UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-KSB
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (FEE REQUIRED)
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED)
For the transition period from ______ to ______
Commission File Number 0-12646
ANGSTROM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
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(Name of small business issuer in its charter)
Delaware 31-1065350
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(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
1895 Airport Exchange Boulevard, Erlanger, KY 41018
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Issuer's telephone number: (606) 282-0020
Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which registered
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None _________________________________________
___________________ _________________________________________
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:
Common Stock, $.01 par value ("Common Stock"); 8% Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value ("Preferred Stock").
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(Title of class)
Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section
13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 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 __
Check if there is no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of
Regulation S-B contained in this form, and no disclosure will 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-KSB or any
amendment to this Form 10-KSB. [ ]
[Cover page 1 of 2 pages]
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The issuer's revenues for the fiscal year ending October 31, 1996 were
$869,829.
As of January 1, 1997, the aggregate market value, based on the average
bid and asked prices, of the issuer's voting stock (Common Stock) held by
non-affiliates was approximately $7,550,000. For purposes of this calculation,
shares of Common Stock held by directors, officers and stockholders whose
ownership exceeds five percent of the Common Stock outstanding at October 31,
1996 were excluded. Exclusion of shares held by any person should not be
construed to indicate that such person possesses the power, direct or indirect,
to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of the issuer, or
that such person is controlled by or under common control of the issuer.
As of January 1, 1997, there were 22,468,938 shares of Common Stock and
1,482,535 shares of Preferred Stock, outstanding, respectively.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
TOTAL PAGES IN THIS REPORT: 28 EXHIBIT INDEX: PAGE 26
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[Cover page 2 of 2 pages]
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PART I
Item 1. Description of Business.
Angstrom Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") was incorporated under
the laws of the State of Delaware on June 3, 1983. The Company derived its name
from the Angstrom units of measurement of wavelengths of light.
The Company is engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of
Electro-Optical Control Systems, consisting of an ultraviolet optical scanner
and invisible fluorescent chemical compounds. The Company has developed and
markets scanning units known as the OMNI 2000E and 2000H series. These units can
be used individually or combined with several units, working in unison to
provide statistical process control for manufacturing lines. Individually, the
unit can determine the presence or absence of the fluorescent compound. When
units are combined, a grid code is formed where information is generated and
stored, then later read for a variety of applications. In addition, the Company
produces a number of fluorescent compounds, each of which emits its own wave
length. When printed, sprayed, or stamped, the marking compounds are non-visible
under normal lighting conditions. This allows for marking over existing graphics
or on different materials without changing the appearance of the product. These
compounds are blended into a variety of materials to be applied to the
customer's product. An example of materials, among others, are printing inks,
plastic films, over-print varnish, adhesives, and hot plastic molding compounds.
Also, due to the invisible nature of the compound, the system can also be used
in a variety of security applications.
The Company's technology involves placing a mark, comprised of a
non-visible compound, on a product. These compounds emit a low level of visible
light when excited by ultraviolet light transmitted from a scanner designed and
sold by the Company. The scanner receives the visible light and converts it to
an electronic signal. Using one of the many outputs available, an operator can
be notified, an ejection device activated, and a programmable controller or
computer can be signalled to take the appropriate action. The scanner works
independent of varying background, color, shape, size, or ambient lighting
conditions. These features are intended to overcome many of the disadvantages
associated with conventional photoelectrics.
The Company's products have historically been geared for use by
the pharmaceutical and automobile parts manufacturing industries in connection
with a variety of functions including: label verification, quality control,
inspection, alignment, adhesive tracing, safety seal verification, sorting,
automatic identification, matching and inserting. In addition to the foregoing
applications, the Company has also developed and is in the process of marketing
applications in the document security field, such as identification of
counterfeit currency and verification of credit cards and other identification
cards.
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Products
The Company's products have traditionally consisted of an
ultraviolet optical scanner and various chemical compounds. During Fiscal 1994
the Company completed the upgrading of the technology used in its products in
order to produce a scanner incorporating a microprocessor which has advanced
both its capability in (a) speed of reading, and (b) sensitivity. Among other
things, this permits the scanner to read invisible bar codes and has greatly
increased other potential applications. The Company's sales of scanners were not
being actively promoted pending the development of the advanced scanner during
Fiscal 1994.
Use of outside production facilities tends to reduce the capital
expenditures necessary to effect production and help expedite full scale
production of the new units. The following are examples of expected improvements
and are based on current engineering estimates: Estimated lamp life to be in
excess of 20,000 hours as compared to current life of approximately 1,000 hours;
estimated cost of electronic components (currently 66% of total cost) to be
reduced by 90%; and increase depth of field (distance from scanner to target) by
a factor of three. The Company is currently working on the commercialized
production of two new basic compounds which are intended to be marketed in the
security industry for a wide array of end-use products that will incorporate
sophisticated wavelength and non-visible encoding. Current product development
in the scanner by the Company has brought the technology into swipe bar code
readers (verifying bar codes describing document information) and the Company
has recently become enabled to produce a smaller compact hand held bar code
reader, as well as to complete reformulation of certain of the chemicals used by
the Company in conjunction with its scanners and readers.
The Company is continuing to develop improvements in its
electronic components by ultimately incorporating or "sweeping" support
electronics into a semi-conductor chip, which will assist it to produce a
miniature or hand-held reader and further developing the mechanical and optical
portions of its scanner; it has also developed improved chemical compounds to be
used in document security applications. In this regard, the Company plans to
take multiple electronic components and incorporate them into a single
semiconductor chip utilizing Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor ("CMOS")
technology. CMOS technology is designed to operate at low temperatures, thereby
allowing the use of plastics for the final optical package embodiments.
The Company's first new scanner was and is being offered for sale
by the Company at prices ranging between $8,000 -$11,000 per unit, with a base
price of $8,000 and additional optional features, such as remote LCD readout,
external beeper, customized optics, customized computer programming interface
and decoder interface for bar code reading available for additional charges of
$500 or more for each such feature. More than twenty-five of the new scanning
units have been sold. The scanners carry a sales price which varies, depending
on the unit and such price, subject to volume discounts. The Company has found
that many customers or potential customers require specific customizing of these
scanning units, to meet the needs of the specific applications for which the
units are being purchased. Such customizing may result in an increase in the
price charged. In addition, existing customers who are using the Company's older
version scanners are offered a credit against the price of the new scanner for a
trade-in of their existing scanning devices.
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The Company has developed and now offers for sale five different
scanning devices:
1. Hand-Held scanner used, among other things, for verifying
tickets to sporting and entertainment events;
2. Mid-Range scanner used for a variety of commercial
applications;
3. High-End scanner, which has the ability to tie-into a
computer, and is being used for the U.S. Postal Office
Certified Mail Project.
4. High-End and High-Security Document scanner, which allows
modulation of upper and lower reading limits, to be used for
check sorting and check verification application;
5. Document Reader, which is portable and easily moveable, to
be used for verifying tickets to sporting and entertainment
events, among other things.
The Company has also been developing its chemical compounds to
keep pace with both scanner development and the needs of its customers and
markets. A significant achievement was the development of sub-micron compound
number 6 which has been specified by the US Postal Service for incorporation in
the fluorescent ink used on certified mail labels; as a result, the Company
recently received a new purchase order from a subcontractor of the US Postal
Service for this compound (see "Sales and Marketing"). In addition, over 60 new
ultraviolet compounds have been developed by the Company, which is conducting
performance and related testing on the same to determine which compounds will be
placed into manufacturing for commercial use.
Manufacture
The components of the Company scanners are manufactured by outside
contractors, in accordance with the Company's standards, pursuant to purchase
orders issued by the Company on an as needed basis. No manufacturer has been
given an exclusive retention and the Company believes that there are numerous
alternative sources for securing production of such components.
Final assembly and quality control testing of the scanners are
performed on-site with Company personnel.
The scanning compounds are manufactured off-site by a custom
chemical manufacturer under a confidentiality agreement, providing protection
for the Company's trade secrets. The custom chemical manufacturer is responsible
for EPA, NIOSH, and OSHA compliance to the extent such laws are applicable. The
Company has entered into this agreement to produce its chemicals, at a lower
unit cost and with enhanced capacity to meet the increasing production level
which may be required by the Company's new marketing efforts, should the later
result in sales increases. However, the Company believes that there are numerous
alternative sources for manufacturing its chemical compounds and that its not
dependent on the arrangement presently in effect. In an effort to enhance its
optical and general development laboratories, the Company, in July 1994,
commenced to employ a research chemist, at an annual compensation of
approximately $55,000, and is also utilizing laboratory facilities for further
development of chemical compounds at a local university at a cost of
approximately $19,000 per annum. The Company has also retained a product
engineer, at an annual cost estimated to be approximately $80,000, whose
activities involve, among other things, to sweep many of the scanner's
electronic circuits onto a chip. See
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<PAGE>
"Products". It is anticipated that such activities will continue during Fiscal
1997. The anticipated source of funds therefore is the Company's working
capital, derived from its public offering in Fiscal 1994.
