UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020

 

or

 

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________

 

Commission File Number: 001-38029

 

 

AKOUSTIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   33-1229046
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
     
9805 Northcross Center Court, Suite A    
Huntersville, NC   28078
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Postal Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  1-704 - 997-5735

 

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Act:

  

Title of Each Class:   Trading Symbol   Name of each exchange
on which registered:
Common Stock, $0.001 par value   AKTS  

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

(Nasdaq Capital Market)

 

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒   No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer   Smaller reporting company
      Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

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

 

As of April 24, 2020, there were 36,389,000 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share, issued and outstanding. 

 

 

 

 

 

AKOUSTIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2020

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page No.
     
  PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION    
       
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   1
       
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2019 (unaudited)   1
     
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (unaudited)   2
     
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (unaudited)   3
     
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (unaudited)   5
     
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)   6
       
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS   20
       
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK   26
       
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES   26
       
  PART II — OTHER INFORMATION    
       
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS   27
       
ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS   27
       
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS   28
       
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES   29
       
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES   29
       
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION   29
       
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS   29
     
EXHIBIT INDEX   29
       
SIGNATURES   30

 

i

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

Akoustis Technologies, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data) 

(Unaudited)

 

    March 31,     June 30,  
    2020     2019  
             
Assets            
             
Assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 39,577     $ 30,054  
Accounts receivable     692       285  
Inventory     76       94  
Other current assets     812       1,289  
Total current assets     41,157       31,722  
                 
Property and equipment, net     19,942       15,178  
                 
Intangibles, net     494       388  
                 
Assets held for sale, net     21       300  
                 
Operating lease right-of-use asset, net     751        
Restricted cash     100       100  
Other assets     449       261  
Total Assets   $ 62,914     $ 47,949  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                
                 
Current Liabilities:                
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   $ 3,393     $ 3,211  
Deferred revenue           5  
Contingent real estate liability           446  
Operating lease liability-current     223        
Total current liabilities     3,616       3,662  
                 
Long-term Liabilities:                
Convertible notes payable, net     20,152       18,215  
Operating lease liability - non current     534        
Other long-term liabilities     117       117  
Total long-term liabilities     20,803       18,332  
                 
Total Liabilities     24,419       21,994  
                 
Stockholders’ Equity                
Preferred Stock, par value $0.001: 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding            
  Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 36,351,976 and 30,140,955 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2019, respectively     36       30  
Additional paid in capital     131,997       93,399  
Accumulated deficit     (93,538 )     (67,474 )
Total Stockholders’ Equity     38,495       25,955  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity   $ 62,914     $ 47,949  

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements

 

1

 

 

Akoustis Technologies, Inc.

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

   For the Three
Months Ended
March 31,
2020
   For the Three
Months Ended
March 31,
2019
   For the Nine
Months Ended
March 31,
2020
   For the Nine
Months Ended
March 31,
2019
 
Revenue                
Revenue with customers  $363   $237   $1,424   $764 
Grant revenue               109 
Total revenue   363    237    1,424    873 
                     
Cost of revenue   217    299    1,340    813 
                     
Gross profit (loss)   146    (62)   84    60 
                     
Operating expenses                    
Research and development   5,769    5,505    15,736    14,340 
General and administrative expenses   2,589    2,503    8,158    6,841 
Total operating expenses   8,358    8,008    23,894    21,181 
                     
Loss from operations   (8,212)   (8,070)   (23,810)   (21,121)
                     
Other (expense) income                    
Interest (expense) income   (1,162)   (781)   (3,259)   (2,006)
Rental income   54    70    164    207 
Change in fair value of contingent real estate liability   480    905    446    805 
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities   1,066    (1,558)   396    (1,372)
Total other (expense) income   438    (1,364)   (2,253)   (2,366)
Net loss  $(7,774)  $(9,434)  $(26,063)  $(23,487)
                     
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted  $(0.21)  $(0.31)  $(0.80)  $(0.88)
                     
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted   36,263,779    29,959,908    32,659,339    26,659,999 

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements

 

2

 

 

Akoustis Technologies, Inc.

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   For the Nine Months Ended March 31, 2020 
   Common Stock   Additional
Paid In
   Accumulated   Stockholders’ 
   Shares   Par Value   Capital   Deficit   Equity 
                     
Balance, June 30, 2019   30,141   $30   $93,399   $(67,475)  $25,954 
                          
Common stock issued for services   283        1,703        1,703 
Common stock issued for exercise of warrants   6                 
Vesting of restricted shares           303        303 
Common stock issued in payment of note interest   38        244        244 
Net loss               (8,975)   (8,975)
Balance, September 30, 2019   30,468   $30   $95,649   $(76,450)  $19,229 
                          
Common stock issued for cash, net of issuance costs   5,520    6    32,164        32,170 
Common stock issued for services   178        1,602        1,602 
Common stock issued for exercise of warrants   68                 
Common stock issued for exercise of options   10        55        55 
Common stock issued for equipment purchase   5        40        40 
ESPP purchase   28        168        168 
Common stock issued in payment of note interest   34        244        244 
Repurchase and retirement of common shares   (99)                
Net loss               (9,314)   (9,314)
Balance, December 31, 2019   36,212   $36   $129,922   $(85,764)  $44,194 
                          
Common stock issued for cash, net of issuance costs           19        19 
Common stock issued for services   105        1,803        1,803 
Common stock issued for exercise of options   2        9        9 
Common stock issued in payment of note interest   34        244        244 
Repurchase and retirement of common shares   (1)                
Net loss               (7,774)   (7,774)
Balance, March 31, 2020  36,352   $36   $131,997   $(93,538)  $38,495 

 

3

 

 

Akoustis Technologies, Inc.

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity - Continued

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   For the Nine Months Ended March 31, 2019 
   Common Stock   Additional
Paid In
   Accumulated   Stockholders’ 
   Shares   Par Value   Capital   Deficit   Equity 
                     
Balance, June 30, 2018   22,203   $22   $52,074   $(38,246)  $13,850 
Cumulative-effect adjustment from adoption of ASC 60               20    20 
Common stock issued for cash, net of issuance costs           (81)       (81)
Common stock issued for services   112        1,947        1,947 
Common stock issued for exercise of warrants   19        71        71 
Vesting of restricted shares           351        351 
Common stock issued in payment of note interest   40        290        290 
Net loss               (7,308)   (7,308)
Balance, September 30, 2018   22,374   $22   $54,652   $(45,534)  $9,140 
                          
Common stock issued for cash, net of issuance costs   7,362    8    28,733        28,741 
Common stock issued for services   121        1,044        1,044 
Intrinsic value of beneficial conversion feature           3,951        3,951 
Vesting of restricted shares           177        177 
Common stock issued in payment of note interest   53        244        244 
Net loss               (6,745)   (6,745)
Balance, December 31, 2018   29,910   $30   $88,801   $(52,279)  $36,552 
                          
Common stock issued for cash, net of issuance costs   1                 
Common stock issued for services   46        2,125        2,125 
Common stock issued for exercise of warrants   16                 
Common stock issued for exercise of options   19        133        133 
Vesting of restricted shares           80        80 
Repurchase of common shares   (21)                
Common stock issued in payment of note interest   37        244        244 
Net loss               (9,434)   (9,434)
Balance, March 31, 2019   30,008   $30   $91,383   $(61,713)  $29,700 
                          

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4

 

 

Akoustis Technologies, Inc.

