Table of Contents

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 March 31, 2006

or

 

¨ 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)
15378 Avenue of Science, Ste 100,
San Diego, California
  92128
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(858) 676-1112

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

13114 Evening Creek Drive South, San Diego, CA 92128

(Former address, if changed since last report)

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

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

Large accelerated filer    ¨          Accelerated filer    x          Non-accelerated filer    ¨

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

The number of shares of Common Stock, $.00001 par value, outstanding on April 30, 2006 was 24,485,215

 



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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

INDEX

 

         Page

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   3

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements

   3
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   3
 

Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2006 (unaudited) and September 30, 2005 (audited)

   4
 

Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 (unaudited)

   5
 

Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 (unaudited)

   6
 

Notes to Interim Financial Statements (unaudited)

   7

Item 2.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   20

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

   30
 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

   31

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

   35

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

   35

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

   35

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   37

Item 3.

 

Defaults upon Senior Securities

   37

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   37

Item 5.

 

Other Information

   37

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

   37

SIGNATURES

   39

EXHIBIT INDEX

  

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors and Shareholders

American Technology Corporation

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed balance sheets of American Technology Corporation (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2006 and the related condensed statements of operations and cash flows for the three and six-month periods ended March 31, 2006 and 2005. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the balance sheets of American Technology Corporation as of September 30, 2005, and the related statements of operations, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated December 27, 2005, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. As of September 30, 2005, we also conducted an audit of the Company’s Internal Controls. In our report dated December 27, 2005, we expressed an opinion that management’s assessment did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2005, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Also, in our opinion, because of the effect of the material weaknesses described in our opinion, American Technology Corporation did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 2005 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the balance sheet from which it has been derived.

Swenson Advisors, LLP

San Diego, California

May 10, 2006

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

BALANCE SHEETS

 

     March 31, 2006     September 30, 2005  
     (Unaudited)     (Audited)  

ASSETS

    

Current Assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 5,448,894     $ 10,347,779  

Trade accounts receivable, less allowance of $40,000 and $125,000 for doubtful accounts

     1,942,527       880,276  

Inventories, net of $494,614 and $691,206 reserve for obsolescence

     1,648,430       1,799,447  

Prepaid expenses and other

     161,228       201,339  
                

Total current assets

     9,201,079       13,228,841  

Equipment , net

     672,000       606,871  

Patents , net

     1,407,818       1,373,158  

Long-term deposits

     58,266       —    
                

Total assets

   $ 11,339,163     $ 15,208,870  
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current Liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 1,435,377     $ 1,985,353  

Accrued liabilities:

    

Payroll and related

     229,779       476,331  

Deferred revenue

     434,616       395,833  

Warranty reserve

     349,730       248,981  

Legal settlements

     —         71,900  

Other

     499       30,003  

Derivative warrant instrument

     —         282,000  

Capital lease short-term portion

     5,203       12,131  
                

Total current liabilities

     2,455,204       3,502,532  

Long-Term Liabilities:

    

Derivative warrant instrument

     1,153,300       1,564,000  
                

Total liabilities

     3,608,504       5,066,532  
                

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity

    

Preferred stock, $0.00001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized: none issued and outstanding

     —         —    

Common stock, $0.00001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 24,485,215 and 24,290,840 shares issued and outstanding respectively

     245       243  

Additional paid-in capital

     62,545,421       61,556,295  

Accumulated deficit

     (54,815,007 )     (51,414,200 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     7,730,659       10,142,338  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 11,339,163     $ 15,208,870  
                
    

See accompanying notes to interim financial statements.

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

     For the three months ended
March 31,
    For the six months ended
March 31,
 
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

Revenues:

        

Product sales

   $ 1,361,244     $ 2,814,293     $ 3,201,213     $ 7,161,206  

Contract and license

     104,384       3,100       163,793       65,100  
                                

Total revenues

     1,465,628       2,817,393       3,365,006       7,226,306  

Cost of revenues

     1,277,415       1,490,848       2,112,656       3,057,253  
                                

Gross profit

     188,213       1,326,545       1,252,350       4,169,053  
                                

Operating expenses:

        

Selling, general and administrative

     2,047,085       2,043,938       4,422,207       3,986,788  

Research and development

     502,217       1,465,609       1,068,210       2,940,587  
                                

Total operating expenses

     2,549,302       3,509,547       5,490,417       6,927,375  
                                

Loss from operations

     (2,361,089 )     (2,183,002 )     (4,238,067 )     (2,758,322)  
                                

Other income (expense):

        

Interest income

     70,480       18,407       145,103       29,348  

Interest expense

     (183 )     (130,631 )     (543 )     (142,961 )

Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative revaluation

     (339,500 )     682,210       692,700       (267,931 )
                                

Total other income (expense)

     (269,203 )     569,986       837,260       (381,544 )
                                

Net loss

     (2,630,292 )     (1,613,016 )     (3,400,807 )     (3,139,866 )

Dividend requirements on convertible preferred stock

     —         1,518,651       —         1,796,426  
                                

Net loss available to common stockholders

   $ (2,630,292 )   $ (3,131,667 )   $ (3,400,807 )   $ (4,936,292 )
                                

Net loss per share of common stock—basic and diluted

   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.15 )   $ (0.14 )   $ (0.24 )
                                

Average weighted number of common shares outstanding

     24,382,731       20,665,004       24,342,884       20,234,075  
                                

See accompanying notes to interim financial statements.

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

     For the six months ended
March 31,
 
     2006     2005  

Increase (Decrease) in Cash Operating Activities:

    

Net loss

   $ (3,400,807 )   $ (3,139,866 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operations:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     225,229       212,050  

Provision for doubtful accounts

     (85,000 )     —    

Warranty provision

     155,774       (76,723 )

Inventory obsolescence

     (196,592 )     239,986  

Loss on disposition of asset

     52,070       —    

Share based compensation expense

     378,188       270,043  

Write-off of abandoned patents

     20,386       —    

Unrealized (loss)/gain on derivative revaluation

     (692,700 )     267,931  

Amortization of debt discount

     —         98,793  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Trade accounts receivable

     (977,251 )     432,244  

Inventories

     347,609       (493,601 )

Prepaid expenses and other

     40,111       (29,773 )

Accounts payable

     (549,976 )     205,935  

Warranty reserve

     (55,025 )     (16,357 )

Accrued liabilities

     (309,174 )     317,254  
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (5,047,158 )     (1,712,084 )
                

Investing Activities:

    

Purchase of equipment

     (279,397 )     (355,995 )

Patent costs paid

     (118,076 )     (144,420 )

Long-term deposits

     (58,266 )     —    
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (455,739 )     (500,415 )
                

Financing Activities:

    

Payments on capital lease

     (6,928 )     (6,264 )

Proceeds from issuance of unsecured promissory notes

     —         2,000,000  

Proceeds from exercise of common stock warrants

     —         1,661,277  

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     610,940       643,802  

Offering Costs Paid

     —         (102,875 )
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     604,012       4,195,940  
                

Net decrease in cash

     (4,898,885 )     1,983,441  

Cash, beginning of period

     10,347,779       4,178,968  
                

Cash, end of period

   $ 5,448,894     $ 6,162,409  
                

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information

    

Cash paid for interest

   $ 543     $ 1,058  

Non-cash financing activities:

    

Warrants issued for offering costs

   $ —       $ 843,105  

Warrants issued for debt financing

   $ —       $ 723,000  

See accompanying notes to interim financial statements.

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. OPERATIONS

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

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

In February 2006 the Company incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary, “American Technology Holdings, Inc”. The Company plans for this entity to conduct international sales and marketing of the Company’s products and services. To date there have been no transactions made by American Technology Holdings, Inc. other than company setup fees.

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 six month periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year. The interim financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended September 30, 2005 included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, as amended. Certain amounts reported in prior periods have been reclassified to be consistent with the current period presentation.

The Company incurred net losses of $2,630,292 and $3,131,667 in the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and net losses available to common stockholders of $3,400,807 and $4,936,292 in the six months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 respectively. The Company has financed its operations primarily through cash generated from product sales and from financing activities. The Company’s margins from the sale of its products have not yet been sufficient to offset its substantial research and development and selling, marketing and general administrative expenses. The Company expects to incur additional operating losses during fiscal 2006. Cash and cash equivalents on hand at March 31, 2006 totaled $5,448,894. Based on the Company’s current cash balance and order backlog and assuming currently planned expenditures and current level of operations, the Company believes it has sufficient capital to fund operations for approximately the next six months. The Company anticipates improved cash flow from projected increased revenues; however, the Company believes that approximately $5 million to $10 million of additional capital will be required to sustain operations through May 2007. The Company is currently reviewing borrowing and equity financing opportunities to meet its future cash requirements.

3. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In March 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement No. 156, “Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets”—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140 (SFAS 156), which clarifies when servicing rights should be separately accounted for, requires companies to account for separately recognized servicing rights initially at fair value, and gives companies the option of subsequently accounting for those servicing rights at either fair value or under the amortization method. FAS 156 is effective for fiscal years

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

beginning after September 15, 2006. However, companies can early adopt the standard as long as they have not yet issued financial statements, including financial statements for any interim period, for the fiscal year in which early adoption is elected. The Company does not expect SFAS No. 156 to affect the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments”. Under current generally accepted accounting principles, an entity that holds a financial instrument with an embedded derivative must bifurcate the financial instrument, resulting in the host and the embedded derivative being accounted for separately. SFAS No. 155 permits, but does not require, entities to account for financial instruments with an embedded derivative at fair value thus negating the need to bifurcate the instrument between its host and the embedded derivative. SFAS No. 155 is effective for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2006. The Company does not intend to issue or acquire the hybrid instruments included in the scope of SFAS 155 and does not expect the adoption of SFAS 155 to affect the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

In June 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 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 has determined that FIN 47 has no effect on the Company’s operations at this time.

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 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 has determined that SFAS No. 151 has no effect on the Company’s operations and financial condition at this time.

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

4. INVENTORIES AND CONTRACT MANUFACTURING

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost, which approximates actual costs on a first in, first out cost basis, or market.

Inventories consisted of the following:

 

     March 31,
2006
   

September 30,

2005

 

Finished goods

   $ 425,794     $ 790,707  

Work in process

     191,448       —    

Raw materials

     1,525,802       1,699,946  
                
     2,143,044       2,490,653  

Reserve for obsolescence

     (494,614 )     (691,206 )
                
   $ 1,648,430     $ 1,799,447  
                

Included in inventory are $320,277 and $148,826 of inventory located at contract manufacturing locations at March 31, 2006, and September 30, 2005, respectively.

5. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 

     March 31,
2006
    September 30,
2005
 

Machinery and equipment

   $ 309,344     $ 321,198  

Office furniture and equipment

     906,551       963,005  

Leasehold improvements

     245,110       202,987  
                
     1,461,005       1,487,190  

Accumulated depreciation

     (789,005 )     (880,319 )
                

Net equipment

   $ 672,000     $ 606,871  
                

Included in office furniture and equipment at March 31, 2006 and September 30, 2005, respectively, are $485,253 and $472,277 for purchased software, which is amortized over three years. The unamortized portion of software at March 31, 2006 and September 30, 2005, are $157,209 and $206,639, respectively.

Depreciation expense, excluding amortization of software, was $99,791 and $76,467 for the six months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Amortization of purchased software was $62,406 and $48,971 for the six months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

6. 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:

 

     March 31,
2006
    September 30,
2005
 

Cost

   $ 1,890,309     $ 1,792,619  

Accumulated amortization

     (482,491 )     (419,461 )
                

Patents, net

   $ 1,407,818     $ 1,373,158  
                

7. 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 six months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 were as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,

   

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

Beginning balance

   $ 331,708     $ 408,834     $ 248,981     $ 331,917  

Warranty provision

     65,641       (158,886 )     155,774       (76,723 )

Warranty payments

     (47,619 )     (11,111 )     (55,025 )     (16,357 )
                                

Ending balance

   $ 349,730     $ 238,837     $ 349,730     $ 238,837  
                                

In the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2006, the reserve for potential warranty claims increased by $65,641 as a result of various manufacturing and supply chain deficiencies. Future warranty costs could further adversely affect the Company’s financial position, results of operations and business prospects.

8. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

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) that was subsequently terminated in July 2005 with no shares issued. As part of the arrangement, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 275,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $8.60 per share. As the warrant was initially unregistered, and did not specify how it would be settled prior to registration, the warrant was initially reported as a liability of $843,103 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.” 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

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

value at the time of issuance. The value was recorded as prepaid transaction costs. The warrants were revalued each period as non-cash income or expense and an unrealized gain on derivative revaluation of $682,210 was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2005, and an unrealized loss of $267,931 was recorded for the six months ended March 31, 2005. As the warrants were cancelled in July 2005 there is no derivative liability at September 30, 2005 or thereafter related to this transaction.

In July 2005, the Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement, registration rights agreement and warrants in connection with a common stock equity financing. In connection with the financing, the Company issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,581,919 shares of common stock. The Company accounted for the value of the warrants as a deemed liability in accordance with the interpretive guidance in EITF Issue No. 05-4. “The Effect of a Liquidated Damages Clause on a Freestanding Financial Instrument Subject to EITF Issue No. 00-19, ‘Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock’”. The consensus of EITF Issue No. 05-4 has not been finalized. The aggregate liability at issuance was $2,896,000 using the following variables under the Black-Scholes option pricing model: volatility of 59%, term of each warrant, risk free interest rate of 3.53% and 3.95% and underlying stock price equal to fair market value at the time of issuance. EITF Issue 00-19 also requires the Company to revalue the warrants as a derivative instrument periodically in connection with changes in the underlying stock price and other assumptions, with the change in value recorded as non-cash income or expense. At September 30, 2005, there was an unrealized gain of $1,050,000 to reflect the change in value of the warrants from issuance reducing the liability to $1,846,000 ($282,000 current and $1,564,000 long-term). At March 31, 2006 there was an unrealized loss of $339,500 to reflect the change in value of the warrants for the three months ended March 31, 2006, and an unrealized gain of $692,700 for the six months ended March 31, 2006 reducing the liability to $1,153,300 (long-term) using a volatility of 67% and 64%, term of each warrant, risk free interest rate of 4.74% and 4.79% and underlying stock price equal to fair market value.

9. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Share-Based Payments. In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) (SFAS 123(R)), “Share-Based Payment,” which establishes accounting for share-based awards exchanged for employee services and requires companies to expense the estimated fair value of these awards over the requisite employee service period. In March 2005, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 which the Company has applied in the adoption of SFAS 123(R). On April 14, 2005, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopted a new rule amending the effective dates for SFAS 123(R). In accordance with the new rule, the accounting provisions of SFAS 123(R) were effective for the Company beginning in the quarter ended December 31, 2005.

