KOPIN CORP (KOPN) FY 2024 MD&A
This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
The
following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes to those statements and other
financial information appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements. Our actual
results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including
the risks discussed in “Item 1A- Risk Factors”, and elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Please refer to our cautionary note on Forward-Looking
Statements on page 3 of this Form 10-K.
We
are a leading developer and provider of high-performance application-specific optical solutions consisting of high-resolution microdisplays
and optics, microdisplays subassemblies and headsets. We define microdisplays as displays that have a diagonal measurement of less than
2 inches. Our products are used for defense applications (soldier thermal weapon rifle sights, avionic fixed and rotary wing pilot helmets,
armored vehicle targeting systems, and training & simulation headsets); industrial and medical headsets; and 3D optical inspection
systems. We believe that the technologies we are developing may eventually be used in consumer augmented reality (“AR”) and
virtual reality (“VR”) wearable headsets systems. Our products are primarily used to overlay digital information on the real-world
scene.
Critical
Accounting Estimates
Management’s
discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our audited consolidated financial
statements. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported
amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing
basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition under the cost-to-cost measurement method, and
investment valuations. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be
reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for judgments about the carrying values of assets and
liabilities that are not apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different
assumptions.
We
believe the following critical accounting policies are most affected by our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation
of our consolidated financial statements:
Revenue
Recognition
Substantially
all of our product revenues are derived from the sales of microdisplays, which are sold as individual displays, modules that include
electronics and optics, or higher-level subassemblies for use in defense, industrial and consumer near-eye applications such as avionic
helmets, thermal weapon sights or virtual reality headsets. We also have development contracts for the design, manufacture and modification
of products for the U.S. Government or a prime contractor for the U.S. Government or for a customer that sells into the industrial or
consumer markets. The Company’s contracts with the U.S. Government are typically subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulations
(“FAR”) and are priced based on estimated or actual costs of producing goods. The FAR provides guidance on the types of costs
that are allowable in establishing prices for goods provided under U.S. Government contracts. The pricing for non-U.S. Government contracts
is based on the specific negotiations with each customer.
Our
fixed-price contracts with the U.S. Government or other customers may result in revenue recognized in excess of amounts currently billed.
We disclose the excess of revenues over amounts actually billed as Contract assets and unbilled receivables on the balance sheet. Amounts
billed and due from our customers are classified as Accounts receivable on the balance sheets. In some instances, the U.S. Government
retains a small portion of the contract price until completion of the contract. The portion of the payments retained until final contract
settlement is not considered a significant financing component because the intent is to protect the customer. For contracts with the
U.S. Government, we typically receive interim payments either as work progresses, by achieving certain milestones or based on a schedule
in the contract. We recognize a liability for these advance payments in excess of revenue recognized and present it as Contract liabilities
and billings in excess of revenue earned on the balance sheets. Advanced payment typically is not considered a significant financing
component because it is used to meet working capital demands that can be higher in the early stages of a contract and to protect us from
the other party failing to adequately complete some or all of its obligations under the contract. For industrial and consumer purchase
orders, we typically receive payments within 30 to 60 days of shipment of the product, although for some purchase orders, we may require
advanced payment prior to shipment of the product.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 27 |
The
Company recognizes revenue from a contract when it has approval and commitment from both parties, the rights of the parties are identified,
payment terms are identified, the contract has commercial substance and collectability of consideration is probable.
For
certain contracts with the U.S. Government, the Company recognizes revenue over time as we deliver goods or perform services because
of continuous transfer of control to the customer and the lack of an alternative use for the product. The continuous transfer of control
to the customer is subject to liability clauses in the contract that allow the U.S. Government to unilaterally terminate the contract
for convenience, pay us for costs incurred plus a reasonable profit and take control of any work in process. For contracts with commercial
customers, while the contract may have a similar liability clause, our products historically have an alternative use and thus, revenue
is recognized at a point in time.
