-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, ERYKbVE4MMJRbmRfdwfl3p2iiO2sRXaI0gX0vQT7MDw5MuGbNWCV/JiC8Nbpq5gM jzUzkIKd89nlzJtiHo8mFg== 0000826253-10-000011.txt : 20100616 0000826253-10-000011.hdr.sgml : 20100616 20100615181547 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000826253-10-000011 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 7 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20100228 FILED AS OF DATE: 20100616 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20100615 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AURA SYSTEMS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000826253 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [3690] IRS NUMBER: 954106894 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0228 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-17249 FILM NUMBER: 10899112 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2335 ALASKA AVE CITY: EL SEGUNDO STATE: CA ZIP: 90245 BUSINESS PHONE: 3106435300 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2335 ALASKA AVE CITY: EL SEGUNDO STATE: CA ZIP: 90245 10-K 1 feb22010.htm feb22010.htm

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 10-K
 
 
(Mark One)
 
 [Ö ] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended.................................................February 28, 2010
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 ........0-17249
 
 
AURA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
95-4106894
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
1310 E. Grand Ave.
El Segundo, California 90245
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (310) 643-5300
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report:
 
 
Name of each exchange on which registered: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.   Yes¨ Nox

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.  Yes¨ Nox

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

 
Indicate by check mark 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 x No  ¨
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated file, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

 
 

 

 
 
Large Accelerated Filer ¨  Accelerated Filer ¨  Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller Reporting Company x

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


APPLICABLE ONLY TO REGISTRANTS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yesx  No ¨
 
On August 31, 2009 the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was $44,400,450. The aggregate market value has been computed by reference to the last sale price of the stock on August 31, 2009.
 
 
On May 17, 2010, the Registrant had 53,703,207 shares of common stock outstanding.
 

 
 

 


 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
   
PART I
 
 
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
 
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
 
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
 
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
ITEM 4. (Reserved)
 
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED  
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
   
PART II
 
 
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 
ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
ITEM 9A(T).  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION
   
PART III
 
 
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
 
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER        MATTERS
 
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
 
ITEM 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES 
   
PART IV
 
 
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
   
 
SIGNATURES
   
   
   
   
   


 
 

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 
This Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  Statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Report, including the statements under the headings “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business” and elsewhere in this Report regarding future events or prospects are forward-looking statements. The words “approximates,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans” “would  “should,” “may,” or other similar expressions in this Report, as well as other statements regarding matters that are not historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements. We caution investors that any forward-looking statements presented in this Report are based on the beliefs of, assumptions made by, and information currently available to, us. Such statements are based on assumptions and the actual outcome will be affected by known and unknown risks, trends, uncertainties and factors that are beyond our control or ability to predict. Although we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, they are not guarantees of future performance and some will inevitably prove to be incorrect. As a result, our actual future results may differ from our expectations, and those differences may be material. Accordingly, investors should use caution in relying on forward-looking statements to anticipate future results or trends.

 
Some of the risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include the following:

·
Our ability to generate positive cash flow from operations;
·
Our ability to obtain additional financing to fund our operations;
·
Our business development and operating development; and
·
Our expectations of growth in demand for our products.
 
 
 
            We do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except to the extent required by law. You should interpret all subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf as being expressly qualified by the cautionary statements in this Report. As a result, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
 
 
 References in this Report to “we”, “us”, “the Company,” “Aura” or “Aura Systems”, includes Aura Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
 



 
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 
As a public company, we are required to file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You may read and copy any of our materials on file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Our filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. We also make available copies of our Forms 8-K, 10-K, 10-Q, Proxy Statement and Annual Report at no charge to investors through our website, http://www.aurasystems.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such material with the SEC.

 
 

 

 
PART I
 
 
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
 
 
Introduction
 
 
We design, assemble and sell the AuraGen®, our patented mobile power generator that uses the engine of a vehicle or any other prime mover to generate electric power. The AuraGen® delivers on-location, plug-in electricity for any end use, including industrial, commercial, recreational and military applications. The AuraGen® system consists of three primary subsystems (i) the patented axial design alternator, (ii) the electronic control unit (“ECU”) and (iii) mounting kit that is a mechanical interface between the alternator and the prime mover. Compared to the traditional solution s addressing the multi-billion dollar North American mobile power market (i.e., Gensets, traditional alternators, permanent magnet alternators, dynamic and static inverters), we believe the AuraGen® provides alternating current (“AC”) power as well as simultaneous direct current (“DC”) power with greater reliability and flexibility at a lower cost to the end user and significantly environmentally cleaner. We began commercializing the AuraGen® in late 1999 as a 5,000-watt 120/240V AC machine compatible with certain Chevrolet engine models. In 2001, we added an 8,000 watt configuration and also introduced AC/DC and the Inverter Charger System (“ICS”) options. In Fiscal 2008, we introduced a dual system that generates up to 16,000-watts of continuous power and we plan to introduce additional power configuration s during calendar 2010. We now have configurations available for more than 90 different engine types, including a majority of General Motors and Ford models, some Chrysler models and numerous other engine models made by International, Isuzu, Nissan, Hino (Toyota), Mitsubishi, Caterpillar, Detroit Diesel, Cummins, and Freightliner.  Also starting in fiscal 2008, the AuraGen has been installed on a number of boats for both government and recreational end users. In the middle of fiscal 2009, we introduced and began to sell our all-electric Transport Refrigeration Unit (“TRU”) for mid size trucks. The system consists of the AuraGen power solution and an all-electric transport refrigeration system. To date, AuraGen® units have been sold in numerous industries, including transport refrigeration, utilities, telecommunications, emergency/rescue, public works, catering, oil and gas, transportation, government and the military.
 
 
In May 2008, we entered into an agreement with Emerald Commercial Leasing, Inc., of Conley, Georgia, whereby we acquired the transport refrigeration assets of Emerald, including all rights to drawings, designs, sketches, layouts integration know-how, parts, and vendor lists for the all electric refrigeration system based on commercial refrigeration design valued at approximately $385,000.  In addition, the agreement returns the previously assigned exclusive selling rights for the transport refrigeration industry to Aura. As a result, Aura was able to offer a complete TRU solution to its customers.  We reached an agreement in principle to purchase their service facility for $1,050,000. The facility consists of approximately 6 acres of land and a building of approximately 10,000 square feet with several truck service bay s and a small amount of office space. The facility was to be used by Aura for warehousing, service, and installation of the AuraGen for customers in the southeastern United States.  Due to the national economic down turn, and in particular the uncertainties in the real estate market, the purchase of the facility was put on indefinite hold, and Aura rented the facility on a month-to-month basis for $7,000 per month. Mr. Joseph Dickman, Emerald’s President, joined Aura as Senior Vice President of sales for OEM applications.  In December 2009, we terminated our lease arrangements with Emerald, settled all outstanding balances, moved into a new 8,000 square facility in McDonough Georgia and terminated our relationship with Mr. Dickman.
 
 
In March 2010, we entered into a strategic alliance with Zanotti of North America.  Zanotti is a 50-year-old Italian company specializing in refrigeration for the food industry with distribution in over 70 countries. The strategic alliance consists of Zanotti providing to Aura all electric transport refrigeration systems that will support both the midsize trucks and refrigeration trailers.  All of Zanotti’s North America dealers (currently approximately 70) will provide service and installation for Aura’s all-electric transport refrigeration solution (“AETRU”).  The alliance also calls for Aura to exclusively use only Zanotti’s refrigeration systems and in return, Zanotti, directly or through its dealer network, is required to  generate sales of no less than 1,000 syste ms of Aura’s AETRU during the first 24 months of the agreement and thereafter no less than 750 systems per year in order to maintain its’ exclusivity.  In addition Zanotti North America agreed to provide Aura with a credit facility for the purchase of the refrigeration systems.  Currently the parties are working closely on optimizing the AETRU packages as well as on a joint marketing plan.  Deliveries of the Aura/Zanotti AETRU are expected to start in June 2010.
 
 
In February 2009 we entered into an exclusive distribution and supply agreement with WePower a Wind-Turbine company.  Under the agreement Aura will exclusively provide its generators globally for wind energy harvesting
 

 
 

 

 
applications to WePower, and in return Aura will be the exclusive supplier of generators to WePower for their wind-turbines. The agreement required WePower to purchase from Aura a minimum of 3,000 systems per year.  The domestic as well as the global economic recession has caused significant slowdown in demand for small wind turbines and WePower, like others in its industry, has drastically revised downward their forecast from 3,000 annual units to less than 700 systems per year. The delivery of the initial order for 700 systems has been extended to 2011.  In order to meet the WePower requirements we have to customize the AuraGen by changing the number of poles in the machine to allow for lower RPM power generation.  Aura is yet to perform this required customization, which involves changing the winding on th e stators.  We anticipate the completion of the customization during the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and expect to begin delivery of systems to WePower during the current fiscal year.
 
 
In June 2009 we entered into an exclusive commercial and industrial distribution agreement with Genergy Inc. for the distribution of AuraGen products in the Republic of Korea (ROK).  The initial agreement was for a period of five years with automatic renewals for two two-year periods, provided the distributor has complied with all of its obligations.   Under the agreement, Genergy Inc. is required to purchase a minimum of $9.5 million over the initial contract life to retain the distribution agreement.  By the end of 2009 Genergy Inc. failed to pay the initial required fees and Aura terminated the agreement.  We are currently exploring any legal remedies that may be available.
 
 
Seokmun Inc. a South Korean company has been Aura’s distributor for military applications since 2006.  Seokmun in 2007 won a 10-year program from the Korean Army to deliver 1,000 AuraGen VIPERs (100 per year).  To date Aura has delivered 300 such systems and will deliver the next 100 systems later this year.  In addition Seokmun was successful in winning the NRRS Korean military program for approximately 132 dual VIPER systems to be delivered over the next three-year period. In addition there are numerous other VIPER programs currently under consideration by the South Korean military.  Due to the successful business relationship, Aura has recently entered into discussions with Seokmun to also become our commercial and industrial distributor in South Korea.
 

 
The AuraGen®
 

 
The AuraGen® is composed of three basic subsystems. The first subsystem is the generator that is bolted to, and driven by, the vehicle's engine or any other prime mover. The second subsystem is the ECU, which filters,  conditions the electricity to provide clean, steady voltages for both AC and DC power, and provides for variable speed applications as well as load following for increased efficiency (load following means that at any instant the power generated is equal to the power demanded up to the maximum rated power). The third subsystem consists of mounting brackets and supporting components for installation and integration of the generator with the vehicle engine or the prime mover.
 
The AuraGen is a load following machine, and is now available in three continuous power levels, (a) 5,000 watts AC/DC, (b) 8,000 watts AC/DC and (c) 16,000 watts AC/DC.  All AC power is pure sine wave with total harmonic distortion of less than 2.1% and is available in both 120 VAC and or 240 VAC.  In addition, the power generated on all models can be partitioned to provide simultaneous AC and 14 or 28 volts of DC or only DC, if required by the user.  The AuraGen power levels can be generated as the prime mover speed varies from stationary to maximum rated speed. The VIPER (the military version of the AuraGen® system includes as an option a complete power management system which (i) monitors in real time the batteries’ voltage and temperature, (ii) provides a partition of the power between AC and DC simultaneously with the ability to be programmed from all AC to all DC, (iii) monitors the RPM of the generator, (iv) monitors the temperatures of the generator and the ECU, (iv) monitors the raw power generated, (v) monitors both the AC and DC loads as to voltage and current, (vi) provides programming of load prioritization and load shedding, and (vii) monitors the voltage of the internal 400VDC buss.
 
 
We provide custom engineered brackets for our models that attach to over 90 different engine and chassis models. We also provide Power Take Off (“PTO”) and hydraulic driven interfaces for bigger trucks that do not involve direct attachment to the vehicle engine.
 
 
Mobile and Remote (not power grid connected) Power Industry
 
 
The mobile and remote power generation market is large and growing. Vehicles used in the telecommunications, utilities, public works, construction, catering, and oil and gas industries, emergency/rescue and military and recreational vehicles rely heavily on mobile power for their internal systems. In addition, mobile work sites require on-location electricity to power equipment ranging from computers to power tools.  Hybrid vehicles are rapidly penetrating the market place and require a significant amount of on board electric power.  In addition to vehicle
 

 
 

 

 
related applications, wind turbines and other stationary applications require a solution that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
 
 
Based on studies conducted by the U.S. government, Business Communications Company, Inc. and others, we estimate the annual gross North American market for non hybrid vehicle related mobile power generation use in 2008 was at least $2.5 billion and growing. Worldwide growth is expected to be fueled by increases in the development and construction of industrial infrastructures, significant growth in homeland security expenditures, and increased use of sophisticated electronic equipment in underdeveloped areas where grid-based electricity is unavailable or unreliable. We also believe that mobile power has become increasingly important as backup to electric grid power supply.  The need for on board power for hybrid vehicles is increasing rapidly and is expected to surpass demand for 500,000 annual units shortly.  Global e nvironmental awareness and considerations are driving the demand for wind-power and the market is estimated in many billions of dollars annually. All wind generated power systems use a generator to convert wind energy to electric energy.  The AuraGen provides a variable speed efficient generator to convert the mechanical energy harvested by the wind turbine from the wind energy to electrical energy. WePower currently focuses on small to medium (1-100 kW) vertical wind turbines and under the agreement the AuraGen will be used exclusively by WePower for its vertical wind turbines.    The current AuraGen configuration is designed to provide power in the 1-8.5 kW range, and for higher power levels we combine multiple AuraGens on a common shaft.  To date we have successfully combined two units on a single shaft to provide 16 kW of power. While in principal there is no difference between combining 2 or more AuraGens on a single shaft, we have not done so as of yet.  0;During 2010 we plan to develop an AuraGen capable of generating 30 kW and up to 100 kW of power without the need of combining systems.
 
 
The traditional available solutions for mobile and remote power users are:
 
 
 
·
Gensets, Gensets are standalone power generation units that are not incorporated into a vehicle and require external fuel, either gasoline or diesel, in order to generate electricity. Gensets (i) are generally noisy and cumbersome to transport because of their weight and size, (ii) typically run at constant speed to generate 50 or 60 Hz of AC power, (iii) must be operated at a significant part of the rated power to avoid wet staking, (iv) are significantly derated in the presence of harmonics in the loads and (v) require significant scheduled maintenance and service.  Genset technology has been utilized since the 1950s.
 
High-Output Alternators, High-output alternators are traditionally found in trucks and commercial vehicles and the vehicle’s engine is used as the prime mover.  All high-output alternators provide their rated power at very high RPM and significantly less power at lower RPM.  In addition, high-output alternators are generally only 30% efficient at the low RPM range and increase to 50% efficiency at the high end of the RPM range. The power generated by high-output alternators is 12 or 24 Volt DC and an inverter is required if 120 Volt AC power is needed. In addition, due to the low power output at low RPMs, in order to get significant power, a throttle controller is used to speed - -up the engine.
 
 
·
Inverters, Inverters are devices that invert battery DC to AC.  Inverters as mobile power generators are traditionally used in low power requirements, typically less than 2,500 watts, and do not have the ability to recharge the batteries used as the source of power.  Thus, typical inverter users require other means to recharge the used batteries such as “shore-power” or gensets.  More recently dynamic inverters became available.  Dynamic inverters use power from the alternator to augment power from the batteries and are able to achieve power levels in excess of 6,000 watts. Dynamic inverters introduce significant stresses on both the batteries and alternators, which causes significant life shortening for both.  Dynamic inverters use power from the alternator.  When the inverter is turned on, the alternator is switched off from the vehicle battery and tied into a transformer that uses electronics controls to change the DC alternator inputs to AC inverter output.  A separate transformer winding provides battery charging so that fully regulated 120 Volt AC and 12 Volt DC power is available as long as the engine is running at high enough RPM to provide power for the load and the battery charging.  All dynamic inverters require a high-output alternator to be able to output significant AC power. As is often the case, the limiting factor is the high-output alternator.  In order to get stable output, a very accurate throttle controller is also needed to maintain steady speed on the engine.
 
 
·
Permanent-Magnet Alternators.  Recently a number of companies have introduced alternators using exotic permanent magnets.  These alternators tend to have higher power generation capabilities than regular alternators at lower engine RPM.  In order to be practical in an under-the–hood environment (200oF) active cooling must be added, since the magnets are demagnetized at approximately 176oF.  There are other issues
 

 
 

 

that require an active control system that will add and subtract magnetic field strength as the engine RPM increases.
 
Wind Turbines.  Wind turbines convert wind energy into mechanical energy (prime mover).  The mechanical energy is converted into electric energy through a generator.  Traditional generators operate at one speed.  Because the wind energy varies continuously and is unpredictable a gearbox and transmission is needed to provide the constant speed required by the generator.  In addition traditional wind turbines require the capability of moving the blades into and out of the wind. There are two types of wind turbines, (i) the traditional large horizontal machines, and (ii) smaller vertical axis machines.  The horizontal machines must be turned into the wind and away from the wind when the wind speed is too large. & #160;The vertical machines capture the wind from all directions and do not require a mechanism to move them into the wind. However typically they do require a brake to slow down the machine when the wind speeds are too great.
 
 
·
Fuel Cells. Fuel cells are solid-state devices that produce electricity by combining a fuel containing hydrogen with oxygen. They have a wide range of applications, and can be used in place of the internal combustion engine and traditional lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries.  The most widely deployed fuel cells cost about $4,500 per kilowatt.

 
 
·
Batteries. Batteries convert stored chemical energy to electrical energy.
 

 
 
Competition
 
 
The industry in which we operate is competitive. The primary competition for the AuraGen® is the Genset industry, and there are approximately 44 Genset manufacturers in the United States. These competitors include: Onan, Honda and Kohler.
 
 
There are many high-output alternator manufacturers.   Some of the better known ones are Delco-Remy, Bosch, Nippon Densu, Hitachi, Mitsubishi and Prestolite.
 
 
There are many manufacturers of standard electric generators.  Some of the better known ones are General Electric, Westinghouse, and ABB.
 
 
There are many inverter manufacturers; some of the better known are, Trace Engineering, Vanner, and Xentrex.
 
 
The main competitors for the all-electric TRU are Thermoking and Carrier.  Both Thermoking and Carrier provide diesel based TRUs for midsize trucks. The diesel based comparable systems provided by Thermoking and Carrier are approximately $6,000 less expensive than the Oasis, however they require frequent regular scheduled maintenance and a separate diesel engine that consumes approximately 0.4-0.6 gallons of fuel per operating hour.
 
 
We do not compete with anyone for the generators that will be used by WePower since our agreement calls for us to be the sole supplier of generators to WePower.  There are a number of small manufacturers who provide vertical wind turbines in direct competition with WePower. These other vertical wind turbine manufacturers use other types of generators such as permanent magnet alternators (see above), or DC and conventional induction machines.
 
 
Most of our competitors have greater financial, technical, and marketing resources than the Company, have larger budgets for research, new product development and marketing, and have long-standing customer relationships. We also compete with many larger and more established companies in the hiring and retention of qualified personnel.   Our financial condition has limited our ability to market the AuraGen® aggressively.
 
 
The AuraGen® uses new technology and has only been available in the marketplace for a few years. As described below, because our product is radically different from traditionally available mobile power solutions, users may require lengthy evaluation periods in order to gain confidence in the product. OEMs and large fleet users also typically require considerable time to make changes to their planning and production.
 

 
 

 

 
Because of our limited financial and staff resources, we have focused our sales and marketing activities to a few industrial and military segments.  In particular, we have focused on selling to the U.S. military, including the U.S. Coast Guard (the “USCG”), homeland security agencies and emergency/rescue operations, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
 
 
More recently we expanded our focus and are now marketing to companies in the oil and gas segment, the transport refrigeration segment, state and local governments, in particular, the Department of Transportation (“DOT”), and the recreational boating industry.
 
 
Competitive Advantages of the AuraGen®
 
 
We believe the AuraGen® is a superior product due to its convenience, cost efficiency, fuel efficiency, reliability, flexibility in power output, quality of the electricity generated, and its ability to provide the full power at variable speeds as well as provide load following architecture. The AuraGen® is not sensitive to temperature or altitude variations and generates the rated power at or near idle engine RPM.
 
 
The ability to operate at variable speed makes the Aura solution very attractive when the speed of the prime mover varies and is unpredictable, such as wind turbines and automotive applications.  The variable speed solution is a direct consequence of our system architecture where we separated the power generation from the power delivery by the power buss.
 
 
The load following capability is also a direct result of the system architecture and the separation of the power generation from the power delivery.  The user always draws power from the power buss and the generator only fills the power buss with whatever power was drained by the user.
 
 
The AuraGen® does not require scheduled maintenance and is offered with a three-year warranty, compared to the typical one-year warranty available for a Genset or inverter.
 
 
In addition, the AuraGen® is significantly cleaner for the environment than Gensets, the other generally available mobile power solution. The AuraGen® uses the automotive engine, which is highly regulated for environmental protection. Gensets use small engines that produce significantly higher levels of emissions per unit of power output than the automobile engine.
 
 
The all-electric transport refrigeration AETRU system provides an environmentally friendly solution that also provides significant cost savings to the users. When life cycle costs are compared between the AETRU and the diesel based solution over a 7 year period (typical life time for a TRU) the AETRU system could potentially save an average user approximately $20,000.  In addition the AETRU solution provides zero emissions since the extra diesel is completely eliminated.  This is a significant marketing advantage for those customers who care about the environment. The refrigeration component of the AETRU system is modeled after commercial refrigeration system that does not require any custom parts.
 
 
The AuraGen power solution, or wind turbine, is different from all other known solutions in the market place. The AuraGen system architecture that separates the power delivery from the user provides the AuraGen with the ability to provide a system that can ensure the end user of uninterrupted power when wind is just not available as well as load following for higher efficiencies and lower operating costs.  In addition, the nature of the AuraGen is such that it can be used as a motor to start the mechanical turbine and also as a brake when wind speeds become too high.  The system ability to supply pure sine wave AC power provides the ability to connect to the power grid and the ability to supply DC power allows for charging batteries.  The overall system with the built in inverter and bi-directional power supp ly is significantly cheaper than other solutions where the sine wave inverter alone can cost as much as $0.80 per watt ($4,000 for a 5 kW inverter).
 
 
We believe that barriers to entry make it less likely that a product superior to the AuraGen® will become available in the foreseeable future. The inventions upon which the AuraGen® is based are protected by patents issued by the U.S. Patent Office.  To our knowledge, there are no other patents for axial induction machines with solid rotors such as the AuraGen®.
 

 
 

 

 
Manufacturers and end users of mobile power solutions (including the military) typically require completion of extensive evaluation and approval processes before embracing new systems. After extensive testing, a number of federal, state, DOT departments, and some major industrial companies have approved the AuraGen® for purchase.
 
 
Thousands of AuraGen® units are currently being used for multiple applications and in all types of operating environments, providing a good sample set for reliability analysis. The results show very low failure rates, which we are reducing further via minor hardware and software modifications, better assembly procedures and improved installation training. The U.S. Army has performed its own tests and is continuing to test the AuraGen® under severe conditions. The VIPER, in use by the Special Forces and other combat forces, has been air-drop-certified by the U.S. Army and has been, and is, successfully deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
 
 
The AuraGen® system passed all of the Underwriters Laboratories (“UL”) testing in 2002 and 2003. In late 2004 and early 2005 the U.S. Marine Corps successfully tested the VIPER for safety and other operational capabilities at the Aberdeen Test grounds.
 
 
Target Markets
 
 
Military, Homeland Security Administration and Other Federal Agencies
 
 
We believe the VIPER is a superior mobile power solution compared with existing alternatives for numerous military applications.  The VIPER capability to produce both 120 Volt AC and 28 Volt DC power simultaneously at low engine RPM is critical for many military applications.  In addition, the VIPER’s power management system provides military users with the ability to monitor the quality and quantity of available power, the state of the on-board batteries, and the ability to prioritize different electric loads.  The USCG, after three years of testing, selected the VIPER as the power system for its 190 new patrol boats; SAIC is using the VIPER on all of its VACIS gamma ray scan systems that are used for homeland and base security applications, and numerous units of special forces and regular army are usi ng the VIPER in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The Department of Defense issued a report to Congress in August 2006, which discussed the success of the VIPER in Iraq and Afghanistan.  More recently in May 2009, at the Joint Service Power Expo, the Advance Research Lab (a U.S.N. facility) under the U.S. Army contract, presented the results from their testing of numerous alternators to determine their power output at low RPM and at elevated under the hood temperatures that are expected in desert warfare.  The results show that our VIPER system was the only tested device that performed as advertised.  All the other tested systems only generated approximately 50% of the rated power at idle speed and had significant further de-rating as the temperature increased.  Currently a number of military OEMs are exploring the use of the VIPER for various military programs.
 
 
 Marine
 
 
We believe that the AuraGen® is an ideal product for recreational boats with a length of 25 to 50 feet.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tested the AuraGen® on the “Magna Spirit”, a research vessel, for 3,000 miles on the open ocean and reported flawless performance.  The USCG tested the VIPER for three years before choosing it to power 190 new patrol boats. The United States Navy also tested the VIPER for over 10,000 nautical miles with flawless performance.  All of these organizations are leaders in the introduction of new technologies and safety for marine applications.  More recently a major boat OE M successfully tested the AuraGen® on one of their production boats, and the Company is currently pursuing the required boat related certifications from UL. While the Company is not expecting any delays in getting the required certification, no assurances can be given as to when, or if, such required certification will be completed.
 
 
Oil and Gas Industry
 
 
The oil and gas industry is a heavy user of mobile power for service.  We have identified a number of oil and gas service providers that require the power level, as well as the power quality, generated by the AuraGen®.  In particular, there is a need for very large power to start inductive loads such as compressors, fans and electric motors.  Typically the starting power required is known as lock rotor and can easily reach 30,000 watts.  The AuraGen® ICS design and architecture is such that it can easily support these power levels for the very short times that are required to start the loads.  We have demonstrated 30,000 wat ts starting power for numerous compressors and motors.
 

 
 

 

 
Mid - Size Refrigeration Trucks
 
 
Mid size refrigeration trucks are used throughout the country for the delivery of food.  These trucks typically have a diesel engine mounted over the cab that is used as a generator for the refrigeration unit.  The AuraGen® is an ideal power source that can eliminate the need for the extra diesel engine thus reducing operating cost and fuel costs.  The AuraGen’s® ability to provide high wattage, start-up power is critical for this application, since a typical refrigeration system requires a two to four horsepower compressor.  Such compressors require 20,000 to 30,000 watts of starting power.  The Company has now sold o ver 100 systems for this application and is anticipating significant growth in this segment.
 
Emergency/Rescue
 
The emergency/rescue market relies heavily upon mobile power for lights, communications gear, instruments, medical equipment and digital equipment and tools. As the emergency/rescue market has undergone a transition to digital equipment and portable computers, it has experienced constant growth in mobile power needs. Approximately 20 of these organizations have started to use the AuraGen®.  The Red Cross has used the AuraGen® to power its communication needs in support of disaster relief during Hurricane Katrina and the wildfires in California in October 2007.  In addition, hundreds of fire trucks are now using the AuraGen® as their mobile power source.
 
 
Wind Turbines
 
 
The market for wind energy is exploding as governments and people are looking for alternative sources of energy. Traditional wind energy solutions are based on horizontal wind turbines with one or more blades.  Such machines can vary in size from very small to extremely large with blades that are more than 200 feet long.  All such machines require a high tower, and a mechanical system that can rotate the turbine into the wind direction and away from the wind when it becomes too strong.  These machines need substantial open space and are not found in cities.  A less common solution that is gaining acceptance rapidly is based on a vertical design.  In such a design the turbine is always in the wind, considerable less space is needed, it is more aesthetically appealing, and the generator and support equipment can be placed on the ground.  WePower is aggressively pursuing the vertical design solution.
 
 
The AuraGen is an ideal solution for this application due to the unique design architecture that provides the end user with flexibility and uninterrupted power as wind conditions change.  The unique design provides both AC and DC power capabilities allowing easy integration into the grid and ability to charge batteries. The electronic control box also provides the ability to perform at variable speed (wind speed is unpredictable or controllable) without the need for a gearbox or transmission, resulting in both upfront cost savings as well as maintenance and operating cost savings.
 
 
Facilities, Manufacturing Process and Suppliers
 
 
Our facilities consist of approximately 55,000 square feet in El Segundo, California and 8,000 square feet in McDonough Georgia. The El Segundo facilities consist of two buildings (approximately 27,500 sq ft each), one that is currently being used for assembly and testing using components that are produced by various suppliers and the other is used for general offices, engineering and warehousing.   The Georgia facility is used for installation and service. Since December 2007, we have been on a month-to-month lease in the assembly and testing building, and for the second building we entered into a 5-year lease in May 2008.  The combined rent for both El Segundo facilities is approximately $55,000 per month.  The rent in McDonough is approximately $4,000 per month.  We anticipate the consolidat ion of our two El Segundo facilities during fiscal 2011 into the general office end engineering building.  To that end, we are planning leasehold improvements that include expanding the second floor (estimated to cost approximately $200,000) to increase the total available footprint to approximately 45,000 square feet. We feel this facility will be sufficient for our current needs.
 
 
Early in our AuraGen® program, we determined it was most cost-effective to outsource production of components and sub-assemblies to volume-oriented manufacturers, rather than produce these parts in-house.  As a result of this decision, and based on then anticipated sales, prior to fiscal 2001 we purchased, a substantial inventory of components and sub-assemblies at volume prices. Since sales did not meet our expectations, we have been assembling, testing and selling product from this inventory for several years. In order to renew our inventory of components, we will need to renew contracts with such manufacturers or locate other suitable manufacturers. Since
 

 
 

 

 
we emerged from our Chapter 11 reorganization in January 2006, we have renewed our relationships with a number of our old suppliers and are developing relationships with others.  To ensure quality and reliability in the field, we use highly qualified suppliers, the majority of which are ISO 9002 compliant.
 
 
Distribution and Product Support
 
 
We provide a turnkey product and service to support our customers in every area. We have performed all of the development, from basic physics to detailed engineering. We believe our core capabilities provide a solid foundation to resolve technical issues, develop an ongoing line of new products and continually enhance our products.
 
 
Our vehicle integration team develops, engineers, and supplies all of the brackets, pulleys, idlers, belts, tensioners and other components that comprise a mounting system. The group also specifies all of the requirements of the AuraGen® to allow its use with other mobile drives, such as hydraulic systems and PTO applications.
 
 
Our sales and distribution efforts can be classified into three groups; (i) direct sales, (ii) distribution agreements, and (iii) OEM agreements.  We employee a sales force, who is compensated with a modest base salary, and commissions based on sales.  Our wind related applications are through the distribution and supply agreement that we entered into with WePower in February 2009.  We also have an exclusive distribution agreement in Korea for military applications.  We are currently negotiating with a number of other entities for distribution agreements in different parts of the globe.  Our AETRU solution is being sold directly with the aid of large national as well as local leasing companies (most refrigeration trucks are leased by the end users) and more recently our strategic alliance with Zanotti North America and their distribution network.  We sell directly to the military, government agencies and military contractors.  While we have not yet reached any OEM agreements with truck manufacturers, we are working closely with  truck manufacturers both domestic and foreign to integrate the AuraGen into their vehicle at the factory or at the port of entry.
 
 
Research and Development
 
 
We believe that ongoing research and development is important to the success of our product in order to utilize the most recent technology, to develop additional products and additional uses for existing products, to stay current with changes in vehicle manufacture and design and to maintain an ongoing advantage over potential competition. Our engineering, research and development costs increased to approximately $ 2.3 million in fiscal 2010 from $1.9 million in fiscal 2009 and is planned to increase fiscal 2011 to over $2.8 million.
 
 
We are engaged in numerous new and enhanced developments of our AuraGen/VIPER both as company sponsored research and development (“R&D”) and contract related R&D activities.   Under contracts to the U.S Navy and General Dynamics with additional corporate funds we combined the output of two of our 8.5 kW systems into a single 16 kW circuit.  Among other benefits, this provides us the required power solution to pursue the 40,000 BTU refrigeration trailer market. We are also developing a 3-phase solution, which will allow us to provide 3-phase shore power interface to our systems. The 3-phase solution is currently under test and we expect delivery of the first 3-phase system within the first half of the current fiscal year.  We have enhanced our coil designs and are completing the requir ed testing.  Early results show significant improvements in efficiency with the new coil designs.  We are developing a 30 kW system and are starting to examine a 100 kW system.  Both of these systems are being developed for military applications.  We expect a prototype 30 kW system by the end of the current fiscal year.  In the current fiscal year we plan to design and commercialize a 7.5-8 inch system with up to 4 kW of power.
 
 
We are also enhancing our ECU to be able to (i) provide more power when the prime mover is off, and (ii) support global 240 voltages.  Our current system provides approximately 4 kW when the engine is off and our enhanced system is expected to provide as much as 7 kW with the engine-off mode.  To support global voltages we are changing our high voltage buss to 600VDC since global 220V systems are measured between phase and neutral as compared to the USA standards which are phase to phase.
 
 
For wind applications we are modifying our machine by increasing the number of poles such that we will have maximum generating power at much lower RPMs (wind turbine speeds are expected to be in the 100s RPM as compared to automotive applications of 1,000 RPM).  We expect to have our first 12 pole machines operating by the end of September 2010.
 

 
 

 

 
In order to support larger power systems we are redesigning our ECU with a 1,200VDC buss and ability to handle up to 150 amps of excitation current.
 
 
Patents and Intellectual Property
 
Our intellectual property portfolio consists of trademarks, proprietary know-how and patents.
 
In the area of electromagnetic technology, we have developed numerous magnetic systems and designs that result in a significant increase of magnetic field density per unit volume that can be converted into useful power energy or work.  This increase in field density is a factor of three to four, which, when incorporated into mechanical devices, could result in a significant reduction in size and cost of production for the same performance.
 
The applications of these technological advances are in machines used every day by industrial, commercial and consumers.  We have applied technology to numerous applications in industrial machines, such as generators, motors, actuators and linear motors.
 
The U.S. Patent Office awarded us 29 patents applicable to automotive and industrial applications.  Of those patents, four are focused directly on the AuraGen®, seven are basic magnetic actuation, two are for control systems associated with controlling the magnetic fields in different configurations and 16 are focused on the Electromagnetic Valve Actuator (“EVA”) application
 
The 16 patents associated with the EVA application cover the implementation of a controlled magnetic field as applied to linear motors.  Many of the same techniques are implemented into the AuraGen® control systems and, in particular, the control of the high power board used in the new AuraGen® inverter mode, which uses many elements from the EVA application.
 
We hold the following patents: Nos. 5,734,217; 6,157,175; 6,700,214; 6,700,802; with expiration dates of 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2019 respectively.  The above patents cover three areas, as described below
 
Induction Machine
 
The basic patent covers a new form of induction machine with superior performance in a much smaller size than conventional machines. The solid cast rotor, the shaped magnetic field, the secondary conduction path through the steel, and the axial magnetic orientations are key components of this innovation.
 