Under SFAS 123(R), share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award at that date, and is recognized as expense over the employee’s requisite service period (generally over the vesting period of the award). The Company has no awards with market or performance conditions. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 123(R) on October 1, 2005, the first day of the Company’s fiscal year 2006, using a modified prospective application, for recognizing option expense for options issued prior to October 1, 2005. Under the modified prospective application, the fair value of options issued in prior periods are not revised for comparative purposes, but estimated compensation expense for awards outstanding at the effective date will be recognized over the remaining service period using the compensation cost calculated for pro forma disclosure purposes under FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (SFAS 123).

The valuation provisions of SFAS 123(R) apply to new awards and to awards that are outstanding on the effective date and subsequently modified or cancelled.

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

In November, 2005, FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. SFAS 123(R)-3, “Transition Election Related to Accounting for Tax Effects of Share-Based Payment Awards”. The Company is considering whether to adopt the alternative transition method provided in the FASB Staff Position for calculating the tax effects of stock-based compensation pursuant to SFAS 123(R). The alternative transition method includes simplified methods to establish the beginning balance of the additional paid-in capital pool (APIC pool) related to the tax effects of employee stock-based compensation, and to determine the subsequent impact on the APIC pool and statements of cash flows of the tax effects of employee stock-based compensation awards that are outstanding upon adoption of SFAS 123(R).

Share-Based Compensation Information under SFAS 123(R)

The Company’s employee stock options have various restrictions that reduce option value, including vesting provisions and restrictions on transfer and hedging, among others, and are often exercised prior to their contractual maturity. (Note 10)

Under the provisions of SFAS 123(R) the Company recorded $189,812 and $378,188 of stock compensation expense for the three and six months ended March 31, 2006, respectively. A total of $115,791 and $265,464 for the three and six months ended March 31, 2006, respectively, of this expense relates to prior year awards vesting after October 1, 2005. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2006, $74,021 and $112,724, respectively, relate to options granted after the adoption of SFAS 123(R). The weighted-average estimated fair value of employee stock options granted during the three and six months ended March 31, 2006 was $2.05 and $2.34 per share, respectively, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions (annualized percentages):

 

     Three and
Six Months Ended
March 31, 2006
 

Volatility

   67.0 %

Risk-free interest rate

   4.35 %

Forfeiture rate

   5.0 %

Dividend yield

   0.0 %

Expected life in years

   3.9  

The dividend yield of zero is based on the fact that the Company has never paid cash dividends and has no present intention to pay cash dividends. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the common stock over the period commensurate with the expected life of the options. The expected life is based on observed and expected time to post-vesting exercise. The expected forfeiture rate is based upon past experience and certain employee retention data.

As the amount of share-based compensation expense recognized is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it is reduced for estimated forfeitures. SFAS 123(R) requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Pre-vesting forfeitures were estimated to be approximately 5% in the second quarter of fiscal 2006 based on historical experience. Under the provisions of SFAS 123(R), the Company will record additional expense if the actual forfeiture rate is lower than estimated, and will record a recovery of prior expense if the actual forfeiture is higher than estimated. In the Company’s pro forma information required under SFAS 123 for the periods prior to fiscal 2006, the Company accounted for forfeitures as they occurred.

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Since the Company has a net operating loss carryforward as of March 31, 2006, no excess tax benefit for the tax deductions related to stock-based awards was recognized for the three and the six months ended March 31, 2006. Additionally, no incremental tax benefits were recognized from stock options exercised in the three and six months ended March 31, 2006 which would have resulted in a reclassification to reduce net cash provided by operating activities with an offsetting increase in net cash provided by financing activities.

As of March 31, 2006, there was $2.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based employee compensation arrangements. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.5 years.

Pro Forma Information under SFAS 123 for Periods Prior to Fiscal 2006

Prior to adopting the provisions of SFAS 123(R), the Company recorded estimated compensation expense for employee stock options based upon their intrinsic value on the date of grant pursuant to Accounting Principles Board Opinion 25 (APB 25), “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and provided the required pro forma disclosures of SFAS 123. Because the Company established the exercise price based on the fair market value of the Company’s stock at the date of grant, the stock options had no intrinsic value upon grant, and therefore no estimated expense was recorded prior to adopting SFAS 123(R).

For purposes of pro forma disclosures under SFAS 123 for the three and six months ended March 31, 2005, the estimated fair value of the stock options was assumed to be amortized to expense over the stock options’ vesting periods. The pro forma effects of recognizing estimated compensation expense under the fair value method on net loss and loss per common share for the three and six months ended March 31, 2005 were as follows:

 

    

Three Months
Ended

March 31,
2005

   

Six Months
Ended

March 31,
2005

 

Net loss, as reported

   $ (3,131,667 )   $ (4,936,292 )

Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net loss

     —         266,963  

Deduct: Share-based employee compensation expense determined using the fair value based method

     (326,524 )     (884,226 )
                

Pro forma net loss available to common stockholders

   $ (3,458,191 )   $ (5,553,555 )
                

Earnings per common share:

    

Basic and diluted—as reported

   $ (0.15 )   $ (0.24 )
                

Basic and diluted—pro forma

   $ (0.17 )   $ (0.27 )
                

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

The pro forma effects of estimated share-based compensation expense on net income and earnings per common share for the three and six months ended March 31, 2005 were estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on the following assumptions (annualized percentages):

 

     Three and Six
Months Ended
March 31,
2005
 

Volatility

   56.0 %

Risk-free interest rate

   3.82 %

Forfeiture rate

   5.0 %

Dividend yield

   0.0 %

Expected life in years

   2.5  

10. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Summary

The following table summarizes changes in equity components from transactions during the six months ended March 31, 2006:

 

     Common Stock  
     Shares    Amount    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
   Accumulated
Deficit
    Total
Stockholders’
Equity
(Deficit)
 

Balance, September 30, 2005

   24,290,840    $ 243    $ 61,556,295    $ (51,414,200 )   $ 10,142,338  

Issuance of common stock:

             

Upon exercise of stock options

   194,375      2      610,938      —         610,940  

Share Based Compensation Expense

        —        378,188      —         378,188  

Net loss for the period

   —        —        —        (3,400,807 )     (3,400,807 )
                                   

Balance, March 31, 2006

   24,485,215    $ 245    $ 62,545,421    $ (54,815,007 )   $ 7,730,659  
                                   

Stock Options

During the three and six months ended March 31, 2006, non-cash compensation expense was $189,812 and $378,188, respectively, under SFAS No. 123(R) (See Note 4). During the six months ended March 31, 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. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2005, the Company recognized $1,540 and $3,080 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.

As of March 31, 2006, the Company had three equity incentive plans. The 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (“2005 Equity Plan”), authorizes for issuance as stock options, stock appreciation rights, or stock awards an aggregate of 1,500,000 new shares of common stock to employees, directors or consultants. The reserve under the 2005 Equity Plan will include any shares subject to options under the Company’s prior plans that expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full.

At the effective date of the 2005 Equity Plan, approximately 1,660,811 shares were subject to option under prior plans. The total plan reserve, including the new shares and shares currently reserved under prior plans,

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

allows for the issuance of up to 3,312,501 shares. At March 31, 2006, there were options outstanding covering 772,000 shares of common stock under the 2005 Equity Plan.

The 2002 Stock Option Plan (“2002 Plan”) reserved for issuance 2,350,000 shares of common stock. As a result of the effectiveness of the 2005 Equity Plan, the 2002 Plan is no longer available for new option grants but remains in effect for grants prior to that time. At March 31, 2006, there were options outstanding covering 606,061 shares of common stock under the 2002 Plan. The Company’s 1997 Stock Option Plan (“1997 Plan”) reserved for issuance 1,000,000 shares of common stock. The 1997 Plan was terminated with respect to new grants in August 2002, but remains in effect for grants prior to that time. At March 31, 2006, there were options outstanding covering 110,000 shares of common stock under the 1997 plan.

Other Employee Stock Options

The Company has granted options outside the above plans as inducements to employment to new employees. At March 31, 2006, there were options outstanding covering 183,781 shares of common stock from grants outside the stock option plans.

Option awards are generally granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the common stock at the grant date and generally have 5-year contractual terms. Options awards typically vest in accordance with one of the following schedules:

 

  a. 25% of the option shares vest and become exercisable on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remaining 75% of the option shares vest and become exercisable quarterly in equal installments thereafter over three years; or

 

  b. Option shares vest and become exercisable quarterly in equal installments over four years.

Certain option awards provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control (as defined in the Plans).

The following table summarizes information about stock option activity during the six months ended March 31, 2006:

 

     Number of
Shares
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

Outstanding October 1, 2005

   2,070,810     $ 4.43

Granted

   662,000     $ 4.47

Canceled/expired

   (860,593 )   $ 6.31

Exercised

   (200,375 )   $ 3.14
            

Outstanding March 31, 2006

   1,671,842     $ 5.18
            

Exercisable March 31, 2006

   685,932     $ 4.60
            

Options outstanding are exercisable at prices ranging from $2.50 to $10.06 and expire over the period from 2006 to 2011 with an average life of 3.47 years.

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Stock Purchase Warrants

The following table summarizes information about warrant activity during the six months ended March 31, 2006:

 

     Number of
Warrants
   

Weighted
Average

Exercise
Price

Outstanding October 1, 2005

   3,577,653     $ 5.11

Issued

   —      

Canceled/expired

   (864,706 )   $ 7.23

Exercised

   —      
            

Outstanding March 31, 2006

   2,712,947     $ 4.44
            

At March 31, 2006, the following stock purchase warrants were outstanding arising from offerings and other transactions:

 

Number    Exercise Price   

Expiration Date

617,500    $ 2.00    September 30, 2006
451,880    $ 3.01    March 31, 2007
272,729    $ 6.55    July 10, 2007
100,000    $ 4.25    September 30, 2007
353,625    $ 3.25    December 31, 2007
50,000    $ 3.63    April 8, 2008
717,213    $ 6.36    July 18, 2009
75,000    $ 8.60    December 31, 2009
75,000    $ 9.28    December 31, 2009
       
2,712,947      
       

The $3.01 warrants, the $3.25 warrants, the $6.36 warrants and the $6.55 warrants contain certain antidilution rights if the Company sells securities for less than the exercise price.

11. NET LOSS PER SHARE

Basic net loss per share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing net 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 net 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 4,384,789 and 4,437,545 shares of common stock were outstanding at March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. These securities are not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share because of the losses, but could potentially dilute earnings per share in future periods.

Net loss available to common stockholders decreased to ($0.11) in the three months ended March 31, 2006 from ($0.15) in the three months ended March 31, 2005, and decreased to ($0.14) in the six months ended

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

March 31, 2006 from ($0.24) in the six months ended March 31, 2005. In computing net loss per share, the net loss for the three and six months ended March 31, 2005 was increased by $1,518,651 and $1,796,426, respectively, by imputed deemed dividends based on the value of warrants issued and the computed beneficial conversion amount of convertible preferred stock. Such non-cash imputed deemed dividends were not included in the Company’s stockholders’ equity as the Company has an accumulated deficit and therefore were reflected as an increase and a related decrease to additional paid in capital. Amounts are included in net loss available to common stockholders. The imputed deemed dividends were not contractual obligations of the Company to pay such imputed dividends.

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). Such accretions were not included in the Company’s stockholders’ equity as the Company has an accumulated deficit and therefore they were reflected as an increase and a related decrease to additional paid in capital. These non-cash amounts also increased the net loss available to common stockholders. Net loss available to common stockholders is computed as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,

   

Six Months Ended

March 31,

 
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

Net loss

   $ (2,630,292 )   $ (1,613,016 )   $ (3,400,807 )   $ (3,139,866 )

Imputed deemed dividends on warrants issued with Series D and E preferred stock

     —         (490,857 )     —         (592,137 )

Imputed deemed dividends on Series D and E preferred stock

     —         (1,013,854 )     —         (1,146,917 )

Accretion on preferred stock at 6% stated rate:

        

Series D preferred stock

     —         (1,500 )     —         (9,167 )

Series E preferred stock

     —         (12,440 )     —         (48,205 )
                                

Net loss available to common stockholders

   $ (2,630,292 )   $ (3,131,667 )   $ (3,400,807 )   $ (4,936,292 )
                                

12. MAJOR CUSTOMERS

For the three months ended March 31, 2006, revenues from four customers accounted for 39%, 17%, 14% and 14% of total revenues, respectively; and for the six months ended March 31, 2006, revenues from two customers accounted for 20% and 36% of total revenues, respectively. At March 31, 2006, trade accounts receivable from five customers accounted for 23%, 11%, 11%, 10% and 10%, respectively, of total trade accounts receivable.

No other customers accounted for more than 10% of total revenues for the three and six months ended March 31, 2006, or more than 10% of total trade accounts receivable at March 31, 2006. At September 30, 2005, trade accounts receivable from two customers accounted for 18% and 14%, respectively, of total trade accounts receivable, and no other customers accounted for more than 10% of total trade accounts receivable.

The Company’s major customers consist of resellers that sell to various end customers in the commercial retail, cruise lines as well as various government and military divisions.

13. LEASE FOR PRINCIPAL FACILITIES

In December 2005, the Company entered into a sublease agreement with Anacomp, Inc., as sublandlord, to sublease approximately 23,698 square feet of office, warehousing, product assembly, and research space located

 

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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

at 15378 Avenue of Science, San Diego, California 92118. The sublease is for a term commencing January 1, 2006 and expiring May 31, 2011. The agreement provides for a monthly expense of $29,622.50 (representing $1.25 per rentable square foot) during the term. In addition to the monthly base rental expense, the Company is responsible for certain costs and charges specified in the sublease, including the Company’s proportionate share of the building operating expenses and real estate taxes. Costs associated with this move were approximately $280,000, which amount included approximately $248,000 of leasehold improvements.

In addition, the sublease provides that the Company has a right of first refusal on additional space in the building, which contains a total of 68,910 square feet including the Company’s premises. Anacomp will also provide a $10,000 tenant improvement allowance towards the completion of lobby improvements and a $50,000 letter of credit in the Company’s favor which the Company may draw upon to the extent necessary to offset any increase in our rent or relocation costs that is incurred due to Anacomp’s failure to maintain the lease with the master landlord for the building.

In January 2006, the Company entered into a lease agreement with Priority Properties LLC, to lease approximately 1,700 square feet of office space located in Topsham, Maine, used as a sales office for the Government and Military Group. The lease is for 12 months and can be renewed for up to five years.

14. LITIGATION

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. Currently, there are no pending material legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or to which any of its property is subject.