Sales and Marketing
The Company has been engaged in a program designed to upgrade its
products, expand its product lines and attempt to substantially increase its
customer base. In connection therewith, the Company commenced its sales and
marketing program in January, 1993 by the use of independent sales
representatives. However, until September, 1994, the Company's program for sales
of hardware was held in abeyance, pending the completion of development and test
marketing of its new Omni 2000H scanner. Commencing on or about February 1994,
the Company began a more intensive sales and marketing program.
For its sales efforts, the Company utilizes Messrs. Marinello and
Ryan, two of its executive officers, who allocate a significant portion of their
time to sales and marketing efforts. During Fiscal 1993 and Fiscal 1994,
approximately $7,800 and $20,900, respectively, were expended by the Company in
its sales and marketing efforts, in addition to which approximately $5,100 and
$29,400, respectively, were paid as compensation to the Company's Chief
Executive Officer under an employment agreement measuring compensation by way of
the Company's overall sales. During Fiscal year 1995, approximately $158,000 has
been paid as sales commissions to executive officers while during Fiscal 1996,
approximately $133,000 was paid as sales commissions to executive officers and
$3,701 paid as royalties. It is the Company's goal to attempt to increase its
sales and marketing through the mode of entering into strategic alliances and
joint venturing endeavors with well-placed firms in various business areas
rather than expending large sums in developing the Company's own independent
direct selling structure.
The Company's sales efforts have been disappointing on a
historical basis until the third quarter of Fiscal 1995. In Fiscal 1991 the
Company had $259,841 in sales, comprised of eleven scanners sold at an average
price of $4,937 with chemical sales of approximately 66% of total sales. In
Fiscal 1992 the Company had $467,433 in sales, comprised of twenty-seven
scanners sold at an average price of $5,175 with chemical sales approximately
60% of total sales. In Fiscal 1993 the Company had $346,026 in sales, comprised
of seven scanners sold at an average price of $4,913 with chemical sales of
approximately 80% of total sales. Of the scanner sales in Fiscal 1993, all were
to existing rather than new customers, although some chemical sales were to new
customers. Net sales for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1994 totaled
$531,339, a substantial increase from the $346,026 in sales in Fiscal 1993; This
trend of increased sales continued in Fiscal 1995 when net sales equalled
$1,050,281. Such increase was generated in the main by sales to a sub-contractor
for the U.S. postal service in connection with production of labels for
certified mail. These customer orders covered both the purchase of chemical
compounds for use in printing ink to be utilized in labels for certified mail as
well as the sale by the Company of six scanners for use by the subcontractor in
its internal verification system in connection with the production of certified
mail labels. Such labels are to be used by the U.S. Postal Service in connection
with an automation system, using equipment of a third party, scheduled for
operation during 1996, which will among other things, automatically sort-out
certified mail from other types of mail. During Fiscal 1996, the Company's
revenues decreased to $869,829 due to the completion of the Postal Service
contract, although following the close of Fiscal 1996 the Postal contract
entered a new phase wherein the Company received orders for additional amounts
of its chemical compound. With the Company's new line of scanner and reader
hardware and
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broad-based chemicals to be used with these items, the Company's attempting to
broadly increase its sales base. However, the Company's sales must still be
regarded as below levels deemed necessary to establish profitability. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations - Summary of Operations" for a breakdown of sales, margins and
related items respecting the Company's chemical and scanner/hardware sales,
respectively.
Markets
Among the principal industries which presently utilize or
constitute potential clients for the Company's products are pharmaceutical firms
(for labels and bottling) and automobile parts manufacturers; incident thereto,
or, as markets for additional products, are adhesive manufacturers, label
manufacturers, and stamp and paper currency manufacturers.
The foregoing applications cover a wide variety of industrial
processing including quality assurance, manufacturing and product sorting.
In the pharmaceutical industry, the Company's products are
utilized to insure the correct label is placed on the correct pharmaceutical
product; in addition, verification of label alignment and safety seal presence
are employed in the food and drug industries.
In the automotive industry, the Company's products are utilized in
the identification of correct labels on assembly parts and the detection of
adhesive presence in sub-assembly components.
In the packaging industries, the Company's products are utilized
to ensure correct label placement, in the sorting of various products and in
adhesive detection.
The new improved scanners being developed by the Company, and the
compact reading devices incident thereto, are believed by management to have
applications in various facets of the document security industry, as well as in
the process control field previously serviced by the Company. Among such new
applications, would be the prevention of counterfeiting of currencies, postage
stamps and tickets to various sports and entertainment events, and marking of
items being sold to consumers through retail outlets. The Company is currently
exploring potential customers with an interest in a wide variety of security
applications under development by the Company. Among other things, the Company
is preparing for a test marketing of its technology to be used in connection
with the identification of counterfeits and sorting of bank checks. The Company
has also sold its ultraviolet chemical for use in inks being used on U.S.
government documentation, such as passports.
Products manufactured by the Company are presently sold to a
limited number of clients and customers under a relatively few contracts or
purchase orders. During the Company's fiscal year ended October 31, 1995 sales
to one customer exceeded 10% of net sales and amounted to approximately 50% of
the Company's sales while during the year ended October 31, 1996, sales to three
customers in excess of 10% were approximately 15%, 17% and 17%, respectively.
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Competition
The Company competes with a number of companies, both in its
present line of business (labeling of pharmaceutical bottles, automotive parts
and similar items) and in the prospective business to be entered into with the
new prototype (security applications for documents). Many of such competitors
have greater financial and other resources. In the labeling and parts
identification business, among its competitors are Data Logic, Inc. and Sick
Optic Electronic, GmBh, both of which have readers capable of reading broad
(rather than specific) bands of light and do not provide either application
engineering or scanning compounds. The Company's scanners are capable of
operating on a more defined basis and can differentiate among certain colors.
Accordingly, the Company believes that its scanner is capable of sorting out
various labels for different products whereas readers produced by competitors
are able to detect fluorescent chemicals on labels but cannot sort out similar
labels. The Company's existing products are comparable in price to those of its
competitors. The Company also competes with the machine vision industry, which
utilizes solid state cameras and complex computer programs for similar
applications, such as product and label identification, that the Company offers
to similar markets. The Company's ultraviolet detection system, which can also
be used for labeling applications, is priced at approximately $8,000 per system
compared to a range of $12,000-$15,000 for video systems generally available for
bottling and production line identification. Such competing video systems are
produced and sold by (a) General Electric Vision division of General Electric
Corporation; (b) GM Fanuk, a joint venture of General Motors Corporation and
Fanuk Corporation (a Japanese firm); and (c) Penn Video, Inc.
With respect to document security, the Company's New Technology
scanner competes with a number of other products used for this purpose,
including holograms (which are three-dimensional representations designed with
certain visual attributes for the purpose of thwarting counterfeits). The
Company also competes with technology which places water marks and/or fabric
threads within paper and currency. The Company believes that, if its New
Technology scanner proves commercially feasible, it will enjoy a superiority
against counterfeiting over these other technologies since the Company's
non-visible specific frequency ultra-violet chemical compounds will be more
difficult to duplicate than are competing document security devices. The basis
for this belief is that the Company's products can differentiate its chemistry
within ten nanometers of the spectrum whereas its competitors have thus far
produced sensors which principally read in the blue area of the spectrum; by
having greater specificity in its reading capacity, the Company can blend other
colors into its blue spectrum inks and read such colors with greater
particularity, thereby giving the Company's products a broader range of
application.
Intellectual Property Rights and Technology Protection
The Company has trademark registrations in the United States for
"INVISI:GRAPHICS" and "Angstrom Technologies, Inc", and "SDR". The use and
registration rights of a trademark holder do not ensure that such holder has
superior rights to others that may have registered or used identical related
marks on related goods or services. The Company has chosen to greatly reduce the
current use of the "INVISI:GRAPHICS" and "SDR" trademarks as part of an image
upgrade featuring the new technology products in manufacturing and development.
The principal register trademark: Angstrom, Registered June 23, 1987, which
remains in effect through June 23, 2007, will still be used in the Company's new
marketing logo.
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The Company's initial patent was issued for ultraviolet reader
technology, and is described as "Fluorescent object recognition system having
self-modulated light source." In addition, in May 1995, the Company was granted
patents covering an authentication system and relating to the calibration of
fluorescence detectors, respectively, and also has other patents pending. The
patent on the authentication system and methods covers 27 claims which
incorporates the technology developed by the Company for its new scanners and
bar code reader. The Company has six patents in effect at this time. Despite
this fact, there can be no assurance, that any present or future patents which
may issue in the Company's favor would necessarily protect the Company from
competition or potential competition. Accordingly, the Company anticipates
reliance for the foreseeable future on both its patents and on contractual
rights, trade secrets and copyright laws.