Control System
 
This system separates the power generation from the power delivery by introducing a 400 VDC buss. For each cycle of each phase, part of the cycle power is drawn from the bus to run the electronics and energize the coils, while during the other part of the cycle, power is delivered to charge up the buss.  The control system must balance all the timing to effect zero voltage change to the buss under dynamic variations of frequency and loads.  The ability to optimize in real time the slip frequency is a key innovation in motor and generator control for variable speed, variable frequency, and variable load systems.
 
Bi-Directional Power Supply (“BDP”)
 
 
The patented ICS system developed by Aura provides a new capability in power systems.  The BDP allows a system to use multiple sources of power simultaneously.  It is a key component in providing the ability to deliver both AC and DC power simultaneously, as well as the ability to handle large power surges without the need for a throttle controller.
 
 
Employees
 
 
As of May 17, 2010, we employed 61 persons, of which all are full time. We are not a party to any collective bargaining agreements.
 

 
 

 

 
Significant Customers
 
 
During the year ended February 28, 2010, we conducted business with three major customers whose net sales comprised 18.1%, 14.5% and 13.1% of net sales, respectively. As of February 28, 2010, 34.4% of net accounts receivable were due from these customers. During the year ended February 28, 2009, we conducted business with two major customers whose sales comprised 16.2% and 10.2% of net sales, respectively. As of February 28, 2009, three customers accounted for 30% of net accounts receivable.
 
 
Backlog
 
 
As of May 11, 2010, we had a backlog of approximately $32.6 million.  Of this amount, approximately $13.5 million is expected to be delivered during fiscal 2011.  Approximately $3.0 million of the backlog scheduled to be delivered after fiscal 2011 is subject to cancellation or renegotiation at the convenience of the U.S. government. At the prior year comparable period, we had a backlog of approximately $29.5 million, of which initially approximately $23.5 million was scheduled to be delivered after the 2010 fiscal year.  Numerous slowdowns and delays by customers resulted in only half of the scheduled backlog for fiscal 2010 (approximately $3 million) to actually be shipped during fiscal 2010.
 
 
At the prior year comparable period, we had a backlog of approximately $29.5 million, of which approximately $23.5 million was for delivery after the 2010 fiscal year.
 
 
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
 
 
Risk Factors Relating to Our Business
 
 
We have a history of losses and we may not be profitable in any future period.
 
 
In each fiscal year since our organization in 1987 we have not made an operating profit. We have an accumulated deficit in excess of $380 million from our inception through February 28, 2010. Since emerging from bankruptcy in January 2006, we have incurred approximately $36 million in losses. We cannot assure you that we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability or positive cash flow.
 
 
If we are unable to raise capital, our ability to implement our current business plan and ultimately our viability as a company could be adversely affected.
 
 
The cash flow generated from our operations to date has not been sufficient to fund our working capital needs, and we cannot predict when operating cash flow will be sufficient to fund working capital needs. In June 2005 we were forced to file for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, from which we emerged under a court-approved plan of reorganization on January 31, 2006.
 
 
In the past, in order to maintain liquidity we have relied upon external sources of financing, principally equity financing and private and bank indebtedness. We have no bank line of credit and require additional debt or equity financing to fund ongoing operations.  If additional funds are raised through the issuance of equity securities, our shareholders' percentage ownership will be reduced, they may experience additional dilution, and these newly issued equity securities may have rights, preferences, or privileges senior to those of our current shareholders.  As of the date of this report we have no commitments for debt or equity and there are no assurances that financing will be available when needed.   In January 2010 we retained Cappello Capital Corp. as our exclusive financial advisor to assist with our financial needs.  Currently, a number of possible parties have shown an interest in investing in the Company but no agreements have been reached yet. If we cannot raise needed funds, we would be forced to make substantial reductions in our operating expenses, which could adversely affect our ability to implement our current business plan and ultimately our viability as a company.
 
 
Our auditors have qualified their report on our financial statements to indicate that there is substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern, which could adversely affect our ability to obtain third party financing.
 

 
 

 

 
Our auditors, Kabani and Company, have qualified their report on the current financial statements to indicate that there is “substantial doubt” about our ability to continue as a going concern. This opinion is based upon our continuing losses from operations and negative working capital position. The existence of the going concern qualification could affect our ability to obtain financing from third parties or could result in increased cost of this financing.
 
 
Our success over the short-term depends on the commercial success of the AuraGen® products, as we are not currently engaged in any other line of business.
 
Because we have focused our business on developing mobile power solutions in the 3,000 to 25,000 watts range, rather than on diversifying into other areas, our success in the foreseeable future will be dependent upon the commercial success of the AuraGen® product line.

We may have difficulty managing our growth.

We will need to hire employees, rebuild our sales and production infrastructure and improve our operating and financial systems in order to effectively manage any significant growth in demand for our products. If we do not effectively manage our growth, we will not be successful in executing our business plan, which could have a material adverse affect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 
The market acceptance of the AuraGen® is uncertain.
 
 
Our business is dependent upon sales generated from the AuraGen® family of products and increasing acceptance of these products.  We cannot assure you that our products will achieve broad acceptance in the marketplace. The AuraGen® uses new technology and has only been available in the marketplace for a few years. Our financial condition has limited our ability to market the AuraGen® to potential customers. Because our product is radically different from traditionally available mobile power solutions, users may require lengthy evaluation periods in order to gain confidence in the p roduct. OEMs and large fleet users also typically require considerable time to make changes to their planning and production.
 
 
Our business and prospects may be adversely affected by general economic conditions.
 
 
The national economic slowdown has resulted in deferred, delayed and cancelled orders commencing in the latter part of fiscal 2009 and may continue to adversely affect market acceptance and use of AuraGen® products.
 
 
Our business may be adversely affected by industry competition.
 
The industry in which we operate is competitive.  We face substantial competition from companies that have been offering traditional solutions such as Gensets for the last 50 years, and there are more than 40 Genset manufacturers in the United States. These competitors include: Onan, Honda and Kohler.
 
In the TRU area we are competing with Thermo-king and Carrier who dominate the business in the USA. Most of our competitors have greater financial resources than we do, have larger budgets for research, new product development and marketing and have long-standing customer relationships. We must compete with many larger and more established companies in the hiring and retention of qualified personnel.
 
Moreover, this market may attract new competitors that have longer operating histories, greater name recognition and significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources than us.  Our failure to meet our projections for our products’ market acceptance or the ability of our competitors to capture a first mover advantage could have a material adverse impact upon our business, operating results and financial condition.  Furthermore, new product introductions or product enhancements by our current or future competitors or the use of other technologies could cause a loss of market acceptance of our products.
 
We depend on our intellectual property to provide us with a competitive advantage.
 
 
We rely on a number of patents and patent applications to protect the AuraGen® products from unauthorized use by competitors. Our efforts to protect our proprietary rights may not prevent infringement by others or ensure that these
 

 
 

 

 
rights will provide us with a competitive advantage. We cannot assure you that the patents pending relating to the AuraGen® system or future patent applications will be issued or that any issued patents will not be invalidated, circumvented or challenged.
 
 
A portion of our proprietary technology depends upon trade secrets and unpatented technology and proprietary knowledge related to the development, promotion and operation of our products.  While we generally enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants and vendors, we cannot assure you that our trade secrets and proprietary technology will not become known or be independently developed by competitors in such a manner that we have no practical recourse, and there can be no assurance that others will not develop or acquire equivalent expertise or develop products that render our current or future products noncompetitive or obsolete.
 
Litigation regarding intellectual property rights could be time-consuming and expensive and could divert our technical and management personnel from their work.  We cannot assure you that such litigation expenses will not occur in the future. There also can be no assurance that other parties will not take, or threaten to take, legal action against us, alleging infringement of such parties” patents by our current or proposed products.  We cannot assure you that we will have adequate financial resources to successfully institute or defend intellectual property litigation. Insurance coverage to indemnify us against liability for infringement of other parties’ intellectual property rights is either unavailable or prohibitively expensive.

We are dependent upon key employees, and we may face difficulties attracting or retaining key personnel.

Competition for key employees is intense, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to retain our key employees or that we will be able to attract, assimilate and retain other highly qualified personnel in the future.  While we may enter into agreements with our employees regarding patents, confidentiality and related matters, we do not generally have employment agreements with our employees.  The loss of key personnel, especially without notice, or the inability to hire or retain qualified personnel, particularly given our anticipated growth, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
 
We depend on third party manufacturers for certain product components.
 
 
We rely extensively on subcontracts with third parties for the manufacture of most components of the AuraGen®. If these providers do not produce these products on a timely basis, if the products do not meet our specifications and quality control standards, or if the products are otherwise flawed, we may have to delay product delivery, or recall or replace unacceptable products. In addition, such failures could damage our reputation and could adversely affect our operating results. As a result, we could lose potential customers and any revenues that we may have at that time may decline dramatically.
 
 
Although we generally use standard industrial and electrical parts and components for our products, some of our components are currently available only from a single source or from limited sources. We may experience delays in production of the AuraGen® if we fail to identify alternate vendors or if any parts supply is interrupted or reduced, or if there is a significant increase in production costs or decline in component quality.
 
 
We will need to renew sources of supply to meet increases in demand for the AuraGen®.
 
 
We purchased the basic components for the AuraGen® units currently being sold under a bulk order placed prior to fiscal 2001. Due to sales not meeting anticipated levels, we have been selling from this inventory. In order to renew this inventory, we will need to renew contracts with such manufacturers or locate other suitable manufacturers. Although we believe that there are a number of potential manufacturers of the components, we cannot assure you that renewed contracts for components can be obtained on favorable terms. Any material adverse change in such contracts could increase our cost of goods.
 
Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

Because our operating results have been uneven and may continue to fluctuate, this could affect our stock price.

Because our efforts since 1999 have been focused entirely on the introduction of the AuraGen® family of products into the marketplace, our revenues and operating results have been uneven and may continue to be so during our

 
 

 

current fiscal year and beyond.  These fluctuations could affect our stock price. Factors which could affect our operating results include:
 
 
- The size, timing and shipment of individual orders;
- Market acceptance of our products;
- Development of direct and indirect sales channels;  and
- The timing of introduction of new products or enhancements.

 
 
We may issue additional shares  of our authorized common  stock  without  obtaining the approval of our stockholders.

 As of the date of this report, our corporate charter currently authorizes our Board of Directors to issue up to 75,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 53,703,207 shares were outstanding as of May 17, 2010. The power of the Board of Directors to issue authorized shares of common  stock is generally not subject to  stockholder  approval  under  Delaware  state law,  the state of our corporate organization. Any additional issuance of our common stock may have the effect of further diluting the equity interest of stockholders, and such dilution could be substantial.

Because our common stock is subject to rules governing low priced  securities, market liquidity for our common stock could be adversely impacted.

Our common stock trades below $5.00 per share and is not listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market or a national or regional securities  exchange.  Therefore, our common  stock is subject to the low priced  security  or  so-called  “penny stock”   rules  that  impose   additional   sales   practice   requirements   on broker-dealers  who sell such  securities  to  persons  other  than  established customers and accredited investors.   For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require, among other things, the delivery, prior to the transaction, 0; of a disclosure  schedule  required by the SEC relating to the penny stock market. These rules also require that the broker determine,  based upon information  obtained  from the  investor,  that transactions in penny  stocks are suitable  for the  investor,  and require the broker to obtain the written  consent of the  investor  prior to  effecting  the penny stock  transaction.  The broker-dealer must also disclose the commissions payable to both the  broker-dealer  and the registered  representative,  current quotations for  the  securities   and,  if  the   broker-dealer   is  the  sole market-maker,  the broker-dealer must disclose this fact and the broker-dealerR 17;s presumed control  over the market.  Finally, monthly statements  must be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited  market in penny stocks.  As long as our common stock is characterized  as a penny stock, the market liquidity for these shares could be severely affected.  The regulations relating to penny stocks could limit the ability of  broker-dealers to sell these securities and, in turn, the ability of stockholders to sell their shares in the secondary market.
 
The potential exercise of outstanding warrants and options could adversely affect the market price of our common stock, dilute the holdings of existing stockholders and impede our ability to obtain additional equity financing.
 
As of May 17, 2010, we had outstanding 12,496,293 options and warrants to purchase our common stock at exercise prices ranging between $1.50 and $4.00. If those option and warrant holders exercise these securities, we will be obligated to issue additional shares of common stock at the stated exercise price.  As of May 17, 2010, the closing price of our common stock was $0.83 per share.  The existence of such rights to acquire common stock at fixed prices may prove a hindrance to our efforts to raise future equity funding, and the exercise of such rights will dilute the percentage ownership interest of our stockholders and may dilute the value of their ownership. Future sale of shares issuable on the exercise of outstanding warrants and options at fixed prices below prevailing market prices, or expectations of such sale s, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock, particularly since such warrants or options may be exercised at a fixed price and resold. Further, the holders of the outstanding warrants may exercise them at a time when we would otherwise be able to obtain additional equity capital on terms more favorable to us.

We do not expect to pay dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.

Although our stockholders may receive dividends if, as and when declared by our Board of Directors, we do not presently intend to pay dividends on our common stock until we are able to generate revenues and profits on a

 
 

 

sustained basis and available cash exceeds our working capital requirements. Therefore, you should not purchase our common stock if you need immediate or future income by way of dividends from your investment.
 
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
 
 
Our facilities consist of approximately 55,000 square feet in El Segundo, California and 8,000 square feet in McDonough Georgia. The El Segundo facilities consist of two buildings (approximately 27,500 sq ft each), one that is currently being used for assembly and testing using components that are produced by various suppliers and the other is used for general offices, engineering and warehousing.   The Georgia facility is used for installation and service. Since December 2007, we have been on a month-to-month lease in the assembly and testing building, and for the second building we entered into a 5-year lease in May 2008.  The combined rent for both El Segundo facilities is approximately $55,000 per month.  The rent in McDonough is approximately $4,000 per month.  We anticipate the consolidat ion of our two El Segundo facilities during fiscal 2011 into the general office end engineering building.  To that end, we are planning leasehold improvements that include expanding the second floor (estimated to cost approximately $200,000) to increase the total available footprint to approximately 45,000 square feet. We feel this facility will be sufficient for our current needs.
 
 
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
We are not a party to any material pending legal proceedings.
 
ITEM 4.  Not Applicable
 
 
PART II
 
 
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
 
 Our shares are listed on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “AUSI”. Set forth below are high and low bid prices for our common stock for each quarterly period in the two most recent fiscal years. Such quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, markdown or commissions and may not necessarily represent actual transactions in the common stock. We had 5,949 stockholders of record as May 17, 2010.
 
Period
High
Low
------
-----
-----
Fiscal 2010
 
 
First Quarter ended May 31, 2009
$1.25
$0.85
Second Quarter ended August 31, 2009
$1.05
$0.85
Third Quarter ended November 30, 2009
$0.90
$0.61
Fourth Quarter ended February 28, 2010
$0.95
$0.58
     
Period
High
Low
------
-----
-----
Fiscal 2009
   
First Quarter ended May 31, 2008
$1.80
$1.01
Second Quarter ended August 31, 2008
$1.30
$1.03
Third Quarter ended November 30, 2008
$1.30
$0.40
Fourth Quarter ended February 28, 2009
$1.00
$0.36
 
On May 17, 2010, the reported closing sales price for our common stock was $0.83.
 
 
Dividend Policy
 
 
We have not paid any dividends on our common stock and we do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.
 

 
 

 

 
Sales of Unregistered Securities
 

 
In the year ended February 28, 2010, we issued 3,305,734 shares of common stock, with 833,721 five year warrants attached with exercise prices ranging from $0.75-$1.25, for cash proceeds of $2,104,400; 94,428 shares were issued upon the exercise of warrants for total consideration of $94,428; 844,566 shares were issued upon the conversion of $569,982 of notes payable and accrued interest; 161,082 shares were issued in settlement of $113,865 of accounts payable; 1,361,667 shares were issued for services valued at $937,009; 300,000 shares were issued to a former employee for the settlement of $294,587 of amounts owed, 151,814 shares were issued for purchase of inventory; and 125,000 shares were issued as an adjustment to the price of a previous issuance of stock.There are no other obligations to provide a price adjustment on any issuance s of stock. All such securities were issued and sold in reliance on the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, and the certificates representing such securities contain a restrictive legend reflecting the limitations on future transfer of those securities. The offer and sale of these securities was made without public solicitation or advertising. The investors represented to us that they were knowledgeable and sophisticated, and were experienced in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating an investment in our securities and were an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933. Each of these investors was afforded full access to information regarding our business.
 

 
Repurchases of Equity Securities
 
 
We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.
 

 
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
 
Forward Looking Statements.

 

 
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations includes many forward-looking statements. For cautions about relying on such forward looking statements, please refer to the section entitled “Forward Looking Statements” at the beginning of this Report immediately prior to “Item 1”.
 
Overview
 
 
We design, assemble and sell the AuraGen®, our patented mobile power generator that uses the engine of a vehicle or any other prime mover to generate power. The AuraGen® delivers on-location, plug-in electricity for any end use, including industrial, commercial, recreational and military applications. We began commercializing the AuraGen® in late 1999. To date, AuraGen® units have been sold in numerous industries, including transport refrigeration, hybrid vans, recreational, utilities, telecommunications, eme rgency/rescue, public works, catering, oil and gas, transportation, government and the military.
 
 
We have not yet achieved a level of AuraGen® sales sufficient to generate positive cash flow. Accordingly, we have depended on repeated infusions of cash in order to maintain liquidity as we have sought to develop sales. During fiscal 2002 through fiscal 2004, we substantially reduced our internal staffing due to the slower-than-anticipated level of AuraGen® sales. We also suspended substantially all research and development activities. We continued to downscale our operations in fiscal 2005 and 2006.  We filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in June 2005 and emerged from Chapter 11 on January 31, 2006, under a plan of reorganization. S ince emerging from the Chapter 11 proceeding, we have begun to increase our research and development activities and started to increase our staff in engineering and sales.
 
 
In May 2008, we entered into an agreement with Emerald Commercial Leasing, Inc., of Conley, Georgia, whereby we acquired the transport refrigeration assets of Emerald, including all rights to drawings, designs, sketches, layouts integration know-how, parts, and vendor lists for the all electric refrigeration system based on commercial refrigeration design valued at approximately $385,000.  In addition, the agreement returns the previously assigned exclusive selling rights for the transport refrigeration industry to Aura. As a result, Aura was able to offer a complete TRU solution to its customers.  We reached an agreement in principle to purchase their service facility for $1,050,000. The facility consists of approximately 6 acres of land and a building of approximately 10,000 square
 

 
 

 

 
feet with several truck service bays and a small amount of office space. The facility was to be used by Aura for warehousing, service, and installation of the AuraGen for customers in the southeastern United States.  Due to the national economic down turn, and in particular the uncertainties in the real estate market, the purchase of the facility was put on indefinite hold, and Aura rented the facility on a month-to-month basis for $7,000 per month. Mr. Joseph Dickman, Emerald’s President, joined Aura as Senior Vice President of sales for OEM applications.  In December 2009, we terminated our lease arrangements with Emerald, settled all outstanding balances, moved into a new 8,000 square facility in McDonough Georgia and terminated our relationship with Mr. Dickman.
 
 
In March 2010, we entered into a strategic alliance with Zanotti of North America.  Zanotti is a 50-year-old Italian company specializing in refrigeration for the food industry with distribution in over 70 countries. The strategic alliance consists of Zanotti providing to Aura all electric transport refrigeration systems that will support both the midsize trucks and refrigeration trailers.  All of Zanotti’s North America dealers (currently approximately 70) will provide service and installation for Aura’s all-electric transport refrigeration solution (“AETRU”).  The alliance also calls for Aura to exclusively use only Zanotti’s refrigeration systems and in return, Zanotti, directly or through its dealer network, is required to  generate sales of no less than 1,000 syste ms of Aura’s AETRU during the first 24 months of the agreement and thereafter no less than 750 systems per year in order to maintain its’ exclusitvity.  In addition Zanotti North America agreed to provide Aura with a credit facility for the purchase of the refrigeration systems.  Currently the parties are working closely on optimizing the AETRU packages as well as on a joint marketing plan.  Deliveries of the Aura/Zanotti AETRU are expected to start in June 2010.
 
 
In February 2009 we entered into an exclusive distribution and supply agreement with WePower a Wind-Turbine company.  Under the agreement Aura will exclusively provide its generators globally for wind energy harvesting applications to WePower, and in return Aura will be the exclusive supplier of generators to WePower for their wind-turbines. The agreement required WePower to purchase from Aura a minimum of 3,000 systems per year.  The domestic as well as the global economic recession has caused significant slowdown in demand for small wind turbines and WePower, like others in its industry, has drastically revised downward their forecast from 3,000 annual units to less than 700 systems per year. The delivery of the initial order for 700 systems has been extended to 2011.  In order to meet the WePower requireme nts we have to customize the AuraGen by changing the number of poles in the machine to allow for lower RPM power generation.  Aura is yet to perform this required customization, which involves changing the winding on the stators.  We anticipate the completion of the customization during the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and expect to begin delivery of systems to WePower during the current fiscal year.
 
 
In June 2009 we entered into an exclusive commercial and industrial distribution agreement with Genergy Inc. for the distribution of AuraGen products in the Republic of Korea (ROK).  The initial agreement was for a period of five years with automatic renewals for two two-year periods, provided the distributor has complied with all of its obligations.   Under the agreement, Genergy Inc. is required to purchase a minimum of $9.5 million over the initial contract life to retain the distribution agreement.  By the end of 2009 Genergy Inc. failed to pay the initial required fees and Aura terminated the agreement.  We are currently exploring any legal remedies that may be available.
 
 
Seokmun Inc. a South Korean company has been Aura’s distributor for military applications since 2006.  Seokmun in 2007 won a 10-year program from the Korean Army to deliver 1,000 AuraGen VIPERs (100 per year).  To date Aura has delivered 300 such systems and will deliver the next 100 systems later this year.  In addition Seokmun was successful in winning the NRRS Korean military program for approximately 132 dual VIPER systems to be delivered over the next three-year period. In addition there are numerous other VIPER programs currently under consideration by the South Korean military.  Due to the successful business relationship, Aura has recently entered into discussions with Seokmun to also become our commercial and industrial distributor in South Korea.
 
 
Our consolidated financial statements included in this Report have been prepared on the assumption that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.
 
 
Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the successful achievement of profitable operations and the ability to generate sufficient cash from operations and obtain financing sources to meet our obligations. There is no assurance that such efforts will be successful.
 
 
Our current level of sales reflects our efforts to introduce a new product into the marketplace. Many purchases of the product are being made for evaluation purposes. We seek to achieve profitable operations by obtaining market acceptance of the AuraGen® as a competitive - superior - product providing mobile power, thereby causing sales to
 

 
 

 

 
increase dramatically to levels which support a profitable operation. There can be no assurance that this success will be achieved.
 
 
Because of our historical net losses and negative working capital position, our independent auditors, in their report on our consolidated financial statements for the year ended February 28, 2010 expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
 
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
 
Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial conditions and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and disclosures on the date of the financial statements. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including, but not limited to, those related to revenue recognition. We use authoritative pronouncements, historical experience and other assumptions as the basis for making judgments. Actual results could differ from those estimates. We believe that the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates in the preparation of our consolidated financia l statements.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
 
The Company’s revenue recognition policies are in compliance with Staff accounting bulletin (SAB) 104. Sales revenue is recognized at the date of shipment to customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, no other significant obligations of the Company exist and collect-ability is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the relevant criteria for revenue recognition are satisfied are recorded as unearned revenue.
 
We recognize revenue for product sales upon shipment and when title is transferred to the customer. When Aura performs the installation of the product, revenue and cost of sales are recognized when the installation is complete. We have in the past earned a portion of our revenues from license fees and recorded those fees as income when we fulfilled our obligations under the particular agreement.

Terms of our sales generally provide for Shipment from our facilities to customers FOB point of shipment. Title passes to customers at the time the products leave our warehouse.


The Company does not offer a general right of return on any of its sales and considers all sales as final. However, if a customer determines that a different system configuration would better suit their application, we will allow them to exchange the system and bill them the incremental cost, or credit them if there is a decrease in the system cost. While some sales are for evaluative purposes, they are still considered final sales. The customers’ evaluation is for them to determine if there is a benefit to them to outfit additional vehicles in their fleets.


The only potential post delivery obligation the Company might have is for the installation of the unit. However, the unit is typically delivered at the time of installation, and the billing is done when the installation is complete. Any discounts that are offered are done as a reduction of the invoiced amount at the time of billing. The Company does not utilize bill and hold. The Company does provide customers with a warranty; however, due to the low sales volume to date, the amount has not been material and is expensed as incurred.

Inventory Valuation and Classification
 
Inventories consist primarily of components and completed units for our AuraGen® product. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market, on a standard cost basis. Provision is made for estimated amounts of current inventories that will ultimately become obsolete due to changes in the product itself or vehicle engine types that go out of production. Due to continuing lower than projected sales, we are holding inventories in excess of what it expects to sell in the next fiscal year. The net inventories which are not expected to be realized within a 12-month period based on current sales forecasts have been reclassified as long term. Management believes that existing inventories can, and will, be sold in the future without signif icant costs to upgrade it to current models and that the valuation of the inventories, classified both as current and long-term assets, accurately reflects the realizable
 

 
 

 

 
values of these assets. The AuraGen® product being sold currently is not technologically different from those in inventory. Existing finished goods inventories can be upgraded to the current model with only a small amount of materials and manpower. We make these assessments based on the following factors: i) existing orders, ii) age of the inventory, iii) historical experience and iv) our expectations as to future sales. If expected sales volumes do not materialize or if significant discounts from current pricing levels are granted to generate sales, there would be a material impact on our financial statements.
 

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets
 
Long-lived assets, consisting primarily of property and equipment, and patents and trademarks, comprise a small portion of our total assets. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying values may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying value of an asset to the future net cash flows expected to be generated by those assets. Net cash flows are estimated based on expectations as to the realize-ability of the asset. Factors that could trigger a review include significant changes in the manner of an asset's use or our overall strategy.
 
 
Stock-Based Compensation
 
 
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation under the provisions of FASB ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation”, which requires the measurement of all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, using a fair value based method and the recording of such expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
The Company accounts for stock option and warrant grants issued and vesting to non-employees in accordance with FASB ASC 505-50, “Equity Based Payments to Non-Employees”, whereas the fair value of the equity based compensation is based upon the measurement date as determined at the earlier of either (a) the date at which a performance commitment is reached or (b) at the date at which the necessary performance to earn the equity instruments is complete.

For the past several years and in accordance with established public company accounting practice, the Company has consistently utilized the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to calculate the fair value of stock options and warrants issued as compensation, primarily to management, employees, and directors.  The Black-Scholes option-pricing model is a widely-accepted method of valuation that public companies typically utilize to calculate the fair value of options and warrants that they issue in such circumstances.

Research and Development

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
 
Specific asset categories are treated as follows:
 
 
Accounts Receivable: We record an allowance for doubtful accounts based on management's expectation of collect-ability of current and past due accounts receivable.
 
 
Property, Plant and Equipment: We depreciate our property and equipment over various useful lives ranging from five to ten years. Adjustments are made as warranted when market conditions and values indicate that the current value of an asset is less than its net book value.
 
 
Patents and trademarks: As our business depends on using new technology to create new products, impairments in patents can be triggered by changed expectations regarding the foreseeable commercial production of products underlying such patents.
 
 
When we determine that an asset is impaired, we measure any such impairment by discounting an asset's realizable value to the present using a discount rate appropriate to the perceived risk in realizing such value. When we determine that an impaired asset has no foreseeable realizable value, we write such asset down to zero.
 

 
 

 

 
Results of Operations
 
 
Fiscal 2010 compared to Fiscal 2009
 
 
Revenues
 
 
Net revenues in fiscal 2010 increased $799,263 to $3,214,792 from $2,415,529 in fiscal 2009, an increase of 33%. The increase is primarily attributable to increased sales to our customers in the refrigeration truck area, an increase in sales on our long-term contract for units for use on military vehicles in South Korea, and an increase in shipments under our long-term contract with the U.S. Coast Guard.
 
 
Cost of Goods
 
 
Cost of goods sold in fiscal 2010 increased $205,122 to $1,745,107 from $1,539,985 in fiscal 2007. As a percentage of net revenues, cost of goods sold decreased to 54% in fiscal 2010 from 64% in fiscal 2009. The decrease is attributable to the variation in the mix of products sold. Dual-VIPER units that were shipped to the U.S. Coast Guard carry a higher gross margin than basic 5Kw systems.
 
 
Engineering, Research and Development
 
 
Engineering, research and development costs increased $388,279 to $2,260,962 in fiscal 2010 from $1,872,683 in fiscal 2009. The increase is attributable to an increase in the number of employees resulting in higher payroll and payroll related costs. Additionally, the Company continued to increase expenditures in the product development area related to the Tangen, the 200 amp ECU and the eight inch generator. .
 
 
Selling, General and Administrative Expense
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $576,788 to $8,386,767 in fiscal 2010 from $7,809,979 in fiscal 2009. The increase is primarily due to an increase in marketing expenditures partially offset by a decrease in legal expenses.
 
 
Stock option compensation expense
 
Stock option compensation expense increased to $6,209,181 in fiscal 2010 from $377,476 in fiscal 2009, an increase of $5,814,367, as a result of the non-cash charges for the issuance of employee stock options in the current year. During the fiscal 2010, the Board of Directors determined that, in order to provide incentives to its’ employees, it was in the best interest of the company to cancel and replace the outstanding employee options that had been granted.  With the employees consent, the company cancelled all outstanding employee options that previously had exercise prices ranging from $2.00 to $3.00, and issued new options with an exercise price of $1.50. Employees were given credit towards the three year vesting period extending from the date of their original hire.
 
Non-Operating Income and Expenses
 
 
Net interest expense decreased to $683,561 in fiscal 2010 from $702,650 in fiscal 2009. The decrease is due primarily to a decrease in the interest on the secured notes payable, which were converted into stock in the third quarter of fiscal 2009, partially offset by increased interest expense on the higher level of notes payable owed to a member of our board in the current fiscal year.
 
 
Net Income/Loss
 
 
Our net loss in fiscal 2010 increased to $16,092,777 from $9,843,962 in fiscal 2009, an increase of $6,248,815. The increase is primarily a result of the increased stock option expense of $6,209,181 as noted above.
 
 

 
 

 
 
Fiscal 2009 compared to Fiscal 2008
 
Revenues
 
Net revenues in fiscal 2009 decreased $433,802 to $2,415,529  from $2,849,331 in fiscal 2008, a decrease of  15%. The decrease is attributable to normal sales fluctuations period to period due to our relatively small sales volume and new customer base, and the poor economic climate which caused some of our customers to delay delivery of some product into fiscal 2010.
 
 
Cost of Goods
 
 
Cost of goods sold in fiscal 2009 decreased $206,376 to $1,539,985from $1,746,361 in fiscal 2008. As a percentage of net revenues, cost of goods sold increased to 64 % in fiscal 2009 from 61% in fiscal 2008. The increase is attributable to the variation in the mix of products sold. Refrigeration systems are comprised of a larger amount of non-Aura manufactured components, which carry a lower gross margin at the resale level.
 
 
Engineering, Research and Development
 
 
Engineering, research and development costs increased $331,066 to $ 1,872,683 in fiscal 2009 from $1,541,617 in fiscal 2008. The increase is primarily attributable to increased rent of approximately $380,000 relating to the Georgia facility we began using in June of 2008, and the new facility in El Segundo, California, which began in May of 2008, partially offset by a reduction in the use of outside consultants of approximately $100,000.
 
 

 
 
Selling, General and Administrative Expense
 
 
Selling, general and administrative increased $1,237,343 to $7,827,317 in fiscal 2009 from $6,589,974 in fiscal 2008. The increase is due to an increase in compensation expense of approximately $1,200,000 including increases in employee related expenses such as health insurance and payroll taxes of approximately $180,000.
 
 
Stock option compensation expense
 
 
Stock option compensation expense decreased $1,279,363 to $377,476 from $1,656,838 in the prior year.  A majority of the options that were granted in the prior fiscal year vested in that period, and therefore were expensed in  fiscal 2009.
 
 
Non-Operating Income and Expense
 
 
Net interest expense increased $534,043  to $702,650 in fiscal 2009 from $168,607 in fiscal 2009. The increase is attributable to a higher level of debt owing to a Board member, which increased from $500,000 at the end of fiscal 2008 to $2,300,000 at the end of fiscal 2009. Additionally, the 7% convertible notes were outstanding for the entire fiscal 2009 year, compared to only two months in fiscal 2008.
 
 
Net Income/Loss
 
 
Our net loss increased $883,476 to $9,843,962 in fiscal 2009 from $8,960,486 in fiscal 2008 as a result of our increase in costs associated with the Georgia facility, our new El Segundo facility, and increased compensation and related costs.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources

In fiscal 2010, we incurred losses of $16.1 million (including $6,209,181 non cash expenses attributed to employee stock option plan as described above)  and had negative cash flows from operations of $6.3 million. In order to fund our cash needs we raised $2.1 million from the sale of our stock in private placements and $.1 million from the exercise of outstanding warrants. We also borrowed $807,500 in short term notes from individuals, with interest rates of 10%, of which $485,000 was subsequently converted into our common stock in fiscal 2010. Additionally, during fiscal 2010, we received periodic advances from a Board member totaling $3.35 million. These advances

 
 

 

carry an interest rate of 10% and are due on demand. As of February 28, 2010, the total amount owing to this Board member is $5.15 million plus accrued interest of $453,199. If the Board member were to demand repayment, we do not currently have the resources to make the payment.   Accrued expenses include $494,830 of accrued interest and $1,050,577 of accrued wages that has not been paid to certain employees of the Company.
 
At February 28, 2010, we had cash of approximately $.05 million, compared to approximately $0.30 million at February 28, 2009. Working capital at February 28, 2010 was a negative $7.3 million as compared to a negative $2.2 million  at the end of the prior fiscal year. Accrued expenses increased $1.2 million due primarily to an increase in accrued payroll as a result of certain employees having pay withheld due to a lack of resources.    At February 28, 2010, we had accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, of approximately $300,000 compared to approximately $300,000 at February 28, 2009. In fiscal 2010 we acquired property and equipment at a cost of approximately $340,000 including upgrading our computer system and software. We acquired property and equipment at a cost of approximately $240 ,000 in fiscal 2009. As of February 28, 2010, we expect to need approximately $200,000 to complete the build-out of the El Segundo facility. During fiscal 2010, we incurred additional debt obligations to one of our Board members in the amount of $3,350,000, with an interest rate of 10%. In the year ended February 28, 2010, we issued 3,305,734 shares of common stock for cash proceeds of $2,104,400; 94,128 shares were issued upon the exercise of warrants for total consideration of $94,428; 844,566 shares were issued upon the conversion of $569,982of notes payable and accrued interest; 161,082 shares were issued in settlement of $113,865 of accounts payable; 1,361,667 shares were issued for services valued at $937,010; 300,000 shares were issued to a former employee for the settlement of $294,587 of amounts owed; and 125,000 shares were issued as a one time adjustment to the price of a previous issuance of stock. There are no other obligations to provide a price adjustment on any issuances of stock.
 
