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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
(Mark One)
|X| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended................................February 28, 2002
OR
|_| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
For the transition period from to...........................
Commission File Number...............................0-17249
AURA SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware 95-4106894
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization) Identification No.)
2335 Alaska Ave.
El Segundo, California 90245
(Address of principal executive offices)
(310) 643-5300
Registrant's telephone number
Name of each exchange
on which registered
None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes |X| No |_|
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. |_|
On May 24, 2002 the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by
non-affiliates of the Registrant was $94,121,000. The aggregate market value has
been computed by reference to the last trading price of the stock on May 24,
2002. On such date the Registrant had 408,782,576 shares of common stock
outstanding.
When used in this report, the word "expects," "anticipates," and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding
future events and the Company's plans and expectations. The Company's actual
results may differ significantly from the results discussed in forward-looking
statements as a result of certain factors, including those discussed in this
report. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to
release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements
contained herein to reflect any changes in the Company's expectations with
regard hereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any
such statement is based. This Report includes product names, trade names and
marks of companies other than the Company. All such company or product names are
trademarks, registered trademarks, trade names or marks of their respective
owners and are not the property of the Company.
PART I
ITEM 1 BUSINESS
A. INTRODUCTION
Aura Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, ("Aura" or the "Company") was
founded in 1987. Aura designs, assembles and sells the AuraGen(R), the Company's
patented mobile power generator that uses the engine of the vehicle to generate
power. It installs under-the-hood in many motor vehicles and delivers
on-location, plug-in electricity for any end use including industrial,
commercial, recreational and military applications. Compared to the traditional
solutions (i.e., gensets and inverters) addressing the multi-billion dollar
North American mobile power market, the Company believes the AuraGen(R) uniquely
and conveniently provides cleaner electricity with greater reliability and
flexibility at a lower cost to the end user. The Company began commercializing
the AuraGen(R) in late 1999 as a 5,000 watt 120/240V AC machine compatible with
certain Chevrolet engine models. In mid and late 2001, the Company added an
8,500 watt configuration and also introduced AC/DC and Inverter Charger System
(ICS) options. The Company now has configurations available for more than 90
different engine types including a majority of General Motors and Ford models,
many DaimlerChrysler models and numerous others made by Caterpillar, Detroit
Diesel, Cummins, Freightliner and Navistar, among other chassis and engine
manufacturers.
B. THE AURAGEN(R)
The AuraGen(R) is a patented induction power system that uses the
engine of a vehicle to produce electrical energy. The AuraGen(R) is the only
proven, commercialized power system available that can generate up to 8,500
watts of pure sine wave power and is fully integrated under the hood of a
vehicle. While traditional mobile sources of electricity can exhibit voltage
fluctuations, spikes, surges and other inconsistencies, the AuraGen(R) delivers
pure sine wave (or "clean") power. Pure sine wave power is generally desired and
often required to safely and reliably operate highly sensitive digital
equipment, such as computers or surveillance equipment.
The AuraGen(R) is composed of three basic subsystems. The first
subsystem is a mechanical device that is bolted to the vehicle engine. The
mechanical subsystem generates electricity when it is rotated by the vehicle
engine in a manner similar to a conventional alternator. Unlike an alternator,
however, the induction generator is able to generate maximum power at engine
RPM's from enhanced idle to redline for gasoline engines and true idle to
redline for larger diesel engines. The second subsystem is an electronic control
unit that can be mounted anywhere in the vehicle except under the hood. The
electronic control unit filters and conditions the electricity to provide clean,
steady voltages for both AC and DC power at all engine speeds. The third
subsystem is comprised of a set of mounting brackets and supporting components
for integration under the hood.
The Company sells two basic models with a number of options. The models
currently available produce 5,000 watts of continuous power with 7,200 watts
peak and 8,000 watts continuous with 9,000 watts peak, respectively. AC output
is in the form of dual 120/240 volts pure sine wave at a frequency of 60 Hertz.
In addition, both of the above models are available in configurations that
divide the maximum power between AC and DC. The DC available power can be either
14 volts or 28 volts. In fiscal 2002, the Company began to offer a new model
that generates up to 6,000 watts of power with the vehicle engine either on or
off. Whether the engine is on or off is totally transparent to the user. This
new model uses auxiliary batteries as a power source in conjunction with the
AuraGen(R) system to generate pure sine wave AC power while the engine is off.
As soon as the engine is turned on, the system switches automatically from
generating AC power from the batteries to generating AC power from the induction
power source attached to the vehicle engine. This process occurs up to without
any dips or spikes, and at the same time the AuraGen(R) starts charging the
auxiliary batteries at the maximum safe charging speed of 125 amps.
Aura provides custom engineered brackets for both the 5,000 watt and
8,500 watt systems that attach to over 90 different engine models. The brackets
are designed to fit most General Motors gasoline and diesel engines from 4.8 to
7.4 liters, Ford gasoline and diesel engines from 4.2 to 7.3 liters and
DaimlerChrysler 5.2 to 5.9 liter engines. In addition the Company has designed
custom engineered brackets for numerous diesel engines provided by AM General,
Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Navistar, Caterpillar and Freightliner. The Company
also provides power-take-off (PTO), as well as hydraulic driven interfaces for
the bigger trucks that do not involve direct attachment to the vehicle engine.
C. Mobile Power Industry
The mobile power generation market is large and growing. Based on
studies conducted by the U.S. government, Business Communications Company, Inc.
("BCC") and others, the Company estimates there are at least $2.5 billion in
revenues from the North American mobile power generation market in 1999 (not
including gensets used in welding machines), an increase of 8.8% from 1998. The
Company projects North American market revenues will reach over $3.9 billion in
2006 and estimate the worldwide market to be twice the North American market.
Based on these studies, the Company estimates that the worldwide mobile power
market will grow between 4% and 5% per annum over the next few years. Worldwide
growth is expected to be fueled by increases in the development and construction
of industrial infrastructures, adoption of new mobile power applications and
increased use of electronic sensors and instruments in less developed areas
where grid-based electricity is unavailable or unreliable.
Vehicles used in the telecommunications, utilities, catering, public
works, construction, oil and gas industries, emergency/rescue, military and
recreational vehicles rely heavily on mobile power. Mobile work sites require
on-location electricity to power equipment ranging from computers to power
tools. Buses require supplemental power to run fare meters and air conditioners.
Military and police vehicles require clean mobile power to run sensitive
computers and surveillance equipment. Emergency vehicles require supplementary
power to operate numerous monitoring devices. Construction and utility vehicles
require on-location electricity to run power tools and lights. Oil and gas
vehicles require on-site power to run surveying equipment, as well as computers
and numerous sensors and instruments. Recreational vehicles require supplemental
power to run televisions, refrigerators and other appliances. Mobile backup
power has become increasingly important as electric grid system overcrowding and
degradation has compromised the quality and reliability of traditional sources
of electricity.
The two primary options available to users of mobile power today are
gensets and inverters. Gensets are large, heavy and inefficient power generation
units which are not incorporated into the vehicle and require external fuel,
either gasoline or diesel, in order to generate electricity. Gensets are
generally noisy and cumbersome to transport because of their weight and size.
Genset technology has been utilized since the 1930s and has evolved little since
that time. Inverters convert the DC electricity stored in automotive or other
batteries to AC electricity, which is required by a wide range of mobile
applications. Due to their low power output capabilities, inverters are
typically used for applications that require less than 2,500 watts of power. As
an inverter does not generate power, the user must rely entirely on the power
stored in the batteries for mobile power needs. As the batteries are drained,
the user must recharge them by connecting into a grid power source, which is
known as "shore power," or through gensets or other means.
D. Competitive Advantages
Superior Product
More Convenient. The AuraGen(R) is significantly smaller and lighter
than a conventional genset and more powerful than an inverter, making it a more
convenient mobile power solution. Most gensets are large and weigh hundreds of
pounds while the AuraGen(R) mechanical system weighs approximately 65 lbs and
fits under the hood of a vehicle. Because the AuraGen(R) is installed directly
in the vehicle, many hassles associated with gensets (e.g., locating,
transporting, positioning and hooking it up) are eliminated, and the units
themselves are less vulnerable to theft. Inverters require battery banks for
power generation. These batteries are capable of delivering large amounts of
electricity for short periods of time, but must be charged frequently, which
normally requires overnight charging via shore power.
More Cost Effective. For the same output, the AuraGen(R) uses less
power and is less expensive to operate than the other currently available mobile
power solutions. The Company believes the cost to operate a typical genset is
approximately $0.92 per kW/hour and the cost to operate a typical inverter is
approximately $0.70 per kW/hour. The cost to operate a comparable AuraGen(R) is
approximately $0.46 per kW/hour while the vehicle is stationary. When power is
needed while the vehicle is in motion (e.g., recreational vehicles, ambulances,
police vehicles, military vehicles), the cost to operate the AuraGen(R) drops to
approximately $0.28 per kW/hour.
More Reliable. Compared to the other mobile power solutions, the
Company believes the AuraGen(R) is more reliable. The AuraGen(R) has a three
year warranty compared to the typical one year warranty available for a
comparable genset or inverter. The AuraGen(R) warranty imposes no limitation on
mileage or hour usage for the end user. Additionally, there are few moving parts
in the AuraGen(R) which minimizes repair and replacement costs attributable to
normal use.
More Flexible. The AuraGen(R) can deliver 120V AC, 240V AC, 12V DC and
24V DC electricity. Other DC voltages can be programmed (such as 42V), thereby
making the AuraGen(R) compatible with a wider range of electrical equipment. The
AuraGen(R) Inverter Charger System (ICS) unit delivers power with the engine
both on and off. This flexibility also allows the AuraGen(R) to satisfy the
power generation needs of most end users.
Higher Quality Electricity. The quality of electricity has become more
important as computers and other technologically advanced products have become
more widely available and utilized. This type of equipment generally requires
"clean" or pure sine wave electricity. Because gensets usually do not deliver
pure sine wave electricity, they are not well-suited for digital instruments and
sensors. Gensets occasionally deliver power spikes that can damage sensitive
instruments. The AuraGen(R) produces pure sine wave electricity which is safer
for sensitive equipment. Inverters that produce pure sine wave electricity are
available but more expensive than standard inverters and relatively uncommon.
The Company has measured a 2% THD (total harmonic distortion) for the electrical
output from an AuraGen(R), which compares favorably to the output of that from a
typical power company electric grid. The Company believes the voltage produced
by the AuraGen(R) is more stable than the voltage produced by the grid, without
expensive filters, due to dips in voltage on grid power that result from sudden
load increases.
Safer for the Environment. The AuraGen(R) is considerably more fuel
efficient than the other currently available mobile power solutions. The
AuraGen(R) uses the automotive engine which is the most efficient gasoline or
diesel engine available and is highly regulated for environmental protection.
Gensets use small engines without the numerous smog controls available on
vehicles.
Significant Barriers to Entry
Patents. The inventions upon which the AuraGen(R)is based are protected by
patents issued in the U.S. and key foreign countries. The first of Aura's
domestic patents does not expire until 2015. The Company intends to defend its
patents vigorously.
Capital and Time Intensive Research and Development Required. Creating
and patenting the AuraGen(R) required over $150 million and 600 man-years of
engineering, research and development. To Aura's knowledge, there are no other
patents to this technology. The mobile power technology in existence today was
developed approximately 70 years ago and has changed little since then. Research
and development in electric motor and power generation is extremely time
intensive and has recently been an underdeveloped field of study. The Company
believes that it would require a significant capital and time investment to
develop a "next generation" technology.
Lengthy and Demanding Evaluation and Approval Process Imposed by
Manufacturers and End Users. Manufacturers and end users of mobile power
solutions (including the military) typically require completion of extensive
evaluation and approval processes before embracing new systems. The process by
which vehicle manufacturers, fleet purchasers and the military evaluate and
adopt new components to be included in their vehicles is lengthy and demanding.
In fact, this process can last several years as manufacturers and lobbyists
debate specifications with regulators and end users. The Company's largest
target customers, including GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler, have already invested
the time and capital required to evaluate and test the AuraGen(R). In addition,
after extensive testing, a number of Federal, state and local government
departments, utilities and major industrial companies have approved the
AuraGen(R) for purchase. Any new competing product would need to initiate the
same lengthy and demanding evaluation process.
E. Target Markets
Based on studies conducted by the U.S. government, BCC and others, the
Company estimates that in 1999 the North American market produced revenues of at
least $2.5 billion increasing 8.8% from 1998. Based on these same studies, the
Company estimates that the worldwide market in 1999 produced over $5.0 billion
in revenues and will grow between 4% and 5% per annum over the next several
years. The following discussion outlines the target markets that are being
pursued by the Company.
Recreational Vehicles ("RVs")
Currently, 8.6 million households own an RV, according to a University
of Michigan study. In 1999, RV manufacturers shipped over 320,000 units of
various configurations. The study also projects that the number of RV-owning
households will grow to 10.4 million by the year 2010. The AuraGen(R) offers
significant benefits to RV users who need electric power. These benefits include
fuel savings (the AuraGen(R) uses only the RV engine), reduced maintenance costs
(no required scheduled maintenance), no power derating due to altitude or
temperature, and the ability to use the system in campgrounds without noise
(using the "engine off" mode). The Company's system significantly reduces
pollution compared to the existing gensets. In addition, since the AuraGen(R) is
located under the hood, the AuraGen(R) system frees up additional space that can
be used for storage. Also, the AuraGen(R) is competitive in price with gensets
used in the RV industry.
Military and Other Federal Agencies
The United States Military is an important target market for the
AuraGen(R), code named "VIPER" (Vehicle Integrated Primary Electrical Resource).
The Company believes the AuraGen(R) is a superior mobile power solution compared
with alternatives for virtually all military applications. Producing quiet,
clean power from vehicles at low engine speed is critical as the U.S. Army adds
digital applications with numerous sophisticated electronics and sensors to its
war fighting capabilities. Aura is currently working with the Army to evaluate
the use of the AuraGen(R) in multiple vehicle types. Aura is also pursuing
discussions with other Federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI), Border Patrol, U.S. Postal Service, Department of
Transportation (DOT) and Department of Energy (DOE).
Telecommunications
The telecommunications industry is an important target market for the
AuraGen(R) because the industry regularly uses mobile power in its daily
activities. This industry requires reliable, clean mobile power that can be used
for sensitive instruments while providing brute power for compressors and tools.
In addition, the industry needs a user friendly integrated solution so that
employees can focus on the job-at-hand rather than on operating the mobile power
unit. Currently the AuraGen(R) is used in limited numbers by several television
broadcasting stations in mobile news vehicles, as well as by a number of cable
and telephone companies for numerous applications.
Utilities
Utilities present another major target market for the AuraGen(R)
because the industry is heavily dependent on the use of mobile power in
maintenance and service activities. The technical advantages of the AuraGen(R)
have generated a high level of interest from utility companies across the United
States. In addition, the Company believes that for many existing traffic light
systems, for which utilities are responsible, the AuraGen(R) is the only mobile
power system available which provides the required clean power at constant 120
volts that is needed to power the lights when power company electric power is
interrupted. Power interruption can be caused by many events, including, among
others, damage to power lines caused by accidents or weather. Numerous utilities
in the U.S. have purchased the AuraGen(R) system and continue evaluating the
product for their applications to better meet their requirements.
Emergency/Rescue
The emergency/rescue market consists of fire trucks, ambulances, police
vehicles and vehicles from other organizations used during emergencies. This
market relies heavily upon mobile power for lights, communications gear,
instruments, medical equipment and digital equipment and tools. As the
emergency/rescue market has undergone a transition to digital equipment and
portable computers, it has experienced constant growth in mobile power needs.
The AuraGen(R) provides an effective solution to the needs of this industry.
Approximately 20 organizations have already started to use the AuraGen(R).
Catering
The mobile food industry, in addition to traditional party and event
catering, delivers perishable food to remote locations. Some of the catering
trucks still use ice for their refrigeration needs, while others use
compressors. New health department regulations in some jurisdictions will
require fans in trucks that are used for cooking. The need for mobile
electricity for refrigeration, microwaves and other appliances is constantly
growing, fueled by regulation and customer demand. The AuraGen(R), with its
ability to produce electric power whether the engine is on or off, is an
excellent and cost effective solution to this industry's needs.
Public Works/Construction
The public works and construction market comprises a large number of
municipalities and construction companies that use portable power for their
projects. Approximately 35 municipalities are already using the AuraGen(R) in
limited quantities in their service and work trucks. The Company provides
significant cost savings when total life-cycle costs are calculated. The
AuraGen(R) does not require scheduled maintenance, thereby increasing
availability. The public works and construction industry is changing with the
introduction of computers and other sensitive digital equipment in the field.
These changes require clean, pure sine wave power in order to function
efficiently at job sites.
Oil and Gas
The Company has targeted the field applications of oil and gas
companies as a market because the nature of the oil and gas industry is such
that many gensets are purchased every year. Reliability and clean power are
critical in this industry where "down time" or damage to sensitive equipment can
result in large losses. A typical application in an oil or gas field requires
the use of mobile power many hours per day, an environment in which gensets are
prone to failure, and causing high maintenance costs. Additionally, a typical
field site uses digital equipment that requires the clean power available from
the AuraGen(R) for numerous measurements and data processing. This is an ideal
environment for the AuraGen(R), since life cycle costs are such that payback can
be measured in months, and the AuraGen(R) is reliable and produces high quality
power. Currently, the Company has numerous units being evaluated and used in
locations across the country.
F. COMPANY STRENGTHS
Aura's unique position in under-the-hood mobile power generation stems
from approximately ten years of innovative research and development. This effort
has culminated in the Company's unique, patented, fully-integrated products that
are totally transparent to the users and provide clean pure sine wave power to
industrial, commercial and military users through their vehicles.
Technology Leadership
Aura has an engineering department with extensive experience in
mechanical, electrical, software, manufacturing and system engineering. In
addition, the Company has a strong dedicated team that continuously develops
engine mount systems for new applications. All engineering, including
specifications, acceptance test criteria, packaging and documentation, is
performed in-house.
The Company's technology allows for the manufacture of induction
machines with a one-half to two-thirds reduction in weight and size for the same
output. The machine itself does not use any exotic materials (e.g., high energy
permanent magnets), and the components are relatively simple to manufacture with
conventional tooling. In addition to these mechanical advantages, the system
uses a proprietary control system that optimizes efficiency as a function of
required load. While the technology has widespread applications over a large
range of horsepower, the Company's products are best utilized for machines in
the range of 1.5 to 50 horsepower (1,000 watts is approximately equal to 1.5
horsepower).
Quality, Reliability and Safety
The Company grew out of the aerospace and defense industry. Thus,
quality and reliability are an integral part of Aura's business culture. The
AuraGen(R) is designed for quality, reliability and safety in heavy industrial,
commercial and military usage.
To ensure quality the Company uses highly qualified suppliers, the
majority of which are ISO 9002 compliant. The Company performs qualification
testing on the AuraGen(R) hardware components, the electronic control unit, all
software and on fully installed in-vehicle systems to ensure reliability in the
field. The qualification testing includes: 1) in-house endurance testing, 2)
in-house parametric thermal testing, 3) in-house power quality testing and 4)
laboratory environmental testing. Also, field failure analysis is performed on
any failed units.
In addition to qualification testing, the Company has established a
Quality Management system and is pursuing ISO 9001 registration. Elements
include a controlled manufacturing lot tracking system, documentation and
configuration control system, as well as acceptance test and compliance
procedures at all manufacturing levels, including suppliers. The Company also
uses Statistical Process Control ("SPC"), in-process inspection and functional
tests on its AuraGen(R) assembly line.
The Company designed the AuraGen(R) system, both mechanical and
electronic components, for durability. Units under test are continuously cycled
through demanding endurance operating environments. In addition, the Company
performed laboratory destructive testing to determine when the system would fail
in order to establish performance limits. The Company sets specifications and
designed the system to be well below the performance limits. Besides the
laboratory tests, the Company has conducted extensive testing of the AuraGen(R)
in the field. There are thousands of units being used for multiple applications
and in all types of operating environments, providing a good sample set for
reliability analysis. The results show very low failure rates, which are
constantly being reduced via minor hardware modifications, better assembly
procedures and improved installation training. The U.S. Army has performed its
own tests and is continuing to test the AuraGen(R) under severe conditions. In
particular, the AuraGen(R) has been air-drop-certified by the Army. The VIPER
(the Army name for the AuraGen(R)) is now in use by special operations forces.
The AuraGen(R) system was designed for safety by including built-in
protection for the user and the machine. There are multiple user safety features
that include over-voltage and over-current shutdown, GFI plugs and super fast
circuit breakers, and over-RPM shutdown. In addition, all the high voltage lines
are encased in grounded metal conduit and any fault causes the idle control to
mechanically disengage. In order to protect the system the Company designed
automatic shut downs for short-circuits, overheating, battery voltage line
interruption and idle control failure. The battery lines are protected with
re-settable fuses.
Product Support
Aura is a system house that provides a turnkey product and service to
support the Company's customers in every area. The Company performs all of the
development, from basic physics to detailed engineering. This range of core
capabilities provides a solid foundation to resolve technical issues, develop an
ongoing line of new products and to continually enhance the Company's products.
The Company has fully developed training materials and provides several levels
of training to installers nationwide. The Company also provides field support
through regional resident field engineers. The Company provides technical
information via installation manuals, catalogs and service bulletins. The
Company's installation software includes a "Call Home" feature that allows those
with the proper access to get software upgrades automatically, along with remote
diagnostic capability. The Company has a mechanism in place to track performance
and field failures to enhance product reliability and to maintain and improve
customer satisfaction.
The Company's vehicle integration team develops, engineers and supplies
all of the brackets, pulleys, idlers, belts, tensioners and other components
that comprise a mounting system. The group also specifies all of the
requirements of the AuraGen(R) to allow its use with other mobile drives, such
as hydraulic systems and Power Take Off ("PTO").
The Company provides a three-year standard warranty for its products.
The warranty can be extended for another two years for an additional cost.
Strong Management Team
The Company has a strong management team in place with in-depth
experience covering all principal functional areas. This team has extensive
experience in applying new technologies to develop advanced new products. The
team is particularly strong in transforming technology into high quality and
high reliability industrial products, along with the ability to establish
effective sales and distribution channels.