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

   Nine Months ended
March 31,
2020
   Nine Months ended
March 31,
2019
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:        
Net loss  $(26,063)  $(23,487)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   2,194    1,815 
Common stock issued for services   5,108    5,522 
Amortization of debt discount   2,333    1,347 
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities   (396)   1,372 
Amortization of operating lease right of use asset   91     
Loss on disposal of fixed assets       (38)
Non cash interest payment   731    777 
Change in fair value of contingent real estate liability   (446)   (805)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   (407)   55 
Inventory   18    (92)
Other current assets   477    (60)
Other assets   (188)   (188)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   195    410 
Lease liabilities   (85)    
Change in other long-term liabilities       19 
Deferred revenue   (5)   (66)
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities   (16,443)   (13,419)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Cash paid for machinery and equipment   (6,340)   (4,436)
Cash received from sale of assets held for sale   28    33 
Cash paid for intangibles   (143)   (92)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities   (6,455)   (4,495)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Proceeds from issuance of common stock   32,189    28,659 
Proceeds from stock option exercises   64    133 
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan   168     
Proceeds from the exercise of warrants       71 
Proceeds received from convertible note, net of issuance costs       8,867 
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities   32,421    37,730 
           
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash   9,523    19,816 
           
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash - Beginning of Period   30,154    14,817 
           
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash - End of Period  $39,677   $34,633 
           
SUPPLEMENTARY CASH FLOW INFORMATION:          
Cash Paid During the Period for:          
Interest   488    256 
           
SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
           
Accrued interest paid in common shares   731    777 
Stock compensation payable   303    203 
ASC 606 transition adjustment       20 
Convertible Notes – Beneficial Conversion Feature       3,951 
Reclass from assets held for sale   (251)    
Assets purchase using common stock   40     
Fixed assets in accounts payable   290     

 

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements

5

 

 

AKOUSTIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1. Organization

 

Akoustis Technologies, Inc. (“the Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada on April 10, 2013. Effective December 15, 2016, the Company changed its state of incorporation from the State of Nevada to the State of Delaware. Through its subsidiary, Akoustis, Inc. (a Delaware corporation), the Company, headquartered in Huntersville, North Carolina, is focused on developing, designing, and manufacturing innovative radio frequency (“RF”) filter products for the wireless industry, including for products such as smartphones and tablets, cellular infrastructure equipment, WiFi Customer Premise Equipment (“CPE”), and military and defense communication applications. Located between the device’s antenna and its digital backend, the RF front-end (“RFFE”) is the circuitry that performs the analog signal processing and contains components such as amplifiers, filters and switches. To construct the resonator devices that are the building blocks for its RF filters, the Company has developed a family of novel, high purity acoustic piezoelectric materials as well as a unique microelectromechanical system (“MEMS”) wafer process, collectively referred to as XBAW™ technology. The Company leverages its integrated device manufacturing (“IDM”) business model to develop and sell high performance RF filters using its XBAWTM technology. Filters are critical in selecting and rejecting signals, and their performance enables differentiation in the modules defining the RFFE.

 

Note 2. Liquidity

  

At March 31, 2020, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $39.6 million and working capital of $37.5 million. The Company has historically incurred recurring operating losses and has experienced net cash used in operating activities of $16.4 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2020 which raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the issuance date.

 

As of April 24, 2020, the Company had $38.4 million of cash and cash equivalents, which the Company expects to be sufficient to fund its operations beyond the next twelve months from the date of filing of this Form 10-Q. These funds will be used to fund the Company’s operations, including capital expenditures, R&D, commercialization of our technology, development of our patent strategy and expansion of our patent portfolio, as well as to provide working capital and funds for other general corporate purposes. The Company has no commitments to obtain any additional funds, and there can be no assurance such funds will be available on acceptable terms or at all. If the Company is unable to obtain additional financing in a timely fashion and on acceptable terms, its financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected and it may not be able to continue operations or execute its stated commercialization plan.

 

Note 3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the filing of this Form 10-Q. Operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending June 30, 2020 or any future interim period. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on September 13, 2019 (the “2019 Annual Report”).

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Akoustis, Inc. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The Company’s significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 3-Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the 2019 Annual Report. Since the date of the 2019 Annual Report, other than adopting ASC 842 “Leases” discussed in the footnote below, there have been no material changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies. The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto. The policies, estimates and assumptions include valuing equity securities and derivative financial instruments issued in financing transactions, deferred taxes and related valuation allowances, revenue recognition, contingent real estate liability and the fair values of long-lived assets. Actual results could differ from the estimates.

 

6

 

 

Shares Outstanding

 

Shares outstanding include shares of restricted stock with respect to which restrictions have not lapsed. Shares of restricted stock are included in the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding. Restricted stock included in reportable shares outstanding were as follows as of March 31, 2020 and 2019.

 

    March 31,
2020
    March 31,
2019
 
Shares of restricted stock included in reportable shares outstanding     116,250       311,328  
                 

 

Reclassification

 

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. The reclassifications did not have an impact on net loss as previously reported.

 

Restricted Cash

 

Restricted cash at March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2019 represents a retained balance obligation included in a deposit account control agreement required by the Company’s 6.5% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2023 issued in May 2018. The restriction on the cash will lapse in conjunction with the extinguishment of the debt.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted

 

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” with multiple amendments subsequently issued. The new guidance requires that lease arrangements be presented on the lessee’s balance sheet by recording a right-of-use asset and a lease liability equal to the present value of the related future minimum lease payments. The Company adopted the standard in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, using the modified retrospective approach which permits lessees to recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated deficit in the period of adoption. Upon adoption, the Company recorded a right-of-use asset of $0.7 million and a lease liability of $0.7 million.

 

The Company elected the transition package of practical expedients, under which the Company does not have to reassess (1) whether any expired or existing contracts are leases, or contain leases, (2) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and (3) initial direct costs for any existing leases. Further, the Company elected the practical expedient not to separate lease and non-lease components for substantially all of its classes of leases and to account for the combined lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. In addition, the Company made an accounting policy election to exclude leases with an initial term of 12 months or less from the balance sheet. This standard did not have a material impact on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations or Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. See Note 12 for further disclosures resulting from the adoption of this new standard.

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. Under the new standard, companies are no longer required to value non-employee awards differently from employee awards. Companies value all equity classified awards on their grant date under ASC718 and forgo revaluing the award after the grant date. ASU 2018-07 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The Company adopted the standard during the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. Approximately $0.3 million of accrued expenses associated with share-based compensation was reclassified to equity.

  

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, “Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting,” which provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a stock-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The Company adopted the standard during the first quarter of fiscal year 2020 and there was no material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

7

 

  

Note 4. Revenue Recognition from Contracts with Customers

 

Disaggregation of Revenue

 

The Company’s primary revenue streams include foundry fabrication services and product sales.

 

Foundry Fabrication Services

 

Foundry fabrication services revenue includes microelectromechanical systems (“MEMS”) foundry services and Non-Recurring Engineering (“NRE”). Under these contracts, products are delivered to the customer at the completion of the service which represents satisfaction of the performance obligation as well as transfer of title. Depending on language with regards to enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date, related revenue will either be recognized over time or at a point in time.

  

Product Sales

 

Product sales revenue consists of sales of RF filters and amps, which are sold with contract terms stating that title passes, and the customer takes control, at the time of shipment. Revenue is then recognized when the devices are shipped, and the performance obligation has been satisfied. If devices are sold under contract terms that specify that the customer does not take ownership until the goods are received, revenue is recognized when the customer receives the goods.

 

The following table summarizes the revenues of the Company’s reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 2020 (in thousands):

  

   

Foundry
Fabrication 

Services
Revenue

    Product Sales
Revenue
    Total
Revenue
with
Customers
 
MEMS   $ 8     $     $ 8  
NRE - RF Filters     224             224  
Filters/Amps           131       131  
Total   $ 232     $ 131     $ 363  

 

The following table summarizes the revenues of the Company’s reportable segments for the nine months ended March 31, 2020 (in thousands):

  

   

Foundry
Fabrication 

Services
Revenue

    Product Sales
Revenue
    Total
Revenue
with
Customers
 
MEMS   $ 265     $     $ 265  
NRE - RF Filters     652             652  
Filters/Amps           507       507  
Total   $ 917     $ 507     $ 1,424  

 

The following table summarizes the revenues of the Company’s reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 2019 (in thousands):

 

   

Foundry
Fabrication 

Services
Revenue

    Product Sales
Revenue
   

Total
Revenue
with

Customers

 
MEMS   $ 30     $     $ 30  
NRE - RF Filters     129             129  
Filters/Amps           78       78  
Total   $ 159     $ 78     $ 237  

 

8

 

 

The following table summarizes the revenues of the Company’s reportable segments for the nine months ended March 31, 2019 (in thousands):

 

   

Foundry
Fabrication 

Services
Revenue

    Product Sales
Revenue
    Total
Revenue
with
Customers
 
MEMS   $ 175     $     $ 175  
NRE - RF Filters     392             392  
Filters/Amps           197       197  
Total   $ 567     $ 197     $ 764  

 

Performance Obligations

 

The Company has determined that contracts for product sales revenue and foundry fabrication services revenue involve one performance obligation, which is delivery of the final product.