15. INCOME TAXES

At March 31, 2006, 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, 2005, the Company had for federal income tax purposes net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $46,972,000, which expire through 2026 of which certain amounts are subject to significant limitations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

16. 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 into distinct markets. The Commercial Products Group (Commercial Group) markets and licenses LRAD, HSS, NeoPlanar and other sound products incorporating the Company’s technologies to customers and end-users that employ audio in consumer, commercial and professional applications. The Government and Force Protection Systems Group (Government and Military Group) markets LRAD, MRAD and NeoPlanar 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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AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Summarized below are the revenues and gross profit (loss) for our business units:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Six Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2006     2005     2006    2005  

Revenues:

         

Commercial Group

   $ 833,915     $ 109,523     $ 2,138,388    $ 296,872  

Government and Military Group

     631,713       2,707,870       1,226,618      6,929,434  
                               

Total revenues

   $ 1,465,628     $ 2,817,393     $ 3,365,006    $ 7,226,306  
                               
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Six Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2006     2005     2006    2005  

Gross profit (loss):

         

Commercial Group

   $ (63,767 )   $ (426,578 )   $ 741,449    $ (650,225 )

Government and Military Group

     251,980       1,753,123       510,901      4,819,278  
                               

Total gross profit

   $ 188,213     $ 1,326,545     $ 1,252,350    $ 4,169,053  
                               

17. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Mr. Richard Wagner, a director of the Company, declined to stand for re-election on March 21, 2006 and completed his term of service on May 4, 2006.

 

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Table of Contents
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, 2005.

The following discussion provides an overview of our results of operations for the three and six months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005. 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 any matters set forth under Part II, Item 1A (Risk Factors) of this report and under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements.

Overview

We are continuing to make a major transition from focusing on research and development of new directed sound technologies to sales, marketing and licensing of our products and technologies. While this transition has been challenging, we are working successfully with U.S. and international companies and organizations to create new markets and integrate our directed sound products and technologies into digital signage networks and other commercial and military/government applications.

In fiscal year 2005, we completed the commercialization of four proprietary directed sound technologies, recording revenues from each. During the first half of fiscal year 2006, our HSS ® H-450 has gained acceptance from digital signage and networked narrowcasting display providers as in-store networks proliferate in retail chains throughout the U.S. and abroad We have experienced increased revenues from the commercial marine and yachting industries as we have added new LRAD products and accessories for our customers. With key additions to our executive management team over the last two months, including Mr. Steven D. Stringer, Chief Financial Officer, Mr. James T. Taylor III, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, and two new members of our Board of Directors, Mr. Tom Brown and Admiral Raymond Smith, we believe we are refining our approach to the sales, marketing and licensing of directed sound to expand our leadership position in this developing market.

In February 2006, we incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary of the company, “American Technology Holdings, Inc”. We plan for this entity to conduct international sales and marketing of our products and services. To date there have been no transactions made by American Technology Holdings, Inc. other than company setup fees.

Accelerating our product sales and revenue growth will require organizational discipline, effective processes and controls, improved customer focus, and a new, targeted marketing strategy for our company and products. We are focused on these areas of our business while also containing costs.

 

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Table of Contents

Overall Performance for the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2006

For the second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2006:

 

    Our total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2006 were $1,465,628, compared to $2,817,393 for the three months ended March 31, 2005, a 48% decline was primarily a result of component shortages and production problems in our HSS product line and lower sales of our LRAD products into government and military segments. We recorded a gross profit of $188,213 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 (13% of total revenues), which was $1,138,332 lower than the gross profit of $1,326,545 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 (47% of total revenues). Gross profit decreased primarily due to lower product sales to government and military customers as well as increased production costs and warranty expense related to our HSS product line.

 

    Operating expenses decreased from $3,509,547 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 to $2,549,302 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 (a 27% decrease) primarily due to a decrease in personnel and related costs and benefits in our research and development department and a reduction in our legal fees.

 

    Other expense for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $269,203 compared to other income of $569,986 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The change was primarily a result of an unrealized loss on derivative revaluation of $339,500 compared to an unrealized gain on derivative revaluation of $682,210 for the three months ended March 31, 2005.

 

    Our net loss increased to $2,630,292 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 compared to $1,613,016 for the three months ended March 31, 2005, primarily as a result of the decrease in revenues and gross margin as a result of reduced LRAD deliveries to government and military customers offset by the decrease in research and development expenses and the unrealized gain on derivative revaluation.

We have substantial research and development and selling, marketing and general administrative expenses, and our margins from the sale of our products have not yet been sufficient to offset these costs. We expect to incur additional operating losses during fiscal 2006. Cash and cash equivalents on hand at March 31, 2006 was $5,448,894. Based on our current cash position and order backlog, and assuming currently planned expenditures and current level of operations, we believe we have sufficient capital to fund operations for approximately the next six months. We anticipate improved cash flow from projected increased revenues, however, we believe that approximately $5 million to $10 million of additional capital will be required to sustain operations through May 2007. We are currently reviewing borrowing and equity financing opportunities to meet its future cash requirements. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “Risk Factors” below.

Our various technologies are high risk in nature. However, we believe we have a solid technology and product foundation for business growth over the next several years. We have significant new technologies and products in various stages of development. We also believe we have strong market opportunities, particularly given the dramatic growth and acceptance of digital signage requiring the use of our directed sound products, and the continuing global threats to both governments and commerce where our LRAD products have proven to be effective at hailing and notification for force protection.

Critical Accounting Policies

We have identified a number of accounting policies as critical to our business operations and the understandings of our results of operations. These are described in our financial statements located in Item 1 of Part I, “Financial Statements,” and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report of Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2005. The impact and any associated risks related to these policies on our business operations is discussed throughout Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations when such policies affect our reported and expected financial results.

 

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Effective October 1, 2005, we adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123(R)). SFAS 123(R) was issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) on December 16, 2004. In March 2005, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 which the Company has applied in the adoption of SFAS 123(R). On April 14, 2005, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopted a new rule amending the effective dates for SFAS 123(R). In accordance with the new rule, the accounting provisions of SFAS 123(R) are effective for our company beginning in the quarter ended December 31, 2005. We grant options to purchase our common stock to our employees, directors and consultants under our stock option plans. The benefits provided under these plans are share-based payments subject to SFAS 123(R) and use the fair value method to account for share-based payments with a modified prospective application which provides for certain changes to the method for valuing share-based compensation.

SFAS 123(R) is based on the underlying accounting principle that compensation cost resulting from share-based payment transactions be recognized in financial statements at fair value. SFAS 123(R) replaces FASB No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (SFAS 123) and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion 25. SFAS 123, as originally issued in 1995, established as preferable, but did not require, a fair-value-based method of accounting for share-based payment transactions with employees. SAB 107 expresses views of the SEC staff regarding the interaction between SFAS 123(R) and certain SEC rules and regulations and provides the staff’s views regarding the valuation of share-based payment arrangements for public companies.

In summary SFAS 123(R) requires a public entity to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award (with limited exceptions). That cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide requisite service in exchange for the award (usually over the vesting period). No compensation cost is recognized for equity instruments for which employees do not render the requisite service, i.e. forfeitures are adjusted to actual.

The grant-date fair value of employee share options and similar instruments is to be estimated using option-pricing models adjusted for the unique characteristics of those instruments. If an equity award is modified after the grant date, incremental compensation cost will be recognized in an amount equal to the excess of the fair value of the modified award over the fair value of the original award immediately before the modification.

Excess tax benefits, as defined by SFAS 123(R), are to be recognized as an addition to paid-in capital. Cash retained as a result of any excess tax benefits is to be presented in the statement of cash flows as financing cash inflows. The write-off of deferred tax assets relating to unrealized tax benefits associated with recognized compensation cost is to be recognized as income tax expense unless there are excess tax benefits from previous awards remaining in paid-in capital to which it can be offset.

As of the required effective date, all public entities that used the fair-value-based method for disclosure under SFAS 123 are to apply SFAS 123(R) using a modified version of prospective application. Under that transition method, compensation cost is recognized on or after the required effective date for the portion of outstanding awards, for which the requisite service has not yet been rendered, based on the grant-date fair value of those awards calculated under SFAS 123 for pro forma disclosures. Total compensation cost for our share-based payments recognized in the first three and six months of 2006 was $189,812 and $378,188, respectively. As of March 31, 2006, $2.3 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to nonvested awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.5 years.

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.

 

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Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

Revenues

Total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2006 were $1,465,628, representing a 48% decrease from $2,817,393 in revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2005. Total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2006 included $1,361,244 of product sales and $104,384 of contract and license revenues. Total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2005 consisted of $2,814,293 of product sales and $3,100 of contract and license revenues. The decrease in revenues was due to $1.7 million of shipments on one large military order shipped in the three months ended March 31, 2005. This was partially offset by an increase in our commercial sales due to the launch of our HSS 450 into the digital signage and in-store broadcasting markets. 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.

Revenues by Business Segment

Our operations are organized into two segments by the end-user markets they serve. Our reportable segments are strategic business units that sell our products into distinct markets. The Commercial Products Group (Commercial Group) markets and licenses LRAD, HSS, NeoPlanar and other sound products incorporating our technologies to customers and end-users that employ audio in consumer, commercial and professional applications. The Government and Force Protection Systems Group (Government and Military Group) markets LRAD, NeoPlanar and SoundVector 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.

Commercial Group Revenues —The Commercial Group reported revenues of $833,915 for the three months ended March 31, 2006, representing a 661% increase from revenues of $109,523 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. Sound product revenues were $779,748 and $109,523, and contract and license revenues were $54,167 and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase in sound product revenues resulted primarily from increased LRAD sales to commercial cruise lines.

In fiscal 2005, we entered into a license agreement which contained multiple elements. Based on our evaluation of the agreement under the guidance of EITF Issue No. 00-21 we determined this arrangement does not qualify for multiple element accounting and revenue will be recognized ratably over the three year term of the agreement. For the three months ended March 31, 2006, we recognized $54,167 in contract revenue representing the ratable earned revenue under the three year agreement. At March 31, 2006, $137,500 remained unearned under this agreement and has been recorded as deferred revenue. At March 31, 2006, we had aggregate deferred license revenue of $434,616 representing amounts collected from Commercial Group license agreements in advance of recognized earnings. Although we anticipate additional license revenues in fiscal year 2006 from existing and new arrangements, this revenue component is subject to significant variability based on the timing, amount and recognition of new arrangements, if any.

Government and Military Group —Government and Military Group revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2006, were $631,713 compared to $2,707,870 for the three months ended March 31, 2005, representing a 77% decrease. Sound product revenues were $581,496 and $2,704,771 and contract and license revenues were $50,218 and $3,100 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The decrease in revenues resulted from lower sales of our LRAD product line for the three months ended March 31, 2006. Included in product revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2005 is $1.7 million of a $4.9 million order received in December 2004 for delivery of LRAD units to the US Army.

Our order backlog was approximately $7,542,929 at March 31, 2006 which includes $1,849,840 of orders with scheduled delivery dates after September 30, 2006. Our order backlog was approximately $128,017 at

 

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March 31, 2005. 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.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $188,213, or 13% of total revenues, compared to $1,326,545, or 47% of total revenues, for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The decrease in gross profit, both absolute and as a percentage of total revenues, was principally the result of the decreased sales of our higher margin LRAD products.

Gross loss for our Commercial Group was $63,767 and $426,578 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Increased sales of our higher margin LRAD products in the three months ended March 31, 2006 were the primary contributor to the decrease in gross loss for our Commercial Group. The gross loss for the three months ended March 31, 2005 was primarily as a result of increased costs associated with various manufacturing and supply chain problems and insufficient margins earned on HSS product sales to offset the allocation of manufacturing overhead to this segment of our business. Gross profit for our Government and Military Group was $251,980 for the three months ended March 31, 2006, or 40% of total revenues, compared to $1,753,123 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 or 65% of total revenues. The decrease in gross profit, both absolute and as a percentage of total revenues, was due to lower sales of our higher-margin in LRAD product line. Gross profit percentage is highly dependent on sales prices, volumes, purchasing costs and overhead allocations.

Our products have varying gross margins, so product sales mix will materially affect gross profits. In addition, we continue to make product updates and changes, including raw material and component changes that may impact product costs. We 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 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 increased $3,147 to $2,047,085, or 140% of total revenues, compared to $2,043,938, or 73% of total revenues, for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The major component changes in selling general and administrative expenses were: $189,644 for increased personnel and related expenses; $157,608 for increased consulting, accounting, and auditing expenses primarily as a result of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the internal control deficiencies as discussed in Part I, Item 4 of this report; $58,556 for increased utilities and outside storage costs and $12,026 for increased travel and commissions, offset in part by decreased legal and related fees of $381,469 and $51,183 in reduced demonstration equipment and trade show activity.

We may expend additional resources on marketing our products in future periods which may increase selling, general and administrative expenses. During fiscal year 2005, we incurred a significant amount of outside consultant costs and audit fees to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (particularly Section 404), relating to management assessment of internal control over financial reporting. We expect to incur significant additional audit fees and other costs in fiscal year 2006 to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and to improve our internal control over financial reporting and procedures in our accounting organization. We do not currently have an estimate of these future costs, but we anticipate we will increase spending for increased staffing, outside consultants and legal and audit costs.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses decreased $963,392 to $502,217, or 34% of total revenues, for the three months ended March 31, 2006, compared to $1,465,609, or 52% of total revenues, for the three months ended March 31, 2005. This decrease in research and development expenses was primarily due to $524,990 decrease in personnel and related expenses; $324,938 decrease in prototype component acquisition, fabrication

 

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and testing for new products developed during fiscal year 2005; $50,152 decrease in outside consulting fees associated with product design; $27,286 decrease in small tools, equipment and supplies; and $8,661 in reduced travel expenses.

Research and development costs vary period to period due to the timing of projects, the availability of funds for research and development and the timing and extent of use of outside consulting, design and development firms. We completed and introduced significant new products in fiscal year 2005, including our HSS H450 product and our portable LRAD500. With the completion of these major projects, and based on current plans and reduced engineering staffing, we expect fiscal year 2006 research and development costs to be lower than fiscal year 2005.

Share-Based Compensation

Effective at the beginning of fiscal year 2006, we adopted SFAS 123(R) ,and elected to adopt the modified prospective application method. SFAS 123(R) requires us to use a fair-valued based method to account for share-based compensation. Accordingly, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the employees’ requisite service period. Total compensation cost for our share-based payments for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $189,812. Cost of revenues, selling, general and administrative expense, and research and development expense for the three months ended March 31, 2006 include share-based compensation of $28,817, $136,104 and $11,566, respectively. As of March 31, 2006, $2.3 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to nonvested awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.5 years. See Note 4, “Stock-Based Compensation,” in the Notes to Interim Financial Statements (unaudited) for further discussion.

Loss from Operations

Loss from operations was $2,361,089 for the three months ended March 31, 2006, compared to a loss from operations of $2,183,002 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. The increase in loss from operations resulted primarily from the decrease in revenues and gross margin as a result of reduced LRAD sales to government and military customers.

Other Income (Expense)

During the three months ended March 31, 2006, we earned $70,480 of interest income on our cash balances and incurred $183 of interest expense. Other expense for the three months ended March 31, 2006 included $339,500 related to the change in the fair value of warrants issued in connection with our July 2005 sale of common stock and warrants.