G. GROWTH STRATEGY
The Company believes it is experiencing a paradigm shift in mobile power
delivery and distribution caused by the development and growing adoption of the
AuraGen(R). By capitalizing on patented technology to deliver a revolutionary
mobile power solution, the Company expects to generate increasing revenue and
cash flow. Based on the large and expanding market for mobile power, as well as
the technological superiority and cost advantages of the AuraGen(R), the Company
expects sales to increase. To date, AuraGen(R) units have been sold to more than
100 customers in more than 10 industries, including recreational, utilities,
telecommunications, emergency/rescue, public works, catering, oil and gas,
transportation and the military. The Company's objective is to be the leading
developer and supplier of fully integrated mobile electric power systems. The
key elements of the Company's strategy are:
Market Positioning
The Company has been positioning the AuraGen(R) as a turnkey mobile
power solution that is more reliable, more convenient, higher quality and
available at a lower total life cycle cost. Aura's solution is also safer
because: 1) there is no need to carry fuel in a container, 2) there are no
exposed hot components to touch/start, 3) there is nothing heavy to lift, 4)
there is no pull-start required, and 5) power outlets are located away from hot
components.
Aura provides users of mobile power with value. When the total life
cycle cost is considered, the AuraGen(R) delivers savings and increases
productivity.
Outsource Manufacturing
Aura realizes that there are many quality manufacturers with both the
capacity and capability who can economically build parts and components to the
Company's specifications and drawings. Thus, the Company decided to have others
custom build the different sub-assemblies for the AuraGen(R). The Company
receives the sub-assemblies and assembles them into finished goods on its
assembly line. This strategy ensures that the Company does what it knows best
without committing a large capital investment for plants and equipment. The
Company also retains full control over the end product and its quality.
Aggressively Protect The Company's Intellectual Property
Aura believes that a policy of actively protecting the Company's
patents and know-how is an important component of its strategy to retain the
unique position in under-the-hood mobile power generation and that the active
patent protection will provide the Company with a long term competitive
advantage. See "Business - Patents and Intellectual Property."
Develop Long Term Market Opportunity
Aura expects that business relationships with the major automotive OEMs
such as General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler will develop more slowly than
our the term market opportunities as discussed above. The Company is working
with General Motors and Ford on a number of activities that may develop into OEM
relationships. The Company has started preliminary discussions with
DaimlerChrysler.
The Company is working closely with numerous U.S. Army organizations to
include the Vehicle Integrated Primary Electrical Resource ("VIPER"), the
Company's military version of the AuraGen(R), in their requirements documents, a
key step in making the VIPER available for Army-wide purchasing. Early VIPER
adopters in the Army, such as Special Forces and the 82nd Airborne, have
reported very favorably on the usefulness and performance of their VIPER units.
The Company intends to target new business related to various Army applications
through numerous ongoing and new activities.
Broaden and Enhance the Product Line
Aura believes that research and development is essential to improve its
product and develop additional versions in order to establish and solidify a
leadership position in the power generation industry. The Company has a strong
team dedicated to product improvements that will involve incorporating Aura's
magnetic technology into different power levels with various options. The
AuraGen(R) technology is scalable and future plans include 12kW and 25kW
machines in a somewhat larger package and a 3kW to 5kW machine in a smaller
package.
Marketing Strategy
Aura will continue to build brand awareness and consumer demand through a
combination of industry specific tradeshows, technical presentations,
advertising and other promotional activities. Two sales channels are utilized in
North America. Large OEM applications are served directly by Aura and other
applications are served through the distributor network. Aura sales and
marketing resources support both of these channels. The distributor network is a
vital part of the product delivery and support system. The distributors' role
includes the finding and development of sales opportunities, as well as the
installation and warranty support of AuraGen(R) systems. This requires the
distributor to have certified installers and maintenance technicians on staff
and to maintain adequate inventory levels. Large OEM's have the option of using
their own facilities to install and maintain AuraGen(R) units. Longer term
marketing plans include the adaptation of the product line for foreign market
distribution where electrical configurations, as well as vehicle mounting
requirements are different from those found in the North America market.
H. CERTAIN RISK FACTORS
RISK FACTORS RELATING TO THE COMPANY
The Company has a history of losses and the Company may not be
profitable in any future period.
In each fiscal year since organization in 1987, the Company has not
made a profit. The Company has an accumulated deficit in retained earnings of
approximately $288 million from its inception through February 28, 2002. These
losses reflect a number of events over the past fourteen years. First, the
majority of the Company's revenues during the five years ended February 28,1999
were derived from the Company's NewCom subsidiary, which was engaged in the
computer peripherals business until it ceased operations in the first quarter of
1999. NewCom's business was severely impacted by an industry-wide slump in the
computer peripherals business in 1998. Second, the Company was established in
1987 to develop technology used primarily in military applications and new
commercial and consumer applications. These development activities required
significant capital expenditures over the years to develop Aura's
electro-magnetic technology and to identify and commercialize new applications
for this technology. None of these activities achieved commercial success. The
Company cannot assure that it will be able to achieve or maintain profitability
or positive cash flow in the future on a quarterly or annual basis.
The Company will require additional capital, and there is no assurance
that it will be available.
The cash flow generated from the Company's operations to date has not
been sufficient to fund the working capital needs and the Company does not
expect that operating cash flow will be sufficient to fund the working capital
needs in fiscal 2003. In the past, in order to maintain liquidity Aura has
relied upon external sources of financing, principally equity financing and
private and bank indebtedness. The Company expects to fund any operating
shortfall in the current fiscal year from cash on hand and third party
financings. Aura will be required to obtain external sources of capital such as
debt and equity financings in order to maintain the operations. Currently, the
Company has no commitments from third parties to provide additional financing.
We have no assurances that third party funding will be available at the times or
in the amounts required. If future financing involves the issuance of equity
securities, existing stockholders may suffer dilution in net tangible book value
per share. The limited availability of funds could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's financial statements, results of operations and the
ability to continue or expand the Company's operations.
There are currently a limited number of authorized shares of common
stock available for sale by the Company.
The Company's authorized capital consists of 500,000,000 shares of
common stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. At May 24, 2002, there
were 408,782,576 shares of common stock outstanding and 77,413,000 shares of
common stock reserved for future issuances under outstanding options, warrants
or rights. No shares of preferred stock were outstanding. Accordingly, unless
and until the Company increases its authorized common stock, only a limited
number of shares of common stock are available. In this regard, the Company
intends to seek authorization from its shareholders to increase its authorized
common stock. However, there are no assurances that such authorization will be
obtained.
The success of the business will depend entirely upon the commercial
success of the AuraGen(R) products, as the Company is not currently engaged in
any other line of business.
In 1999, the Company implemented a business restructuring in which it
focused all of its resources on the successful commercialization of the
AuraGen(R) product. The Company simultaneously discontinued or sold most of its
then ongoing operations, including the computer peripherals, sound and ceramics
operations. Because the Company has focused its business on developing a single
product line, rather than on diversifying into other areas, the Company's
success will be dependent upon the commercial success of the AuraGen(R) product
line.
Aura's limited operating history in its current line of business makes
it difficult to predict how its business will develop and what future operating
results will be.
Aura has a limited operating history in the current line of business,
which is centered on the development, manufacture and sale of the AuraGen(R)
family of products. The Company faced many of the risks and uncertainties
encountered by early stage companies introducing new products into a mature
market. Therefore, it is difficult to predict how the business will develop in
the future.
Aura's revenues have declined significantly in recent years.
The Company has experienced a significant decline in operating revenues
over the past few years. The Company's net revenues peaked at approximately $104
million in the fiscal year ended February 28, 1998. Revenues declined to $2.5
million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2001. Revenues in fiscal 2002
were $3.1 million. The decline in revenues is due primarily to the cessation of
operations of the computer peripherals subsidiary, NewCom, Inc., in the first
quarter of fiscal year 1999, and the sale of the AuraSound speaker division and
ceramics operations. All of the operating revenues are now derived from the sale
of the Company's AuraGen(R) products. The Company expects that all of its
operating revenues will continue to be derived from AuraGen(R) sales in the
foreseeable future.
The SEC may pursue a civil action against the Company, which may lead
to monetary penalties and other potential liabilities.
Aura has been informed by the staff of the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") that it intends to recommend that the SEC bring a civil
action against the Company, NewCom (a former subsidiary of Aura), and certain
former members of the Company's management team for violations of the antifraud
and books and records provisions of the securities laws. The potential action
grew out of an investigation into the financial statements for various
transactions during fiscal years 1996 through 1999. The staff advised the
Company that it would recommend that the SEC seek civil penalties and enjoin the
companies and the individuals from future violations. The Company has engaged in
conversations with the staff of the SEC regarding settlement of the matter, but
no agreements have yet been reached. The Company cannot predict with certainty
when or if such a settlement will occur or what the actual effects of such a
settlement would be.
RISK FACTORS RELATING TO THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS
The market acceptance of the AuraGen(R) is uncertain.
Aura's business is dependent upon sales generated from the AuraGen(R)
family of products. This product uses new technology and has only recently been
introduced into the marketplace. The Company is dependent on the broad
acceptance by businesses and consumers of the Company's products. Because the
Company seeks to introduce new products into a mature market, its success in
penetrating this market and the timing of its development cannot be predicted. A
mass market may fail to develop or it may develop more slowly than the Company
anticipates. The AuraGen(R), while a new unique product with limited history in
the marketplace, addresses a multi-billion dollar market for mobile generators
in the 3,000 to 15,000 watt range. There can be no assurances that any new
product will succeed in the marketplace.
Market acceptance of the AuraGen(R) may be delayed due to lengthy
evaluation periods.
Because the Company's product is radically different from the
traditional available mobile power solutions, users may require lengthy
evaluation periods in order to gain confidence in the product. In addition, OEMs
and large fleet users typically require considerable time to make changes to
their planning and production, and further delays can be caused by prior
commitments and schedules. No assurances can be given as to when or if the
Company's product will be integrated into some of these potential large fleets
and OEM users.
Aura's business may be adversely affected by industry competition.
The industry in which the Company operates is competitive. Many of the
Company's competitors have greater financial resources, have larger budgets for
research, new product development and marketing and have long-standing customer
relationships. Furthermore, the Company must compete with many larger and more
established companies in the hiring and retention of qualified personnel.
Although the Company believes it has significant technological advantages over
its competitors, realizing and maintaining such advantages will require Aura to
develop customer relationships and will also depend on market acceptance of the
Company's products. The Company faces substantial competition from companies
that have been offering traditional solutions such as gensets for the last 50
years, creating an environment of well-entrenched suppliers and users that are
not accustomed to change. In addition, the Company faces competition from
companies that have offered inverters for the last 20 years. The Company's
future revenues and profits will be largely dependent on the successful
introduction of new products. These competitive pressures could limit market
acceptance of its products. The Company may not have the financial resources,
technical expertise or marketing and support capabilities to compete
successfully in the future.
The Company depends upon its intellectual property to make its products
competitive, and if the Company is unable to protect its intellectual property,
its business will suffer.
The Company protects its proprietary technology by means of patent
protection, trade secrets and unpatented proprietary know-how. In particular,
the Company is relying on a number of patents and patent applications to protect
the AuraGen(R) products from competition, which cover the basic mechanical
design of the AuraGen(R) system and some components of the control system.
Without patent protection the Company would be vulnerable to competition from
third parties who could develop competing products through reverse engineering.
The Company cannot provide assurance that the patents pending relating to the
AuraGen(R) system or future patent applications will be issued or that any
issued patents will not be invalidated, circumvented or challenged. A portion of
the Company's proprietary technology depends upon unpatented trade secrets and
know-how. Also, where the Company does not have patent protection, competitors
may independently develop substantially equivalent technology or otherwise gain
access to Aura's trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information.
Aura's future growth could be impaired if the Company is unable to
increase its sales and marketing efforts.
Aura's future revenue growth will depend, in large part, on the
Company's ability to successfully expand the sales efforts. The Company may not
be able to successfully manage the expansion of this function or to recruit and
train additional direct sales support personnel. If the Company is unable to
hire and retain additional highly skilled sales and marketing personnel, the
Company may not be able to increase its revenue to the extent necessary to
achieve profitability. If the Company is unable to hire highly trained support
personnel, the Company may be unable to meet customer demands. Even if the
Company is successful in expanding the sales capability, the expansion may not
result in revenue growth or profitability.
The Company may not be able to establish an effective distribution
network or strategic OEM relationships, in which case its sales will not
increase as expected.
The Company is in the process of developing a distribution network and
establishing strategic relationships with OEM customers. The Company may not be
able to expand its distribution sales or identify OEM customers on a timely
basis. The distributors with which the Company partners may not focus adequate
resources on selling the Company's products or may otherwise be unsuccessful in
selling them. In addition, the Company cannot provide assurance that it will be
able to establish OEM relationships on favorable terms or at all. The lack of
success of distributors or OEM customers in marketing the Company's products may
adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations.
The Company may not be able to effectively manage its growth, which
would impair its profitability.
If the Company is successful in executing the business plan, the
Company will experience growth in the business that could place a significant
strain on its management and other resources. Its ability to manage the growth
will require Aura to continue to improve the operational, financial and
management information systems, to implement new systems and to motivate and
effectively manage the employees. It cannot be assured that the management team
will be able to effectively manage this growth.
The Company may experience delays in product shipments and increased
product costs because it depends on third party manufacturers for certain
product components.
The Company currently has limited capability to manufacture most of the
AuraGen(R) components on a commercial scale. Therefore, the Company relies
extensively on subcontracts with third party manufacturers for such components.
The use of third party manufacturers increases the risk of delay of shipments to
the Company's customers and increases the risk of higher costs if the Company's
third party manufacturers cannot make components available when required.
Aura's suppliers and manufacturers may not supply the Company with a
sufficient quantity of components or components of adequate quality, which would
delay production of the Company's product.
Although the Company generally attempts to use standard parts and
components for its products, some of its components are currently available only
from a single source or from limited sources. Also, the Company cannot guarantee
that the parts or components that it purchases will be of adequate quality. The
Company may experience delays in production of the AuraGen(R) if it fails to
identify alternate vendors or if any parts supply is interrupted or reduced, or
if there is a significant increase in production costs. Each of these factors
could have a material adverse affect on the Company's business and operations.
I. HISTORICAL SUMMARY
The Company, Aura Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was founded in
1987 to engage in the development, commercialization and sales of products,
systems and components using its patented and proprietary electromagnetic and
electro-optical technology. Since 1987 the Company's proprietary and patented
technology has been developed for use in systems and products for commercial,
industrial, consumer, and government use.
Prior to fiscal 1992, the Company was engaged in various military
programs, which allowed the Company to develop its electromagnetic and
electro-optical technologies and applications. A number of "one-of-a-kind"
systems were built and successfully tested in the field. Subsequently, the
Company developed additional electromagnetic and electro-optical know-how and
technology and transitioned from a supplier of defense technology to a supplier
of consumer and industrial-related products and services.
In 1994, the Company founded NewCom, Inc. ("NewCom"), a Delaware
corporation, which engaged in the manufacture, packaging, selling and
distribution of computer-related communications and sound-related products,
including modems, CD-ROMs, sound cards, speaker systems and multimedia products.
In September 1997, NewCom completed an initial public offering, and over the
next year and a half Aura's ownership decreased and by February 1999 Aura's
ownership dropped to a minority position of approximately 41%. During the second
half of fiscal 1999, NewCom's business suffered from adverse industry conditions
resulting from increased incorporation of computer peripherals at the OEM level.
These conditions resulted in heavy losses to NewCom and its competitors.
NewCom's business reached a critical juncture in the fourth quarter of fiscal
1999 when Deutsche Financial Services, which maintained NewCom's working capital
line, announced that it was unwilling to continue to advance working capital to
NewCom under its credit facility and subsequently seized NewCom's assets. NewCom
ceased operations in early fiscal 2000.
In 1996, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of MYS
Corporation of Japan ("MYS") to expand the range of its sound products and
speaker distribution network. MYS engaged in the manufacture and sale of
speakers and speaker systems for home, entertainment and computers. In fiscal
2000, the Company sold MYS back to the original owners, who were part of MYS
management.
Aura anticipated that its working capital needs in fiscal 1999 would be
met from a number of sources, including the repayment by NewCom of approximately
$20 million of indebtedness, which was due in September 1998, and proceeds from
external debt and equity financing. Due to NewCom's financial condition, it was
unable to meet its obligations to Aura in September 1998, ultimately creating a
significant cash shortfall to Aura. This required Aura beginning in January 1999
to refocus its operations by shutting down certain operating divisions, selling
its MYS subsidiary, selling proprietary AuraSound speaker technology and assets,
and leasing its Electrotec concert touring sound equipment. The Company sold the
assets of its ceramics facility effective March 1, 2000. The Company also
temporarily suspended the further development of certain electromagnetic
projects, including the electromagnetic valve actuator (see "Aura's Other
Technologies").
In fiscal 2000, the Company entered into agreements providing for the
restructuring of more than $85 million of debt and contingent liabilities. Of
this amount, over $37 million was either converted into equity or forgiven. The
Company is continuing to focus on debt reduction through payments, settlements
and conversion into equity. By the end of February 2002 the Company's debt has
declined to approximately $10.8 million of which approximately $5.2 million is
the mortgage on the real estate property.
J. AURA'S OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
Historically, Aura developed electromagnetic and electro-optical
technologies with broad applications for industrial, commercial and consumer
use. These technologies were transformed into specific applications. During the
Company's refocus and restructure in 1999 and 2000 most of the applications were
sold or discontinued. While the Company's involvement has been temporarily
suspended, Aura retains significant interest in two technology applications,
electromagnetic actuators and actuated mirror array. At some time in the future
the Company believes it will revive the activities in these two areas.
Electromagnetic Actuator (EMA(TM))
During fiscal 1995, the Company developed, built and demonstrated a new
type of actuator, called the Electromagnetic Valve Actuator. The Company
developed the actuator to fill the performance gap between linear actuators and
solenoids. To date, the principal application of this actuator has been in its
Electromagnetic Valve Actuator System ("EVA(TM)"), a patented
electro-magnetically powered system that opens and closes engine valves at any
user specified time interval.
EVA(TM) is an electromagnetic actuator capable of opening and closing
internal combustion engine valves, replacing the mechanical camshaft on an
engine. Two major benefits arise from the EVA(TM)'s ability to open and close
the valve electro-magnetically: 1) the camshaft and associated mechanical
hardware can be eliminated; and 2) the opening and closing of the intake and
exhaust valves can be commanded by the engine computer. Computer control of the
valve timing has potentially material benefits to engine performance, fuel
economy and emissions.
In recent years, the Company entered into agreements with 15 companies
to retrofit EVA(TM)'s on different types of diesel, automobile and motorcycle
engines for evaluation and testing. During fiscal 1998, an EVA(TM) system was
delivered to a major domestic Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for the
purpose of evaluating EVA(TM) for possible use in its automobile production. In
fiscal 1998, the Company developed a new, more reliable servo control system
that provides reduced power usage and reduced noise over the entire RPM range.
In addition, the Company started work on an improved latching mechanism for
EVA(TM) that will further reduce noise in the system.
In fiscal 1999 as part of its refocus, the Company temporarily
suspended its activities on further EVA(TM) development and commercialization to
focus its resources on the AuraGen(R). The Company is however, pursuing
licensing of this technology to third parties. The Company has not entered into
any discussions for a licensing agreement for EVA(TM).
Light Efficient Displays - Actuated Mirror Array (AMA(TM))
Aura developed and patented a technology (a "light valve") for
generation of images called the Actuated Mirror Array (AMA(TM)). The AMA(TM)
utilizes an array of micro actuators in order to control tiny mirrors whose
position change is used to cause a variation in intensity. The Company believes
that this device could have a major impact on applications where light
efficiency is paramount, such as in large screen television, movie and
exhibition displays, and the testing of electro-optical devices for military or
civilian use.
Although there can be no assurances, the Company believes that the
AMA(TM) can be manufactured at a competitive cost in large quantities, thus
making it commercially feasible. Thus, AMA(TM) based devices are expected to
potentially offer the combination of increased display intensity at a
competitive production cost. The Company believes that the AMA(TM) technology
has a technical advantage over other technologies in achieving higher contrast,
more intensity and longer-lived elements.
The Company entered into a license and manufacturing agreement with
Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd. ("Daewoo") to manufacture televisions and other
devices based on AMA(TM) technology. Daewoo invested substantial funds to
commercialize the technology. However, prior to fiscal 2001 a number of crises
have caused Daewoo to be taken over by its creditors. The Company is negotiating
with Daewoo about the future of the AMA(TM) technology.
K. COMPETITION
The Company believes that the AuraGen(R) enhances the competitiveness
of the Company by giving it the ability to market technologically advanced
products capable of adapting rapidly to changing market conditions. Aura's
ability to compete will also depend on the continued ability to attract and
retain skilled and experienced personnel and the ability to secure sufficient
capital resources for the often-substantial time period between initial
introduction and full market acceptance of the Company's product.
The competition is fierce in the auxiliary power market from gensets
and inverters. Gensets provide the strongest competition across the widest
marketplace for auxiliary power. Gensets are large, heavy and inefficient power
generation units that require external fuel, either gasoline or diesel, in order
to generate electricity. Gensets are generally noisy and cumbersome to
transport. Genset technology has been utilized since the 1930s and has evolved
little since that time. Millions of portable gensets are sold worldwide each
year to meet market demands for 1,000 watts to 10,000 watts of power. Products
that achieve these power levels address the commercial, leisure and residential
markets. The market for these products can be divided into two broad categories:
1) higher power, higher quality and higher price level units; and 2) lower
power, lower quality and lower price level units. Cummins, Inc. (d/b/a Cummins
Onan), American Honda Motor Co. (Honda Power Equipment division) and Kohler Co.
(Kohler Generators division), among others, are well established and respected
brand names in the genset market for higher reliability auxiliary power
generation. There are approximately 44 registered genset manufacturers in the
United States.
Inverters convert the DC electricity stored in batteries to AC
electricity, which is required by a wide range of mobile applications. Due to
their low power output capabilities, inverters are typically used for
applications that require less than 2,500 watts of power. Since an inverter does
not generate power, the user must rely entirely on the power stored in the
batteries for mobile power needs. As the batteries are drained, the user must
recharge them by connecting into a grid power source, which is known as "shore
power," or through gensets or other means. Vanner Incorporated and Hart
Industries of America, Inc., among others, are leading suppliers in the inverter
market.