In
situations where control transfers over time, revenue is recognized based on the extent of progress towards completion of the performance
obligation. We use the cost-to-cost approach to measure the extent of progress towards completion of the performance obligation
for our contracts because we believe it best depicts the transfer of assets to the customer. Under the cost-to-cost measure approach,
the extent of progress towards completion is measured based on the ratio of costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs at completion
of the performance obligation. Revenues are recorded proportionally as costs are incurred.
Accounting
for design, development and production contracts requires judgment relative to assessing risks, estimating contract revenues and costs
and making assumptions for schedule and technical issues. Due to the size and nature of the work required to be performed on many of
our contracts, the estimation of total revenue and cost at completion is complicated and subject to many variables. Contract costs include
material, labor and subcontracting costs, as well as an allocation of indirect costs. We have to make assumptions regarding the number
of labor hours required to complete a task, the complexity of the work to be performed, the availability and cost of materials and performance
by our subcontractors. For contract change orders, claims or similar items, we apply judgment in estimating the amounts and assessing
the potential for realization. These amounts are only included in the contract value when they can be reliably estimated and realization
is considered probable. If our estimate of total contract costs or our determination of whether the customer agrees that a milestone
achievement is incorrect, our revenue could be overstated or understated and the profits or loss reported could be subject to adjustment.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 28 |
For
our commercial customers, the Company’s revenue is recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with our customer
are satisfied and the Company transfers control of the products or performs services, which is upon delivery of the product
to the customer or performance of the services. Revenue is recorded as the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for
transferring goods or providing services. Provisions for product returns and allowances are reductions in the transaction price and are
recorded in the same period as the related revenues. We analyze historical returns, current economic trends and changes in customer demand
when evaluating the adequacy of sales returns and other allowances. Certain product sales are made to distributors under agreements allowing
for a limited right of return on unsold products. Sales to distributors are primarily made for sales to the distributors’ customers
and not for stocking of inventory. Sales, value add and other taxes we collect concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded
from revenue.
The
Company also licenses its intellectual property (“IP”) through technology license agreements which provides the customer
the right to use our IP as it exists at a point in time. These agreements may include other performance obligations including the sale
of product to the customer. The satisfaction of the Company’s performance obligation, and related recognition of revenue, occurs
when the IP is delivered to the customer, the license period has begun and there are no additional performance obligations in the agreement.
When the license is distinct from other obligations in the agreement, the Company treats the license and other performance obligations
as separate performance obligations. Accordingly, the license is recognized at a point in time or over time based on the standalone selling
price. Under certain license agreements, we may receive royalties based on the sales of the licensed product. We recognize royalty revenue
upon the later of when the related sales occur, or when the performance obligation to which some or all of the royalty has been allocated
has been satisfied (or partially satisfied). Under our current license agreements for which a royalty exists, we have recorded revenue
when the related sales by our customer occurs because the performance obligation related to the delivery of the license to the customer
has been satisfied.
Investment
Valuation
We
periodically make equity investments in private companies, accounted for as an equity investment, whose values are difficult to determine.
When assessing investments in private companies for impairment, we consider such factors as, among others, the share price from the investee’s
latest financing round, the performance of the investee in relation to its own operating targets and its business plan, the investee’s
revenue and cost trends, the liquidity and cash position, including its cash burn rate and market acceptance of the investee’s
products and services. Because these are private companies that we do not control we may not be able to obtain all of the information
we would want in order to make a complete assessment of the investment on a timely basis. Accordingly, our estimates may be revised if
other information becomes available at a later date.
Results
of Operations
We
have two principal sources of revenues: product revenues and research and development (“R&D”) revenues. R&D revenues
consist primarily of development contracts with agencies or prime contractors of the U.S. Government and commercial enterprises.
We
manufacture Active-matrix Liquid Crystal (“AMLCD”) transmissive and Liquid Crystal on Silicon (“LCOS”) reflective
microdisplays. Our AMLCD display production is being performed entirely in our Westborough, Massachusetts facility. KEL, our wholly owned
subsidiary, manufactures our LCOS microdisplays in its facility located in Scotland. Our OLED displays are designed by us and manufactured
by third parties for us.