Pursuant to its Executive Employment Agreements with Messrs.
Marinello, Liang and Ryan (See "Interests of Management and Others in Certain
Transactions"), the three executives are engaged, among other things, in a plan
of activity to expand patent and intellectual property coverage for the Company.
New patents are being developed and filed in the name of the individuals, who
have agreed to assign a two-thirds interest therein to the Company, which is
obligated to cover the cost of filing fees and fees of patent counsel. The
Company will have exclusive rights to use such patents for a royalty fee of 5%
of gross profits during the term of the aforesaid employment agreements, and at
a royalty equal to 10% of gross revenues thereafter.
Employees
The Company presently employs four executives, three engineering
employees, a research chemist, an office manager and one full-time and one
part-time clerical person. It also retains an outside accounting firm to
supervise its financial records and independent consultants on business and
engineering matters, as necessary. The President assists Company personnel in
applications engineering.
Public Offering and Preferred Stock Dividend
On December 22, 1993 the Company consummated a public offering of
its securities consisting of 1,725,000 units. Each unit was comprised of one
share of 8% redeemable convertible preferred stock (convertible into Common
Shares at a rate of $.50 per share) and one Class A redeemable common stock
purchase warrant. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $2,838,000
from such offering, after underwriting discounts and commissions and other
expenses of the offering.
The Company declared an initial cash dividend of .15 cents per
share upon its shares of 8% Convertible Preferred Stock, such dividend being
paid on December 5, 1994 to holders of record as of the close of business on
November 30, 1994. In order to conserve capital resources, the Board of
Directors of the Company has determined not to declare a dividend on the shares
of Preferred Stock for the subsequent period through the date hereof; such
amounts which would be payable are to be accrued and will be due and payable
prior to the declaration of any dividends upon the Company's shares of Common
Stock.
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Item 2. Properties
The Company maintains its executive offices in Erlanger, Kentucky,
comprising approximately 2,000 square feet. Such offices are leased for a period
through May 14, 1999 at a cost of approximately $15,000 per year, and have been
considered adequate to meet its present needs. The Company also leases adjacent
storage space on a month-to-month basis at a rate of approximately $900 per
annum.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
(a) The Company is not engaged in any litigation.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the
fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Common Equity and
Related Stockholder Matters.
The Company's shares of Common Stock are traded in the
over-the-counter market and quoted in the "pink sheets" published by the
National Quotation Bureau, Inc. ("NQB"). Such shares are presently listed on the
NASD non-NASDAQ "Electronic Bulletin Board". However, since the shares have
traded on an inactive basis during many of the periods set forth below, the
Company does not regard such price quotations as representing prices at which
sizable transactions could have been or were effected.
The following table sets forth the range of high and low bid
prices for the Company's Common Stock for each quarter during the period
November 1, 1994 through October 31, 1996 as furnished by the NQB. These
quotations reflect inter-dealer prices without retail mark-up, markdown or
commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
BID
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High Low
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Fiscal 1995
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11/1/94 to 1/31/95 .21 .05
2/1/95 to 4/30/95 .21 .05
5/1/95 to 7/31/95 .25 .05
8/1/95 to 10/31/95 .50 .12
Fiscal 1996
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11/1/95 to 1/31/96 .25 .18
2/1/96 to 4/30/96 .53 .25
5/1/96 to 7/31/96 .81 .50
8/1/96 to 10/31/96 .56 .38
On January 21, 1997, the high bid price for the Company's
Common Stock was $.93 per share. The number of holders of the Company's Common
Stock was approximately 560 on November 9, 1996, computed by the number of
record holders; this does not take account of stockholders for whom shares are
being held in the names of brokerage houses and clearing agencies.
The Company has never paid a cash dividend upon its Common
Stock and does not presently anticipate doing so in the foreseeable future, but
expects to retain earnings, if any, for use in its business.
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Item 6. Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation.
Summary of Operations
Year Ended October 31, 1996 ("Fiscal 1996") compared to Year Ended October 31,
1995 ("Fiscal 1995")
Net sales of $869,829 for Fiscal 1996 reflect a decrease of 16.2%
from the $1,050,281 in net sales in Fiscal 1995. This decrease in sales was
reflected both in sales of chemicals and scanner equipment. During Fiscal 1995,
sales of both product categories to a subcontractor for the U.S. Postal Service
totaled approximately $477,000, or approximately 45% of the Company's total
sales while there were no sales during Fiscal 1996 to this party, reflecting the
concluding portion of that particular contract. However, in a recent
development, the Company has been awarded another contract by this subcontractor
in connection with an additional phase of this project by the U.S. Postal
Service and revenues derived from this customer should be reflected in the first
six months of operations during Fiscal 1997 (the current fiscal year). The cost
of sales, as a percentage of overall sales, on a year-to-year comparison
increased from 34.1% to 50.1%; this was due to the lower sales base over which
to spread fixed costs, the loss of certain economics of scale previously
realizable by higher production rates, and increased engineering costs to
facilitate production of new products.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased slightly
from approximately $973,850 in Fiscal 1995 to approximately $945,900 in Fiscal
1996. This decrease was primarily due to the lower sales commissions payable on
the reduced sales figures as well as to a modest reduction in development
expenses as the Company successfully completed the development of the hand-held
scanner, mid-range and remote controlled scanners as well as the development of
formulations for a variety of additional chemical compounds. Six patents in all
have been issued to the Company from the U.S. Patent Office; costs relating
thereto had previously been either capitalized or expensed by the Company.
The Company generated a net loss of $467,207 before dividend
requirements during Fiscal 1996 as compared with a net loss of $217,211 for
Fiscal 1995, before dividend requirements.
After taking into account research and development and interest
expenses, the Company incurred operating losses (before applicable interest
income) in Fiscal 1995 of approximately $104,000 on chemicals and $193,000 on
scanner and hardware sales, while incurring operating income on chemical sales
of approximately $313,000 and a loss of $248,000 on scanners and hardware sales
in Fiscal 1996 on these items.
Net interest income of approximately $50,750 for Fiscal 1996 was
slightly less than the net interest income of approximately $63,900 in Fiscal
1995 as a result both of lower interest rates, which gave a lesser return on
investment, and the fact that the Company's cash balances available for
investment were slightly lower.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company's primary need for cash is to support its programs and
its ongoing operating activities. The Company's primary sources of liquidity
have historically been cash provided by financing activities. The Company has
never generated significant cash flows from its operations and has depended upon
financing from outside sources to maintain itself.
The Company had cash and cash equivalents, and investments, of
$840,692 as at the end of Fiscal 1996 as compared with $1,490,521 as at the end
of Fiscal 1995, resulting in a decrease in these categories of $649,829, which
was used to fund operating losses as well as cover expenditures for its new
computerized operating system and molds for more efficient manufacture of
scanners. It also experienced a slight decrease in trade accounts receivable of
$9,682 and an increase in inventory of $274,589 due to the fact that it has
produced a full line of products to present to customers and potential
customers. Prepaid expenses at such dates decreased materially from $111,961 to
$1,181 due to the absence of a need to make advance payments to suppliers. It is
anticipated that the Company will continue to experience a decrease in cash and
short term investments while it is engaged in development expenses related to
new products and until more substantial sales revenues are generated. As
indicated in Note 2 to these financial statements, no dividend has been accrued
for Fiscal 1996 since management has determined to conserve available funds and
maintain the Company's liquidity in light of its needs to continue developmental
and marketing expenditures referred to hereinabove. The Company anticipates that
existing funds will enable it to fund its operating and capital needs through at
least October 31, 1997, the end of its current fiscal year, and for some time
thereafter. The Company may require additional financing after such time
depending on the status of its sales efforts and whether sufficient revenues and
contractual commitments have been received from its customers to enable it to
function with sufficient liquidity. The Company is not able at this time to
predict the amount or potential source of such additional funds and has no
commitment to obtain such funds.
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Federal Income Taxes
Effective November 1, 1993, the Company adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 "Accounting for Income Taxes". The
standard requires the use of the liability method to recognize deferred income
tax assets and liabilities, using expected future tax rates.
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to
deferred income tax assets, a corresponding valuation allowance and deferred tax
liabilities at October 31, 1996 and October 31, 1995 is presented below.