The Company believes that its ability to compete in the marketplace is
based on the total economic value the AuraGen(R) delivers to the end user. The
value the AuraGen(R) delivers is in its convenience, efficiency, flexibility and
reliability.
The Company believes that the total life cycle cost of an AuraGen(R) is
lower than that of comparable gensets or inverters. Compared to a genset on a
per kW (1,000 watts) basis, initial costs of purchasing a unit and fuel usage
requirements are comparable. The most important difference is that an AuraGen(R)
uses the engine of your vehicle while a genset has a separate engine of its own
that will wear out and need to be replaced. Since gensets typically carry a
1-year warranty (compared with the standard 3-year AuraGen(R) warranty), the
Company believes that genset engines will need to be replaced in a relatively
short time and will result in a higher total life cycle cost. Inverters have
comparable initial and operating costs to an AuraGen(R), but inverters require
constant recharging of batteries to provide electric power. These batteries have
a short life span and the user may need to buy 9 to 12 additional batteries over
a 36-month period. As a result, the Company believes that the AuraGen(R)
provides the lowest total life cycle cost mobile power solution.
L. MANUFACTURING
Aura assembles and tests the AuraGen(R) at the Company's 27,690 square
foot facility in El Segundo, California with subassemblies and parts which are
produced by various suppliers. The Company established these facilities with a
maximum production capacity of 5,000 units per month per 8 hour operating shift.
The assembly line utilized has not been used to its capacity. The Company
expects that the facility utilization will increase significantly in fiscal 2003
due to increasing sales. The Company does not forecast any need to increase
capacity in 2003.
M. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT EXPENDITURES
During the fiscal years ended February 28, 2002, February 28, 2001, and
February 29, 2000 the Company spent approximately $0.8 million, $ 0.5 million
and $0.1 million, respectively, on Company research and development activities.
The Company plans to continue its research and may incur substantial costs in
doing so. All of the Company's R & D is currently focused on technological
enhancements and product developments for the AuraGen(R).
N. PATENTS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Aura's intellectual property consists of patents, trademarks and
proprietary information in two technical areas: electromagnetic technology and
electro-optical technology.
In the electromagnetic technology area, the Company has developed
numerous magnetic systems and designs that result in a significant increase of
magnetic field density per unit volume that can be converted into useful power
energy. This field density is increased by a factor of three to four which, when
incorporated into mechanical devices, could result in a significant reduction in
size and cost for the same performance.
The applications of these technological advances are in mechanical
machines used daily by industrial and commercial users. The Company has applied
the above technology to numerous applications in industrial machines such as
generators, motors and actuators.
The U.S. Patent Office awarded the Company 29 patents applicable to
automotive and industrial applications. Of the above patents, two are focused
directly on the AuraGen(R), nine are for basic magnetic actuation, two are for
control systems associated with controlling the magnetic fields in different
configurations and sixteen are focused on the Electromagnetic Valve Actuator
("EVA(TM)") application. In addition, the Company has two patent applications
pending related to its AuraGen(R) technology.
Each of the above patents provides the Company with a competitive
advantage in the control of magnetic fields for different applications and
different configurations. There are two ways that electromagnetic technology can
be used for generators, motors and actuators. One method uses permanent magnets,
while the other uses electromagnets. The Company is building and selling the
AuraGen(R) product with the imbedded magnetic technology covered in the two
AuraGen(R) patents using electromagnets. The nine additional basic actuation
patents cover designs where rare earth magnets could potentially be used to
build similar machines. These patents provide the Company with a significant
advantage in the use of either electromagnets or rare-earth magnets for the
various applications. The two control patents provide the Company with a
competitive advantage in specific techniques that can be used to control the
magnetic energy. These types of control techniques, while wide in scope and
applicable to many different configurations, are imbedded in the software used
to run the AuraGen(R).
The sixteen patents associated with EVA(TM) cover the implementation of
a controlled magnetic field as applied to linear motors. Many of the same
techniques are implemented in the AuraGen(R) control system, in particular, in
the control of the high power board used in the new AuraGen(R) inverter module.
Currently, the EVA(TM) system is not being developed further. However, numerous
industrial and automotive organizations have shown interest in the EVA(TM)
system. The Company believes this technology is potentially licensable.
The Company has an additional 18 patents in electro-optical technology
and a number of other patents in other fields. These patents are not related to
any activity that the Company is currently pursuing.
O. EMPLOYEES
As of February 28, 2002, the Company employed 109 persons. As of May
29, 2002, the Company employed 76 persons. The Company believes that its
relationship with its employees is good. The Company is not a party to any
collective bargaining agreements.
P. PRINCIPAL SOURCES OF REVENUES
For the years ended February 28, 2002 and 2001, virtually all of the
Company's revenues were AuraGen(R) related. For the year end February 29, 2000,
ceramics products were the largest single source of revenue on a consolidated
basis, constituting approximately $2.9 million or 50% of net revenues. License
fees for sound related patents constituted $1.5 million, or 25.9% of revenues.
Q. SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
The Company sold its AuraGen(R) product to four significant customers
during fiscal 2002 for a total of approximately $2.4 million or 77% of net
revenues. The Company expects significant increases in revenues for fiscal 2003
because of more effective sales and marketing efforts, as well as an expanded
distribution network that will include numerous other customers. In addition,
the Company expects to have other OEM customers in fiscal 2003.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company owns a 47,000 square foot headquarters facility and an
adjacent 27,690 square foot manufacturing facility in El Segundo, California for
its AuraGen(R) product. These properties are encumbered by a deed of trust
securing a note in the original principal amount of $5.4 million.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is engaged in the legal actions listed below. In the case
of a judgment or settlement, appropriate provisions have been made in the
financial statements.
Aura Systems Inc. v. CRS Emergency Vehicles, Co., Custom Coaches
International and C. Ray Smith.
On December 11, 2001 the Company filed a complaint in the United States
District Court, Central District of California, against CRS Emergency Vehicles,
Co., Custom Coaches International and C. Ray Smith for Breach of Contract,
Conversion, Bad Faith, Fraud and Injunctive Relief (Case No. 01-10612DDP). The
action arose out of a sale to defendant distributors of approximately $1.2
million of the Company's AuraGen(R) product. Despite requests for payment, no
payment was received. Following service of the complaint and defendant's failure
to file a responsive pleading in the time required, on January 25, 2002 the
Company filed its Request to Enter Default and Application for Clerk Judgment.
On February 7, 2002, however, the District Court accepted defendant's answer
denying the allegations. On May 7, 2002, following discussions between the
parties, the Company entered into a definitive settlement, with defendants
agreeing to release or otherwise account for all of the product shipped to the
Company. The parties also agreed to terminate the distributorship agreement.
Securities and Exchange Commission
The Company has been informed by the Staff of the SEC that it intends
to recommend that the Commission bring a civil action against Aura, NewCom, Inc.
(a former subsidiary of Aura), Zvi Kurtzman, Steven Veen and Gerald Papazian for
violations of the antifraud and books and records provisions of the securities
laws. This grew out of an investigation into the Company's financial statements
for various transactions during fiscal years 1996 through 1999. The Company
originally disclosed the investigation by press release in January 1999. The
Staff advised the Company that it would recommend that the SEC seek civil
penalties and enjoin the companies and the individuals from future violations.
In addition, the SEC Staff would recommend that the SEC impose director and
officer bars against Messrs. Kurtzman and Veen and a bar against Mr. Veen to
prohibit his practicing as an accountant before the SEC. The Company is informed
that in order to avoid potential lengthy and costly litigation the individuals
have agreed to propose to settle with the SEC without admitting or denying any
of the Staff's allegations. The Company has engaged in conversations with the
Staff of the SEC regarding settlement of the matter, but no agreements have yet
been reached. Although Aura believes that it will reach a settlement in a manner
that will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, it
cannot predict with certainty when or if such a settlement will occur or what
the actual effects of such a settlement would be. The Audit Committee of the
Board will conduct a full review of the Company's accounting controls and
procedures.
Other Legal Actions
The Company is also engaged in other legal actions. In the opinion of
management, the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material
adverse effect on financial conditions, results of operations or cash flow.
ITEM 4. Submission of Matters to a vote of Security Holders
The Company's 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on October
2, 2001. At the annual meeting each of the Company's nominees were elected to
serve as Directors of the Company. The election results are as follows:
For Withheld Abstain
---------- --------- -------
Zvi (Harry) Kurtzman 223,220,767 23,628,732 729,361
Stephen Talesnick 246,731,136 88,363 729,361
Carl Albert 246,107,715 711,784 729,361
Harvey Cohen 245,872,673 946,826 729,361
Salvador Diaz-Verson, Jr. 246,032,122 787,377 729,361
Harry Haisfield 246,111,275 708,224 729,361
Neal Meehan 246,105,732 713,767 729,361
Norman Reitman 245,906,085 913,414 729,361
William Richbourg 246,115,296 704,203 729,361
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Since 1988, Aura common stock has been quoted on the Nasdaq Stock
Market under the trading symbol "AURA". On May 21, 1991, Aura shares became
listed on the Nasdaq National Stock Market.
On July 21, 1999, the Company's shares were delisted from Nasdaq
National Market. This action was taken as a result of the Company's failure to
meet the minimum $1.00 bid price and other requirements as stated in the Market
Place Rules. On February 1, 2001, the Company's shares were listed on the OTC
Bulletin Board under the symbol "AURA".
Set forth below are high and low sales prices for the common stock of
Aura for each quarterly period in each of the two most recent fiscal years. Such
quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, markdown or
commissions and may not necessarily represent actual transactions in the common
stock. The Company had approximately 9,600 stockholders of record as of May 24,
2002.
Period High Low
----- -----
Fiscal 2001
First Quarter ended May 31, 2000 $0.64 $0.24
Second Quarter ended August 31, 2000 $0.52 $0.20
Third Quarter ended November 30, 2000 $1.19 $0.34
Fourth Quarter ended February 28, 2001 $0.53 $0.29
Period High Low
----- -----
Fiscal 2002
First Quarter ended May 31, 2001 $0.78 $0.37
Second Quarter ended August 31, 2001 $0.76 $0.50
Third Quarter ended November 30, 2001 $0.59 $0.36
Fourth Quarter ended February 28, 2002 $0.45 $0.28
On May 24, 2002, the reported closing sales price for the Company's
common stock was $0.235.
Dividend Policy
The Company has not paid any dividends on its common stock and
currently intends to retain any future earnings for use in its business. The
Company does not anticipate paying any dividends on its common stock in the
foreseeable future but has no restrictions preventing it from paying dividends.
Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, 9,309,744 shares of common
stock were issued in connection with a private placement to three investors,
resulting in aggregate proceeds of approximately $2,744,800.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, 687,178 shares of common
stock were issued as finder's fees for private placements.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, 48,993,780 shares were issued
to satisfy liabilities in the amount of $16,751,606.
All of the foregoing transactions were exempt from registration
pursuant to section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the
"Securities Act") as these offerings were private placements to a limited number
of "accredited investors" (as defined in the Securities Act).
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following Selected Financial Data has been taken or derived from the
audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and should be read in
conjunction with and is qualified in its entirety by the full consolidated
financial statements, related notes and other information included elsewhere
herein. The data for fiscal 1999 and 1998 has been restated to reflect
discontinued operations.
AURA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
February 28, February 28, February 29, February 28, February 28,
2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net revenues $3,116,295 $2,512,508 $5,788,221 $53,650,025 $103,939,641
Cost of goods sold 1,480,736 1,216,637 1,957,854 83,344,562 58,045,370
---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------
Gross profit (loss) 1,635,559 1,295,871 3,830,367 (29,694,537) 45,894,271
Expenses:
Engineering expenses 9,924,298 8,214,981 11,466,449 47,092,632 13,729,152
Research and development 810,949 547,812 148,443 1,996,198 475,992
Selling, general and administrative expenses 10,006,844 12,695,833 10,725,397 64,131,074 35,266,048
Class action litigation & other legal settlements (2,750,000) 1,512,769 427,091 7,717,518 1,700,000
Settlement on accounts payable (651,685) (1,046,324) 2,350,671 -- --
----------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ---------
Total expenses 17,340,406 21,925,071 25,118,051 120,937,422 51,171,192
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Loss from operations (15,704,847) (20,629,200) (21,287,684) (150,631,959) (5,276,921)
Other (income) and expense
Interest expense 2,495,551 2,263,916 4,476,690 11,679,701 6,450,741
Impairment of long-lived assets 9,095,393 240,000 -- 5,838,466 --
Termination of license agreements -- -- -- -- 3,113,030
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets 65,823 (1,756,746) 93,638 925,525 --
(Gain) loss on sale & issuance of subsidiary
stock and investments -- -- -- 4,877,839 (12,632,265)
Equity in losses of unconsolidated joint ventures -- -- -- 6,268,384 1,937,747
Other (535,179) (446,399) (1,454,641) (906,921) (220,291)
Provision (benefit) for taxes -- -- -- 566,635 (1,275,555)
Minority interest -- -- -- (36,934,376) 946,405
Loss in excess of basis of subsidiary -- -- -- (8,080,695) --
---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Loss from continuing operations (26,826,435) (20,929,971) (24,403,371) (134,866,517) (3,596,733)
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income
taxes -- -- (4,131,501) (14,875,065) (8,038,807)
Extraordinary Item
Gain on extinguishment of debt obligations, net of
income taxes 1,889,540 -- 19,068,916 -- --
---------- ---------- ----------- ------------- ----------
Net loss $ (24,936,895) $(20,929,971) $ (9,465,956) $(149,741,582) $(11,635,540)
Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes -- -- -- (406,574) --
---------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ----------
Comprehensive loss $ (24,936,895) $(20,929,971) $ (9,465,956) $(150,148,156) $(11,635,540)
============== ============= ============= ============= ============
Net loss per common share $ (0.08) $ (0.08) $ (0.08) $ (1.74) $ (0.15)
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Loss from continuing operations per common share $ (0.08) $ (0.08) $ (0.20) $ (1.57) $ (0.05)
=========== =========== =========== =========== ==========
Loss from discontinued operations per common share $ -- $ -- $ (0.03) $ (0.17) $ (0.10)
=========== =========== =========== =========== ==========
Extraordinary income per common share $ -- $ -- $ 0.15 $ -- $ --
=========== =========== =========== =========== ==========
Weighted average number of common shares 327,587,590 261,568,346 124,294,051 85,831,688 79,045,290
=========== =========== =========== =========== ==========
Working capital (2,512,553) (5,105,345) 826,213 (4,869,876) 78,143,895
Total assets 28,761,990 45,278,043 56,122,538 90,143,392 227,302,629
Total debt 10,895,466 38,485,108 48,756,226 34,236,944 33,968,393
Net stockholders' equity (deficit) 12,652,733 2,045,035 1,516,008 (13,653,657) 116,901,868
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this report, including those concerning the Company's
expectations of future sales revenues, gross profits, research and development,
sales and marketing, and administrative expenses, product introductions and cash
requirements include forward-looking statements. As such, actual results may
vary materially from the Company's expectations. Factors which could cause
actual results to differ from expectations include, but are not limited to, the
following risks and contingencies: changed business conditions in the industrial
and automotive industries and the overall economy; increased marketing and
manufacturing competition and accompanying price pressures; contingencies in
initiating production along with their potential under utilization, resulting in
production inefficiencies and higher costs and start-up expenses.
Relating to the above are potential difficulties or delays in the
development, production, testing and marketing of products, including, but not
limited to, a failure to ship new products and develop technologies when
anticipated. Manufacturing economies may fail to develop when planned, products
may be defective, and customers may fail to accept the products in the
marketplace.
In addition to these factors, risks and contingencies may exist as to the
amount and rate of growth in the Company's selling, general and administrative
expenses, and the impact of unusual items resulting from the Company's ongoing
evaluation of its business strategies, asset valuations and organizational
structures. The impact on the Company's business of any large order could entail
fluctuating results from quarter to quarter.
The effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies, laws
and regulations, other activities of governments, agencies and similar
organizations, and social and economic conditions, such as trade restrictions
impose yet other constraints on any Company statements. The cost and other
effects of legal and administrative cases and proceedings present another factor
which may or may not have an impact.
Results of Operations Fiscal 2002 as Compared to Fiscal 2001
Revenues
Net revenues in fiscal 2002 increased to $3.1 million from $2.5 million in
fiscal 2001, an increase of 24%. Virtually all sales related to the AuraGen(R)
product and related services. The increase in revenue was due to a greater
acceptance of the AuraGen(R) in the marketplace as well as the increasing sales
activity through the Company's distributors.
Although inventory levels are high in relation to current year sales
volume, the Company's net inventory is currently comprised solely of AuraGen(R)
related items. While most of the inventory is approximately two years old, there
have been no significant changes to the product which would render the net value
of the inventory as obsolete. The Company fully expects that with increasing
sales, the inventory levels in relation to sales will be reduced.
Cost of Goods
Cost of goods increased to $1.5 million from $1.2 million in the prior
fiscal year primarily as a result of the increase in AuraGen(R) revenues. The
gross margin in each year was approximately 52%. The Company expects a gross
margin of at least 50% in fiscal 2003.
Engineering Expense
Engineering expense for fiscal 2002 increased to $9.9 million from $8.2
million in the prior fiscal year. Labor and labor related costs amounted to $4.1
million in fiscal 2002, an increase of $1.5 million from $2.6 million in fiscal
2001. Included in engineering expense is $4.9 million in depreciation compared
to $4.8 million in the prior fiscal year. Aura anticipates that engineering
expenses will decrease substantially in fiscal 2003 due to ongoing cost
reduction measures taken by the Company's management.
Research and Development
Research and development expense for fiscal 2002 increased to $0.8 million
from $0.5 million in fiscal 2001. This is a result of the Company focusing its
efforts on developing commercial applications in order to market and sell the
AuraGen(R). The Company, in the latter part of fiscal 2001, began to once again
expand its research and development activities in order to expand its line of
AuraGen(R) products. The Company expects these expenses to remain constant as
the Company focuses its attention on developing more variations of the basic
AuraGen(R), including, but not limited to, the 6kW, 10kW, 25kW, AC/DC versions,
and marine and other applications.
Selling, General and Administrative
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $10.0 million in fiscal
2002. This was a decrease of $2.7 million (21%) compared to the expense of $12.7
million in fiscal 2001. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in legal
costs of approximately $1.2 million. Also included in the prior year costs was a
$1.3 million bad debt charge associated with non-AuraGen(R) business lines,
which the Company has discontinued. Sales and marketing expenses were slightly
lower in 2002 compared to 2001. Aura expects the general and administrative
expenses to decrease in 2003 as a result of the ongoing cost reduction measures
in place. However, these savings will be offset by substantially more costs
incurred for sales and marketing expenses.
Impairment Charges
Impairment charges increased by $8.9 million, from $0.2 million in fiscal
2001 to $9.1 million in 2002. It is the Company's practice under Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 144 to review the valuation of its long-lived
assets at least annually. Certain events occurred in the fourth quarter of
fiscal 2002 which impacted the financial statements. The increase in the 2002
expense recognized was primarily due to non-cash charges incurred relative to
the impairment of certain long-lived assets. In fiscal 2002, these asset
impairment charges included non-core investments of $1.4 million, engineered
tooling for Aura products amounting to $4.6 million, and trade credits of $3.1
million. In 2001, a reserve against a long term investment was recorded
amounting to $0.2 million.
Settlements, Net
Legal settlements resulted in a gain of $2.8 million in 2002 compared to a
loss of $1.5 million in 2001. The 2002 gain resulted from settlements with
Excalibur of $2 million and Deutsche Financial of $1.2 million. These settlement
gains were partially offset by a litigation loss of $400,000 resulting from a
NewCom consumer class action suit. In 2001, the Company recognized losses
relative to various lawsuits which were settled. The Company recognized a gain
in 2002 on settlement of accounts payable amounting to $0.7 million compared to
a gain of $1.0 million in 2001.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased slightly from $2.3 million in fiscal 2001 to
$2.5 million in fiscal 2002. Due to the elimination of a significant amount of
Aura's interest bearing debt, the interest expense will decrease significantly
in fiscal 2003.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income, net amounted to $0.5 million in fiscal 2002 compared to $0.4
million in fiscal 2001. The increase of $0.1 million was primarily due to an
increase in other income for a gain of $1.3 million relative to a transaction
fee, partially offset by an increase in other expenses of $1.1 million for the
liability recognized on future severance payments to the former management.
Extraordinary Item
The extraordinary gain resulted from the forgiveness of debt by certain
of the Company's creditors in the third quarter for approximately $0.9 million
and in the fourth quarter for approximately $1.0 million. For further
information regarding this item, see "Liquidity and Capital Resources," and Note
23 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, appearing elsewhere in
this Report.
Fiscal 2001 as Compared to Fiscal 2000
Revenues
Net revenues in fiscal 2001 totaled $2.5 million. In fiscal 2001
virtually all sales were AuraGen(R) related, up from $0.8 million in AuraGen(R)
related sales in fiscal 2000. Overall net revenues declined in 2001 from $5.8
million in fiscal 2000 as approximately $2.9 million, or 50% of fiscal 2000
revenues were derived from the ceramics facility, with an additional $1.5
million, or 25.9% derived from license fees pertaining to sound related patents.
The assets of the ceramics facility were sold effective March 1, 2000.
Cost of Goods
Cost of goods for the year ended February 28, 2001 was $1.2 million,
applicable almost entirely to the AuraGen(R) product, resulting in a gross
margin of approximately 52%. Cost of goods in the prior year was $2.0 million,
resulting in a gross margin of 54%, after excluding the effects of the $1.5
million license fee noted above.
Engineering Expense
Engineering expenses for fiscal 2001 declined to $8.2 million,
including $4.8 million of depreciation, from $11.5 million, which included $4.9
million in depreciation, in the prior fiscal year. The sale of the assets of the
ceramics facility account for a reduction of approximately $1.6 million, with
cost reduction efforts and facility consolidations accounting for the balance.
In fiscal 2001, the Company reclassified certain costs that had been
characterized as overhead costs and included in cost of sales. These items were
primarily engineering and facility related and have now been classified as
engineering expenses in the operating expense category. This was done to more
accurately reflect the actual cost of the product sold and provide a gross
profit presentation based on the sale of the product itself. This has resulted
in a change in the reported gross margins for fiscal 2000 from a negative 131.9%
to a positive 66.2%.