  

Contract Balances

 

The Company records a receivable when the title for goods has transferred. Generally, all sales are contract sales (with either an underlying contract or purchase order), resulting in all receivables being contract receivables. When invoicing occurs prior to revenue recognition a contract liability is recorded (as deferred revenue on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet).

 

The following table summarizes the changes in the opening and closing balances of the Company’s contract asset and liability for the nine months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):

 

    Contract Assets     Contract Liabilities  
Balance, June 30, 2019   $ 140     $ 5  
Closing, March 31, 2020     96        
Increase/(Decrease)     (44 )     (5 )
                 
Balance, June 30, 2018   $ 7     $ 53  
Closing, March 31, 2019     57       4  
Increase/(Decrease)     50       (49 )

  

The amount of revenue recognized in the nine months ended March 31, 2020 that was included in the opening contract liability balance was $5 thousand, which related to filter sales. The amount of revenue recognized in the nine months ended March 31, 2019 that was included in the opening contract liability balance consisted of $28 thousand that related to non-recurring engineering sales and $25 thousand that related to MEMS business.

 

Contract assets are recorded when revenue recognized exceeds the amount invoiced. The difference between the opening and closing balances of the Company’s contract assets and contract liabilities primarily results from the timing difference between the Company’s performance and the customer’s payment. The amount of contract assets invoiced in the nine months ended March 31, 2020 that was included in the opening contract asset balance was $140 thousand, which primarily related to MEMS business.

 

Backlog of Remaining Customer Performance Obligations

  

Revenue expected to be recognized and recorded as sales during this fiscal year from the backlog of performance obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) was $0.3 million at March 31, 2020 and was $0.2 million at March 31, 2019.

 

Grant Revenue

  

From time to time the Company applies for grants from various government bodies (state & federal), such as the National Science Foundation (“NSF”) or the Department of Defense (DoD), to support research and development. In addition, the Company is eligible for “matching awards” from state boards to provide additional funds to the Company to supplement the funds awarded under the federal grant program. The Company records grant revenue as a part of revenue from operations given that grant revenue is viewed as an ongoing function of its intended operations. The revenue from grants is not viewed as “incidental” or “peripheral” which would result in the presentation of grant revenue as “Other income”. The Company recognizes non-refundable grant revenue when the performance obligations have been met, application has been submitted and approval is reasonably assured.

 

9

 

 

Note 5. Common Stock Equivalents

  

The Company had the following common stock equivalents at March 31, 2020 and 2019. These are excluded from the loss per share calculation as they are considered anti-dilutive.

 

    March 31,
2020
    March 31,
2019
 
Convertible Notes     4,960,800       4,960,800  
Options     2,265,165       2,177,314  
Warrants     541,999       708,651  
Total     7,767,964       7,846,765  

 

Note 6. Property and Equipment, net

 

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following as of March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2019 (in thousands):

  

    Estimated Useful Life   March 31,
2020
    June 30,
2019
 
Land   n/a   $ 1,000     $ 1,000  
Building   11 years     3,000       3,000  
Equipment   2-10 years     20,381       13,611  
Leasehold Improvements   *     949       949  
Software   3 years     214       161  
Furniture & Fixtures   5 years     11       11  
Computer Equipment   3 years     260       203  
Total         25,815       18,935  
Less: Accumulated depreciation         (5,873 )     (3,757 )
Total       $ 19,942     $ 15,178  

 

(*) Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease or the estimated useful lives, whichever is shorter.

  

The Company recorded depreciation expense of $0.7 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company recorded depreciation expense of $2.2 million and $1.8 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

   

Note 7. Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses consisted of the following at March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2019 (in thousands):

 

    March 31,
2020
    June 30,
2019
 
Accounts payable   $ 607     $ 245  
Accrued salaries and benefits     1,619       1,552  
Accrued professional fees     140       315  
Accrued utilities     117       193  
Accrued interest     135       135  
Accrued goods received not invoiced     127       69  
Other accrued expenses     648       702  
Totals   $ 3,393     $ 3,211  

 

10

 

  

Note 8. Derivative Liabilities

 

The table below provides a summary of the changes in fair value, including net transfers in and/or out, of all financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the nine months ended March 31, 2020 (in thousands):

  

   

Fair Value
Measurement
Using Level 3
Inputs 

Total 

 
Balance, June 30, 2019   $ 955  
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities (included in other (expense) income)     (396 )
Balance, March 31, 2020 (see footnote 9)   $ 559  

 

The fair value of the derivative features of the convertible note at the balance sheet dates were calculated using the with-and-without method, a form of the income approach, valued with the following weighted average assumptions:

  

    March 31,
2020
    June 30,
2019
 
Remaining term (years)     3.16-3.67       3.92  
Expected volatility     60 %     49 %
Risk free interest rate     0.30%-0.32 %     1.73 %
Dividend yield     0.00       0.00 %

 

Risk-free interest rate: The Company uses the risk-free interest rate of a U.S. Treasury Bill with a similar term on the date of the issuance.

  

Dividend yield: The Company uses a 0% expected dividend yield as the Company has not paid dividends to date and does not anticipate declaring dividends in the near future.

  

Volatility: The Company estimated the expected volatility of the stock price based on a blend of the Company’s own historic volatility and the corresponding volatility of the Company’s peer group stock price for a period consistent with the convertible notes’ expected term.

  

Remaining term: The Company’s remaining term is based on the remaining contractual term of the convertible notes.

 

11

 

 

Note 9. Convertible Notes

 

The following table summarizes convertible debt as of March 31, 2020 (in thousands): 

 

    Maturity Date   Stated Interested Rate   Conversion Price     Face Value     Remaining Debt (Discount)     Fair Value of Embedded Conversion Option     Carrying Value  
Long Term convertible notes payable                                      
6.5% convertible senior secured notes   5/31/2023   6.50%   $         5.00     $ 15,000     $       (4,753 )   $           439     $ 10,686  
6.5% convertible senior notes   11/30/2023   6.50%   $ 5.10       10,000       (654 )     120       9,466  
Ending Balance as of March 31, 2020                   $ 25,000     $ (5,407 )   $ 559     $ 20,152  

 

The following table summarizes convertible debt as of June 30, 2019 (in thousands):  

 

    Maturity Date   Stated Interested Rate   Conversion Price     Face Value     Remaining Debt (Discount)     Fair Value of Embedded Conversion Option     Carrying Value  
Long Term convertible notes payable                                      
6.5% convertible senior secured notes   5/31/2023   6.50%   $       5.00     $ 15,000     $         (6,825 )   $           955     $ 9,130  
6.5% convertible senior notes   11/30/2023   6.50%   $ 5.10       10,000       (915 )           9,085  
Ending Balance as of June 30, 2019                   $ 25,000     $ (7,740 )   $ 955     $ 18,215  

 

12

 

 

Note 10. Concentrations

 

Vendors

  

Vendor concentration as a percentage of purchases for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

  

    Three Months
Ended
03/31/2020
    Three Months
Ended
03/31/2019
 
Vendor 1           21 %
                 

 

Vendor concentration as a percentage of purchases for the nine months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

  

    Nine Months
Ended
03/31/2020
    Nine Months
Ended
03/31/2019
 
Vendor 1     13 %      —  
                 

 

Customers

  

Customer concentration as a percentage of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

 

    Three Months
Ended
03/31/2020
    Three Months
Ended
03/31/2019
 
Customer 1     38 %     28 %
Customer 2     33 %      
Customer 3     12 %      
Customer 4     11 %      
Customer 5           21 %
Customer 6           23 %

 

Customer concentration as a percentage of revenue (excluding grant revenue) for the nine months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

 

    Nine Months
Ended
03/31/2020
    Nine Months
Ended
03/31/2019
 
Customer 1     20 %     22 %
Customer 2     11 %      
Customer 3     13 %      
Customer 4     17 %     12 %
Customer 5     22 %      
Customer 6           14 %
Customer 7           11 %

 

13

 

 

Note 11. Stockholders’ Equity

 

Underwritten Public Offering of Common Stock

 

During the nine months ended March 31, 2020, the Company sold a total of 5,520,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $6.25 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $34.5 million before deducting the underwriting discount and offering expenses payable by the Company of approximately $2.3 million. The Company expects to use the proceeds of the offering to fund the Company’s operations and growth of its business, including for capital expenditures, working capital, research and development, the commercialization of its technology and other general corporate purposes.

