.8            Without limiting the generality of any provision of this Section 5, each of ATC and the ESI Parties agree and acknowledge that the License Agreement was terminated on May 23, 2003, and the Stock Options ceased to be exercisable on October 5, 2002, and no party thereto had any rights or obligations under such agreements, following such respective dates.

                                 5.9            Except as required in a subpoena issued to an ESI Party by a court of competent jurisdiction or an order or judgment binding on an ESI Party, each of the ESI Parties agrees not to participate in or assist in any manner any person or entity in any claim or cause of action such person or entity might threaten or bring against ATC which in any way derives from any rights the ESI Parties formerly enjoyed under the License Agreement, including without limitation any claims or causes of action by licensees, sublicensees, assignees, finders or brokers of the ESI Parties, or other persons with contracting relationships with the ESI Parties.

                 6.              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES . Each of the parties to this Agreement represents, warrants, and agrees as to itself as follows:

                                 6.1            Each of ATC and the ESI Parties have received independent legal advice from legal counsel with respect to the advisability of making the settlement provided for herein, with respect to the advisability of executing this Agreement, and with respect to the releases, waivers, and all other matters contained herein.

                                 6.2            Each of ATC and the ESI Parties or responsible officer thereof has read this Agreement and understands the contents hereof. Each of the officers executing this Agreement on behalf of their respective corporations or partnerships is empowered to do so and thereby binds his or her respective corporation or partnership.

                                 6.3            Each of ATC and the ESI Parties have not heretofore assigned, transferred, or granted, or purported to assign, transfer, or grant, any of the claims, demands, causes of action, obligations, damages, and liabilities disposed of by this Agreement.

                                 6.4            Each of ATC and the ESI Parties will execute all such further and additional documents as shall be reasonable, convenient, necessary or desirable to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.

                 7.             DISMISSAL . ATC and the ESI Parties shall dismiss their respective claims in the Lawsuits with prejudice. A jointly executed stipulation for dismissal shall be filed in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D . ATC and the ESI Parties agree that such dismissal shall be signed by counsel of record for all parties concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, but shall be held in trust by Gordon & Holmes until such time as the deliverables provided for in Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 are deemed received by Gordon & Holmes in accordance with such Sections. Within five court days thereafter, Gordon & Holmes shall cause the fully executed dismissal with prejudice to be filed with the court in the Lawsuits, and after receiving conformed copies of same, shall provide all counsel for all parties hereto with copies thereof.

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                 8.              CONFIDENTIALITY . ATC and the ESI Parties shall maintain as confidential all terms of this Agreement, and shall not disclose any such information to any third party, except as is necessary to obtain court approval of the dismissal of the Lawsuits, as is required by lawful court order or where disclosure to a third party is necessary because their duties justify a need to know such information and then only after such third parties have agreed to be bound by a confidentiality and/or a non-disclosure agreement and clearly understand their obligations to protect the confidentiality of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, ATC shall be permitted to disclose the entry into this Agreement and such material terms thereof, to the extent required by the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated under both such acts, and the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market, in each case as determined in good faith by ATC, its principal executive and financial officers who are required to certify the accuracy and completeness of reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, ATC’s attorneys or ATC’s independent registered public accounting firm. Such disclosure may include the filing of this Agreement as an exhibit to filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ATC intends to file within four (4) business days after the Effective Date a Form 8-K and/or a press release announcing this settlement. ATC agrees to provide to the ESI Parties an advance copy of such Form 8-K or press release, no less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to its issuance and/or filing.

                 9.              STREAMLINED ARBITRATION .

                                 9.1            Each and every dispute, claim or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including without limitation the payment of Commissions, or the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity of this Agreement, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this Agreement to arbitrate, shall be determined by arbitration in San Diego County, California, before one (1) arbitrator. The arbitration shall be administered by JAMS, in accordance with the following procedures: (i) a party desiring arbitration shall give written notice to the other part(ies) and to JAMS; (ii) the parties shall agree on an arbitrator from the JAMS San Diego, California panel within five (5) business days after such notice, and if they cannot agree within that time, an arbitrator shall be selected by JAMS; (iii) there shall be no discovery permitted and no experts designated (provided that a representative from the independent accounting firm which performed an audit pursuant to Section 3.4.2 may testify in person); and (iv) subject to the foregoing limitations, the arbitrator, once appointed, shall use all reasonable effort to conduct the arbitration and render an award on the matters subject to arbitration as quickly as is reasonably possible, and in that regard, to the extent the arbitrator considers such a procedure fair and adequate, (x) each Party shall provide a written report of its position to the arbitrator(s) and to the other part(ies) within five (5) business days after the arbitrator’s initial consultation with the parties or their counsel, (y) the arbitrator will select a date for a hearing, which, if reasonably possible, shall be within fifteen (15) days after submission of the reports, and (z) the arbitrator shall render his or her award quickly and need not provide findings or support for the award. The arbitrator shall have no authority to award any amounts for incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, or amounts attributable to lost profits or lost savings. To the extent not in conflict with the above procedures, the dispute shall be administered in accordance with the JAMS Streamlined Arbitration Rules & Procedures as revised February 19, 2005. Judgment on the Award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. This clause shall not preclude the parties from seeking provisional remedies in aid of arbitration from a court of appropriate jurisdiction, but shall preclude the parties from seeking in any court any damages not available in arbitration.