At March 31, 2006, our short term and long term derivative warrant instrument was $1,153,300. We must make certain assumptions and estimates to value our derivative warrant instrument periodically. Factors affecting the amount of this liability include changes in our stock price and other assumptions. The change in value is non-cash income or expense and the changes in the carrying value of derivatives can have a material impact on our financial statements each period. The derivative liability associated with our July 2005 sale of common stock and warrants may be reclassified into stockholders’ equity upon warrant exercise, expiration or other events, and the timing of such events may be outside our control.

During the three months ended March 31, 2005, we earned $18,407 of interest on our cash balances and incurred $130,631 of interest expense and $682,210 of unrealized gain on derivative revaluation associated with a derivative instrument issued in December 2004 and cancelled in July 2005.

Net Loss

The net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $2,630,292 compared to a net loss of $1,613,016 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. We had no income tax expense for either of these periods presented.

 

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Net Loss Available to Common Stockholders

Net loss available to common stockholders was $2,630,292 or $0.11 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2006, compared to a net loss available to common stockholders of $3,131,667 or $0.15 for the three months ended March 31, 2005 respectively. In computing net loss per share for fiscal 2005, imputed deemed dividends were based on the value of warrants issued in connection with convertible preferred stock. The net loss available to common stockholders was also increased by an additional deemed dividend computed from a discount provision in our convertible preferred stock. The imputed deemed dividends were not contractual obligations to pay such imputed dividends. Net loss available to common stockholders was further increased by a 6% accretion (similar to a dividend) on outstanding preferred stock. These amounts aggregated $1,518,651 for the three months ended March 31, 2005. No preferred stock was outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2006.

Results of Operations for the Six Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005

Revenues

Total revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2006 were $3,365,006, representing a 53% decrease from $7,226,306 in revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2005. Total revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2006 included $3,201,213 of product sales and $163,793 of contract and license revenues. Revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2005 consisted of $7,161,206 of product sales and $65,100 of contract and license revenues. The decrease in revenues was due to reduced sales of LRAD products by our Government and Military Group. The prior year period revenues included $4.9 million on one large military order. This was partially offset by an increase in our Commercial sales due to the launch of our HSS 450 into the digital signage and in-store broadcasting segments. 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.

Revenues by Business Segment

Commercial Group Revenues —The Commercial Group reported revenues of $2,138,388 for the six months ended March 31, 2006, representing a 620% increase from revenues of $296,872 for the six months ended March 31, 2005. Sound product revenues were $2,027,313 and $296,872, and contract and license revenues were $111,076 and $0 for the six months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase in sound product revenues resulted primarily from increased LRAD sales to commercial cruise lines.

In fiscal 2005, we entered into a license agreement which contained multiple elements. Based on our evaluation of the agreement under the guidance of EITF Issue No. 00-21 we determined this arrangement does not qualify for multiple element accounting and revenue will be recognized ratably over the three year term of the agreement. For the six months ended March 31, 2006, we recognized $108,333 in contract revenue representing the ratable earned revenue under the three year agreement. At March 31, 2006, $137,500 remained unearned under this agreement and has been recorded as deferred revenue. At March 31, 2006, we had aggregate deferred license revenue of $434,616 representing amounts collected from Commercial Group license agreements in advance of recognized earnings. Although we anticipate additional license revenues in fiscal year 2006 from existing and new arrangements, this revenue component is subject to significant variability based on the timing, amount and recognition of new arrangements, if any.

Government and Military Group —Government and Military Group revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2006, were $1,226,618 compared to $6,929,434 for the six months ended March 31, 2005, representing an 82% decrease. Sound product revenues were $1,173,900 and $6,864,334 and contract and license revenues were $52,718 and $65,100 for the six months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The decrease in revenues resulted from reduced orders for the six months ended March 31, 2006. Included in product revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2005 is a $4.9 million order received in December 2004 from ADS, Inc. for delivery of LRAD units to the US Army.

 

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Gross Profit

Gross profit for the six months ended March 31, 2006 was $1,252,350, or 37% of total revenues, compared to $4,169,053, or 59% of total revenues, for the six months ended March 31, 2005. The decrease in gross profit, both absolute and as a percentage of revenues, was principally the result of the decreased sales of our higher margin LRAD products.

Gross profit (loss) for our Commercial Group was $741,449 and $(650,224) for the six months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Increased sales of our higher margin LRAD products in the six months ended March 31, 2006 were the primary contributor to the increase in gross profit for our Commercial Group. The gross loss for the six months ended March 31, 2005 was primarily a result of insufficient margins earned on HSS product sales to offset the allocation of manufacturing overhead to this segment of our business. Gross profit for our Government and Military Group was $510,901 for the six months ended March 31, 2006 or 42% of revenues, compared to $4,819,278 for the six months ended March 31, 2005 or 70% of revenue. The decrease in gross profit, both absolute and as a percentage of total revenues, was due to lower sales of our higher-margin in LRAD product line. Gross profit percentage is highly dependent on sales prices, volumes, purchasing costs and overhead allocations.

Our products have varying gross margins, so product sales mix will materially affect gross profits. In addition, we continue to make product updates and changes, including raw material and component changes that may impact product costs. We 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 for the six months ended March 31, 2006 increased $435,419 to $4,422,207 or 131% of total revenues, compared to $3,986,788, or 55% of total revenues, for the six months ended March 31, 2005. The increase in selling general and administrative expenses was primarily attributable to: $422,545 for increased personnel and related expenses; $383,512 for increased consulting, accounting, and auditing expenses primarily as a result of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the internal control deficiencies as discussed in Part I, Item 4 of this report; $47,555 for increased SEC reporting costs; and $56,790 for increased travel and commissions, partially offset by decreased legal and related fees of $395,264 and $54,226 in reduced demonstration equipment and trade show activity.

We may expend additional resources on marketing our products in future periods which may increase selling, general and administrative expenses. During fiscal year 2005, we incurred a significant amount of outside consultant costs and audit fees to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (particularly Section 404), relating to management assessment of internal control over financial reporting. We expect to incur significant additional audit fees and other costs in fiscal year 2006 to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and to improve our internal control over financial reporting and procedures in our accounting organization. We do not currently have an estimate of these future costs, but we anticipate we will increase spending for increased staffing, outside consultants and legal and audit costs.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses decreased $1,872,377 to $1,068,210, or 32% of total revenues, for the six months ended March 31, 2006, compared to $2,940,587, or 41% of total revenues, for the six months ended March 31, 2005. This decrease in research and development expenses was primarily due to $1,215,043 decrease in personnel and related expenses, of which $245,183 was non-cash compensation associated with an extension of time to exercise stock options; $449,350 decrease in prototype component acquisition, fabrication and testing for new products developed during fiscal year 2005; $50,257 decrease in outside consulting fees associated with product design; $59,535 decrease in small tools, equipment and supplies; and $23,416 in reduced travel expenses.

Research and development costs vary period to period due to the timing of projects, the availability of funds for research and development and the timing and extent of use of outside consulting, design and development

 

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firms. We completed and introduced significant new products in fiscal year 2005, including our HSS H450 product and our portable LRAD500. With the completion of these major projects, and based on current plans and reduced engineering staffing, we expect fiscal year 2006 research and development costs to be lower than fiscal year 2005.

Share-Based Compensation

Effective at the beginning of fiscal year 2006, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R) (“SFAS 123(R)”), “Share-Based Payment,” and elected to adopt the modified prospective application method. SFAS No. 123(R) requires us to use a fair-valued based method to account for share-based compensation. Accordingly, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the employees’ requisite service period. Total compensation cost for our share-based payments for the six months ended March 31, 2006 was $378,188. Cost of revenues, selling, general and administrative expense, and research and development expense for six months ended March 31, 2006 include share-based compensation of $102,847, $206,258 and $32,315, respectively. As of March 31, 2006, $2.3 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to nonvested awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.5 years. See Note 4, “Stock-Based Compensation” in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) for further discussion.

Loss from Operations

Loss from operations was $4,238,067 for the six months ended March 31, 2006, respectively, compared to a loss from operations of $2,758,322 for the six months ended March 31, 2005. The increase in loss from operations resulted primarily from the decrease in revenues and gross margin as a result of reduced LRAD product sales to government and military customers. We also incurred significant expense in evaluating our system of internal control over financial reporting for compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Other Income (Expense)

During the six months ended March 31, 2006, we earned $145,103 of interest income on our cash balances and incurred $543 of interest expense. Other income for the six months ended March 31, 2006 included $692,700 related to the increase in the fair value of warrants issued in connection with our July 2005 sale of common stock and warrants.

At March 31, 2006 our long term derivative warrant instrument was $1,153,300. We must make certain assumptions and estimates to value our derivative warrant instrument periodically. Factors affecting the amount of this liability include changes in our stock price and other assumptions. The change in value is non-cash income or expense and the changes in the carrying value of derivatives can have a material impact on our financial statements each period. The derivative liability associated with our July 2005 sale of common stock and warrants may be reclassified into stockholders’ equity upon warrant exercise, expiration or other events, and the timing of such events may be outside our control.

During the six months ended March 31, 2005, we earned $29,348 of interest on our cash balances and incurred $142,961 of interest expense and $267,931 of unrealized loss on derivative revaluation.

Net Loss

The net loss for the six months ended March 31, 2006 was $3,400,807 compared to a net loss of $3,139,866 for the six months ended March 31, 2005. We had no income tax expense for either of these periods.

 

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Net Loss Available to Common Stockholders

Net loss available to common stockholders increased to $3,400,807 or $0.14 per share for the six months ended March 31, 2006, compared to a net loss available to common stockholders of $4,936,292 or $0.24 for the six months ended March 31, 2005. Imputed deemed dividends and accretion on outstanding preferred stock aggregated $1,796,426 for the six months ended March 31, 2005. No preferred stock was outstanding during the three and six months ended March 31, 2006.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We continue to experience significant negative cash flow from operating activities including developing, introducing and marketing our proprietary sound technologies. We have financed our working capital requirements through cash generated from products sales and from financing activities. Cash at March 31, 2006 was $5,448,894 compared to $10,347,779 at September 30, 2005. The decrease in cash was primarily the result of the operating loss and cash used to support other activities.

Other than cash and our balance of accounts receivable, 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, marketing and sales costs and general and administrative 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.

Principal factors that could affect the availability of our internally generated funds include:

 

    government spending levels;

 

    introduction of competing technologies;

 

    ability of our Government Group or Commercial Group to meet sales projections;

 

    product mix and effect on margins; and

 

    product acceptance in new markets.

Principal factors that could affect our availability to obtain cash from external sources include:

 

    volatility in the capital markets; and

 

    market price and trading volume of our common stock.

Based on our current cash position and order backlog, and assuming currently planned expenditures and level of operations, we believe we have sufficient capital to fund operations for approximately the next six months. We anticipate improved cash flow from operations; however, we believe that approximately $5 million to $10 million of additional capital will be required to sustain operations through May 2007. We believe that the investment capital we require to meet future capital resource requirements will be available to us, but there can be no guarantee that we will be able to raise funds on terms acceptable to us, or at all.

Cash Flows

Operating Activities

Our net cash used in operating activities was $5,047,160 for the six months ended March 31, 2006 compared to $1,712,084 for the six months ended March 31, 2005. Cash used in operating activities for the six months ended March 31, 2006 included the $3,400,807 net loss, reduced by expenses not requiring the use of cash of $726,261 and a $151,017 reduction in inventories (net of obsolescence reserve); and increased by a net

 

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unrealized gain of $692,700 on derivative revaluation, an $937,140 increase in trade accounts receivable and prepaid expenses, and a $914,175 decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Cash used in operating activities for the six months ended March 31, 2005 included the net loss of $3,139,866, reduced by expenses not requiring the use of cash of $504,163, unrealized gain of $267,931 on derivative revaluation, and a $506,832 decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities; and increased by a $432,244 decrease in trade accounts receivable and a $253,615 increase in inventories.

At March 31, 2006, we had working capital of $6,745,876 compared to working capital of $9,726,309 at September 30, 2005. This decrease was primarily a result of cash used for operations.

At March 31, 2006, we had trade accounts receivable of $1,942,527. This compares to $880,276 in trade accounts receivable at September 30, 2005. The level of trade accounts receivable at March 31, 2006 represented approximately 112 days of revenues compared to 32 days of revenues at September 30, 2005. The increase in days was due to increased shipments of products in the last 10 days of the quarter. Terms with individual customers vary greatly. We typically require thirty-day terms from our customers. Our receivables can vary dramatically due to overall sales volumes and due to quarterly variations in sales and timing of shipments to and receipts from large customers and the timing of contract payments.

Investing Activities

We use cash in investing activities primarily for the purchase of laboratory and computer equipment and software and investment in patents. Cash used in investing activities for equipment was $279,397 for the six months ended March 31, 2006. Cash used in investing activities for equipment was $355,995 for the six months ended March 31, 2005. Cash used for investment in patents was $118,076 and $144,420, for the six months ended March 31, 2006 and March 31, 2005, respectively. We anticipate continued capital expenditures for patents in fiscal year 2006. Cash used in investing activities of $58,266 for the six months ended March 31, 2006, consisted of a security deposit for our current facilities.

Financing Activities

Cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended March 31, 2006 was $604,012, which included $610,940 of net cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options. Cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended March 31, 2005 was $4,195,940 and consisted primarily of $2,000,000 in proceeds from the sale of unsecured promissory notes, $1,661,277 from exercise of common stock warrants and $643,802 of net cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

A number of new pronouncements have been issued for future implementation as discussed in the Notes to our Interim Financial Statements (see Note 3).

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

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

We are exposed to some market risk through interest rates, related to our investment of current cash and cash equivalents of approximately $5.4 million at March 31, 2006. Based on this balance, a change of one percent in interest rate would cause a change in interest income of $54,489. 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.

 

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

We are required to 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.

Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our co-principal executive officers and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Based on this evaluation, our co-principal executive officers and our principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of March 31, 2006 due to the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting identified in the section “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, many of which were ongoing at March 31, 2006 and our failure to file timely one Form 8-K reporting the appointment of a new director.

A material weakness is defined in Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Standard No. 2 as a significant deficiency, or combination of significant deficiencies, that results in there being more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected.

The material weaknesses in internal control identified as a result of our fiscal year 2005 integrated audit included the following,

 

    Oversight of Accounting Processes and Personnel

We did not maintain sufficient oversight and supervision of financially significant processes and systems, and we noted deficiencies relating to monitoring and oversight of the work performed by our operations and accounting personnel . This material weakness was due primarily to a lack of adequate finance department supervision over finance and accounting personnel and a lack of human resources and insufficiently skilled personnel within our operations and accounting reporting functions. This material weakness resulted in errors in the preparation and review of financial statements, disclosures, schedules and reconciliations supporting certain general ledger account balances, errors not detected in certain accrued liability accounts and accounts payable, proper valuation and costing of inventory, proper tracking and accounting for fixed assets, and accurate valuation of accounts receivables, thereby resulting in audit adjustments to our fiscal year 2005 annual financial statements.