 

Equity Incentive Plans

  

During the nine months ended March 31, 2020, the Company granted employees and directors options to purchase an aggregate of 222,500 shares of common stock with a weighted average grant date fair value of $4.26. The fair values of the Company’s options were estimated at the dates of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

  

   

Nine Months
Ended

March 31,
2020

Exercise price   $ 4.71 - 8.09
Expected term (years)   4.75 – 5.00
Risk-free interest rate   0.64% – 1.74%
Volatility   65 - 67%
Dividend yield   0%
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value of Options granted during the period   $4.26

 

Expected term: The Company’s expected term is based on the period the options are expected to remain outstanding. The Company estimated this amount utilizing the “Simplified Method” in that the Company does not have sufficient historical experience to provide a reasonable basis to estimate an expected term.

  

Risk-free interest rate: The Company uses the risk-free interest rate of a U.S. Treasury Note with a similar term on the date of the grant.

  

Volatility: The Company calculates the expected volatility of the stock price using the historical volatilities of the Company’s common stock traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

  

Dividend yield: The Company uses a 0% expected dividend yield as the Company has not paid dividends to date and does not anticipate declaring dividends in the near future. 

  

During the nine months ended March 31, 2020 the Company awarded certain employees and contractors grants of an aggregate of 872,061 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) with a weighted average grant date fair value of $7.65. The RSUs will be expensed over the requisite service period. The terms of the RSUs include vesting provisions based solely on continued service. If the service criteria are satisfied, the RSUs will generally vest over 4 – 5 years.

 

Compensation expense related to our stock-based awards described above was as follows (in thousands):

 

    Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
    2020     2019     2020     2019  
Research and Development   $ 929     $ 1,468     $ 2,675     $ 3,027  
General and Administrative     874       787       2,433       2,495  
Total   $ 1,803     $ 2,255     $ 5,108     $ 5,522  

  

Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense and weighted-average years to be recognized are as follows (in thousands):

 

    As of March 31, 2020  
   

Unrecognized stock-  

based
compensation

    Weighted-
average
years
to be recognized
 
Options   $ 2,147       2.06  
Restricted stock awards/units   $ 7,203       2.09  

  

14

 

 

Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies

  

Leases

 

The Company leases office space and office equipment in Huntersville, NC as well as equipment in Canandaigua, NY. On January 7, 2020, the Company entered into an amended lease agreement with the current lessor in order to extend the lease term and increase office space at our Huntersville, NC corporate office. The amended lease expands our space to 22,000 square feet and extends the term to February 2023. This resulted in a remeasurement of the previous right of use liability which resulted in an increase of approximately $0.2 million.

 

Following adoption of ASC 842, lease expense excludes capital area maintenance and property taxes.

 

The components of lease expense were as follows (in thousands):

 

    Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020
    Three Months Ended
March 31
2019
    Nine Months Ended
March 31,
2020
    Nine Months Ended
March 31,
2019
 
Operating Lease Expense   $ 55     $ 51     $ 144     $ 161  
                                 

 

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows (in thousands):

 

    Classification on the
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
  March 31,
2020
 
Assets          
Operating lease assets   Other non-current assets   $ 751  
             
Liabilities            
Other current liabilities   Current liabilities     223  
Operating lease liabilities   Other non-current liabilities     534  

 

Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term:      
Operating leases   2.9 Years  
       
Weighted Average Discount Rate:        
Operating leases     12.47 %

 

The following table outlines the minimum future lease payments for the next five years and thereafter, (in thousands):

 

For the year ending June 30,      
2020   $ 76  
2021     305  
2022     312  
2023     204  
2024     7  
Thereafter      
Total lease payments (Undiscounted cash flows)     904  
         
Less imputed interest     (147 )
Total   $ 757  

 

15

 

 

Ontario County Industrial Development Authority Agreement

 

On February 27, 2018, the Company entered into a Lease and Project Agreement (the “Lease and Project Agreement”) and a Company Lease Agreement (the “Company Lease Agreement” and together with the Lease and Project Agreement, the “Agreements”), each dated as of February 1, 2018, with the Ontario County Industrial Development Agency, a public benefit corporation of the State of New York (the “OCIDA”). Pursuant to the Agreements, the Company leases for $1.00 annually to the OCIDA an approximately 9.995 acre parcel of land in Canandaigua, New York, together with the improvements thereon (including the Company’s New York fabrication facility), and transferred title to certain related equipment and personal property to the OCIDA (collectively, the “Facility”). The OCIDA leases the Facility back to the Company for annual rent payments specified in the Lease and Project Agreement for the Company’s primary use as research and development, manufacturing, warehouse and professional office space in its business, and subleased, in part, by the Company to various tenants. The Company estimates substantial tax savings during the term of the Agreements, which expire on December 31, 2028. In addition, subject to the terms of the Lease and Project Agreement, certain purchases and leases of eligible items will be exempt from the imposition of sales and use taxes. Subject to the terms of the Lease and Project Agreement, the OCIDA has also granted to the Company an exemption from certain mortgage recording taxes for one or more mortgages securing an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $12.0 million, or such greater amount as approved by the OCIDA in its sole and absolute discretion. The benefits provided to the Company pursuant to the terms of the Lease and Project Agreement are subject to clawback over the life of the Agreements upon certain recapture events, including certain events of default.

  

Real Estate Contingent Liability

 

On March 23, 2017, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement and a Real Property Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “STC-MEMS Agreements”) with The Research Foundation for the State University of New York (“RF-SUNY”) and Fuller Road Management Corporation (“FRMC”), an affiliate of RF-SUNY (collectively, “Sellers”), respectively, to acquire certain specified assets, including STC-MEMS, a semiconductor wafer-manufacturing and MEMS operation with associated wafer-manufacturing tools, and the associated real estate and improvements located in Canandaigua, NY used in the operation of STC-MEMS (the assets and real estate and improvements referred to together herein as the “STC-MEMS Business”).

 

In connection with the acquisition of the STC-MEMS Business, the Company agreed to pay to FRMC a penalty, if the Company sold the property subject to the related Definitive Real Property Purchase Agreement within three (3) years after the date of such agreement for an amount in excess of $1.75 million, subject to certain enumerated exceptions. The penalty imposed would have been equivalent to the amount that the sales price of the property exceeded $1.75 million up to a maximum penalty. Due to the lapse of the three-year penalty period, the maximum penalty as of March 31, 2020 was $0.

 

    Maximum
Penalty
 
Year 3, ending March 23, 2020   $      —  

 

The fair value of the contingent liability was reduced to zero due to the lapse of the sale restriction period. As of March 31, 2020, and June 30, 2019, the fair value of the contingent liability was $0.0 million and $0.4 million, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company marked the contingent liability to fair value and recorded a gain of $0.48 million and $0.91 million, respectively, relating to the change in fair value. During the nine months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company marked the contingent liability to fair value and recorded a gain of $0.45 million and $0.80 million, respectively, relating to the change in fair value.