Research and Development
Research and development expenses increased from approximately $0.1 million
in fiscal 2000 to approximately $0.5 million in fiscal 2001. The Company, in the
latter part of fiscal 2001, began to once again expand its research and
development activities in order to expand its line of AuraGen(R) products. The
Company expects these expenses to continue to grow as the Company focuses its
attention in developing more variations of the basic 5kW AuraGen(R), including,
but not limited to, the 6kW, 8.5kW, 10kW, 25kW, AC/DC versions, inverter and
battery charger versions, and marine and other applications.
Selling, General and Administrative
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $12.7 million in fiscal
2001. The increase in these expenses from $10.7 million in the prior year was
primarily a result of an increase in legal costs of approximately $1.2 million,
and an increase in depreciation and amortization of approximately $1.1 million
partially offset by a decrease of $600,000 as a result of the sale of the assets
of the ceramics facility. Also included in the fiscal year 2001 expenses is a
bad debt charge of $1.3 million associated with non-AuraGen(R) related lines of
business the Company is no longer engaged in. This compares to bad debts of
$163,000 in the prior fiscal year. Additionally, in the latter part of fiscal
2001, the Company began to increase its sales staff and other sales and
marketing expenses.
Other Income and Expense
In fiscal 2001, other income and expense primarily consisted of a gain of
$1,756,746 recorded on the sale of the assets of the ceramics facility and net
interest expense of $2,263,916. In fiscal 2000 other income and expense
primarily consisted of $93,638 in net losses on disposal of assets, interest
expense of $4,476,690, interest income of $357,014 and rent income of $700,513.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Working capital was a negative $2.5 million at February 28, 2002 compared
to a negative $5.1 million at February 28, 2001. The negative working capital at
February 2002 was a result of the reclassification of inventory from current to
long-term for that portion not expected to be used within one year. The negative
working capital at February 28, 2001 was primarily the result of the $5.5
million litigation liability with DFS which was reclassified to a current
liability due to a settlement reached subsequent to year end. This liability was
satisfied in the first quarter of fiscal 2002 with the issuance of 10,000,000
shares of Aura common stock valued at $4,000,000 and the payment of $350,000 in
cash, resulting in a gain of $1.2 million.
The Company's cash and cash equivalents balance was $1.1 million at
February 28, 2002 compared to $1.3 million at February 28, 2001. The net cash
used by operating activities in fiscal 2002 decreased by approximately $4.6
million from the prior year. The fiscal 2002 net loss was $24.9 million, and
$15.0 million of that loss related to non-cash charges for depreciation,
amortization and asset impairments. Whereas in fiscal 2001, the net loss was
$20.9 million and the similar non-cash charges were $7.9 million.
In fiscal 2002, net cash of $0.1 million was used for investing activities
that included $0.3 million spent for property, plant and equipment partially
offset by $0.2 million cash received on the Alpha Ceramics note receivable from
the sale of the Company's ceramics facility in fiscal 2001. In fiscal 2001,
investing activities provided $3.8 million of net cash primarily due to the
payment of the MYS and Algo notes receivable.
During fiscal 2002, the Company received net proceeds of $13.3 million from
the sale of its common stock through private placements compared to $12.4
million in the prior year. Current year financing activities also included
proceeds of $500,000 from two short term loan agreements entered into with a
member of the Board of Directors, one of which was repaid during the third
quarter of fiscal 2002 and the other was repaid in March 2002, and approximately
$28,000 from the exercise of warrants and stock options. Debt repayments of $5.1
million, including $2.0 million on the line of credit, were made in fiscal 2002,
an increase over the $1.8 million of debt paid down in the prior year.
During fiscal 2002, the Company restructured $16.2 million of debt and
related accrued interest into 46,112,771 shares of common stock valued at $15.2
million, resulting in a pre-tax extraordinary gain for the early extinguishment
of debt of $1 million. An indeterminate number of additional shares will be
issuable in the future as a result of guaranteed share repricing agreements
should the Company sell common stock at less than $0.20 per share through
February 2003.
At February 28, 2001, the Company was in violation of its loan covenants on
its line of credit. The Company received a waiver from the bank for these
violations and paid the remaining balance when due in July 2001.
Spending for property and equipment amounted to $255,733 in fiscal 2002,
$38,200 in fiscal 2001, and $16,103 in fiscal 2000. The additions are due to
purchases of equipment which are necessary in connection with research and
development activities, services performed under various subcontracts and
manufacturing requirements.
Current fixed monthly expenses company wide average approximately
$1,000,000 principally for labor, materials, overhead, travel and professional
fees.
The Company leases warehouse space located in Rancho Dominguez, California.
Minimum monthly rent under the lease approximates $3,900. Rent expense was
approximately $0.1 million for fiscal 2002, $0.1 million for fiscal 2001, and
$0.9 million for fiscal 2000.
The cash flow generated from the Company's operations to date has not been
sufficient to fund its working capital needs, and the Company does not expect
that operating cash flow will be sufficient to fund its working capital needs in
fiscal 2003. In the past, in order to maintain liquidity the Company has relied
upon external sources of financing, principally equity financing and private and
bank indebtedness. The Company expects to fund any operating shortfall in the
current fiscal year from cash on hand and third party financings in order to
continue its operations. Currently, the Company has no commitments from third
parties to provide additional financing. The Company has no assurances that
third party funding will be available at the times or in the amounts required.
If future financing involves the issuance of equity securities, existing
stockholders may suffer dilution in net tangible book value per share. The
limited availability of funds could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's financial statements, results of operations and the ability to
continue or expand operations.
Recent Developments and Outlook
Results of operations in the fourth quarter of 2002 reflect weakness in
sales, which has continued into the first quarter of 2003. The Company believes
that this weakness reflects a combination of factors. To some extent, sales have
been impacted by a general slowdown of the overall economy and the general
economic effect of the events of September 11, 2001. The economic downturn has
had a significant impact on the telecommunications industry, which is a
significant target market for the AuraGen(R) products. In addition, the Company
also believes that the recent management transition has had an impact on results
of operations during the past few months. In particular, the Company's former
Vice President of Sales and Marketing since August 2000 left the Company in
December 2001. In addition, in December 2001 Aura and six former members of the
Company's senior management, including the Chief Executive Officer, President,
and Chief Financial Officer, entered into agreements providing for the
termination of their employment with the Company effective February 28, 2002.
The Company believes that the disruption of continuity attendant to the
transition process has adversely affected the day-to-day operations of the
Company in recent months.
Effective March 2002, the Company retained Joshua Hauser as the Company's
President and Chief Executive Officer and Steven Burdick as the Company's Chief
Financial Officer. Both Messrs. Hauser and Burdick bring a wealth of knowledge
and experience to the Company which is expected to benefit the Company's
operations going forward in Fiscal 2003 and beyond. In addition, the Company has
retained Craig B. Lipus as the Company's new Vice President of Sales and
Marketing effective June 2002, filling the vacancy created in December 2001. The
Company believes that with a new and experienced management team in place it
will be able to more effectively exploit the commercialization of the AuraGen
family of products.
Since March 1, 2002, in order to fund working capital requirements, the
Company has raised approximately $4.2 million through the sale of its common
stock in private placements to existing shareholders of the Company, including
two members of the Company's Board of Directors. As discussed above under
"Liquidity and Capital Resources," the Company anticipates that it will continue
to be dependent on third party financing through at least the remainder of the
Fiscal year in order to maintain operations and to finance future growth. The
ability of the Company to execute its business plan will depend, in part, on the
availability of adequate working capital. With adequate working capital, the
Company expects that AuraGen(R) sales and revenues should increase in fiscal
2003 compared with the prior fiscal year.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
At February 28, 2002, the Company did not have any derivative
instruments which created exposure to market risk for interest rates, foreign
currency rates, commodity prices or other market price risks. The Company's long
term notes receivable and long term debt obligations all bear interest at fixed
rates and, therefore, have no exposure to interest rate fluctuations.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at page F-1.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
On August 23, 2000, the Company received a notice of resignation from its
independent auditors, Pannell Kerr Forster, Certified Public Accountants, a
Professional Corporation ("PKF"). The Company had been informed by PKF that
their decision was solely due to business reasons. Having served as the
independent auditors of the Company since 1992, PKF never had nor does it
currently have any disagreements with the Company on any matter of accounting
principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, auditing scope or
procedure or any reportable events. The auditor's reports on the financial
statements during its entire engagement period did not contain any adverse
opinion or disclaimer of opinion and have not been qualified or modified as to
uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles except for fiscal years 1999
and 2000 when the audit reports were modified with a going concern uncertainty.
PKF fully cooperated with the auditor selection and transition process,
which was completed on January 9, 2001 when the firm Singer Lewak Greenbaum &
Goldstein LLP was engaged by the Company's Board of Directors.
Unrelated to its decision and pursuant to SEC rules, under Item
304(a)(1)(v)(C)(1)(i) of Regulation S-K, PKF also advised that information had
come to its attention which, if further investigated, may materially impact the
fairness or reliability of previously issued audit reports or the underlying
financial statements of Aura Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries. The information
concerning officer loans, which took place in fiscal 1997, was contained in
court filings of the SEC in regards to the Staff's response to an SEC
investigation, reported publicly by the Company in a press release dated January
20, 1999.
The Company does not believe that the matters referred to above will have a
material effect on the Company's future financial condition or results of
operations.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
Directors
The following table sets forth all of the current Directors, their age, and
the office they hold with the Company. All Directors hold office until the next
annual meeting of stockholders of the Company and until their successors have
been duly elected and qualified.
Name Age Title
Carl Albert......................... 60 Chairman, Board of Directors
Stephen Talesnick................... 52 Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, Member of Compensation Committee
Harvey Cohen........................ 68 Director, Member of Audit Committee
Lawrence Diamant.................... 60 Director, Member of Compensation Committee
Salvador Diaz-Verson, Jr............ 49 Director, Member of Compensation Committee
Neal Meehan......................... 60 Director, Member of Audit Committee
John Pincavage...................... 58 Director, Member of Audit Committee
Norman Reitman...................... 77 Director, Member of Audit Committee
CARL ALBERT is the Chairman of the Board of Directors effective March 1,
2002. He has been a Director of the Company since July 10, 2001. Mr. Albert was,
until February 2002, a member of the Board of Directors of Fairchild Dornier
Corporation, a privately held company in the business of manufacturing aircraft.
Mr. Albert held a significant interest in Fairchild Dornier Corporation from
1990, when he provided the venture capital necessary for acquiring ownership
control of the company's predecessor corporation, Fairchild Aircraft, until
April 2000 when the majority interest in the company was sold. From 1996 through
April 2000, following Fairchild Aircraft's purchase of Daimler-Benz's 80%
interest in Dornier, he was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fairchild
Dornier Corporation, its Chief Executive Officer and the majority stockholder.
Mr. Albert was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fairchild Aircraft, its
Chief Executive Officer and the majority stockholder from 1990 through 1996.
From 1986 through 1989, he provided venture capital and served as the CEO or
President of a California based regional airline, West Wings Airlines, which
operated as an American Eagle franchisee until acquired by the parent of
American Airlines in 1988. Mr. Albert's business experience includes 18 years as
an attorney, specializing in business and corporate law in Los Angeles,
California. He also serves and has served as a Member of the Board of Directors
of a number of privately and publicly held corporations, including Dr. Pepper
Bottling Company of California, K & K Properties, Ozark Airlines and Tulip
Corporation. Mr. Albert holds a B.A. from UCLA in political science and an
L.L.B. from the UCLA School of Law.
STEPHEN TALESNICK is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and has served
in this capacity since January 2001. He originally joined the Board of Directors
in September 1999. Mr. Talesnick has owned and maintained a private law practice
since 1977, which is presently located in Beverly Hills, California. Mr.
Talesnick specializes in business and financial transactions in addition to
entertainment industry related matters. He originally practiced as an associate
in the New York law firm of White & Case. In 1992, Mr. Talesnick became a
financial advisor in the financial services industry and is registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Talesnick is a graduate of The Wharton
School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania and received
his Juris Doctor degree from Columbia University School of Law.
HARVEY COHEN is a Director of the Company and has served in this capacity
since August 1993. Mr. Cohen is President of Margate Advisory Group, Inc., an
investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and a
management consultant since August 1981. Mr. Cohen has consulted with the
Company on various operating and growth strategies since June 1989 and assisted
in the sale of certain of the Company's securities. From December 1979 through
July 1981, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Silicon Systems,
Inc., a custom integrated circuit manufacturer which made its initial public
offering in February 1981 after having raised $4 million in venture capital in
1980. From 1975 until 1979, Mr. Cohen served as President and Chief Executive
Officer of International Communication Sciences, Inc., a communications computer
manufacturing start-up company for which he raised over $7.5 million in venture
capital. From 1966 through 1975, Mr. Cohen was employed by Scientific Data
Systems, Inc. ("S.D.S."), a computer manufacturing and service company, which
became Xerox Data Systems, Inc. ("X.D.S.") after its acquisition by Xerox in
1969. During that time, he held several senior management positions, including
Vice President-Systems Division of S.D.S. and Senior Vice President-Advanced
Systems Operating of the Business Planning Group. Mr. Cohen received his B.S.
(Honors) in Electrical Engineering in 1955 and an MBA from Harvard University in
1957.
LAWRENCE DIAMANT is a Director of the Company and has served in this
capacity since April 2002. He is a senior partner of the Los Angeles based law
firm Robinson, Diamant & Wolkowitz, a professional corporation. Mr. Diamant is a
member of the State Bar of California and of the American Bar Association
Business Law Section Committees on Banking Law, Commercial Financial Services
and Business Bankruptcy. He has served as a reporter for its Ethics Task Force
sub-section and currently serves as a sub-committee vice chair on Courts,
Jurisdiction, Venue and Administration. Mr. Diamant has also served as Chairman
of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Executive Committee on Commercial Law
and Bankruptcy and is a member of the Financial Lawyers Conference. Mr. Diamant
is a graduate from UCLA School of Law.
SALVADOR DIAZ-VERSON, JR.. is a Director of the Company and has served in
this capacity since September 1997. Mr. Diaz-Verson is the founder, and since
1991 has been the Chairman and President, of Diaz-Verson Capital Investments,
Inc., an Investment Adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Mr. Diaz-Verson served as President and Member of the Board of
Directors of American Family Corporation (AFLCAC Inc.), a publicly held
insurance holding company, from 1979 until 1991. Mr. Diaz-Verson also served as
Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of American Family Life
Assurance Company, subsidiary of AFLCAC Inc., from 1976 through 1991. Mr.
Diaz-Verson is a graduate of Florida State University. He is currently a
Director of the Board of Miramar Securities, Clemente Capital Inc., Regions Bank
of Georgia and The Philippine Strategic Investment Holding Limited. Since 1992,
Mr. Diaz-Verson has also been a member of the Board of Trustees of the
Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, appointed by President George Bush
in 1992, and re-appointed by President Clinton in early 2000.
NEAL MEEHAN is a Director of the Company and has served in this capacity
since October 2000 following appointment by resolution of the Board of
Directors, pursuant to the Bylaws of the Corporation. Mr. Meehan's business
career spans the transportation and telecommunications sectors. He is currently
Managing Partner of air2ground, LLC and is involved in business development and
strategic planning for start-up and mature companies. He has served as President
and Chief Executive Officer of a number of airlines including New York Air,
Midway Airlines, Chicago Air and Continental Express. He has also served in
various marketing and operations capacities for American Airlines and
Continental Airlines. In addition, he has served in various senior capacities
for a number of telecommunications firms including In-Flight Phone Corp.,
Iridium LLC and Hush Communications USA, Inc., a firm specializing in data
encryption. After a successful career in the United States Marine Corps, Mr.
Meehan received his MBA from St. Johns University. Mr. Meehan is also the
recipient of an honorary doctorate from St. Johns University in Commercial
Science.
JOHN PINCAVAGE is a Director of the Company and has served on the Board of
Directors since March 1, 2002. Mr. Pincavage is a Chartered Financial Analyst
with many years of experience on Wall Street. Since 1999, he has been the
President and founder of Pincavage & Associates, LLC, a consulting and financial
advisory firm for the aviation industry. From 1995 to 1999, he was the executive
director for equity research at Warburg Dillon Read, LLC, a Partner and Director
at the Transportation Group, LLC heading research efforts from 1989 to 1995,
Executive Vice President - Research at Paine Webber Incorporated from 1975 to
1989, and Vice President - Research at Blyth Eastman Dillon from 1971 to 1975.
Mr. Pincavage is a member of the New York Society of Securities Analysts and has
served on numerous boards including the Board of Directors of the Virginia
Engineering Foundation. He holds a Bachelor degree in Aerospace Engineering and
an MBA, both from University of Virginia.
NORMAN REITMAN is a Director of the Company and has served in this capacity
since March 6, 2000. He previously served as a Director of the Company from
January 1989 to September 1998. Mr. Reitman obtained his B.B.A. degree in
business administration from St. Johns University in 1946 and became licensed as
a public accountant in New York in 1955. Mr. Reitman is the retired Chairman of
the Board and President of Norman Reitman Co., Inc., insurance auditors, where
he served from 1979 until June 1990. Mr. Reitman was a senior partner in Norman
Reitman Co., a public accounting firm, where he served from 1952 through 1979.
Mr. Reitman served on the Board of Directors and was a Vice President of
American Family Life Assurance Co., a publicly held insurance company, from 1966
until April 1991.
Officers
Listed below are Executive Officers of the Company who are not
Directors or nominees, their ages, titles and background information. Executive
officers serve at the discretion of the Board.
Name Age Position
Joshua Hauser....................... 56 President and Chief Executive Officer
Steven Burdick...................... 38 Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Michael Froch....................... 40 Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Jacob Mail.......................... 51 Senior Vice President, AuraGen(R)Operations
JOSHUA HAUSER is the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer
effective March 1, 2002. He is a senior executive with demonstrated success in
business/product development for both domestic and international operations. Mr.
Hauser is a goal-oriented leader with a record of positioning companies for
growth and expansion. He has over 30 years experience in the power control
systems industry. From 1999 through 2002, he was a management consultant. Prior
to that, he was President of Siebe Power Controls, a division of Siebe plc, with
full profit and loss responsibility for a global power systems business
employing 6,500 people in 13 locations. Mr. Hauser holds both Bachelor and
Master degrees in Electrical Engineering, both from Columbia University.
STEVEN BURDICK is the Company's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer effective March 1, 2002. He is a CPA and a senior financial executive
with experience working with both publicly traded and private companies. Mr.
Burdick was most recently Chief Financial Officer of TRW Ventures from 2000
through 2002, and prior to that was a Senior Manager at Ernst & Young LLP. He
received a BS in Accounting from Santa Clara University.
MICHAEL FROCH is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of
the Company and has served as General Counsel since March 1997 and as Secretary
since July 1997. He joined the Company in 1994 as its corporate counsel. From
1991 through 1994, Mr. Froch was engaged in private law practice in California.
Mr. Froch is admitted to the California and District of Columbia bars. He
received his Juris Doctor degree from Santa Clara University School of Law in
1989, during which time he served as judicial extern to the Honorable Spencer M.
Williams, United States District Judge for the Northern District of California.
He received his A.B. degree from the University of California at Berkeley in
1984, serving from 1982 through 1983 as Staff Assistant to the Honorable Tom
Lantos, Member of Congress, presently the Ranking Member of the Committee on
International Relations of the United States House of Representatives.
JACOB MAIL is Senior Vice President AuraGen(R)Operations. He has served in
this capacity since 1995. Mr. Mail served over 20 years at Israeli Aircraft
Industries. While at Aura, Mr. Mail has identified, negotiated and contracted
all the supply chain arrangements for the AuraGen(R). In addition, Mr. Mail
implemented programs to monitor and project needs for production schedules and
provide full traceability of all components. Mr. Mail is responsible for the
implementation of the "Call Home" programs, which provides the Company with a
user database for every AuraGen(R)installed in a vehicle. In addition to the
manufacturing and infrastructure implementations, Mr. Mail is also responsible
for all engineering and vehicle integration as well as customer service and
training. He holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Technion and
a Master degree from the University of Tel Aviv.
Change in Management
In December 2001, the Company and six former members of the Company's
senior management, including Zvi Kurtzman, the former Chief Executive Officer,
Gerald Papazian, the former President and Steven Veen, the former Chief
Financial Officer, entered into agreements providing for the termination of
their employment with the Company effective February 28, 2002.
Effective March 2002, the Company retained Joshua Hauser as the Company's
President and Chief Executive Officer and Steven Burdick as the Company's Chief
Financial Officer. Both Messrs. Hauser and Burdick bring a wealth of knowledge
and experience to the Company which is expected to benefit the Company's
operations going forward in fiscal 2003 and beyond. In addition, the Company has
retained Craig B. Lipus as the Company's new Vice President of Sales and
Marketing effective June 2002, filling the vacancy created in December 2001. The
Company believes that with a new and experienced management team in place it
will be able to more effectively exploit the commercialization of the AuraGen(R)
family of products.