 

    Information and Communications

We did not maintain adequate processes for gathering key financial information to support the achievement of financial reporting objectives. As a result, management’s ability to monitor both internal and external events was compromised. This material weakness resulted from a lack of skilled personnel and adequate supervisory management, primarily in our finance and operations organizations. This material weakness resulted in the unavailability of reliable information concerning inventory, fixed assets, accounts receivable and accounts payable, which in turn contributed to audit adjustments to our fiscal year 2005 annual financial statements.

 

    Monitoring

We did not maintain adequate processes to determine whether internal control over financial reporting was operating effectively and whether financial reports were reliably and accurately prepared. In particular, we lacked an ongoing monitoring process that would have enabled management to determine whether internal control over financial reporting was present and functioning. This material

 

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weakness resulted from a lack of skilled personnel and adequate supervisory management, primarily in our finance and operations organizations. This material weakness resulted in various deficiencies in our financial reporting process relating to our inventory valuation, fixed asset accounting, accounts receivable and accounts payable, and resulted in audit adjustments for our fiscal year 2005 annual financial statements.

 

    Inventory Valuation

Controls that we have established for inventory valuation were not properly applied in connection with our financial statement closing process for the year ended September 30, 2005. This failure to apply existing controls relative to inventory valuation resulted both from lack of experienced accounting and operations personnel, the lack of proper supervision of such personnel, and the unexpected departure of personnel responsible for the application of such controls. This material weakness resulted in incorrect valuation and proper pricing of our inventory at our fiscal year ended September 30, 2005, thereby resulting in an audit adjustment to our fiscal year 2005 annual financial statements.

 

    Fixed Asset Accounting

We did not maintain effective control over the accounting for fixed assets. We lacked an appropriate policy for reconciling certain recorded assets for which there was incomplete identifying information with assets on hand, and also lacked experienced accounting personnel responsible for maintaining fixed assets. This material weakness resulted in an adjustment of the value of the company’s fully depreciated fixed assets for which there was no impact to the company’s reported fixed assets net of depreciation, as well as an adjustment to the valuation of net fixed assets at September 30, 2005.

 

    Accounts Receivable

We did not maintain effective control over the accounting for accounts receivable. This failure to apply existing controls relative to accounting for accounts receivables resulted from a lack of experienced accounting personnel and inadequate supervision of the personnel responsible for timely accounts receivables reconciliations. We discovered several discrepancies between our accounting records and those of our customers concerning the value of accounts receivable outstanding at September 30, 2005. This material weakness resulted in audit adjustments to our fiscal 2005 annual financial statements.

 

    Accounts Payable

We did not maintain effective controls over the accuracy of our accounts payable and recorded liabilities at September 30, 2005. Specifically, we did not account for all invoices that had been issued to us by various vendors for the period ended September 30, 2005. This material weakness resulted in audit adjustments to our fiscal year 2005 annual financial statements.

Our management has discussed the material weaknesses described above with our audit committee. In an effort to remediate the identified material weaknesses and other control deficiencies, we have implemented and/ or plan to implement the measures described below. Management has performed additional analyses and reviews for the six months ended March 31, 2006 to help ensure that 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 our company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report.

Remediation of Material Weaknesses

As of the filing date of this report, we have not fully remediated the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting identified above. Management has taken a number of steps beginning in November 2005 that it believes will improve the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures including the following:

 

    Oversight of Accounting Processes and Personnel

 

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As discussed above, in November and December 2005, we hired new accounting department personnel who we believe have the expertise and experience required to perform the functions to timely and correctly report financial results. In December 2005, we promoted Karen Jordan, who joined us in November 2005 as Director of Finance, to Chief Accounting Officer. In December 2005, our Chief Financial Officer resigned from his employment, and Mr. John R. Zavoli, our President and Chief Operating Officer, was appointed Interim Chief Financial Officer. In April 2006, Mr. Steven D Stringer assumed the position of chief financial officer, and in such position is providing close supervision of accounting personnel to ensure compliance with our controls and procedures. Prior to April 2006, close supervision was provided by Mr. Zavoli and Ms. Jordan. Reconciliations are reviewed consistently, and all journal entries and reconciliations are reviewed and signed by the Chief Accounting Officer. We believe that these steps will correct the associated weakness, but we will need to perform additional testing in order to reach a conclusion that the weakness has been corrected, and further controls may be necessary.

 

    Information and Communications

We have hired new accounting and operations personnel, including new management personnel. In December 2005, we designed a procedure for our accounting department to disseminate key information and metrics to senior management beginning in our second quarter of fiscal 2006 in order to support the achievement of financial reporting objectives. We believe that these steps will correct the associated material weakness discussed above, but we will need to perform additional testing in order to reach a conclusion that the weakness has been corrected, and further controls may be necessary.

 

    Monitoring

We have hired new accounting personnel including new management personnel. In December 2005, these personnel were directed to review our monitoring controls, and to the extent necessary, improve monitoring processes to be consistent with the criteria based on the COSO Framework. We believe that these steps will correct the associated material weakness discussed above, but we will need to perform additional testing in order to reach a conclusion that the weakness has been corrected, and further controls may be necessary.

 

    Inventory Valuation

We have hired new accounting personnel and have documented closing procedures that these personnel will follow in properly computing the cost of inventory on a net realizable basis. A full inventory count was performed at December 31, 2005 to ensure that we accounted for all inventory and an inventory revaluation was performed at December 31, 2005 to revalue inventory in accordance with our policies. We are implementing a cycle count program effective May 2006 and will perform an inventory revaluation process in June 2006. We believe that these steps will correct the associated material weakness discussed above, but we will need to perform additional testing in order to reach a conclusion that the weakness has been corrected, and further controls may be necessary.

 

    Fixed Asset Accounting

In December 2005, we implemented a control for accounting personnel to conduct an annual inventory of our fixed assets. The control also calls for purchases of new assets to be properly entered into our accounting system by asset description and type, and all current and future assets to be tagged with an asset number for tracking in our accounting system. The first annual count of our fixed assets was conducted in March 2006. We believe this step will correct the associated material weakness discussed above, but we will need to perform additional testing in order to reach a conclusion that the weakness has been corrected, and further controls may be necessary.

 

    Accounts Receivable

Accounting personnel have followed control procedures managing accounts receivable and periodic reconciliation of accounts receivable with customers consistent with our closing processes. We believe this step has corrected the associated material weakness discussed above.

 

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    Accounts Payable

In November 2005, we implemented a policy for all company personnel to follow our controls and procedures related to incurring liabilities, including purchasing procedures and properly identifying and recording accounts payable. We believe these steps have corrected the associated material weakness discussed above.

There can be no assurance that we will be successful in remediating the above-mentioned material weaknesses in our internal controls.

In March 2006, we filed a Form 8-K disclosing the appointment of a new director after the cut-off time for acceptance of filings on the EDGAR system. The appointment was previously disclosed in a press release. Immediately following the occurrence of this event, we implemented new procedures to ensure that filings are authorized and made prior to the EDGAR cut-off time.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Except as discussed above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2006 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

We may at times be involved in litigation in the ordinary course of business. We will also, from time to time, when appropriate in management’s estimation, record adequate reserves in our financial statements for pending litigation.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

An investment in our company involves a high degree of risk. In addition to the other information included in this report, our Annual Report on Form 10-K includes a detailed discussion of our risk factors. The risk factors below were disclosed in our Form 10-K, but have been updated to reflect the risks associated with our identified need for additional capital, recent additions to the management team and certain other operational matters.

We will need additional capital to sustain operations for the next twelve months.

Based on our current cash position and order backlog, we believe that we will require approximately $5 million to $10 million of additional capital to sustain operations through May 2007. We are currently reviewing borrowing and equity financing opportunities to meet future cash requirements.

The amount of capital we will require will depend on our ability to improve cash flows in future periods. Principal factors that will affect our ability to improve cash flows include:

 

    performance of our sales and marketing teams;

 

    government spending levels impacting the sale of our products;

 

    our ability to manufacture reliable products on a timely basis to satisfy orders;

 

    timely collection of accounts receivable;

 

    product mix and effect on margins;

 

    acceptance of our products in new markets; and

 

    our ability to reduce and control spending.

When we require additional funds, general market conditions or the then-current market price of our common stock may not support capital raising transactions. We may be required to reduce costs, including the scaling back of research and development into new products, which could have a negative impact on our ability to compete and to innovate.

Our future capital-raising activities could involve the issuance of equity securities, which would dilute your investment and could result in a decline in the trading price of our common stock.

We may sell securities in the public or private equity markets, without further action by our stockholders, if and when conditions are favorable, even if we do not have an immediate need for additional capital at that time. If we sell common stock or securities convertible into common stock, the economic and voting interests of each stockholder will be diluted as a result of such issuances. Furthermore, we may enter into financing transactions at prices that represent a substantial discount to the market price of our common stock. A negative reaction by investors and securities analysts to any discounted sale of our equity securities could result in a decline in the trading price of our common stock.

 

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One customer accounted for approximately 69% of our total revenues for fiscal year 2005, and two customers accounted for 56% of our total revenues for the first six months of fiscal year 2006. We continue to be dependent on a few large customers.

ADS, Inc., a prime vendor to the U. S. military, accounted for 69% of total revenues for fiscal year 2005. Two customers accounted for 36% and 20% of total revenues for the first six months of fiscal year 2006. These customers have the right to cease doing business with us at any time. If our relationship with any material partner or vendor were to cease, then our revenues would decline substantially and negatively impact our results of operations. Any such decline could result in us increasing our net losses and accumulated deficit and accelerating our need to raise additional capital to fund our operations.

Our success is dependent on the performance and integration of our new executive team, and the cooperation, performance and retention of our executive officers and key employees.

John R. Zavoli joined as our President and Chief Operating Officer in November 2005. Also in November 2005, Rose Tomich-Litz was appointed Vice President, Operations, and in December 2005, Karen Jordan, our Director of Finance, was promoted to Chief Accounting Officer. In January 2006, David Carnevale became our Vice President, Marketing. In April 2006, Steven D. Stringer became Chief Financial Officer and James T. Taylor III became our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary. Two other existing employees were promoted to executive officers during fiscal 2005. As of September 30, 2005, our management identified a material weakness concerning oversight of accounting processes and personnel, which was primarily due to a lack of human resources and insufficiently skilled personnel within our operations and accounting reporting functions. As of March 31, 2006, we could not conclude that such material weakness had been remediated due to the need to perform additional testing.

Our business and operations are substantially dependent on the performance and integration of our new President and Chief Operating Officer, the newly rebuilt finance department and the other new executives. Our performance is also substantially dependent on Elwood G. Norris, our Chairman. Our senior executives have worked together for only a short period of time. We do not maintain “key person” life insurance on any of our executive officers. The loss of one or several key employees could seriously harm our business.

We are also dependent on our ability to retain and motivate high quality personnel, especially sales and marketing executives and skilled technical personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense, and we may not be able to attract, assimilate or retain other highly qualified managerial, sales and technical personnel in the future. The inability to attract and retain the necessary managerial, sales and technical personnel could cause our business, operating results or financial condition to suffer.

 

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The WEEE and RoHS directives in Europe may impact the cost of our products and/or our ability to sell products in Europe.

The European Union (EU) has finalized the Waste Electrical and Electronic (WEEE) directive, which regulates the collection, recovery and recycling of waste from electrical and electronic products, and the Restrictions on the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) directive, which bans the use of certain hazardous materials including lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium and halogenated flame-retardants. In order to comply with the WEEE directive, we will be required to contribute to the cost of collection, treatment, disposal and recycling of past and future covered products. In order to comply with the RoHS directive, we may need to substantially alter product designs and/or find alternate suppliers for critical components used in those products. Because detailed regulations on practices and procedures related to WEEE and RoHS are evolving in member states and because we have yet to assess fully the ramifications to our products, we are presently unable to reasonably estimate the amount of any costs that we may incur in order to comply with WEEE and RoHS. Failure to achieve compliance with the RoHS directive prior to the required implementation date, would adversely impact our ability to sell products in EU member states that have begun enforcement of the directive.

 

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

None.

 

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities.

Not applicable.

 

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

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

3.1    Restated Bylaws of American Technology Corporation.*
10.1    Employment Letter Agreement with David Carnevale dated January 12, 2006.+ (1)
10.2    Employment Letter Agreement with Steven D. Stringer dated February 24, 2006.*+
10.3    Employment Letter Agreement with JT. Taylor dated February 17, 2006.*+
10.4    Summary sheet of Director and Executive officer Compensation for Quarter Ended March 31, 2006 *+

Certifications

 

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 John R. Zavoli, 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 Steven D. Stringer, 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.*

 

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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, Co-Principal Executive Officer, John R. Zavoli, Co-Principal Executive Officer, and Steven D. Stringer, Principal Financial Officer.*

 * Filed concurrently herewith.
 + Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
(1) Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Form 10-Q filed on February 9, 2006

 

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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.

 

   

A MERICAN T ECHNOLOGY C ORPORATION

Date: May 10, 2006

   

By:

  /s/    J OHN R. Z AVOLI        
     

John R. Zavoli,

President, Chief Operating Officer and Director,

(Co-Principal Executive and duly authorized to sign on

behalf of the Registrant)

 

   

A MERICAN T ECHNOLOGY C ORPORATION

Date: May 10, 2006

   

By:

  /s/    S TEVEN D. S TRINGER        
     

Steven D. Stringer,

Chief Financial Officer,

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

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EXHIBIT 3.1

RESTATED

BYLAWS

of

AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

(a Delaware Corporation)

(As Amended and Restated March 21, 2006)

ARTICLE I

General

1.00. Applicability. These Bylaws provide rules for conducting the business of this corporation (the “ Company ”). Every shareholder and person who subsequently becomes a shareholder, the Board of Directors, Committees and Officers of the Company shall comply with these Bylaws, as amended from time to time. All Bylaws and resolutions heretofore adopted by the Board of Directors are hereby repealed, to the extent in conflict with the provisions of these Bylaws.

2.00. Offices. The principal office of Company shall be selected by the Board of Directors from time to time and may be within or without the State of Delaware. The Company may have such other offices, within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, determine. The registered office of the Company required by the General Corporation Law of Delaware to be maintained in Delaware may be, but need not be, identical with the principal office if in Delaware, and the address of the registered office may be changed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

3.00. Definition of Terms. Terms defined in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and restated from time to time in effect (the “ Charter ”), shall have the same meanings when used in these Bylaws.