          

Litigation, Claims and Assessments

 

From time to time, the Company may become involved in lawsuits, investigations and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses against all pending claims and intends to vigorously pursue them. While it is not possible to predict or determine the outcomes of any pending actions, the Company believes the amount of liability, if any, with respect to such actions, would not materially affect its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Effective November 5, 2018, the employment by the Company of its former principal financial officer, John T. Kurtzweil (the “Former CFO”), ended, after which the Former CFO filed for an arbitration hearing pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement and filed a complaint under the whistleblower provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) of the U.S. Department of Labor.  On October 28, 2019, the Company and the Former CFO entered into a Settlement Agreement that resolved all pending disputes between the parties with no admission of liability by either party. OSHA approved the Settlement Agreement and closed its investigation of the Former CEO’s whistleblower complaint on November 26, 2019. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company paid the Former CFO an all-inclusive settlement amount of $375 thousand in cash. As part of the Settlement Agreement, all unvested restricted stock units and stock options were acknowledged as forfeited as of such date. The arbitration was closed on December 30, 2019.

 

16

 

 

Tax Credit Contingency

 

The Company accrues a liability for indirect tax contingencies when it believes that it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and that it can reasonably estimate the amount of the loss. The Company reviews these accruals and adjusts them to reflect ongoing negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel and other relevant information. To the extent new information is obtained and the Company’s views on the probable outcomes of claims, suits, assessments, investigations or legal proceedings change, changes in the Company’s accrued liabilities would be recorded in the period in which such determination is made.

 

The Company’s gross unrecognized indirect tax credits totaled $0.1 million as of March 31, 2020 and $0.1 million as of June 30, 2019 and is recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as a long-term liability.

 

Note 13. Related Party Transactions

 

Consulting Services

 

Total stock-based compensation expense related to stock-based awards granted in prior years for consulting services provided by a firm owned by one of the Co-Chairmen of the Company’s board of directors was $8 thousand and $17 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $32 thousand and $32 thousand for the nine months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

Equipment Purchase

 

On October 11, 2019, the Company issued 2,500 shares of common stock to the brother of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer in exchange for equipment with a fair market value of $20,000.

 

Note 14. Segment Information

 

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available and evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or decision–making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is its Chief Executive Officer. The Company operates in two segments, Foundry Fabrication Services, which consists of engineering review services, and STC-MEMS foundry services, and RF Product, which consists of amplifier and filter product sales, and grant revenue. The Company records all general and administrative costs in the RF Product segment.

 

17

 

 

The Company evaluates performance of its operating segments based on revenue and operating profit (loss). Segment information for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows (in thousands):

 

    Foundry/
Fabrication
Services
    RF Product     Total  
                   
Three months ended March 31, 2020                  
Revenue with customers   $ 232     $ 131     $ 363  
Total Revenue     232       131       363  
Cost of revenue     138       79       217  
Gross margin     94       52       146  
Research and development           5,769       5,769  
General and administrative           2,589       2,589  
Income (Loss) from Operations   $ 94       (8,306 )     (8,212 )
                         
Three months ended March 31, 2019                        
Revenue with customers   $ 159     $ 78     $ 237  
Total Revenue     159       78       237  
Cost of revenue     176       123       299  
Gross margin     (17 )     (45 )     (62 )
Research and development           5,505       5,505  
General and administrative           2,503       2,503  
Income (Loss) from Operations   $ (17 )   $ (8,053 )     (8,070 )
                         
Nine months ended March 31, 2020                        
Revenue with customers   $ 917     $ 507     $ 1,424  
Total Revenue     917       507       1,424  
Cost of revenue     545       795       1,340  
Gross margin     372       (288 )     84  
Research and development           15,736       15,736  
General and administrative           8,158       8,158  
Income (Loss) from Operations   $ 372       (24,182 )     (23,810 )
                         
Nine months ended March 31, 2019                        
Revenue with customers   $ 567     $ 197     $ 764  
Grant revenue           109       109  
Total Revenue     567       306       873  
Cost of revenue     666       147       813  
Gross margin     (99 )     159       60  
Research and development           14,340       14,340  
General and administrative           6,841       6,841  
Income (Loss) from Operations   $ (99 )   $ (21,022 )     (21,121 )
                         
As of March 31, 2020                        
Accounts receivable   $ 574     $ 118     $ 692  
Property and equipment, net         $ 19,942     $ 19,942  
                         
As of June 30, 2019                        
Accounts receivable   $ 150     $ 135     $ 285  
Property and equipment, net   $ 54     $ 15,124     $ 15,178  

 

18

 

 

Note 15. Subsequent Events

 

Supplemental Indentures

 

On April 17, 2020, the Company entered into supplemental indentures to the indentures governing its outstanding 6.5% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2023 and its outstanding 6.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023. Among other things, the supplemental indentures permit the incurrence of indebtedness made available through the CARES Act and regulations thereunder. 

19

 

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

References in this report to “Akoustis,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Akoustis Technologies, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiary, Akoustis, Inc. each of which is a Delaware corporation.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that relate to our plans, objectives, estimates, and goals. Any and all statements contained in this report that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Terms such as “may,” “might,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “project,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “strategy,” “anticipate,” “attempt,” “develop,” “plan,” “help,” “believe,” “continue,” “intend,” “expect,” “future,” and terms of similar import (including the negative of any of the foregoing) may identify forward-looking statements. However, not all forward-looking statements may contain one or more of these identifying terms. Forward-looking statements in this report may include, without limitation, statements regarding (i) the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including plans or objectives relating to the development of commercially viable radio frequency (“RF”) filters, (ii) projections of income (including income/loss), earnings (including earnings/loss) per share, capital expenditures, dividends, capital structure or other financial items, (iii) our future financial performance, including any such statement contained in this management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition or in the results of operations included pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), (iv) our ability to efficiently utilize cash and cash equivalents to support our operations for a given period of time, (v) our ability to engage customers while maintaining ownership of our intellectual property, and (vi) the assumptions underlying or relating to any statement described in (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) above. 

 

Forward-looking statements are not meant to predict or guarantee actual results, performance, events or circumstances and may not be realized because they are based upon our current projections, plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations, estimates, and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and other influences, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results and the timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially from those described by the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. Factors that may influence or contribute to the inaccuracy of the forward-looking statements or cause actual results to differ materially from expected or desired results may include, without limitation: our ability to continue as a going concern; our inability to obtain adequate financing; our limited operating history; our inability to generate revenues or achieve profitability; the results of our research and development (“R&D”) activities; our inability to achieve acceptance of our products in the market; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations, financial condition and the worldwide economy; general economic conditions, including upturns and downturns in the industry; our limited number of patents; failure to obtain, maintain, and enforce our intellectual property rights; our inability to attract and retain qualified personnel; our reliance on third parties to complete certain processes in connection with the manufacture of our products; product quality and defects; existing or increased competition; our ability to market and sell our products; our inability to successfully scale our New York wafer fabrication facility and related operations while maintaining quality control and assurance and avoiding delays in output; our failure to innovate or adapt to new or emerging technologies; our failure to comply with regulatory requirements; results of any arbitration or litigation that may arise; stock volatility and illiquidity; our failure to implement our business plans or strategies; our failure to remediate the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting; and our failure to maintain the Trusted Foundry accreditation of our New York wafer fabrication facility.

 

These and other risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail in the section of this report titled “Risk Factors” and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on September 13, 2019 (the “2019 Annual Report”), could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this report. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because of the risks and uncertainties related to them. Except as may be required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this report to reflect any new information or future events or circumstances or otherwise.

 

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Overview

 

Akoustis® is an emerging commercial company focused on developing, designing, and manufacturing innovative RF filter products for the wireless industry, including for products such as smartphones and tablets, network infrastructure equipment, WiFi Customer Premise Equipment (“CPE”) and defense applications. Filters are critical in selecting and rejecting signals, and their performance enables differentiation in the modules defining the RF front-end (“RFFE”). Located between the device’s antenna and its digital backend, the “RFFE” is the circuitry that performs the analog signal processing and contains components such as amplifiers, filters and switches. We have developed a proprietary microelectromechanical system (“MEMS”) based bulk acoustic wave (“BAW”) technology and a unique manufacturing process flow, called “XBAW”, for our filters produced for use in RFFE modules. Our XBAWTM filters incorporate optimized high purity piezoelectric materials for high power, high frequency and wide bandwidth operation.