In the year ended February 28, 2009, we issued 2,915,000 shares of common stock for cash proceeds of $2,437,057 and collected subscription receivables of $677,255.In addition, 2,397,137 shares were issued upon the exercise of warrants for total consideration of $2,282,405; 400,000 shares of common stock were issued for the acquisition of $400,000 worth of inventory and supplies in connection with the acquisition of the refrigeration assets of Emerald Commercial Leasing; 430,329 shares of common stock were issued for the exercise of warrants in lieu of payments on our secured notes payable; 100,000 shares of common stock were issued pursuant to an employment agreement we entered into with our Vice President; 2,069,742 shares of common stock were issued upon the conversion of $2,069,742 of secured notes payable and associated accrued intere st; 98,442 shares of common stock were issued in settlement of $98,442 of accounts payable; and 150,000 shares of common stock were issued as fees to members of our Board of Directors for a loan and associated loan guarantees by the Board members.  Shares issued for non-cash consideration were valued pursuant to EITF 98-15. The Company recorded a gain on settlement of debt of $32,820 and $6,742, respectively for the stock issued for settlement of accounts payable of  $98,442 and for stock issued for interest settlement of notes.


The national economic slowdown has resulted in numerous delays and cancellations in acquisitions of new equipment, tools and vehicles as well as delays in upgrades of existing equipment and vehicles.   At the same time, the economic conditions have created an environment where users are open to discussions and evaluations of equipment that could result in operational savings.  In addition, numerous new environmental related rules and regulations that went into effect during 2009 established an atmosphere where users are looking for innovative solutions to address the new regulations as well as new business opportunities.  The above conditions may have a significant impact on our planning and business in fiscal 2011 and beyond.

We have seen a major slow down in during most of  fiscal 2010.  This was in the form of a slow down in delivery schedules for existing contracts and a significant slowdown in new contracts.  Almost a million and half dollars in commercial deliveries on existing contracts during the second half of fiscal 2010 were pushed into fiscal 2011.  Similarly, approximately $1.5 million of a military related program approved by Congress in September of 2008 and 2009  has been delayed and moved into the second quarter of fiscal 2011.
 
 
During the next twelve months we intend on expanding our AuraGen/Viper business both domestically and internationally.    There are four major components necessary to execute a significantly expanding business; (i) augmentation of management and staff, (ii) purchase orders, (iii) facilities and equipment, and (iv) working capital.
We recently hired a new president who is assuming the responsibility for Chief Operating Officer.    We have also very recently added two senior people (PhDs) to our technical staff, and a new Vice President of Sales. We plan to add senior quality assurance and quality control staff as well as a number of mechanical and electrical engineers, a

 
 

 

number of technicians and a number of test engineers.  We plan to add approximately 10 people to our staff in fiscal 2011.

While no assurances can be given, we developed a business model for fiscal 2011 that projects over $22 million of business.   The projections are based on approximately $11 million for transport refrigeration, applications,, approximately $6.0 million for military applications , and estimates of   additionally, $5.0 million is projected for numerous industrial and OEM applications.
 
In order to achieve the planned results we will need sufficient working capital for (i) daily operations, (ii) purchase of raw materials and subassemblies, (iii) purchase of the required equipment, and (iv) supporting cash flow.  Our cash flow analysis is based on certain assumptions that include 45 days for collection of account receivables after shipment, 30 day terms for accounts payable to vendors and suppliers, and all monthly operational costs paid during the month in which they are  incurred.  Based on our business model and projections, as well as historical costs for COGS and other expenses, we determined that the Company will need to raise approximately $10 million in new capital. This would allow us to fund ongoing operations but would not necessarily allow us to pay back our existing debt or defer red payroll. We plan to raise the required capital through the private placement of equity ,convertible debt or straight debt.  As such in January  2010 we retained  Cappello Capital Corp. as our exclusive financial advisor to assist with our financial needs.  Currently, a number of possible parties have shown an interest in investing in the Company but no agreements have been reached as of yet.
 
We are selling systems for all of the applications currently identified in our business model for fiscal 2011. In addition, we are also in the process of enhancing our product line to address an even larger market segment.  We currently provide 5 kW, 8.5 kW and 16 kW solutions and we plan to introduce during the next twelve months 4kW, 12 kW, 25 kW and 50 kW solutions.  While there can be no assurances given that we will complete all the developments described above and be able to commercialize them in the planned time, our business model for fiscal 2011 does not contemplate sales for any product currently not available.
 
Since 2002 substantially all of our revenues from operations have been derived from sales of the AuraGen®. The cash flow generated from our operations to date has not been sufficient to fund our working capital needs, and we cannot predict when operating cash flow will be sufficient to fund working capital needs. In June 2005 we were forced to file for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, from which we emerged under a court-approved plan of reorganization in January 2006.
 
 
In the past, in order to maintain liquidity we have relied upon external sources of financing, principally equity financing and private and bank indebtedness. We have no bank line of credit and require additional debt or equity financing to fund ongoing operations. Currently, we have no binding commitments from third parties to provide financing and we cannot assure you that financing will be available at the times or in the amounts required. The issuance of additional shares of equity in connection with such financing could dilute the interests of our existing stockholders, and such dilution could be substantial. If we cannot raise needed funds, we would also be forced to make further substantial reductions in our operating expenses, which could adversely affect our ability to implement our current business plan and ultimately our viabil ity as a company.
 


 
 
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 
 
See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at page F-1.
 
 
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
 
 
Not applicable.
 

 
 

 

 
ITEM 9A(T).  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the specified time periods. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to its management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Compan y’s management evaluated, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of February 28, 2010.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2010, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls

The Company does not expect that its disclosure controls and procedures or its internal control over financial reporting will prevent all error and all fraud. A control procedure, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control procedure are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control procedures, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusi on of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any control procedure also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control procedure, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that tra nsactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisitions, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of February 28, 2010. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework . Based on this assessment, and on those criteria, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of February 28, 2010.

 
 

 


This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.


ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION

None


 
PART III
 
 
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
 
 
Directors
 
 
The following table sets forth our directors and executive officers, their age, and the office they hold.
 
Name
Age
Title
     
Directors
   
     
Melvin Gagerman
67
Chairman, Director, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and President
Arthur J. Schwartz, PhD
62
Director, Chief Technical Officer
Dr. Maurice Zeitlin
68
Director, Chairman - Nominating Committee; member,  Compensation Committee and Audit Committee
Warren Breslow
67
Director, Chairman - Audit  Committee; member, Nominating Committee and Compensation Committee
Salvador Diaz-Verson,  Jr.
55
Director, Chairman, Compensation Committee; member, Audit Committee and Nominating Committee
     
Other Executive Officers
   
     
Don Macleod
52
President
Yedidia Cohen
54
Vice President of Engineering
 
The following sets forth certain information with respect to our directors and executive officers.
 
 
Melvin Gagerman - Mr. Gagerman has been the CEO and CFO of the Company since we emerged from Chapter 11 proceedings on January 31, 2006. He has many years of experience in all aspects of managing companies and a very strong background in accounting and finance. Mr. Gagerman was the President of Hollywood Trading Co., a distributor of novelty items, from 2000  until February 2006, when he became CEO of the Company.  Prior to that  Mr. Gagerman was the CEO of Surface Protection Industries from 1976 to 1977, where he successfully reorganized key management positions; established relationships with new distributors and upgraded manufacturing abilities, developed aggressive marketing programs to revitalize mature product lines and identified new market opport unities to increase sales and profits.  From 1973 to 1975 Mr. Gagerman was the Chairman and CEO of Applause, where he successfully reorganized a world famous designer, manufacturer and distributor of licensed and generic stuffed toys which had sales of $137 million per year, 700 employees and losses of 12 million dollars a year. By aggressively altering product lines, adding new lines, cutting overhead, restructuring several key management positions, the company produced a $4.5 million profit within one year.   Mr. Gagerman has also served as Managing Partner of Good, Gagerman & Berns, an accounting firm, National Audit Partner for Laventhol and Horwath and Audit Supervisor at Coopers and Lybrand.
 

 
 

 

 
Arthur J. Schwartz, PhD – Dr. Schwartz has been CTO and a director of the Company since it emerged from Chapter 11 proceedings on January 31, 2006. From 2002 to 2006 Dr. Schwartz was a principal in the business consulting firm Aries Group Ltd.  Dr. Schwartz is one of the founders of the Company and was a member of Aura’s management from1987 until 2002 as Executive Vice President, CTO and director.  Dr. Schwartz has been has been involved in all technical aspects of the Company and has been instrumental in many of our government programs. Prior to founding Aura, Dr. Schwartz worked at Hughes Aircraft Company as a senior scientist on classified programs.  Dr. Schwartz has a Ph.D in Physics.
 
Dr. Maurice Zeitlin - Dr. Maurice Zeitlin has been a director of the Company since it emerged from Chapter 11 proceedings on January 31, 2006. Since 1985, Dr Zeitlin has been the President and owner of Maurice A. Zeitlin M.D., a Medical Corporation.  He currently practices administrative medicine and is the medical director for several Los Angeles area hospitals.  Dr. Zeitlin was a Major in the USAF from 1972 until 1974  He attended the University of Chicago and received his M.D in 1967.
 
Warren Breslow - Mr. Breslow has been a director and Chairman of the Audit Committee since it emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings on January 31, 2006. Mr. Breslow is the General Partner and Chief Financial Officer of Goldrich & Kest  Industries (“G & K Industries”), a property management firm. He joined G & K Industries in 1972 as controller and assumed his current position as General Partner and Chief Financial Officer in 1974. As General Partner and Chief Financial Officer of G & K, Mr. Breslow oversees the financial aspects of G & K’s construction activity, as well as their management operations and information systems center. He is also past president and lifetime member of the board of directors of the Stephen S. Wise Te mple, and supports numerous charitable and civic organizations.  Prior to his association with Goldrich & Kest Industries, Mr. Breslow was a manager with the International Accounting firm of Laventhol & Horwath.  He is a CPA and graduated from the Bernard Baruch School of Business Administration.
 
Salvador Diaz-Verson,  Jr. is a director of the Company and has served in this capacity since June, 2007.  He previously served as a director of the Company from 1997 to 2005.  Mr. Diaz-Verson is the founder, Chairman and  President of  Diaz-Verson  Capital  Investments, Inc.,  an  Investment  Adviser  registered  with  the SEC, where he has served since 1991.  Mr.  Diaz-Verson served as  President  and  member of the Board of Directors of American Family Corporation (AFLCAC Inc.) a publicly held insurance holding company,  from 1979 until 1991. Mr. Diaz-Verson also served as Executive Vice Presid ent and Chief  Investment  Officer of American  Family Life Assurance Company,  subsidiary of AFLAC Inc., from 1976 through 1991. He is currently a Director of the board of Miramar  Securities,  Clemente  Capital  Inc.,  Regions  Bank of Georgia and The Philippine Strategic Investment Holding Limited. Since 1992, Mr. Diaz-Verson has also  been a  member  of the  Board  of  Trustees  of the  Christopher  Columbus  Fellowship  Foundation,  appointed by  President  George H.W. Bush in 1992, and re-appointed by President Clinton in early 2000.  Mr. Diaz-Verson is a graduate of Florida State University.

Don Macleod – Mr. Macleod has served as President of the Company since April 2009.  Dr. Macleod previously served as an Executive Director of Seagate Technology where he was responsible for motor design, manufacturing development and production line transfer to manufacturing locations. He has also held Executive Director level positions at Seagate in advanced concepts, media engineering and business process development. Prior to joining Seagate in 1986, Dr. Macleod served as VP of Engineering and a member of the board of directors at Applied Motion Products.  Dr. Macleod has been named on 31 U.S. patents, published eight papers on motor technology at international conferences, and led the development of moto r technology for disc drives.  Dr. Macleod earned his Ph.D. in electrical engineering at the University of Leeds in the UK.


Yedidia Cohen – Mr. Cohen has been employed by us since July, 2001, developing numerous magnetic applications, and has been our VP of Engineering since May, 2006.  Prior to being appointed VP of Engineering he was the lead engineer on the AuraGen mechanical tasks.  Mr. Cohen has extensive experience in designing and building highly reliable and durable weapon systems.  He spent much of his professional carrier at Raphael (Weapon development and testing facility for the Israeli Army).  In addition to his vast experience in weapon systems, Mr. Cohen worked for Electric Power Corporation in Haifa, Israel, where he specialized in conceptual design of power generation plane, thermody namic calculations, design of boilers, pressure vessels and heat exchangers. In addition to his engineering skills Mr. Cohen has experience in building and managing teams of engineers working on complex tasks. Mr. Cohen has a M.S.E.E degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Technion in Haifa, Israel.
 
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
 

 
 

 

 
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), requires our officers and directors, and beneficial owners of more than ten percent of the common stock, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. reports of ownership and changes in ownership of the common stock.  During the year ended February 28, 2010, Warren Breslow, a director, was granted options to purchase 1,300,000 shares of common stock for which he failed to file a Form 4, Maurice Zeitlin, a director, was granted options to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock for which he failed to file a Form 4, Salvador Diaz-Verson was granted options to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock for which he failed to file a For m 4 and Arthur Schwartz, a director, surrendered 150,000 options and was granted 900,000 options for which he failed to file a Form 4.
 
Code of Ethics

We have a Code of Ethics for all of our employees, including our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer. The purpose of the Code is to ensure that our business is conducted in a consistently legal and ethical matter. A copy of our Code of Ethics is included as an exhibit to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors recommends selection of independent public accountants to our Board, reviews the scope and results of the year-end audit with management and the independent auditors, reviews our accounting principles and our system of internal accounting controls and reviews our annual and quarterly reports before filing with the SEC. The current members of the Audit Committee are Warren Breslow, (Chairman), Dr. Maurice Zeitlin and Salvador Diaz-Verson. Our Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are “independent” under the rules of the SEC and the listing standards of NASDAQ. Our Board also determined that Mr. Breslow is an “audit committee financial expert” in accordance with applicable SEC regulations.   The Audit Committee has adopted a written Audit Committee charter.
 
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 

 
The following table summarizes all compensation earned for the fiscal years ended February 28, 2010, and  2009, to the  individual who served as our chief executive officer during fiscal 2010, and the two other most highly compensated executive officers who were serving in such capacity as of February 28, 2010 (the "named executive officers").
 


 
2010 Summary Compensation Table
 

Name and Principal Position
 
Fiscal Year
 
Salary ($)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Option
Awards
($) (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
 
 
 
 
 
 
All Other
Compensation ($)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
($)
                 
Melvin Gagerman (1) (6)
 
2010
 
360,000
1,047,679
-
26,781(4)
1,434,460
  Chief Executive Officer,
  Chief Financial  Officer
 
2009
 
360,000
        -
-
46,863(4)
406,863
Arthur J. Schwartz(6)
 
2010
 
180,000
559,457
-
2,326(5)
741,783
  Chief Technical Officer
 
2009
 
180,000
-
-
3,420(5)
183,420
Don Macleod President(4)
 
2010
 
248,000
64,203
-
-
312,203
(1)
Mr. Gagerman was elected Chairman and Chief Financial Officer effective February 1, 2006 and was elected President and Chief Executive Officer effective May 25, 2006.
(2)
Reflects the fair market value amount at the date of grant using the assumptions set forth in Note 9 to the financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
(3)
Mr. Macleod was appointed president in April 2009, with a base salary of $25,000 per month.

 
 

 

(4)
Represents automobile and country club dues allowances, the cost of life insurance premiums, and medical expense reimbursements.
(5)
Represents Company matching contributions to the 401(k) plan.
(6)
During fiscal 2010, 1,400,000 five year options were granted to Melvin Gagerman and 900,000 five year options were granted to Arthur Schwartz, In exchange, 1,400,000 options previously issued to Melvin Gagerman and 150,000 options previously issued to Arthur Schwartz, which had an expiration date of February 28, 2012 and an exercise price of $2.00 - $3.00, were cancelled. The new options carry an exercise price of $1.50 and expire in June of 2014. In accordance with FASB ASC 718, the Company accounted for this transaction as a modification.  Accordingly, the incremental compensation cost resulting from this modification was calculated as the difference between the fair value of the modified award and the fair value of the original award immediately before it was modified.  The fair values were calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing.  Assumptions used for the modified award w ere a risk free rate of return of 3.23%, volatility of 141.61%, a dividend yield of 0%, and an expected life of 5 years.  Assumptions used for the original awards immediately before they were modified were risk free rates of return of ranging from 1.75% to 2.5%, volatility of 141.61%, a dividend yield of 0%, and expected lives ranging from 2.75 to 4 years.
No bonuses or stock awards were granted to the above individuals for the 2010 or 2009 fiscal years.



Outstanding Equity Awards at 2010 Fiscal Year-End

The following table summarizes certain information regarding the number and value of all options to purchase our common stock held by the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table at February 28, 2010. No stock awards or equity incentive plan awards were issued or outstanding during fiscal 2010.

2010 OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR END


 
Option Awards
 
 
 
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
 
 
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
 
 
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
 
 
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Option
Expiration
Date
 
 
Name
 
 
Exercisable
 
 
Un-exercisable
 
 
   
           
           
Melvin Gagerman
1,400,000
0
--
$1.50
6/18/14
Don Macleod(a)
  77,778
322,222
--
$1.50
4/26/14
Arthur J. Schwartz
900,000
0
--
$1.50
6/18/14
Yedidia Cohen
400,000
0
--
$1.50
6/18/14
           

(a)
Mr. Macleod’s options vest ratable over a three year period from the date of grant.



Option Exercises and Stock Vesting During 2010

No stock options were exercised during fiscal 2010 by the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table. No stock awards were issued or outstanding during fiscal 2010.

 
 

 

 

 
 
Employment Contracts, Termination of Employment Contracts and Change in Control Arrangements
 
Gagerman Employment Agreement

Effective November 1, 2006, we entered into a written employment agreement with Melvin Gagerman (the “Gagerman Agreement”) regarding the terms and conditions of his employment as CEO.  The Gagerman Agreement originally was in effect through February 28, 2010, and, commencing March 1, 2007, is automatically extended by an additional year at the beginning of each fiscal year unless we give prior notice of our intent not to extend the agreement.  Accordingly, the Gagerman Agreement is currently in effect until February 28, 2014. The agreement may be terminated before its stated expiration by either of the parties under specified terms and conditions   Following are the material terms of the Gagerman Agreement.

Base Salary and Annual Bonus.

Mr. Gagerman is entitled to a base salary of $360,000 per year.  The Gagerman Agreement also provides for an annual bonus to be approved by the Board of Directors of up to $100,000 based on objective and subjective milestones and, in the case of the 2007 fiscal year, provided the company has the available cash, and an additional annual bonus at the discretion of the Board of Directors of up to $100,000 for achievements in excess of expected milestones.  The initial qualitative milestones and their quantitative relative weight were specified in the Gagerman Agreement for fiscal 2007, fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009, and relate to achievement of specified business, financial and organizational performance goals.  The Company may change both the qualitative goals and relative weight of the goals by giving notice to Mr. Gagerman prior to the fiscal quarter that the change will take effect.  In addition, we retain the discretion under the Gagerman Agreement to pay an annual bonus regardless of whether the stated milestones are achieved.  Bonuses are payable within 45 days after the end of the applicable fiscal year.


Stock Options

The Gagerman Agreement provides for him to receive options to purchase 300,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.00 per share, of which 50,000 options are designated for tax purposes as “incentive stock options” and the remaining options are non-qualified options.  The Gagerman Agreement originally provided for an option term of three years, which was subsequently extended to five years.  The options vest at the rate of 25,000 per month.  Unvested options vest if the Gagerman Agreement is terminated by either party under specified circumstances.  All of these options vested as of November 2007.  In addition to the 300,000 options granted under the Gagerman Agreement, Mr. Gagerman has been granted an additional 700 ,000 options and warrants, described elsewhere in this Report, and remains eligible for future equity compensation awards. In June of 2009, all outstanding options granted to Mr. Gagerman were cancelled with his agreement, and 1,400,000 new five year options exercisable at $1.50 were granted.

Life Insurance, Dues and Car Allowance

The Gagerman Agreement requires us to pay life insurance premiums on his private life insurance policy, up to $7,500 per year.  Mr. Gagerman is also entitled to receive $2,000 per month as an automobile allowance and country club dues, and reimbursement of the country club initiation fee of up to $8,000.

Medical Benefits

In addition to health and dental insurance generally available to all of our employees, Mr. Gagerman is also entitled to receive reimbursement of up to $15,000 per year for all non-covered medical and dental expenses for himself and his spouse, including deductibles and co-payments. His agreement also entitles him to reimbursement for the cost of long term care insurance.


Early Termination of Agreement

 
 

 

The Gagerman Agreement provides that either party may terminate the agreement prior to its stated term upon occurrence of the following events:

 
·
Death or Permanent Disability – The agreement automatically terminates upon Mr. Gagerman’s death or disability (as determined under our Long-Term Disability Plan, which provides for a benefit of 50% of his monthly salary to a maximum of $6,000 per month).

 
·
By the Company For Cause  - We may terminate the agreement for “cause”.  The agreement defines “cause” to include:

 
·
a breach by Mr. Gagerman of his obligations not to compete with us during the term of his employment;
 
·
a breach by Mr. Gagerman of his obligation to maintain confidential information
 
·
commission of an act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty which is injurious to us;
 
·
intentional misconduct which is detrimental to our business or reputation

 
·
By the Company for Non-Performance – We may terminate the agreement upon 120 days prior notice in the event of “non-performance” by Mr. Gagerman.  The agreement defines “non-performance” to mean a determination by not less than 75% of the members of our Board of Directors that Mr. Gagerman is not performing his duties as CEO and the continuation of the non-performance for 15 days after receiving notice of the Board’s determination.

 
·
By The Company Without Cause or Non-Performance – We may terminate the agreement upon not less than 12 months notice, without regard to Mr. Gagerman’s performance.

 
·
By Mr. Gagerman For Cause – Mr. Gagerman may terminate the agreement for “cause” upon not less than 45 days notice.  The agreement defines “cause” to include:

·      A change in his job responsibilities resulting from a demotion; and
·      His removal as a member of the Board of Directors.

 
·
By Mr. Gagerman Without Cause – Mr. Gagerman may terminate the agreement upon not less than 120 days notice without regard to whether we are meeting our obligation under the agreement.

 
·
By Mr. Gagerman Upon a Change of Control -  Mr. Gagerman may terminate the agreement upon not less than 30 days notice at any time following a “change in control.”  The agreement defines change of control to mean:

 
·
The acquisition by a new investor of more than 50% of our common stock, or
 
·
The change of a majority of our board members either by an individual or by one or more groups acting together.

Severance Benefits Upon Termination

Base Salary and Bonus.  Upon the termination of Mr. Gagerman’s employment as CEO, he is entitled to receive accrued salary, unpaid bonus payments (if any) through the effective date of his termination.

Employee Benefits.  All employee benefits, including life insurance premiums and automobile and dues allowances, cease to accrue as of the date of termination.

Stock Options – Upon the termination of Mr. Gagerman’s employment as CEO the portion of the 300,000 options which are vested as of the date of termination remain exercisable in accordance with their terms.  The unvested portion of the 300,000 options terminate upon termination of the agreement unless:

 
·
termination is a result of a “change in control”; or
 
·
We terminate the agreement other than for “cause” or “non-performance.”

in which case the unvested options become fully exercisable upon termination.  All of these options were fully vested as of November 2007.

 
 

 


Lump Sum Severance Payment -  Under the terms of the agreement Mr. Gagerman is entitle to a lump sum severance payment within 45 days of termination equal to the greater of one year’s base salary ($360,000), or the unpaid balance of the base salary which would have been payable if Mr. Gagerman remained employed through the stated term of employment in effect immediately prior to the termination  if:

 
·
termination is a result of a “change in control”;
 
·
Mr. Gagerman terminates the agreement for “cause”; or
 
·
We terminate the agreement other than for “cause” or “non-performance.”

Each of these events is referred to as a “severance payment event.”

Macleod Employment Agreement

Dr. Donald Macleod was appointed as President, effective April 27, 2009. Pursuant to a two-year employment agreement between the Company and Dr. Macleod, dated April 20, 2009, Dr. Macleod  is entitled to (1) an annual salary of $300,000; (2) an option to purchase up to 400,000 shares of common stock of the Company at a price of $1.50 per share, including a provision for cashless exercise of the options; (3) relocation and recruiting expense reimbursement and; (4) participate in all benefit and bonus programs established by the Company for its executive officers. The stock options granted to Dr. Macleod under his employment agreement vest monthly over a three-year period with 1/36th of the shares  vesting monthly until all shares are vested, and provide for earlier vesting under certain circumstances upon termination o f Dr. Macleod’s employment other than by the Company for cause or employee without good reason.  The stock options have a term of up to five years, subject to earlier termination in the event of the termination of his employment prior to the expiration of the options. The stock options are granted under the Company's 2006 Employee Option Plan and are otherwise subject to the terms and conditions applicable to stock options granted under that plan.

Dr. Macleod may terminate the employment agreement at any time upon written notice.  The Company is entitled to terminate the employment agreement prior to the end of the two year term in the event of Dr. Macleod’s death or disability, or for “cause” (as defined in the agreement).  If the employment agreement is terminated as a result of Dr. Macleod’s disability, by the Company other than for cause, or by Dr. Macleod for “good reason”,  Dr. Macleod is entitled to receive a severance payment equal to six months base salary, payable over six months following his termination.


Potential Payments to the Named Executive Officers Upon Termination or Change in Control

Other than the benefits provided for in Mr. Gagerman’s and Dr. Macleod’s written employment agreement, which are described above, none of the named executive officers are entitled to any payments or benefits upon termination, whether by change in control or otherwise, other than benefits available generally to all employees.

Upon the occurrence of a severance payment event for Mr. Gagerman, assuming he were terminated as of February 28, 2010, he would be entitled to a severance payment of $1,080,000, payable within 45 days of the date of his termination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 
 

 

 

 

 
Director Compensation During Fiscal 2010

The following table summarizes all compensation paid to directors other than named executive officers during fiscal 2010.

2010 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE


Name
 
 
Fees
Earned
or Paid
in Cash
($)
 
 
Stock
Awards
($)
 
 
Option
Awards
($) (1)(2)
 
 
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
 
 
All Other
Compensation
($)
 
 
Total
($)
 
 
Maurice Zeitlin (3)
-
-
  250,436
-
-
250,436
Warren Breslow (4)
-
-
1,085,223
-
-
1,085,223
Salvador Diaz-Verson, Jr. (5)
-
-
       250,436
-
-
250,436
 
 
(1)
Reflects the fair market value amount at the date of grant using the assumptions set forth in Note 9 to the financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
(2)
In fiscal 2010 Messrs. Zeitlin and Diaz-Verson were each granted Director Warrants(options) to acquire 300,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $1.50 per share, and Mr. Breslow was granted 1,300,000 Director Warrants(options) of our common stock at an exercise price of $1.50 per share, being not less than the fair market value on the date of grant, which options vest immediately and expire in June  2014. In fiscal 2008 Messrs. Zeitlin, Breslow and Diaz-Verson were each granted Director Warrants (options) to acquire 25,000 shares, of our common stock at an exercise price of $2.50 per share, respectively, being not less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant, which options vest at a rate of 25% every six months and expire in October 2012.
(3)
The director had 325,000 options outstanding as of February 28, 2010.
(4)
The director had 1,025,000 options outstanding as of February 28, 2010.
(5)
The director had 325,000 options outstanding as of February 28, 2010.

Our Board of Directors may, at its discretion, compensate directors for attending board and committee meetings and reimburse the directors for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending such meetings.  Our directors are also eligible to receive stock option grants under our 2006 employee stock option plan and Director Warrants authorized under our Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization.
 
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
 
 
During the 2010 fiscal year our Compensation Committee was comprised of Messrs. Breslow, Diaz-Verson, Jr., and Zeitlin.  None of the members of the Compensation Committee was an executive officer or employee of the Company.  During the 2010 fiscal year, none of our executive officers served on our Compensation Committee.
 

 

 
 
ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
 
The following table sets forth, to the extent of our knowledge, certain information regarding our common stock owned as of June 1, 2009 (i) by each person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of our outstanding Common Stock, (ii) by each of our Directors and the named executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table, and (iii) by all Directors and current executive officers as a group:
 
Beneficial Owner
Number of Shares of Common Stock
Percent of
Common Stock (1))
     
ICM Asset Management, Inc. (2)(3)
2,920,915
5.4%
James M. Simmons (2)(4)
2,977,493
5.5%
Koyah Ventures, LLC (2)(5)
2,537,598
4.7%
Melvin Gagerman (6)
1,933,871
3.5%
Arthur Schwartz (7)
1,609,909
2.9%
Maurice Zeitlin (8)
1,428,760
2.7%
Warren Breslow (9)
2,675,878
4.8%
Salvador Diaz-Verson, Jr. (10)
440,934
*
Don Macleod(11)
281,383
*
All current executive officers and Directors as a group (seven)
8,778,698
14.9%
 
* Less than 1% of outstanding shares.
 
(1)
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The calculation of the percentage of beneficial ownership is based upon 53,703,207 shares of common stock outstanding on May 17, 2010. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by any shareholder and the percentage ownership of such shareholder, shares of common stock which may be acquired by a such shareholder upon exercise or conversion of warrants or options which are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of May 17, 2010,  are deemed to be exercised and outstanding. Such shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the beneficial ownership percentage of any other person.  Shares issuable upon exercise of warrants and options which are subject to shareholder approval are not deemed outstanding for purposes of determining beneficial owners hip. Except as indicated by footnote, to our knowledge, the persons named in the table above have the sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them.
(2)
Number of shares owned is as of December 31, 2009, and is based upon information contained in Schedule 13G jointly filed with the SEC on February 16, 2010, by ICM Asset Management, Inc., Koyah Ventures, LLC, Koyah Leverage Partners, L.P. and James M. Simmons.  The business address of these filers is 601 W. Main Avenue, Suite 600, Spokane, Washington 99201.     ICM Asset Management, Inc., James M. Simmons and Koyah Ventures, LLC constitute a group sharing beneficial ownership within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1), but are not part of a group with any other person. Koyah Leverage Partners, L.P. expressly disclaims membership in a group and disclaims beneficial ownership of the common stock covered by the Schedule 13G.   ICM Asset Management, Inc. is a registered investment adviser whose clients have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of divi dends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the common stock.  James M. Simmons is the Chief Executive Officer and controlling shareholder of ICM Asset Management, Inc. and the manager and controlling owner of Koyah Ventures, LLC. Koyah Ventures, LLC is the general partner of Koyah Leverage Partners, L.P. and other investment limited partnerships of which ICM Asset Management, Inc. is the investment adviser. No individual client of ICM, other than Koyah Leverage Partners, L.P., holds more than five percent of the outstanding common stock.
(3)
Includes sole dispositive and voting power of 862 shares and shared voting and dispositive power of 2,920,053 shares.
(4)
Includes sole dispositive and voting power of 56,578 shares and shared voting and dispositive power of 2,920,915 shares.
(5)
Includes shared voting and dispositive power of these 2,537,598 shares.
(6)
Includes 1,536,329 warrants and options exercisable within 60 days of May 17, 2010.
(7)
Includes  976,183 warrants and options exercisable within 60 days of May 17, 2010.
(8)
Includes 363,692 warrants and options exercisable within 60 days of May 17, 2010.
(9)
Includes 1,311,813 warrants and options exercisable within 60 days of May 17, 2010.
(10)
Includes 373,489 warrants and options exercisable within 60 days of May 17, 2010.
(11)
Includes 133,333 warrants and options exercisable within 60 days of May 17, 2010.

 
The mailing address for the officers and directors is c/o Aura Systems, Inc., 1310 E. Grand Ave., El Segundo, CA 90245.
 
 
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans as of February 28, 2010
 
 
Equity Compensation Plan Information as of February 28, 2010
 
 

 
               
Number of Securities
 
         
Weighted-average
   
Remaining Available for
 
   
Number of Securities to
   
Exercise Price of
   
Future Issuance Under Equity
 
   
be Issued Upon Exercise
   
Outstanding
   
Compensation Plans
 
   
of Outstanding Options,
   
Options, Warrants and Rights
   
(Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a))
 
Plan Category
 
Warrants and Rights
(a)
   
(b)
   
(c)
 
                         
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)
   
6,223,500
   
$
1.50
     
-
 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (2)
   
1,975,000
   
 $
1.50
     
-
 
To
                       
(1)
Reflects options under the 2006 Stock Option Plan. The 2006 Stock Option Plan authorizes the Company to grant stock options exercisable for up to an aggregate number of shares of common stock equal to the greater of (i) 3,000,000 shares of common stock, or (ii) 10% of the number of shares of common stock outstanding from time to time.  The numbers in this table are as of February 28, 2010.  In fiscal 2010 the Company inadvertently issued 6,223,500 options, thereby exceeding the limit by 954, 594 shares. Subsequent to February 28, 2010, in order to stay within the plan limits, 1,400,000 plan options were exchanged for non-plan options.
(2)
Reflects warrants issued to Mssrs. Breslow, Zeitlin, and Diaz-Verson, our three outside directors.

For additional information regarding options and warrants, see Note 9 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this report.
 
 ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
 
 
Related Transactions
 
Since the beginning of the 2010 fiscal year, Mr. Breslow, a director, has made various temporary advances to the Company totaling $4,500,000. The highest amount outstanding at any one time was $6,200,000, and as of May 31, 2010, there was an outstanding balance of $6,200,000. Interest on the advances was at a rate of 10% per annum and totaled $368,033 for the year ended February 28, 2010. As of May 31, 2010, the outstanding accrued interest totaled $ 591,500. No principal or interest was paid to Mr. Breslow in the current fiscal year.
 
Review and Approval of Related Party Transactions
 
Our Audit Committee is responsible for the review and approval of all related party transactions required to be disclosed to the public under SEC rules.  This procedure, which is contained in the written charter of our Audit Committee, has been established by our Board of Directors in order to serve the interests of our shareholders.  Related party transactions are reviewed and approved by the Audit Committee on a case-by-case basis. Under existing, unwritten policy no related party transaction can be approved by the Audit Committee unless it is first determined that the terms of such transaction is on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from an unaffiliated third party on an arms-length basis and is otherwise in our best interest.
 
Director Independence
 
Our Board is comprised of a majority of independent directors under the rules of the SEC and the listing standards of NASDAQ. Our independent directors are Messrs. Zeitlin, Breslow, and Diaz-Verson. Our Board has determined that each member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating Committee is independent under such rules and standards.  Messrs. Gagerman and Schwartz are not independent directors under applicable SEC rules.

 
ITEM 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND DISCLOSURES
 
The Audit Committee regularly reviews and determines whether specific non-audit projects or expenditures with our independent auditors potentially affect their independence. The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent auditors.  Pre-approval is generally provided by the Audit Committee for up to one year, as detailed as to the particular service or category of services to be rendered, as is generally subject to a specific budget. The Audit Committee may also pre-approve additional services of specific engagements on a case-by-case basis.