Family Relationships
None.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), requires the Company's officers and Directors, and beneficial
owners of more than ten percent of the common stock, to file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
reports of ownership and changes in ownership of the common stock. Copies of
such reports are required to be furnished to the Company. Based solely on its
review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company, or written
representations that no reports were required, the Company believes that for the
fiscal year ended February 28, 2002, all filing requirements applicable to its
officers, directors, and ten percent beneficial owners were satisfied except
that Messrs. Cohen and Diaz-Verson did not timely file a single Form 5 with two
transaction acquisitions reported.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Cash Compensation For Executives
The following table summarizes all compensation paid to the Company's Chief
Executive Officer, and to the four most highly compensated executive officers of
the Company other than the Chief Executive Officer whose total compensation
exceeded $100,000 during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2002. Each of the
individuals named in the table ceased to be executive officers as of February
28, 2002.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Annual Long Term All Other
Compensation(1) Compensation Awards Compensation(2)
-------------- ------------------ ---------------
Name and Principal Position Year Salary Options/SARs
---- ------ -----------
Zvi (Harry) Kurtzman (1) 2002 $385,000 7,718,750 $0
Chief Executive Officer 2001 385,000 4,500,000 0
2000 386,232 0 0
Gerald S. Papazian (1) 2002 $210,000 2,268,750 $0
President and Chief Operating 2001 210,000 1,000,000 2,029
Officer 2000 217,777 0 0
Arthur J. Schwartz (1) 2002 $205,000 4,143,750 $0
Executive Vice President 2001 205,000 1,000,000 0
2000 210,192 0 0
Steven C. Veen (1) 2002 $200,000 2,175,000 $0
Senior Vice President and 2001 200,000 1,000,000 2,100
Chief Financial Officer 2000 205,469 0 0
Cipora Kurtzman Lavut (1) 2002 $195,000 3,956,250 $0
Senior Vice President 2001 195,000 1,000,000 0
2000 203,942 0 0
(1) The amounts shown are the amounts actually paid to the named officers
during the respective fiscal years. Because of the timing of the payments, these
amounts do not always represent the actual salary accrued for each individual
during the period. The actual salary rate for these individuals which was
accrued during the fiscal year ended February 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively,
were as follows: Zvi (Harry) Kurtzman - $385,000, $385,000, $385,000; Gerald S.
Papazian - $210,000, $210,000, $210,000; Arthur J. Schwartz - $205,000,
$205,000, $205,000; Steven C. Veen - $200,000, $200,000, $200,000; Cipora
Kurtzman Lavut - $195,000, $195,000, $195,000. Of the compensation paid in
fiscal 2001, $100,427, $53,140, $50,254, $35,301, $38,027 was paid in the form
of 315,361, 166,869, 157,807, 110,851, 119,414 shares, respectively, of
restricted common stock of the Company to Mr. Kurtzman, Mr. Papazian, Mr.
Schwartz, Mr. Veen and Ms. Kurtzman Lavut, respectively. Of the compensation
paid in fiscal 2000, $144,561, $34,781, $78,201, $44,918 and $58,520 was paid in
the form of 535,413, 128,818, 289,632, 166,363, and 216,742 shares,
respectively, of restricted common stock of the Company, valued as of the date
of issuance, to Mr. Kurtzman, Mr. Papazian, Mr. Schwartz, Mr. Veen and Ms.
Kurtzman Lavut, respectively.
(2) Such compensation consisted of total Company contributions made to the
plan account of each individual pursuant to the Company's Employee Retirement
Savings Plan during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2002.
No cash bonuses or restricted stock awards were granted to the above
individuals during the fiscal years ended February 28, 2002, February 28, 2001,
and February 29, 2000. Effective fiscal 2002, each non-employee Director is
entitled to receive 100,000 stock options per year for serving as a Director,
and an additional 25,000 stock options per year for each Director who serves on
the Audit Committee. Effective fiscal 2002, new Directors are entitled to
receive an initial membership grant of 250,000 stock options. The above options
vest six months plus one day from the date of grant and the exercise price is
set at or above market as of the date of grant.
The following table summarizes certain information regarding option grants
to purchase common stock of the Company to the Chief Executive Officer and those
other executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table (the "Named
Executive Officers"). OPTIONS/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
Potential
Realizable Value at
Assumed Annual
Rates of Stock Price
Appreciation
Individual Grants For Option Term*
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of % of
Securities Total
Under- Options/
lying SARs
Options/ Granted to Exercise
SARs Employees Or Base
Granted In fiscal Price Expiration
Name (#) Year ($/Sh) Date 5% ($) 10% ($)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zvi (Harry) Kurtzman 7,718,750 36.8% 0.55 12/21/11 385,938 3,164,687
Gerald Papazian 2,268,750 10.8% 0.55 12/21/11 113,438 1,043,625
Arthur J. Schwartz 4,143,750 19.8% 0.55 12/21/11 207,188 1,698,938
Steven C. Veen 2,175,000 10.4% 0.55 12/21/11 108,750 891,750
Cipora Kurtzman Lavut 3,956,250 18.9% 0.55 12/21/11 197,813 1,622,063
The following table summarizes certain information regarding the number and
value of all options to purchase common stock of the Company held by the Chief
Executive Officer and those other executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table.
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
Number of Unexercised Value of Unexercised
Options/SARs at fiscal In-the-Money Options/
Name Year End SARs at fiscal Year End*
----- ---------------------------- ------------------------
Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
Zvi (Harry) Kurtzman 6,734,583 6,804,167 $ 180,000 $ 90,000
Gerald S. Papazian 1,653,917 1,840,833 $ 40,000 $ 20,000
Arthur J. Schwartz 2,717,917 3,170,833 $ 40,000 $ 20,000
Steven C. Veen 1,821,670 1,778,333 $ 40,000 $ 20,000
Cipora Kurtzman Lavut 2,655,417 3,045,833 $ 40,000 $ 20,000
* Based on the average high and low reported prices of the Company's common
stock on the last day of the fiscal year ended February 28, 2002.
No options were exercised by the above individuals during the fiscal year
ended February 28, 2002.
Compensation Committee Report
The Company maintains a Compensation Committee (the "Committee"),
consisting entirely of outside, disinterested, Directors who are not employees
or former employees of the Company. The Committee recommends salary practices
for executive officers of the Company, with all compensation determinations
ultimately made by a majority of the outside, disinterested Directors.
Compensation Philosophy
The Company's policy in compensating executive officers is to establish
methods and levels of compensation that will provide strong incentives to
promote the profitability and growth of the Company and reward superior
performance. Compensation of executive officers includes salary as well as
stock-based programs. The Board believes that compensation of the Company's key
executives should be sufficient to attract and retain highly qualified personnel
and also provide meaningful incentives for measurably superior performance. The
Company places special emphasis on equity-based compensation, particularly in
the form of options. This approach also serves to match the interests of the
executive officers with the interest of the stockholders. The Company seeks to
reward achievement of long and short term performance goals which are measured
by a number of factors, including improvements in revenue and achieving
profitability.
Included in the factors considered by the Committee in setting the
compensation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer are the growth in the
Company's commercial sales, the development of commercial applications for the
Company's technology, and the effective allocation of capital resources.
Termination of Certain Employment Contracts
The Company offers employment contracts to key executives only when it is
in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders to attract and retain
such key executives and to ensure continuity and stability of management.
Effective as of March 1998, the Company entered into employment agreements and
severance agreements with Messrs. Kurtzman, Schwartz, Papazian, Veen, Froch,
Kaufman, and Ms. Kurtzman Lavut and entered into severance agreements with
Messrs. Goldstein, Mail, and Stuart. The Committee reviewed and approved such
agreements unanimously after consulting with a nationally recognized employee
benefits firm and determining that such agreements were necessary in order to
retain highly qualified executives whose abilities are critical to the long term
success and competitiveness of the Company.
The employment agreements with Mr. Kurtzman and the Named Executive
Officers had an initial term of three years. The term would be automatically
extended for one year on each anniversary of the effective date of the
employment agreement unless either party gave prior notice of termination of the
agreement. Upon the death or disability of these executives, their employment
agreements provided for a lump sum payment equal to one year's salary and the
immediate vesting of stock based compensation awards. In the event of the
executive's termination for cause, the terminated executive was entitled only to
compensation accrued through the date of termination. If the executive was
terminated by the Company other than by reason of death, disability or cause,
the terminated executive would be entitled to continued payment of the base
salary through the end of the stated term together with an annual bonus for each
of the remaining years under the employment agreement equal to the highest
annual bonus amount received by the terminated executive in the three years
preceding termination and the immediate vesting of stock based compensation
awards.
Pursuant to severance agreements entered into effective March 1998 between
the Company and key executives of the Company, including Mr. Kurtzman and the
Named Executive Officers, these individuals were entitled to certain additional
benefits, which would become effective at such time as there was a "change in
control" of the Company, as defined in the severance agreements. If such
executive's employment was terminated following a change in control other than
by reason of death, disability or by the executive without "good reason", or if
following a change in control the executive elected to terminate his employment
on the one year anniversary following a change in control, the terminating
executive would be entitled to specified severance payments in lieu of salary,
bonus and other compensation which would otherwise accrue to the executive upon
termination of the employment agreement. Specifically, the severance agreements
provided that, for Messrs. Kurtzman and Schwartz and Ms. Kurtzman-Lavut, a lump
sum severance payment would be due upon termination in the amount of three times
the sum of the terminated executive's base salary then in effect plus the
highest annual bonus earned in the three years preceding the date of
termination; and in the case of Messrs. Veen and Papazian, 1.5 times such base
salary and bonus. The severance agreements also provided for the accelerated
vesting of stock based awards and the continuation of life and health insurance
benefits following the date of termination (36 months for Messrs. Kurtzman and
Schwartz, and Ms. Kurtzman-Lavut, and 18 months for Messrs. Papazian and Veen).
In March 2000, Mr. Kurtzman proposed to the Board of Directors that
consideration be given to restructuring employment and severance agreements to
allow the Company the flexibility to implement an orderly management transition,
if and when deemed advisable by the Board. Certain members of the Company's
senior management believed that at some time in the future, as market acceptance
of the AuraGen(R) accelerated and manufacturing operations expanded, it might be
desirable to replace all or part of the senior members of the management team
with individuals having focused experience in large scale manufacturing and
sales operation.
Subsequently, the Company's Board of Directors entered into discussions
with certain members of senior management with a view towards restructuring the
employment and severance agreements. The Board of Directors, through its
Compensation Committee, retained independent outside consultants to formulate a
proposal whereby the existing employment and severance agreements with senior
management would be modified to allow for the possibility of an orderly
management transition in the future if and when deemed advisable by the Board.
In December 2001, following deliberations by the Compensation Committee and
the Board of Directors in consultation with independent consultants and after
concluding discussions with the affected members of the management team the
Company entered into separation agreements with Mssrs. Kurtzman, Papazian,
Schwartz, Kaufman and Veen and Ms. Kurtzman Lavut, terminating their existing
employment contracts and restructuring their severance benefits. Pursuant to
these separation agreements, these individuals terminated their employment
relationship with the Company effective February 28, 2002. Under the terms of
the separation agreements, the departing officers relinquished their right to
any multi-year cash severance benefits in exchange for a one time grant of stock
options and warrants exercisable at a price of $.55 per share, which vest over a
period of 18 months from the termination of employment. The aggregate number of
shares underlying the options and warrants issued under these separation
agreements is 22,218,750. The number of stock options for each person was
determined based on the underlying total compensation due to the employee upon
termination under each person's existing employment agreement, multiplied by two
and divided by $0.32 per share. Each of the officers has agreed to continue as a
consultant to the Company for a period of one year at 85% of their former
compensation. In addition, each executive is entitled to receive continued
medical benefits for three years following termination of employment.
Section 162(m) Policy
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, generally
provides that publicly held companies may not deduct compensation paid to
certain of its top executive officers to the extent such compensation exceeds $1
million per officer in any year. However, pursuant to regulations issued by the
Treasury Department, certain limited exemptions to Section 162(m) apply with
respect to "qualified performance-based compensation" and to compensation paid
in certain circumstances by companies in the first few years following their
initial public offering of stock. The Company has taken steps to provide that
these exemptions will apply to compensation paid to its executive officers, and
the Company will continue to monitor the applicability of Section 162(m) to its
ongoing compensation arrangements. Accordingly, the Company does not expect that
amounts of compensation paid to its executive officers will fail to be
deductible by reason of Section 162(m).
Committee Members
Salvador Diaz-Verson, Jr., Stephen Talesnick, Lawrence Diamant
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The Compensation Committee for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2002
comprised Salvador Diaz-Verson, Jr., Stephen Talesnick, and Harry Haisfield.
Decisions regarding compensation of executive officers for the fiscal year ended
February 28, 2002 were made unanimously by the outside, disinterested Directors
of the Board of Directors, after reviewing recommendations of the Compensation
Committee.
Audit Committee Fraud Detection Program
In August 1998, a lawsuit captioned Collins v. Kurtzman et al. was filed in
U.S. District Court in the Central District of California, which purported to be
a derivative shareholder suit on behalf of Aura against members of the Board of
Directors of the Company. Aura believes that the action was without merit. In
April 1999, a final settlement was entered into by the parties which called for
a dismissal of the action and no payments by any of the defendants. In
consideration of the plaintiff dismissing its lawsuit Aura agreed to adopt and
implement a fraud detection program (the "Program") under the auspices of the
Audit Committee, after consulting with the Company's outside legal counsel and
independent auditors. The purpose of the Program is to detect and prevent fraud,
maintain accurate books and records for financial transactions, establish
procedures to ensure the recording of transactions to be in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, and to ensure that the Company's SEC
filings comply with SEC rules and regulations. The Audit Committee is
responsible for monitoring the Program on an ongoing basis, with the assistance
of the Company's outside legal counsel and its independent auditors.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Company's
common stock owned as of May 17, 2002 1) by each person who is known by Aura to
be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of its outstanding common
stock, 2) by each of the Company's Directors, 3) the former Chief Executive
Officer and the other four most highly compensated executive officers other than
the CEO during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2002 (the "Named Executive
Officers"), and 4) by all current executive officers and Directors as a group:
Number of Shares of Percent of Common
Beneficial Owner Common Stock Stock
---------------- ------------ -----
Gardner Lewis Asset Management L.P. (1).............................................. 23,212,336 6.5%
ICM Asset Management Inc. (2)........................................................ 23,499,933 6.6%
James M. Simmons (3) ................................................................ 24,980,042 6.6%
Harvey Cohen (4) ................................................................... 803,287 *
Lawrence Diamant (5)................................................................. 769,727 *
Salvador Diaz-Verson, Jr. (6)........................................................ 2,695,128 *
Stephen Talesnick (7)................................................................ 3,317,698 *
Norman Reitman (8)................................................................... 842,142 *
Neal Meehan (9)...................................................................... 440,625 *
Carl Albert(10)...................................................................... 1,470,893 *
John Pincavage....................................................................... 0 *
Neal Kaufman (11).................................................................... 4,041,455 *
Zvi Kurtzman (12).................................................................... 9,571,258 2.3%
Cipora Kurtzman Lavut (13)........................................................... 4,134,343 1.0%
Gerald Papazian (14)................................................................. 2,098,596 *
Arthur Schwartz (15)................................................................. 4,905,562 1.2%
Steven Veen (16)..................................................................... 2,377,281 *
All current executive officers and Directors as a group
(12 persons)......................................................................... 13,190,017 3.2%
* Less than 1% of outstanding shares.
(1) Based upon information contained in Schedule 13G/A dated February 14, 2002,
as filed with the SEC by Gardner Lewis Asset Management Inc. Of the
23,212,336 shares beneficially owned by this person, it has sole
dispositive power with respect to all of these shares, sole voting power
with respect to 22,345,736 shares, and shared voting power with respect to
338,700 shares.
(2) Based upon information contained in Schedule 13G dated February 14, 2002,
as filed with the SEC by ICM Asset Management, Inc. ICM Asset Management,
Inc. is a registered investment advisor whose clients have the right to
receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the
proceeds from the sale of, the stock. Such person has neither sole voting
nor sole dispositive power with respect to any of the 23,499,933 shares
reported as being beneficially owned. Of the 23,499,933 shares beneficially
owned by ICM Asset Management, Inc. it has shared dispositive power with
respect to all of these shares, and shared voting power with respect to
22,562,390 shares. James M. Simmons is the President of ICM Asset
Management, Inc, and is also the beneficial owner of these shares in such
capacity. Accordingly, these shares are also included in the shares
reflected as being beneficially owned by James M. Simmons.
(3) Based upon information contained in Schedule 13G dated February 14, 2002,
as filed with the SEC by James M. Simmons. Included in the shares
beneficially owned by Mr. Simmons are 23,499,933 shares shown as being
beneficially owned by ICM Asset Management, Inc., a registered investment
advisor whose clients have the right to receive or the power to direct the
receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the stock.
James M. Simmons is the President of ICM Asset Management, Inc, and is
therefore also the beneficial owner of these shares in such capacity. Mr.
Simmons has neither sole voting nor sole dispositive power with respect to
any of the 24,980,042 shares reported as being beneficially owned by him.
Of the 24,980,042 shares beneficially owned by Mr. Simmons, he has shared
dispositive power with respect to all of these shares, and shared voting
power with respect to 24,042,499 shares.
(4) Includes 31,250 shares beneficially owned, and 600,000 shares which may be
purchased pursuant to options within 60 days of May 17, 2002.
(5) Includes 340,989 shares which are held by the firm Robinson, Diamant &
Wolkowitz where Mr. Diamant is a senior partner. Mr. Diamant disclaims
beneficial ownership of these shares.
(6) Includes 780,000 shares which may be purchased pursuant to options
exercisable within 60 days of May 17, 2002.
(7) Includes 530,000 shares which may be purchased pursuant to options
exercisable within 60 days of May 17, 2002.
(8) Includes 600,000 shares which may be purchased pursuant to options
exercisable within 60 days of May 17, 2002 and 12,500 shares owned by Mr.
Reitman's wife, as to which 12,500 shares he disclaims any beneficial
ownership. (9) Includes 296,875 shares which may be purchased pursuant to
options and warrants exercisable within 60 days of May 17, 2002.
(10) Includes 250,000 shares which may be purchased pursuant to options and
warrants exercisable within 60 days of May 17, 2002.
(11) Includes 175,000 shares beneficially owned which are held of record by
Advanced Integrated Systems, Inc., and 2,224,819 shares which may be
purchased pursuant to options within 60 days of May 17, 2002.
(12) Includes 175,000 shares beneficially owned which are held of record by
Advanced Integrated Systems, Inc., and 5,973,274 shares which may be
purchased pursuant to options within 60 days of May 17, 2002.
(13) Includes 2,269,819 shares which may be purchased pursuant to options
exercisable within 60 days of May 17, 2002
(14) Includes 1,446,287 shares which may be purchased pursuant to options
exercisable within 60 days of May 17, 2002
(15) Includes 175,000 shares beneficially owned which are held of record by
Advanced Integrated Systems, Inc., and 2,312,545 shares which may be
purchased pursuant to options within 60 days of May 17, 2002.
(16) Includes 20,000 shares beneficially owned, and 2,377,281 shares which may
be purchased pursuant to options within 60 days of May 17, 2002.
The mailing address for Gardner Lewis Asset Management, L.P. is 285 Wilmington -
West Chester Pike, Chadds Ford, PA 19317.
The mailing address for ICM Asset Management, Inc. and James M. Simmons is W.
601 Main Avenue, Suite 600, Spokane, WA 99201.
The mailing address for the others is c/o Aura Systems, Inc., 2335 Alaska
Avenue, El Segundo, CA 90245.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Related Party Transactions
In the third quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company entered into a short term
loan agreement with Carl Albert, a member of the Board of Directors, for
$250,000, bearing interest at a rate of 10%. The note, including accrued
interest of $2,500, was repaid within the third quarter. In the fourth quarter
of fiscal 2002, the Company entered into a short term loan agreement with Carl
Albert for another $250,000, bearing interest at a rate of 10%. The note, which
is included in current notes payable at February 28, 2002, and accrued interest
of $4,400, was repaid in March 2002. The Company incurred approximately $15,000
in legal fees to Mr. Albert's counsel pursuant to the loan agreements. The
Company also entered into security agreements, respectively, whereby the loans
were secured by Company receivables.
In May 2002, Mr. Albert acquired 500,000 shares of common stock from the
Company for $100,000 in connection with a private placement by the Company to a
number of third party investors.
During fiscal 2002, the law firm of Robinson, Diamant and Wolkowitz
received $50,000 and 483,846 shares of Aura common stock valued at approximately
$159,000 in consideration of legal services rendered by the firm to Aura.
Lawrence Diamant, a Director of the Company, is a member of this law firm.
PART IV
ITEM 14. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULES, REPORTS ON FORM 8-K AND EXHIBITS
(a) Documents filed as part of this Form 10-K:
(1) Financial Statements
See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at page F-1
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at page F-1
(3) Exhibits
See Exhibit Index
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
In a report filed on Form 8-K dated December 26, 2001, the Company
reported that it had entered into agreements with the former Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer and five other former members of senior
management to terminate their employment contracts and restructure their
severance benefits.
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Description of Documents
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant as amended to date.
3.2 Bylaws of Registrant as amended to date.
10.1(1) Aura Systems, Inc. 1987 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
10.2(1) Form of Aura Systems, Inc. Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement.
10.3(2) 1989 Stock Option Plan.
10.4(3) Joint Development and License Agreement, dated August 24, 1992, between the Registrant and
Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
10.5(4) Dedicated Supplier Agreement, dated December 2, 1993, between the Registrant and Daewoo
Electronics Co., Ltd.
10.6(5) Form of 7% Secured Convertible Non-Recourse Note due 2002.
10.7(6) Asset Purchase Agreement dated December 1, 1999 among AuraSound, Inc., Aura Systems, Inc.,
AlgoSound, Inc., and Algo Technology, Inc.
10.8(6) Amendment dated December 22, 1999 to Asset Purchase Agreement dated December 1, 1999.
10.9(6) Assignment and License Agreement as of July 15, 1999 between Speaker Acquisition Sub, Algo
Technology, Inc., Aura Systems, Inc., AuraSound Inc.
10.10(6) Stock Purchase Warrant issued to RGC International Investors, LDC by Aura System's Inc.
10.11(6) Payment Agreement by and between Credit Managers Association of California and Aura Systems,
Inc.
10.12(7) Subscription Agreement from Isosceles Fund Limited to Aura Systems, Inc.
10.13(7) Stock Purchase Warrant of Aura Systems, Inc. issued to Isosceles Fund Limited.
10.14(8) Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release dated as of March 12, 2001, between Aura Systems,
Inc. and Deutsche Financial Services Corporation.
10.15 Form of Aura Systems, Inc., Director Indemnification Agreement dated as of July 10, 2001.
10.16 Form of Agreement Regarding Termination of Employment dated as of December 21, 2001.
10.17 From of Employment Agreement dated as of March 5, 1998.
10.18 Aura Systems, Inc. Secured Promissory Note dated September 4, 2001, between Aura Systems,
Inc. and The Carl Albert Trust dated July 7, 1991, Carl Albert, Trustee.
10.19 Aura Systems, Inc. Security Agreement dated September 4, 2001, between Aura Systems, Inc. and
The Carl Albert Trust dated July 7, 1991, Carl Albert, Trustee.