                                 9.2            The fees and expenses of the arbitration shall be divided equally by the ESI Parties on the one hand and ATC on the other hand. Except as set forth above, each party shall bear its own expenses in the arbitration and for any provisional remedies in aid of arbitration, and the arbitrator shall not in its award or otherwise, allocate all or part of the costs of the arbitration, including the fees of the arbitrator and the reasonable attorneys’ fees of the prevailing party, to any party other than the party originally bearing such costs.

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                 10.           SETTLEMENT . This Agreement affects the settlement of claims which are denied and contested, and nothing contained herein shall be construed as an admission by any party hereto of any liability of any kind to any other party. Each of the parties hereto denies any liability in connection with any and all claims.

                 11.           MISCELLANEOUS .

                                11.1         Governing Law . This Agreement shall be deemed to have been executed and delivered within the State of California, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the State of California, without regard to its choice of law provisions, and any applicable laws of the United States.

                                11.2         Successors and Assigns . This Agreement (other than the provisions of Section 3.4, which are subject to Section 3.4.6 in lieu of this Section 11.2) is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective agents, employees, representatives, officers, directors, divisions, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, assigns, heirs, successors in interest, predecessors in interest, partners and shareholders.

                                11.3         Notices . Unless otherwise provided, any notice required or permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, upon transmission by facsimile at the facsimile number indicated for such party on the signature page hereof, with confirmation of receipt, or upon deposit with the United States Post Office, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid and addressed to the party to be notified at the address indicated for such party on the signature page hereof. Any party may change its address or facsimile number by ten (10) days’ advance written notice to the other parties given in accordance herewith.

                                11.4         Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                                11.5         Titles and Subtitles . The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

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                                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have executed this Agreement as of the last date set forth below.

THE COMPANY: THE ESI PARTIES:
   
American Technology Corporation, a
Delaware corporation
eSoundIdeas, Inc,
a California Corporation
   
By: /s/ Bruce A. Gray                                           By:   /s/ Greg O. Endlsey                                                
Name:  Bruce A. Gray                                           Name: Greg O. Endsley
Title:  Vice President, Government Group          Title:  President                                                               
Address:  13114 Evening Creek Dr. So.              Address:  25022 Footpath Ln.                                       
  San Diego, CA 92128                                          Laguna Niguel, CA 92677                                           
                                                                                                                                                                            
Date: April 26 , 2005  
   
  By:   /s/ Douglas J. Paschell                                           
  Name: Douglas J. Paschell
  Title:  Secretary                                                                
  Address:  5 Las Posadas                                                 
  Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688                              
                                                                                             
  Date: April 27  , 2005
   
  SoundIdeas, a California General
Partnership
   
  By:   /s/ Greg O. Endlsey                                                 
  Name: Greg O. Endsley
  Title:  President                                                                
  Address:  25022 Footpath Ln.                                       
    Laguna Niguel, CA 92677                                           
   
  By: /s/ Douglas J. Paschell.                                            
  Name: Douglas J. Paschell
  Title:  Co-Founder                                                           
  Address: 5 Las Posadas                                                  
  Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688                               
                                                                                             
  Date: April 27 , 2005

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  Greg O. Endsley, an Individual
   
  /s/ Greg O. Endlsey                                                 
  Greg O. Endsley
  Address: 25022 Footpath Ln.                                 
  Laguna Niguel, CA 92677                                      
                                                                                   
                                                                                   
  Date: April  26 , 2005
   
  Douglas J. Paschall, an Individual
   
  /s/ Douglas J. Paschell                                            
  Douglas J. Paschall
  Address: 5 Las Posadas                                          
  Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688                      
  Date: April   27 , 2005
   
   
APPROVED AS TO FORM:  
   
GORDON & HOLMES LLP (and agreed as to Sections
3.2, 3.5, 4 and its sub-parts, and 7)
SHEPPARD MULLIN RICHTER & HAMPTON LLP
   