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed to us by Kabani & Co. for the years ended February 28, 2010, and February 28, 2009:

                 
   
Year Ended February 28,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Audit Fees(1)
 
$
82,500
   
$
90,000
 
Audit-related fees(2)
   
-
     
-
 
Tax fees(3)
   
-
     
5,000
 
All other fees
   
-
     
-
 
             
Total
 
$
82,500
   
$
95,000
 
             
 
     
(1)
 
Included fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements and review of our annual report on Form 10-K and for reviews of the financial statements included in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the first three quarters of the years ended February 28, 2010 and
February 28, 2009.
(2)
 
Includes fees for professional services rendered in connection with our evaluation of internal controls.
(3)
 
Includes fees for professional services rendered in connection with the preparation of our income tax returns.


Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Auditors

The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent auditors. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax and other services. Pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year, and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. The independent auditors and management are required to periodically report to the Audit Committee regarding the extent of services provided by the independent auditors in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for the services performed to date. The Audit Committee may also pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. During fiscal 2010 and 2009 all services provided by Kabani and Company were pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with this policy.
 

 
 

 
 
PART IV
 
 
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
 
Documents filed as part of this Form 10-K:
 
 
1.      Financial Statements
 
 
See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at page F-1
 
 
2.      Financial Statement Schedules
 
 
See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements at page F-1
 
 
3.      Exhibits
 
 
See Exhibit Index
 

 
 

 

 
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
 
Description of Documents
 
 

 
2.1
First Amended Plan of Reorganization of Aura Systems, Inc.(2)
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Aura Systems, Inc. (1)
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Aura Systems, Inc. as amended to date. (1)
10.1
Form of Unsecured Creditor Warrants issued under First Amended Plan of Reorganization of the Company. (3)
10.2
Form of Management Warrants issued under First Amended Plan of Reorganization of Aura Systems, Inc.(3)
10.3
Form of Director Warrants issued under First Amended Plan of Reorganization of t Aura Systems, Inc. (3)
10.4
Aura Systems, Inc. 2006 Stock Option Plan.  (3)
10.5
Form of Aura Systems, Inc. Non-Statutory Stock Option Agreement. (3)
10.6
Employment Agreement dated January 4, 2007, by and between the Company and Melvin Gagerman. (3)
10.7
 Full Release dated as of January 31, 2006, by Aura Systems, Inc. for the benefit of Koyah Leverage Partners, L.P., Koyah Partners, L.P. Koyah Ventures LLC, Raven Partners, L.P., Koyah Microcap Partners Master Fund, L.P. and James M. Simmons. (3)
10.8
Consolidated, Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of January 31, 2006, by Aura Systems, Inc. for the benefit of Koyah Leverage Partners, L.P., Koyah Partners, L.P. Koyah Ventures LLC, Raven Partners, L.P., and Koyah Microcap Partners Master Fund, L.P.  (3)
10.9
Consolidated, Amended and Restated Stock Pledge Agreement dated as of January 31, 2006, by Aura Systems, Inc. for the benefit of Koyah Leverage Partners, L.P., Koyah Partners, L.P. Koyah Ventures LLC, Raven Partners, L.P., and Koyah Microcap Partners Master Fund, L.P. (3)
10.10
Amended and Restated Intercreditor Agreement dated as of January 31, 2006, by and among Aura Systems, Inc., Koyah Leverage Partners, L.P., Koyah Partners, L.P. Koyah Ventures LLC, Raven Partners, L.P., and Koyah Microcap Partners Master Fund, L.P. (3)
10.11
Amended and Restated Promissory Note dated January 31, 2006, by Aura Systems, Inc. in favor of Raven Partners, L.P. (3)
10.12
Amended and Restated Promissory Note dated January 31, 2006, by Aura Systems, Inc. in favor of Koyah Ventures, LLC (3)
10.13
Consolidated, Amended and Restated Promissory Note dated January 31, 2006, by Aura Systems, Inc. in favor of Koyah Partners, L.P. (3)
10.14
Consolidated, Amended and Restated Promissory Note dated January 31, 2006, by Aura Systems, Inc. in favor of Koyah Microcap Partners Master Fund, L.P. (3)
10.15
Consolidated, Amended and Restated Promissory Note dated January 31, 2006, by Aura Systems, Inc. in favor of Koyah Leverage Partners, L.P. (3)
10.16
Lease between Aura Systems Inc., and Alliance Commercial Partners (3)
10.17
Lease between Aura Systems Inc., and Derek Lidow as Trustee for the Lidow Family Trust and Alexander Lidow (3)
10.18
Form of 7% Convertible Subordinated Debenture (4)
10.19
Asset Purchase Agreement by and among Aura Systems, Inc. and Emerald Commercial Leasing, Inc. (4)
10.20
Mutual Agreement Ending AuraGen Distributorship Exclusivity between Emerald Commercial Leasing, Inc. and Aura Systems Inc.(4)
10.21
Employment Agreement Dated May 15, 2008, by and between Joseph Dickman and the Company. (4)
10.22
Conversion Agreement dated as of September 1, 2008, by and among Aura Systems, Inc., Koyah Leverage Partners, L.P., Koyah Partners, L.P. Koyah Ventures LLC, and Raven Partners, L.P. (5)
10.23
Distributorship Agreement dated February 27, 2009, by and between Aura Systems, Inc. and WePower LLC. (6)
10.24
Executive Employment Agreement by and between Don Macleod and Aura Systems, Inc.
10.25
Strategic Alliance Agreement dated March 18, 2010, by and between Aura Systems, Inc. and Zanotti East Inc.
10.26
Amended and Restated Distributorship Agreement dated March 19, 2009, by and between Aura Systems, Inc. and WePower LLC
14.1
Code of Ethics (3)
31.1
CEO Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2
CFO Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
   
(1)
Incorporated by reference from the Company’s Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 15, 2009.
(2)
Incorporated by reference from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 20, 2006.
(3)
Incorporated by reference from the Company’s Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended February 28, 2005.
(4)
Incorporated by reference from the Company’s Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended February 29, 2008.
(5)
Incorporated by reference from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 14, 2008
(6)
Incorporated by reference from the Company’s Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended February 28, 2009.


 
 

 

 

 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
AURA SYSTEMS, INC.
 
Dated:
 June 15, 2010
   
By:
/s/ Melvin Gagerman
 
Melvin Gagerman
 
Chief Executive Officer
 

 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
 
Signatures
Title
Date
/s/ Melvin Gagerman
Chief Executive Officer, Acting Chief Financial Officer Director and Chairman of the Board (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer)
June  15, 2010
Melvin Gagerman
     
/s/ Arthur Schwartz
Director
June  15, 2010
Arthur Schwartz
     
 
Director
June  15, 2010
/s/ Maurice Zeitlin
Maurice Zeitlin
   
 
Director
June 15 , 2010
/s/ Warren Breslow
Warren Breslow
   
 
Director
June  15, 2010
/s/Salvador Diaz-Verson, Jr.
Salvador Diaz-Verson, Jr.
   
 
Director
June  15, 2010
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 


 

 

 
 
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
F-1
   
Consolidated Financial Statements of Aura Systems, Inc. and Subsidiary:
 
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets - February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009
F-2
Consolidated Statements of Operations - Years ended February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009
F-3
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity/(Deficit) - Years ended February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009
F-4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years ended February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009
F-5 to F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-7 to F-20
   

 
 

 

 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
 
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
 
 
Aura Systems, Inc. and subsidiary
 
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Aura Systems, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiary (the “Company”) as of February 28, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the years in the two year period ended February 28, 2010. The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
 
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Aura Systems, Inc. and subsidiary as of February 28, 2010 and 2009, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two year period ended February 28, 2010 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
 
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern.  As more fully described in Note 10 to the financial statements, the Company has historically incurred substantial losses from operations, and the Company may not have sufficient working capital or outside financing available to meet its planned operating activities over the next twelve months.  These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans regarding these matters are described in Note 10. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.
 
/s/ Kabani & Company, Inc.
Certified Public Accountants

Los Angeles, California
June 15, 2010
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
F-1






 
 

 

AURA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
   
February 28, 2010
   
February 28, 2009
 
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 45,294     $ 317,256  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $50,000 and $60,000 at February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively
    313,671       319,249  
Inventory - current
    1,500,000       1,500,000  
Other current assets
    241,749       255,620  
Total current assets
    2,100,714       2,392,125  
                 
Property, plant, and equipment, net
    557,838       353,444  
Inventory, non-current, net of allowance for obsolete inventory of $2,212,626 and $2,425,994 at February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively
    2,140,194       2,545,978  
                 
Total assets
  $ 4,798,746     $ 5,291,547  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
         
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 1,130,276     $ 1,075,202  
Notes payable
    547,500       225,000  
Notes payable- related party
    5,150,000       1,800,000  
Accrued expenses
    2,221,759       1,037,917  
Customer advances
    411,616       418,612  
                 
Total current liabilities
    9,461,151       4,556,731  
                 
Convertible note payable
    500,000       500,000  
                 
Total liabilities
    9,961,151       5,056,731  
                 
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
                 
                 
Stockholders' equity (deficit) :
               
Common stock, $0.0001par value; 75,000,000 and 50,000,000 shares authorized at February 28, 2010 and 2009; 52,689,061 and 46,344,770 issued and outstanding at February 28, 2010 and 2009
    5,268       4,634  
Additional paid-in capital
    374,890,469       364,222,963  
Subscription  receivable
    -       (27,416 )
Accumulated deficit
    (380,058,142 )     (363,965,365 )
                 
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)
    (5,162,405 )     234,816  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity(deficit)
  $ 4,798,746     $ 5,291,547  
                 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

F-2

 
 

 

AURA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
 
For the Years Ended February 28, 2010 and 2009
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Net revenues
  $ 3,214,792     $ 2,415,529  
Cost of goods sold
    1,745,107       1,539,985  
                 
Gross profit
    1,469,685       875,544  
                 
Operating expenses:
               
Engineering, research and development
    2,260,962       1,872,683  
Selling, general, and administrative
    8,386,767       7,827,317  
Stock option and warrants compensation expense
    6,209,181       377,476  
                 
Total operating expenses
    16,856,910       10,077,476  
                 
Loss from operations
    (15,387,225 )     (9,201,932 )
                 
Other income (expense):
               
Interest expense, net
    (683,561 )     (702,650 )
Gain (Loss) on settlement of debt, net
    (43,022 )     39,562  
Other income (expense), net
    21,031       21,058  
                 
Total other expense
    (705,552 )     (642,030 )
                 
Net Loss
  $ (16,092,777 )   $ (9,843,962 )
                 
Basic and diluted loss per share
  $ (0.33 )   $ (0.24 )
                 
*Weighted-average shares outstanding
    48,294,414       41,716,958  
                 
 
* Basic and diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding are equivalent because the effect of
 
 
    dilutive securities is anti-dilutive.
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
 
 

 
 
F-3
 

 
 

 

AURA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY/ (DEFICIT)
 
   
Common
 Stock Shares
   
Common
 Stock Amount
   
Additional Paid-In Capital
   
Subscription Receivable
   
Accumulated
Deficit
   
Total Stockholders' Equity /(Deficit)
 
                                     
Balance, February 28, 2008
    37,783,539     $ 3,778     $ 355,618,690       (704,671 )   $ (354,121,403 )   $ 796,394  
Common stock issued in private placements, net
    2,915,000       292       2,436,766         585,750       -       3,002,807  
Warrants exercised
    2,397,717       240       2,282,165       -       -       2,282,405  
Shares issued in exchange for assets purchased
    400,000       40       399,960       -       -       400,000  
Warrants exercised for note settlement
    430,329       43       430,286       -       -       430,329  
Shares issued for services
    100,000       10       99,990       -       -       100,000  
Shares issued for note conversion
    2,069,742       207       2,069,535       -       -       2,069,742  
Shares issued for debt settlement
    98,442       9       58,871       -       -       58,880  
Shares issued as note guarantee fee
    150,000       15       62,985       -       -       63,000  
Subscription settled with payable
    -       -       -        91,505               91,505  
Induced conversion charge
    -       -       368,900       -       -       368,900  
Employee option expense
    -       -       394,814       -       -       394,814  
Net Loss
    -       -       -       -       (9,843,962 )     (9,843,962 )
Balance, February 28, 2009
    46,344,770     $ 4,634     $ 364,222,963     $ (27,416 )   $ (363,965,365 )   $ 234,816  
                                                 
Common stock issued in private placements, net
 
    3,305,734       331       2,104,069       -       -       2,104,400  
Warrants exercised
    94,428       9       94,419       -       -       94,428  
Shares issued for note conversions
    844,566       84       569,898       -       -       569,982  
Shares issued for settlement of accounts payable
    161,082       16       113,849        -       -       113,865  
Stock issued for inventory purchase
    151,814       15       151,799       -       -       151,814  
Shares issued for services
    1,361,667       136       936,874       -       -       937,010  
Adjustment to prior issuance
    125,000       13       (13 )     -       -       -  
Shares issued for debt settlement
    300,000       30       294,557       -       -       294,587  
Warrant discount and beneficial conversion feature
    -       -       220,289       -       -       220,289  
Employee option and warrant expense
    -       -       6,209,181       -       -       6,209,181  
Subscription receivable write-off
    -       -       (27,416 )     27,416       -       -  
Net Loss
    -       -       -       -       (16,092,777 )     (16,092,777 )
                                                 
Balance, February 28, 2010
    52,689,061     $ 5,268     $ 374,890,469       -     $ (380,058,142 )   $ (5,162,405 )
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
 
 

 
 
F-4
 


 
 

 

AURA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
 

 
 
For the Years Ended February 28, 2010 and 2009
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net loss
  $ (16,092,777 )   $ (9,843,962 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    138,448       78,980  
Provision for bad debt
    25,650       29,184  
Provision for inventory obsolescence
    (213,367 )     (298,405 )
Stock option compensation expense
    6,209,181       394,814  
Stock issued for inventory purchase
    151,814       400,000  
Amortization of debt discount
    220,289       -  
Operating expense charged for induced conversion
    -       368,900  
(Gain) Loss on debt settlement
    43,022       (39,562 )
Stock issued for loan guarantee fee
    -       63,000  
Stock issued for services
    937,010       100,000  
(Increase) decrease in:
               
Accounts receivable
    (20,072 )     438,621  
Inventory
    619,149       875,246  
Other current assets
    13,871       10,564  
Increase (decrease) in:
               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    1,689,329       1,092,038  
Customer advances
    (6,996 )     418,612  
                 
Net cash used in operating activities
    (6,285,449 )     (6,311,970 )
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchase of property, plant, and equipment
    (342,841 )     (238,519 )
                 
                 
                 


(Continued)

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
 


F-5

 
 

 

AURA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
 
 
For the Years Ended February 28, 2010 and 2009
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Cash flows from financing activities:
           
Proceeds from notes payable
    807,500       350,000  
Proceeds from notes payable - related party
    3,350,000       1,300,000  
Payments on notes payable
    -       (125,000 )
Net proceeds from warrants exercised
    94,428       2,282,405  
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
    2,104,400       3,022,807  
                 
Net cash provided by financing activities
    6,356,328       6,830,212  
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (271,962 )     279,724  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    317,256       37,532  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 45,294     $ 317,256  
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Interest paid
  $ 34,849     $ 578,068  
                 
Income taxes paid
  $ -     $ -  
                 
 
Supplemental schedule of non-cash financing and investing activities:
 
 
During the year ended February 28, 2010, $569,982 of notes payable and accrued interest was converted into 844,566 shares of common stock, $113,865 of accounts payable was converted into 161,082 shares of common stock, 300,000 shares of common stock were issued upon settlement of $294,587 owed to a former employee, subscription receivables of $27,416 were written-off to additional paid-in capital, and 125,000 shares of common stock were issued as a price adjustment to a previous private placement.
 
 
During the year ended February 28, 2009, $2,069,743 of notes payable and accrued interest was converted into 2,500,071 shares of common stock, 430,329 shares of common stock were issued upon the exercise of warrants in lieu of payments on notes payable of $430,329, 400,000 shares of common stock were issued in satisfaction of a liability for assets purchased with a value of $400,000,  98,442 shares of common stock were issued in satisfaction of $98,442 of previously recorded liabilities, subscription receivable of $91,505 was settled against previously recorded liability of the same amount.
 
 

 
 

 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
 
 
F-6
 
 

 

 
 

 

 

 
AURA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
February 28, 2010
 
NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS
 
 
Aura Systems, Inc., ("Aura", “We” or the "Company") a Delaware corporation, was founded to engage in the development, commercialization, and sales of products, systems, and components, using its patented and proprietary electromagnetic and electro-optical technology. Aura develops and sells AuraGen® mobile induction power systems to the industrial, commercial, and defense mobile power generation markets. In addition, we hold patents for other technologies that have not been commercially exploited.
 
 
NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
 
Principles of Consolidation
 
 
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Aura and our inactive subsidiary, Aura Realty, Inc. Significant inter-company amounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
 
Revenue Recognition
 
The Company’s revenue recognition policies are in compliance with Staff accounting bulletin (SAB) 104. Sales revenue is recognized at the date of shipment to customers when a formal arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the delivery is completed, no other significant obligations of the Company exist and collect-ability is reasonably assured. Payments received before all of the relevant criteria for revenue recognition are satisfied are recorded as unearned revenue.
 
We recognize revenue for product sales upon shipment and when title is transferred to the customer. When Aura performs the installation of the product, revenue and cost of sales are recognized when the installation is complete. We have in the past earned a portion of our revenues from license fees and recorded those fees as income when we fulfilled our obligations under the particular agreement.

Terms of our sales generally provide for Shipment from our facilities to customers FOB point of shipment. Title passes to customers at the time the products leave our warehouse.

The Company does not offer a general right of return on any of its sales and considers all sales as final. However, if a customer determines that a different system configuration would better suit their application, we will allow them to exchange the system and bill them the incremental cost, or credit them if there is a decrease in the system cost. While some sales are for evaluative purposes, they are still considered final sales. The customers’ evaluation is for them to determine if there is a benefit to them to outfit additional vehicles in their fleets.

The only potential post delivery obligation the Company might have is for the installation of the unit. However, the unit is typically delivered at the time of installation, and the billing is done when the installation is complete. Any discounts that are offered are done as a reduction of the invoiced amount at the time of billing. The Company does not utilize bill and hold. The Company does provide customers with a warranty; however, due to the low sales volume to date, the amount has not been material and is expensed as incurred.
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
 
Cash and equivalents include cash on hand and cash in time deposits, certificates of deposit and all highly liquid debt instruments with original maturities of three months or less.  We maintain cash deposits at a bank located in California.  Deposits at this bank are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000. We have not experienced any losses in such accounts and believe we are not exposed to any significant risk on cash and cash equivalents.
 
 
F-7
 
 
Accounts Receivable
 
 
The Company grants credit to its customers generally in the form of short-term trade accounts receivable.  Accounts receivable are stated at the amount that management expects to collect from outstanding balances.  When appropriate, management provides for probable uncollectible amounts through an allowance for doubtful accounts.  Management primarily determines the allowance based on the aging of accounts receivable balances, historical write-off experience, customer concentrations, customer creditworthiness and current industry and economic trends.  Balances that are still outstanding after management has used reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the allowance for doubtful accounts and a credit to accounts receivable.
 
 
Inventories
 
 
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market, on a standard cost basis.  We review the components of inventory on a regular basis for excess or obsolete inventory based on estimated future usage and sales.  As further described in Note 3, due to continuing lower than projected sales, we are holding inventories in excess of what we expect to sell in the next fiscal year. As of February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009, $2,140,194, and $2,545,978, respectively, of inventories have been classified as long-term assets.
 
 
Property, Plant, and Equipment
 
 
Property, plant, and equipment, including leasehold improvements, are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets as follows:
 
Machinery and equipment
5 to 10 years
Furniture and fixtures
7 years
 
Improvements to leased property are amortized over the lesser of the life of the lease or the life of the improvements. Maintenance and minor replacements are charged to expense as incurred. Gains and losses on disposals are included in the results of operations.
 
 
Patents and Trademarks
 
 
We capitalize the cost of obtaining or acquiring patents and trademarks. Amortization of patent and trademark costs is provided for by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.
 
 
Valuation of Long-Lived Assets
 
 
The Company accounts for the impairment of long-lived assets, such as fixed assets, patents and trademarks, under the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) 360, “Property, Plant, and Equipment”, which establishes the accounting for impairment of long-lived tangible and intangible assets other than goodwill and for the disposal of a business. Pursuant to FASB ASC 360, we review for impairment when facts or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and used may not be recoverable. If such facts or circumstances are determined to exist, an estimate of the undiscounted future cash flows produced by the long-lived asset, or the appropriate grouping of assets, is compared to the carrying value to determine whether imp airment exists. If an asset is determined to be impaired, the loss is measured based on various valuation techniques, including a discounted value of estimated future cash flows. We report impairment costs as a charge to operations at the time it is recognized. During the years ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, we determined that there was no impairment of long-lived assets.
 

 

 

 

 

 
F-8

 
 

 

 
Stock-Based Compensation
 
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation under the provisions of FASB ASC 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation”, which requires the measurement of all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, using a fair value based method and the recording of such expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
The Company accounts for stock option and warrant grants issued and vesting to non-employees in accordance with FASB ASC 505-50, “Equity Based Payments to Non-Employees”, whereas the fair value of the equity based compensation is based upon the measurement date as determined at the earlier of either (a) the date at which a performance commitment is reached or (b) at the date at which the necessary performance to earn the equity instruments is complete.

For the past several years and in accordance with established public company accounting practice, the Company has consistently utilized the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to calculate the fair value of stock options and warrants issued as compensation, primarily to management, employees, and directors.  The Black-Scholes option-pricing model is a widely-accepted method of valuation that public companies typically utilize to calculate the fair value of options and warrants that they issue in such circumstances.
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
 
We measure our financial assets and liabilities in accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC 825 “Financial Instruments”. The carrying values of accounts receivable, accounts payable, current notes payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.  The carrying amounts of long-term convertible notes payable approximate their respective fair values because of their current interest rates payable and other features of such debt in relation to current market conditions. 
 

 
Shipping and handling expenses
 

 
We record all shipping and handling billings to a customer as revenue earned for the goods provided in accordance with FASB ASC 605-45-45-19, “Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs”. We include shipping and handling expenses in selling, general and administrative expense. Shipping and handling expenses amounted to $139,170 and $121,718 for the years ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
Advertising Expense
 
 
Advertising costs are charged to expense as incurred and were immaterial for the years ended February 28, 2010 and 2009.
 
 
Research and Development
 
 
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. These costs include the expenses incurred in the development of the 200amp ECU, the Tamgen  (dual generator), and the eight inch generator.
 
 
Income Taxes
 
 
We account for income taxes in accordance with FASB ASC 740, "Income Taxes".  Under FASB ASC 740, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial statement reporting amounts at each period end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.  The provision for income taxes represents the tax expense for the period, if any, and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.
 
 
F-9
 

 
 

 

 
We have significant income tax net operating losses; however, due to the uncertainty of the realize-ability of the related deferred tax asset and other deferred tax assets, a valuation allowance equal to the amount of deferred tax assets has been established at February 28, 2010 and 2009.
 
 
FASB ASC 740 also provides criteria for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of uncertain tax positions. A tax benefit from an uncertain position may be recognized only if it is “more likely than not” that the position is sustainable based on its technical merit.
 
Earnings (Loss) per Share
 
 
We utilize FASB ASC 260, “Earnings per Share.” Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing earnings (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is computed similar to basic earnings (loss) per share except that the denominator is increased to include additional common shares available upon exercise of stock options and warrants using the treasury stock method, except for periods of operating loss for which no common share equivalents are included because their effect would be anti-dilutive.
 
Estimates
 
 
The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
 
Major Customers
 
 
During the year ended February 28, 2010, we conducted business with three major customers whose net sales comprised 18.1%, 14.5% and 13.1% of net sales, respectively. As of February 28, 2010, 34.4% of net accounts receivable were due from these customers. During the year ended February 28, 2009, we conducted business with two major customers whose sales comprised 16.2% and 10.2% of net sales, respectively. As of February 28, 2009, three customers accounted for 30% of net accounts receivable.
 
 
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
 
In March 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance related to revenue recognition for multiple element deliverables which eliminates the requirement that all undelivered elements must have objective and reliable evidence of fair value before a company can recognize the portion of the consideration that is attributable to items that already have been delivered. Under the new guidance, the relative selling price method is required to be used in allocating consideration between deliverables and the residual value method will no longer be permitted. This guidance is effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in 2011 although early adoption is permitted. A company may elect, but will not be required, to adopt the amendments retrospectively for all prior peri ods. The Company is currently evaluating this guidance and has not yet determined the impact, if any, that it will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic 820 “Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements”.  This ASU requires some new disclosures and clarifies some existing disclosure requirements about fair value measurement as set forth in Codification Subtopic 820-10. The FASB’s objective is to improve these disclosures and, thus, increase the transparency in financial reporting.  This pronouncement is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements.  Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years.  The adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.



F-10

 
 

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued new guidance which is now part of ASC 105-10, “The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”. ASC 105-10 (formerly Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 168),  establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. ASC 105-10 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The adoption of ASC 105-10 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, FASB issued ASU No. 2010-01- Accounting for Distributions to Shareholders with Components of Stock and Cash. The amendments in this Update clarify that the stock portion of a distribution to shareholders that allows them to elect to receive cash or stock with a potential limitation on the total amount of cash that all shareholders can elect to receive in the aggregate is considered a share issuance that is reflected in EPS prospectively and is not a stock dividend for purposes of applying Topics 505 and 260 (Equity and Earnings Per Share). The amendments in this update are effective for interim and annual periods ending on or after December 15, 2009, and should be applied on a retrospective basis. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, FASB issued ASU No. 2010-02 – Accounting and Reporting for Decreases in Ownership of a Subsidiary – a Scope Clarification. The amendments in this Update affect accounting and reporting by an entity that experiences a decrease in ownership in a subsidiary that is a business or nonprofit activity. The amendments also affect accounting and reporting by an entity that exchanges a group of assets that constitutes a business or nonprofit activity for an equity interest in another entity. The amendments in this update are effective beginning in the period that an entity adopts SFAS No. 160, “Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – An Amendment of ARB No. 51.” If an entity has previously adopted SFAS No. 160 as of the date the amendments in this update are included in the Accounting Standards Codification, the amendments in this update are effective beginning in the first interim or annual reporting period ending on or after December 15, 2009. The amendments in this update should be applied retrospectively to the first period that an entity adopted SFAS No. 160. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06 – Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements. This update provides amendments to Subtopic 820-10 that requires new disclosure as follows: 1) Transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2. A reporting entity should disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers. 2) Activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. In the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), a reporting entity should present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements (that is, on a gross basis rather than as one net number). This update provides amendments to Subtopic 820-10 that clarifies existing disclosures as follows: 1) Level of dis-aggregation. A reporting entity should provide fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities. A class is often a subset of assets or liabilities within a line item in the statement of financial position. A reporting entity needs to use judgment in determining the appropriate classes of assets and liabilities. 2) Disclosures about inputs and valuation techniques. A reporting entity should provide disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements. Those disclosures are required for fair value measurements that fall in either Level 2 or Level 3. The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. These disclosures are effective for fiscal yea rs beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU, however, the Company does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2010, FASB issued ASU No. 2010-9 –Amendments to Certain Recognition and Disclosure Requirements. This update addresses certain implementation issues related to an entity’s requirement to perform and disclose subsequent-events procedures, removes the requirement that public companies disclose the date of their financial statements in both issued and revised financial statements. According to the FASB, the revised statements include those that have been changed to correct an error or conform to a retrospective application of U.S. GAAP. The amendment is effective for interim and annual reporting periods in fiscal year ending after June 15, 2010. The Company does not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

F-11

 
 

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued ASC 855 (previously SFAS No. 165, “Subsequent Events”), which establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosures of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued or available to be issued. It is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. There was no material impact upon the adoption of this standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued ASC 860 (previously SFAS No. 166, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets”) , which requires additional information regarding transfers of financial assets, including securitization transactions, and where companies have continuing exposure to the risks related to transferred financial assets. SFAS 166 eliminates the concept of a “qualifying special-purpose entity,” changes the requirements for de-recognizing financial assets, and requires additional disclosures. SFAS 166 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009.  The Company does not believe this pronouncement will impact its financial statements.
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued ASC 810 (previously SFAS No. 167) for determining whether to consolidate a variable interest entity. These amended standards eliminate a mandatory quantitative approach to determine whether a variable interest gives the entity a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity in favor of a qualitatively focused analysis, and require an ongoing reassessment of whether an entity is the primary beneficiary.  These amended standards are effective for us beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2010 and we are currently evaluating the impact that adoption will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-05, which amends ASC Topic 820, Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value, which provides additional guidance on the measurement of liabilities at fair value. These amended standards clarify that in circumstances in which a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not available, we are required to use the quoted price of the identical liability when traded as an asset, quoted prices for similar liabilities, or quoted prices for similar liabilities when traded as assets. If these quoted prices are not available, we are required to use another valuation technique, such as an income approach or a market approach.  These amended standards became effective for us beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009 and have not had a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
Reclassifications
 
 
Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2009 financial statements to conform to the 2010 presentation.
 
 
NOTE 3 – INVENTORIES
 
 
Inventories at February 28, 2010 and 2009 consisted of the following:
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Raw materials
  $ 2,626,206     $ 2,642,833  
Finished goods
    3,226,614       3,829,139  
                 
      5,852,820       6,471,972  
Reserve for potential product obsolescence
    (2,076,018 )     (2,271,535 )
                 
      3,776,802       4,200,437  
Non-current portion
    (2,140,194 )     (2,545,978 )
Discount on long term inventory
    (136,608 )     (154,459 )
                 
Current portion
  $ 1,500,000     $ 1,500,000  
                 
 
Inventories consist primarily of components and completed units for the Company’s AuraGen® product.
 
 

 
 
F-12
 

 
 

 

 
Early in its AuraGen® program, we determined it was most cost-effective to outsource production of components and subassemblies to volume-oriented manufacturers, rather than produce these parts in house. As a result of this decision, and based on then anticipated sales, we purchased, prior to fiscal 2001, a substantial inventory of components at volume prices, most of which was then assembled into finished AuraGen® units. Since sales did not meet such expectations, we have been selling product from this inventory for several years. Management has analyzed its inventories based on its current business plan, current orders for future delivery, and pending proposals with pro spective customers and has determined we do not expect to realize all of its inventories within the next year. The net inventories as of February 28, 2010 and 2009, which are not expected to be realized within a 12-month period have been reclassified as long term.
 
 
We assessed the net realize-ability of these assets, and the potential obsolescence of inventory. In accordance with this assessment, management has recorded a reserve of $2,076,018 and $2,271,535 at February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Management has recorded a discount on long term inventory of $136,608 and $154,459 at February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
 
NOTE 4 – PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT
 
 
Property, plant, and equipment at February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009 consists of the following:
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Machinery and equipment
  $ 1,060,519     $ 1,054,423  
Furniture and fixtures
    1,493,293       1,438,312  
Leasehold improvements
    481,887       200,124  
      3,035,699       2,692,859  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    2,477,861       2,339,415  
Property, plant and equipment, net
  $ 557,838     $ 353,444  
                 
 
Depreciation and amortization expense was $138,448 and $78,980 for the years ended February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009, respectively.
 
 
NOTE 5 – NOTES PAYABLE
 
 
Notes payable at February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009 consisted of the following:
 
   
February 28, 2010
   
February 28, 2009
 
             
Demand notes payable  (a)
 
$
90,000
   
$
225,000
 
Convertible notes payable (b)
   
957,500
     
500,000
 
     
1,047,500
     
725,000
 
                 
Less: Current portion
   
547,500
     
225,000
 
                 
Long-term portion
 
$
500,000
   
$
500,000
 
                 


 
(a)
Consists of one unsecured demand note payable of $50,000, with interest at an annual rate of 10%, on which $5,229 in interest was accrued during the year ended February 28, 2010, and one unsecured demand note with an original balance of $140,000, an additional $50,000 loaned during July 2009, and a remaining balance of $40,000. During the year ended February 28, 2010, the Company settled $85,000 of the notes plus $15,000 in penalties and interest in 158,333 shares of the common stock of the Company. The Company recorded a loss on settlement of debt of $22,750 on the partial settlement. The Company also converted a note payable of $100,000 and accrued interest of $10,009 into 146,680 shares and recorded a loss on settlement of debt of $5,869 on the settlement.

 
F-13

 
 

 

 
(b)
Consists of an unsecured convertible note payable totaling $500,000, bearing interest at a rate of 7%, due in 2013. The note is convertible into our common stock at a price of $3 per share. The Company incurred and paid interest of $34,849 on the note during the year ended February 28, 2010. In April 2009, the Company arranged a debt financing aggregating $192,500 from unrelated parties in exchange for the issuance of 120 day 10% secured convertible promissory notes and 30,800 warrants at an exercise price of $1.25 for the first year. The performance of these notes is secured by inventory of the Company specifically pertaining to the WePower purchase order including all proceeds arising from the sale or lease of all or any part thereof.  As of February 28, 2010, there was no inventory pertaining to WePower. The notes are convertible into our common stock at a price of $0.75 per share. The Company accrued interest of $14,369 on these notes during the year ended February 28, 2010. Also consists of six unsecured convertible notes entered into during the second quarter of fiscal 2010 totaling $565,000. The notes carry an interest rate of 10%, are for a term of 180 days, and are convertible into common stock of the company at $0.75 per share. The company accrued interest of $36,996 on the notes during the year ended February 28, 2010. In the year ended February 28, 2010, $300,000 of the notes payable and $16,950 of accrued and unpaid interest was converted into 539,553 shares of common stock of the Company.  Except for the $500,000 note due in 2013, these notes are past due and therefore due on demand.

The Company allocated the investment proceeds to the debt and warrants based on their relative fair values. The relative fair value of the warrants using the Black Scholes method assuming a volatility of the stock of 107%, term of five years and a discount of 2.625% was determined to be $18,661 which was recorded as debt discount, a reduction of the carrying amount of the debt. The beneficial conversion feature on the notes was $57,161 which was also recorded as debt discount. The debt discount was amortized over the term of the note and charged to interest expense. During the year ended February 28, 2010, $75,822 was expensed.

Future maturities of notes payable at February 28, 2010 are as follows:
 
Year Ending February 28,
     
2011
   
$     547,500
 
2012
   
-
 
2013
   
500,000
 
Total
   
$ 1,047,500
 
 
NOTE 6 – NOTES PAYABLE – RELATED PARTY
 
 
Notes payable – related party consist of unsecured notes payable to a member of our Board of Directors, payable on demand, bearing interest at a rate of 10% per annum. During the years ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, interest amounting to $339,833 and $103,503, respectively, was incurred on these notes.  As of February 28, 2010 and 2009, accrued interest on these notes amounted to $453,199 and $113,366 , respectively.
 