10.20 Aura Systems, Inc. Secured Promissory Note dated January 23, 2002, between Aura Systems, Inc.
and The Carl Albert Trust dated July 7, 1991, Carl Albert, Trustee.
10.21 Aura Systems, Inc. Security Agreement dated January 23, 2002, between Aura Systems, Inc. and
The Carl Albert Trust dated July 7, 1991, Carl Albert, Trustee.
10.22 Escrow Agreement dated as of February 27, 2002, by and among Aura Systems, Inc. and Robinson,
Diamant & Wolkowitz, a Professional Corporation, by Lawrence A. Diamant and Purchasers
10.23 Assignment and Transfer of Notes and Security Documents dated as of February 26, 2002,
executed by Aura Systems, Inc. and Infinity Investors Limited, et al., in favor of Lawrence
A. Diamant, as Agent for various investors.
10.24 Assignment and Transfer of Notes and Security Documents dated as of February 26, 2002,
executed by Aura Systems, Inc. and GSS/Array Technology Public Company, Ltd. in favor of
Lawrence A. Diamant, as Agent for various investors.
10.25 Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release of All Claims dated as of February 26, 2002, by
between Aura Systems Inc., and Infinity Investors Limited, et al.
10.26 Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release of All Claims dated as of February 26, 2002, by
between Aura Systems Inc., and GSS/Array Technology, Inc., et al.
10.27 Form of Aura Systems, Inc. Subscription Agreement of May 2002
10.28 Form of Aura Systems, Inc. Registration Rights Agreement of May 2002
10.29 Settlement Agreement and Release dated as of May 7, 2002, by and between Aura Systems, Inc.
and CRS Emergency Vehicles, Co.
10.30 Term Sheet dated as of February 12, 2002
10.31 Term Sheet dated as of February 22, 2002
10.32 Employment Letter to Joshua Hauser dated February 26, 2002
21(8) Subsidiaries of Aura Systems, Inc.
23.1 Consent of PKF
23.2 Consent of Singer Lewak Greenbaum & Goldstein LLP.
- --------------------------------------------
(1) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits to the Company's Statement on
Form S-1 (File No. 33-19531)
(2) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits to the Company's Statement on
Form S-8 (File No. 33-32993).
(3) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibit to the Company's Statement on Form
S-1 (File No. 35-57 454).
(4) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (File No.-33-57454).
(5) Incorporated by reference to the Exhibits to the Company's Annual Report
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 1994 (File No. 0-17249).
(6) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended February 28, 1999 (File No. 0-17249).
(7) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended February 29, 2000 (File No. 0-17249).
(8) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended February 28, 2001 (File No. 0-17249).
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) 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.
AURA SYSTEMS, INC.
Dated: May 29, 2002
By: /s/ Joshua Hauser
----------------------------------
Joshua Hauser
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signatures Title Date
/s/Joshua Hauser President and Chief Executive Officer May 29, 2002
---------------------------------
Joshua Hauser (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/Steve Burdick Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer May 29, 2002
---------------------------------
Steve Burdick (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/Carl Albert Chairman of the Board May 29, 2002
---------------------------------
Carl Albert
/s/ Stephen Talesnick Vice Chairman of the Board May 29, 2002
---------------------------------
Stephen Talesnick
/s/Harvey Cohen Director May 29, 2002
---------------------------------
Harvey Cohen
/s/Lawrence Diamant Director May 29, 2002
---------------------------------
Lawrence Diamant
/s/Salvador Diaz-Verson, Jr. Director May 29, 2002
---------------------------------
Salvador Diaz-Verson, Jr.
/s/Neal Meehan Director May 29, 2002
---------------------------------
Neal Meehan
/s/John Pincavage Director May 29, 2002
---------------------------------
John Pincavage
/s/Norman Reitman Director May 29, 2002
---------------------------------
Norman Reitman
F-1
AURA SYSTEMS, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Independent Auditors' Reports on Consolidated Financial Statements and
Financial Statement Schedule F-2 to F-3
Consolidated Financial Statements of Aura Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries:
Consolidated Balance Sheets-February 28, 2002 and February 28, 2001 F-4 to F-5
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss-
Years ended February 28, 2002, February 28, 2001 and February 29, 2000 F-6
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity -
Years ended February 28, 2002, February 28, 2001 and February 29, 2000 F-7
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows-
Years ended February 28, 2002, February 28, 2001 and February 29, 2000 F-8 to F-9
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-10 to F-22
Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule:
II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts F-23 to F-24
Schedules other than those listed above are omitted because they are not
required or are not applicable, or the required information is shown in the
respective consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
Aura Systems, Inc.
El Segundo, California
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Aura Systems,
Inc. and subsidiaries as of February 28, 2002 and 2001, and the related
consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders'
equity, and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial
statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Aura Systems, Inc.
and subsidiaries as of February 28, 2002 and 2001, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the
Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the
consolidated financial statements, the Company has generated significant losses
from operations. Therefore, there is substantial doubt about its ability to
continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are
also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any
adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
/s/ SINGER LEWAK GREENBAUM & GOLDSTEIN LLP
Los Angeles, California
April 30, 2002, except for Note 22, as to which the date is May 24, 2002
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Aura Systems, Inc.
El Segundo, California
We audited the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss,
stockholders' equity, and cash flows of Aura Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries for
the year ended February 29, 2000 and the related financial statement schedule
listed in the accompanying Index at Item 14. These consolidated financial
statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our
audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the results of the operations and their cash
flows of Aura Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries for the year ended February 29,
2000, and the financial statement schedule presents fairly, in all material
respects, the information set forth therein, all in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company
will continue as a going concern. As discussed in note 1 to the consolidated
financial statements, the Company has generated significant losses from
operations and is involved with significant litigation. As the Company has
suffered recurring losses from operations, there is substantial doubt about its
ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these
matters are described in note 1. The financial statements do not include any
adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
/s/ Pannell Kerr Forster
Certified Public Accountants
A Professional Corporation
Los Angeles, California 90017
June 12, 2000
AURA SYSTEMS, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
ASSETS February 28, February 28,
2002 2001
----------- ------------
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,143,396 $ 1,265,912
Receivables, net 67,491 1,062,041
Inventories, net 5,006,424 9,756,399
Other current assets 228,758 452,940
Note receivable 168,792 1,405,857
------------- --------------
Total current assets 6,614,861 13,943,149
-----------------------------------------------------------
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, AT COST 16,309,956 41,289,011
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (5,935,475) (20,966,852)
-------------- ---------------
Net property, plant and equipment 10,374,481 20,322,159
LONG TERM INVESTMENTS 1,700,000 1,883,835
LONG TERM RECEIVABLES 2,347,346 2,516,139
NON-CURRENT INVENTORIES 4,500,000 --
PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS, NET 3,061,932 3,370,263
OTHER ASSETS 163,370 3,242,498
------------- --------------
Total $ 28,761,990 $ 45,278,043
============= ==============
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
AURA SYSTEMS, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
February 28, February 28,
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 2002 2001
------------------ -------------------
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable $ 3,032,134 $ 3,463,146
Notes payable 3,913,623 14,300,594
Accrued expenses 2,181,657 1,284,754
------------- -------------
Total current liabilities 9,127,414 19,048,494
NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER LIABILITIES 6,981,843 24,184,514
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock, par value $.005 per share, and additional paid
in capital. Authorized 500,000,000 shares; issued and
outstanding 387,690,068 shares in 2002 and
291,089,582 shares in 2001. 300,332,457 264,787,864
Accumulated deficit (287,679,724) (262,742,829)
----------- ------------
Total stockholders' equity 12,652,733 2,045,035
------------- -------------
Total $ 28,761,990 $ 45,278,043
============== =============
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
AURA SYSTEMS, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations and
Comprehensive Loss Years ended February 28, 2002, February
28, 2001 and February 29, 2000
2002 2001 2000
------------- ------------- -------------
NET REVENUES FROM SALE OF PRODUCT $ 3,116,295 $ 2,512,508 $ 4,288,221
PATENT ASSIGNMENT FEES -- -- 1,500,000
------------- ------------- -------------
TOTAL NET REVENUES 3,116,295 2,512,508 5,788,221
Cost of GOODS 1,480,736 1,216,637 1,957,854
------------- ------------- -------------
GROSS PROFIT 1,635,559 1,295,871 3,830,367
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Engineering expenses 9,924,298 8,214,981 11,466,449
Research and development 810,949 547,812 148,443
Selling, general and administrative expenses 10,006,844 12,695,833 10,725,397
Legal settlements (2,750,000) 1,512,769 427,091
Settlement on accounts payable (651,685) (1,046,324) 2,350,671
-------------- -------------- -------------
Total operating expenses 17,340,406 21,925,071 25,118,051
------------- ------------- -------------
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS (15,704,847) (20,629,200) (21,287,684)
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS (9,095,393) (240,000) --
OTHER INCOME AND (EXPENSE), NET (2,026,195) (60,771) (3,115,687)
-------------- ------------------- -------------------
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND OTHER ITEMS (26,826,435) (20,929,971) (24,403,371)
Provision for taxes -- -- --
------------- ------------------ ------------------
Loss from continuing operations (26,826,435) (20,929,971) (24,403,371)
Discontinued Operations:
Loss from discontinued operations, net of
taxes of $0 -- -- (1,433,859)
Loss on disposal, net of taxes of $0 -- -- (3,063,574)
-------------- -------------- ---------------
Loss from discontinued operations -- -- (4,497,433)
-------------- -------------- ---------------
Loss before extraordinary item (26,826,435) (20,929,971) (28,900,804)
Extraordinary item
Gain on extinguishment of debt obligations, net of
income taxes of $0 1,889,540 -- 19,068,916
-------------- -------------- --------------
NET LOSS (24,936,895) (20,929,971) (9,831,888)
Other comprehensive income, net of taxes -- -- 365,932
-------------- -------------- --------------
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS $ (24,936,895) $ (20,929,971) $ (9,465,956)
=============== =============== ===============
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE $ (0.08) $ (0.08) $ (0.08)
=============== =============== ===============
Loss from continuing operations per common share $ (0.08) $ (0.08) $ (0.20)
=============== =============== ===============
Loss from discontinued operations per common share $ -- $ -- $ (0.03)
============== ============== ===============
Extraordinary income per common share $ -- $ -- $ 0.15
============== ============== ==============
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF
COMMON SHARES 327,587,590 261,568,346 124,294,051
============== ============== =============
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
AURA SYSTEMS, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders'
Equity Years ended February 28, 2002, February 28, 2001
and February 29, 2000
Accumulated
Other
Common Stock Additional Committed Comprehensive
Paid-in Common Stock Accumulated (CTA) Income
Shares Amount Capital Deficit (Loss) Total
------ ------ ------- ------- ------ -----
Balance at February 28, 1999 107,752,042 $ 538,759 $218,154,486 $ -- $(231,980,970) $(365,932) $(13,653,657)
Notes payable converted 68,534,445 342,672 10,036,430 -- -- -- 10,379,102
Exercise of warrants 120,000 600 44,200 -- -- -- 44,800
Stock issued to satisfy
liabilities 2,907,275 14,536 770,429 -- -- -- 784,965
Private placements 17,661,630 88,308 4,400,692 -- -- -- 4,489,000
Expenses of issuances -- -- (195,020) -- -- -- (195,020)
Common stock not issued -- -- -- 9,132,774 -- -- 9,132,774
Other comprehensive income -- -- -- -- -- 365,932 365,932
Net loss -- -- -- -- (9,831,888) -- (9,831,888)
----------- -------- ---------- --------- ---------- -------- ----------
Balance at February 29, 2000 196,975,392 984,875 233,211,217 9,132,774 (241,812,858) -- 1,516,008
Notes payable converted 7,324,191 36,621 2,912,744 -- -- -- 2,949,365
Stock issued to satisfy
liabilities 11,642,627 58,160 6,093,135 -- -- -- 6,151,295
Private placements 40,721,909 203,610 12,231,830 -- -- -- 12,435,440
Stock issued for prior year 34,425,463 172,128 8,960,646 (9,132,774) -- -- --
Expenses of issuances -- -- (77,102) -- -- -- (77,102)
Net loss -- -- -- -- (20,929,971) -- (20,929,971)
----------- ---------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- -----------
Balance at February 28, 2001 291,089,582 1,455,394 263,332,470 -- (262,742,829) -- 2,045,035
Notes payable converted 31,398,771 156,994 11,706,261 -- -- -- 11,863,255
Stock issued to satisfy
liabilities 18,500,802 92,504 6,921,208 -- -- -- 7,013,712
Exercise of stock options
& warrants 102,500 512 27,263 -- -- -- 27,775
Stock issued repricing
requirements 8,947,631 44,738 (44,738) -- -- -- --
Private placements 37,650,782 188,237 13,215,876 -- -- -- 13,404,113
Expenses of issuances -- -- (74,912) -- -- -- (74,912)
Shares issuable under repricing
agreements -- -- -- 3,310,650 -- -- 3,310,650
Net loss -- -- -- -- (24,936,895) -- (24,936,895)
----------- ------------ ---------- --------- ------------- -------- -----------
Balance at February 28, 2002 387,690,068 $1,938,379 $295,083,428 $3,310,650 $(287,679,724) $ -- $ 12,652,733
=========== ========== ============ ========== ============== ======== ============
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
AURA SYSTEMS, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years ended February 28, 2002, February 28, 2001 and
February 29, 2000
2002 2001 2000
------ ------ ------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss $(24,936,895) $(20,929,971) $(9,465,956)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
Cash used by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 5,868,089 7,619,979 6,853,924
Provision for environmental cleanup -- -- 48,812
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets 65,823 (1,756,746) 93,638
Impairment of long-lived assets 9,095,393 240,000 --
Gain on extinguishment of debt (1,889,540) -- (19,068,916)
Settlement on accounts payable (651,685) (1,046,324) 2,350,671
Legal settlements (750,000) -- --
Operating expenses satisfied with stock 278,801 903,935 --
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations -- -- 2,697,642
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables 965,700 1,397,159 462,541
Inventories 249,975 1,432,828 4,019,810
Other current assets 224,182 (92,763) 1,515,787
Accounts payable 1,587,763 (752,858) (3,721,845)
Accrued expenses 1,156,386 (349,546) (1,577,248)
Litigation and other liabilities -- -- 222,223
--------- ---------- -----------
Net cash used by operating activities (8,736,008) (13,334,307) (15,568,917)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments from notes receivable 155,857 3,784,681 5,674,828
Proceeds from sale of assets -- -- 327,109
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (255,733) (38,200) (16,103)
Other assets (4,300) 3,821 --
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities (104,176) 3,750,302 5,985,834
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from borrowings 500,000 -- 251,101
Repayment of notes payable (5,139,308) (1,768,859) (1,218,571)
Proceeds from exercise of options 775 -- --
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock 13,329,201 12,358,339 7,393,980
Net proceeds from exercise of warrants 27,000 -- 24,800
Repayment of convertible notes -- -- (430,000)
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by financing activities 8,717,668 10,589,480 6,021,310
--------- --------- ---------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents (122,516) 1,005,475 (3,561,773)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 1,265,912 260,437 3,822,210
--------- --------- ----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $1,143,396 $1,265,912 $ 260,437
========== =========== ===========
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest $1,081,122 $1,977,239 $ 922,708
========= ========== ==========
Income taxes $ -- $ -- $ --
========= ========== ==========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities:
During the year ended February 28, 2002, the Company restructured
$16,179,900 of debt and related accrued interest into 46,112,771 shares of
common stock valued at $15,173,905, resulting in a pre-tax extraordinary gain
for the early extinguishment of debt of $1,005,995. Due to guaranteed share
repricing agreements, 14,714,000 of the common shares with a value totaling
$3,310,650 were not issued as of February 28, 2002 and have been reflected on
the Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity as "Committed common stock".
The gain, in addition to a $883,846 gain resulting from a creditor's forgiveness
of the remaining balance of an unsecured note payable plus accrued interest, has
been reflected as an extraordinary item in the accompanying consolidated
financial statements. During fiscal 2002, the Company also issued 8,500,502
shares of common stock in satisfaction of $278,801 in operating expenses and
$2,734,613 of liabilities, of which $1,416,364 was long term trade debt included
in notes payable and other liabilities; 10,000,000 shares of common stock valued
at $4,000,000 as partial settlement with Deutsche Financial Services (see Note 9
of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements); 8,947,631 shares of common stock
for repricing a prior year private placement, and 1,743,801 shares of common
stock as a finder's fee for a current year private placement. The finder's fee
and repricing had no effect on total stockholders' equity.
During the year ended February 28, 2001, $2,949,365 of notes payable and
accrued interest was converted into 7,324,191 shares of common stock. The
Company also issued 11,642,627 shares of common stock in satisfaction of
$6,151,295 of liabilities, of which $3,748,384 was long term trade debt included
in notes payable and other liabilities. During the year ended February 28, 2001,
the Company also issued shares of common stock which were recorded as a
component of stockholder's equity (Committed common stock) at February 29, 2000.
The common stock could not be issued in fiscal 2000 due to the limitation on the
number of shares authorized. The Company issued 2,520,000 shares of common stock
for the conversion of notes payable and accrued interest of $686,524; 541,667
shares of common stock in settlement of accrued and unpaid director's fees of
$146,250; 12,500,000 shares of common stock, in the amount of $3,100,000 for the
Company's private placement, and 14,687,972 shares of common stock with a value
of $5,200,000 to satisfy the liability for a class action settlement. In
addition, 2,400,000 shares of common stock were issued as a finder's fee for the
Company's private placements and 1,775,824 shares of common stock for repricing
a prior private placement of the Company. The finder's fee and repricing had no
effect on total stockholders' equity. The above items total 34,425,463 shares
and $9,132,774, which is included in the Consolidated Statement of Stockholders'
Equity as Committed common stock at February 28, 2000, and Common Stock at
February 28, 2001.
During the year ended February 29, 2000, the Company restructured its
convertible notes payable obligations (most of which were in default) primarily
through debt forgiveness and equity conversion. With the debt restructure,
$11,009,102 of convertible notes was converted into 71,054,445 shares of the
Company's common stock, of which 2,520,000 shares were not reflected as issued
and outstanding as of February 29, 2000. The Company also redeemed $430,000 of
convertible notes, and $12,535,898 in convertible notes and $5,850,168 in
accrued interest were forgiven along with $682,852 in accounts payable and
accrued expenses. The remaining balance of the notes became non-convertible and
was included in secured notes payable for the year ended February 29, 2000.
Total debt forgiveness of $19,068,918 is reflected as an extraordinary item in
the accompanying consolidated financial statements and resulted in extraordinary
income per share of $0.15. A majority of the restructure was accomplished by a
single unrelated party acquiring $21,345,000 of the convertible notes payable
and subsequently converting $9,224,102 into 65,034,445 shares of the Company's
common stock and debt forgiveness of $12,120,898. Additionally, liabilities of
$20,000 were satisfied by the exercise of 40,000 warrants with an exercise price
of $.50 per share; 1,020,890 shares of common stock were issued as fees in
connection with a private placement, and 2,907,275 shares of common stock were
issued in settlement of accrued and unpaid management compensation of $784,965.
Included in net proceeds from issuance of common stock in the Consolidated
Statement of Cash Flows is $3.1 million which is included in the line item
Common stock not Issued in the Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity.
During fiscal 1999, the Company sold a portion of its shares in Telemac
Cellular Corp. ("Telemac") back to Telemac. The Company then entered into a
cancellation of shares agreement whereby it tendered the remaining shares to
Telemac in exchange for a $2,500,000 note receivable from Telemac, resulting in
a gain recognized of approximately $850,000. The final payment of $1,250,000
plus interest accrued at 8% was due in February 2002. Per the terms of the
agreement, Telemac elected to pay Aura in Telemac common shares at an exchange
price of $5 per share rather in cash. Aura received 313,232 common shares in
exchange for the final payment. During the year ended February 28, 2001, the
Company sold the assets of the ceramics facility for $3.5 million in the form of
a note receivable of $2.5 million plus $800,000 paid to third parties in
satisfaction of liabilities and payments of $200,000 to Aura. During the year
ended February 29, 2000, the Company sold its MYS subsidiary for a total of $4.2
million consisting of a $1 million down payment and a note receivable of $3.2
million. The Company also sold the assets of its AuraSound subsidiary for
approximately $2.4 million consisting of a down payment of $100,000 and a note
receivable of approximately $2.3 million.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
AURA SYSTEMS, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Years ended February 28, 2002, February 28, 2001 and
February 29, 2000
(1) Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Business
Aura Systems, Inc. ("Aura" or the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, was
founded to engage in the development, commercialization and sales of products,
systems and components using its patented and proprietary electromagnetic and
electro-optical technology. As a technology leader in mobile power, Aura
develops and sells AuraGen(R) mobile induction power systems to the industrial,
commercial and defense mobile power generation markets. The Company's unique and
patented energy solution is the only proven, commercially available pure sine
wave power system that can continuously provide thousands of watts of power at
low engine speed, and is fully integrated under the vehicle hood. The AuraGen(R)
is capable of generating full power up to 8,500 watts at all engine speeds,
including enhanced engine idle speed for gasoline engines and at idle speed for
bigger diesel engines. The AuraGen(R) combines sophisticated mechanical and
electronics design, advanced engineering and break-through electromagnetic
technology to produce a highly reliable and flexible mobile power generating
system that creates alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC)
electricity, both with and without the engine on. Commercial production of the
AuraGen(R) commenced in fiscal 1999 and is being distributed and sold through
dealers, distributors, and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
The Company intends to continue to focus its business on the AuraGen(R)
line of products. In addition, the Company is entitled to receive royalties for
its electro-optics technology ("AMATM") licensed to Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
("Daewoo") in 1992 (see Note 5).
In 1994, the Company founded NewCom, Inc. ("NewCom"), a Delaware
corporation, which engaged in the manufacture, packaging, selling and
distribution of computer-related communications and sound-related products,
including modems, CD-ROMs, sound cards, speaker systems and multimedia products.
During the second half of fiscal 1999 NewCom's business suffered from adverse
industry conditions, including increased price reductions and a decline in
demand resulting from increased incorporation of computer peripherals at the OEM
level. NewCom ceased operations in early fiscal 2000.