We
are a display supplier for the U.S. Army’s Family of Weapon Sights-Individual and Joint Strike Fighter F-35 programs. We are also in development for new display systems for armored vehicles and a medical
headset for surgeons. Our existing and new production programs are expected to increase production for the next several years. There
are other firms offering products which compete against us in the defense programs and all of the programs we supply product to are subject
to the U.S. Government defense budget and procurement process. Accordingly, there can be no assurances we will continue to ship under
our defense contracts.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 29 |
Predicting
our R&D revenue and related trends is challenging because we have limited ability to forecast whether we will be awarded additional
R&D contracts in the future as such awards depend on the U.S. military budget and priorities. We cannot assure that the R&D contracts
will result in workable products or, if successful, our products developed under these contracts will be procured by our customers. If
we do not continue to win R&D contracts or if there is no demand for the products developed under these contracts, our ability to
achieve profitability and positive cash flow could be negatively affected because the R&D revenues (or the products derived from
the R&D contracts) would not be available to cover the allocated overhead and selling, general and administrative costs which may
remain. Some of our contracts are fixed priced and we may incur cost overruns that would result in losses on the contracts. If we incur
such losses on our contracts, our ability to achieve profitability and positive cash flow could be negatively affected.
Because
our fiscal year ends on the last Saturday of December, every seven years we have a fiscal year with 53 weeks. Our fiscal years 2024 and
2023 were 52-week years and fiscal year 2022 was a 53-week year.
Revenues.
Our revenues by display application, which include product sales and amounts earned from research and development contracts, for
fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022 by category, were as follows:
| (In thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defense | $ | 41,249 | $ | 22,615 | $ | 24,780 | |||||
| Industrial | 2,200 | 2,736 | 6,136 | ||||||||
| Consumer | 25 | 573 | 1,497 | ||||||||
| Medical | 103 | — | — | ||||||||
| Other product | 320 | 13 | 7 | ||||||||
| R&D | 5,996 | 13,455 | 14,357 | ||||||||
| License and royalties | 442 | 1,002 | 624 | ||||||||
| Total Revenues | $ | 50,335 | $ | 40,394 | $ | 47,401 |
Fiscal
Year 2024 Compared to Fiscal Year 2023
Sales
of our products for Defense applications include systems used by the military both in the field and for training and simulation. Sales
of our products for Defense applications may be for a one-time purchase or for programs that run for several years. Revenues from product
sales to defense customers increased in 2024 compared to 2023, primarily due to an increase in shipments of our products for thermal
weapon sight applications that was partially offset by a decrease in sales of our products for defense pilot helmets.
Industrial applications revenues represent customers who purchase our display products for use in headsets used for manufacturing, distribution,
public safety, 3D metrology equipment and other industrial applications. Our 3D metrology customers are primarily located in Asia and
they sell to Asian contract manufacturers who use the 3D metrology machines for quality control purposes. The decrease in Industrial/Enterprise
applications revenues in 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to a decrease in sales to customers who use our display components in
3D metrology equipment and industrial headsets. Over the last few years, we believe our customers have been using lower priced and lower
quality display products in their 3D AOI machines to compensate for lower demand, which has resulted in more price competition. We are
introducing lower priced products in 2025 to increase sales, but if unit demand remains flat or decreases, our revenues from this market
will decline.
Sales
of our displays for Consumer applications are primarily for use in thermal imaging products, recreational rifle and hand-held
scopes. The decrease in Consumer applications in 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to a decrease in sales of our displays for
consumer applications which was partially the result of our focusing the Company’s sales and marketing efforts on defense
applications in 2023.
R&D
revenues decreased in 2024 as compared to 2023 primarily due to decreased funding for display technology, armored vehicle targeting systems
and other weapon system development for U.S. defense programs, and medical headset development. These contracts typically reimburse us
for direct costs and allocated overhead and selling, general and administrative costs and in some cases profit. In 2024 and 2023, our
R&D revenues exceeded funded R&D expenses by approximately $2.2 million and $6.3 million, respectively.