 
NOTE 7 - ACCRUED EXPENSES
 
 
Accrued expenses at February 28, 2010 and 2009 consisted of the following:
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Accrued payroll and related expenses
  $ 1,716,279     $ 904,849  
Accrued interest
    494,830       128,366  
Other
    10,650       4,702  
Total
  $ 2,221,759     $ 1,037,917  
                 
 
F-14
 

 
 

 

 
NOTE 8 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
 
Leases
 
 
On May 1, 2008, we entered into a lease for a new facility of approximately 25,500 square feet, near our current facility. The lease is for a term of five years, has an option to extend for five years, and carries a base rent of $28,019 per month until November 1, 2010 when the monthly rent increases to $30,120. We have not yet fully moved into this facility and are continuing manufacturing operations at our old facility. We are currently on a month to month lease in that facility. In December 2009, we entered into a lease for a facility in Georgia of approximately 8,000 square feet. The lease is for a term of three years, has an option to extend for three years, and carries an initial base rent of $3,000 per month increasing to $3,090 in December 2010 and $3,183 in December 2011.   In accordance with the terms of certai n of the leases, the Company is responsible for common area charges.  Rent expense charged to operations amounted to $820,634 and $687,768 for the years ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
 
Rent  commitments for the next four years ending on February 28:
 
 
 2011    $ 380,904  
 2012   $ 398,803  
 2013   $ 390,089  
 2014    $ 60,241  
 Total   $ 1,230,037  
 

 
NOTE 9 - STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
Common Stock
 
 
At February 28, 2010 and 2009, we had 75,000,000 and 50,000,000 shares of $0.0001 par value common stock authorized for issuance, respectively. During the years ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, we issued 6,344,291 and 8,561,231 shares of common stock, respectively.
 
 
In the year ended February 28, 2010, we issued 3,305,734 shares of common stock, with 833,721 five year warrants attached with exercise prices ranging from $0.75-$1.25, for cash proceeds of $2,104,400; 94,428 shares were issued upon the exercise of warrants for total consideration of $94,428; 844,566 shares were issued upon the conversion of $569,982 of notes payable and accrued interest; 161,082 shares were issued in settlement of $113,865 of accounts payable; 1,361,667 shares were issued for services valued at $937,010; 300,000 shares were issued to a former employee for the settlement of $294,587 of amounts owed, 151,814 shares were issued for purchase of inventory; and 125,000 shares were issued as an adjustment to the price of a previous issuance of stock.
 
In the year ended February 28, 2009, we issued 2,915,000 shares of common stock for cash proceeds of $2,437,057 and collected subscription receivables of $677,255; 2,397,717 shares were issued upon the exercise of warrants for total consideration of $2,282,405; 400,000 shares of common stock were issued for the acquisition of $400,000 worth of inventory and supplies in connection with the acquisition of the refrigeration assets of Emerald Commercial Leasing; 430,329 shares of common stock were issued for the exercise of warrants - the consideration received by the Company was the relief of the note payable the Company owed to the note holder; 100,000 shares of common stock were issued pursuant to an employment agreement we entered into with our Vice President; 2,069,742 shares of common stock were issued upon the conversion of $2,069,7 42 of secured notes payable and associated accrued interest. In conjunction with this transaction, the Company recorded an induced conversion charge in accordance with SFAS 84, in the amount of $368,900, this is included in the interest expense. 98,442 shares of common stock were issued in settlement of $98,442 of accounts payable; and 150,000 shares of common stock were issued as fees to members of our Board of Directors for a loan and associated loan guarantees by the Board members.  Shares issued for non cash consideration were valued pursuant to EITF 96-18. The Company recorded a gain on settlement of debt of $32,820 and $6,742, respectively for the stock issued for settlement of accounts payable of $98,442 and for stock issued for interest settlement of notes.



F-15
 
Employee Stock Options
 
In September, 2006, our Board of Directors adopted the 2006 Employee Stock Option Plan, subject to shareholder approval, which was obtained at a special shareholders meeting.   Under the Plan, the Company may grant options for up to the greater of Three Million (3,000,000) or 10% of the number of shares of the Common Stock of Aura from time to time outstanding. The exercise price of each option shall be at least equal to the fair market value of such shares on the date of grant. The term of the options may not be greater than ten years, and they typically vest over a three year period.

During fiscal 2010, the Board of Directors determined that, in order to provide incentives to its employees, it was in the best interest of the Company to cancel and replace the outstanding employee options that had been granted.  With the employees consent, the Company cancelled all 1,941,500 outstanding employee options that previously had exercise prices ranging from $2.00 to $3.00, and issued 6,515,500 new five year options with a 3 year vesting period, and an exercise price of $1.50. Employees were given credit towards the three year vesting period extending from the date of their original hire.  In accordance with FASB ASC 718, the Company accounted for this transaction as a modification.  Accordingly, the incremental compensation cost resulting from this modification was determined to be $4,487,725 calculated as the difference between the fair value of the modified award and the fair value of the original award immediately before it was modified.  The fair values were calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing.  Assumptions used for the modified award were a risk free rate of return of 3.23%, volatility of 141.61%, a dividend yield of 0%, and an expected life of 5 years.  Assumptions used for the original awards immediately before they were modified were risk free rates of return of ranging from 1.75% to 2.5%, volatility of 141.61%, a dividend yield of 0%, and expected lives ranging from 2.75 to 4 years.
 
Also during the year ended February 28, 2010, the Company granted 400,000 options to the President.  These options vest over three years, have an exercise price of $1.50, and have a five year life.  The grant date fair value of these options amounted to $ 330,187 which was calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:  risk free rate of return of 3.23%, volatility of 141.61%, a dividend yield of 0%, and an expected life of 5 years.
 
 
During the year ended February 28, 2009, the Company granted 450,000 options to an employee to purchase our stock at a price of $3.00.  These options were modified during the year ended February 28, 2010 as described above.
 
 
The Company incurred stock options related expenses of $4,308,448 and $378,184, during the years ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
 
Activity in this plan is as follows:
 
 
2006 Plan
 
     
   
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
   
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
   
Number of Options
 
                   
Outstanding, February 28, 2008
  $ 2.00-3.00     $ 0.00       1,491,500  
Granted
  $ 3.00               450,000  
Cancelled
  $ 3.00               (28,500 )
Outstanding, February 28, 2009
  $ 2.00-3.00               1,913,000  
Granted
  $ 1.50               6,915,500  
Cancelled
  $ 1.50-3.00               (2,545,000 )
Outstanding, February 28, 2010
  $ 1.50     $ 0.00       6,283,500  
 

 
 
F-16
 

 
 

 

 
The exercise prices for the options outstanding at February 28, 2010, and information relating to these options is as follows:
 
Options Outstanding
 
Exercisable Options
 
Range of Exercise
Price
 
Number
 
Weighted Average Remaining Life
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
 
Weighted Average Remaining Life
 
Number
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
 
  $1.50
   
6,283,500
   
4.3 years
 
$
1.50
   
4.3 years
   
5,917,583
 
$
1.50
 
 
The weighted average fair values of the options on the date of grant for the year ended February 28, 2010 and 2009 were $0.83 per share and $1.24 per share, respectively.
 
 
A summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested shares as of February 28, 2010, and changes during the year ended February 28, 2010, is presented below:
 

 
Non-vested Shares
 
  
Shares
   
Weighted-Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Non-vested at February 28, 2009
  
514,500
  
 
$
1.24
Granted
  
6,915,500
  
 
$
0.83
Vested
  
(6,233,881
 
$
0.83
Canceled
  
(830,202
 
$
1.08
 
  
         
Non-vested at February 28, 2010
  
365,917
  
 
$
0.83
 
  
         
 
As of February 28, 2010, there was $528,834 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.25 years.
 
Warrants
 
 
Activity in issued and outstanding warrants is as follows:
 
 
Number of Shares
Exercise Prices
Outstanding, February 28, 2008
6,980,179
$2.00-4.00
Granted
2,785,606
$1.00-$3.00
Exercised
(2,828,046)
$1.00
Cancelled
(3,332,451)
$3.00
Expired
(152,777)
$2.00-2.50
Outstanding, February 28, 2009
3,452,511
$2.00-3.00
Granted
3,254,710
$0.75-1.25
Exercised
(94,428)
$1.00
Outstanding, February 28, 2010
6,612,793
$0.75-4.00
 
During the year ended February 28, 2010, 1,900,000 warrants were granted to Board members and 300,000 were granted to an advisor to the Board. The warrants have an exercise price of $1.50. The grant date fair value of the warrants amounted to $1,836,531 which was calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: risk free rate of return of 3.23%, volatility of 141.61%, a dividend yield of 0%, and an expected life of five years. During the year ended February 28, 2010, the Company also granted 1,054,710 five year warrants attached to private placement of stock, with exercise prices ranging from $0.75-$1.25.
 
 

 
 
F-17
 

 
 

 

 
During the year ended February 28, 2009, 100,000 warrants were granted to a Board member as a fee for entering into a loan agreement with the Company, and 50,000 warrants, 12,500 each, were issued to the other four Board members as a fee for guaranteeing the note. The warrants have an exercise price of $3. The grant date fair value of the warrants amounted to $17,338 which was calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions: risk-free rate of return of 2.25%, volatility of 80.28%, and dividend yield of 0% and expected life of five years. During the year ended February 28, 2009, the Company also re-priced 2,635,606 warrants granted originally with equity issuance in February 2006. The new exercise price was $1 per share.
 
 
The exercise prices for the warrants outstanding at February 28, 2010, and information relating to these warrants is as follows:
 
Range of Exercise Prices
 
Stock Warrants Outstanding
 
Stock Warrants Exercisable
 
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Warrants Outstanding
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Warrants Exercisable
 
 
Intrinsic Value
$0.75-1.25
 
1,354,710
 
1,354,710
 
53 months
 
$1.25
 
$1.25
 
$0.00
$1.50
 
1,900,000
 
1,900,000
 
52 months
 
$1.50
 
$1.50
 
$0.00
$2.00-$3.00
 
1,934,991
 
1,934,991
 
12 months
 
$2.44
 
$2.49
 
$0.00
$3.50
 
805,589
 
805,589
 
22months
 
$3.50
 
$3.50
 
$0.00
$4.00
 
617,503
 
617,503
 
11 months
 
$4.00
 
$4.00
 
$0.00
   
6,612,793
 
6,612,793
               
 
NOTE 10 – GOING CONCERN

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern.  During the years ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, the Company incurred losses of $16,092,777 and $9,843,962, respectively and had negative cash flows from operating activities of $6,285,449 and $6,311,970, respectively.

During the next twelve months we intend on expanding our AuraGen/Viper business both domestically and internationally. There are four major components necessary to execute a significantly expanding business; (i) augmentation of management and staff, (ii) purchase orders, (iii) facilities and equipment, and (iv) working capital.
We plan to add senior quality assurance and quality control staff as well as a number of mechanical and electrical engineers, a number of technicians, and a number of test engineers.

While no assurances can be given, we developed a business model for fiscal 2011 that projects over $30 million of business.   The projections are based on approximately $10 million for wind energy applications under the WePower agreement that was signed in February 2009, approximately $5.0 million for military applications, and estimates of approximately $10.0 million for transport refrigeration application.  Additionally, $5.0 million is projected for numerous industrial and OEM applications.  The total number of systems corresponding to the above projections is approximately 5,000.

In order to achieve the planned results we will need sufficient working capital for (i) daily operations, (ii) purchase of raw materials and subassemblies, (iii) purchase of the required equipment, and (iv) supporting cash flow.  Our cash flow analysis is based on certain assumptions that include 45 days for collection of account receivables after shipment, 30 day terms for accounts payable to vendors and suppliers, and all monthly operational costs paid during the month in which they are incurred.  Based on our business model and projections, as well as historical costs for COGS and other expenses, we determined that the Company will need to raise approximately $10.0 million in new capital. We can not guarantee, but we plan to raise the required capital through the private placement of equity or convertible debt.

We are selling systems for all of the applications currently identified in our business model for fiscal 2010. In addition, we are also in the process of enhancing our product line to address an even larger market segment.  We currently provide 5 kW, 8.5 kW and 16 kW solutions and we plan to introduce during the next twelve months 4kW, 12 kW, 25 kW and 50 kW solutions.  While there can be no assurances given that we will complete all the developments described above and be able to commercialize them in the planned time, our business model for fiscal 2010 does not contemplate sales for any product currently available.
F-18

 
 

 

If the Company is unable to generate profits and is unable to continue to obtain financing for its working capital requirements, it may have to curtail its business sharply or cease business altogether.
 
Substantial additional capital resources will be required to fund continuing expenditures related to our research, development, manufacturing and business development activities.  The Company's continuation as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its obligations on a timely basis, to retain its current financing, to obtain additional financing, and ultimately to attain profitability.

Because of our historic net losses and negative working capital position, our independent auditors, in their report on our consolidated financial statements for the year ended February 28, 2010 expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which contemplate continuation of the Company as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that could result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
 
NOTE 11- INCOME TAXES
 
 
The Company did not record any income tax expense due to the net loss during the years ended February 28, 2010 and 2009. The actual tax benefit differs from the expected tax benefit computed by applying the combined United States corporate tax rate and the State of California tax rate of 40% to loss before income taxes as follows for the years ended February 28, 2010 and 2009:
 
       
             2010
                 2009
 
Current:
   
$
 
$
 
 
  Federal
     
                      -
 
                      -
 
  State
     
                   800
 
                   800
 
             
     Total
     
                   800
 
                   800
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
Deferred
     
 
 
 
 
  Federal
     
                      -
 
                      -
 
  State
     
                      -
 
                      -
 
             
 Total
   
 
                      -
 
                      -
 
 Total Income Tax Provision
         
     
$
                   800
$
                   800
 
 
The provision for income tax is included with other expense in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
 
 
2010
 
2009
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expected tax benefit
34.0%
 
34.0%
 
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
6.0
 
6.0
 
Changes in valuation allowance
(40.0)
 
(40.0)
 
Total
-%
 
- %
 
 
The following table summarizes the significant components of our deferred tax asset at February 28, 2010 and 2009:
 
 
2010
 
2009
Deferred tax asset
     
Primarily relating to net operating loss carry-forwards, but also reserves for inventory and accounts receivable, stock-based compensation and other
$124,000,000
 
$119,000,000
Valuation allowance
(124,000,000 )
 
 (119,000,000)
Net deferred tax asset
$ -
 
$ -
 
F-19
 
 
 
 

 
We recorded an allowance of 100% for deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of its realization.
 
 
At February 28, 2010, we had operating loss carry-forwards of approximately $310,000,000 for federal purposes, which expire through 2024, and $56,000,000 for state purposes, which expire through 2016.
 
 
We follow FASB ASC 740 related to uncertain tax positions. Under FASB ASC 740, the impact of an uncertain tax position on the income tax return must be recognized at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant taxing authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. At February 28, 2010 and 2009, we have no unrecognized tax benefits.
 
Our continuing practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. As of February 28, 2010 and 2009, we have no accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions.
 
We are subject to taxation in the U.S. and California. Our tax years for 2008 and forward are subject to examination by our tax authorities. We are not currently under examination by any tax authority.
 
NOTE 12 - EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 
 
We sponsor two employee benefit plans: The Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "ESOP") and a 401(k) plan.
 
 
The ESOP is a qualified discretionary employee stock ownership plan that covers substantially all employees. We did not make any contributions to the ESOP during the years ended February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009.
 
 
We sponsor a voluntary, defined contribution 401(k) plan. The plan provides for salary reduction contributions by employees and matching contributions by us of 100% of the first 4% of the employees' pre-tax contributions. The matching contributions included in expense were $73,193 and $30,821 for the years ended February 28, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
 
NOTE 13 - SEGMENT INFORMATION
 
 
We are a United States based company providing advanced technology products to various industries. The principal markets for our products are North America, Europe, and Asia.  All of our operating long-lived assets are located in the United States. We operate in one segment.
 
 
Total net revenues from customer geographical segments are as follows for the years ended February 28, 2010 and February 28, 2009:
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
United States
  $ 2,405,709     $ 1,697,089  
Canada
    280,501       282,736  
Europe
    51,117       6,139  
Asia
    477,465       429,565  
Total
  $ 3,214,792     $ 2,415,529  
                 
 
NOTE 14 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
 
Subsequent to the end of the year, we have received $1,050,000 from a member of our Board for a 10% demand note payable, and $360,000 from our CEO for a convertible note bearing interest at a rate of 10%. The note is for 120 days and is convertible into shares of our common stock at a price of $0.75 per share. We also issued 757,130 shares of common stock, with 350,642 warrants attached at an exercise price of $1.50, for net proceeds of $471,000.
 
 
F-20


EX-10.24 2 employmentagr32709-macloed.htm employmentagr32709-macloed.htm
 

 
03/31/09
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 

 

This EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into among and between AURA SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation with principal place of business at 2330 Utah Avenue, El Segundo California 90045 (the “Company”) and DONALD MACLEOD, an individual who resides at 3 Mountain Valley Drive, Scotts Valley California 95066 (the "Executive").

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company has approved and authorized the entry into this Agreement with the Executive; and

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to enter into this Agreement setting forth the terms and conditions for the employment relationship of the Executive with the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual covenants and agreements herein contained and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1: POSITION AND DUTIES

1.1: Position and Duties. Executive shall diligently and conscientiously devote Executive's full business time, attention, energy, knowledge, skill and diligent efforts to the business of the Company and the discharge of Executive's duties hereunder. Executive will abide by all policies and decisions made by the Company, as well as all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations or ordinances. Executive's duties under this Agreement shall be to serve as President, with the responsibilities, rights, authority and duties customarily pertaining to such office and as may be established from time to time by or under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or its designees. E xecutive shall report to the Board and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Executive shall also act as an officer and/or director and/or manager of such affiliates of the Company as may be designated by the Board from time to time, commensurate with Executive's office, all without further compensation, other than as provided in this Agreement. As an exempt, salaried employee, Executive will be expected to work such hours as required by the nature of Executive's work assignments. The Company reserves the right to modify Executive's position and duties at any time in its sole and reasonable discretion.

1.2: Restriction on Employment. Executive represents and warrants that there are no agreements or arrangements, whether written or oral, in effect which would prevent Executive from rendering exclusive services as prescribed in this Agreement to the Company during the term hereof, and that he has not made and will not make any commitment, agreement or arrangement, or do any act in conflict with this Agreement.

1.3: Place of Employment. Executive's performance of services under this Agreement shall be rendered at the Company’s facility in El Segundo, California, subject to necessary travel requirements of Executive's position and duties hereunder.

 
03/31/09
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 

 
 

 


ARTICLE 2: TERM

Subject to the provisions contained in Article 4, Executive's employment by the Company shall be for a term commencing upon a date mutually determined by the Parties but in no event later than April 30, 2009 (that date agreed upon by the Parties being the “Effective Date”), and expiring on the close of business on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the "Employment Term". The Employment Term shall automatically end upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason pursuant to Article 4 herein.

ARTICLE 3: COMPENSATION

3.1: Salary. The Company shall pay to Executive base salary compensation at an annual rate of not less than three hundred thousand ($300,000) dollars. Periodically, the Board shall review Executive's base salary in light of the performance of Executive and the Company, and may, in its sole discretion, maintain or increase (but not decrease) such base salary by an amount it determines to be appropriate. Executive's annual base salary payable hereunder, as it may be maintained or increased from time to time, is referred to herein as the "Base Salary." Base Salary shall be paid in equal installments in accordance with the Company's payroll practices in effect from time to time for executive officers, but in no event less frequently than monthly.

3.2: Benefits. Executive shall be eligible to participate in all employee benefit programs of the Company offered from time to time during the Employment Term by the Company to employees or executive officers of Executive's rank, to the extent that Executive qualifies under the eligibility provisions of the applicable plan or plans, in each case consistent with the Company's then-current practice as approved by the Board from time to time. Except to the extent financially feasible for the Company, the foregoing shall not be construed to require the Company to establish such plans or to prevent the modification or termination of such plans once established, and no such action or failure thereof shall affect this Agreement. Executive recognizes that the Company has the righ t, in its sole discretion, to amend, modify or terminate its benefit plans without creating any rights in Executive.

3.3: Expense Reimbursement. Subject to prior written approval of the Executive’s direct report, during the Employment Term, the Executive shall be authorized to incur reasonable business expenses carrying out his duties and responsibilities in connection with his employment. The Company will reimburse the Executive for such reasonable expenses upon presentation of appropriate vouchers or receipts, in accordance with its then prevailing corporate expense reimbursement policies.

3.4: Relocation and Recruiting Reimbursement. In addition to the foregoing benefits and compensation, Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable costs and expenses relating to relocation and recruitment by the Company, as mutually agreed to by the Executive and the Company.

3.5: Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation and sick time ("PTO") of up to three (3) weeks per calendar year, with such number of weeks being pro-rated for the remainder of the

 
03/31/09
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 

 
 

 

2009 calendar year. Executive may roll-over unused PTO time from one calendar year to another, subject to a maximum of four (4) weeks of accrued PTO.

3.6: Bonus Plan. In the event that the Company shall adopt a bonus program providing for annual bonus awards to eligible employees dependent upon, among other things, the achievement of certain performance levels by the Company, the nature, magnitude and quality of the services performed by such eligible employee for the Company and the compensation paid for positions of comparable responsibility and authority within the Company's industry (the "Employee Bonus Plan"), the Executive shall be included in such Employee Bonus Plan to the extent that Executive is eligible.

3.7: Option Grant. As additional consideration for the services to be rendered by Executive under this Agreement, you shall receive an option to purchase up to four hundred thousand (400,000) shares of Aura Systems’ common stock at a fixed exercise price of $1.50 per share. Such options shall be cashlessly exercisable, shall vest monthly (1/36th each month) over a period of thirty-six (36) months and shall expire five (5) years from the date of grant. All compensation payable to you will be subject to applicable withholding requirements and any securities offered and/or issued to you under this agreement are subject to significant limitations on resale under applicable securities laws.  By signing this agreement, you understand and acknowledge that Aura Syste ms is under no obligation to register any of the securities offered and/or issued under this agreement under the Securities Act, any applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws or any applicable foreign securities laws and that any securities issued in connection with this Agreement will bear any and all restrictive legends as may be required by applicable securities laws.
.

3.8: Stock Holding Period.  Executive understands that any securities offered and/or issued under this Agreement are subject to significant limitations on resale under applicable securities laws.  Executive understands that reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act for resales of the Securities requires, among other conditions, a holding period and volume limitations prior to the resale.  The Executive understands and hereby acknowledges that the Company is under no obligation to register any of the Securities under the Securities Act, any applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws or any applicable foreign securities laws.

3.9: Stock Legends.  The Executive consents to the placement of the legend set forth below, or a substantial equivalent thereof, on any certificate or other document evidencing any securities granted to him by the Company:

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT IN EFFECT WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE SECURITIES ACT.  ANY SUCH TRANSFER MAY ALSO BE SUBJECT TO COMPLIANCE WITH

 
03/31/09
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 

 
 

 

APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND THE LAWS OF OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTIONS.

The Executive further consents to the placement of one or more restrictive legends on any securities issued in connection with this Agreement as may be required by applicable securities laws.  Such Executive is aware that the Company will make a notation in its appropriate records with respect to the restrictions on the transferability of the securities.

3.10: Stock Issuance. All options and shares referenced herein shall be issued subject to and in accordance with the Securities Laws of the United States and Blue Sky laws.  Executive agrees to execute any and all documents and agreements with respect to the issuance and exercise requested by the Company.

3.11: Directors & Officers Insurance. Throughout the Employment Term, the Company shall use reasonable commercial efforts to maintain directors & officers insurance for the benefit of Executive and other executive officers and directors with a level of coverage comparable to other companies in the Company's industry at a similar stage of development.

ARTICLE 4: TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

4.1: Termination of Employment. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, upon written notice, upon the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the death or disability of the Executive; (ii) the Company’s determination that it is terminating Executive for “Cause” (as defined in Section 4.3 below); or (iii) the effective date of a written notice sent to the Company from the Executive stating that the Executive is electing to terminate his employment with the Company.

4.2: Death or Disability. In the event of Executive's death during the Employment Term, the Employment Term shall automatically terminate. If the Company determines in good faith that the Permanent Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Permanent Disability set forth below), it may provide the Executive with written notice in accordance with Section 6.2 of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive’s employment. In such event, the Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the “Disability Effective Date”), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of the Executive’s duties. For purposes of this Agreement, “Permanent Disability” shall have such meaning as under the Company’s disability plan in which the Executive participates or, if the Executive does not participate in any such plan, shall mean the absence of the Executive from the Executive’s duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness, as determined by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or the Executive’s legal representative.

4.3: For Cause: The Company shall have the right to terminate the Employment Term for Cause. "Cause" as used in this Agreement shall mean:

 
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(i) Executive's breach of any of material representations or covenants contained in this Agreement;

(ii) Executive's conviction by, or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in, a court of competent and final jurisdiction for any crime involving moral turpitude or punishable by imprisonment in the jurisdiction involved;

(iii) Executive's commission of an act of fraud, whether prior to or subsequent to the date hereof upon the Company;

(iv) Executive’s failure or refusal, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, to perform specific directives of the Board which are consistent with the scope and nature of Executive’s duties and responsibilities as set forth herein (including the duties described in Article 1), which failure or refusal continues after notice thereof and a reasonable time to cure;

(v) Executive's gross negligence, insubordination or material violation of any duty of loyalty to the Company or any other material misconduct on the part of Executive;

(vi) Executive's intentional commission of any act which Executive knows (or reasonably should know) is likely to be materially detrimental to the Company's business or goodwill; or

(vii) Executive's material breach of any other provision of this Agreement.

4.4: Termination by Executive. Executive shall have the right to terminate the Employment Term for Good Reason (as defined below), upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the Board given within ten (10) days following the occurrence of an event constituting Good Reason; provided that the Company shall have thirty (30) days after the date such notice has been given to the Board in which to cure the conduct specified in such notice. Executive's continued employment during such thirty (30) day period shall not constitute Executive's consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason hereunder. For purposes of this Agreement "Good Reason" shall mean:

(i) a change in Executive's position or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) that represents a substantial reduction in the position or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior thereto; the assignment to Executive of any duties or responsibilities that are materially inconsistent with such position or responsibilities; or any removal of Executive from or failure to reappoint or reelect Executive to any of such positions, except in connection with the termination of Executive's employment for Cause, as a result of his or her Disability or death, or by Executive other than for Good Reason;

(ii) a reduction in Executive's Base Salary other than in connection with a general reduction in wages for all employees of the Company and its parent and subsidiaries, if any;

 
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(iii) the Company's failure to provide Executive with compensation and benefits substantially equivalent (in terms of benefit levels and/or reward opportunities) to those provided for under each of the Company's material employee benefit plan, program and practice as in effect from time to time;

(iv) in the event of any: (1) merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any other corporation or other entity or person; or (2) sale, lease, exchange or other transfer in one transaction or a series of related transactions of all or substantially all the Company's outstanding securities or all or substantially all the Company's assets; or

(v) any material breach by the Company of its obligations to Executive under this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall have the right to terminate his employment hereunder without Good Reason upon sixty (60) days' written notice to the Board, and such termination shall not in and of itself be a breach of this Agreement.

4.5: Termination Payments.

(a) If the Employment Term is terminated pursuant to Section 4.2 for death, the Company shall pay to Executive: (i) his accrued but unpaid Base Salary through the date of termination (plus all accrued and unpaid expenses reimbursable in accordance with Section 3.3); (ii) any accrued but unused PTO; and (iii) at the discretion of the Board, an annual bonus for the year in which Executive's death occurs, prorated through the date of death, based on the Board's good-faith estimate of the actual amount, if any, that would have been payable for such year under the Employee Bonus Plan (assuming Executive had remained employed by the Company through the end of such year) in accordance with Section 3.6.

(b) If the Employment Term is terminated pursuant to Section 4.2 for disability, the Company shall pay to Executive: (i) his accrued but unpaid Base Salary through the date of termination (plus all accrued and unpaid expenses reimbursable in accordance with Section 3.3); (ii) any accrued but unused PTO; (iii) an amount equal to Executive's actual Base Salary (not including any bonus payable) for the six month period immediately prior to such termination, payable in six equal installments during the six month period following such termination; and (iv) at the discretion of the Board, an annual bonus for the year in which Executive's disability occurs, prorated through the date of disability, based on the Board's good-faith estimate of the actual amount, if any, that would have been payable for such year under the Employee Bonus Plan (a ssuming Executive had remained employed by the Company through the end of such year) in accordance with Section 3.6.

(c) If the Employment Term is terminated by Executive pursuant to Section 4.5 for Good Reason, or if the Company terminates the Employment Term other than for Cause, then the Company shall pay to Executive the following, which Executive acknowledges to be fair and reasonable:

 
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(i) Executive's accrued but unpaid Base Salary through the date of termination (plus all accrued and unpaid expenses reimbursable in accordance with Section 3.3);

(ii) any accrued but unused PTO;

(iii) at the discretion of the Board, an annual bonus for the year in which the Employment Term is terminated, prorated through the date of termination, based on the Board's good-faith estimate of the actual amount, if any, that would have been payable for such year under the Employee Bonus Plan (assuming Executive had remained employed by the Company through the end of such year) in accordance with Section 3.6;

(iv) subject to the provisions of this Article 4, an amount equal to Executive's actual Base Salary (not including any bonus payable) for the six (6) month period immediately prior to such termination, payable in six (6) equal installments during the six (6) month period following such termination;

(v) the Company shall pay all costs which the Company would otherwise have incurred to maintain all of Executive's health, welfare and retirement benefits (either on the same or substantially equivalent terms and conditions) if Executive had continued to render services to the Company for two (2) continuous months after the date of his termination of employment; and

(vi) notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in Executive's options under the Option Plan or other plan (including, without limitation, the expiration dates or vesting provisions thereof) or any restricted stock agreement: (1) the unvested portion, if any, of Executive's outstanding options shall be deemed to have vested on the date of termination with respect to the number of shares that would have vested had Executive remained employed by the Company for 12 months following such termination, and Executive shall have 180 days from the date of termination to exercise such options; and (2) any restrictions with respect to any restricted shares of the Company's capital stock that Executive then holds shall immediately lapse with respect to the number of restricted shares that would have vested had Executive remained employed by th e Company for 12 months following such termination.

(d) If the Employment Term is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 4.3 for Cause, or Executive terminates the Employment Term other than for Good Reason, without limiting or prejudicing any other legal or equitable rights or remedies which the Company may have upon such breach by Executive, the Company shall pay Executive his accrued but unpaid Base Salary and any accrued but unused PTO (plus all accrued and unpaid expenses reimbursable in accordance with Section 3.3) through the date of termination.

(e) In addition to the foregoing, upon the termination of Executive's employment, Executive shall be entitled to any other rights, compensation and/or benefits as may be due to Executive in accordance with the terms and provisions of any other benefit, compensation, incentive, medical, disability or life insurance plans, programs or agreements of the Company in effect upon such termination.

 
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(f) The termination payments described above shall supercede any severance program, plan or policy that may be adopted by the Company with respect to its employees generally, and the terms of this Article 4 shall control in the event of any discrepancy with such severance program, plan or policy.

4.6: Obligations of Executive on Termination. Executive acknowledges and agrees that all property, including without limitation keys, credit cards, access codes, passwords, books, manuals, records, reports, notes, contracts, customer lists, Confidential Information as defined Article 5, copies of any of the foregoing, and any equipment furnished to Executive by the Company, belong to the Company and shall be promptly returned to the Company upon termination of employment. Further, upon termination of employment, Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all offices and directorships then held with the Company. Following any termination of employment, Executive shall cooperate with the Company in winding up or transferring to other employees of any pending work and s hall also cooperate with the Company in the defense of any action brought by any third party against the Company that relates to Executive's employment by the Company. Additionally, Executive agrees that following termination of his employment, Executive shall not access or use any of the Company's computer systems, e-mail systems, voicemail systems, intranet system or other system, except as expressly authorized by the Company.

ARTICLE 5: RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

5.1: Protection of Company’s Interests. To the fullest extent allowed by law, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, perform services for any person, firm or corporation and/or engage in any activity which would be directly or indirectly competitive with the Company during the Employment Term. The foregoing will not prevent Executive from holding at any time less than 5% of the outstanding capital stock of any company whose stock is publicly traded.

5.2: Non-Competition and Non-Interference. Executive agrees that during the Employment Term, Executive will not directly or indirectly provide services for, own, manage, or operate any business that is at that time in competition with the Company. Following termination of the Employment Term, Executive shall not: (i) engage in unfair competition with the Company; (ii) aid others in any unfair competition with the Company; (iii) in any way breach the confidence that the Company placed in Executive during the Employment Term; or (iv) breach any of the covenants and agreements made by Executive under this Agreement.

5.3: Nonsolicitation of Employees or Independent Contractors. Executive agrees that during the Employment Term and for a period of three (3) years after termination of the Employment Term (the "Nonsolicitation Period"), Executive will not directly or indirectly, separately or in association with others, interfere with, impair, disrupt or damage the Company’s relationship with any employee or independent contractor; solicit, encourage or attempt to hire any of the Company’s employees or independent contractors; or cause others to solicit or encourage any of the Company’s employees or independent contractors to discontinue their employment or services with the Company.

 
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5.4: Nonsolicitation of Customers. Executive agrees that all customers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for which Executive has or will provide services during the Employment Term, and all prospective customers from whom Executive has solicited business while in the employ of the Company, shall be solely the customers of the Company or such subsidiary. Executive agrees that, for the Nonsolicitation Period, Executive shall neither directly nor indirectly solicit business as to products or services competitive with those of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, from any of the Company's or any of its subsidiaries' customers with whom Executive had contact within twenty-four (24) months prior to Executi ve's termination.

5.5: Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. In Executive's work for the Company, Executive will be expected not to use or disclose any confidential information, including trade secrets, of any former employer or other person to whom Executive has an obligation of confidentiality. Rather, Executive agrees to use only that information which is generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to Executive's, which is common knowledge in the industry or otherwise legally in the public domain, or which is otherwise provided or developed by the Company. Executive agrees that he or she will not bring onto Company premises any unpublished documents or property belonging to any former employer or other person to whom Executive has an obligatio n of confidentiality.

5.6: Company Right to Property, Trade Secrets and Materials. To the fullest extent permitted by law, all rights worldwide with respect to any and all intellectual or other property of any nature produced, created or suggested by the Executive during the Employment Term or resulting from Executive’s services shall be deemed to be a work made for hire and shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company. The Company’s ownership shall specifically include without limitation all rights worldwide with respect to any and all intellectual or other property of any nature produced, created or suggested by the Executive during the Employment Term or resulting from Executive’s services. Executive agrees to execute, acknowledge and deliver to Company at Company' s request, such further documents as Company finds appropriate to evidence Company's rights in such property during the Employment Term and thereafter. Further, the Executive agrees that all styles, designs, data, formulae, lists, materials, books, files, reports, correspondence, records, and other documents (“Company Material”) used, prepared, or made available to the Executive, shall be and shall remain the property of the Company.  Upon the termination of his employment or the expiration of this Agreement, all Company Materials shall be returned immediately to the Company, and the Executive shall not make or retain any copies thereof.