  By:      /s/ John D. Tishler                                     
    John D. Tishler
By:         /s/ Frederic C. Gordon                             
  Counsel for American Technology
  Counsel for eSoundIdeas, Inc,
  Corporation
  SoundIdeas, Greg O. Endsley and   12544 High Bluff Drive, Suite 300
  Douglas J. Paschall
  San Diego, CA 92130-3051
  223 W. Date Street
  Date: April  26 , 2005
  San Diego, California 92101-3571
 
  Date: April   26  , 2005  
   
PROCOPIO, CORY, HARGREAVES & SAVITCH LLP  
   
   
By: /s/ Paul A. Tyrell                                     
  Paul A. Tyrell  
  Counsel for American Technology
Corporation
 
  530 B Street, 21st Floor  
  San Diego, CA 92101  
  Date: April  26 , 2005  

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EXHIBIT A

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

The following summary of ATC’s common stock does not purport to be complete and is subject in all respects to applicable Delaware law and to the provisions of ATC’s Certificate of Incorporation as amended, and its Restated Bylaws, copies of which have been filed with the SEC and are available upon request from ATC.

The authorized common stock consists of 50,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share. As of April 15, 2005, 21,317,239 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable.

Holders of the common stock are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared from time to time by ATC’s board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, after payment of dividends required to be paid on outstanding preferred stock, if any.

Holders of the common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by ATC’s stockholders, including the election of directors. The Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors; however, under some circumstances, cumulative voting may be required under provisions of the California Corporations Code. The issuance of any shares of preferred stock in the future may result in dilution of voting power.

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of ATC, holders of the common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of preferred stock then outstanding.

The common stock has no preemptive, conversion or redemption rights.

The transfer agent and registrar for ATC’s common stock is Interwest Transfer Company, Salt Lake City, Utah.

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EXHIBIT B

PRODUCT CATEGORIES

The “Product Categories” include the following:

1.             HSS Products specifically targeted for use in North America in the Point of Sale/Purchase, Kiosk, and Display markets, which markets are defined to be those applications where the HSS Products are intended to be installed or used in North America at a point of sale or purchase or at a kiosk or display located in a retail sales establishment or environment, with the carried audio content directed to advertising, informing and/or promoting the sale of goods and services at the location of the installation, including without limitation in-store networks operated by, or in-store networks substantially similar to those operated by, Premiere Retail Networks (PRN). Some examples of retail sales establishments and environments include without limitation:

Shopping Malls
 
Stand Alone Retail Stores
 
Power Retail Centers
 
Convenience Stores
 
Grocery Stores
 
Theme Parks
 
Fast Food & Restaurants, including Drive-Thrus
 
Gas Stations

2.             HSS Products specifically targeted for use in North America in the Event, Trade Show and Exhibit markets, which markets are defined to be those applications where the HSS products are intended to be installed or used in North America in museums or at commercial, promotional or networking events.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in paragraph 1 or 2 above, the Product Categories shall not include those applications where HSS Products are to be installed or used primarily for informational, utilitarian, educational, artistic or entertainment purposes, such as public address or general announcing systems (e.g., paging systems or informational announcements such as store closings or registers opening), background or foreground music (e.g., Muzak, dance floors, concert halls), television programming primarily for the entertainment of viewers (regardless of whether the regular programming includes commercials), two-way communication systems other than those to facilitate a point of purchase sale (e.g., intercom systems for communication among employees), or long range hailing and warning, in all cases regardless of location of installation or identity of the customer. The foregoing list of applications not included in the Product Categories is intended to clarify the scope of the Product Categories, and is not intended to be and shall not be construed as an exhaustive list of applications that are not within the Product Categories. Applications which are not within the Product Categories are not subject to Commissions.

EXHIBIT B


EXHIBIT 10.15

FINAL

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

                 This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), made as of the 27th of April, 2005 (the “Effective Date”), by and between American Technology Corporation, a Delaware Corporation (“ATC” or the “Company”) on the one hand, and Greg O. Endsley, an individual (“Endsley”), Douglas J. Paschall, an individual (“Paschall”) and Gordon & Holmes LLP, a California limited liability partnership (“Gordon & Holmes”), on the other hand, is made with reference to the following facts. Endsley, Paschall and Gordon & Holmes are referred to collectively as the “Investors.”