Deferred tax assets: October 31, 1996 October 31, 1995
---------------- ----------------
Net Operating Loss $ 1,498,000 $1,320,000
Other Net 5,800 4,000
----------- --------
Total deferred tax assets 1,503,800 1,324,000
Less: Valuation allowance (1,503,800) 1,319,800
----------- ----------
Net deferred tax asset $ -0- $ 4,200
=========== ==========
Deferred tax liabilities:
Note payable; rate
differential - (4,200)
----------- -----------
Net deferred tax liability $ - $ (4,200)
=========== ===========
Net deferred tax $ -0- $ -0-
=========== ===========
The Company has cumulative net operating loss carryforwards of
approximately $3,800,000 for federal income tax purposes which expire between
the years 2000 to 2011. As a result of a capital stock transaction in May 1989,
a change in ownership, as defined by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code,
occurred. The effect of the change in ownership is to severely limit the future
utilization of the net operating loss carryforward existing at that date.
Other
In the opinion of management, inflation has not had a material
effect on the operations of the Company.
-14-
<PAGE>
Item 7. Financial Statements
The financial statements and supplementary data required by this
Item are set forth at the pages indicated in Item 13(a)(1).
Item 8. Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure.
None.
-15-
<PAGE>
PART III
Item 9. Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control
Persons; Compliance with Section 16(a) of Exchange Act.
The executive officers and directors of the Company are as follows:
Name Age Positions
Daniel A. Marinello 56 President, Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer and a director
Louis Liang 53 Executive Vice President-Strategic Business
and a director
William J. Ryan 57 Executive Vice President-Operations
and a director
Douglas B. Kruger 53 Secretary and a director
Daniel A. Marinello has been Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
of the Company since October 28, 1992. Prior thereto and since February, 1987,
Mr. Marinello has been serving as a director of the Company and as an advisory
engineer thereto. Prior thereto, from February, 1966 through July, 1992, he held
several engineering, management and advisory positions for the IBM Corporation
in Essex Jct., Vermont.
Louis Liang has been a director since February 1, 1994 and was appointed
Executive Vice President - Strategic Business in May, 1994. Mr. Liang was most
recently Director of Subcontract Operations and Package Development Technology
of VLSI Technology Inc. for a four year period from May, 1989 to June, 1993. He
has been employed, since 1972, in various capacities in the electronic and
semiconductor industries, including positions dealing with research and
development, engineering, operations and new venture and business development
matters. He has also been active as a technical, marketing and management
consultant to companies in the Silicon Valley. Mr. Liang has a B.A. and M.S.
degrees in Applied Physics from the University of California, San Diego and
Santa Barbara campuses.
William J. Ryan has been a director and Executive Vice President - Operations
since April 1, 1994. He has served most recently, between July, 1992 and April,
1994, as an Executive Management Consultant to several high technology
semiconductor suppliers and equipment manufacturers. His responsibilities
included developing market strategy, product design and implementing cost
effective manufacturing processes. Prior to becoming engaged in the consulting
business, Mr. Ryan was employed at IBM for 27 years in various senior
engineering
-16-
<PAGE>
and technical management positions. His last assignment with IBM was as Senior
Engineering Manager of Advanced Semiconductor Equipment Engineering. Mr. Ryan
holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Vermont and
has published technical papers and spoken extensively at executive management
and technical management seminars.
Douglas B. Kruger has been a director since November 2, 1992. On January 18,
1993, Mr. Kruger was elected to serve as Secretary of the Company. Mr. Kruger is
presently and has since September, 1991 been an independent business and
marketing consultant. Prior thereto, from November, 1988 to its sale in
September, 1991, he was the Chief Executive Officer and sole stockholder of
Concept Surfaces Corp., a decorative surfacing company located in Florida.
Between June, 1964 and November, 1988, he held a variety of positions with the
IBM Corporation including manufacturing technician and as an executive with the
International Procurement Group of that firm.
Each of the Company's directors has been elected at the recent
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to serve until the next such Annual Meeting and
until his successor has been elected and qualified. The Company's executive
officers are appointed annually by the Company's directors. Each of the
Company's officers continue to serve until their successors have been appointed.
Under federal securities laws, the Company's directors, its
executive officers and any person holding more than 10% of the Company's Common
Stock are required to report their ownership of the Company's Common Stock and
any changes in that ownership to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC")
on the SEC's Forms 3, 4 and 5. Based on its review of the copies of such forms
it has received, the Company believes that all of its officers, directors and
greater than 10% beneficial owners complied with all filing requirements
applicable to them with respect to transactions during Fiscal 1996.
-17-
<PAGE>
Item 10. Executive Compensation
The following Summary Compensation Table shows compensation paid
by the Company for services rendered during Fiscal Years 1996 and 1995 for
Daniel A. Marinello, who was the Chief Executive Officer and President and Chief
Operating Officer at the end of such fiscal years. No other executive officers
of the Company received salary and bonus compensation which exceeded $100,000 in
such fiscal years.
Summary Compensation Table
===========================
Long Term
Annual Compensation
Compensation Award
=====================================---------------------------================
Name and All Other
Principal Position Year Salary Options Compensation
================================================================================
Daniel A. Marinello Chief 1996 --- ----(3) $93,058(2)
Executive Officer and Chief 1995 --- ---- $96,172(2)
Financial and Accounting
Officer(1)
================================================================================
- -----------------------
(1) Commenced to serve as such on October 28, 1992. See "Daniel A.
Marinello - Employment Agreement" below for a description of the terms
of Mr. Marinello's compensation.
(2) Comprised of accrued commission.
(3) Options covering 1,000,000 shares at a price of $.125 per share were
granted in November, 1994.
Daniel A. Marinello - Employment Agreement During Prior Fiscal Years
On October 28, 1992, Mr. Marinello entered into an employment agreement
with the Company. It provides for him to be employed as Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer through October 28, 1995 at an annual salary of (a)
fifteen (15%) percent of sales produced by him and five (5%) percent of sales
revenues of sales representatives, payable at the end of the month in which
payment for such sales is received by the Company, and (b) a bonus payment
computed by the following percentage of the Company's pre-tax profits in excess
of a base amount equal to the Company's pre-tax profits, if any, for its fiscal
year ended October 31, 1992 during each year of the term hereof:
5% of the first $1,000,000;
4% of the second $1,000,000;
3% of the third $1,000,000;
2% of the fourth $1,000,000; and
1% of any excess of pre-tax profits over $4,000,000.
-18-
<PAGE>
Executive Employment Agreement between the Company and
Messrs. Marinello, Liang and Ryan
The Board of Directors of the Company has approved and the stockholders of
the Company, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, held November 7, 1994,
ratified and approved, an Executive Employment Agreement (the "Agreement"),
between the Company, on the one hand, and Messrs. Marinello, Liang and Ryan, its
three highest ranking executive officers as a management team (the "Team"). The
Agreement has become effective on and as of November 1, 1994 and supersedes the
existing Employment Agreement with Mr. Marinello as well as the employment
arrangements with Messrs. Liang and Ryan. Since May, 1994, Messrs. Liang and
Ryan have been receiving compensation equal to $5,000 per month for each such
person. An outline of the terms of the Agreement is as follows:
Term
The term of the Agreement is initially for a three year period commencing as
of November 1, 1994 and ending October 31, 1997. The Agreement thereafter is
automatically renewed for annual consecutive renewal periods of one year each
unless terminated by notice of non-renewal sent either by the Company or the
Team, at least 60 days prior to the expiration of the initial term or any
renewal term; provided, however, that the Company may only terminate the
Agreement in the event that its net profits after taxes during the preceding 12
months is either a negative number or does not equal or exceed at least $150,000
more than the Company's net profits after taxes for the prior 12 month period,
or its sales do not show at least a 15% increase between such periods.
Compensation
The Employment Agreement previously in effect with Mr. Marinello provided
that he shall receive compensation equal to 15% of gross sales and 5% of the
first $1,000,000 of pre-tax profits annually, with a sliding percentage
thereafter. The Agreement, which has now superseded Mr. Marinello's Employment
Agreement, provides that the Team shall receive, allocated among them, an
aggregate of 15% of gross sales plus 10% of the first $1,000,000 of pre-tax
profits in each year (so long as pre-tax profits for such year equal or exceed
$1,000,000), with a reduced percentage of pre-tax profits in excess of this
figure. The net sales component of compensation is divided among Messrs.
Marinello, Ryan and Liang in the amounts of 10.5%, 4.5% and 0%, respectively,
while the 10% of the first million dollars in pre-tax profits is apportioned 5%,
2.5% and 2.5%, respectively, and maintained in the same ratio, as such
percentage may be reduced.