5.7: Confidential Information.  During the Term of this Agreement and thereafter, the Executive shall not either directly or indirectly disclose or use any Confidential Information of the Company, its affiliates or subsidiaries, except as may be required in the course of his employment by the Company, as may be otherwise allowed with the written permission of the Company, its affiliates or subsidiaries, or as may be required by law; provided, however, that, if the Executive is required by any subpoena, court order, regulation, or law to disclose such information, he shall promptly notify the Company and cooperate with the Company in seeking a protective order or other appropriate remedy. “Confidential Information” shall mean information about the Compan y, its subsidiaries and affiliates, and their respective clients and customers that

 
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is not available to the general public and that was learned by the Executive in the course of his employment by the Company, including (without limitation) any data, formulae, information, proprietary knowledge, trade secrets and client and customer lists and all papers, resumes, records and the documents containing such Confidential Information.  The Executive acknowledges that such Confidential Information is specialized, unique in nature and of great value to the Company, and that such information gives the Company a competitive advantage. Upon the expiration or termination of the Employment Term, Executive shall promptly return to Company all such information that exists in written or other form (and all copies thereof) under Executive’s control.

5.8: Nondisparagement. Executive will not at any time during or after the Employment Term directly (or through any other person or entity) make any public statements (whether orally or in writing) which are intended to be derogatory or damaging to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, their respective businesses, activities, operations, affairs, reputations or prospects or any of their respective officers, employees, directors, partners, agents or shareholders; provided that Executive may comment generally on industry matters in response to inquiries from the press and in other public speaking engagements. The Company shall not at any time during or after the Employment Term, directly (or through any other person or entity) make any public statements (whether oral or in wr iting) which are intended to be derogatory or damaging concerning Executive.

5.9: Breach of Restrictive Covenants. Any material breach by the Executive of the provisions of this Article 5 of this Agreement shall relieve the Company of all obligations to make any further payments to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement. The Executive acknowledges that the restrictions contained in this Article 5 are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the Company and that any breach by the Executive of any portion of this Article 5 will result in irreparable injury to the Company. The Executive agrees that the Company’s remedies at law would be inadequate in the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Article 5 and, accordingly, that the Company shall be entitled, in addition to its rights at law, to temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctive relief and other equitable relief, without the need to post a bond.

ARTICLE 6: MISCELLANEOUS

6.1: Key Man Insurance. The Company will have the right throughout the Employment Term, to obtain or increase insurance on Executive's life in such amount as the Board determines, in the name of the Company or and for its sole benefit or otherwise, in the discretion of the Board. Upon reasonable advance notice, Executive will cooperate in any and all necessary physical examinations without expense to Executive, supply information, and sign documents, and otherwise cooperate fully with the Company as the Company may request in connection with any such insurance. Executive warrants and represents that, to Executive's best knowledge, Executive is in good health and does not suffer from any medical condition which might interfere with the timely performance of Executive's obl igations under this Agreement.

6.2: Notices. All notices given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given: (a) when delivered personally; (b) three business days after being mailed

 
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by first class certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; (c) one business day after being sent by a reputable overnight delivery service, postage or delivery charges prepaid; or (d) on the date on which a facsimile is transmitted to the parties at their respective addresses stated below if transmission takes place before 5:00pm PT on a business day or on the next business day if such transmission takes place after 5:00pm PT or occurs on a non-business day. Any party may change its address for notice and the address to which copies must be sent by giving notice of the new addresses to the other parties in accordance with this Section 6.2, except that any such change of address notice shall not be effective unless and until received.

If to the Company:
AURA SYSTEMS, INC.
Attn: Melvin Gagerman
2330 Utah Avenue
El Segundo, CA 90245

If to Executive:
DONALD MACLEOD
3 Mountain Valley Drive
Scotts Valley California 95066

6.3: Amendments. No modification, waiver or discharge or addition made to this Agreement shall be binding unless agreed to in writing and signed by both the Executive and such officer(s) as may be specifically designated by the Board.

6.4: Waiver. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. A party’s failure to insist upon performance under this Agreement shall neither constitute a waiver of that party’s right to insist upon performance thereafter, nor a waiver of any rights or remedies provided under this Agreement or under law.

6.5: Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Exhibit hereto and the documents referred to herein and therein, sets forth the entire understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral and written understandings and agreements. There are no representations, agreements, arrangements, or understandings, oral or written, among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof which are not expressly set forth herein, and no party hereto has been induced to enter into this Agreement, except by the agreements expressly contained herein.

6.6: No Conflict With Law. Nothing herein contained shall be construed so as to require the commission of any act contrary to law, and wherever there is a conflict between any provision of this Agreement and any present or future statute, law, ordinance or regulation, the latter shall prevail, but in such event the provision of this Agreement affected shall be curtailed and limited only to the extent necessary to bring it within legal requirements.

6.7: Assignment. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive

 
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and Executive's heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives, by the Company and its successors and assigns. This Agreement and all rights hereunder are personal to Executive and shall not be assignable. The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by operation of law or by agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Executive, to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.

6.8: Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or application of this Agreement that can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application, and to this end the provisions of this Agreement are declared to be severable.

6.9 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California without reference to principles of conflict of laws.

6.10: Taxes. All payments required to be made to Executive hereunder, whether during the term of Executive's employment hereunder or otherwise, shall be subject to all applicable federal, state, and local tax withholding laws. The Company makes no representations regarding the tax implications of the compensation and/or securities provided for in this Agreement.  The Company advises the Executive to consult with a tax professional and/or their attorney regarding such implications and the Executive’s responsibilities regarding fulfillment of his taxation obligations.  By accepting this offer, Executive specifically acknowledge and agrees that: (i) Executive shall be liable for all taxes assessed by any federal, state, or local authorities with respec t to the compensation and/or securities provided herein; and (ii) that the Company is authorized to withhold for all such customary withholdings and such excise or other taxes as is required by law otherwise deemed necessary by the Company.

6.11: Headings. The headings set forth herein are included solely for the purpose of identification and shall not be used for the purpose of construing the meaning of the provisions of this Agreement.

6.12: Arbitration. Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a panel of three arbitrators in Los Angeles, California, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator’s award in any court having jurisdiction. The arbitrators shall have the authority to award any remedy or relief that a court of competent jurisdiction could order or grant, including, without limitation, the issuance of an injunction. However, either party may, without inconsistency with this arbitration provision, apply to any court having jurisdiction over such dispute or controversy and seek interim provisional, injunctive or other equitable relief until the arbitration award is rendered or the controversy is otherwise resolved. Except as necessary in court proceedings to enforce this arbitration provision or an award rendered hereunder, or to obtain interim relief, neither a party nor an arbitrator may disclose the existence, content or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of Company and Executive. The Company shall pay all of the direct costs and expenses

 
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in any arbitration hereunder (excluding without limitation Executive’s attorney fees) and the arbitrator's fees and costs; provided, however, that the prevailing party shall be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable attorney's fees and costs. ____________[initial here]

6.13: Survival. Executive's obligations under the provisions of Sections 4.6, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 6.14 and 6.17, shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

6.14: Name and Likeness. The Company shall have the right to use Executive’s name, refer to Executive’s prior professional services and Executive’s services hereunder and likeness in connection with its business.

6.15: Construction. Each party has cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement. Therefore, in any construction to be made of this Agreement, the same shall not be construed against any party on the basis that the party was the drafter.

6.16: Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but both of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

6.17: Indemnification. Executive shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by law or by the Company’s bylaws or resolutions of the Company's Board of Directors from any claim, liability, loss, cost or expense of any nature reasonably incurred by the Executive, and not otherwise received by him from another source, such as insurance, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer or employee of the Company or serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, member, employee or agent of another corporation, limited liability corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnification pro vided in this Section 6.17 will not apply to any loss, costs, damages, and expenses arising out of or relating in any way to any employment of Executive by any former employer or the termination of any such employment or arising out of or relating in any way to any illegal actions, intentional misconduct or grossly negligent conduct committed by Executive during the Employment Term or any time following its termination.

6.18: Acknowledgment by Executive. Executive represents that Executive is knowledgeable and sophisticated as to business matters, including the subject matter of this Agreement, that Executive has read this Agreement, and that Executive understands its terms. Executive acknowledges that prior to assenting to the terms of this Agreement Executive has been given a reasonable time to review it, to consult with counsel of Executive’s own choice, and to negotiate at arm's length with the Company as to its terms and contents. Executive acknowledges that he is signing and entering into this Agreement as a free and voluntary act without duress or undue pressure or influence of any kind or nature whatsoever and has not relied on any promises, representations or war ranties regarding the subject matter hereof except those set out in this Agreement or any documents referred to in it.




 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.


COMPANY:
AURA SYSTEMS, INC.


_______________________
By Melvin Gagerman
Chief Executive Officer/
Chairman of the Board


EXECUTIVE:


_______________________
Donald Macleod, an Individual

 
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EX-10.25 3 zanotti.htm zanotti.htm


STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AGREEMENT

This STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of March 18, 2010 (the “Effective Date”), between AURA SYSTEMS INC., a Delaware Corporation (“Aura”) and ZANOTTI EAST INC., a Massachusetts Corporation (“Zanotti”).

WHEREAS, Aura has invented, manufactures and distributes a unique, integrated electromagnetic mobile power generation system capable of delivering on-demand both AC and DC power for numerous end-uses, including without limitation, all-electric transport refrigeration (the “AuraGen”);
 
WHEREAS, the AuraGen is the subject of substantial proprietary information, including but not limited to patents, trademarks, trade secrets, know-how, and confidential information owned by Aura;

WHEREAS, Zanotti is a world-wide leading manufacturer and distributor of transport refrigeration systems and is desirous of expanding its market share within the United States, and

WHEREAS, Zanotti and Aura are desirous of incorporating the AuraGen power system with various Zanotti transport refrigeration systems to be sold by Aura to end-users in the United States as an integrated all-electric transport refrigeration solution;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual covenants and obligations contained herein, and the mutual benefits to be derived herefrom, Aura and Zanotti (collectively the “Parties”), intending to be legally bound, do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

Article 1:
Definitions

1.1           The term “AETRU System” means an integrated all-electric vehicle refrigeration system comprising of Product as the refrigeration mechanism and the AuraGen as the power-supply.
 
1.2           The term “Confidential Information” means all know-how, formulations, recipes, specifications, catalogs, books, price books, maintenance, parts and service manuals, data sheets, sales, service and technical bulletins, customer lists, sales and marketing programs, price lists, cost data, sales aids, such as filmstrips and recordings, and all other publications and information, whether or not reduced to writing, relating to the formulation, manufacture, use, marketing and sale of the AuraGen and/or the Products, as well as any other information which may be divulged by one party under this Agreement to the other in the course of its performance of this Agreement, which is marked as Confidential or which is disclosed under circumstances that reasonably place the recipient on notice of the confidentiality of the information.  Confidential Information does not, however, include any information which the recipient can establish (i) was publicly known and made generally available in the public domain prior to the time of disclosure by the discloser; (ii) becomes publicly known and made generally available after disclosure by the discloser to recipient through no fault or breach of recipient; (iii) is already in the possession of recipient without restriction on use or disclosure at the time of disclosure by discloser as shown by recipient’s files and records prior to the time of the
 

 
 

 

disclosure; (iv) is obtained by recipient lawfully and without restriction on use or disclosure from a third party without a breach of such third party’s obligations of confidentiality; or (v) is independently developed by recipient without use of or reference to discloser’s Confidential Information, as shown by recipient’s files and records.
 
1.3           The term “Field of Use” means exclusively transport refrigeration systems for vehicles and trailers.
 
1.4           The term “Products” means collectively those transport refrigeration systems listed in Exhibit A attached hereto, as well as any future modifications, enhancements or improvements thereto.
 
1.5           The term “Proprietary Rights” means all Technology, Trademarks, data, inventions, information (including, without limitation, Confidential Information), processes, know-how, trade secrets, sketches, prototypes, notebooks, papers, drawings, formulae (including copies or extracts thereof) and similar intellectual property rights which the respective parties have or may hereafter develop and which are necessary or useful for the development, manufacture, or sale of the AuraGen, the Products, or any components of the Products and/or AuraGen. Further, Proprietary Rights shall include all analyses, specifications, proposals, reports or other information, data or documents (whether in raw, prelimina ry or final form) and all inventions, discoveries, modifications and improvements, whether or not patentable, which: (a) are concerned in some manner with, but not directed to the AuraGen, the Products or any components thereof; or (b) pertain to processes, procedures, methods, and the like manufacturing, assembling or servicing of the AuraGen or Products.
 
1.6           The term “Technology” means all patent rights concerning each and every patent, whether U.S. or foreign, owned by or licensed to Company and any associated Aura Proprietary Rights appurtenant thereto which are necessary, used or useful to develop, manufacture, or sell the Products or any of the components of the Products. Aura Technology shall further mean any future modifications, enhancements or improvements to the technology embodied in the patents owned or licensed by Company, the Products, or the Aura Proprietary Rights.
 
1.7           The term “Territory” means exclusively the United States of America and Canada.
 
1.8           The term “Trademarks” means all those trademarks, service marks, designs, logos, slogans and trade names belonging or licensed to Aura and/or Zanotti, worldwide.
 
Article 2
Grant of Rights

2.1           Appointment. Pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, Aura appoints Zanotti as its exclusive supplier of the Products within the Territory and Field of Use and Zanotti hereby accepts such appointment. In order to maintain the exclusivity granted hereunder, Zanotti shall provide Aura with orders for a minimum of (i) one thousand (1,000) AETRU Systems during the first twenty-four (24) months of this Agreement and (ii) seven hundred and fifty (750) AETRU Systems per year thereafter for so long as this Agreement remains in effect (the “Mi nimum Order”). In the event that Zanotti fails to secure purchases

 
 

 

amounting to the Minimum Order for any particular period, the exclusive supplier rights granted pursuant to this Article 2 shall become non-exclusive commencing immediately following such period in which the Minimum Order was not achieved and Aura shall have full discretion to purchase or otherwise obtain Product from sources other than Zanotti. Aura shall serve as seller for all orders for AETRU Systems (whether such orders are provided by Zanotti or otherwise) and shall directly invoice all buyers and collect the purchase price for all AETRU Systems sold.

Article 3
Terms and Conditions

3.1           Ordering of Products. Within thirty (30) days from the Effective Date hereof, Zanotti shall deliver to Aura a minimum total of twelve (12) Products to be delivered to Aura’s facilities McDonough, Georgia, of such type as mutually agreed by the Parties (the “Initial Order”). All purchases and delivery of Products shall be made pursuant to separate individual purchase orders issued by Aura to Zanotti consistent with the terms of this Agreement. If any term of a purchase order is inconsistent with this Agreement, then this Agreement shall govern to the extent of any such inconsistency. Except with respect to the Initial Order, A ura shall place all purchase orders for Products at least forty-five (45) days prior to the requested delivery date.

3.2           Warehousing. Zanotti hereby agrees that Aura may, at any given time, store up to two (2) AuraGen systems in such Zanotti facilities as Aura may designate from time to time. Zanotti shall not charge Aura any fee or cost in connection with such warehousing. Zanotti shall not acquire any interest in or right to any property warehoused pursuant to this Section 3.2 by virtue of such warehousing and such property shall remain the sole and exclusive property of Aura (or its respective owner) at all times. It is expressly understood and agreed by the Parties that Zanotti shall incur no liability for any property stored in its facilities pursuant to this Section 3.2 (including without limitation risk of loss, theft or damage) and that all risk of loss and/or damage with respect to any such warehoused property shall belong solely to Aura. Aura shall have full access to all AuraGen systems and/or other Aura equipment warehoused in any Zanotti facilities during normal business hours and at all other reasonable times.

3.3           Pricing. Throughout the first consecutive twelve (12) months of this Agreement, all Products shall be sold to Aura by Zanotti at those prices as listed in Exhibit B, attached hereto. Prior to each twelfth month anniversary of the Effective Date of this Agreement, the Parties shall jointly reevaluate the Product price list and shall mutually agree as to prices for the upcoming twelve-month period. In accordance with Section 3.6 below, at no time shall any Product price exceed the lowest price for which Zanotti sells such Product (or substantial equivalent thereof) in similar quantities to any third party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any applicable provision herein, Zanotti shall be permitted to adjust the price of the Products prior to each twelfth month anniversary of the Effective Date to reflect any actual fluctuation in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) during the prior twelve-month period. In the event that the final price of any Product to be sold to Aura by Zanotti pursuant to this Agreement upto, equal or exceeds 150% of the final price of any substantially-similar third part produc, Aura shall notify Zanotti of this lower price and provide Zanotti with the opportunity to match such price with respect to such Product. If, within five (5) business days of receipt of such notice from Aura, Zanotti does not agree to match such price, the exclusive supplier rights granted pursuant to

 
 

 

Article 2 above shall, upon Aura’s sole election, immediately become non-exclusive with respect to such specific Product to which the lower price applies and Aura shall have full discretion to purchase or otherwise obtain such Product from sources other than Zanotti.

3.4           Payment. Aura shall remit payment to Zanotti for the invoiced price of any given Product within the earlier of: (i) fifteen (15) business days following Aura’s receipt and acceptance of payment from its customer for such AETRU System into which such Product is incorporated; or (ii) forty-five (45) calendar days from the date of Aura’s shipment to a customer of such AETRU System into which such Product is incorporated. Aura shall have no obligation to remit payment for any Product before fifteen (15) days following sale to a third-party of such Product nor shall Aura have any obligation to remit payment for any Product not sold by Aura.

3.5           Shipment, Delivery and Risk of Loss. Unless otherwise specifically agreed by the Parties, all Products delivered to Aura from Zanotti pursuant to this Agreement shall be F.C.A., Aura’s designated facility. From time to time, the parties may enter into other shipping arrangements. However, no shipping arrangements shall affect or alter in any way the provisions of this Section with respect to transfer of title, responsibility of safe carriage and risk of loss.

 
(a)
Deliveries may be made in partial shipments. With respect to all deliveries (partial or otherwise) Zanotti shall invoice each Product separately.

 
(b)
Title and risk of loss shall pass to Aura at the time the Products are tendered by Zanotti to the initial carrier and Aura alone shall be responsible for all freight, customs duties, insurance or other shipping costs.

 
(c)
In the absence of specific instructions from Aura, Zanotti shall select a reasonable carrier but shall not thereby assume any liability in connection with shipment, nor shall the carrier be construed to be the agent of Zanotti.

3.6           Most Favored Nation. During the term of this Agreement, Zanotti agrees that Aura shall be allowed the full benefit of any and all lower prices and/or any more favorable terms and/or conditions (“MFN” Terms) contained in any other agreement entered into by Zanotti for the sale of any product substantially similar to the Product in the same or lesser quantities described in this Agreement to third parties. Zanotti shall notify Aura in writing of any such MFN Terms within fifteen (15) calendar days after agreeing thereto, and shall make the MFN Terms available to Aura as of the effective date of such agreement and thereafter for the g reater of (i) three (3) months or (ii) such time that the MFN Terms remain in effect.

3.7           End-User Warranty. At all times during the Term of this Agreement, Zanotti shall warrant the Products to purchasers of AETRU Systems in accordance with the terms of its standard warranty attached hereto as Exhibit “C” (“End User Warranty”), as such End User Warranty may be modified from time to time by Zanotti, provided however that at no time shall such End User Warranty provide for a warranty coverage period of less than thirty-six (36) months from the time of purchase by the initial end-user. A copy of the End User Warranty shall be included as part of the packaging included with all Product delivered to Aura and Aura shall distribute each Product with all warranty cards, a copy of the End User Warranty and all other
 

 
 

 

packaging materials intact. Additionally, Zanotti shall offer to end-users the option to purchase extended warranty coverage for an additional twenty-four (24) months – making the total warranty period sixty (60) months.
 
Article 4
Additional Obligations

4.1           Compliance with Law. Each party shall at all times comply with the provisions of all applicable laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and refrain from engaging in any illegal, unfair or deceptive trade practices or unethical business practices whatsoever with respect to the promotion and sale or service of Products.
 
4.2           Recalls. Zanotti shall maintain records of all Products sold by Zanotti and shall immediately alert Aura in the event that Zanotti becomes aware of any defect in or hazard posed by any Product.  If Aura, any governmental agency or other proper authority issues a product recall or product advisory of any of the Products, Zanotti agrees to cooperate with Aura (i) in contacting purchasers during the course of any such product advisories, recalls and complaints, (ii) in communicating to such purchasers such information or instructions as Aura may reasonably desire be transmitted to such purchasers, (iii) in obtaining the removal of all such recalled Products from customers and (iv) in disposin g of such recalled Product as Aura so directs.  Aura agrees to reimburse Zanotti for all costs and expenses incurred by Zanotti in connection with such Product advisories, recalls and complaints, unless such advisory, recall or complaint is due to the fault or negligence of Zanotti, its representatives or affiliates.
 
4.3           Press Releases. In the event any party desires to issue any press release or public announcement concerning any provisions of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, such party shall so advise the other party hereto, and the parties shall thereafter use commercially reasonable efforts to cause a mutually agreeable release or announcement to be issued.  Neither party will publicly disclose or divulge any provisions of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby without the other party’s written consent, except as way be required by applicable law, including applicable securities laws or stock exchange regulations, and except for communications to such party’ ;s employees and professional advisors.
 
4.4           Joint Training. Zanotti and Aura shall jointly schedule periodic training sessions at mutually agreed reasonable intervals with respect to installation and maintenance of the AETRU Systems, which Aura and Zanotti shall make available to AETRU System dealers and service providers. Zanotti and Aura shall each bear all living and travel expenses associated with their respective personnel during such training sessions but shall split equally all other costs associated with such training sessions such as, without limitation, facility or equipment rentals – such costs to be mutually agreed to in advance by the Parties. Upon mutual agreement by the Parties, AETRU System dealers and service providers may b e charged attendance or other fees in connection with training and/or certification, provided however, that in the event that any such fees are assessed, such fees shall be divided equally among the Parties.

4.5           Joint Sales and Marketing Plan. Within thirty (30) days following the Effective Date of this Agreement, Aura and Zanotti shall develop both a joint marketing plan and a joint sales plan for cooperative worldwide marketing and sales of AETRU Systems. Any such agreement

 
 

 

reached between Zanotti and Aura regarding such worldwide sales and marketing shall prohibit competition among Zanotti and Aura with regard to AETRU Systems and shall be memorized in a separate agreement between the Parties.

4.6           Confidentiality. Each party shall hold all Confidential Information in strict confidence and will in no way disclose or provide such Confidential Information to any person or entity, except (i) with the prior written approval of the owner of such Confidential Information or (ii) as expressly permitted under this Agreement. Each party shall take all necessary measures to prevent such disclosure by its present and future employees, officers, agents, subsidiaries, dealers or consultants during the term of this Agreement and thereafter.  Each party shall give prompt notice to the other party of any unauthorized disclosure or use of Confident ial Information and must cooperate fully with such other party in remedying each unauthorized use or disclosure. Neither receipt of notice of disclosure under this Section 4.6 nor any action taken by the owner of the improperly disclosed Confidential Information to assist in rectifying an unauthorized disclosure or use of Confidential Information shall constitute a waiver by such party of any breach by the disclosing party of this Article 4. The Parties each expressly acknowledge that all Confidential Information shall remain the sole property of the respective owning party and that all documents and other tangible media that embody any such Confidential Information must be, at such owning party’s option, either promptly returned or destroyed, except as otherwise may be required from time to time by applicable law. Confidential Information in documentary or other tangible form, and all copies of it, must be returned promptly to the owning party upon termination of this Agreement or, as applicable, upon earlier expiration of a party’s rights thereto in accordance with this Agreement. Each party further acknowledges and agrees that because: (i) an award of money damages in inadequate to compensate a party for any breach of this Article 4; and (ii) any breach of this Article 4 will causes irreparable harm, if there is a breach or threatened breach of this Article 4 by either party, the non-breaching party shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, without proof of actual damages. The covenants and agreements contained herein with respect to any Confidential Information deemed a trade secret under applicable law shall continue until the information ceases to be a trade secret under applicable law. The obligations with respect to all other Confidential Information shall continue for a period of five (5) years following termination of this Agreement.

Article 5
Representations and Warranties

5.1           Representations and Warranties by Aura:

Aura represents and warrants to Zanotti that, as of the date of this Agreement:

 
(a)
Power and Authority: Aura has the corporate power and authority to enter into and to carry out the terms and provisions of this Agreement; and this Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of Aura and is enforceable against Aura in accordance with its terms.

 
 

 

(b)           No Conflicting Agreement: Aura has not granted to any person other than Zanotti any right, title or interest or entered into any agreement which is in conflict with or inconsistent with any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement.

 
(c)
Litigation: There are no actions or proceedings pending, or to Aura’s knowledge, threatened, which would prevent or make unlawful the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 
(d)
Infringement: Aura has no actual knowledge, that the AuraGen System or, as assembled the AETRU System conflicts with, violate or infringe any rights of any third party.

5.2          Representations and Warranties by Zanotti:
 
Zanotti represents and warrants to Aura that, as of the date of this Agreement:
 
 
(a)
Power and Authority: Zanotti has the corporate power an authority to enter into and to carry the terms and provisions of this Agreement; and this Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of Zanotti and is enforceable against Zanotti in accordance with its terms.
 
 
(b)
No Conflicting Agreements: The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Zanotti will not conflict with or violate any agreements or understandings to which Zanotti is a party or by which it may be bound.
 
 
(c)
Litigation: There are no actions or proceedings pending, or to Zanotti’s knowledge, threatened, which would prevent or make unlawful the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
 
(d)
Infringement: Zanotti has no actual knowledge, that any Product conflicts with, violates or infringes any rights of any third party.
 
Article 6
Intellectual Property

6.1           During the Term of this Agreement and subject to its provisions, Aura grants to Zanotti a limited, non-exclusive license to use Aura’s Trademarks to identify and promote the sale of the AETRU System within the Field of Use in the Territory and Zanotti grants to Aura a limited, non-exclusive license to use Zanotti’s Trademarks to identify and promote the Products used in conjunction with the AETRU System within the Field of Use in the Territory. Zanotti may not use Trademarks belonging or licenses to Aura in connection with the sale or promotion of any goods, services, products, equipment or process other than the Products within the Field of Use in the Territory. Aura may not use Trademarks belonging or licensed to Zanotti in connection with the sale or pr omotion of any goods, services, products, equipment or process other than the Products within the Field of Use in the Territory.   Upon termination of this Agreement, Zanotti and Aura shall each promptly cease using any trademarks belonging to the other Party.

 
 

 

6.2           Trademark Markings. The Parties agree that each AETRU System shall prominently bear appropriate Aura and Zanotti Trademarks and shall clearly indicate the respective Parties’ ownership of such Trademarks. The Parties further agree to take all reasonably required action in connection with trademark marking or the giving of such other notices as provided for under United States or applicable foreign trademark laws. Neither Party shall remove or deface any Trademark belonging to the other Party without such Party’s prior written authorization.
6.3           Trademark Ownership. Zanotti acknowledges and agrees that Aura is the sole and exclusive owner of the Aura Trademarks. Aura likewise acknowledges and agrees that Zanotti s.p.a is the sole and exclusive owner of the Zanotti Trademarks. As such, neither Party shall at any time acquire any rights in the other Party’s trademarks by virtue of its use thereof. Further, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as an assignment or grant by either party of any right, title or interest in or to such party’s Trademarks, it being understood that all rights relating thereto (except for the licenses granted hereunder for the right to use and utilize the Parties’ Trademarks as expressly provided herein) are reserved by the respective Parties. Further, the Parties agree that at no time shall either of them use any Trademark, mark or name confusingly similar to a Trademark, mark or name owned by or licensed to the other party, in any manner without the prior written approval of the other party. Each party each agrees that it will not knowingly do anything inconsistent with the other party’s ownership of such party’s intellectual property, including without limitation, questioning the validity of that party’s Trademarks or registering or attempting to register the other party’s Trademarks in its own name or that of any other firm, person or corporation.
 
6.4           Patent Markings. Each party shall each do everything reasonably required of it by the other party in connection with patent marking or the giving of such other notices as provided for under United States or applicable foreign patent laws.
 
6.5           Protection of Intellectual Property. Each party agrees to take such actions as the other party may reasonably require for the protection of such other party’s proprietary interest in its Trademarks, Technology, and all other Proprietary Rights. Each Party shall cooperate fully and in good faith with the other party for the purpose of preserving such other party’s rights in and to the its Trademarks, Technology and all other Proprietary Rights. Each party agrees to promptly notify the other party in writing of any uses, which may be infringements of the trademarks, technology or other proprietary rights which come to its attention. In the event of infringement of a party’s Trademarks, Te chnology, and other Proprietary Right, such party alone shall have the sole right to determine whether or not any action shall be taken on account of any such infringement(s).
 
Article 7
Term and Termiantion

7.1           Term. This Agreement shall be for a period of five (5) years commencing upon the Effective Date hereof unless sooner terminated in accordance with this Agreement (the “Initial Term”). Unless terminated prior to the natural expiration of the Initial Term, upon the expiry of the Initial Term this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive terms of the same duration, unless either party gives written notice to the other of such party’s desire not to renew not less than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the expiration of the Initial Term or any

 
 

 

successive term thereafter. For purposes of this Agreement, “Term” shall mean collectively the Initial Term as well as any successive renewal or extension thereof.

7.2           Termination. Notwithstanding Section 7.1 above, this Agreement may be terminated upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

 
(a)
At the election of either party, in writing, if: (i) all or substantially all of the assets of the non-terminating party are transferred, sold or liquidated; (ii) the non-terminating party is dissolved; (iii) the non-terminating party is adjudged a bankrupt or becomes insolvent; (iv) the non-terminating party enters into an assignment or other arrangement for the benefit of its creditors; or (v) the ownership or operations of the non-terminating party have materially changed;

 
(b)
By Aura, in writing in the event that Zanotti fails to meet the minimum purchase requirements as described in Article 3 above, provided, however, that such default has not been remedied by Zanotti within sixty (60) days after receipt of written notice thereof from Aura;

 
(c)
By either party, if an event of force majeure continues for more than three (3) months as provided in Article 8 below;

 
(d)
By either party hereto upon sixty (60) days prior written notice to the other party hereto; or

 
(e)
By the non-defaulting party, (i) upon any default by the other party in the performance of any of its material obligations under this Agreement, if such default has not been remedied within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice thereof from the non-defaulting party; or (ii) if any representation or warranty of either party herein proves to be incorrect in any material respect.

7.3           Rights and Obligations upon Termination. Upon termination of this Agreement for whatever reason whatsoever, the Parties shall have the following rights and obligations:

 
(a)
Neither party shall be discharged for any antecedent obligations or liabilities to the other party under this Agreement, unless otherwise agreed in writing;

 
(b)
Aura shall have the right but not the obligation to purchase any or all Products then in Aura’s possession at the invoiced price(s). In the event that Aura does not elect to purchase said Products, Aura, at its cost, shall return all such non-purchased Products to Zanotti.

 
(c)
For a period of not less than two (2) years after the date of termination, each party shall maintain, and make available to the other party upon its request, for inspection and copying all books and records that pertain to performance of and compliance with obligations, warranties and representations under this Agreement.

 
 

 

7.4           Effect of Termination. On and after termination of this Agreement, whether pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.3 of otherwise:

 
(a)
The Parties shall immediately cease all advertising and sale of the AETRU System although Aura may fill any orders received before the date of termination, subject to the provisions hereto;

 
(b)
NEITHER PARTY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR ANY DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES RESULTING FROM ANY TERMINATION OR EXPIRATION OF THIS AGREEMENT ARISING FROM ANY CLAIMS ASSERTED WHICH ARE BASED UPON LOSS OF GOODWILL, PROSPECTIVE PROFITS OR ANTICIPATED ORDERS, OR ON ACCOUNT OF ANY EXPENDITURES, INVESTMENTS, LEASES OR COMMITMENTS MADE BY SUCH PARTY;

 
(c)
All rights granted to either party hereunder shall forthwith and without further act or instrument, be assigned and revert to the original party. In addition, each party will execute any instruments requested by the other which are necessary to accomplish or confirm the foregoing. Any such assignment, transfer or conveyance shall be without consideration other than the mutual agreements contained herein


Article 8
General Provisions

8.1           Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including any Exhibits hereto, represents the entire agreement between the Parties on the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior discussions, agreements and understandings of every kind and nature between them. This Agreement may be modified, amended, rescinded, cancelled or waived, in whole or in part, only by written instrument signed by all of the Parties hereto.
 
8.2           Notice. All notices under this Agreement shall be in English and shall be in writing and given by airmail, certified or registered, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, cable, telex or facsimile, promptly confirmed by airmail, addressed to the parties at the addresses immediately below their respective signatures hereto, or to such other address of which either party may advise the other in writing. Any notice given by airmail shall be deemed received by the addressee three (3) business days from the date of mailing. All other forms of notice will be deemed given when sent.
 
8.3           Force Majeure. Neither party shall be in default hereunder by reason of any failure or delay in the performance (either in whole or in part) of any obligation under this Agreement (other than the payment of money) where such failure or delay arises out of any cause beyond the reasonable control and without the fault or negligence of such party (an “Event of Force Majeure”).  Such causes shall include, without limitation, storms, floods, other acts of nature, fires, explosions, riots, war, terrorism or civil disturbance, strikes or other labor unrests, embargoes, shortage or failure in supply of raw materials from the t hen contemplated sources of supply and no other source or supply can be located or obtained with commercially reasonable
 

 
 

 

diligence and effort, and other governmental actions or regulations which would prohibit either party from ordering or furnishing Products or from performing any other aspects of the obligations hereunder. Within ten (10) days from the date of commencement of an Event of Force Majeure, the party affected by such an event shall advise the other party (the “Other Party”) of the date when such delay in performance commenced, and the reasons therefore as enumerated in this Agreement; likewise, within ten (10) days after the delay ends, the party affected by such an Event of Force Majeure shall advise the Other Party of the date when such delay ended, and shall also specify the redetermined time by which the performance of the obligation hereunder is to be completed.  In the event that the Event of Force Mejeure contin ues for a period of sixty (60) days then the Other Party shall have the right to elect to terminate this Agreement upon ten (10) days notice to the party affected by such an event.
 
8.4           Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement are deemed illegal or unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions, and any partially unenforceable provisions to the extent enforceable, shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable. In the event that any act, regulation, directive, or law of a government having jurisdiction and respect of this Agreement, including its departments, agencies or courts, should make it impossible or prohibit, restrain, modify or eliminate any act or obligation of either party under this Agreement, the non-affected party shall have the right, at its option, to suspend this Agreement or the parties may, at their mutual a greement, make such modifications therein as may be necessary.
 
8.5           Assignment. Except as expressly provided for herein, neither party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the other party’s prior written approval and any such assignment or transfer shall be void.  This Agreement does not create, and shall not be construed as creating, any rights enforceable by any person not a party to this Agreement.
 