The
decrease in license and royalty revenue in 2024 compared to 2023 is due to a decrease in royalties earned under IP license agreements
for industrial wearable headsets.
International
product sales represented approximately 6% and 13% of product revenues for 2024 and 2023, respectively. We categorize our revenues as
either domestic or international based upon the delivery destination of our product. For example, if the customer is located in Asia
or if a U.S. customer has its Asian contract manufacturer order product from us and we deliver the product to Asia, we categorize both
these sales as international. In addition, if we earn royalties on sales from a customer, the royalties are categorized as domestic or
international based on how the product revenues are categorized. Our international sales decreased in 2024 as compared to 2023 due to
a decrease in sales of our products for 3D metrology application by our subsidiary, Kopin Europe Ltd., our OLED displays for consumer
applications and industrial headset products manufactured overseas. Our international sales are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars.
Consequently, a strengthening of the U.S. dollar could increase the price in local currencies of our products in foreign markets and
make our products relatively more expensive than competitors’ products that are denominated in local currencies, which could result
in a reduction in sales or profitability in those foreign markets. As a result, our financial position and results of operations are
subject to exchange rate fluctuation in transactional and functional currency. We have not taken any protective measures against exchange
rate fluctuations, such as purchasing hedging instruments with respect to such fluctuations, because of the historically stable exchange
rate between the Japanese yen, Great Britain pound and the U.S. dollar. Foreign currency translation impact on our results, if material,
is described in further detail under “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” section below.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 30 |
Fiscal
Year 2023 Compared to Fiscal Year 2022
Revenues
from product sales to defense customers decreased in 2023 compared to 2022, primarily due to a decrease in shipments of our products
for thermal weapon sight applications that was partially offset by an increase in sales of our products for defense pilot helmets and
training and simulation programs.
Revenues
from product sales for industrial/enterprise applications decreased in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to a decrease in sales to
customers who use our display components in 3D metrology equipment and industrial headsets.
Revenues
from product sales for consumer applications decreased in 2023 compared to 2022 primarily due to a decrease in sales of our OLED displays
for consumer applications.
R&D
revenues decreased in 2023 as compared to 2022 primarily due to decreased funding for new display technology development for U.S. defense
programs and OLED display development, which was partially offset by increased funding for armor vehicle targeting system and medical
headset development. These contracts typically reimburse us for direct costs and allocated overhead and selling, general and administrative
costs and in some cases profit. In 2023 and 2022, our R&D revenues exceeded funded R&D expenses by approximately $6.3 million
and $4.1 million, respectively.
The
increase in license and royalty revenue in 2023 compared to 2022 is due to an increase in royalties earned under IP license agreements
for industrial wearable headsets.
International
product sales represented approximately 13% and 22% of product revenues for 2023 and 2022, respectively. Our international sales decreased
in 2023 as compared to 2022 due to a decrease in sales of our products for 3D metrology application by our subsidiary, KEL, our OLED
displays for consumer applications and industrial headset products manufactured overseas.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 31 |
Cost
of Product Revenues. Cost of product revenues, which is comprised of materials, labor and manufacturing overhead related to the production
of our products for fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
| (In thousands, except percentages) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of product revenues | $ | 36,164 | $ | 24,952 | $ | 32,559 | ||||||
| Cost of product revenues as a % of net product revenues | 83.0 | % | 96.2 | % | 100 | % |
Fiscal
Year 2024 Compared to Fiscal Year 2023
Cost
of product revenues decreased as a percentage of revenues in 2024 as compared to 2023 primarily due to increased unit volume of thermal
weapon sights from higher sales in 2024 as compared to 2023 which resulted in a lower fixed overhead cost per unit. The margin improvement
from thermal weapon sights was partially offset by lower margin contribution from industrial and training and simulation revenues due
to their decline in sales. The Company also implemented several programs and hired additional employees to improve manufacturing quality
and efficiencies.