Duties
Members of the Team are to be employed in their current capacities whereby
Mr. Marinello will remain President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Liang,
Executive Vice President - Strategic Business and Mr. Ryan as Executive Vice
President - Operations. Each member of the Team is required to devote
substantially all of his business time and efforts in the Company's employ and
to perform such services for the Company and its subsidiaries or affiliates as
may exist from time to time. The Team will be responsible for the general and
active management
-19-
<PAGE>
of the Company's business, including its assets and liabilities, and the direct
supervision of its managers, employees and sales agents, subject, at all times,
to the direction and control of the Board of Directors. In connection with the
specific task of product development, the Team is charged with implementing the
program dealing with product performance, enhanced consistency of operation, and
refinement and improvement of the Company's products and the commercial
applications thereof. The Team will also recruit, train, supervise and evaluate
independent contractors to act as manufacturer's representatives to market the
Company's products and services in the United States.
Termination
The Company may terminate the Agreement only for "cause", which shall
consist of (a) a violation of the non-competition provisions, (b) commission of
an act or existence of circumstances which constitute "cause" within the meaning
of Delaware law, or (c) malfeasance or the commission or omission of acts which,
in the reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors, are contrary to the
instructions of the Board of Directors.
Non-Competition
During the term of the Agreement, the Team may not compete with the
Company's business in the United States or in any foreign jurisdiction in which
the Company is then conducting business.
Additional Provisions
(a) In the event that one or two members of the Team are incapacitated or
unable to perform their duties, the other members of the Team, if still
performing his duties, shall be entitled to the entire compensation payable to
the Team under the Agreement.
(b) Each member of the Team has been granted a Stock Option covering 1
million Shares of the Company, exercisable at $.125 per Share which constitutes
the fair market value thereof, 50% of such number of shares becoming immediately
exercisable, with 250,000 exercisable after one year and the balance of the
shares becoming exercisable after the second anniversary of such grant. These
options have been granted pursuant to the Company's 1994 Stock Option Plan (the
"1994 Stock Option Plan"), which was ratified and approved at the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders referred to above.
Intellectual Property Rights
The Team is required to assign to the Company a 2/3rds interest in any
patents or other intellectual property created by it which is used in the
Company's business. The Company is required to pay the Team a royalty computed
by 5% of the gross profit (difference between selling price and direct
manufacturing cost, exclusive of overhead) from use of such intellectual
property. In the event of termination of the Agreement by the Company, the
Company shall have the right to continue to retain exclusive use of the patents
and other intellectual properties by paying the Team an amount equal to 10% of
gross revenues from products sold which utilize such intellectual property;
otherwise, the Company may retain a non-exclusive license to use
-20-
<PAGE>
such intellectual property for a fee of 5% of gross revenues from products sold
utilizing such patents.
Take Over or Merger
In the event there is a buy out, take over or merger of the Company by a
third party (collectively called the "Takeover"), the Team shall be entitled to
receive twenty-five percent (25%) of the total value of the Takeover payable
immediately upon consummation of the Takeover, in cash or cash equivalent
acceptable to the Team, each member of the Team to receive one-third (1/3) of
the twenty-five percent (25%) payment; notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) the
aggregate payment to be made to the Team in event of a Takeover shall not exceed
$45 million, and (B) no sums on account of any such transaction shall be payable
to the Team in such event unless (i) if the Takeover occurs during the period up
to and including October 31, 1996, the Company reports net profits after taxes
in the most current fiscal year at least equal to or exceeding the Company's net
profits after taxes for the prior twelve month period by at least $150,000 (or
there are at least $150,000 in net profits if there were no net profits in the
preceding fiscal year) and the Company's sales display at least a 15% increase
in the most recent such fiscal year period over the preceding twelve month
period, or (ii) if the Takeover occurs during the period from and after November
1, 1996, the total value of the Takeover equals or exceeds $12.5 Million for the
Company's assets or capital stock, as the case may be. In the event of a payment
to the Team in respect of a Takeover of the Company, such payment shall be in
addition to any amounts otherwise received by the members of the Team in
exchange for shares in the Company sold or exchanged by them pursuant to such
Takeover.
1983 and 1985 Stock Option Plans
Under the Company's Amended 1983 Stock Option Plan and 1985 Stock Option
Plan (the "Plans"), officers and other key employees who perform services on
behalf of the Company may be granted either nonqualified stock options or
incentive stock options for the purchase of up to 700,000 shares of the
Company's Common Stock. Options to purchase 300,000 shares have been previously
exercised, options to purchase 50,000 shares have been cancelled, and options to
purchase 240,000 shares are outstanding. The Plans also provide for the issuance
of stock appreciation rights in connection with the granting of stock options.
Option prices may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the Common
Stock on the date of grant and unexercised options expire not more than ten
years from date of grant. The Plans are administered by a Stock Option Committee
("Committee") of the Board of Directors. Stock options are granted to management
and others based upon a variety of criteria including the position held by such
executive, employee or other person, the responsibilities with which such person
is charged, the person's length of service with the Company, and the necessity
and desirability to the Company of rendering an incentive to such person to
continue his relationship with the Company and to enthusiastically foster the
Company's best interests. Subject to the guidelines of the Plans, the Committee
determines who options will be granted to, the type of options to be granted,
the number of shares, the option price per share, and the time when the options
may be exercised.
-21-
<PAGE>
In addition to the options under the aforesaid Plans, the Company has
granted options to acquire 1,700,000 shares outside of such Plans at a price of
$.125 per share. On September 14, 1993, options to acquire 100,000 shares of
Common Stock at a price of $.125 per share for a three-year period were granted
to Douglas Kruger, the Company's Secretary and a director, and to each of
Messrs. Louis Liang and William J. Ryan, who were then consultants to, and are
now officers and directors of, the Company. On June 23, 1994, Mr. Kruger was
granted an option to acquire 50,000 shares of common stock at a price of $.125
per share under the Company's 1985 stock option plan.
Reference is made to the last paragraph of the discussion under "1994 Stock
Option Plan" for information concerning the grants of options under that plan to
three executive officers and directors, effective as of November 7, 1994. During
Fiscal 1995, options to purchase an aggregate of 100,000 shares at a price of
$.125 per share for a ten year period extending until May 18, 2005 were granted
to six Company employees. During Fiscal 1996, options to purchase 75,000 shares
of Common Stock at a price of $.41 per share for a ten year period extending
until August 21, 2006 were granted to Company employees, including a grant of
25,000 options to Douglas Kruger, Secretary and a director of the Company.
1994 Stock Option Plan
On June 23, 1994, the Board of Directors unanimously adopted the Company's
1994 Stock Option Plan (the "1994 Plan"), subject to stockholder approval (which
has been obtained) at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held November 7, 1994.
The Company's prior stock option plans remain in effect as well. Under the 1994
Plan, a total of 6,300,000 Shares are reserved for issuance to employees,
including directors and officers who may not be salaried employees ("Eligible
Participants"). The 1994 Plan provides that the number of Shares subject thereto
and outstanding options and their exercise prices, are to be appropriately
adjusted for mergers, consolidations, recapitalizations, stock dividends, stock
splits or combination of shares. Shares allocated to options and stock
appreciation rights which have terminated for reasons other than the exercise
thereof may be reallocated to other options and/or stock appreciation rights.
Ratification and approval of the 1994 Plan with stockholders also constituted
ratification and approval of the options to be granted thereunder to the
Company's executive officers and directors as described below.
Both incentive stock options and nonstatutory stock options may be granted
under the 1994 Plan to Eligible Participants, at a price to be determined by the
option committee, provided, however, that incentive stock options must be
granted at an exercise price not less than the fair market value of the Shares
on the date of the grant. Such exercise price may be payable in cash or, with
the approval of the committee which administers the 1994 Plan, by a combination
of cash or Shares. Shares received upon exercise of options granted under the
1994 Plan will be subject to certain restrictions on sale or transfer. The term
of any option may not exceed ten years from the date of grant. Conditions for
the exercise of options, which must be consistent with the terms of the 1994
Plan, are fixed by a committee appointed by the Board of Directors, consisting
of not less than two nor more than five persons.
-22-
<PAGE>
Optionees under the 1994 Plan with incentive stock options may exercise up
to 20 percent of such options granted for each year of service to the Company
after the date of grant of the option, but the committee may accelerate the
schedule of the time or times when an option may be exercised, provided that the
fair market value of the securities subject to an incentive stock option may not
exceed $100,000 at the first time such options become exercisable.
If the optionee shall die, the 1994 Plan provides that the option may be
exercised, to the extent that the holder shall have been entitled to do so at
the date of death, by the optionee's executors or administrators, or by any
person who acquired the right to exercise such option by bequest or inheritance
or by reason of the death of the optionee, at any time, or from time to time,
within one year after the date of the optionee's death, but not later than the
expiration of the option. If an optionee's employment by the Company terminates,
whether as a result of termination by the Company or by the employee, normal
retirement, early retirement, or disability retirement, the 1994 Plan provides
that the option holder may exercise such option, to the extent that he may be
entitled to do so at the date of the option holder's termination, at any time,
or from time to time, within ninety days of the date of termination of the
option holder's employment, but not later than the expiration of the option.