 

We believe owning the core resonator device technology, manufacturing facility and intellectual property (“IP”) to produce our RF filter designs is the most direct and efficient means of delivering our solutions to the market. Furthermore, our technology is based upon bulk-mode acoustic resonance, which we believe is superior to surface-mode resonance for high-band applications that include 4G/LTE, 5G, WiFi, and defense applications. Although some of our target customers utilize or make the RFFE module, they may lack access to critical ultra-high-band (UHB) filter technology needed to compete in high frequency applications. We seek to design, manufacture, and market our RF filter products to mobile phone original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), defense OEMs, network infrastructure OEMs, and WiFi CPE OEM’s to enable broader competition among the front-end module manufacturers. We operate as a “pure-play” RF filter supplier and align with the front-end module manufacturers who seek to acquire high performance filters to expand their module business.

 

We currently build high performance RF filter circuits, using our first generation XBAWTM wafer process, in our 120,000-square foot wafer-manufacturing facility located in Canandaigua, New York, which we acquired in June 2017. As of April 24, 2020, our intellectual property (IP) portfolio included 31 patents, including a blocking patent that we have licensed from Cornell University. Additionally, as of April 24, 2020, we have 61 pending patent applications. These patents cover our XBAWTM RF filter technology from raw materials through the system architectures. Where possible, we leverage both federal and state level R&D grants to support development and commercialization of our technology. 

 

We are developing RF filters for 4G/LTE, 5G, WiFi and defense bands using our proprietary resonator device models and product design kits (PDKs). As we qualify our first RF filter products, we are engaging with target customers to evaluate our filter solutions. Our initial designs target UHB, sub 7 GHz 4G/LTE, 5G, WiFi and defense bands. Since Akoustis owns its core technology and controls access to its intellectual property, we expect to offer several ways to engage with potential customers. First, we intend to engage with multiple wireless markets, providing standardized filters that we design and offer as standard catalog components. Second, we expect to deliver unique filters to customer-supplied specifications, which we will design and fabricate on a customized basis. Finally, we may offer our models and design kits for our customers to design their own filters utilizing our proprietary technology.

 

We have earned minimal revenue from operations since inception, and we have funded our operations primarily with development contracts, RF filter and production orders, government grants, MEMS foundry and engineering services, and sales of debt and equity securities. We have incurred losses totaling approximately $93.5 million from inception through March 31, 2020. These losses are primarily the result of material and processing costs associated with developing and commercializing our technology, as well as personnel costs, professional fees (primarily accounting and legal), and other general and administrative (“G&A”) expenses. We expect to continue to incur substantial costs for commercialization of our technology on a continuous basis because our business model involves materials and solid-state device technology development and engineering of catalog and custom filter design solutions.  

 

Impact of COVID-19 on our Business

 

Although the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business is unknown, in an effort to protect the health and safety of our employees, we have taken proactive, precautionary action and adopted social distancing policies at our locations, including the implementation of new staffing plans in our facilities whereby many employees work remotely and the remaining on-site force is divided into multiple shifts or segregated in different parts of the facility. In an effort to contain COVID-19 or slow its spread, governments around the world have also enacted various measures, including orders to close all businesses not deemed “essential,” isolate residents to their homes or places of residence, and practice social distancing when engaging in essential activities. These measures have impacted the method and timing of certain business meetings and deliverables to certain customers, as well as our ability to obtain certain materials or equipment from suppliers.

 

We anticipate that these actions and the global health crisis caused by COVID-19 will negatively impact business activity across the globe. We have observed declining demand and price reductions in the electronics industry as business and consumer activity decelerates across the globe. When COVID-19 is demonstrably contained, we anticipate a rebound in economic activity, depending on the rate, pace, and effectiveness of the containment efforts deployed by various national, state, and local governments; however, the timing and extent of any such rebound is uncertain.

 

We will continue to actively monitor the situation and may take further actions altering our business operations that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, partners, suppliers, and stakeholders, or as required by federal, state, or local authorities. It is not clear what the potential effects any such alterations or modifications may have on our business, including the effects on our customers, employees, and prospects, or on our financial results for the remainder of fiscal year 2020 or beyond.

 

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Plan of Operation

 

We plan to commercialize our technology by designing and manufacturing single-band and multi-band BAW RF filter solutions in our New York wafer fabrication facility. We expect our filter solutions will address problems (such as loss, bandwidth, power handling, and isolation) created by the growing number of frequency bands in the RFFE of mobile devices, infrastructure and premise equipment to support 4G/LTE, 5G, and WiFi. We have prototyped our first single-band low-loss BAW filter designs for 4G/LTE frequency bands, which are dominated by competitive BAW solutions and historically cannot be addressed with low-band, lower power handling surface acoustic wave (“SAW”) technology.

 

To succeed, we must convince mobile phone OEMs, RFFE module manufacturers, cellular infrastructure OEMs, WiFi CPE OEMs and military customers to use our XBAWTM filter technology in their systems and modules. However, since there are two dominant BAW filter suppliers in the industry that have high-band technology, and both utilize such technology as a competitive advantage at the module level, we expect customers that lack access to high-band filter technology will be open to engage with our pure-play filter company. 

 

We plan to pursue RF filter design and R&D development agreements and potentially joint ventures with target customers and other strategic partners, although we cannot guarantee we will be successful in these efforts. These types of arrangements may subsidize technology development costs and qualification, filter design costs, and offer complementary technology and market intelligence and other avenues to revenue. However, we intend to retain ownership of our core technology, intellectual property, designs, and related improvements. We expect to pursue development of catalog designs for multiple customers and to offer such catalog products in multiple sales channels.

 

As of April 24, 2020, the Company had $38.4 million of cash and cash equivalents to fund our operations, including capital expenditures, R&D, commercialization of our technology, development of our patent strategy and expansion of our patent portfolio, as well as to provide working capital and funds for other general corporate purposes. Our anticipated expenses include employee salaries and benefits, compensation paid to consultants, capital costs for research and other equipment, costs associated with development activities (including travel and administration), costs associated with the integration and operation of our New York wafer fabrication facility and related operations, legal expenses, sales and marketing costs, G&A expenses, and other costs associated with an early stage, public technology company. We anticipate increasing the number of employees; however, this is highly dependent on the nature of our development efforts, and our success in commercialization. We anticipate adding employees for R&D in both our New York and North Carolina facilities, as well as G&A functions, to support our efforts. We expect capital expenditures to be between $8 million and $10 million for the purchase of equipment and software during the next 12 months.

 

The amounts we actually spend for any specific purpose may vary significantly and will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the pace of progress of our commercialization and development efforts, actual needs with respect to product testing, R&D, market conditions and changes in or revisions to our marketing strategies.

 

Commercial development of new technology, by its nature, is unpredictable. Although we will undertake development efforts with commercially reasonable diligence, there can be no assurance that our current cash position will be sufficient to enable us to commercialize our technology to the extent needed to create future sales to sustain operations. If our current cash is insufficient for these purposes, we are unable to source additional funds on terms acceptable to the Company (or at all), or we experience costs in excess of estimates to continue our R&D plan, it is possible that we would not have sufficient resources to continue as a going concern and we may be required to curtail or suspend our operations. Even if we are able to source sufficient funds to continue as a going concern, our technology may not be accepted, we may never earn revenues sufficient to support our operations, and we may never be profitable.

 

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Recent Developments

  

On January 7, 2020, the Company announced that it had received an order and shipped its 5.2 GHz and 5.6 GHz coexistence WiFi filters to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

 

On January 30, 2020, Akoustis announced that it had locked the design of its Citizen’s Broadband Radio Service 5G network infrastructure filter and had shipped samples to three OEM’s.

 

On February 3, 2020, the Company announced that it had received its first volume commercial order for 5G network infrastructure filters from a small cell base station provider focused on markets in Asia.

 

In mid-February, Akoustis announced the entry into a new market with an order for the design and development of XBAW filters for a customer for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones. The filters will be used for control and non-payload communication links.