The
United States government is or is in the process of increasing or implementing tariffs on the importation of certain goods. In some cases,
our contracts allow us to pass along new or increased tariffs subject to ability to prove the impact of the tariff on the cost of our
product. If we are unable to increase our prices due to the implementation or increase in tariff, duties and other taxes our gross margin
and overall profitability would be negatively impacted.
The
issues associated with the global shortage of semiconductor circuit chips and other raw materials decreased in 2024 as compared to 2023
and 2022. However, we have identified several semiconductor components which continue to have long lead delivery times. We continue to
search for and procure all necessary components from our current vendors and new alternative vendors. In certain situations, we can obtain
the components but at a significantly increased cost. The inability to procure a single component will prevent the completion of our
product and the ability to sell the product. Our products go through extensive qualification processes and therefore our customers may
not accept a replacement component. We are unable to determine if we will be able to obtain all necessary components for fiscal 2025.
If we are unable to obtain all necessary components, we may be required to stop production, which would negatively affect our cash flow
and results of operations.
Fiscal
Year 2023 Compared to Fiscal Year 2022
Cost
of product revenues decreased as a percentage of revenues in 2023 as compared to 2022 primarily due to increased sales of higher margin
products for defense applications in 2023 versus 2022 and lower sales of lower margin products from defense applications in 2023 versus
2022. The Company also implemented several programs and hired additional employees to improve manufacturing quality and efficiency.
Research
and Development. Research and development (“R&D”) expenses are incurred in support of internal display development programs or programs funded by agencies
or prime contractors of the U.S. Government and commercial partners. R&D costs include staffing, purchases of materials and laboratory
supplies, circuit design costs, fabrication and packaging of display products and allocated overhead. In fiscal year 2024, our Funded
R&D expenditures were primarily related to our display products and defense systems and our Internal R&D was primarily related
to the development of OLED displays. R&D expenses for fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
| (In thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funded | $ | 3,802 | $ | 7,177 | $ | 10,280 | |||||
| Internal | 5,833 | 3,600 | 8,388 | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 9,635 | $ | 10,777 | $ | 18,668 |
Fiscal
Year 2024 Compared to Fiscal Year 2023
Funded
R&D expense for 2024 decreased as compared to 2023 primarily due to the completion of contracts for defense programs awarded prior
to 2024. Internal R&D expense for 2024 increased as compared to the prior year primarily due to increases in display development
costs and costs incurred to establish European foundry services.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 32 |
Fiscal
Year 2023 Compared to Fiscal Year 2022
Funded
R&D expense for 2023 decreased as compared to 2022 primarily due to the completion of contracts for defense programs awarded prior
to 2023. Internal R&D expense for 2023 decreased as compared to the prior year primarily due to decreased OLED development.
Selling,
General and Administrative. Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses consist of the expenses incurred
by our sales and marketing personnel and related expenses, and administrative and general corporate expenses. SG&A expenses for the
fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
| (In thousands, except percentages) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selling, general and administrative expense | $ | 22,845 | $ | 21,842 | $ | 17,965 | ||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expense as a % of total revenue | 45.4 | % | 54.1 | % | 37.9 | % |
Fiscal
Year 2024 Compared to Fiscal Year 2023
SG&A
for 2024 increased as compared to 2023 primarily due to an increase of
approximately $1.4 million in legal and professional fees and $0.2 million in excise taxes, partially offset by $0.4 million lower bad
debt expense and $0.2 million decrease in non-cash stock-based compensation.
Fiscal
Year 2023 Compared to Fiscal Year 2022
SG&A
for 2023 increased as compared to 2022 primarily due to an increase of approximately $5.0 million in legal and professional fees and
$1.0 million in non-cash stock-based compensation, partially offset by a $1.3 million decrease in compensation and benefits.