The 1994 Plan also provides for stock appreciation rights, pursuant to
which the optionee may surrender to the Company all or any part of an
unexercised option and receive from the Company in exchange therefor Shares
having an aggregate market value equal to the dollar amount obtained by
multiplying (x) the number of Shares subject to the surrendered options by (y)
the amount by which the market value per Share at the time of such surrender
exceeds the exercise price per Share of the related option. The Company's
obligation arising from an exercise of stock appreciation rights may also be
settled by the payment of cash, or a combination of cash and Shares. The Board
of Directors may at any time terminate or from time to time amend or alter the
1994 Plan, subject to certain restrictions.
Each of Messrs. Marinello, Liang and Ryan has received grants under the
1994 Stock Option Plan to acquire one million Shares of the Company at a price
per Share equal to $.125, the fair market price of the Shares on both June 23,
1994, the date on which the options were granted as well as November 7, 1994 the
date on which the 1994 Stock Option Plan was ratified and approved by
stockholders at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and such grants were
reconfirmed and reissued. Such options are exercisable to the extent of 500,000
shares immediately, an additional 250,000 of the first anniversary of the date
of grant and the balance of 250,000 shares exercisable from and after the second
anniversary of the date of grant, with such options expiring ten years from the
date of grant unless sooner terminated in accordance with its respective
provisions.
-23-
<PAGE>
With respect to each named executive officer, the following table sets
forth information concerning all unexercised options (whether or not issued
under one of the Company's Plans) held at October 31, 1996:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
and FY-End Option Values
Value of Unexercised in-
Number of Unexercised the-Money Options at FY-
Shares Acquired Value Options at FY-End (#) End ($) Exercisable/
Name on Exercise (#) Realized ($) Exercisable/Unexercisable Unexercisable
- ---- --------------- ------------ ------------------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Daniel Marinello ----- ------ 1,200,000/250,000 $ 530,750/$ 109,375
Louis Liang ----- ------ 850,000/250,000 $ 371,875/$ 109,375
William J. Ryan ----- ------ 850,000/250,000 $ 371,875/$ 109,375
Douglas B. Kruger ----- ------ 175,000/0 $ 76,563/$ --
</TABLE>
Item 11. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table and notes thereto sets forth information regarding the
beneficial ownership of the Company's shares of Common Stock as of October 31,
1996 by (i) each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more
than 5% of such voting security, (ii) each director, (iii) each of the named
executive officers of the Company, and (iv) all executive officers and directors
of the Company as a group. The percentages have been calculated by taking into
account all shares of Common Stock owned on such date as well as all such shares
with respect to which such person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership
at such date or within 60 days thereafter. Unless otherwise indicated, all
persons listed below have sole voting and sole investment power over the shares
of Common Stock owned.
Name and Address Amount and Nature of Percent of
of Beneficial Owner(1) Beneficial Ownership(2) Class (2)
- ------------------- -------------------- ---------
Kenneth J. Koock(3) 3,523,096(2) 13.8%
2 Robin Hill Road
North Caldwell, New Jersey 07006
Daniel A. Marinello 1,865,000(4) 7.3%
Louis Liang 1,004,000(5) 3.9%
William J. Ryan 950,000(6) 3.7%
Douglas Kruger 675,000(7) 2.6%
All officers and directors as a
group (four persons) 4,494,000 17.6%
- ---------------
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, address is c/o the Company.
(2) Based on a total of 22,468,938 shares of Common Stock issued and
outstanding as of October 31, 1996 and 3,075,000 shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of presently exercisable stock options (both
qualified under the Plans and non-qualified options issued apart from such
Plans) by persons described in the foregoing table.
(3) All shares are owned directly, except for 125,000 shares held as custodian
for Mr. Koock's grown children which are included in this total; he
disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares as well as of any shares
which may be owned by other officers and/or stockholders of M.H. Meyerson
& Co., Inc.
(4) Includes presently exercisable options to acquire 1,200,000 shares.
(5) Includes presently exercisable options to acquire 850,000 shares; also
includes 4,000 shares held in custodial trust for a child, beneficial
ownership of which is disclaimed.
(6) Includes presently exercisable options to acquire 850,000 shares.
(7) Includes presently exercisable options to acquire 175,000 shares.
-24-
<PAGE>
Item 12. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Commencing as of November 1, 1994 and following ratification and approval
of the proposed Employment Agreement by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting
on November 7, 1994, Messrs. Marinello, Ryan and Liang are, and have been,
employed under the terms and conditions contained in Employment Agreement
described hereinabove. (See "Executive Compensation"). In addition, incident
thereto, the stockholders ratified and approved the Company's 1994 Stock Option
Plan pursuant to which such three individuals each received options to acquire
one million shares of Common Stock at a price of $.125 per share. As of the date
hereof, Messrs. Marinello, Liang and Ryan have been jointly engaged in a plan of
activity designed to establish and expand the patent and other intellectual
property coverage afforded the Company's products and developments. One prior
patent which had lapsed because of technical requirements was successfully
recovered and five new patents have been granted and four other applications are
in process. While the applications are filed in the names of the individuals,
they have agreed to assign a two-thirds interest therein when any patents issue.
The Company has been paying filing fees and fees of patent counsel in connection
with this endeavor. The Company has exclusive rights to use such patents during
the term of the Employment Agreement for an aggregate royalty fee of 5% of the
gross profits of products sold utilizing such patents or other such intellectual
property; following termination of such Employment Agreement, the Company may
retain exclusive use of the patents and other intellectual property, by payment
of a royalty equal to 10% of the gross revenues of products sold utilizing the
same.
On November 7, 1994, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted a form
of Indemnity Agreement to be entered into with all executive officers and
directors of the Company, providing for indemnification to be made to them for
expenses and liabilities relating to their services for the Company, to the
fullest extent permitted under Delaware law.
-25-
<PAGE>
PART IV
Item 13. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-KSB.
(a) Documents filed as part of this report:
1. Financial Statements: Page
Report of Independent Auditors...........................F-1
Balance Sheet as of October 31, 1996 ....................F-2
Statements of Operations for the
Years ended October 31, 1996 and 1995...................F-4
Statements of Capital for the
Years ended October 31, 1996 and 1995...................F-5
Statements of Cash Flows for the
Years ended October 31, 1996 and 1995...................F-6
Notes to Financial Statements............................F-7
2. Exhibits Filed Herewith
10(a) Consent of Independent Auditors
3. Exhibits and Index:
The following were filed as an exhibit to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 33-86754) and are
incorporated by reference herein:
10.7 1994 Stock Option Plan.
10.8 Form of Employment Agreement between the Company and
executive team of Messrs Marinello, Liang and Ryan.
10.9 Form of Indemnity Agreement between the Company and its
executive officers and directors.
-26-
<PAGE>
The following were filed as an exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement
on Form SB-2 (File No. 33-69190) and are incorporated by reference herein:
3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
3.2 Form of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation.
3.3 By-Laws of the Company.
4.1 Form of Warrant Agreement between the Company and
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
including forms of Class A and Class B Warrants.
10.5 Form of Underwriter's Unit Purchase Option between the
Company and the Underwriter (M.H. Meyerson & Co., Inc.).
The following were filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (File No. 2-85945) and are incorporated by reference herein:
3(a) Certificate of Incorporation
3(b) By-laws
10(c) Incentive Stock Option Plan (1983)
10(d) Form of Option under Incentive Stock Option Plan
The following were filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-KSB for its year ended October 31, 1991 and are incorporated by reference
herein:
3 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
10.1 1983 Stock Option Plan
10.2 1985 Stock Option Plan
The following was filed as an exhibit to the Company's annual report on Form
10-KSB for its year ending October 31, 1994 and is incorporated by reference
herein:
2. Stock Option Grants dated November 7, 1994 between the
Company each of Messrs. Marinello, Liang and Ryan.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K:
There were no reports on Form 8-K filed during the quarter ended
October 31, 1996.
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<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
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.
Date: January 28, 1997 ANGSTROM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ Daniel A. Marinello
---------------------------
Daniel A. Marinello,
Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial 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 dates indicated:
SIGNATURES TITLE DATE
/s/ Daniel A. Marinello Chief Executive Officer, January 28, 1997
- ------------------------ Chief Financial Officer and a
Daniel A. Marinello Director (Principal Executive
Officer, Principal Financial
Officer and Principal Accounting
Officer)
/s/ Louis Liang Executive Vice President - January 28, 1997
- ------------------------ Strategic Business and a Director
Louis Liang
/s/ William J. Ryan Executive Vice President - January 28, 1997
- ------------------------ Operations and a Director
William J. Ryan
/s/ Douglas B. Kruger Secretary and a Director January 28, 1997
- ------------------------
Douglas B. Kruger
-28-
<PAGE>
Report of Independent Auditors
The Board of Directors
Angstrom Technologies, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Angstrom Technologies, Inc. as
of October 31, 1996, and the related statements of operations, capital and cash
flows for each of the two years in the period ended October 31, 1996. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.