ARTICLE II

Stock and the Transfer Thereof

1.00. Stock Cert i ficates. The shares of the Company’s capital stock shall be represented by consecutively numbered certificates signed by the President or a Vice President and the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, and sealed with the seal of the Company, or a facsimile thereof. If certificates are signed by a transfer agent and registrar other than the Company or an employee thereof, the signatures of the officers of the Company may be facsimile. In case any officer who has signed (by real or facsimile signature) a certificate shall have ceased to hold such office before the certificate is issued it may be issued by the Company with the same effect as if he continued to hold such office on the date of issue. Each certificate representing shares shall state upon the face thereof: (i) that the Company is organized under the laws of the State of Delaware; (ii) the name of the person to whom issued; (iii) the number, class and series (if any) of shares which such certificate represents; and (iv) the par value, if any, of the shares represented by such certificate, or a statement that the shares have no par value.

If any class or series of shares is subject to special powers, designations, preferences or relative, participating or other special rights, then such (together with all qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences or rights) shall be set forth in full or summarized on the certificate representing such class or series. Moreover, each certificate shall state that the Company will furnish, without charge, to the registered holder of the shares represented by such certificate who so requests a statement setting forth such information in full.

Each certificate also shall set forth restrictions upon transfer, if any, or a reference thereto, as shall be adopted by the Board of Directors or by the shareholders, or as may be contained in this Article II. Any shares

 

1


issued without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, shall bear a legend restricting transfer unless such shares are registered under such act or an exemption from registration is available for a proposed transfer.

2.00. Consideration for Shares. Shares shall be issued for such consideration or considerations as shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. Treasury shares may be disposed of by the Company for such consideration as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. No shares shall be issued for less than the par value thereof. The consideration for the issuance of shares may be paid, in whole or in part, in money, in other property, tangible or intangible, or in labor or services actually received by or performed for the Company or for its benefit or in its formation or reorganization, or as otherwise permitted in the Charter.

3.00. Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Company alleged to have been lost or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, and the Board of Directors when authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates may in its discretion, and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost or destroyed certificate or certificates or his legal representative to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require, and/or furnish to the Company a bond in such sum as it may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Company. Except as hereinabove in this section provided, no new certificate or certificates evidencing shares of stock shall be issued unless and until the old certificate or certificates, in lieu of which the new certificate or certificates are issued, shall be surrendered for cancellation.

4.00. Registered Holder as Owner. The Company shall be entitled to treat the registered holder of any shares of the Company as the owner of such shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such shares or rights deriving from such shares, unless and until such purchaser, assignee, transferee or other person becomes the registered holder of such shares, whether or not the Company shall have either actual or constructive notice of the interests of such purchaser, assignee, or transferee or other person. The purchaser, assignee, or transferee of any of the shares of the Company shall not be entitled to receive notice of the meetings of the shareholders; to vote at such meetings; to examine a list of the shareholders; to be paid dividends or other sums payable to shareholders; or to own, enjoy and exercise any other property or rights deriving from such shares against the Company, until such purchaser, assignee, or transferee has become the registered holder of such shares.

5.00. Reversions. Cash, property or share dividends, shares issuable to shareholders in connection with a reclassification of stock, and the redemption price of redeemed shares, which are not claimed by the shareholders entitled thereto within TWO years after the dividend or redemption price became payable or the shares became issuable, despite reasonable efforts by the Company to pay the dividend or redemption price or deliver the certificate(s) for the shares to such shareholders within such time shall, at the expiration of such time, revert in full ownership to the Company, and the Company’s obligation to pay any such dividend or redemption price or issue such shares, as the case may be, shall thereupon cease; provided, that the Board of Directors may at any time and for any reason satisfactory to it, but need not, authorize (i) payment of the amount of cash or property dividend or (ii) issuance of any shares, ownership of which has reverted to the Company pursuant to this Section of Article II, to the person or entity who or which would be entitled thereto had such reversion not occurred.

6.00. Returned Certificates. All certificates for shares changed or returned to the Company for transfer shall be marked by the Secretary “CANCELLED,” with the date of cancellation, and the transaction shall be immediately recorded in the certificate book opposite the memorandum of their issue. The returned certificate may be inserted in the certificate book.

7.00. Transfer of Shares. Upon surrender to the Company or to a transfer agent of the Company of a certificate of stock endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, and such documentary stamps as may be required by law, it shall be the duty of the Company to issue a

 

2


new certificate, upon payment by the transferree of such nominal charge therefor as the Company or its transfer agent may impose. Each such transfer of stock shall be entered on the stock book of the Company. Respecting any securities issued in reliance upon Rule 903 of Regulation S of the Securities and Exchange Commission at any time when the Company is not a “reporting issuer” as defined in Regulation S, no transfer of such securities shall be registered unless made in accordance with the provisions of Regulation S, except where foreign law prevents the Company from refusing to register the securities.

At any time when the Company has appointed a transfer agent for its shares, this paragraph shall apply. A transfer of shares evidenced by a certificate bearing a standard form of legend which restricts transfer of the shares (except in the event of registration or the availability of an exemption under the Securities Act of 1933) shall not require the Company’s consent if the shares to be sold are proposed to be sold in compliance with either Rule 144, Rule 701 or Rule 904 of Regulation S of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the transfer is accompanied by an opinion of counsel (which need not be the Company’s counsel) which states that the proposed transfer will comply with the applicable rule or regulation being relied upon for transfer. In view of potential liability to the Company and its officers and directors for interfering without firm and clear legal grounds in the making of, or delaying, any sale of the Company’s shares pursuant to Rules 144, 701 or 904, it is declared to be the Company’s policy not to interfere with, object to or hinder, in any way, any transfer proposed to be made pursuant to either of Rules 144, 701 or 904, if accompanied by an opinion of counsel which states that the proposed sale will, in the manner proposed to be made, comply with the applicable rule or regulation being relied upon for sale. The Company shall be deemed automatically to have consented to any transfer which complies with the immediately preceding sentence.

1.01. Transfer Agent. The Board of Directors shall have power to appoint one or more transfer agents and registrars for the transfer and registration of certificates of stock of any class, and may require that stock certificates shall be counter signed and registered by one or more of such transfer Agents and registrars. Any powers or duties with respect to the transfer and registration of certificates may be delegated to the transfer agent and registrar.

ARTICLE II

Meetings of the Shareholders

2.01. Annual Meeting .

(a) The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company, for the purpose of election of Directors and for such other business as may lawfully come before it, shall be held on such date and at such time as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.

(b) At an annual meeting of the shareholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be: (A) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (B) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (C) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a shareholder. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Company. To be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the sixtieth (60th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than thirty (30) days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so received not earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such annual meeting or, in the event public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the Company fewer than seventy (70) days prior to the date of

 

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such annual meeting, the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company. A shareholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Company’s books, of the shareholder proposing such business, (iii) the class and number of shares of the Company which are beneficially owned by the shareholder, (iv) any material interest of the shareholder in such business and (v) any other information that is required to be provided by the shareholder pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), in his capacity as a proponent to a shareholder proposal. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order to include information with respect to a shareholder proposal in the proxy statement and form of proxy for a shareholders’ meeting, shareholders must provide notice as required by the regulations promulgated under the 1934 Act. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at any annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (b). The chairman of the annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare at the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph (b), and, if he should so determine, he shall so declare at the meeting that any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

(c) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (c) shall be eligible for election as Directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Company may be made at a meeting of shareholders by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by any shareholder of the Company entitled to vote in the election of Directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this paragraph (c). Such nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Company in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 3.01. Such shareholder’s notice shall set forth (i) as to each person, if any, whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a Director: (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person, (B) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (C) the class and number of shares of the Company that are beneficially owned by such person, (D) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the shareholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nominations are to be made by the shareholder, and (E) any other information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for elections of Directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the 1934 Act (including without limitation such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement, if any, as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected); and (ii) as to such shareholder giving notice, the information required to be provided pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 3.01. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by a shareholder for election as a Director shall furnish to the Secretary of the Company that information required to be set forth in the shareholder’s notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. No person shall be eligible for election as a Director of the Company unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (c). The chairman of the annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare at the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by these Bylaws, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare at the meeting, and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

(d) For purposes of this Section 301, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act.

2.02. Special Meetings .

(a) Special meetings of the shareholders of the Company may be called, for any purpose or purposes, by (i) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, (ii) the Chief Executive Officer, (iii) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized Directors (whether or not there exist any

 

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vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board of Directors for adoption) or (iv) by the holders of shares entitled to cast not less than 10 percent (10%) of the votes at the meeting, and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall fix.

(b) If a special meeting is properly called by any person or persons other than the Board of Directors, the request shall be in writing, specifying the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted, and shall be delivered personally or sent by registered mail or by telegraphic or other facsimile transmission to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Secretary of the Company. No business may be transacted at such special meeting otherwise than specified in such notice. The Board of Directors shall determine the time and place of such special meeting, which shall be held not less than thirty-five (35) nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of the receipt of the request. Upon determination of the time and place of the meeting, the officer receiving the request shall cause notice to be given to the shareholders entitled to vote, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.03 of these Bylaws. If the notice is not given within sixty (60) days after the receipt of the request, the person or persons properly requesting the meeting may set the time and place of the meeting and give the notice. Nothing contained in this paragraph (b) shall be construed as limiting, fixing, or affecting the time when a meeting of shareholders called by action of the Board of Directors may be held.

2.03. Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Charter or these Bylaws, written notice of any annual or special meeting of the shareholders shall state the place, date, and time thereof and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not fewer than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the meeting by any means permitted in Section 9.01 hereof. No business other than that specified in the notice of a special meeting shall be transacted at any such special meeting.

2.04. Record Date. In order that the Company may determine shareholders of record who are entitled (i) to notice of or to vote at any shareholders meeting or adjournment thereof, (ii) to express written consent to corporate action in lieu of a meeting, (iii) to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution, or (iv) to allotment of any rights or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or in order that the Company may make a determination of shareholders of record for any other lawful purpose, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination. Such date shall not be more than 60 days, and in case of a meeting of shareholders, not less than 10 days prior to the date on which the particular action, requiring such determination of shareholders, is to be taken, and in no event may the record date precede the date upon which the Directors adopt a resolution fixing the record date.

If no record date is fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, or shareholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is given (as defined in Section 9.01 hereof) or the date on which the resolution of the Board of Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of the shareholders. When a determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this Section such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, unless the Board of Directors fixes a new record date for the adjournment. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to consent to corporate actions without a meeting shall be fixed as provided in Section 3.12 hereof.

2.05. Voting List. At least 10 days but not more than 60 days before any meeting of shareholders, the officer or transfer agent in charge of the Company’s stock transfer books shall prepare a complete alphabetical list of the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting, which list shows the address of each shareholder and the number of shares registered in his or her name. The list so prepared shall be maintained at the corporate offices of the Company and shall be open to inspection by any shareholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, at any time during usual business hours during a period of no fewer than 10 days prior to the meeting. The list shall also be produced and kept open at any shareholders meeting and, except as otherwise provided by law, may be inspected by any shareholder or proxy of a shareholder who is present in person at the meeting. The original

 

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stock transfer books shall be prima facie evidence as to who are the shareholders entitled to examine the list of shareholders and to vote at any meeting of shareholders.

2.06. Quorum; Adjournments.

(a) The holders of a majority of the total voting power at any shareholders meeting present in person or by proxy shall be necessary to and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all shareholders meetings, except as otherwise provided by law or by the Charter.

(b) If a quorum is not present in person or by proxy at any shareholders meeting, a majority of the voting shares present or represented shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time to the same or another place within 30 days thereof and no further notice of such adjourned meeting need be given if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.

(c) Even if a quorum is present in person or by proxy at any shareholders meeting, a majority of the voting shares present or represented shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, for good cause, without notice of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, until a new date which is not more than 30 days after the date of the original meeting.

(d) Any business which might have been transacted at a shareholders meeting as originally called may be transacted at any meeting held after adjournment as provided in this Section 3.06 at which reconvened meeting a quorum is present in person or by proxy. Anything in paragraph (b) of this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, if an adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after an adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each shareholder of record entitled to vote thereat.

(e) The shareholders present at a duly called meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough shareholders to leave less than a quorum.

2.07. Proxies. At all meetings of shareholders, a shareholder may vote by proxy, executed in writing by the shareholder or by his duly authorized attorney in fact. Any proxyholder shall be authorized to sign, on the shareholder’s behalf, any written consent for shareholder action taken in lieu of a meeting. Such proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the Company before or at the time of the meeting. No proxy shall be valid after three (3) years from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy in any manner permitted under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

2.08. Voting of Shares. At any shareholders meeting every shareholder having the right to vote shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Articles or in the Board resolution authorizing the issuance of shares, each shareholder of record shall be entitled to one vote (on each matter submitted to a vote) for each share of capital stock registered in his, her or its name on the Company’s books. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Articles, all matters submitted to the shareholders for approval shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast (not counting abstentions) at a legal meeting commenced with a quorum.

2.09. Voting of Shares by Certain Holders. Neither treasury shares, nor shares of its own stock held by the Company in a fiduciary capacity, nor shares held by another corporation if the majority of the shares entitled to vote for the election of directors of such other corporation is held by the Company, shall be voted at any meeting or counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time.

Shares standing in the name of another corporation, domestic or foreign, may be voted by such officer, agent, or proxy as the bylaws of such corporation may prescribe, or, in the absence of such provision, as the board of directors of such corporation may determine.

 

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Shares held by an administrator, executor, personal representative, guardian, or conservator may be voted by him, either in person or by proxy, without a transfer of such shares into his name. Shares standing in the name of a trustee may be voted by him, either in person or by proxy, but no trustee shall be entitled to vote shares hold by him without a transfer of such shares into his name.

Shares standing in the name of a receiver may be voted by such receiver, and shares held by or under the control of a receiver may be voted by such receiver without the transfer thereof into his name if authority to do so be contained in an appropriate order of the court by which such receiver was appointed.

A shareholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled to vote such shares until the shares have been transferred into the name of the pledgee, and thereafter the pledgee shall be entitled to vote the shares so transferred.

2.10. Chairman. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, if there is one, or is his absence, the President, shall act as chairman at all meetings of shareholders.

2.11. Manner of Shareholder Voting. Voting at any shareholders meeting shall be oral or by show of hands; provided however, that voting shall be by written ballot if such demand is made by any shareholder present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote.

2.12. Action by Stockholders Without a Meeting; Record Date. Unless otherwise provided in the Charter, any action required by the General Corporation Law of Delaware to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Company by delivery to its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.

Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by this section to the Company, written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders or members to take action are delivered to the Company by delivery to its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders or members are recorded.

A telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder or proxy holder, or by a person or persons authorized to act for a stockholder or proxy holder, shall be deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purposes of this section, provided that any such telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission sets forth or is delivered with information from which the Company can determine (A) that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was transmitted by the stockholder or proxy holder or by a person or persons authorized to act for the stockholder or proxy holder and (B) the date on which such stockholder or proxy holder or authorized person or persons transmitted such telegram, cablegram or electronic transmission. The date on which such telegram, cablegram or electronic transmission is transmitted shall be deemed to be the date on which such consent was signed. No consent given by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been delivered until such consent is reproduced in paper form and until such paper form shall be delivered to the Company by delivery to its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders or members are recorded. Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations on delivery, consents given by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission, may be otherwise delivered to the principal place of business of the Company or to an officer or agent of the Company having custody of the

 

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book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders or members are recorded if, to the extent and in the manner provided by resolution of the Board of Directors or governing body of the Company.

Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a consent in writing may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing for any and all purposes for which the original writing could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing.

Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Company as provided in this section. If the action which is consented to is such as would have required the filing of a certificate under any other section of this title, if such action had been voted on by stockholders or by members at a meeting thereof, the certificate filed under such other section shall state, in lieu of any statement required by such section concerning any vote of stockholders or members, that written consent has been given in accordance with this section.

The record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate actions in writing without a meeting shall not precede, and shall not be more than 10 days after, the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date was adopted. However, if no consent record date is fixed, the consent record date shall be, respectively: (1) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required under the General Corporation Law of Delaware for the consent to be validly taken, the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action; and (2) if prior action by the Board of Directors is not so required, the first date on which a properly signed and dated consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered as required above.

2.13. Presiding Officers; Order of Business.

(a) Shareholders meetings shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board; or if the Chairman (and Vice Chairman) is not present, by the President; or if the President is not present, by a Vice President; or if a Vice President is not present, by such person chosen by the Board of Directors; or if none, by a chairperson to be chosen at the meeting by shareholders present in person or by proxy who own a majority of the voting power present. The Secretary of a shareholders meeting shall be the Secretary of the Company; or if the Secretary is not present, an Assistant Secretary, or if an Assistant Secretary is not present, such person as may be chosen by the Board of Directors; or if none, by such person who is chosen by the chairperson at the meeting.

(b) The following order of business, unless otherwise ordered at the shareholders meeting by the chairperson thereof, shall be observed as far as practicable and consistent with the purposes of the meeting:

 

  1. Calling of the shareholders’ meeting to order.

 

  2. Presentation of proof of mailing of the notice of the meeting and, if a special meeting the call thereof.

 

  3. Presentation of proxies.

 

  4. Determination and announcement that a quorum is present.

 

  5. Reading and approval (or waiver thereof) of the minutes of the previous meeting of shareholders.

 

  6. Reports, if any, of officers.

 

  7. Election of directors, if the meeting is an annual meeting or a meeting called for such purpose.

 

  8. Consideration of the specific purpose or purposes for which the meeting has been called, other than election of directors.

 

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  9. Transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

 

  10. Adjournment.

2.14. Annual Report. The President of the Company shall prepare an annual report which will set forth a statement of affairs of the Company as of the end of its last fiscal year, including a balance sheet, an income statement and a statement of changes in financial position, which need not be audited, and present them at the annual meeting of shareholders. Failure to prepare or present an annual report shall not affect the validity of any shareholder meeting. No such report need be prepared or presented for any fiscal year in which the Company was inactive, beyond a statement reflecting the inactive status. This Section shall not apply as to any fiscal year if the Company (i) was at the year end subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and subsequently furnishes to the shareholders an annual report or report on Form 10-K under such Act covering such fiscal year, or (ii) furnishes to shareholders an Information Statement which conforms to the requirements of Rule 15e2-11 of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ARTICLE III

Directors, Powers and Meetings

3.01. General Powers. All corporate powers shall be exercised, and the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed, by or under the authority of its Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in the General Corporation Law of Delaware or the Charter.

3.02. Number, Tenure and Qualifications. The Company’s Board of Directors shall consist of not less than three (3) and not more than seven (7) Directors, as resolved from time to time by the Board of Directors. If such number is not so fixed, the Company shall have THREE Directors. Directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of shareholders, except as otherwise provided below. Each Director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and thereafter until his successor shall have been elected and duly qualified. Directors need not be residents of Delaware or shareholders of the Company. Directors shall be elected by plurality vote. No decrease in the number of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director.

3.03. Vacancies; Resignation.

(a) Any vacancy occurring is the Board of Directors, except resulting from an increase in the number of directors, may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director. A Director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office. Any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of Directors shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire board or by a majority of the total voting power at any annual meeting or at a special meeting of shareholders called for that purpose, or by means of written shareholder consents taken in lieu of a meeting. Every director chosen to fill a vacancy as provided in this Section shall hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until his successor has been elected and qualified.

(b) Any Director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Secretary of the Company. Unless otherwise specified in such written notice, a resignation shall take effect upon delivery to the Board or the designated officer. A resignation need not be accepted in order for it to be effective.

3.04. Removal of Directors. Any Director may be removed only by the shareholders in the manner provided in the Company’s Charter and, if no such provision appears therein, then as provided by law. Such action may be taken at any special meeting called for that purpose or by means of written shareholder consents. In case any vacancy so treated shall not be filled by the shareholders at such meeting or in the written consent effecting removal, such vacancy may be filled by a majority of the Board of Directors.

 

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3.05. Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors may hold both regular and special meetings either within or without the State of Delaware, at such place as the Board of Directors from time to time deems advisable.

3.06. Regular Meetings. A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than these Bylaws immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of shareholders. The Board of Directors may provide by resolution the time and place for the holding of additional regular meetings without other notice than such resolution; provided , that any Director not present when any such resolution is passed is given notice of the resolution.

3.07. Special Meetings. A special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than these Bylaws immediately after and at the same place as every special meeting of shareholders. Special meetings of the Board of Directors also may be called by or at the request of the Chairman of the Board, the President, or any two Directors upon two days’ notice to each director if such notice is delivered personally or sent by telegram, or upon five days’ notice if sent by mail.

3.08. Telephonic Meetings . One or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear one another at the same time. Such participation shall constitute presence in person at the meeting. All participants in any meeting of Directors, by virtue of their participation and without further action on their part shall be deemed to have consented to the recording of such meeting by electronic device or otherwise, and to the making of a written transcript thereof, in order that minutes thereof shall be available for the Company’s records.

3.09. Notice. Except as otherwise provided above, notice of the time, date and place, of every special meeting of Directors or any committee thereof shall be given. Any Director may waive notice of any meeting. The attendance of a Director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a Director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

3.10. Quorum; Adjournments. A majority of the number of directors then in office, present in person or by means of conference telephone or similar equipment, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at every Board meeting, and the act of the majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may otherwise specifically be provided by law, the Charter or these Bylaws. If a quorum is not present at any Board meeting, the directors present may adjourn the meeting, from time to time, without notice other than announcement of the meeting, until a quorum is present.

3.11. Compensation. Directors shall be entitled to such compensation for their services as directors as from time to time may be fixed by the Board and shall be entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable expenses incurred by them in attending Board meetings. A director may waive compensation for any Board meeting. No director who receives compensation as a director shall be barred from serving the Company in any other capacity or from receiving compensation and reimbursement of reasonable expenses for any or all such other services.

3.12. Presumption of Assent. A Director of the Company who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent to such action with the person acting as the Secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof, or shall forward such dissent by registered or certified mail, first class, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Company, provided such mailing is postmarked within ten calendar days after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favor of such action.

 

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3.13. Action by Directors Without Meeting. Any action required to be taken at a meeting of the Directors of the Company or of a committee of Directors or any action which may be taken at such a meeting, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the Directors entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof. A consent shall be sufficient for this Section if it is executed in counterparts, in which event all of such counterparts, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same consent.

3.14. Bank Accounts, etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Board of Directors may, except as may otherwise be required by law, authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, in the name of and on behalf of the Company, to sign checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money or notes or other evidences of indebtedness, to endorse for deposit, deposit to the credit of the Company at any bank or trust company or banking institution in which the Company may maintain an account or to cash checks, notes, drafts, or other bankable securities or instruments, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances, as the Board of Directors may elect.

3.15. Inspection of Records. Every Director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect all books, records, documents of every kind, and the physical properties of the Company and of its subsidiaries. Such inspection may be made personally or by an agent and includes the right to make copies and extracts.

3.16. Executive Committee.

(a) The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board, appoint two or more of its members to constitute an Executive Committee. One of such directors shall be designated as Chairman of the Executive Committee. Each member of the Executive Committee shall continue as a member thereof until the expiration of his term as a director, or until his earlier resignation from the Executive Committee, in either case unless sooner removed as a director or member of the Executive Committee by any means authorized by the Charter or herein.

(b) The Executive Committee shall have and may exercise, to the extent provided in such resolution and except as prohibited by law, all of the rights, power and authority of the Board of Directors.

(c) The Executive Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure and shall meet at such times and at such place or places as may be provided by its rules. The Chairman of the Executive Committee, or in the absence of the Chairman, a member of the Executive Committee chosen by a majority of the members present, shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee, and another member thereof chosen by the Executive Committee shall act as Secretary. A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members thereof shall be required for any action of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings and deliver such minutes to the Board of Directors.

3.17. Other Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution duly adopted by a majority of directors at a meeting at which a quorum is present, appoint an audit committee, compensation committee, and such other committee or committees as it shall deem advisable and with such limited authority as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine.

3.18. Other Provisions Regarding Committees.

(a) The Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, change the membership of, or discharge any Committee. The members of any committee present at any meeting of a committee, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint a director to act in the place of as absent member.

(b) Members of any committee shall be entitled to such compensation for their services as such as from time to time may be fixed by the Board of Directors and in any event shall be entitled to reimbursement of all

 

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reasonable expenses incurred in attending committee meetings. Any member of a committee may waive compensation for any meeting. No member of a committee who receives compensation as a member of one or more committees shall be barred from serving the Company in any other capacity or from receiving compensation and reimbursement of reasonable expenses for any or all such other services.

(c) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, the provisions above concerning action by written consent of directors and meetings of directors by telephonic or similar means shall apply to all committees from time to time, created by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

4.01. Positions. The Company’s officers generally shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall consist of a Chairman of the Board, a President, one or more Vice Presidents if desired, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more other officers, assistant officers and agents as it from time to time deems necessary or appropriate, who shall be chosen in such manner and hold their offices for such terms and have such authority and duties as from time to time may be determined by the Board of Directors. The Board may delegate to the Chairman of the Board the authority to appoint any officer or agent of the Company and to fill a vacancy other than the Chairman of the Board or President. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, except that no person may simultaneously hold the offices of President and Secretary and of President and Vice President. In all cases where the duties of any officer, agent or employee are not prescribed by these bylaws or by the Board of Directors, such officer, agent or employee shall follow the orders and instructions of the President.

4.02. Term of Office; Removal. Each officer of the Company shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board and any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then office; provided , that any officer appointed by the Chairman of the Board pursuant to authority delegated by the Board may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by the Chairman whenever the Chairman in his or her absolute discretion shall consider that the Company’s best interests shall be served by such removal. Removal of an officer by the Board (or the Chairman, as the case may be) shall not prejudice the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not in itself create contract rights.

4.03. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office, however occurring; may be filled by the Board or the Executive Committee, for the unexpired portion of the term by majority vote of its members, or by the Chairman of the Board in the case of a vacancy occurring in an office to which the Chairman has been delegated authority to make appointments.

4.04. Compensation. The salaries of all officers of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Board, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving a salary by reason of the fact that he also receives compensation from the Company in any other capacity.

4.05. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board (“ Chairman ”), if such officer shall be chosen by the Board of Directors, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings of shareholders at which he is present and shall exercise general supervision and direction over the implementation of Board policy affecting the affairs of the Company. Any act which may be performed by the Chief Executive Officer or President may be performed by the Chairman.

4.06. Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer. The Chairman of the Board shall, unless the Board determines otherwise, serve as the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company. If the Chairman is not designated the CEO, then the President shall serve as CEO. The Board may, from time to time, designate

 

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from among the executive officers of the Company an officer to serve as Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) of the Company. If the Chairman serves as the CEO, then the President shall serve as COO. If the President is designated CEO, then the Executive Vice President (or if there is none, then the next most senior Vice President) shall serve is COO. A person designated to serve in the capacity of CEO or COO shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.

A person designated Chief Executive Officer (CEO) shall have primary responsibility for and active charge of the management and supervision of the Company’s business and affairs. The CEO may execute in the name of the Company authorized corporate obligations and other instruments, shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board (or Chairman, as the case may be) from time to time and, in the absence or disability of the President, shall exercise all of the duties and powers of the President. In the event that the President is not the CEO, then the CEO shall supervise the performance of the President and shall be responsible for the execution of the policies and directives of the Board. The CEO shall report directly to the Board. The CEO shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board (or Chairman, as the case may be). The CEO may perform any act which, might be performed by the President.

A person designated Chief Operating Officer (COO) shall be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Company’s operations, subject to the authority of the CEO. The COO shall report directly to the CEO of the Company and shall consult with the CEO on all matters of corporate policy and material business activities of the Company. The COO shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board or the CEO.

4.07. President. The President shall have general active management of the business of the Company, subject to the authority of the Chief Executive Officer if the President is not designated as such, and general supervision of its officers, agents and employees. In the absence of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, he shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and of the Board. In the absence of a designated Chief Executive Officer he shall see that all policies and directives of the Board are carried into effect.

He shall, unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, attend in person or by substitute appointed by him, or shall execute in behalf of the Company written instruments appointing a proxy or proxies to represent the Company, at all meetings of the stockholders of any other company in which the Company shall hold any stock. He may, on behalf of the Company, in person or by substitute or by proxy, execute written waivers of notice and consents with respect to any such meetings. At all such meetings and otherwise, the President, in person or by substitute or proxy as aforesaid, may vote the stock so held by the Company and may execute written consent and other instruments and power incident to the ownership of said stock, subject however to the instructions, if any, of the Chairman or the Board of Directors. The President shall have custody of the Treasurer’s bond, if any.

4.08. Executive Vice President. The Executive Vice President shall assist the President in the discharge of supervisory, managerial and executive duties and functions. In the absence of the President or in the event of his death, or inability or refusal to act, the Executive Vice President shall perform the duties of the President and when so acting shall have the duties and powers of the President. He shall perform such ether duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the President, Chairman or Board of directors.

4.09. Vice Presidents. The Vice Presidents, if any, shall assist the President and Executive Vice President and shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman or the President. Vice Presidents in the order of their seniority shall, in the absence or disability of the Chairman and President, exercise all of the duties and powers of such officers. The Executive Vice president, if any, shall be the most senior of Vice Presidents, and the Senior Vice President, if any, shall be the next most senior of Vice President. In regard to other Vice Presidents, they shall have the respective ranks designated by the Board of Directors, or if none has been so designated, as designated by the Chairman, or if none has been so designated by the Chairman, they shall rank is the order of their respective elections to such office. The execution of any instrument on the Company’s behalf by a Vice President shall be conclusive evidence, as to third parties, of his authority to act in the stead of the President and Executive Vice President.