Litigation Damages Fiscal year
2024. Litigation damages were accrued as a result of the April 22, 2024 jury verdict that was entered against the Company awarding
approximately $5.1 million in damages as well as recommending $19.7 million in disgorgement and exemplary damages.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 33 |
Total
Non-operating (Expense) Income. Non-operating (expense) income is primarily composed of interest income, revaluation and impairment
of equity investments, foreign currency transactions, remeasurement gains and losses incurred by our UK-based subsidiaries and other
non-operating income items. Non-operating (expense) income for the fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
| (In thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total non-operating (expense) income | $ | (599 | ) | $ | (2,415 | ) | $ | 2,608 |
Fiscal
Year 2024 Compared to Fiscal Year 2023
In
2024, we recorded $1.6 million of impairment losses on equity investments. In 2023, we recorded $3.3 million of impairment losses on
equity investments. In 2024, we recorded $0.2 million of foreign currency gains compared to $0.2 million of foreign currency losses recorded
in 2023.
Fiscal
Year 2023 Compared to Fiscal Year 2022
In
2023, we recorded $3.3 million of impairment losses on equity investments. In 2022, we recorded a gain of $4.7 million resulting from
the revaluation of an equity investment. Also in 2022, we recorded a $2.0 million impairment charge on an equity investment. In 2023,
we recorded $0.2 million of foreign currency losses compared to $0.3 million of foreign currency losses recorded in 2022.
Tax
provision
| (In thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax provision | $ | (170 | ) | $ | (156 | ) | $ | (144 | ) |
Fiscal
Year 2024 Compared to Fiscal Year 2023
The
provision for income taxes for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2023 of approximately $(0.2) million was due to the accretion of additional
potential liabilities related to uncertain tax positions and deferred tax liabilities for the Company’s former Korean subsidiary.
Fiscal
Year 2023 Compared to Fiscal Year 2022
The
provision for income taxes for the fiscal years ended 2023 and 2022 of approximately $(0.2) million and $(0.1) million, respectively,
was due to the accretion of additional potential liabilities related to uncertain tax positions and deferred tax liabilities for the
Company’s former Korean subsidiary.
Net
loss attributable to noncontrolling interest. In the first quarter of 2023, we acquired the remaining interest in eMDT. Net loss
attributable to noncontrolling interest on our consolidated statement of operations represents the portion of the results of operations
of our majority owned subsidiaries which is allocated to the shareholders of the equity interests not owned by us. The change in net
loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in 2024 compared to 2023 was $0 and in 2023 compared to 2022 was less than $0.1 million
and was the result of operations of eMDT.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 34 |
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
At
December 28, 2024 and December 30, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, and marketable securities of $36.6
million and working capital of $18.9 million compared to $17.9 million and $24.0 million, respectively.
The
change in cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities was primarily due to the sale of common stock and prefunded warrants of
$1.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, $25.2 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $7.2 million in the first quarter of 2024
which was partially offset by cash used in operations of $14.2 million. Our cash and cash equivalents and liquidity could be adversely
affected by any amounts that become payable in connection with any adverse results from any litigation we are, or may become, involved
in.
Equity
offerings
On
September 30, 2024, we sold 2,405,000 shares of common stock and received gross proceeds of $1.5 million.
On
September 23, 2024, we sold 37,550,000 shares of common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase up to 4,000,000 shares of common stock
at a public offering price of $0.64 per pre-funded warrants, for gross proceeds of $27.0 million before deducting underwriting discounts
and offering expenses paid by the us of $1.8 million. The offering price of the pre-funded warrant equals the public offering price per
share of the common stock less the $0.01 per share exercise price of each pre-funded warrant.
On
January 27, 2023, we sold 17 million shares of registered common stock to certain investors and issued pre-funded warrants to purchase
up to 6,000,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $0.99 per pre-funded warrant, which equals the public offering price
per share of the common stock less the $0.01 per share exercise price of each pre-funded warrant. The gross proceeds of these transactions
were $22.9 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses paid by us of $1.5 million.