In 1996, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of MYS
Corporation of Japan ("MYS") to expand the range of its sound products and
speaker distribution network. MYS engaged in the manufacture and sale of
speakers and speaker systems for home, entertainment and computers. In fiscal
2000, the Company sold MYS to MYS management. AuraSound manufactured and sold
professional and consumer sound system components and products. In fiscal 2000,
the Company entered into an agreement for the sale of the assets of AuraSound.
Basis of Presentation and Going Concern
Certain amounts in the prior year financial statements and related notes
have been reclassified to conform to the fiscal 2002 presentation.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company have been
prepared on the basis that it is a going concern, which contemplates the
realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities, except where otherwise
disclosed, in the normal course of business. However, as a result of the
Company's losses from operations, such realization of assets and liquidation of
liabilities is subject to significant uncertainties. Management is currently
seeking or obtaining additional sources of funds, and the Company has
restructured a significant portion of its debt obligations. The Company's
ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the successful
achievement of profitable operations and the ability to generate sufficient cash
from operations and financing sources to meet the restructured obligations.
Except as otherwise disclosed, the consolidated financial statements do not
include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the
recoverability and classification of assets or the amount and classification of
liabilities that may result from the possible inability of the Company to
continue as a going concern.
Principles of Consolidation
The financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its
subsidiaries. Investments in affiliated companies are accounted for by the
equity or cost method, as appropriate. Intercompany accounts and transactions
with Aura Realty, Inc. have been eliminated.
For the years ended February 28, 2001 and February 29, 2000, the
consolidated financial statements include accounts of the Company and its wholly
owned subsidiaries Aura Ceramics, Inc. and Electrotec Productions, Inc. (and its
wholly owned subsidiary Electrotec Europe). During the year ended February 29,
2000, the Company divested its AuraSound segment (see Note 20). The AuraSound
segment included the Company's wholly owned subsidiaries AuraSound, Inc. and MYS
and its subsidiaries Audio-MYS, MYS America and MYS U.S.A. During fiscal 2001,
the Company sold its interest in Aura Ceramics, Inc. to management (see Note 3),
and the Company divested the Electrotec Productions, Inc. business.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue for product sales upon shipment and when
title is transferred to the customer. When Aura performs the installation of the
product, revenue and cost of sales is recognized when the installation is
complete. The Company provides for estimated returns and allowances based upon
experience and the judgment of management. The Company has in the past earned a
portion of its revenues from license fees and recorded those fees as income when
the Company fulfilled its obligations under the particular agreement. The
Company recognized $1.5 million in revenue from the assignment of patents
related to Aura Sound products in fiscal 2000. All revenue other than the patent
fees is related to the AuraGen(R).
Comprehensive Income
The Company's other comprehensive loss in fiscal 1999 consists of foreign
currency translations.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid assets, which have an original
maturity of less than three months when purchased, to be cash equivalents. At
February 28, 2002 and February 28, 2001, the Company's uninsured cash balances
totaled $1,091,281 and $1,158,980, respectively.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the
financial statements, and the reported amounts in the statements of operations
during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Long Term Investments
The Company accounts for all investments where it holds less than a 20%
voting interest, cannot exercise significant influence, and where the fair
market value of those securities is not readily determinable, under the cost
basis. Investments in voting interests between 20% and 50%, where the company
can exercise significant influence are accounted for under the equity method of
accounting, and investments greater than 50% are generally consolidated for
purposes of financial reporting. As the Company does not hold a sufficient
interest in its investments to exercise significant influence, and the fair
market value of the investments are not readily determinable, long term
investments have been accounted for under the cost method. A decline in the
value of any investment below cost that is deemed other than temporary is
charged to earnings.
Per Share Information
The consolidated net loss per common share is based on the weighted average
number of common shares outstanding during the year. Common share equivalents
have been excluded since inclusion would dilute the reported loss per share.
Such common stock equivalents amount to 75,212,978 common shares for warrants
and options at February 28, 2002, 64,612,015 common shares at February 28, 2001,
and 11,709,000 common shares at February 29, 2000.
Patents and Trademarks
The Company capitalizes the costs of obtaining or acquiring patents and
trademarks. Amortization of patent and trademark costs is provided for by the
straight line method over the shorter of the legal or estimated economic life.
The accumulated amortization was $1,964,458 as of February 28, 2002 and
$1,656,128 as of February 28, 2001. If a patent or trademark is rejected,
abandoned, or otherwise invalidated the unamortized cost is expensed in that
period.
Impairment of long-lived assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets and identifiable intangibles in
accordance with Statement of Financial Standards ("SFAS") No. 144, "Accounting
for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets", on at least an annual
basis or whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of
such assets may not be fully recoverable. The Company evaluates the
recoverability of long-lived assets by measuring the carrying amounts of the
assets against the estimated undiscounted cash flows associated with these
assets. If the future undiscounted cash flows are not sufficient to recover the
carrying value of the assets, the assets are adjusted to their fair values.
Research and Development
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs charged to
expense were not material in fiscal 2002, 2001 and 2000.
Depreciation
Property, plant and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line
method over their estimated useful lives as follows:
Buildings 40 years
Machinery and equipment 5-10 years
Furniture and fixtures 7 years
Depreciation and amortization expense of buildings, machinery and
equipment, and furniture and fixtures approximated $5.5 million, $6.3 million,
and $6.5 million for fiscal 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. See Note 8 for
further description of the asset impairment charge of $4.6 million in 2002.
(2) Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consist of the following:
2002 2001
------- -------
Accounts receivable $ 217,491 $ 1,222,041
Less allowance for uncollectible receivables (150,000) (160,000)
--------- ---------
$ 67,491 $ 1,062,041
======== ===========
Bad debt expense was $0 in fiscal 2002 and approximately $1.3 million and
$456,000 in fiscal 2001 and 2000, respectively.
(3) Notes Receivable
Notes receivable consist of the following:
2002 2001
------- -------
Telemac $ -- $1,250,000
Alpha Ceramics 2,516,138 2,671,996
--------- -----------
2,516,138 3,921,996
Less current portion 168,792 1,405,857
------- -----------
$ 2,347,346 $2,516,139
=========== ==========
During fiscal 1999, the Company sold a portion of its shares in Telemac
Cellular Corp. ("Telemac") back to Telemac. The Company then entered into a
cancellation of shares agreement whereby it tendered the remaining shares to
Telemac in exchange for a $2,500,000 note receivable from Telemac, resulting in
a gain recognized of approximately $850,000. The final payment of $1,250,000
plus interest accrued at 8% was due in February 2002. Per the terms of the
agreement, Telemac elected to pay Aura in Telemac common shares at an exchange
price of $5 per share rather than in cash. Aura received 313,232 common shares
in exchange for the final payment (see Note 4).
In March 2000, the Company sold the assets of its ceramics facility to the
president and management of the facility for $3.5 million resulting in a gain
recognized of $1,756,746. The terms of the sale called for a note in the amount
of $2.5 million with interest at 8%, a down payment of $100,000 and a payment at
closing of $100,000 plus payments to third parties of $800,000. This facility
accounted for $2.9 million or 50% of revenues in fiscal 2000.
(4) Long Term Investments
Long term investments consist of the following:
2002 2001
------ ------
Aquajet Corporation $ 923,835 $ 923,835
Algo Technology, Inc. 1,348,652 1,348,652
Telemac 1,250,000 --
--------- ---------
Subtotal 3,522,487 2,272,487
Reserve (1,822,487) (388,652)
---------- ---------
Total, net $1,700,000 $ 1,883,835
========== ===========
The above investments consist solely of common stock and constitute
approximately 4.2% of the outstanding shares of Aquajet Corporation, 2.9% of the
outstanding shares of Algo Technology, Inc. and less than 1% of the outstanding
shares of Telemac.
The Company maintains an investment in Aquajet, Inc., a development stage
company that is in the process of developing and marketing its water recreation
vehicle. Aquajet has been involved in raising financing for the past several
years in order to exploit their business plan. In relation to this, Aquajet has
been marginally successful and has developed a strong marketing and potential
customer base, but to date has been unable to generate sufficient sales to fund
its operations. The Company expects to realize its asset through the eventual
public offering or acquisition of Aquajet by a third party. However, that exit
is not believed to be likely in the near future. The Company recorded a reserve
based on Aura's judgment that Aquajet will likely not continue its operations as
a going concern.
The investment in Algo Technology, Inc. has been recorded at its net fair
value based upon the estimated share value, after giving consideration to an
other than temporary decline in the value. The Telemac investment was issued to
Aura in lieu of cash at $5 per share as described in Note 3 above. The
investment has been recorded at its estimated net fair value based upon the
estimated common stock price on the date of the transaction.
(5) Joint Ventures and Other Agreements
Aura-Dewan Joint Venture
In 1995, the Company entered into an agreement with K&K Enterprises of
India ("K&K") for the formation of a joint venture to manufacture and sell
speakers using Aura's proprietary technology. In 1995, the Company also entered
into an agreement with K&K for the formation of a joint venture to manufacture
Aura's Bass Shaker(TM). In fiscal 1999, the joint venture was terminated and a
total of $534,911 in joint venture losses and write-offs were recorded. In
fiscal 2000, the Company's remaining investment in property of the joint venture
was disposed of and certain claims and liabilities were satisfied. A loss on
disposal of assets in the amount of $800,000 was recorded in fiscal 2000. The
$800,000 loss is included in other income and expense on the statement of
operations and is disclosed in Note 18 where it is included in the gain or loss
on disposal of assets.
Daewoo Agreement
In 1992, the Company entered into a joint development and licensing
agreement with Daewoo to develop and commercialize televisions using Aura's
AMA(TM) display technology. Aura was to receive a fixed royalty (depending on
television size), for each television set manufactured by Daewoo or licensed by
Daewoo to a third party. Daewoo was taken over by its creditors during fiscal
1999. No assurances can be given as to the future plans of the AMA(TM)
technology at Daewoo.
(6) Related Party Transactions
In the third quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company entered into a short term
loan agreement with a member of the Board of Directors for $250,000, bearing
interest at a rate of 10%. The note, including accrued interest of $2,500 was
repaid within the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company entered into a short term
loan agreement with a member of the Board of Directors for another $250,000,
bearing interest at a rate of 10%. The note, which is included in current notes
payable at February 28, 2002, and accrued interest of $4,400 was repaid in March
2002. Related accrued interest of $2,400 at February 28, 2002 is reported in
accrued expenses.
(7) Inventories
Inventories, stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market,
consist of the following:
2002 2001
------ ------
Raw materials $ 4,043,697 $ 3,516,826
Finished goods 7,258,138 6,530,977
Reserve for potential product obsolescence (1,795,411) (291,404)
------------------ ------------------
$ 9,506,424 $ 9,756,399
================= =================
Inventories consist primarily of components and completed units for the
Company's AuraGen(R) product. The net inventories as of February 28, 2002 which
are not expected to be realized within a 12 month period during fiscal 2003 have
been reclassified as long term.
(8) Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment, at cost, is comprised as follows:
2002 2001
------- -------
Land $ 3,187,997 $ 3,187,997
Buildings 8,708,796 8,708,796
Machinery and equipment 1,969,206 26,840,274
Furniture, fixtures and leasehold improvements 2,443,957 2,551,944
----------------- -------------
$ 16,309,956 $ 41,289,011
============ ============
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company determined that the
tooling fixed assets were impaired based upon the requirements set forth in SFAS
No. 144. A comparison of the projected future cash flows of the Company to the
carrying value of the assets indicated that the assets were impaired. The
tooling was written down by a total net amount of $4.6 million to $0, its
estimated fair value based upon the discounted estimated cash flows over the
remaining asset lives.
(9) Notes Payable and Other Liabilities
Notes payable and other liabilities consist of the following:
2002 2001
------ ------
Litigation payable (a) $2,327,300 $ 3,030,800
Line of credit (b) -- 1,984,000
Notes payable-equipment (c) 20,371 26,093
Notes payable-buildings (d) 5,157,138 5,248,205
Unsecured notes payable (e) -- 7,443,321
Trade debt (f) 3,140,657 7,960,027
Secured notes payable (g) -- 12,792,662
Related party note payable (h) 250,000 --
-------------- -------------
10,895,466 38,485,108
Less: current portion 3,913,623 14,300,594
-------------- --------------
Long-term portion $ 6,981,843 $ 24,184,514
============ =============
(a) The litigation payable represents the legal settlements entered into by
Aura with various parties. These settlements call for payment terms with 8%
interest rate to the plaintiffs through fiscal 2004. See Note 16 for
additional information.
(b) The line of credit consisted of a single credit line in the amount of $3
million, bearing an interest rate of 12% and secured by a general security
interest in the assets of the Company. The line called for a monthly
principal payment of $100,000 plus accrued interest, and did not allow for
any additional draws. The Company was in violation of substantially all of
the original terms of this agreement, for which it received a waiver from
the bank effective through June 30, 2001. The line of credit was repaid and
eliminated in fiscal 2002.
(c) Notes payable-equipment consists of a note maturing in February 2005 with
an interest rate of 8.45%.
(d) Notes payable-buildings consists of a 1st Trust Deed on two buildings in
California bearing interest at the rate of 7.625%. A final balloon payment
is due in fiscal 2009.
(e) Unsecured notes payable at February 28, 2001 consisted of one note bearing
interest at a rate of 8% and an accrued liability of $5,500,000 to Deutsche
Financial Services (DFS) as a result of a written guarantee of NewCom
debt.The amount due to DFS was classified as a current liability on the
balance sheet as a result of a settlement reached with DFS subsequent to
the end of fiscal 2001. Following the terms of the settlement, in the first
quarter of fiscal 2002 a cash payment of $350,000 was made and 10,000,000
shares of Aura common stock valued at $4,000,000 were issued to DFS,
resulting in a gain on the settlement of the recorded liability of
$1,150,000. During the third quarter of fiscal 2002, the remaining balance
of the unsecured note plus accrued interest was forgiven by the creditor,
resulting in an extraordinary pre-tax gain for early extinguishment of debt
of approximately $900,000 (see Note 23).
(f) Trade debt was restructured with payment terms over a three-year period
with interest at 8% per annum commencing in January 2000.
(g) Secured notes payable at February 28, 2001 consisted of two notes bearing
interest at a rate of 8%. During fiscal 2002, the remaining balance plus
accrued interest of one secured note was converted into 1,970,771 shares of
the Company's common stock. Additionally, the Company converted the second
secured note plus accrued interest into 44,142,000 shares of Aura common
stock, resulting in an extraordinary pre-tax gain of approximately $1.0
million (See Note 23).
(h) In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company entered into a short term
loan agreement with a member of the Board of Directors for $250,000. The
note accrued interest at a rate of 10% and was repaid in March 2002.
Annual maturities of long term notes payable and litigation payable for the
next fiscal years are as follows:
Fiscal Year Amount
2003 $3,913,623
2004 1,872,903
2005 270,035
2006 123,856
2007 133,778
thereafter 4,581,271
-------------
$10,895,466
(10) Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consist of the following:
2002 2001
------- -------
Accrued payroll and related expenses $ 794,481 $ 680,524
Accrued interest 76,848 280,228
Accrued severance 1,080,525 --
Other 229,803 324,002
----------- -----------
$ 2,181,657 $ 1,284,754
=========== ===========
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company recorded a liability
for future severance payments to the former management. Aura does not
intend to utilize the consulting services of the former management beyond
the first quarter of fiscal 2003.
The Company has settled various trade payables and accrued liabilities
with its vendors as a result of renegotiating the ultimate payment due.
These negotiations have resulted in gains and losses as reported in the
statements of operations for fiscal 2002, 2001 and 2000.
(11) Income Taxes
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary
differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for
financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.
At February 28, 2002, the Company had net operating loss
carry-forwards for Federal and state income tax purposes of approximately
$249.5 million and $93.8 million respectively, which expire through 2022.
Under SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes", the Company utilizes the
liability method of accounting for income taxes. Accordingly, the Company
has recorded a non-current deferred tax benefit of approximately $120
million for fiscal 2002 and $105 million for fiscal 2001. The Company has
also recorded a full valuation reserve to fully offset the deferred benefit
due to the uncertainty of the realization of this benefit. The deferred tax
benefit consists solely of the benefit of the net operating loss
carry-forward.
The effective income tax rate reconciliation is:
2002 2001 2000
------- ------- -------
U.S. Statutory income tax rate 40% 40% 40%
Valuation allowance (40%) (40%) (40%)
----- ----- -----
0% 0% 0%
=========== =========== ===========
(12) Common Stock, Stock Options and Warrants
At February 28, 2002 and 2001, the Company had 500,000,000 shares of
$.005 par value common stock authorized for issuance. The Company had
387,690,390 shares of common stock issued and outstanding at February 28,
2002. The Company issued common stock in the fourth quarter 2002 which
calls for additional repricing shares upon the issuance of shares at a
lower price within a twelve month period. See Note 23 for additional
information.
The Board of Directors is authorized to issue from time to time up to
10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, in one or more series, and the Board
of Directors is authorized to fix the dividend rates, any conversion rights
or rights of exchange, any voting right, any rights and terms of redemption
(including sinking fund provisions), the redemption price, liquidation
preferences and any other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions
of any series of preferred stock. No amounts were outstanding as of
February 28, 2002 and 2001.
At February 28, 2002 there were warrants outstanding to purchase
33,956,727 shares of the Company's common stock exercisable at an average
price of $0.71 per share.
The Company has granted nonqualified stock options to certain
directors. Options were granted at fair market value at the date of grant,
vested immediately, and were exercisable at any time within a ten-year
period from the date of grant.
A summary of activity in the Directors stock option plan follows:
Shares Exercise Price
---------- ---------------
Options outstanding at February 28,1999 560,000 $ 2.06-4.75
Expired (60,000) $ 3.00-4.75
-------- --------------
Options outstanding at February 29, 2000 500,000 $ 2.06-2.30
------- --------------
Options outstanding at February 28, 2001 500,000 $ 2.06-2.30
Expired (50,000) $ 2.06-2.30
--------- --------------
Options outstanding at February 28, 2002 450,000 $ 2.06-2.30
=======
The following table summarizes information about director stock options at
February 28, 2002:
Number Average Number
Range of Outstanding at Remaining Life Weighted Average Exercisable
Exercise Price 2/28/02 in Years Exercise Price as of 2/28/02
-------------- ------- -------- -------------- -------------
$2.06 450,000 5.36 $2.06 400,000
$2.30 50,000 5.13 $2.30 50,000
(13) Employee Benefit Plans
The Company sponsored two employee benefit plans: The Employee Stock
Ownership Plan (ESOP) and a 401(k) plan. In addition, the options granted
under the 1989 and 2000 Stock Option Plans are valid and subject to
exercise.
The ESOP is a qualified discretionary employee stock ownership plan
that covers substantially all employees. This plan was formally approved by
the Board of Directors during fiscal 1990. The Company made no
contributions to the ESOP in fiscal 2002, 2001 and 2000.
The Company sponsors a voluntary defined contribution 401(k) plan. The
plan provides for salary reduction contributions by employees and matching
contributions by the Company of the first 7% of the employee's pre-tax
contributions. The matching contributions by the Company included in SG&A
expenses are $58,025, $49,152, and $52,565 in fiscal 2002, 2001, and 2000,
respectively.
The 1989 Stock Option Plan has granted the maximum allowable number of
options authorized. In March 2000, the Company's Board of Directors adopted
the 2000 Stock Option Plan, a non-qualified plan which was subsequently
approved by the shareholders. The 2000 Stock Option Plan authorizes the
grant of options to purchase up to 10% of the Company's outstanding common
shares. Shares currently under option generally vest ratably over a four to
five year period.
In October 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB")
issued SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," which
contains a fair value-based method for valuing stock-based compensation
that entities may use, which measures compensation cost at the grant date
based on the fair value of the award. Compensation is then recognized over
the service period, which is usually the vesting period. Alternatively, the
standard permits entities to continue accounting for employee stock option
and similar equity instruments under Accounting Principles Board ("APB")
Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." The Company has
adopted only the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123. It applies APB
Opinion No. 25 and related interpretations in accounting for its stock
issuances to employees and does not recognize compensation expense for its
stock-based compensation other than for restricted stock and options issued
to outside third parties.
The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in
estimating the fair value of traded options which have no vesting
restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation
models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the
expected stock price volatility. Because the Company's employee stock
options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded
options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can
materially affect the fair value estimate, in management's opinion, the
existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the
fair value of its employee stock options.
If the Company had elected to recognize compensation expense based
upon the fair value at the grant date for awards under this plan consistent
with the methodology prescribed by SFAS No. 123, the Company's net loss and
loss per share would be reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:
Net loss 2002 2001
------ -------
As reported $ (24,936,895) $ (20,929,971)
Pro forma $ (26,368,716) $ (22,114,397)
Basic loss per common share
As reported $ (0.08) $ (0.08)
Pro forma $ (0.08) $ (0.08)
For the year ended February 29, 2000 pro forma amounts related to
option grants were not material.
For the purposes of computing the pro forma disclosures required by
SFAS No. 123, the fair value of each option granted to employees and
directors is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with
the following assumptions: dividend yield of 0%, expected volatility of
70%, risk-free interest rates of 4.9% to 6.0%, and expected life of 1.5 and
3.0 years.
The weighted-average fair value of options granted during the period
ended February 28, 2002 for which the exercise price equals the market
price on the grant date was $0.09, and the weighted-average exercise price
was $0.32. The weighted-average fair value of options granted for which the
exercise price was greater than the market price on the grant date was
$0.07, and the weighted-average exercise price was $0.36. No options were
granted for which the exercise price was less than the market price on the
grant date.