 

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4.10. Secretary. The Secretary shall: (i) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the shareholders and the Board of Directors and record all votes and proceedings thereof in a book kept for that purpose; (ii) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (iii) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Company and affix the seal to all documents when authorized by the Board of Directors; (iv) keep at its registered office or principal place of business within or outside Delaware a record containing the names and addresses of all shareholders and the number and class of shares held by each, unless such a record shall be kept at the office of the Company’s transfer agent or registrar, (v) sign with the President, or a Vice President, certificates for shares of the Company, the issuance of which shall have been authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors; (vi) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Company, unless the Company has a transfer agent; and (vii) in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the President or the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may give general authority to officers other than the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary to affix the Company’s seal and to attest the fixing thereof by his or her signature.

4.11. Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary, if any (or if there is more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order designated, or in the absence of any designation, in the order of their appointment), in the absence or disability of the Secretary, shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary. The Assistant Secretary(ies) shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer. The Chairman may appoint one or more Assistant Secretary(ies) to office.

4.12. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall, unless the Board otherwise resolves, be the principal financial officer and principal accounting officer of the Company and shall have the care and custody of all funds, securities, evidence of indebtedness and other valuable effects of the Company, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all money and other valuable effects of the Company in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as from time to time may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company in such manner as may be ordered by the Board from time to time and shall render to the Chairman of the Board, the President and the Board; at regular Board meetings or whenever any of them may so require, an account of all transactions and of the Company’s financial condition.

4.13. Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer, if any (or if there is more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order designated, or in the absence of any designation, in the order of their appointment), in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer(s) shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer. The Chairman may appoint one or more Assistant Treasurer(s) to office.

4.14. Resignations. Any officer may resign at my time by giving written notice to the Board or to the Chairman. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein and, unless specified therein, no acceptance of the resignation shall be required for the resignation to be effective.

4.15. Delegation of Duties. In the event of the absence or disability of any officer of the Company, or for any other reason the Board shall deem sufficient, the Board may temporarily designate the powers and duties, or particular powers and duties, of such officer to any other officer, or to any director.

4.16. Fidelity Bonds. The Board of Directors shall have the power, to the extent permitted by law, to require any officer, agent or employee of the Company to give bond for the faithful discharge of his duties in such form and with such surety or sureties as the Board deems advisable.

 

14


ARTICLE V

Indemnification

Every Director, officer, employee and agent of the Company, and every person serving at the Company’s request as a director, officer (or in a position functionally equivalent to that of officer or director), employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity, shall be indemnified to the extent and in the manner provided by the Company’s Charter, as it may be amended, and if no such provision appears therein, then in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE VI

Miscellaneous

6.01. Declaration of Dividends. The Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting may declare dividends payable, whenever in the exercise of its discretion it may deem such declaration advisable and such is permitted by law. Such dividends may be paid in cash property, or shares of the Company.

6.02. Benefit Programs. Directors shall have the power to install and authorize any pension, profit sharing, stock option, insurance, welfare, educational, bonus, health and accident or other benefit program which the Board deems to be in the interest of the Company, at the expense of the Company, and to amend or revoke any plan so adopted.

6.03. Seal. The corporate seal of the Company shall be circular in form and shall contain the name of the Company, the year of its incorporation and the words “Seal, Delaware”.

6.04. Fiscal Year. The Board of Directors may fix; and from time to time change, the fiscal year of the Company. Any such adoption of or change in a fiscal year shall not constitute or require an amendment to these Bylaws.

ARTICLE VII

Amendments to Bylaws

These Bylaws may be amended or repealed in the manner provided for in the Charter, or if none is there provided by majority vote of the Board of Directors, taken at any meeting or by written consent, subject to the shareholders’ right to change or repeal any Bylaws so made or adopt new Bylaws by vote of at least two thirds (2/3) of the total voting power. Bylaws amendments may be proposed by any Director or shareholder. Any action, duly taken by the Board or the shareholders which conflicts or is inconsistent with these Bylaws (as they may be amended) shall constitute an amendment of the Bylaws, if the action was taken by such number of directors or shares voting as would be sufficient for amendment of the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VIII

Notices

8.01. Giving of Notice. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, all notices required to be given under these Bylaws shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given (1) by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, (2) by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, (3) by sending such notice by electronic transmission, or (4) by any other means as may from time to time be permitted under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

 

15


Notice given by hand delivery will be deemed given when actually received by the recipient. Notice given by mail shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the recipient at such recipient’s address as it appears on the records of the Company.

Notice may also be given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the recipient to whom the notice is given; and any such consent shall be revoked if (1) the Company is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Company in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. Notice given pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the recipient has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the recipient has consented to receive notice; (3) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the recipient of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the recipient. An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Company that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

For purposes of these Bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

8.02. Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the General Corporation Law of Delaware or the Charter or these Bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Charter or these Bylaws.

APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the board of Directors as of March 9, 1992, amended and restated April 13, 2004 and further amended and restated March 21, 2006.

 

16

Exhibit 10.2

February 24, 2006

Steve Stringer

Dear Steve,

American Technology Corporation (“Company”) is very pleased to confirm our offer of employment. This offer is contingent upon satisfactory results of all reference, education, and background checks and is based on the following terms and conditions:

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

 

Reporting To:

John Zavoli, President and Chief Operating Officer

 

Start Date:

April 1, 2006

 

Salary:

Your salary as an exempt employee will be $8,125.00 gross Semi-monthly or $195,000 annually.

 

Incentive Plan:

Although the Company currently does not maintain a bonus or incentive plan, the Company will be working towards implementing an incentive plan. The planned targeted date for structuring a formal incentive plan will be within 90 days of the commencement of your employment. The incentive plan will be based in part on your achievement of detailed quarterly and annual goals. The detailed quarterly and annual goals will be created jointly by you and John Zavoli and will require approval by the Board of Directors. Any incentive so determined will be payable at the same time as annual incentives are paid to other executive officers of the Company.

 

Stock Options:

Management will recommend to the Compensation Committee at its first meeting following your start date, that you be granted stock options to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock. These options are presently available to accommodate this recommendation. The Compensation Committee has the discretion to approve or deny the grant. The recommended options will have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock (determined in accordance with our 2005 Stock Option Plan) on the date the Compensation Committee approves the grant, and will be exercisable for five (5) years after grant, subject to earlier termination as set forth in the 2005 Stock Option Plan. The recommended options will vest over four (4) years with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of grant, and then in equal quarterly installments over the following three years of continuous service with the Company.

 

Health Benefits:

The Company offers a comprehensive benefits plan that includes medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability and life insurances. The company pays 100% of the premiums for yourself and your dependents. The company reserves the right to amend the terms of the benefit programs, including premiums, at any time. Benefits begin the first day of the month following your hire date. Except for the 401(k), this has quarterly enrollments.

 

Paid Time Off & Holidays:

You will receive 15 days of accrued Paid Time Off (PTO) annually, in use for vacation or for personal time off. PTO hours are accrued per pay period.


 

The Company offers 9-paid holidays each calendar year. You must be on active status the day before and the day after the holiday to receive holiday pay.

 

Retirement:

A 401k package is available with multiple investment options and the company matches 25% of the employee’s deferral up to 6% of your annual earnings. (Note: Some IRS limitations may apply.)

 

Arbitration:

As a contingency of this offer, you will be required to sign the attached Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate (“Arbitration Agreement”).

Due to the enactment of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, this offer is contingent on your ability to produce acceptable documentation verifying your eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to present the necessary documents on the day you begin work at American Technology Corp.

Additionally, as a condition of this offer and of your employment with American Technology Corp., you will be required to preserve the Company’s proprietary and confidential information and you must comply with the Company’s policies and procedures. Accordingly, you will be required to execute the Company’s Non-Disclosure Agreement on your first date of employment.

If accepted, your employment will be at-will with no specified period or term of employment. This means that either you or the Company may terminate employment at anytime, with or without reason. The Company may also transfer, promote, demote or otherwise alter your position and/or status at any time and for any reason. An employment agreement for a specified period of time, which contradicts this at-will agreement, may only be entered into in writing, signed by the President of the Corporation.

Please acknowledge your acceptance of our offer by signing below and returning a copy of this letter to us.

If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.

Yours truly,

/s/ J OHN Z AVOLI                

John Zavoli

President/COO

I understand and agree to the terms and conditions set forth in this letter. I further understand that any misrepresentations that I have made on my employment application or resume can result in termination. I acknowledge that no statement contradicting this letter, oral or written, has been made to me, that I am not relying on any statement or term not contained in this letter, and that no agreements exist which are contrary to the terms and conditions set forth in this letter.

 

Accepted by : /s/    Steven D. Stringer   

Date : 2/24/06

Exhibit 10.3

February 17, 2006

James Taylor

Dear JT,

American Technology Corporation (“Company”) is very pleased to confirm our offer of employment. This offer is contingent upon satisfactory results of all reference, education, and background checks and is based on the following terms and conditions:

 

Title:

Vice President, General Counsel

 

Reporting To:

John Zavoli, President and Chief Operating Officer

 

Start Date:

TBD

 

Salary:

Your starting salary as an exempt employee will be $7,083.33 gross Semi-monthly or $170,000 annually.

 

Stock Options:

Management will recommend to the Compensation Committee at its first meeting following your start date, that you be granted stock options to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock. These options are presently available to accommodate this recommendation. The Compensation Committee has the discretion to approve or deny the grant. The recommended options will have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock (determined in accordance with our 2005 Stock Option Plan) on the date the Compensation Committee approves the grant, and will be exercisable for five (5) years after grant, subject to earlier termination as set forth in the 2005 Stock Option Plan. The recommended options will vest over four (4) years with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of grant, and then in equal quarterly installments over the following three years of continuous service with the Company.

 

Performance Review:

You will be eligible for a six month performance review.

 

Health Benefits:

The Company offers a comprehensive benefits plan that includes medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability and life insurances. The Company pays 100% of the premiums for all benefits. The Company reserves the right to amend the terms of the benefit programs, including premiums, at any time. Benefits begin the first day of the month following your hire date. Except for the 401(k) which has quarterly enrollments.

 

Paid Time Off & Holidays:

You will receive 15 days of accrued Paid Time Off (PTO) annually, in use for vacation or for personal time off. PTO hours are accrued per pay period.

 

 

The Company offers 9-paid holidays each calendar year. You must be on active status the day before and the day after the holiday to receive holiday pay.

 

Retirement:

A 401k package is available with multiple investment options and the company matches 25% of the employee’s deferral up to 6% of your annual earnings. (Note: Some IRS limitations may apply.)

 

Arbitration:

As a contingency of this offer, you will be required to sign the attached Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate (“Arbitration Agreement”).


Due to the enactment of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, this offer is contingent on your ability to produce acceptable documentation verifying your eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to present the necessary documents on the day you begin work at American Technology Corp.

Additionally, as a condition of this offer and of your employment with American Technology Corp., you will be required to preserve the Company’s proprietary and confidential information and you must comply with the Company’s policies and procedures. Accordingly, you will be required to execute the Company’s Non-Disclosure Agreement on your first date of employment.

If accepted, your employment will be at-will with no specified period or term of employment. This means that either you or the Company may terminate employment at anytime, with or without reason. The Company may also transfer, promote, demote or otherwise alter your position and/or status at any time and for any reason. An employment agreement for a specified period of time, which contradicts this at-will agreement, may only be entered into in writing, signed by the President of the Corporation.

Please acknowledge your acceptance of our offer by signing below and returning a copy of this letter to us no later than close of business on Tuesday, February 21, 2006. If we do not receive your response by close of business February 21, 2006 this offer will be withdrawn.

If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.

Yours truly,

/s/ J OHN Z AVOLI                

John Zavoli

President/COO

I understand and agree to the terms and conditions set forth in this letter. I further understand that any misrepresentations that I have made on my employment application or resume can result in termination. I acknowledge that no statement contradicting this letter, oral or written, has been made to me, that I am not relying on any statement or term not contained in this letter, and that no agreements exist which are contrary to the terms and conditions set forth in this letter.

 

Accepted by:  /s/    James T. Taylor   

Date: 2/28/06

EXHIBIT 10.4

SUMMARY SHEET OF DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER

COMPENSATION FOR QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

Bonus Payments to Executive Officers

A discretionary bonus in the amount of $7,500 to Mr. Alan J. Ballard, Vice President, Government and Military Division, was paid on January 31, 2006, and a discretionary bonus in the amount of $7,500 was paid to Ms. Rose Tomich-Litz, Vice President, Operations, on March 16, 2006.

Commercial Group Commission Plan

On March 21, 2006, upon recommendation of our compensation committee, our board of directors ratified a new commission plan for our Commercial Group. In connection with this plan, upon recommendation of our compensation committee, our board approved a revision of the compensation for Mr. Bruce Gray, our Vice President of the Commercial Products Group. Mr. Gray’s commission plan was restated effective for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 to revise the quarterly revenue targets and the commission formula. A portion of the commission is paid based on direct sales by Mr. Gray based on personal revenue targets, and a portion is paid as an override based on revenue targets for the group supervised by Mr. Gray. The portion payable as override is payable only if revenue targets are achieved, and is capped at 50% of Mr. Gray’s base salary. The revised plan provides for an aggregate target commission of approximately $66,000 for the last three quarters of fiscal 2006, but commissions could exceed such amount if Mr. Gray’s direct sales or group sales exceed revenue targets. In connection with entry into the revised plan, Mr. Gray’s base salary was adjusted to $180,000 per year effective March 16, 2006.

 

1

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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) 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) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  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 control over financial reporting.

Date: May 10, 2006

 

/s/    E LWOOD G. N ORRIS        

Elwood G. Norris, Chairman of the Board

(Co-Principal Executive Officer)

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATIONS

I, John R. Zavoli, 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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) 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) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  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 control over financial reporting.

Date: May 10, 2006

 

/s/    J OHN R. Z AVOLI        

John R. Zavoli, President
and Chief Operating Officer

(Co-Principal Executive Officer)

Exhibit 31.3

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Steven D. Stringer, 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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) 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) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  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 control over financial reporting.

Date: May 10, 2006

 

/s/    S TEVEN D. S TRINGER

Steven D. Stringer, 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 March 31, 2006 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: May 10, 2006

 

/s/    E LWOOD G. N ORRIS        

Elwood G. Norris, Chairman of the Board

(Co-Principal Executive Officer)

/s/    J OHN R. Z AVOLI        

John R. Zavoli, President, Chief Operating Officer

(Co-Principal Executive Officer)

/s/    S TEVEN D. S TRINGER        

Steven D. Stringer, Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)