At-the-market
offerings
During
the three months ended March 30, 2024, we sold 3,080,000 shares of common stock for gross proceeds of $7,466,755 (average of $2.42
per share) before deducting broker expenses paid by us of approximately $0.2 million, pursuant to our then effective At-The-Market
Equity Offering Sales Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2021 (the “ATM Agreement”) with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company,
Incorporated (“Stifel”), as agent. The ATM Agreement terminated in the three months ended March 30, 2024. On January 24,
2025 we entered into a new At-The-Market Equity Offering Sales Agreement with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
(“Stifel”), as agent, for the sale of up to $50 million of securities. Subsequent to year end, the Company cannot use
the ATM Agreement entered into on January 24, 2025 until such time the Company can utilize Form S-3.
In the second quarter of 2022,
we sold 1.5 million shares of common stock and 0.2 million shares of treasury stock for gross proceeds of $2.1 million (average of $1.26
per share) before deducting broker expenses paid by us of less than $0.1 million and in the third quarter of 2022, the Company sold 675,000
shares of common stock for gross proceeds of approximately $0.9 million (average of $1.27 per share) before deducting broker expenses
paid by us of less than $0.1 million, pursuant to an ATM Agreement. The net proceeds from the sale of common shares were used for general
corporate purposes, including working capital.
The
following table presents the components of our cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities held in U.S. dollars
as of the dates presented:
| December 28, 2024 | December 30, 2023 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic locations | $ | 36,491,339 | $ | 17,725,979 | |||
| Foreign locations | 56,984 | 95,547 | |||||
| Subtotal cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities held in U.S. dollars | 36,548,323 | 17,821,526 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents held in other currencies and converted to U.S. dollars | 81,455 | 81,159 | |||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities | $ | 36,629,778 | $ | 17,902,685 |
We
have no plans to repatriate the cash and cash equivalents held in our foreign subsidiary KEL.
The
manufacturing operations at our Korean facility, Kowon, have ceased and Kowon was liquidated at fiscal year ended 2018. We have recorded
deferred tax liabilities for any additional withholding tax that may be due to the Korean government upon Kowon’s final tax return
acceptance.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 35 |
We
have incurred net losses of $43.9 million, $19.7 million and $19.3 million for the fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively,
and net cash outflows from operations of $14.2 million, $15.3 million and $17.7 million for the fiscal years ended 2024, 2023 and
2022, respectively. Our net cash outflows from operations were partially a result of funding our ongoing investments in research and
development which we believe will continue. We have in the past sold equity securities through an at-the-market offering and in the
traditional fashion of significant equity offerings. As the Company is unable to conclude that a favorable outcome in this
litigation is probable and due to the net losses and negative cash flows from operations, management has concluded that there is
substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for twelve months from the issuance of these
financial statements. Excluding a possible adverse result of the litigation discussed in Note 12 of the consolidated financial
statements, we estimate we will have sufficient liquidity to fund operations at least through the second quarter of 2026.
Nonetheless, we monitor the capital markets on an ongoing basis and may consider raising capital if favorable market conditions
develop. If our actual results are less than projected or we need to raise capital for additional liquidity, we may be required to
do additional equity financings, reduce expenses or enter into a strategic transaction. However, we can make no assurance that we
will be able to raise additional capital, reduce expenses sufficiently, or enter into a strategic transaction on terms acceptable to
us, or at all.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
We
have no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Seasonality
Our
revenues have not followed a seasonal pattern for the past three years and we do not anticipate any seasonal trend to our revenues in
2025.
Contractual
Obligations
Under
our former CEO’s (“Dr. Fan”) employment agreement, commencing in January 2023, Dr. Fan (or in the event of his death
prior to completion of all installments to his surviving spouse, or if none to his estate) would receive $1,500,000 in twenty-four (24)
equal monthly installments. As of December 28, 2024, the monthly installments have been paid. In addition, under Dr. Fan’s employment
agreement he receives $40,000 per year through 2033.
The
following is a summary of our contractual lease payment obligations as of December 28, 2024:
| Payment due by period | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Less than 1 year | 1-3 Years | 4-5 years | More than 5 years | |||||||||||||||
| Operating Lease Obligations | $ | 2,372,040 | 768,841 | 1,603,199 | — | — |
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 36 |