R E C I T A L S

                A.          ATC, Endsley, Paschall and certain other parties entered into an Agreement of Settlement and Mutual Release on the Effective Date (the “Settlement Agreement”), pursuant to which ATC agreed to issue the aggregate of Seventeen Thousand Five Hundred (17,500) shares (the “Shares”) of ATC common stock, $0.00001 par value (“Common Stock”), to be divided as follows: 8,750 shares to Endsley and 8,750 shares to Paschall; provided that each of Endsley and Paschall instructed ATC to cause 3,500 shares of his shares (for a total of 7,000 share) to be issued in the name of Gordon & Holmes as compensation for legal fees incurred by the ESI Parties in the defense and prosecution of the claims described in the Settlement Agreement The share certificates issued by ATC were therefore to be in the following denominations:

Endsley 5,250 shares
   
Paschall 5,250 shares
   
Gordon & Holmes 7,000 shares

                 B.           ATC desires to grant the Investors certain rights with respect to the registration of the Shares, subject to the conditions as set forth herein.

A G R E E M E N T

                 In consideration of the foregoing and the promises and covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                 1.             Definitions .  For the purposes of this Agreement:

                                1.1              “Registrable Securities” shall mean (i) the Shares and (ii) shares of Common Stock which may be issued hereafter to the Investors with respect to the Shares in consequence of any additional issuance, exchange or reclassification of the Common Stock, corporate reorganization or any other form of recapitalization, consolidation or merger; provided, however, that Registrable Securities shall not include any such securities sold by the Investors to the public either pursuant to a registration statement or Rule 144 or sold in a private transaction.

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                                1.2              “Rule 144” shall mean Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

                                1.3              “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                1.4              “SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                1.5              “Securities Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

                 2.             Piggyback Registration .  If the Company shall at any time or times determine to file a registration statement under the Securities Act for any shares of its Common Stock other than (i) registration statements on Forms S-4, S-8 or any successor to such forms, (ii) another form not available for registering the Registrable Securities for sale to the public or any registration statement including only securities issued pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan, or (iii) a registration statement in which the only securities to be registered are securities issuable upon conversion of debt securities or other convertible securities which are also being registered, the Company will notify the Investors in each case of such determination at least ten (10) days prior to filing the registration statement and, upon the receipt of the Investors’ written request given within five (5) days after the Investors’ receipt of such notification, the Company will use its best efforts to cause any of the Registrable Securities, as specified in such request, to be registered under the Securities Act pursuant to such registration statement, to the extent and under the condition that such registration is permissible under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether or not any of the Investors has elected to include securities in such registration. The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

                 3.             Underwriting .  In connection with any offering involving an underwriting of shares of the Company’s capital stock, the Company shall not be required under Section 2 to include any of the Registrable Securities of the Investors in such underwriting unless they accept the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and the underwriters selected by it, and then only in such quantity as the underwriters determine in their sole discretion will not jeopardize the success of the offering by the Company.

                 4.             Expenses .  The Company shall pay all expenses incurred in connection with any registration pursuant to this Agreement; provided, that the Investors shall pay for (i) any brokerage or underwriting commissions or discounts relating to Common Stock sold by the Investors, and (ii) fees of counsel to the Investors.

                 5.             Information Supplied by the Investors .  In connection with any registration pursuant to this Agreement, the Investors shall furnish the Company with such information or documents as the Company may reasonably request and as shall be required by all applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

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                 6.             Indemnification .  In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under this Agreement:

                                6.1              To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Investors, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for the Investors and each person, if any, who controls the Investors or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which they may become subject under the Securities Act, or the Securities Exchange Act, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations (collectively a “Violation”): (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto; (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act; and the Company will pay to the Investors, such underwriter or controlling person any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6.1 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), nor shall the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in connection with such registration by the Investors, or any such underwriter or controlling person of the Investors.

                                6.2              To the extent permitted by law, the Investors will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who has signed the registration statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, any underwriter, any other person or entity selling securities in such registration statement and any controlling person of any such underwriter or other holder, against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which any of the foregoing persons may become subject, under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by the Investors expressly for use in connection with such registration; and the Investors will pay any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any person intended to be indemnified pursuant to this Section 6.2, in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6.2 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Investors, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, that, in no event shall any indemnity under this Section 6.2 exceed the gross proceeds from the offering received by the Investors.

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                                6.3              Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party (together with all other indemnified parties which may be represented without conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain one separate counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section 6, but the omission so to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 6.

                                6.4              If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense referred to therein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

                                6.5              Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into by a party to this Agreement in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.

                                6.6              The obligations of the Company and the Investors under this Section 6 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration statement under this Agreement, and otherwise. No indemnifying party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of each indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from a liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

-4-


                 7.             Termination of Registration Rights .  An Investor shall not be entitled to exercise any right provided for in this Agreement after the first date on which all Registrable Securities then held by such Investor may immediately be sold under Rule 144 during any 90-day period taking into consideration the volume restrictions specified in Rule 144.