 

On April 8, 2020, the Company announced that it had achieved its first non-defense commercial design win for XBAW filters in the 5G small cell network equipment market.

 

Underwritten Public Offering of Common Stock

 

During the nine months ended March 31, 2020, the Company sold a total of 5,520,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $6.25 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $34.5 million before deducting the underwriting discount and offering expenses payable by the Company of approximately $2.3 million. The Company expects to use the proceeds of the offering to fund the Company’s operations and growth of its business, including for capital expenditures, working capital, research and development, the commercialization of its technology and other general corporate purposes.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates from the information provided in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” under the heading “Critical Accounting Policies” included in our 2019 Annual Report.

 

Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019

 

Revenue

 

The Company recorded revenue of $0.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. Revenue recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2020 included $0.1 million of RF filter and amplifier sales and $0.2 million of non-recurring engineering services. The RF filters sales were primarily sales of defense filters. Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2019 consisted of $0.1 million of non-recurring engineering services and $0.1 million of RF filter and amplifier sales.

 

Cost of Revenue

 

The Company recorded cost of revenue of $0.2 million in the three months ended March 31, 2020 and $0.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2019, which included direct labor, direct materials and facility costs. The decrease in cost of revenue was primarily related to a lower amount of sales of WiFi filters during the third quarter of fiscal year 2020.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

R&D expenses were $5.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and were $0.3 million, or 5%, higher than the prior year amount for the same period of $5.5 million. The period-over-period increase was primarily due to an increase in parts and equipment expense and equipment depreciation at the Company’s Canandaigua NY wafer-manufacturing facility (the “NY Facility”).

 

General and Administrative Expense

 

General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses include salaries and wages for executive and administrative staff, stock-based compensation, professional fees, insurance costs and other general costs associated with the administration of our business. G&A expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were $2.6 million, which is an increase of $0.1 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019. Year over year changes within G&A expenses include an increase in employee compensation, including stock-based compensation of $0.2 million. In addition, bad debt expense and marketing expenses increased by a total of $0.1 million. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in professional fees of $0.2 million.

 

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Other (Expense)/Income

 

Other income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $0.4 million, which was comprised of a gain on the change in the fair value of the derivative liability of $1.1 million and a gain on the change in the fair value of our real estate contingent liability of $0.5 million. Offsetting these income items was debt discount amortization of $0.8 million and interest expense, net of $0.3 million. Other (expense) for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $1.4 million, which included a gain on the contingent real estate liability of $0.9 million, interest income of $0.2 million and rental income of $0.1 million, offset by $1.0 million of interest expense related to the amortization of debt issuance costs and interest on the convertible notes and a loss of $1.6 million on the change in the fair value of the derivative liability related to our convertible senior secured notes.

 

Net Loss

 

The Company recorded a net loss of $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to a net loss of $9.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The period-over-period change of $1.7 million, or 18%, was primarily driven by the change in derivative valuation of $2.6 million. This change was partially offset by a change in the gain on real estate liability valuation of $0.4 million and an increase in interest expense, net of $0.4 million and real estate contingent liability of $0.5 million.

 

Nine Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019

 

Revenue

 

The Company recorded revenue of $1.4 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to $0.9 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2019. Revenue recorded during the nine months ended March 31, 2020 included $0.5 million of RF filter and amplifier sales, $0.3 million of foundry services, and $0.6 million of revenue for non-recurring engineering services. The revenue for the nine months ended March 31, 2019 consisted of $0.4 million of revenue for non-recurring engineering services, $0.2 million of revenue for foundry services, $0.1 million of grant revenue and $0.2 million of RF filter and amplifier sales.

 

Cost of Revenue

 

The Company recorded cost of revenue of $1.3 million in the nine months ended March 31, 2020 and $0.8 million in the nine months ended March 31, 2019, which included direct labor, direct materials and facility costs. The increase in cost of sales was primarily related to sales of infrastructure and WiFi filters which was partially offset by a decrease in the cost of foundry services.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

R&D expenses were $15.7 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2020 and were $1.4 million, or 10%, higher than the prior year amount for the same period of $14.3 million. The period-over-period increase was primarily in the areas of R&D personnel costs and R&D equipment depreciation. Personnel costs, including stock-based compensation, were $9.2 million compared to $8.5 million in the prior year period, an increase of $0.7 million or 8%. The higher personnel cost was due to additional R&D headcount at both the Huntersville, NC location and the NY Facility. R&D and Fabrication materials totaled $2.6 million which represents an increase of $0.5 million over the prior year. Depreciation expense of $2.1 million was $0.3 million higher than the prior year. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in facility costs of $0.2 million compared to the prior year.

 

General and Administrative Expense

 

G&A expenses include salaries and wages for executive and administrative staff, stock-based compensation, professional fees, insurance costs and other general costs associated with the administration of our business. G&A expenses for the nine months ended March 31, 2020 were $8.2 million, which is an increase of $1.4 million compared to the nine months ended March 31, 2019. Year over year changes within G&A expenses include an increase in employee compensation including stock compensation of $0.8 million, an increase in professional fees of $0.3 million and an increase in other administrative expenses of $0.2 million.

 

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Other (Expense)/Income

  

Other (expense) for the nine months ended March 31, 2020 was $2.3 million, which included debt discount amortization of $2.3 million and interest expense, net of $1.2 million. These expenses were partially offset by a reduction in the fair value of our derivative liability of $0.4 million, the expiration of the real estate contingent liability, resulting in $0.4 million of income, and interest income of $0.3 million. Other (expense) for the nine months ended March 31, 2019 were $2.4 million, primarily consisting of $1.3 million of debt discount amortization, interest expense of $1.0 million and an increase to our derivative liability of $1.4 million. These were partially offset by interest income of $0.3 million and a reduction to our real estate contingent liability of $0.8 million.

 

Net Loss

 

The Company recorded a net loss of $26.1 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2020, compared to a net loss of $23.5 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2019. The period-over-period incremental loss of $2.5 million, or 11%, was primarily driven by an increase in R&D expenses of $1.4 million and an increase in G&A expenses of $1.4 million. These expenses were partially offset by a decrease in other expenses.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Financing Activities

 

The Company had $39.6 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand as of March 31, 2020, which reflects an increase of $9.5 million compared to $30.1 million as of June 30, 2019. The $9.5 million increase is primarily due to $32.5 million of financing activities, primarily comprised of $32.3 in net cash proceeds from the December 2019 underwritten offering of common stock. The Company used $16.4 million for operating activities and $6.3 million in capital expenditures for the nine months ended March 31, 2020. The Company estimates that cash on hand will fund its operations, including current capital expense commitments, beyond the next twelve months from the date of filing of this Form 10-Q.

 

Balance Sheet and Working Capital

 

March 31, 2020 compared to June 30, 2019

 

As of March 31, 2020, the Company had current assets of $41.2 million made up primarily of total cash on hand of $39.6 million. As of June 30, 2019, current assets were $31.7 million comprised primarily of total cash on hand of $30.1 million.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment was $19.9 million as of March 31, 2020 as compared to a balance of $15.2 million as of June 30, 2019. The approximate $4.7 million increase is primarily due to the purchase of R&D and manufacturing equipment of $6.9 million, offset by depreciation of $2.2 million.  

 

Total assets as of March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2019 were $62.9 million and $47.9 million, respectively.

 

Current liabilities as of March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2019 were $3.6 million and $3.6 million, respectively.

 

Long-term liabilities totaled $20.8 million as of March 31, 2020, compared to $18.3 million as of June 30, 2019. The increase of $2.5 million was due to the increase in convertible notes, net of debt discount and issuance costs, as well as the establishment of a right of use liability upon adoption of ASC 842 which totaled $0.5 million.

 

Stockholders’ equity was $38.5 million as of March 31, 2020, compared to $26.0 million as of June 30, 2019, an increase of $12.5 million, or 48%. This increase was primarily due to common stock issued for cash, net of issuance costs of $32.2 million, common stock issued for services of $5.1 million, vesting of restricted shares of $0.3 million, employee stock purchases of $0.2 million and common stock issued for payment of note interest of $0.7 million. These were offset by the net loss for the nine months ended March 31, 2020 of $26.1 million.