The weighted-average remaining contractual life of the options
outstanding at February 28, 2002 is 8.5 years. The exercise prices of the
options outstanding at February 28, 2002 ranged from $0.31 to $7.31, and
information relating to these options is as follows:
1989 Plan 2000 Plan
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Shares Exercise Price Shares Exercise Price
---------------- ----------------- ------------- ----------------
Options outstanding at February 28, 1999 6,453,300 $1.44-7.31 -- --
Cancellations (454,500) 2.06-7.31 -- --
Expired (131,800) 3.06-4.12
--------- ----------- ----------- -------------
Options outstanding at February 29, 2000 5,867,000 1.44-7.31 -- --
Grants -- -- 17,565,500 $0.31-0.60
Cancellations (5,000) 3.00 (132,500) 0.31
Expired (431,000) .44 -- --
--------- ----------- ----------- -------------
Options outstanding at February 28, 2001 5,431,000 1.79-7.31 17,433,000 0.31-0.60
Grants -- -- 18,849,001 0.45-0.64
Cancellations (20,000) 3.00 (428,250) 0.31-0.45
Exercises -- -- (2,500) 0.31
Expired (6,000) 7.25 -- --
--------- ----------- ----------- -------------
Options outstanding at February 28, 2002 5,405,000 $1.79-7.31 35,851,251 $ 0.31-0.64
========= ========== ========== ============
The following table summarizes information about employee stock options
at February 28, 2002:
Number Average Weighted Number
Range of Outstanding at Remaining Life Average Exercise Exercisable As
Exercise Prices 2/28/02 in Years Price of 2/28/02
--------------- ------- -------- ----- ----------
$0.31-0.64 35,854,251 8.70 $0.39 7,240,000
$0.65-2.15 2,481,000 5.42 $2.04 2,481,000
$2.16-3.00 15,000 0.62 $3.00 15,000
$3.01-3.31 2,900,000 6.05 $3.30 1,960,000
$3.32-7.31 6,000 1.60 $7.31 6,000
(14) Leases
At February 28, 2002, the Company has no significant long term
operating leases. Rental expense charged to operations approximated $0.1
million, $0.1 million, and $0.9 million in fiscal 2002, 2001 and 2000,
respectively.
(15) Significant Customers
The Company sold its AuraGen(R) product to four significant customers
during fiscal 2002 for a total of approximately $2.4 million or 77% of net
revenues. These four customers included Inland Detroit Diesel, Stewart &
Stevenson Services, Williams Diesel, and the U.S. Army.
The Company sold its AuraGen(R) product to six significant customers
during fiscal 2001 for a total of approximately $1.35 million or 53.8% of
net revenues. Five of these companies are Stewart & Stevenson Services
entities and account for approximately $1.0 million or 40% of net revenues
with Americas Body Company accounting for an additional 13.6% or
approximately $340,000 of net revenues.
The Company sold ceramics related products to Honeywell, Inc. during
fiscal 2000 for a total of approximately $2.1 million or 36.3% of net
revenues.
(16) Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is engaged in various legal actions listed below. In the
case of a judgment or settlement, appropriate provisions have been made in
the financial statements.
Deutsche Financial Services v. Aura (Settled)
In June 1999, a lawsuit naming Aura was filed in the United States
District Court for the Central District of California, Deutsche Financial
Services ("DFS") v. Aura (Case No. 99-03551 GHK (BQRx)). The complaint
followed DFS' termination of its credit facility with NewCom of $11,000,000
and seizure of substantially all of NewCom's collateral in April 1999. It
alleged, among other things, that Aura was liable to DFS for NewCom's
indebtedness under the secured credit facility purportedly guaranteed by
Aura in 1996, well prior to the NewCom initial public offering of September
1997. Aura responded, denying DFS' claims and asserted in its defense,
among other things, that the guarantee, if any, was discharged. In
addition, Aura through its counsel, asserted cross-claims for, among other
things, tortuous lender liability, alleging that DFS wrongfully terminated
the NewCom credit facility, wrongfully seized the NewCom collateral and
wrongfully foreclosed upon NewCom collateral, acting in a commercially
unreasonably manner.
The Company entered into a definitive Settlement and Mutual Release
Agreement effective March 12, 2001 (the "Settlement") providing for the
settlement of litigation. Under the terms of the Settlement DFS received
cash payments totaling $350,000 and 10,000,000 shares of Aura's common
stock in exchange for mutual releases. DFS may not sell more than 5,000,000
shares per year during the first two years following the settlement, may
not sell any shares for the first 120 days following the settlement, and
may not sell more than 50,000 shares in a single day. Aura will retain the
right to repurchase unsold shares under certain conditions for a period of
two years. During the first and second years following the Settlement, Aura
may repurchase unsold shares in the possession of DFS at a price of $.80
per share in the first year and $1.00 per share in the second year. As part
of the Settlement, DFS will assign to Aura its security interest in assets
pledged by NewCom, Inc. to DFS to secure NewCom's indebtedness. Aura
believes that DFS has already foreclosed upon all known assets, claims, or
entitlements, which include inventory and receivables. Going forward, funds
received by DFS, if any, with respect to the assets of NewCom, less costs
and expenses incurred, will be held in trust by DFS for Aura. Aura may also
prosecute or pursue a NewCom claim, asset or entitlement, which is subject
to DFS' lien. Aura's receipt of any funds is conditioned upon the bid price
of Aura common stock reaching $0.80 per share on ten business days during
the first year or $1.00 per share during the second year. To the extent
Aura recovers any funds, it will hold it in trust for DFS until the bid
price of Aura reaches the above levels, respectively, or until the 730th
day following the execution date of the Settlement, when Aura must then pay
any recovered funds to DFS if the minimum bid prices set forth above have
not been met.
Excalibur v. Aura (Settled)
On November 12, 1999, a lawsuit was filed by three investors against
Aura and others, in Los Angeles Superior Court entitled Excalibur Limited
Partnership v. Aura Systems, Inc. (Case No. BC220054), arising out of two
NewCom, Inc. financings consummated in December 1998. The NewCom financings
comprised (1) a $3 million investment into NewCom in exchange for NewCom
common stock, warrants for NewCom common stock, and certain "repricing
rights" which entitled the investors to receive additional shares under
certain circumstances, and (2) a loan to NewCom of $1 million in exchange
for a promissory note and warrants to purchase NewCom common stock. The
Plaintiffs alleged in their complaint that Aura breached its agreements and
sought damages of not less than $4.5 million. Aura alleged cross-claims
against the Plaintiffs, contending that Plaintiffs violated their
contractual obligations to Aura by engaging in unlawful "short sales" of
NewCom stock. Aura also has asserted claims against Plaintiffs for damages
based on alleged breaches of Plaintiffs' contractual obligations to Aura
and on Plaintiffs' alleged misrepresentations to Aura. On October 2, 2001,
the parties entered into a General Release and Settlement Agreement
("Settlement"), finally resolving the entire matter. As part of the
Settlement, Aura received $2,000,000. The Plaintiffs received repricing
shares sought as part of its underlying contract claims.
Kerry Morgan, et. al. v. NewCom, Inc. (Settled)
In December 1999, a lawsuit was filed against NewCom, Inc. which, as
amended, also included Aura Systems, Inc., Steven Veen, Sultan Khan, Asif
Khan, Zvi Kurtzman, Deutsche Financial Services, Inc., Best Buy Co., Inc.,
Circuit City Stores, Inc. a/k/a Compusa, the Computer Super Store, and
Staples, Inc., in the Circuit Court for the County of Wayne Michigan (Case
No. 98-838563 CP). The plaintiff's sixth amended complaint purported to be
a class action on behalf of a class alleged to consist of approximately two
hundred thousand persons who purchased a NewCom Inc., a/k/a Atlas
Peripherals computer product from Best Buy Co., Inc., Circuit City Stores,
Inc., Computer City, and/or Staples, Inc. The complaint alleged that
plaintiffs did not receive a rebate of between twenty to fifty dollars on
NewCom products, as advertised and promoted by the above mass retailers.
Plaintiffs further alleged that the mass retailers, without any
justification, failed to pay NewCom for product received and sold. The
plaintiffs sought, among other remedies, to recover all or part of the
amount that the retailers failed to pay. Circuit City and Deutsche
Financial Services filed cross-complaints. In August 2001, all litigants
entered into a settlement Memorandum of Understanding which limited the
total Aura defendants portion to $400,000, payable in monthly installments
of $10,000 to the Plaintiffs. The parties have since entered into a
definitive Settlement Agreement incorporating the terms of the Memorandum,
which received final approval of the trial court in December 2001.
Securities and Exchange Commission
The Company has been informed by the Staff of the SEC that it intends
to recommend that the Commission bring a civil action against Aura, NewCom,
Inc. (a former subsidiary of Aura), Zvi Kurtzman, Steven Veen and Gerald
Papazian for violations of the antifraud and books and records provisions
of the securities laws. This grew out of an investigation into the
Company's financial statements for various transactions during fiscal years
1996 through 1999. The Company originally disclosed the investigation by
press release in January 1999. The Staff advised the Company that it would
recommend that the SEC seek civil penalties and enjoin the companies and
the individuals from future violations. In addition, the SEC Staff would
recommend that the SEC impose director and officer bars against Messrs.
Kurtzman and Veen and a bar against Mr. Veen to prohibit his practicing as
an accountant before the SEC. The Company is informed that in order to
avoid potential lengthy and costly litigation the individuals have agreed
to propose to settle with the SEC without admitting or denying any of the
Staff's allegations. The Company has engaged in conversations with the
Staff of the SEC regarding settlement of the matter, but no agreements have
yet been reached. Although Aura believes that it will reach a settlement in
a manner that will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, it cannot predict with certainty when or if such a settlement
will occur or what the actual effects of such a settlement would be. The
Audit Committee of the Board will conduct a full review of the Company's
accounting controls and procedures.
Other Legal Actions
The Company is also engaged in other legal actions. In the opinion of
management the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a
material adverse effect on financial conditions, results of operations or
cash flow.
(17) Financial Instruments
Financial instruments that subject the Company to concentration of
credit risk are cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, notes
receivable, trade payables and notes payable. The carrying value of these
financial instruments approximate their fair value at February 28, 2002.
Cash and cash equivalents consist principally of short term money market
funds; these instruments are short term in nature and bear minimal risk.
For trade receivables and notes receivable, the carrying value of
these amounts is a reasonable estimate of their fair value. The fair value
of noncurrent receivables, including notes receivable are estimated by
using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to such
borrowers based on the remaining maturities, consideration of credit risks,
and other business issues pertaining to such receivables.
The fair value of debt instruments are estimated based on quoted
market prices or, where quoted prices are not available, estimated based
upon borrowing rates for similar debt instruments or on estimated prices
based on current yields for debt issues of similar quality and terms. The
Company does not have any unused borrowing capacity and is therefore unable
to determine an applicable incremental borrowing rate. As a result, a fair
market value for the debt, other than carrying value, is not determinable.
Considerable judgment is necessarily required in interpreting market
data to develop estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates used
are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company would
realize in a current market exchange.
The Company performs credit background checks and evaluates the credit
worthiness of all potential new customers prior to granting credit. UCC
financing statements are filed, when deemed necessary.
(18) Other Income and (Expenses)
---------------------------
Other income and (expenses) consist of:
2002 2001 2000
------- ------- -------
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets $ (65,823) $ 1,756,746 $ (93,638)
Accrued severance (1,080,525) -- --
Debt transaction fee 1,295,835 -- --
Other income 80,156 14,381 1,097,627
Interest income 239,713 432,018 357,014
Interest expense (2,495,551) (2,263,916) (4,476,690)
----------- ----------- -----------
$(2,026,195) $ (60,771) $ (3,115,687)
============ =========== =============
(19) Segment Reporting
The Company is a United States based company providing advanced
technology products to various industries. The principal markets for the
Company's products are North America, Europe and Asia. All of the Company's
operating long-lived assets are located in the United States. The Company
operates in one segment.
Total net revenues from customer geographical segments are as follows
(in thousands):
2002 2001 2000
------------------ --------------------- ---------------------
U.S. $2,792 89.6% $ 2,464 98.1% $ 5,757 99.4%
Canada 39 1.3 31 1.2 10 0.2
Europe 218 7.0 -- -- -- --
Asia 67 2.1 18 0.7 21 0.4
-------- ----------- -------- ----------- --------- -----------
$3,116 100.0% $ 2,513 100.0% $ 5,788 100.0%
====== =========== ======= =========== ======= ==========
(20) Discontinued Operations
In June 1999 and March 1999, the Company divested its interest in
AuraSound, Inc. and the MYS group of entities, respectively. Pursuant to
APB Opinion No. 30, "Reporting the Results of Operations-Reporting the
Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business and Extraordinary, Unusual
and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions," the consolidated
financial statements of the Company have been reclassified to reflect the
disposition of the AuraSound segment as a discontinued operation. Net
operating revenues for discontinued operations for fiscal 2002, 2001 were
$0 and 2000 was $1,037,000.
(21) Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 145, "Rescission of FASB
Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and
Technical Corrections", which eliminates the requirement that all gains and
losses from extinguishment of debt were to be aggregated and, if material,
classified as an extraordinary item, net of related income tax effect. As a
result, gains and losses from extinguishment of debt should be classified
as extraordinary items only if they meet the requirements of APB Opinion
No. 30. Applying the provisions of APB Opinion No. 30 will distinguish
transactions that are part of an entity's recurring operations from those
that are unusual or infrequent or that meet the criteria for classification
as an extraordinary item. Management believes that the adoption of the
provisions of SFAS No. 145 will not have a material effect on the Company's
results of operations and financial position.
In October 2001, the FASB issued SAFS No. 144, "Accounting for the
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets", which supercedes SFAS No.
121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived
Assets to be Disposed Of" and the accounting and reporting provisions of
APB Opinion No. 30 relative to the disposal of a segment of a business.
While SFAS No. 144 retains the requirements of SFAS No. 121 to recognize an
impairment loss if the carrying amount of a long-lived asset is not
recoverable from its undiscounted cash flows, it expands the scope of
discontinued operations to include all distinguishable components of an
entity rather than just a segment of a business. This statement becomes
effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2001; however, the Company has adopted the provisions of the
statement in its fiscal year ended February 28, 2002 (see Notes 1 and 8).
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset
Retirement Obligations", which addresses financial accounting and reporting
for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived
assets and the associated asset retirement costs. This statement becomes
effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after
June 15, 2002. Management is currently evaluating the effect that the
adoption of this standard will have on the Company's results of operations
and financial position.
(22) Subsequent Events
On December 11, 2001 the Company filed a complaint in the United
States District Court, Central District of California, against CRS
Emergency Vehicles, Co., Custom Coaches International and C. Ray Smith for
Breach of Contract, Conversion, Bad Faith, Fraud and Injunctive Relief. The
action arose out of a sale to defendant distributors of approximately $1.2
million of the Company's AuraGen(R) product. Despite requests for payment,
no payment was received. Following service of the complaint and defendant's
failure to file a responsive pleading in the time required, on January 25,
2002 the Company filed a Request to Enter Default and Application for Clerk
Judgment. On February 7, 2002, however, the District Court accepted
defendant's answer denying allegations. On May 7, 2002, following
discussions between the parties, the Company entered into a definitive
settlement, with defendants agreeing to release or otherwise account for
all of the product shipped to the Company. The parties also agreed to
terminate the distributorship agreement. The Company has fully accounted
for this event in the fourth quarter and reversed revenue of $1.2 million
due to the return of the inventory. As a result, revenues in the fourth
quarter are a negative $928,000.
On February 28, 2002, Aura retired approximately $15.3 million of debt
and accrued interest. In the first quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company
raised $4.2 million through the placement of 20.8 million shares of its
common stock. Several of these same investors participated in the funding
to retire the $15.3 million in debt. The original subscription agreement
included terms and conditions requiring more common shares be issued to
participants in the debt restructuring as a result of price protection
clauses. The net financial impact in the fourth quarter was such that the
Company recognized other income of $1.3 million for the transaction fee
paid to Aura and an extraordinary gain on extinguishment of debt of $1.0
million, which reflects the commitment to issue additional shares due to
these price protection clauses.
(23) Extinguishment of Debt
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002 the Company restructured $15.3
million of debt and accrued interest into 44,142,000 of Aura common stock,
resulting in an extraordinary gain of approximately $1.0 million. Due to
guaranteed share pricing agreements, 14,714,000 of the common shares
totaling $3,310,650 were not issued as of February 28, 2002 and have been
reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity as
"Committed common stock". Additionally, in the third quarter of fiscal
2002, the remaining balance of an unsecured note payable plus accrued
interest was forgiven by the creditor, resulting in an extraordinary gain
on extinguishment of debt of approximately $900,000. The total gain on
extinguishment of debt of $1,899,540, which is reflected as an
extraordinary item in the accompanying consolidated financial statements,
resulted in extraordinary income per share of less than $0.01. At the start
of fiscal 2000, the Company had $38,481,782 in convertible notes payable,
of which most were in default. During fiscal 2000 the Company restructured
much of its convertible notes payable obligation through debt forgiveness
and equity conversion. With the debt restructure, $11,009,102 of
convertible notes was converted into 71,054,445 shares of the Company's
common stock, of which 2,520,000 shares were not reflected as outstanding
as of February 29, 2000. The Company also redeemed $430,000 of convertible
notes, and $12,535,898 in convertible notes and $5,850,168 in accrued
interest were forgiven. The balance of these notes became non-convertible.
A majority of the restructure was accomplished by a single unrelated party
acquiring $21,345,000 of the convertible notes payable and subsequently
converting $9,224,102 into 65,034,445 shares of the Company's common stock
and debt forgiveness of $12,120,898. In addition, $682,852 in accounts
payable and accrued expenses was also forgiven. Total debt forgiveness of
$19,068,918 is reflected as an extraordinary item in the accompanying
consolidated financial statements and resulted in extraordinary income per
share of $0.15.
(24) Asset Impairment
The asset impairment charge consisted of the following:
2002 2001 2000
-------- -------- --------
Equipment-tooling $4,603,582 $ -- $ --
Advertising credits 3,057,976 -- --
Long term investments 1,433,835 240,000 --
--------- ------- -------
$9,095,393 $240,000 $ --
========== ======== =====
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company determined that the
media credit asset was impaired based upon the requirement of SFAS No. 144.
A comparison of the projected future cash flows of the Company to the
carrying value of the assets indicated that the assets were impaired. The
asset was written down to $0, its estimated fair value based upon the
discounted estimated cash flows over the remaining asset lives. See Note 8
for equipment-tooling disclosure. See Note 4 regarding long term
investments.
(25) Selected Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)
(amounts in thousands, except per share data)
2002
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Second Third Fourth Full Year
----- ------ ----- ------ ---------
Net revenues $2,875 $ 863 $ 306 $ (928) $ 3,116
====== ===== ====== ======= =======
Gross profit $1,434 $ 550 $ 137 $ (485) $ 1,636
====== ===== ====== ======= =======
Loss before extraordinary item $(2,106) $(6,035) $(2,627) $(16,058) $(26,826)
======== ======== ======== ========= =========
Net loss $(2,106) $(6,035) $(1,095) $(15,701) $(24,937)
======== ======== ======== ========= =========
Net loss per common share $ (.01) $ (.02) $ (.00) $ (.05) $ (.08)
======= ======= ======== ======== ========
2001
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Second Third Fourth Full Year
----- ------ ----- ------ ---------
Net revenues $ 382 $ 387 $ 502 $1,242 $ 2,513
===== ===== ===== ====== =======
Gross profit:
As reported on Form 10Q $ (2,133) $ (2,169) $(1,881) $ 679 $(5,504)
Adjustment 2,319 2,347 2,134 -- 6,800
----- ----- ----- -------- -----------
Adjusted report $ 186 $ 178 $ 253 $ 679 $ 1,296
===== ===== ===== ===== =======
Net loss $ (2,610) $ (6,726) $ (4,653) $(6,941) $(20,930)
========= ========= ========= ======== =========
Net loss per common share $ (.01) $ (.03) $ (.02) $ (.02) $ (.08)
======= ======= ======= ======= ========
The net loss per common share aggregated relative to the four quarters
does not necessarily sum to the full year amount since the computations are
based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each
period.
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company recorded various
adjustments as recorded in the financial position and operating results of the
Company. As a result, the Company reversed revenues (see Note 22), reserved slow
moving and obsolete inventory (see Note 7), recognized losses on impaired assets
(see Notes 4, 8 and 24), recorded a liability for future severance payments to
the former management (see Note 10), and restructured a significant amount of
the debt (see Note 23).
In fiscal 2001, the Company reclassified certain costs that had been
characterized as overhead costs and included in cost of sales. These items were
primarily engineering and facility related and have now been classified as
engineering expenses in the operating expense category. This was done to more
accurately reflect the actual cost of the product sold and provide a gross
profit presentation based on the sale of the product itself. This resulted in a
change in the reported gross margins for fiscal 2000 from a negative 131.9% to a
positive 66.2%.
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
Aura Systems, Inc.
El Segundo, California
Our audits were made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. The consolidated
supplemental Schedule II is presented for purposes of complying with the
Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and is not a part of the basic
consolidated financial statements. This schedule has been subjected to the
auditing procedures applied in our audits of the basic consolidated financial
statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in
relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.
/s/ SINGER LEWAK GREENBAUM & GOLDSTEIN LLP
Los Angeles, California
April 30, 2002
SCHEDULE II
AURA SYSTEMS, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Years ended February 28, 2002, February 28, 2001 and February 29, 2000
Balance at Charged to cost Charged to Balance at
beginning of period and expenses other accounts Deductions end of period
------------------- ------------ -------------- ---------- -------------
Year ended February 28, 2002:
Allowance for:
Uncollectible accounts receivable $ 160,000 $ -- $ -- $ 10,000 $ 150,000
Reserve for inventory 291,404 1,510,871 -- 6,864 1,795,411
Reserve for investments 388,652 1,433,835 -- -- 1,822,487
-------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
$ 840,056 $2,944,706 $ -- $ 16,864 $3,767,898
========= ========== ======= ======== ==========
Year ended February 28, 2001:
Allowance for:
Uncollectible accounts receivable $ 7,673,217 $1,339,696 $ -- $8,852,913 $ 160,000
Reserve for inventory 326,936 -- -- 35,532 291,404
Reserve for investments 148,652 240,000 -- -- 388,652
-------- --------- ----------- ----------- ------------
$ 8,148,805 $1,579,696 $ -- $ 8,888,445 $ 840,056
=========== ========== ======= =========== ============
Year ended February 29, 2000:
Allowance for:
Uncollectible accounts receivable $8,149,551 $ 456,233 $ -- $ 932,567 $ 7,673,217
Reserve for inventory 7,876,000 82,913 -- 7,631,977 326,936
Reserve for investments 148,652 -- -- -- 148,652
------- --------------- -------------- ------------- ------------
$16,174,203 $ 539,146 $ -- $8,564,544 $ 8,148,805
=========== ============= ============== ========== ===========