                 8.             Non-Assignability .  This Agreement is personal to the Investors, and neither the Agreement nor any of the Investors’ rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned, pledged or encumbered by the Investors without the prior written consent of ATC, which may be withheld in ATC’s sole discretion.

                 9.             Miscellaneous .

                                9.1              Successors and Assigns .  Except as otherwise provided herein, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

                                9.2              Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of California as applied to agreements among California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within California.

                                9.3              Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

                                9.4              Titles and Subtitles .  The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

                                9.5              Notices .  Unless otherwise provided, any notice required or permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, upon transmission by facsimile at the facsimile number indicated for such parties on the signature page hereof, with confirmation of receipt, or upon deposit with the United States Post Office, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid and addressed to the party to be notified at the address indicated for such party on the signature page hereof. Any party may change its address or facsimile number by ten (10) days’ advance written notice to the other parties given in accordance herewith.

                               9.6              Expenses .  If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.

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                                9.7              Amendments and Waivers .  Any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally, in a particular instance or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Investors.

                               9.8              Severability .  If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement and the balance of the Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

                               9.9              No Delay of Registration .  No Investor shall have any right to obtain or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any registration by the Company as the result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement.

                               9.10            Entire Agreement .  This Agreement and the Settlement Agreement constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof.

[Signature Pages Follow]

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                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

THE COMPANY: THE INVESTORS:
   
American Technology Corporation, a Gordon & Holmes LLP, a California
Delaware corporation limited liability company
   
By:  /s/  Bruce A. Gray                                          By:  /s/  Frederic L. Gordon                           
Name:  Bruce A. Gray                                           Name:  Frederic L. Gordon                            
Title:  Vice President, Government Group            Title:  Partner                                                  
   
Address: Address:
13114 Evening Creek Drive South 223 W. Date Street
San Diego, California 92128 San Diego, California 92101-3571
Facsimile: 858.679.0545  
   
  Greg O. Endsley, an Individual
   
  /s/  Greg O. Endsley                                       
  Greg O. Endsley
   
  Address:
  25022 Footpath Ln.                                        
  Laguna Niguel, CA 92677                             
  Facsimile:  949.585.9866                               
   
   
  Douglas J. Paschall, an Individual
   
  /s/  Douglas J. Paschall                                  
  Douglas J. Paschall
   
  Address:
  5 Las Posadas                                                 
  Rancho Santa Margarita, CA                         
  Facsimile:  949.959.1252                               

[REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
SIGNATURE PAGE]


EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Elwood G. Norris, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of American Technology Corporation;
 
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 officers 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) [paragraph omitted pursuant to SEC Release Nos. 33-2838 and 34-47986];
 
c) 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
 
d) 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; and
 
5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm and the audit committee of 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 controls over financial reporting.
 
 
Date:  August 9, 2005
  
/S/ ELWOOD G. NORRIS
___________________________
Elwood G. Norris, Chairman of the Board
(Co-Principal Executive Officer)
 

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Kalani Jones, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of American Technology Corporation;
 
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 officers 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) [paragraph omitted pursuant to SEC Release Nos. 33-2838 and 34-47986];
 
c) 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
 
d) 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; and
 
5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm and the audit committee of 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 controls over financial reporting.
 
 
Date:  August 9, 2005
  
/S/ KALANI JONES
___________________________________
Kalani Jones, President and Chief Operating Officer
(Co-Principal Executive Officer)

 


EXHIBIT 31.3

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Michael A. Russell, certify that:

6. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of American Technology Corporation;
 
7. 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;
 
8. 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;
 
9. The registrant’s other certifying officers 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) [paragraph omitted pursuant to SEC Release Nos. 33-2838 and 34-47986];
 
c) 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
 
d) 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; and
 
10. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s independent registered public accounting firm and the audit committee of 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 controls over financial reporting.
 
 
Date:  August 9, 2005
  
/S/ MICHAEL A. RUSSELL
_____________________________
Michael A. Russell, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

 


EXHIBIT 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF CO-PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

Each of the undersigned hereby certifies, in accordance with 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in his capacity as an officer of American Technology Corporation (the “Company”), that, to his knowledge, the quarterly report of the Company on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in such report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operation of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the financial statements included in such report.

Dated:  August 9, 2005
 
/S/ ELWOOD G. NORRIS
____________________________
Elwood G. Norris, Chairman of the Board
(Co-Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
/S/ KALANI JONES
___________________________________
Kalani Jones, President and Chief Operating Officer
(Co-Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
/S/ MICHAEL A. RUSSELL
_____________________________
Michael A. Russell, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)