We conducted our audits 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 audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Angstrom Technologies, Inc. at
October 31, 1996, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each
of the two years in the period ended October 31, 1996, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Cincinnati, Ohio
January 6, 1997
F-1
<PAGE>
Angstrom Technologies, Inc.
Balance Sheet
October 31, 1996
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 24,175
Short-term investments 816,517
Accounts receivable 110,940
Interest receivable 6,093
Inventories:
Finished goods 30,168
Work in process 12,906
Raw materials and parts 522,931
------------------
566,005
Prepaid expenses 1,181
------------------
Total current assets 1,524,911
Furniture and equipment, at cost 141,789
Less accumulated depreciation 46,609
------------------
Net furniture and equipment 95,180
Patents, less accumulated amortization of $4,518 97,877
------------------
Total assets $1,717,968
==================
F-2
<PAGE>
Liabilities and capital
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 190,938
Accrued liabilities 55,520
Long-term debt due within one year 26,068
-----------
Total current liabilities 272,526
Long-term debt 68,386
Capital:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 5,000,000 shares
authorized, 1,482,535 issued and outstanding
(liquidation preference of $2.00 per share) 2,439,483
Common stock, $.01 par value; 45,000,000 shares
authorized, 22,468,938 shares issued and outstanding 224,690
Additional paid in capital 4,726,086
Accumulated deficit (6,013,203)
-----------
Net capital 1,377,056
-----------
$ 1,717,968
===========
See accompanying notes.
F-3
<PAGE>
Angstrom Technologies, Inc.
Statements of Operations
Year ended October 31
1996 1995
---- ----
Net sales $ 869,829 $ 1,050,281
Cost of sales 441,886 357,611
------- -------
Gross profit 427,943 692,670
Selling, general and administrative expenses 945,906 973,852
Interest expense 12,876 15,469
Interest income (63,632) (79,440)
-------- --------
895,150 909,881
------- -------
Net loss (467,207) (217,211)
Less dividend requirement on preferred stock (237,206) (266,152)
-------- --------
Net loss applicable to common stock $ (704,413) $ (483,363)
=========== ===========
Net loss per common share $ (0.03) $ (0.02)
=========== ===========
See accompanying notes.
F-4
<PAGE>
Angstrom Technologies, Inc.
Statements of Capital
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Preferred Stock Common Stock Additional Net
----------------------- ------------------------ Paid in Accumulated Capital
Shares Amount Shares Par value Capital Deficit (Deficiency)
------ ------ ------ --------- ------- ------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at October 31, 1994 1,711,500 $ 2,816,240 21,553,078 $ 215,531 $ 4,358,488 $(5,328,785) $ 2,061,474
Conversion of preferred stock (48,050) (79,065) 192,200 1,922 77,143 ---
Net loss (217,211) (217,211)
--------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Balance at October 31, 1995 1,663,450 2,737,175 21,745,278 217,453 4,435,631 (5,545,996) 1,844,263
Conversion of preferred stock (180,915) (297,692) 723,660 7,237 290,455 ---
Net loss (467,207) (467,207)
--------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Balance at October 31, 1996 1,482,535 $ 2,439,483 22,468,938 $ 224,690 $ 4,726,086 $(6,013,203) $ 1,377,056
========= =========== ========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
F-5
<PAGE>
Angstrom Technologies, Inc.
Statements of Cash Flows
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended October 31
1996 1995
---- ----
<S> <C> <C>
Operating activities
Net loss $(467,207) $ (217,211)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used by
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 19,624 13,994
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable 9,682 (58,825)
Interest receivable 5,396 (7,088)
Inventories (274,589) (56,573)
Prepaid expenses 110,780 (66,230)
Accounts payable 85,606 (11,958)
Accrued liabilities 8,297 1,348
----- -----
Net cash used by operating activities (502,411) (402,543)
Investing activities
Purchases of furniture and equipment (73,113) (1,304)
Proceeds from sale of investments 533,208 824,205
Capitalization of patents (40,920) (61,475)
Other assets 1,237 -
----- -------
Net cash provided by investing activities 420,412 761,426
Financing activities
Payment of preferred stock dividend - (256,725)
Principal repayments of long-term debt (23,134) (20,530)
------- -------
Net cash used by financing activities (23,134) (277,255)
------- --------
Net (decrease) increase in cash (105,133) 81,628
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 129,308 47,680
------- ------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 24,175 $ 129,308
======== =========
Supplemental cash flow disclosures
Cash paid for interest $ 12,876 $ 15,470
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock 297,692 79,065
See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>
F-6
<PAGE>
Angstrom Technologies, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
October 31, 1996 and 1995
1. Significant Accounting Policies
Business
Angstrom Technologies, Inc. (the Company), is a developer and manufacturer of
electro-optical scanning devices and related ultraviolet chemical compounds. The
Company sells primarily to Fortune 500 companies in a variety of industries, and
generally does not require collateral for credit sales. During the year ended
October 31, 1995, sales to one customer exceeded 10% of net sales and amounted
to 50%. Credit losses are provided for in the financial statements when
necessary and have been consistently within management's expectations.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined on the
first-in, first-out basis.
Furniture and Equipment
Furniture and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation is provided using the
straight-line method over the useful life of the assets.
Patents
The Company has been awarded four patents from the U.S. Patent office. The legal
fees associated with the application and approval of these patent applications
for U.S. and foreign patents have been capitalized. These patent costs are being
amortized over the life of the patent.
Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company considers all highly
liquid debt instruments with a maturity of three months or less at date of
purchase to be cash equivalents.
Net Loss Per Common Share
Calculations of net loss per common share are based on the weighted average
number of shares outstanding during each year.
F-7
<PAGE>
Angstrom Technologies, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
1. Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
In October 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No.
123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." The Statement established
financial accounting and reporting standards for stock-based employee
compensation plans. Companies may elect to account for such plans under the fair
value method or continue the previous accounting and disclose pro forma net
income and earnings per share as if the fair value method was applied. The
statement is to be applied on a prospective basis beginning in the Company's
fiscal year 1997.
The Company has not yet determined the potential financial statement impact of
the Standard.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements using generally accepted accounting
principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
amounts recorded in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
2. Results of Operations and Management's Plans
The Company has employment agreements with its key executives (the Team) which
provides that the team receive an aggregate of 15% of gross sales plus 10% of
the first $1,000,000 of pre-tax profits in each year (so long as pre-tax profits
for such year equal or exceed $1,000,000), with a reduced percentage of pre-tax
profits in excess of this figure.
During the fiscal year ended October 31, 1994, the shareholders of the Company
approved an amendment to the Company's certificate of incorporation increasing
the authorized number of shares of common stock to 45,000,000 from 25,000,000,
increasing the authorized number of shares of preferred stock to 5,000,000 from
2,000,000 and reducing the par value of the preferred stock previously
authorized to $.01 per share from $10.00 per share.
F-8
<PAGE>
Angstrom Technologies, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
2. Results of Operations and Management's Plans (continued)
On December 22, 1993, the Company completed the issuance of 1,725,000 units of
its securities through a public offering, resulting in net proceeds of
approximately $2,838,000 after offering expenses. Each unit consists of one
share of the Company's 8% redeemable convertible preferred stock and one Class A
redeemable common stock purchase warrant. Each share of preferred stock is
convertible into four shares of the Company's common stock and each Class A
warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Company's common stock
for $1.00 and to receive one Class B redeemable common stock purchase warrant
which entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Company's common stock
for $1.50. The preferred stock has a cumulative dividend rate of $0.16 per share
per annum and carries a liquidation preference of $2.00 per share plus any
dividends in arrears.
In 1996 and 1995, Management has determined that available funds are more
prudently utilized in its ongoing research and development efforts and as a
result no accrual or payment of dividends will be made until such time as
sufficient cash flows are generated from operations. Management intends to hold
the dividend payable as of November 30, 1996 ($503,358) and 1995 ($266,152), in
arrears. No dividend has been accrued for the year ended October 31, 1996 and
1995. The amount that would have been recorded at October 31, 1996 and 1995, if
a dividend had been declared, would have been $237,206 and $266,152,
respectively. The preferred stock is subject to redemption at the company's
option at $2.00 per share on 30-60 days written notice at any time after one
year from the effective date (December 22, 1993), provided that the closing high
bid price for common stock shares is at least $1.00 per share for 10 consecutive
trading days. The net proceeds of the offering were used primarily to repay
outstanding notes payable and fund operating and capital needs. Specific plans
primarily include scanning system product development, additional purchases of
inventory and additional rental space and upgraded sales and marketing efforts.