8.6           Applicable Law. This Agreement is deemed made and entered into in the State of California and shall be construed, enforced and performed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without reference, to choice of law.  THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY PURCHASE OF THE PRODUCTS SHALL NOT BE GOVERNED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE 1980 U.N. CONVENTION ON CONTRACTS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SALE OF GOODS.
 
8.7           Dispute Resolution. Any and all disputes of whatever nature, arising between the Parties of this Agreement or the underlying business relationship, including termination thereof and statutory claims, and which are not resolved between the parties themselves, shall be submitted to binding and final arbitration to be conducted in English, in Los Angeles, California, before a panel of three arbitrators in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association for Complex Commercial Cases in effect as of the date of this Agreement.  Judgment upon the award of the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. In the event of any proceeding in arbitration between the Parties arising in any manner out of this Agreement or the asserted breach thereof, the prevailing party shall recover court costs or costs of arbitration, as appropriate, and reasonable attorneys' fees.
 

 
 

 

8.8           Waiver. The waiver or excuse by either party hereto as to any breach, default or deficiency and the performance by the other party of any duty or obligation by the other party to be performed hereunder shall not constitute or be deemed a continuing waiver or excuse of the same or any other duty or obligation owed by the other.
 
8.9           Interpretation. In the event any claim is made by any party relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular party or that party’s counsel.  Reference to “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”
 
8.10           Captions. Captions of sections of this Agreement are included for reference only, shall not be construed as part of this Agreement and shall not be used to define, limit, extend or interpret the terms hereof.
 
8.11           Currency. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing, all payments required to be made under this Agreement shall be made in United States Dollars via cash, check, wire transfer, or other immediately available funds. The remitting party shall pay at its own expense all charges and expenses associated with the other party’s receipt of such payment, including but not limited to credit card transaction fees.
 
8.12           Remedies Not Exclusive. No remedy conferred by any of the specific provisions of this Agreement is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy and each and every right and remedy hereunder is cumulative with each and every other right and remedy herein or in any other agreement between the parties or under applicable law.
 
8.13           Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
 
8.14           No Consequential Damages. IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR ANY SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INDIRECT DAMAGES, HOWEVER CAUSED.
 
8.15           Successors. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted successors and assigns.
 
8.16           No Joint Venture. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to deem the Parties in the relationship of partners or joint venturers, and no party hereto shall have any power to obligate any other party hereto in any manner whatsoever, except as expressly provided for herein.
 
8.17           Indemnity. Zanotti agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Aura, including its employees, agents and affiliates, harmless from and against any and all payments, damages, demands, claims, losses, expenses, costs, obligations and liabilities (including reasonable attorney’s fees and costs), which arise out of, result from or are related to: (i) any breach by Zanotti of any provision contained in this Agreement, including without limitation any obligation, representation, warranty or covenant herein; (ii) any occupational injury or illness sustained by any employee or agent of Zanotti to the extent claims are made against, or held to be payable by

 
 

 

Aura; (iii) any applicable sales or other taxes due from or on behalf of Zanotti regardless of whether such taxes must be collected by Aura on behalf of the taxing authority and regardless of whether Zanotti shall challenge the assessment or amount of such taxes (iv) any negligent or willful act or omission or violation of any contractual arrangement of Zanotti or any of Zanotti’s affiliates, officers, directors, agents or employees of each, in connection with its or their performance relating to this Agreement; or (v) Zanotti’s agreements, if any, with any other third parties.
Aura agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Zanotti, including its employees, agents and affiliates, harmless from and against any and all payments, damages, demands, claims, losses, expenses, costs, obligations and liabilities (including reasonable attorney’s fees and costs), which arise out of, result from or are related to the breach by Aura of any representation, warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement.
Either party seeking indemnification under this Agreement (the “Indemnified Party”) shall give notice to the party required to provide indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnifying Party”) promptly after the Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity may be sought hereunder, and the Indemnified Party shall permit the Indemnifying Party (at the expense of the Indemnifying Party) to assume the defense of any claim or litigation resulting thereform; provided that: (i) counsel for the Indemnifying Party who shall conduct the defense of such claim or litigation shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Pa rty; (ii) the Indemnified Party may participate in such defense, but only at the Indemnified Party’s own cost and expense; and (iii) the omission by the Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations hereunder except to the extent that such omissions results in a failure of actual notice to the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnifying Party is damaged as a result of such failure to give notice. The Indemnifying Party shall not, except with the consent of the Indemnified Party, consent to entry of any judgment or administration order or enter into any settlement that (i) could affect the intellectual property rights or other business interests of the Indemnified Party or (ii) does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to the Indemnified Party of a release form all liability with respect to such claim or litigation.
In the event that the Indemnified Party shall reasonably and in good faith determine that the conduct of the defense of any claim subject to indemnification hereunder or any proposed settlement of any such claim by these Indemnifying Party might be expected to affect adversely the Indemnified Party’s intellectual property rights or ability to conduct future business, the Indemnified Party shall have the right at all times to take over and assume control over the defense, settlement, negotiations or lawsuit relating to any such claim at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party.
In the event that the Indemnifying Party does not accept the defense of any matter as provided herein, the Indemnified Party shall have the full right to defend against any such claim or demand, and shall be entitled to settle or agree to pay in full such claim or demand, in its sole discretion.
The provisions of this Section 8.17 shall survive the expiration or sooner termination of this Agreement.

8.18           Insurance. Both Parties will each have and maintain in full force and effect during the Term of this Agreement (including any post-termination period for which indemnification obligations continue), all product liability and other insurance reasonably necessary to cover
 

 
 

 

such party’s anticipated indemnification obligation and other risk of loss for which it may be liable under this Agreement. All such insurance coverages shall be occurrence based and not claims made.  Such policy or policies will (a) have aggregate limits of liability of not less than $1,000,000 with respect to any incident or occurrence and of not less than $2,000,000 in the aggregate; (b) name both Zanotti and Aura as insured parties; and (c) provide that such policy may not be canceled except upon not less than 30 days’ written notice to both Zanotti and Aura. Each party will provide such evidence of the effectiveness of such insurance to the other party as may be reasonably requested.
 

 

 

 
[signature page to follow]
 

 
 

 


 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Aura and Zanotti have caused this instrument to be executed by their duly authorized employees, as of the day and year first above written.
 

 
AURA SYSTEMS, INC.                                                                                     ZANOTTI USA
A Delaware Corporation                                                                                     A Massachusetts Corporation

 
By:                                                                                     By:
 
_____________________________                                                                                                _____________________________
Melvin Gagerman                                                                                     Zoltan Lemperth
CEO                                                                                     [title]


_____________________________
Greg Demetri
[title]


_____________________________
Scott Demetri
[title]


_____________________________
Michael Driscoll
[title]



 
 

 

Exhibit A
“Products”


V3.03/17/10
AURA/ZANOTTI STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AGREEMENT
Exhibit A

 
 

 

Exhibit B
Product Prices


V3.03/17/10
AURA/ZANOTTI STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AGREEMENT
Exhibit B

 
 

 

Exhibit C
End-User Warranty

V3.03/17/10
AURA/ZANOTTI STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AGREEMENT
Exhibit C

 
 

 

EX-10.26 4 distributionagree.htm distributionagree.htm

 
 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTORSHIP AGREEMENT
 
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED DISTRIBUTORSHIP AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into this ____ day of March, 2009 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Aura Systems, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Delaware with its principal offices in Los Angeles, California (“Company”), and WePower LLC, a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of Delaware with its principal offices in Los Angeles, California (the “Distributor”).
 
RECITALS
 
A.           Company has designed, invented and developed a unique, integrated electromagnetic mobile power generation system capable of delivering on-demand both AC and DC power for numerous end-uses, including without limitation, industrial, commercial, recreational and military applications (the “AuraGen”).
 
B.           The AuraGen is the subject of substantial proprietary information, including but not limited to patents, trademarks, trade secrets, know-how, and confidential information owned by the Company.
 
C.           Distributor has acquired the rights to a patented vertical wind turbine that is used to generate electricity using wind power.
 
D.           Distributor is engaged in the business of developing and marketing energy solutions around the world, including without limitation wind energy solutions.
 
F.           The Company wishes to appoint Distributor as its exclusive commercial distributor for all applications in the Field of Use worldwide and is willing to grant a limited right to Distributor to use, service and manufacture the AuraGen in strict accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein and Distributor wishes to be so appointed.
 
G.           The Company and Distributor entered into a Distribution Agreement as of February 27, 2009 and the Parties have agreed to certain modifications of said Agreement as set forth herein.
 
Accordingly, in consideration of their mutual covenants and obligations contained herein, and the mutual benefits to be derived herefrom, Company and Distributor (collectively the “Parties”), intending to be legally bound, do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
 
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS
 
1.1 Aura Proprietary Rights
 
The term “Aura Proprietary Rights” means all Aura Technology, Aura Trademarks, data, inventions, information (including, without limitation, Confidential Information of Company), processes, know-how, trade secrets, sketches, prototypes, notebooks, papers, drawings, formulae (including copies or extracts thereof) and similar intellectual property rights which Company has
 

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or may hereafter develop and which are necessary or useful for the development, manufacture, or sale of the Products or any components of the Products. Further, Aura Proprietary Rights shall include all analyses, specifications, proposals, reports or other information, data or documents (whether in raw, preliminary or final form) and all inventions, discoveries, modifications and improvements, whether or not patentable, which: (a) are concerned in some manner with, but not directed to the Products or any components thereof; or (b) pertain to processes, procedures, methods, and the like manufacturing, assembling or servicing of the Products.
 
1.2 Aura Technology
 
The term “Aura Technology” means all patent rights concerning each and every patent, whether U.S. or foreign, owned by or licensed to Company and any associated Aura Proprietary Rights appurtenant thereto which are necessary, used or useful to develop, manufacture, or sell the Products or any of the components of the Products. Aura Technology shall further mean any future modifications, enhancements or improvements to the technology embodied in the patents owned or licensed by Company, the Products, or the Aura Proprietary Rights.
 
1.3 Aura Trademarks
 
The term “Aura Trademarks” means all those trademarks, service marks, designs, logos, slogans and trade names belonging or licensed to Company, worldwide.
 
1.4 Confidential Information
 
The term “Confidential Information” means all know-how, formulations, recipes, specifications, catalogs, books, price books, maintenance, parts and service manuals, data sheets, sales, service and technical bulletins, customer lists, sales and marketing programs, price lists, cost data, sales aids, such as filmstrips and recordings, and all other publications and information, whether or not reduced to writing, relating to the formulation, manufacture, use, marketing and sale of the Products, as well as any other information which may be divulged by one party under this Agreement to the other in the course of its performance of this Agreement, which is marked as Confidential or which is disclosed under circumstances that reasonably place the recipient on notice of the confidentiality of the information.  Confidenti al Information does not, however, include any information which the recipient can establish (i) was publicly known and made generally available in the public domain prior to the time of disclosure by the discloser; (ii) becomes publicly known and made generally available after disclosure by the discloser to recipient through no fault or breach of recipient; (iii) is already in the possession of recipient without restriction on use or disclosure at the time of disclosure by discloser as shown by recipient’s files and records prior to the time of the disclosure; (iv) is obtained by recipient lawfully and without restriction on use or disclosure from a third party without a breach of such third party’s obligations of confidentiality; or (v) is independently developed by recipient without use of or reference to discloser’s Confidential Information, as shown by recipient’s files and records.
 
1.5 Distributor Trademarks
 
The term “Distributor Trademarks” means all those trademarks, service marks, designs, logos, slogans and trade names belonging or licensed to Distributor, worldwide.
 

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Field of Use
 
The term “Field of Use” means exclusively wind turbines and any other form of energy or renewable energy device, product, system or good involving wind.
 
1.7             Products
 
The term “Products” means the AuraGen, as well as any future modifications, enhancements or improvements to the AuraGen and any New Products deemed included pursuant to Section 3.17 hereof.
 
1.8             Purchase Order
 
The term “Purchase Order” means a purchase order in the form of Exhibit “A” attached to this Agreement or such other form as the parties may mutually agree to in writing from time to time.
 
1.9             Specifications
 
The term “Specifications” means the standard Product manufacturer specifications as such Specifications may be modified by the parties in writing from time to time and any New Product Specifications deemed included pursuant to Section 3.16 hereof.
 
1.10             Territory
 
The term “Territory” means the entire world.
 
1.11             Valid Claim
 
The term “Valid Claim” means a claim of a patent or patent application in any country that (i) has not expired; (ii) has not been disclaimed; (iii) has not been cancelled or superseded, or if cancelled or superseded, has been reinstated; and (iv) has not been revoked, held invalid, or otherwise declared unenforceable or not allowable by a tribunal or patent authority of competent jurisdiction over such claim in such country from which no further appeal has or may be taken.
 
ARTICLE 2.                                APPOINTMENT AND SCOPE
 
2.1 Appointment of Distributor
 
On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and for the Term of this Agreement, Company hereby appoints Distributor as the exclusive distributor of the Products in or for the Field of Use in the Territory. As such, Company shall not appoint additional sales representatives, agents or distributors for the promotion, sale, lease or license of Products in or for the Field of Use in the Territory; and (b) Company shall not, except as expressly permitted hereunder, directly or indirectly, distribute, promote, market, solicit, lease, license or sell the Products in or for the Field of Use in the Territory, except through Distributor. Notwithstanding any restrictions contained herein, Distributor may sell the Products within the Territory in such manner, on such terms, to such customers and at such prices as Distributor may c hoose.  Distributor hereby accepts such appointment. Company further appoints to Distributor, and
 

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Distributor hereby accepts for the Term of this Agreement, to act as the exclusive installation and warranty service provider for all Product in the Field of Use in the Territory.
 
2.2 Independent Contractor Status
 
Distributor is an independent purchaser and reseller of the Products and nothing contained in this Agreement shall create the relationship of joint venture, principal and agent, or master and servant between Company and Distributor. Distributor is not and shall not be considered an agent or legal representative of Company for any purpose, and neither Distributor nor any director, officer, agent or employee of Distributor shall be, or be considered, an agent or employee of Company. Distributor shall, at all times, hold itself out as an independent contractor with respect to Company and shall not represent itself as an agent, representative or employee of Company, and shall prominently display in any advertising or signage related to the Products that it is an Authorized Independent Distributor of the Company. Distributor is not authoriz ed to, and agrees that it will not, make any warranties or representations or assume or create any other obligation on Company’s behalf except as expressly authorized herein or by Company in writing. This Agreement is not for the benefit of any third party and shall not be deemed to give any right or remedy to any such third party whether or not referred to herein.
 
2.3 Sub-Distributors
 
Distributor may appoint sub-distributors, sub-agents or other persons (collectively “Sub-distributors”) which it reasonably believes are qualified in terms of capability and reputation to perform its obligations under this Agreement provided however that:
 
(a) in no event shall any Sub-distributor be appointed for a duration that is longer than the initial expiration date set forth in Section 7.1 of this Agreement;
 
(b) any such Sub-distributor is subject to the terms of this Agreement;
 
(c) any such Sub-distributor is approved in writing by Company provided that such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed;
 
(d) nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to create any relationship whatsoever between Company and any Sub-distributor;
 
(e) Company shall have no obligation to such Sub-distributors under this Agreement; and
 
(f) all of Company’s obligations under this Agreement shall be only to Distributor.
 
2.4 No Modification
 
Neither Distributor or any Sub-Distributor shall in any way modify or otherwise alter the design, form, fit, function or any other aspect of the Products, components thereof, or the Aura Technology unless it obtains Company’s prior written consent, which may be withheld by Company in its sole discretion. If Company agrees to such changes or improvements, the Parties
 

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shall mutually agree on the scope, extent and manner of making such changes or improvements. In addition, Distributor shall not use the Aura Technology, or any part thereof, in any way inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
 
2.5 Additional Restrictions
 
Notwithstanding the rights specifically granted in this Agreement, Company does not grant to Distributor or any Sub-distributor any license or other right relating to any of the following. Neither Distributor nor any Sub-distributor may, without the prior written consent of the Company, at any time directly or indirectly:
 
(a)  
market, make, use, service, install, sell or otherwise distribute or incorporate the Product or any components thereof in the products or businesses of any source outside of the Field of Use;
 
(b)  
actively advertise, promote or solicit customers for Product systems outside the Field of Use or establish or maintain any offices, facilities or depots related to the sale or delivery of Product for any purpose outside of the Field of Use;
 
(c)  
make, use, sell or otherwise dispose of Product systems that are partially assembled, in knocked down form, or semi-knocked down form;
 
(d)  
prepare, develop, make or have made, sell, or otherwise distribute any derivative works based upon Product, the components thereof or the Aura Technology;
 
(e)  
reproduce any Product or any components thereof or disclose or otherwise dispose of the Aura Technology; or
 
(f)  
reverse engineer the Product, or any components thereof or the Aura Technology.
 
2.6 Rights Reserved
 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, all rights not specifically granted under this Agreement shall be reserved and remain with the respective owners. In no way limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, Company shall have the right to make, use, sell, distribute, and grant licenses to other third parties to do the same for all applications and markets of the Products throughout the world outside of the Field of Use.
 
ARTICLE 3.                           TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE
 
3.1 Purchase Orders
 
All purchases of Products under this Agreement by Distributor (or any Sub-distributor, to the extent permitted under Section 2.3) shall be evidenced by individual Purchase Orders, which, as supplemented by the terms of this Agreement, shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to sales of the Products by Company to Distributor. All Purchase Orders will be accompanied by a deposit of ten percent (10%) of the aggregate Product Price specified in the Purchaser Order. By placing a Purchase Order under this Agreement, Distributor (or Sub
 

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distributor, to the extent permitted under Section 2.3) confirms its agreement with and acceptance of all the provisions of this Article 3. Distributor shall place all Purchase Orders for Product at least ninety (90) business days prior to the requested delivery date (unless otherwise agreed to by Company). If any term of a Purchase Order is inconsistent with this Agreement, then this Agreement shall govern to the extent of any such inconsistency.  Orders may be placed by contacting Aura Systems, Inc., 2330 Utah Avenue, El Segundo, California 90245; telephone number 310-643-5300; facsimile number 310-643-7457; email  melvin@aurasystems.com; attention Melvin Gagerman, Chairman and CEO.
 
3.2 Acceptance
 
Company shall acknowledge all purchase orders in writing to Distributor. Company shall be deemed to have accepted any such Purchase Order for which Company does not notify Distributor in writing within ten (10) business days after its receipt that Company cannot meet such Purchase Order's terms.
 
3.3 Forecasts
 
Each Contract Year during the Term of this Agreement, Distributor shall provide Company on a monthly basis with a 120 day rolling forecast, of which the first ninety (90) days shall be a firm order by Distributor for delivery of the number of Products specified therein pursuant to Purchase Orders delivered pursuant to this Agreement.  The last thirty (30) days of the forecast shall be used for purposes of facilitating Company’s manufacturing plans, but are not legally binding on Distributor in any manner.
 
3.4 Prices
 
Prices charged to Distributor for Products purchased under this Agreement are set forth in Exhibit “B” (collectively, the “Product Prices”). From time to time, Company may change the prices for such Products provided that Company provide Distributor written notice of any increase at least ninety (90) days prior to such changes taking effect. Price changes will not affect orders placed by Distributor and accepted by Company before such changes were communicated to Distributor. Company shall exercise commercially reasonable efforts to minimize any cost increases. All Product Prices are for delivery F.O.B. Origin, Company’s designated facilities, freight collect. Title and risk of loss shall pass to Distributor at the time the ordered Products are id entified and loaded by the Distributor’s carriage at Company’s designated facility. Distributor alone shall be responsible for causing the Products to be loaded and delivered to the delivery destination and shall be solely responsible for all freight, customs duties, insurance or other shipping costs. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “F.O.B.” shall have the meaning given in INCOTERMS 2000 as published by the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris, France.  The Product Prices shall also include any New Product Prices deemed included pursuant to Section 3.16 hereof.
 
3.5 Payment
 
Unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing, Distributor shall cause payment to be received by Company for Products no later than thirty (30) days following the date that the Products are

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transferred to Distributor’s designated carrier, as evidenced by the shipping receipt generated by such freight company.  Company shall invoice Distributor for all amounts due and such invoices shall reference the Purchase Order number and be sent to the “Bill to” address specified on the Purchase Order.  Company’s packing list must reference the Purchase Order number and be sent to the applicable “Ship to” address on the Purchase Order. In no way shall any payment due under this Agreement by Distributor to Company be contingent upon Distributor’s collection of payment from Distributor’s customers.

3.6 Delivery
 
Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to meet or exceed the delivery dates specified in the Purchase Order.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in no event will the Company be required to deliver a shipment of Products sooner than ninety (90) days from the date of receipt of a Purchase Order therefore, and (ii) in the event the Products covered by a Purchase Order were not included in a sales forecast received by the Company from the Distributor, then the Company and the Distributor will work together in good faith to identify a reasonable and mutually acceptable delivery date for the Products, which in no event will be required to be sooner than thirty (30) days after receipt of such Purchase Order.
 
3.7 Partial Shipments; Failure to Deliver
 
Company reserves the right to make partial shipments of any order for one hundred (100) Product units or more and shall not be liable for any failure to ship complete orders.  Each partial shipment shall contain no less than fifty (50) Product units, unless mutually agreed otherwise by the Parties. Distributor will be invoiced separately for each partial shipment and will pay each invoice when due, without regard to subsequent deliveries. Company shall attempt to allocate its available inventory to Distributor in reasonable priority to all other customers of Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the failure of Company to supply Products pursuant to the terms of Purchase Orders submitted to Company in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be considered a breach o f this Agreement and a failure by Company to perform its material obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.2 (a) hereof. In addition, Distributor shall continue to have any other rights or remedies that it may have as a result of such failure to supply Products.
 
3.8 Inspection
 
Upon receipt of any Product delivery, Distributor shall have fifteen (15) days to inspect such Product for quantity shortages as well as readily apparent damage and readily apparent discrepancies (such as, without limitation, the inclusion of readily apparent nonconforming Products).  If such shortages, damage or discrepancy is found, Distributor has the right to reject such Product (“Rejected Product”) during such fifteen (15) day period.  Product not rejected during such period shall be deemed accepted by Distributor and Company shall not thereafter be liable for any such shortages, discrepancy or damage in such shipment.  Rejected Product (or any shortages in Product quantity) shall be replaced with conforming Product within ten (10) calendar days after Distributor’s notice of rejectio n and/or shortage, with replacement Product freight paid by the Company.  Distributor shall have the right to inspect and test such replacement Product within fifteen (15) days of delivery.  For any Rejected Product not replaced
 

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within ten (10) calendar days, Distributor shall be issued credit in full, and a refund of pro-rata shipping charges.
 
3.9 Distributor Product Warranty
 
Distributor accepts the published standard warranty of Company as in effect from time to time with respect to the Product. Subject to the limiting provisions of such standard warranty, Company represents, warrants and covenants that: (a) notwithstanding mechanical limitations such as, without limitation, the existence of insufficient torque, the Products furnished hereunder shall meet the quality, operating conditions and performance levels designated by the manufacturer’s published ratings and specifications; (b) to the extent and for the period provided in Company’s published standard warranty, the Products shall be free from defects in workmanship and material (c) Company has good and marketable title to (and has all rights, title and interest necessary to sell to Distributor) the Products to be furnished hereunder and there are (and shall be) no liens, claims or encumbrances of any kind whatsoever against the Products, except for required governmental licenses or permits which may need to be obtained in connection with the sale of the Products; and (d) Distributor may exercise its rights under this Agreement free and clear of any obligation of the Company to any third party, except for required governmental licenses or permits which may need to be obtained in connection with the sale of the Products.
 
3.10 End User Warranty
 
At all times during the Term of this Agreement, Company shall warrant the Products to Distributor’s customers in accordance with the terms of its standard warranty attached hereto as Exhibit “C” (“End User Warranty”), as such End User Warranty may be modified from time to time by the Company, and any such changes shall become effective immediately upon Company forwarding such changes in writing to Distributor. Any changes made by Company to such End User Warranty will not apply to Products sold to Distributor pursuant to orders placed by Distributor and accepted by Company before such changes were communicated to Distributor. A copy of the End User Warranty shall be included as part of the packaging included with the Product and Distributor shall distribute each Product with all warranty cards, a copy of t he End User Warranty and all other packaging materials intact.
 
3.11 Distributor Warranty Repair or Replacement
 
Company, at its own expense and option, shall promptly either repair or replace any defective Product during such period as Company’s standard warranty pursuant to Section 3.9 above remains in full force and effect for that Product, provided that Distributor has notified Company and, upon inspection by Company, Company has found the Product to be defective. In the event Distributor arranges for a Product to be repaired or serviced by a person or entity other than by a service facility approved by Company, such action shall be solely at the expense of Distributor and shall effectively terminate any Company warranty for such Product.
 
3.12 Product Returns
 
All returns of non-defective Products shall be subject to Company’s standard return policy for commercial and industrial products attached hereto as Exhibit “D”, as amended from time to
 

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time. Company shall provide Distributor with reasonable advance written notice of any change to Company’s standard return policy. Any such changes will not affect orders placed by Distributor and accepted by Company before such changes were communicated to Distributor or any Product previously sold to Distributor before such changes were communicated to Distributor. Company shall have no warranty obligations whatsoever including the replacement of any Product pursuant to this Article 3 unless all of the provisions of Company’s Return Policy then in effect have been met by Distributor.
 
3.13 Exclusive Remedy
 
THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF ANY NON-CONFORMING OR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF DISTRIBUTOR (AND SHALL CONSTITUTE FULFILLMENT OF ALL OBLIGATIONS OF COMPANY HEREUNDER) FOR THE BREACH OF SUCH WARRANTY BY COMPANY OR ANY LIABILITY (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY LIABILITY FOR NEGLIGENCE) OF COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES COVERED BY THIS AGREEMENT.  
 
THE PARTIES AGREE THAT COMPANY EXTENDS LIMITED EXPRESS WARRANTIES SOLELY TO ORIGINAL END-USERS OF THE PRODUCTS AND NOT TO DISTRIBUTOR.  COMPANY MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND TO DISTRIBUTOR WITH RESPECT TO THE AURA TECHNOLOGY OR THE USE THEREOF, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE PRODUCTS AND ANY COMPONENTS THEREOF INCORPORATING THE AURA TECHNOLOGY OR MANUFACTURED BY THE USE THEREOF.  ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY (I) THAT THE AURA TECHNOLOGY OR THE USE THEREOF, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE PRODUCTS AND ANY COMPONENTS THEREOF INCORPORATING THE AURA TECHNOLOGY OR MANUFACTURED BY THE USE THEREOF WILL BE FREE FROM CLAIMS OF PATENT INFRINGEMENT, INTERFERENCE, OR UNLAWFUL USE OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OF ANY THIRD PARTY, OR (II) OF THE ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, TECHNOLOGICAL OR COMMERCIAL VALUE, COMPREHENSIVENESS OR MARKETABILITY OF THE AURA TECHNOLOGY, THE PRODUCTS, OR THE COMPONENTS THEREOF OR ITS SUITABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE WHATSOEVER ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED AND EXCLUDED.
 
DISTRIBUTOR FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES IMPLIED BY CUSTOM OR USAGE IN THE TRADE BETWEEN DISTRIBUTOR AND COMPANY THAT HAVE BECOME A PART OF THIS TRANSACTION. ANY ACTION FOR A BREACH OF ANY OF COMPANY’S OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE MUST BE COMMENCED WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION HAS ACCRUED. NOT WITHSTANDING THE ABOVE, THE COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IF THE PRODUCT CANNOT REASONABLY MEET DISTRIBUTORS’ SPECIFCATIONS AND NEEDS FOR THE FIELD OF USE, THAT

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DISTRIBUTOR MAY CANCEL THIS CONTRACT AT ANYTIME WITH THIRTY (30) DAYS WRITTEN NOTICE AS A NON-CURBALE MATERIAL BREACH BY COMPANY UNDER SECTON 7.2, WHICH SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO CURE.

 
3.14 No Assurances
 
Distributor acknowledges that:
 
(a) Wind speeds are extremely variable and in wind conditions insufficient to provide torque levels equal to or exceeding the minimum torque guideline requirements of the Products established by the manufacturer, such Products may be unable to produce power levels equal to their maximum rating;
 
(b) Company has made no representations to Distributor and Distributor has received no assurances, that: (i) its business relationship will continue with Company beyond the stated term of this Agreement or its earlier termination in accordance with this Agreement; (ii) any investment by Distributor in the promotion of the Products will be recovered or recouped; or (iii) Distributor shall obtain any anticipated amount of profits by virtue of this Agreement; and
 
(c) Other than the licenses granted herein, DISTRIBUTOR shall not have or acquire, by virtue of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereunder, any proprietary rights in the Products, the Company’s intellectual and industrial property or in any goodwill related thereto, whether or not created by its efforts.
 
THE PARTIES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS SECTION AND RELATED SUBSECTIONS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR COMPANY TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT COMPANY WOULD NOT HAVE ENTERED INTO THIS AGREEMENT BUT FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, AGREEMENTS AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AS SET FORTH HEREIN.
 
3.15 Indemnity By Company
 
Distributor will promptly notify Company if any third party claim is brought or threatened against Distributor or a Sub-Distributor that arises out of a breach of the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement or from any product liability claims that may be brought against Distributor arising out of or related to the Products.  Company will indemnify, defend and hold Distributor and its Sub-Distributors including their employees, agents and affiliates, harmless from and against any and all payments, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that they may suffer or incur in connection with any such actual or threatened claim or any breach of representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Company under this Agreement.  The Company’s in demnification obligations do not apply:  (i) to the extent that the Products are modified by Distributor or any customer after shipment by Company without Company’s consent or direction and the claim arises from such modifications, (ii) to the extent that the Products are combined or used with other products, processes or materials in a manner contrary to their intended use and the claim arises from such

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combination, or (iii) where Distributor or a customer continues the activity that gave rise to the claim after being notified by Company of commercially reasonable actions which would have avoided the claim or (iv) to any negligent or willful act or omission or violation of any contractual arrangement of Company’s affiliates, officers, directors, agents or employees, in connection with its performance relating to this Agreement.

3.16           Indemnity by Distributor

Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Company, including its employees, agents and affiliates, harmless from and against any and all payments, damages, demands, claims, losses, expenses, costs, obligations and liabilities (including reasonable attorney’s fees and costs), which arise out of, result from or are related to: (i) any breach by Distributor or any Sub-Distributor of any provision contained in this Agreement, including without limitation any obligation, representation, warranty or covenant herein; (ii) any occupational injury or illness sustained by any employee or agent of Distributor or Sub-Distributor to the extent claims are made against, or held to be payable by Company; (iii) any applicable sales or other taxes due from or on behalf of Distributor or Sub-Distributor regardless of whether such taxes must be collected by Company on behalf of the taxing authority and regardless of whether Distributor shall challenge the assessment or amount of such taxes or (iv) any negligent or willful act or omission or violation of any contractual arrangement of Distributor or any of Distributor’s affiliates, Sub-Distributors, officers, directors, agents or employees of each, in connection with its or their performance relating to this Agreement.

 
3.17           Insurance
 
Both parties will each have and maintain in full force and effect during the Term of this Agreement (including any post-termination period for which indemnification obligations continue), all product liability and other insurance reasonably necessary to cover such party’s anticipated indemnification obligation and other risk of loss for which it may be liable under this Agreement. All such insurance coverages shall be occurrence based and not claims made.  Such policy or policies will (a) have aggregate limits of liability of not less than $5,000,000 with respect to any incident or occurrence and of not less than $10,000,000 in the aggregate; (b) name both Company and Distributor as insured parties; and (c) provide that such policy may not be canceled except upon not Less than 30 days’ written notice to both Compa ny and Distributor. Each party will provide such evidence of the effectiveness of such insurance to the other party as may be reasonably requested.
 
3.18           Capacity

Subject to this Article 3, during the Term of this Agreement prior to any Non-Exclusive Period (as that term is hereinafter defined), Distributor shall purchase all Products that it requires for any application within the Field of Use solely from Company.  In the event that Company is unable or otherwise unwilling to accept any given Purchase Order, Distributor may, at Distributor’s sole discretion, purchase such quantities of Product to fill said Purchase Order from a third party provider. In the event that Company is incapable or otherwise unable to supply Product in sufficient quantities to fulfill any given Purchase Order that Company has previously

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accepted pursuant to Section 3.2 above (the difference between the amount stated in any accepted Purchase Order and the amount supplied by Company in fulfillment of that Purchase Order being a “Discrepancy Quantity”), Distributor may, at Distributor’s sole discretion, purchase Product from a third party provider in any amount not exceeding the Discrepancy Quantity for such Purchase Order. In any event that a Discrepancy Quantity exists, Company will credit such Discrepancy Quantity towards the Minimum Order requirement for that Contract Year. No third party provider purchase by Distributor pursuant to this Section 3.18 shall relieve Distributor of any subsequent obligations to purchase Product from Company or otherwise perform under the terms of this Agreement.

3.19

3.20

3.21 Most Favored Nations
 
During the Term of this Agreement Company agrees that Distributor shall be allowed the full benefit of any and all lower prices and any other more favorable terms and condition (“MFN” Terms) contained in any other agreement entered into by Company for the sale of any product substantially similar to the Product in the same or lesser quantities described in this Agreement to third parties Company shall notify Distributor in writing of any such MFN Terms within fifteen (15) calendar days after agreeing thereto, and shall make the MFN Terms available to Distributor as of the effective date of such agreement and thereafter for the greater of (i) three (3) months or (ii) such time that the MFN Terms remain in effect.
 
3.22 Right of First Refusal
 
In the event that during the Term of this Agreement Company develops any new products for sale in the Field of Use (“New Products”), prior to any sale of such New Products to any third party, Distributor shall have the right of first refusal to sell the New Products as Products pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.  Company shall initiate such right of first refusal by providing samples of such New Products and specifications therefor (“New Product Specifications”) to Distributor and the proposed price (the “New Product Proposed Price”) at which Company proposes to sell the New Products to Distributor during the Term of this Agreement (collectively, the “New Product Proposal”).  Distributor shall have three (3) months from receipt of a full and complete New Product Proposal to test and evaluate the New Products and the New Product Proposal (the “Acceptance Period”).  In the event that Distributor accepts the New Product Proposal within the Acceptance Period then from and after the date of such acceptance, the term “Product” hereunder shall be deemed to include the New Products, the term “Product Prices” shall be deemed to include the New Product Proposed Price and the term “Specifications” shall be deemed to include the “New Product Specifications”.  In the event that Distributor rejects or fails to accept the New Product Proposal within the Acceptance Period then from and after the date of such rejection or failure to accept, Company shall be free to sell the New Products to any third party; provided, however, the sale price to such third party shall in no event be less than the New Product Proposed Price.   In the event that Company ever wishes during the Term of this Agree ment to sell the New Products to a third party for a price less than
 

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the New Product Proposed Price then Company shall first offer the New Products to Distributor at such lower price pursuant to the right of first refusal set forth in this Section 3.22.
 