  

Cash Flow Analysis

  

Operating activities used cash of $16.4 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2020 and $13.4 million during the 2019 comparative period. The $3.0 million period-over-period increase in cash used was attributable to higher operating expenses associated with the ramp up of development and commercialization activities (primarily R&D personnel and material costs).

 

Investing activities used cash of $6.5 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $4.5 million for the comparative period ended March 31, 2019. The $2.0 million period-over-period increase was primarily due to increased spend on R&D equipment.

 

Cash provided by financing activities was $32.4 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $37.7 million for the comparative period ended March 31, 2019. The $5.3 million period-over-period decrease was due a reduction in cash received from equity and convertible note issuances in the comparative period.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 31, 2020.

 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

 

Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

We conducted an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Interim Chief Financial Officer (our principal executive officer and principal financial officer) of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2020. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of such date due to the material weaknesses described below with respect to our internal control over financial reporting.

 

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. As previously disclosed in our 2019 Annual Report, we identified the following material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting as of June 30, 2019:

 

  1. The Company did not design and implement effective Information Technology General Controls (“ITGC”) for certain information systems that are relevant to the preparation of the Company’s financial statements. Specifically, applications supporting the processes of payroll, cash management, fixed assets and financial close included deficiencies related to user access controls, change management, information technology operations and third-party service providers.  These ITGC deficiencies, combined with inadequate compensating review controls, create a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement to the consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. 

 

  2. Management review controls designed to address risks associated with complex accounting matters that arise from significant routine and non-routine transactions – related to revenue, share-based compensation, research and development expense, and debt – to ensure that those transactions are properly accounted for in accordance with U.S. GAAP did not operate effectively.

 

Remediation Plan

 

IT General Controls: During the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, key mitigating controls were designed and implemented to mitigate risks in the absence of full year coverage of SSAE-18 (SOC1) reports. These controls are being tested for design and operating effectiveness.

 

Non-Routine Transaction Review: During the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, controls were designed and implemented to mitigate risks related to review of all non-routine, material transactions specifically around revenue, share-based compensation, research and development expense and debt. These controls are being tested for design and operating effectiveness.

  

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting 

 

Other than the mitigating controls referenced above, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarterly period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

From time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. Litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations and prospects. 

 

We are currently not aware of any material pending legal proceedings to which we are a party or of which any of our property is the subject, nor are we aware of any such proceedings that are contemplated by any governmental authority. 

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS. 

 

In addition to the risk factor set forth below and the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019. These factors could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and capital position, and could cause our actual results to differ materially from our historical results or the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements contained in this report.  Other than as described below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” included in our 2019 Annual Report.  

 

We are dependent on the proper functioning of our critical facilities, our supply chain and distribution networks and the financial stability of our customers, all of which could be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in a manner materially adverse to our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Our ability to manufacture products may be materially adversely impacted by COVID-19.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting worldwide economic activity. Estimates for economic growth have been reduced as a result of COVID-19, which may have a corresponding effect on our sales activity. The virus continues to spread globally, has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and has spread to over 100 countries, including the United States. The impact of this pandemic has been and will likely continue to be extensive in many aspects of society, and has resulted in and will likely continue to result in significant disruptions to the global economy, as well as businesses and capital markets around the world. With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic to the United States and other countries, it is unclear how economic activity and workflows might be impacted on a worldwide basis. Many employers in the United States are requiring their employees to work from home or not come into their offices or facilities. We manufacture primarily out of one facility in Canandaigua, New York. In order to mitigate the risk posed by COVID-19, we have implemented a new staffing plan whereby many employees work remotely, and the remaining on-site force is divided into two shifts. If the manufacturing capabilities of this facility are adversely impacted as a result of COVID-19, whether by a decrease in productivity caused by precautionary measures or by one or more employees becoming ill, it may not be possible for us to timely manufacture relevant products at required levels or at all. A reduction or interruption in any of our manufacturing processes could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

 

We also might be unable to obtain certain supplies, product components, or equipment from our suppliers and vendors due to constraints created by COVID-19. For instance, we have observed delays in certain suppliers’ deliveries of materials necessary for us to manufacture our products and in certain vendors’ ability to manufacture equipment used in our production process. Additionally, travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders or similar mandates of foreign and domestic governments have prevented us from visiting suppliers’ facilities as part of our quality control processes. These impacts may delay our launch of new products, adversely affect our ability to deliver customers’ orders timely or in the requested quantities and inhibit our ability to ensure the quality of supplies used in our products.

 

Our sales may be materially adversely impacted by COVID-19.

 

Our sales efforts typically function by in-person meetings with customers and potential customers to discuss our products. The method and timing of these meetings has been altered due to stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions relating to COVID-19. This limitation on the ability of our sales personnel to maintain their customary interaction with customers for a period of time may negatively affect demand for our products. We have also found that potential customers have been forced to slow and reprioritize various product development projects as a result of COVID-19. This disruption to our sales activity and our customers’ businesses, and the resulting delay in the growth of our business, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Furthermore, a reduction or delay in revenues will prolong our dependence on capital raising to finance our operations.

 

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Our ability to raise capital may be materially adversely impacted by COVID-19.

 

A sustained disruption in the capital markets from the COVID-19 pandemic could negatively impact our ability to raise capital. In the past, we have financed our operations by the issuance of equity and debt securities. However, we cannot predict when the macro-economic disruption stemming from COVID-19 will ebb or when the economy will return to pre-COVID-19 levels, if at all. This macro-economic disruption may disrupt our ability to raise additional capital to finance our operations in the future, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and prospects, and could ultimately cause our business to fail.

 

COVID-19 may heighten other risks.


The COVID-19 pandemic may have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, such as risks related to the operation of our manufacturing facility, acceptance of our products into the market, doing business in foreign countries, attracting and retaining qualified personnel, our reliance on third parties to complete certain processes in connection with the manufacture of products, product quality and defects, successfully scaling the New York fabrication facility, stock volatility and illiquidity and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

 

Other than any sales previously reported in the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, the Company did not sell any unregistered securities during the period covered by this report.

   

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ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES. 

 

None.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES. 

 

Not applicable. 

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION. 

 

The Company is disclosing under this Item 5 the following information otherwise disclosable in a Current Report on Form 8-K under “Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year”:

 

On May 1, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”), effective immediately. The Amended and Restated Bylaws amend and restate in their entirety the Company’s bylaws to, among other things: (i) amend the description of certain information a stockholder must provide with respect to a proposal to nominate a person for election or reelection as a Company director or business to be considered at a stockholders meeting and the procedure for making such proposal; (ii) revise requirements and procedures for stockholder actions by written consent; (iii) require the majority of the entire Board to approve certain actions; (iv) require a two-thirds vote for stockholders to amend the Amended and Restated Bylaws; (v) provide that the forum for the resolution of internal corporate claims shall be the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware; and (vi) make other technical amendments.

 

The foregoing summary is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.5 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.

 

The exhibits in the Exhibit Index below are filed or furnished, as applicable, as part of this report. 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number
 
  Description
     
3.1   Articles of Conversion of the Company, as filed with the Nevada Secretary of State on December 15, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 16, 2016)
     
3.2   Certificate of Conversion of the Company, as filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on December 15, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 16, 2016)
     
3.3   Certificate of Incorporation, as filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on December 15, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 16, 2016)
     
3.4   Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on November 4, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 6, 2019)
     
3.5*  

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company

     
31.1*   Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer
     
31.2*   Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer
     
32.1*   Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer
     
32.2*   Section 1350 Certification of Principal Financial Officer
     
101*   Interactive Data Files of Financial Statements and Notes
     
101.INS*   Instant Document
     
101.SCH*   XBRL Taxonomy Schema Document
     
101.CAL*   XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document
     
101.DEF*   XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document
     
101.LAB*   XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document
     
101.PRE*   XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document

 

* Filed herewith

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

Dated: May 1, 2020 Akoustis Technologies, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Kenneth E. Boller
    Kenneth E. Boller
    Interim Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

By: /s/ Kenneth E. Boller

 

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