As a result of these various actions, the Company believes that it will be able
to continue its operations through its 1997 fiscal year.
F-9
<PAGE>
Angstrom Technologies, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
3. Investments
Investments at October 31, 1996 are comprised of U.S. Treasury bills, $367,243,
classified by management as available for sale, and U.S. Treasury bonds,
$449,274, classified as held to maturity. These investments mature within one
year and are carried at amortized cost which approximates market value at
October 31, 1996.
Interest income of $63,632 and $79,440 includes approximately $12,000 and $736
from the amortization of discounts on investments in 1996 and 1995,
respectively.
4. Long-term Debt
Long-term debt at October 31, 1996 consists of the following:
Non-interest bearing promissory note, payable in
monthly installments of $3,000 through
January 1, 2000, less discount of $32,412
imputed at an annual rate of 12% $ 94,454
Less current maturities 26,068
-----------------
$ 68,386
=================
The non-interest bearing promissory note was originally an interest bearing
demand note with a principal balance of $297,940. The terms of the note have
been renegotiated to provide for repayment of the principal balance only over a
period of 97 months. The note is carried at the present value of its scheduled
payments discounted at an annual rate of 12%.
The following payments of principal are required subsequent to October 31, 1996:
1997 $ 26,068
1998 29,375
1999 33,100
Thereafter 5,911
-----------------
94,454
=================
F-10
<PAGE>
Angstrom Technologies, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
5. Stock Option Plans
Under the Company's Amended 1983 Stock Option Plan and 1985 Stock Option Plan
(the Plans), officers and other key employees who perform services on behalf of
the Company may be granted either non-qualified stock options or incentive stock
options for the purchase of up to 700,000 shares of the Company's common stock.
The Plans also provide for the issuance of stock appreciation rights in
connection with the granting of stock options. Option prices may not be less
than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant and
unexercised options expire not more than 10 years from date of grant. The Plans
are administered by a Stock Option Committee (the Committee) of the Board of
Directors. Subject to the guidelines of the Plans, the Committee determines who
options will be granted to, the type of options to be granted, the number of
shares, the option price per share, and the time when the options may be
exercised.
On June 23, 1994, the Board of Directors unanimously adopted the Company's 1994
Stock Option Plan (the "1994 Plan"), subject to stockholder approval (which has
been obtained) at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held November 7, 1994. The
Company's prior stock option plans remain in effect as well. Under the 1994
Plan, a total of 6,300,000 shares are reserved for issuance to employees,
including directors and officers who may not be salaried employees ("Eligible
Participants"). The 1994 Plan provides that the number of shares subject thereto
and outstanding options and their exercise prices, are to be appropriately
adjusted for mergers, consolidations, recapitalizations, stock dividends, stock
splits or combination of shares. Shares allocated to options and stock
appreciation rights which have terminated for reasons other than the exercise
thereof may be reallocated to other options and/or stock appreciation rights.
Ratification and approval of the 1994 Plan with stockholders also constituted
ratification and approval of the options to be granted thereunder to the
Company's executive officers and directors.
Each member of the Team has received grants under the 1994 Stock Option Plan to
acquire one million shares of the common stock of the Company at a price per
share equal to $.125, the fair market price of the shares on both June 23, 1994,
the date on which the options were granted as well as November 7, 1994 the date
on which the 1994 Stock Option Plan was ratified and approved by stockholders at
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and such grants were reconfirmed and
reissued. Such options are exercisable to the extent of 500,000 shares
immediately, an additional 250,000 on the first anniversary of the date of grant
and the balance of 250,000 shares exercisable from and after the second
anniversary of the date of grant, with such options expiring ten years from the
date of grant unless sooner terminated in accordance with its provisions.
F-11
<PAGE>
Angstrom Technologies, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
5. Stock Option Plans (continued)
Options expire in 2001, 2002, 2004 or 2005 based upon the date of grant.
Changes in options outstanding under the Plans are as follows:
Stock Option
Shares Price Range
------ -----------
Balance at October 31, 1994 3,390,000 $0.01 and $.125
Granted 100,000 $.125
----------
Balance at October 31, 1995 3,490,000 $0.01 and $.125
Granted 75,000 $.406
----------
Balance at October 31, 1996 3,565,000 $0.01 and $.125
==========
At October 31, 1996, 7,000,000 shares of common stock are reserved for issuance
under the Plans.
At a special meeting of the Company's shareholders on January 20, 1992, options
were granted outside of the Company's stock option plans to the Company's former
president to purchase 1,000,000 shares of common stock. These options were
repurchased by the company during 1996 for $3,000. In addition, options were
granted to the chief executive officer to purchase 400,000 shares of common
stock. The option price of each grant is $0.125 per share and the options expire
on April 14, 1997.
At a special meeting of the Board of Directors on September 14, 1993, options
were granted outside of the Company's stock option plans to the Team to purchase
a total of 300,000 shares of common stock at an option price of $0.125 per share
for a period expiring September 14, 1997.
F-12
<PAGE>
Angstrom Technologies, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
6. Related Party Transactions
During the fiscal year ended October 31, 1996 the Company paid approximately
$133,000 ($158,000 in 1995) in commissions to the Team in accordance with the
Agreement described in Note 2 to the financial statements. The Company paid
consulting fees of approximately $207,000 ($169,000 in 1995) to various members
of the Board of Directors and/or corporate officers or to entities controlled by
them for Board of Directors fees, technical, research and development and sales
and marketing services rendered during the year.
The Company is required to assign to the Team a 1/3rd interest in any patents or
other intellectual property created by the Team which is used in the Company's
business. The Company is required to pay the Team a royalty computed at 5% of
the gross profit (difference between selling price and direct manufacturing
cost, exclusive of overhead) from use of such intellectual property. In the
event of termination of the Agreement by the Company, the Company shall have the
right to continue to retain exclusive use of the patents and other intellectual
properties by paying the Team an amount equal to 10% of gross revenues from
products sold which utilize such intellectual property; otherwise, the Company
may retain a non-exclusive license to use such intellectual property for a fee
of 5% of gross revenues from products sold utilizing such patents. During the
year ended October 31, 1996 the Company paid royalties of approximately $3,701
to the Team ($4,320 in 1995).
7. Leases
Minimum future rental payments under commitments for noncancelable operating
leases in effect at October 31, 1996, principally for facilities is
approximately $32,000 in 1996.
Total rent expense under operating leases was $14,623 and $14,109 for the years
ended October 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
F-13
<PAGE>
Angstrom Technologies, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
8. Federal Income Taxes
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 "Accounting for Income
Taxes" requires the use of the liability method to recognize deferred income tax
assets and liabilities, using expected future tax rates. The tax effects of
temporary differences at October 31, 1996 is presented below:
October 31,
1996
------------------
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss $ 1,498,000
Other, net 5,800
------------------
Total deferred tax assets 1,503,800
Less: valuation allowance 1,503,800
------------------
Net deferred tax asset $ -
==================
The Company has cumulative net operating loss carryforwards of approximately
$3,800,000 for federal income tax purposes which expire in the years 2000 to
2011. As a result of a capital stock transaction in May 1989, a change in
ownership, as defined by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, occurred. The
effect of the change in ownership is to substantially limit the future
utilization of the net operating loss carryforward existing at that date.
9. Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs charged to expense during the fiscal years ended
October 31, 1996 and 1995 were approximately $349,590 and $527,000,
respectively.
F-14
Consent of Independent Auditors
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Post Effective Amendment No. 1
to the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-1432) pertaining to the 1983 and
1985 Stock Option Plans of Angstrom Technologies, Inc. of our report dated
January 6, 1997, with respect to the financial statements of Angstrom
Technologies, Inc. included in the Annual Report (Form 10-KSB) for the year
ended October 31, 1996.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Cincinnati, Ohio
January 27, 1997
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1996
<CASH> 24,175
<SECURITIES> 816,517
<RECEIVABLES> 110,940
<ALLOWANCES> 0
<INVENTORY> 566,005
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,524,911
<PP&E> 141,789
<DEPRECIATION> 46,609
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,717,968
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 272,526
<BONDS> 0
0
2,439,483
<COMMON> 224,690
<OTHER-SE> 4,726,086
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,717,968
<SALES> 869,829
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 869,829
<CGS> 441,886
<TOTAL-COSTS> 441,886
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 945,906
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 12,876
<INCOME-PRETAX> (467,207)
<INCOME-TAX> 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (467,207)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (467,207)
<EPS-PRIMARY> (0.03)
<EPS-DILUTED> (0.03)
</TABLE>