3.23 Minimum Order
 
In order to maintain its exclusivity within the Field of Use, Distributor shall purchase from Company the lesser of (i) that amount of Product equal to Company’s maximum output per Contract Year (as defined below) or (ii) a minimum of three thousand (3,000) units of the Products (collectively the “Minimum Order”) during each year of the Term of this Agreement (the “Contract Year”); provided, however, for the purposes hereof the initial Contract Year shall commence on the Effective Date and end on the date which is eighteen (18) months thereafter.  In the event that Distributor fails to purchase the Minimum Order in any particular Contract Year then, the exclusive distr ibutor rights granted pursuant to Article 2 hereof shall become non exclusive commencing with the Contract Year immediately following the Contract Year in which the Minimum Order was not achieved and ending twelve (12) months thereafter (the “Non-Exclusive Period”). If, during the Non-Exclusive Period, Distributor meets the Minimum Order requirement for such Contract Year, this Agreement shall remain in effect on a non exclusive basis for the remainder of the Term of the Agreement, provided, however, that if Distributor fails to meet the Minimum Order requirement during the Non-Exclusive Period, Company may, at its sole discretion, terminate this Agreement pursuant to Article 17 below.
 
3.24 No Payment Set-Off.                                                       All payments made by Distributor to Company under this Agreement shall be paid in full, without set-off or counterclaim, and in such amount as may be necessary in order that all payments (after deduction for withholding for or on account of any present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties or other charges imposed by any political subdivision or taxing authority on such payments, collectively “Taxes”) shall not be less tha n the amounts otherwise required to be paid under this Agreement. Any and all Taxes required to be so withheld or deducted shall be paid by Distributor to the proper taxing authorities, and proof of payment shall be secured and sent to Company as evidence of such payment.
 
ARTICLE 4.                           DISTRIBUTOR’S OBLIGATIONS
 
4.1 Sales
 
Subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement, Distributor shall use its best efforts to promote, market, lease, license or sell the Products within the Territory in such manner as Distributor determines in its sole and absolute discretion.  Distributor may subcontract the performance of any of its obligations under this Agreement to Sub-distributors in accordance with the terms of this Agreement regarding appointment of Sub-distributors.
 
4.2 Sales Plans, Reports and Forecasts
 
No later than each November 1 during the Term of this Agreement, beginning November 1, 2009, Distributor shall submit to Company a sales forecast for the Products in and for the Field of Use in the Territory for the next calendar year, January through December.  Company agrees to use all information provided by Distributor under this Section 4.2, exclusively for Company’s own purposes and shall treat it in strict confidence and shall not use or disclose the same except as required to perform its obligations under this Agreement or except as required by law.
 

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Licenses and Other Governmental Approvals
 
Company agrees to cooperate with Distributor as necessary to enable Distributor to obtain, at Distributor’s expense (i) the export licenses within the portions of the Territory that may be necessary to export the Products into and (ii) the governmental and regulatory approvals and licenses within the portions of the Territory that may be necessary to permit the sale, license, lease and other disposition of the Products by Company and/or Distributor under this Agreement.  At all stages in the regulatory approval process, Distributor and Company will work together in good faith to conduct the tests and regulatory approval process in a manner that is mutually acceptable to Company and Distributor.  Company agrees to cooperate with Distributor as necessary to enable Distributor to file for and obtain any gove rnment and regulatory approvals and licenses required by Distributor and to provide Distributor with the test results, specifications, and any other information that Distributor may request from time to time to file for and obtain such government approvals and licenses.
 
4.3 Compliance with Law
 
Each party shall at all times comply with the provisions of all applicable laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and refrain from engaging in any illegal, unfair or deceptive trade practices or unethical business practices whatsoever with respect to the promotion and sale or service of Products. Distributor shall obtain and pay for such licenses, permits and authorizations as may be necessary in connection with Distributor’s importation, promotion and sale of Products.
 
4.4 Recalls
 
Distributor will reasonably inform Company of each complaint that Distributor may receive or become aware of concerning the Products.  Distributor also shall maintain records of all Products sold by Distributor.  If Company, any governmental agency or other proper authority issues a product recall or product advisory of any of the Products, Distributor agrees to cooperate with Company (i) in contacting purchasers within the Territory during the course of any such product advisories, recalls and complaints, (ii) in communicating to such purchasers such information or instructions as Company may desire be transmitted to such purchasers, (iii) in obtaining the removal of all such recalled Products from Distributor’s inventory and the inventory of its customers and (iv) in disposing of such recalled Product a s Company so directs.  Company agrees to reimburse Distributor for all costs and expenses incurred by Distributor in connection with such Product advisories, recalls and complaints, unless the Company can reasonably demonstrate that the advisory, recall or complaint is due to the fault or negligence of Distributor, its representatives or affiliates.
 
4.5 Press Releases and Announcements
 
In the event any party proposes to issue any press release or public announcement concerning any provisions of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, such party shall so advise the other party hereto, and the parties shall thereafter use commercially reasonable efforts to cause a mutually agreeable release or announcement to be issued.  Neither party will publicly disclose or divulge any provisions of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
 

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without the other party’s written consent, except as way be required by applicable law, including applicable securities laws or stock exchange regulations, and except for communications to such party’s employees and professional advisors.
 
4.6 Representations and Warranties of Distributor
 
Distributor represents and warrants to Company that, as of the date of this Agreement:
 
(a) Power and Authority: Distributor has the corporate power an authority to enter into and to carry the terms and provisions of this Agreement; and this Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of Distributor and is enforceable against Distributor in accordance with its terms.
 
(b) No Conflicting Agreements: The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Distributor will not conflict with or violate any agreements or understandings to which Distributor is a party or by which it may be bound.
 
(c) Litigation: There are no actions or proceedings pending, or to Distributor’s knowledge, threatened, which would prevent or make unlawful the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
(d) Infringement: Distributor has no actual knowledge, that its wind power generation systems conflict with, violate or infringe any rights of any third party (provided, however, such representation shall not apply to the Products to the extent that they are a component of such system).
 
(e) Insurance. Distributor has insurance coverage for its business with respect to the it’s sale, installation and performance of Covered Service with respect to the Products (as required under Section 3.13 and agrees to disclose information to such as may be reasonably requested by Company.
 
4.7 Export Controls
 
Distributor represents and warrants that it will not export or re-export the Products, any components thereof or any underlying information or technology into any country to which the U.S. has embargoed goods, or to anyone on the U.S. Treasury Department's list of Specially Designated Nationals or the U.S. Commerce Department's Table of Deny Orders. Nor shall Distributor export Product or any underlying information or technology to any facility in violation of these or other applicable laws and regulations. Distributor represents and warrants that it is not a national or resident of, or located in or under the control of, any country subject to such export controls.
 
4.8 Standards of Facility, Workmanship and Materials
 
Distributor shall at all times during the Term of this Agreement:
 
 
(a)
conduct business and perform Covered Service in a prompt, courteous, workmanlike, competent, professional, and ethical manner;
 

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(b)           maintain suitable facilities, trained and certified personnel and equipment, adequate to fulfill all duties as prescribed under this Agreement;
 
(c)
use only parts and materials of the highest quality in rendering Covered Service; and
 
 
(d)
CAUSE ALL COVERED SERVICE AUTHORIZED HEREUNDER TO BE PERFORMED SOLELY BY CERTIFIED PRODUCT PERSONNEL.
 
4.9 Competent Personnel
 
Distributor shall, throughout the Term of this Agreement, maintain a trained and skilled sales force suitable to provide sales and technical assistance to purchasers and potential purchasers of the Product within the Field of Use.
 
4.10 Maintenance and Inspection of Records
 
Distributor shall retain all invoices and records for all parts, sales, promotion and services performed with respect to Products for a period of four (4) years. Further, at all reasonable times during normal business hours Distributor shall make available to Company, all of Distributor’s books, records, invoices, including without limitation a customer lists and contact information relating to Distributor’s performance of this Agreement.
 

 
ARTICLE 5.                           COMPANY’S OBLIGATIONS
 
5.1           Sales Support
 
Company shall provide Distributor, at no charge to Distributor, with reasonable quantities of all sales and marketing information applicable to the Products, including catalogs, specifications, promotional literature and other materials.  All such materials will be provided to Distributor in English, and Distributor may, at its sole expense, arrange for the translation of such materials into all languages or dialects appropriate for the Territory through a professional translation service approved in writing by Company, and for reproduction of such translations in quantities adequate in light of the potential sales volume for Products in the Territory. Distributor shall be solely responsible for all costs associated with the promotion and advertising of the Products in or for the Field of Use in the Territory.
 
5.2             Marketing Support
 
During the Term of this Agreement, Company shall: (i) publish Distributor’s name and address as its authorized distributor in or for the Field of Use in the Territory; (ii) from time to time, support Distributor’s marketing by involving Distributor in its advertising and direct mail activities when appropriate and without charge or at subsidized cost; (iii) furnish Distributor, upon Distributor’s request, reasonable technical information respecting applications or servicing of the Products; (iv) provide information to support Distributor’s marketing efforts; and (v) transmit promptly all sales leads in or for the Field of Use in the Territory to Distributor.
 

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                       5.3                                Training.  During the first 3 months following the Effective Date of this Agreement, Company will provide Distributor, free of charge, technical and sales training at Company’s facilities located in El Segundo California, U.S.A. for up to two (2) individuals.  Thereafter, Distributor shall pay Company for such services an hourly rate of $100.00 U.S. Dollars for every individual being trained. Distributor shall be solely responsible for all costs and expenses associated with all training of Distributor’s personnel hereunder, including without limitation all travel, living accommodations, salary and other expenses and costs incurred by such personnel.
 

 
5.4             Consulting Service
 
Following the Effective Date of this Agreement, Company will, at no charge to Distributor, provide Distributor those technical consulting services reasonably necessary and practical to complete preparations for Distributor’s Ricoh billboard début in New York City. Thereafter, at the request of Distributor, Company will provide the services of up to five (5) technical consultants to assist Distributor in the marketing, sale or technical aspects of the Product in or for the Field of Use in the Territory. Distributor agrees to reimburse Company for the reasonable living and travel expenses of such consultants, as determined by Company. In addition, Distributor shall pay Company for such consulting services an hourly consulting rate of $150.00 U.S. Dollars per consultant.
 
5.5Representations and Warranties of Company
 
The Company represents and warrants to Distributor that, as of the date of this Agreement:
 
(a) Power and Authority: Company has the corporate power and authority to enter into and to carry out the terms and provisions of this Agreement; and this Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of Company and is enforceable against Company in accordance with its terms.
 
(b) No Conflicting Agreement: Company has not granted to any person other than Distributor any right, title or interest or entered into any agreement which is in conflict with or inconsistent with any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement.
 
(c) Litigation: There are no actions or proceedings pending, or to Company’s knowledge, threatened, which would prevent or make unlawful the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
(d)           Infringement: Company has no actual knowledge, that the Products conflict with, violate or infringe any rights of any third party.
 
5.6             For the Term of this Agreement, Company shall:
 
(d) Reimburse Distributor for the cost of initial replacement parts and for labor costs as set forth in Exhibit “E” hereto only for Covered Service authorized by
 

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Company which is performed by Distributor on Covered Products in accordance with this Agreement;
(e) Mail checks in payment of non-disputed claims for Covered Service performed by Distributor no later than forth-five (45) working days after Company’s date of receipt and approval of such claims; and
 
(f) Upon request by Distributor, provide Distributor with sample copies of Service Agreements.  The initial form of such Service Agreements is attached hereto as Exhibit “F” and shall not be modified without the prior written approval of Distributor.
 
ARTICLE 6.                           TRADEMARKS AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
 
6.1             Mutual Grant of Trademark License
 
During the Term of this Agreement and subject to its provisions, Company grants to Distributor a non-exclusive license to use Aura Trademarks to identify and promote the sale of the Products within the Field of Use and Distributor grants to Company a non-exclusive license to use Distributor Trademarks to identify and promote Distributor’s wind power technology used in conjunction with the Products within the Field of Use. Distributor may not use the Aura Trademarks in connection with the sale or promotion of any goods, services, products, equipment or process other than the Products within the Field of Use. Company may not use the Distributor Trademarks in connection with the sale or promotion of any goods, services, products, equipment or process other than the P roducts within the Field of Use.   Upon termination of this Agreement, Distributor and Company shall each promptly cease using any trademarks belonging to the other Party.
 
6.2             Trademark Markings
 
Distributor agrees that each of the Products sold or otherwise distributed by Distributor shall prominently bear all appropriate Aura Trademarks and that Distributor shall clearly indicate Company’s ownership of such Aura Trademarks. Distributor shall do everything reasonably required of it by Company in connection with trademark marking or the giving of such other notices as provided for under United States or applicable foreign trademark laws. Distributor agrees not to remove or deface any Aura Trademarks, and to not, unless authorized in writing by Company, add any other mark or identifying indicia to the Products.
 
6.3             Trademark Ownership
 
Distributor acknowledges and agrees that Company is the sole and exclusive owner of the Aura Trademarks. Other than with respect to Distributor Trademarks licensed to Distributor, Company acknowledges and agrees that Distributor is the sole and exclusive owner of the Distributor Trademarks. As such, neither Party shall at any time acquire any rights in the other Party’s trademarks by virtue of its use thereof. Further, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as (i) an assignment or grant to Distributor of any right, title or interest in or to the Aura Trademarks, it being understood that all rights relating thereto are reserved by Company, except for the licenses granted hereunder for the right to use and utilize the Aura Trademarks as expressly provided herein, or (ii) an assignment or grant to Company of any righ t, title or interest in or to the Distributor Trademarks, it being understood that all rights relating thereto are
 

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reserved by Distributor, except for the licenses granted hereunder for the right to use and utilize the Distributor Trademarks as expressly provided herein. . Distributor shall not use any of the Aura Trademarks, or any mark or name confusingly similar thereto, in any manner, except (i) on letters, letterhead, business cards and signs solely in order to identify itself as an authorized distributor of Company and/or (ii) in sales and promotional materials, provided such materials have been previously approved by Company, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Distributor agrees that it will not knowingly do anything inconsistent with Company’s ownership of its intellectual property, including without limitation, questioning the validity of the Aura Trademarks or registering or attempting to register th e Aura Trademarks in its own name or that of any other firm, person or corporation.  Company shall not use any of the Distributor Trademarks, or any mark or name confusingly similar thereto, in any manner, except (i) on letters, letterhead, business cards and signs solely in order to identify itself as the manufacturer of Products provided to Distributor as an authorized distributor of Company and/or (ii) in sales and promotional materials, provided such materials have been previously approved by Distributor, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Company agrees that it will not knowingly do anything inconsistent with Distributor’s ownership of its intellectual property, including without limitation, questioning the validity of the Distributor Trademarks or registering or attempting to register the Distributor Trademarks in its own name or that of any other firm, person or corporation.
6.4             Patent Marking
 
Distributor shall do everything reasonably required of it by Company in connection with patent marking or the giving of such other notices as provided for under United States or applicable foreign patent laws.
 
6.5           Protection of Trademarks and Patents
 
Distributor agrees to take such actions as Company may reasonably require for the protection of Company’s proprietary interest in the Aura Trademarks, Aura Technology, and all other Aura Proprietary Rights. Distributor shall cooperate fully and in good faith at Company’s expense with Company for the purpose of preserving Company’s rights in and to the Aura Trademarks, Aura Technology and all other Aura Proprietary Rights. Distributor agrees to promptly notify the Company in writing of any uses, which may be infringements of the trademarks, technology or other proprietary rights which come to Distributor’s attention. In the event of infringement of Aura Trademarks, Aura Technology, and other Aura Proprietary Right, the Company shall have the sole right to determine whether or not any action shall be taken on acco unt of any such infringement(s).
 
6.6             Confidential Information
 
                                (a) Each party shall hold the Confidential Information disclosed to it by the other party in strict confidence and shall not use or disclose the same except to its employees and agents on a need-to-know basis provided such employees and agents have agreed to be bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective of the Confidential Information as the terms of this Agreement or are bound by a legally enforceable code of professional responsibility to protect the confidentiality of such Confidential Information.  The parties may disclose Confidential Information as requir ed by law (including without limitation all applicable
 

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securities laws and regulations) or as reasonably required to file for and obtain any government or regulatory approvals and licenses necessary to sell or distribute the Products for sale, lease, license or other disposition for the Field of Use in the Territory provided that the disclosing party informs the non-disclosing party of such disclosure prior to its occurrence.
(b) Return of Documents. Distributor and the Company each acknowledge that all Confidential Information supplied to it by the other Party shall remain the sole property of the disclosing Party and that all documents and other tangible media that embody any such Confidential Information must be, at the disclosing Party’s option, either promptly returned or destroyed, except as otherwise may be required from time to time by applicable law, upon the disclosing Party’s written request. Confidential Information in documentary or other tangible form, and all copies of it, must be returned promptly to the disclosing Party upon termination of this Agreement or, as applicable, upon earlier expiration of Distributor& #8217;s rights thereto in accordance with this Agreement.
 
(c)  Injunctive Relief. Each party acknowledges and agrees that because: (i) an award of money damages in inadequate to compensate the other party for any breach of this Article 6 by the first party; and (ii) any breach of this Article 6 will causes irreparable harm, if there is a breach or threatened breach of this Article 6 by the first party, the other party is entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance, without proof of actual damages.
 
(d) Survival. The covenants and agreements contained herein with respect to any Confidential Information deemed a trade secret under applicable law shall continue until the information ceases to be a trade secret under applicable law. The obligations with respect to all other Confidential Information shall continue following termination of this Agreement.
 
(e)  Restricted Rights. The Products (including all software components) and any accompanying documentation are provided with Restricted Rights. Use, duplication, or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in subparagraph (c)(1) of the Commercial Computer Software - Restricted Rights clause at FAR 52.227-19, subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of The Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause at DFARS 252.227-7013, or subparagraph (d) of the Commercial Computer Software—Licensing at NASA FAR supplement 16-52.227-86, or their equivalent, as applicable.
 
ARTICLE 7.                           TERM AND TERMINATION
 
7.1             Term
 
Unless terminated as provided in Sections 7.2 or 9.3 below or by mutual written consent, this Agreement shall continue in full force from the Effective Date of this Agreement until the expiration or abandonment of the last Valid Claim of the Aura Technology utilized in the Products in the Field of Use (the “Term”); provided, however, for the purpose of this sentence the term “Valid Claims” shall only apply to a claim of a patent or patent application in the United States.  To the extent that Company accepts an order from Distributor following the expiration of this Agreement, the same shall be governed by the terms hereof, but will not be deemed to have otherwise extended the Agreement.
 

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7.2           Termination for Cause
 
To the extent that either party shall elect to terminate this Agreement for cause, each of the following shall constitute cause or good cause and sufficient grounds for such termination and this Agreement may be terminated prior to the expiration of the Term as provided in Section 7.1 above, upon notice to the other party, as follows:
 
A. By either party, effective immediately, in the event that the other party should fail to perform any of its material obligations under this Agreement and should fail to remedy such failure within ninety (90) calendar days after receiving written demand to remedy such failure; provided that if such breach is not curable within such ninety (90)-day period that the party in breach has commenced to substantially cure such breach within such ninety (90) day period and, in any event, such breach shall have been remedied within one hundred twenty (120) days of receipt of such written demand to remedy such breach;
 
B. By either party if the other party is dissolved, becomes insolvent, is adjudicated bankrupt, voluntarily or involuntarily files a petition for bankruptcy, makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, seeks any other similar relief under any bankruptcy law or related statues or otherwise becomes financially incapable of performing its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and such judgment, assignment or incapacity is not revoked within one-hundred twenty (180) calendar days;
 
C. By either party if all or substantially all of the assets of the other party are transferred, sold or liquidated; or
 
D.           At the election of Company, in writing, in the event that Distributor fails to meet the Minimum Order requirement during the Non-Exclusive Period
 
7.3             Rights of Parties Upon Termination
 
The following provisions shall apply upon the termination or expiration of this Agreement for any reason:
 
D. In the event that Distributor has entered into agreement(s) during the Term of this Agreement with customer(s) in the Territory to provide Products to such customer(s) as such Products are ordered by such customer(s) for a fixed time period (such arrangements are referred to herein as “Tenders”), Company shall continue to sell Products to Distributor after the non-renewal or expiration of this Agreement, but only to the extent necessary for Distributor to satisfy its obligations under such Tenders, only for prices that are no greater than the maximum prices set forth on Exhibit “B”, as modified from time to time, and only for a period of time that is no longer than one (1) year after such non-renewal or exp iration.
 
E. Each party shall immediately cease all use of, and return to the disclosing party, any Confidential Information in its possession.
 
F. Company shall repurchase from Distributor at the actual price paid by Distributor, or credit Distributor for, the Products in Distributor’s possession at the time of termination or expiration of this Agreement which Distributor has purchased from Company (the
 

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“Termination Inventory”); provided, however that Company shall have no obligation to repurchase or issue a credit for any Products which are not in their original condition or have been altered or modified in any way by Distributor.  In the event the termination is made by Distributor pursuant to 7.1(A) for acts or breaches of the Company, the Company shall be solely responsible for arranging and paying for the packaging, freight, insurance and taxes related to the return of the Termination Inventory to Company.
G. Sections 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8 of this Agreement shall survive the termination or non-renewal of this Agreement for any reason.
 
H. Neither party shall be discharged for any antecedent obligations or liabilities to the other party under this Agreement, unless otherwise agreed in writing;
 
I. All rights granted under this Agreement to either party shall forthwith and without further act or instrument, be assigned and revert to their respective original owners. In addition, the parties agree to execute any instruments requested by one another, which are necessary to accomplish or confirm the foregoing. Any such assignment, transfer or conveyance shall be without consideration other than the mutual agreements contained herein.
 
J. COMPANY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO DISTRIBUTOR FOR ANY DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES RESULTING FROM ANY TERMINATION OR EXPIRATION OF THIS AGREEMENT ARISING FROM ANY CLAIMS ASSERTED BY DISTRIBUTOR WHICH ARE BASED UPON LOSS OF GOODWILL, PROSPECTIVE PROFITS OR ANTICIPATED ORDERS, OR ON ACCOUNT OF ANY EXPENDITURES, INVESTMENTS, LEASES OR COMMITMENTS MADE BY DISTRIBUTOR;
 
                        7.4                                Orders Following Termination. To the extent that Company accepts an order from Distributor following the expiration of this Agreement, the same shall be governed by the terms hereof, but will not be deemed to have otherwise extended the Agreement.
 
ARTICLE 8.                       INSTALLATION AND WARRANTY SERVICE
 
8.1             Service
 
In addition to its other duties and obligations as prescribed under this Agreement, Distributor agrees to provide installation and warranty service to those Service Agreement holders (“Holders”) whose Products were purchased from Distributor or its sub distributors pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and are covered by Service Agreements in full force and effect (collectively “Covered Service”). A full and exhaustive list of all Covered Services is attached hereto as Exhibit “D”. Distributor may not provide any services under this Agreement for any Product outside of the Field of Use without the prior express written consent of Company. While Distributor may not provid e any service which is not listed as a Covered Service for any Product covered by a valid Service Agreement without the prior written consent of Company, Distributor may, at its own risk and expense, provide service for Products within the Field of Use whose Service Agreements have expired. In the event that Distributor wishes to perform a service not listed as a Covered Service on a Product falling within the Field of Use and covered by a valid Service Agreement (a “Non-Covered Service”), Distributor must obtain the prior written consent of Company to do so. Such consent for Non-Covered Service may be withheld by Company for
 

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any reason at Company’s sole discretion. All Non-Covered Services will be provided by Distributor at Distributor’s sole risk and expense.
 
8.2             Covered Service
 
Distributor shall perform all Covered Service in accordance with this Agreement. In performing Covered Service, Distributor shall restore each Product, to its proper working condition as determined by manufacturer specifications.
 
8.3             Equipment and Rates
 
The parts reimbursement rates payable by Company for Covered Services is set forth in Exhibit “D” also sets forth the rate payable by Company for labor to perform Covered Service. Service Area. When on-site service is required by Company or Service Agreements, Distributor will perform Covered Service on the Holder’s premises where the Product is located (“Holder Premises”). Service calls to render Covered Service at a Holder Premises shall be charged to Company at the rate provided for in Exhibit “E” herein or as mutually agreed to by Distributor and Company. Distributor shall not be reimbursed for mileage or time charges (“M/T Charges”) resulting from pe rformance of Covered Services unless Company has given its prior written approval of M/T Charges. If Company approves M/T Charges, Distributor will be reimbursed the M/T Charges approved by Company.
 
8.4           Submission of Invoices
 
Distributor shall submit claims for Covered Service using forms acceptable to Company bearing Distributor’s signature and the signature of the customer for whom the Covered Service was performed. Distributor shall submit all claims for Covered Service to Company within fifteen (15) days of the date on which such Covered Service was rendered. Distributor shall not submit any claims to Company for anything which does not constitute Covered Service pursuant to a valid Service Agreement.  Unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing, Company shall cause payment to be received by Distributor for any Covered Service no later than thirty (30) days following the date of submittal of such claims to Company.
 
8.5             Distributor Warranty
 
 
Distributor will take defective generator from the installed location and send to company if it can not be repaired on site for repair or replacement under company’s warranty. Distributor will not void warranty given by company.
 

8.6             Service Literature
 
Distributor shall, at all times during the Term of this Agreement, subscribe to all pertinent Covered Product service literature including without limitation all service bulletins.
 
ARTICLE 9.                           GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
9.1             Entire Agreement
 

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This Agreement, including any Exhibits hereto, represents the entire agreement between the parties on the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior discussions, agreements and understandings of every kind and nature between them. This Agreement may be modified, amended, rescinded, cancelled or waived, in whole or in part, only by written instrument signed by all of the parties hereto.
9.2             Notices
 
All notices under this Agreement shall be in English and shall be in writing and given by airmail, certified or registered, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, cable, telex or facsimile, promptly confirmed by airmail, addressed to the parties at the addresses immediately below their respective signatures hereto, or to such other address of which either party may advise the other in writing. Any notice given by airmail shall be deemed received by the addressee three (3) business days from the date of mailing. All other forms of notice will be deemed given when sent.
 
9.3             Force Majeure
 
Neither party shall be in default hereunder by reason of any failure or delay in the performance (either in whole or in part) of any obligation under this Agreement (other than the payment of money) where such failure or delay arises out of any cause beyond the reasonable control and without the fault or negligence of such party (an “Event of Force Majeure”).  Such causes shall include, without limitation, storms, floods, other acts of nature, fires, explosions, riots, war, terrorism or civil disturbance, strikes or other labor unrests, embargoes, shortage or failure in supply of raw materials from the then contemplated sources of supply and no other source or supply can be located or obtained with commercially reasonable diligence and effort, and other governmental actions or regulations which would prohibit eith er party from ordering or furnishing Products or from performing any other aspects of the obligations hereunder. Within ten (10) days from the date of commencement of an Event of Force Majeure, the party affected by such an event shall advise the other party (the “Other Party”) of the date when such delay in performance commenced, and the reasons therefore as enumerated in this Agreement; likewise, within ten (10) days after the delay ends, the party affected by such an Event of Force Majeure shall advise the Other Party of the date when such delay ended, and shall also specify the redetermined time by which the performance of the obligation hereunder is to be completed.  In the event that the Event of Force Mejeure continues for a period of sixty (60) days then the Other Party shall have the right to elect to terminate this Agreement upon ten (10) days notice to the party affected by such an event.
 
9.4             Severability
 
In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement are deemed illegal or unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions, and any partially unenforceable provisions to the extent enforceable, shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable. In the event that any act, regulation, directive, or law of a government having jurisdiction and respect of this Agreement, including its departments, agencies or courts, should make it impossible or prohibit, restrain, modify or eliminate any act or obligation of either party under this Agreement, the non-affected party shall have the right, at its option, to suspend this Agreement or the parties may, at their mutual agreement, make such modifications therein as may be necessary.
 

3/18/09 4:00pm
 
 

 

9.5           Assignment
 
Except as expressly provided for herein, neither party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the other party’s prior written approval and any such assignment or transfer shall be void.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributor may assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations, upon notice to Company, to (i) an affiliated company or entity or (ii) an unaffiliated company or entity pursuant to a sale, merger or other consolidation of such party or any of its operating divisions. This Agreement does not create, and shall not be construed as creating, any rights enforceable by any person not a party to this Agreement.
 
9.6             Applicable Law
 
This Agreement is deemed made and entered into in the State of California and shall be construed, enforced and performed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without reference, to choice of law.  THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY PURCHASE OF THE PRODUCTS SHALL NOT BE GOVERNED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE 1980 U.N. CONVENTION ON CONTRACTS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SALE OF GOODS.
 
9.7             Dispute Resolution
 
Any and all disputes of whatever nature, arising between the parties of this Agreement or the underlying business relationship, including termination thereof and statutory claims, and which are not resolved between the parties themselves, shall be submitted to binding and final arbitration to be conducted in English, in Los Angeles, California, before a single arbitrator in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association for Complex Commercial Cases in effect as of the date of this Agreement.  Judgment upon the award of the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. In the event of any proceeding in arbitration between the parties arising in any manner out of this Agreement or the asserted breach thereof, the prevailing party shall recover court costs or costs of arbitration, as appropriate, and reasonable attorneys’ fees.
 
9.8             Waiver
 
The waiver or excuse by either party hereto as to any breach, default or deficiency and the performance by the other party of any duty or obligation by the other party to be performed hereunder shall not constitute or be deemed a continuing waiver or excuse of the same or any other duty or obligation owed by the other.
 
9.9             Interpretation
 
In the event any claim is made by any party relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular party or that party’s counsel.  Reference to “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”
 

3/18/09 4:00pm
 
 

 

9.10           Captions
 
Captions of sections of this Agreement are included for reference only, shall not be construed as part of this Agreement and shall not be used to define, limit, extend or interpret the terms hereof.
 
9.11             Currency
 
Unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing, all payments required to be made under this Agreement shall be made in United States Dollars via cash, check, wire transfer, or other immediately available funds. The remitting party shall pay at its own expense all charges and expenses associated with the other party’s receipt of such payment.
 
9.12             Cumulative Remedies
 
No remedy conferred by any of the specific provisions of this Agreement is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy and each and every right and remedy hereunder is cumulative with each and every other right and remedy herein or in any other agreement between the parties or under applicable law.
 
9.13             Receipt
 
Distributor hereby acknowledges receipt of a signed copy of this Agreement.
 
9.14             Counterparts
 
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
 
9.15             No Consequential Damages
 
IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR ANY SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INDIRECT DAMAGES, HOWEVER CAUSED.
 
9.16             Successors
 
Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted successors and assigns.
 

 

 
[signature page to follow]
 

 

 

3/18/09 4:00pm
 
 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Company and Distributor have caused this instrument to be executed by their duly authorized employees, as of the day and year first above written.
 

 

 
[_____________________________]
(“Company”)
 
WEPOWER LLC
(“Distributor”)
         
Name:
   
Name:
 
By:
   
By:
 
Title:
   
Title:
 
Date:
   
Date:
 
         

 

3/18/09 4:00pm
 
 

 

EXHIBIT A
 FORM OF PURCHASE ORDER

EXHIBIT B
 INITIAL PRODUCT PRICE LIST

EXHIBIT C
 END-USER WARRANTY

EXHIBIT D
RETURN POLICY

EXHIBIT E
COVERED SERVICE LIST AND APPROVED SERVICE REIMBURSEMENT RATES

EXHIBIT F
FORM OF SERVICE AGREEMENT


 

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EXHIBIT E
 
Parts and Labor Reimbursement Rates

Service Code       Description                                                                                                                                            Rate____

 
Installation
 
W-AG001
Buss charge up failure inspection (inspect for and tighten loose screws or internal ECU connectors)
$40.00
W-AG002
Software upgrades; Reprogram ECU and test AuraGen® system under load
$40.00
W-AG003
Remove and Replace RPM Sensor
$40.00
W-AG004
Remove and Replace Electronic Control Unit (ECU)
(including re-programming and load testing of system)
$120.00
W-AG005
Remove and Replace Serpentine Belt (if defective within 18 months of AuraGen® operation)
$40.00
 
W-AG006
Remove and Replace Idler or Tensioner Pulleys
$60.00
 
W-AG007
Remove and Replace Generator
$120.00
W-AG008
ECU Diagnostics: Troubleshoot bus charge up failure, electrical connections or installation computer / interface box communication issues per AuraGen® Troubleshooting Guide.
$75.00
 
W-AG009
Generator Diagnostics: Troubleshoot bus charge up failure per AuraGen® Troubleshooting Guide.
$40.00
 
W-AG010
Remove and Replace Mounting Kit
(requires approval)
W-AG011
Remove and replace Mechanical Idle Control and re-program ECU. (Trucks)
$75.00
 
W-AG012
Remove and replace Mechanical Idle Control and re-program ECU. (Vans)
$100.00
 
W-AG-SB-XXXX
Component replacement or system upgrades specified by AuraGen® Service Bulletin's (SB's)
($ noted in SB)

Labor Reimbursement Rates:

Warranty labor rate for work performed at Distributor facility will be reimbursed at the lesser of: (a) Distributor’s posted hourly rate in effect at the time of service or (b) the normal and customary rates in the industry for such service in effect at the time and place of service, but in no event shall such reimbursement exceed $75.00 per hour.

Invoices that are submitted for Covered Products’ warranty repair (labor and travel), that exceed US $150 will require written approval from Company prior to commencement of such warranty repair.  In the event such approval is not obtained Distributor shall not be required to perform such repair.

Repairs that were directly caused by Product component failure will be subject to time limitations published in industry standard flat rate manuals.

3/18/09 4:00pm
 
 

 

EX-31.1 5 cert311.htm cert311.htm

 
 

 


 
CERTIFICATION
 
I, Melvin Gagerman, certify that:

1.      I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K  of Aura Systems, Inc.,

2.      Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3.      Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.      The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 
 
a.      Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
b.      Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
c.      Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on our evaluation;
 
 
d.     Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
 
5.      The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
 
 
a.       All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information ; and
 
 
b.      Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
Date:      June 15, 2010
 
By:
/s/Melvin Gagerman
 
Melvin Gagerman
 
Chief Executive Officer
   


EX-31.2 6 cert312.htm cert312.htm

 
 

 


 
CERTIFICATION
 
I, Melvin Gagerman, certify that:

1.      I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Aura Systems, Inc.,

2.      Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3.      Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.      The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 
 
a.      Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
b.      Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
c.      Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on our evaluation;
 
 
d.     Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
 
5.      The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
 
 
a.       All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information ; and
 
 
b.      Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
Date:          June  15, 2010
 
By:
/s/Melvin Gagerman
 
Melvin Gagerman
 
Chief Financial Officer
   
 

 


 
 

 

EX-32.1 7 cert321.htm cert321.htm

 
 

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
 
In connection with the Annual Report of Aura Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-K  for the annual period ending February 28, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Melvin Gagerman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to my knowledge:
   
1.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
   

2.
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company for the periods indicated.
   
 
     
   
     
Date:      June 15, 2010
By:  
/s/Melvin Gagerman
 
[Missing Graphic Reference]
 
Melvin Gagerman
Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Financial Officer, Chief Accounting
Officer
 

 

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