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ARKADOS GROUP, INC. - 10-Q - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
[September 13, 2013]

ARKADOS GROUP, INC. - 10-Q - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations


(Edgar Glimpses Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Overview The following Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A") is intended to help the reader understand the Company's financial condition and results of operations. The MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto.



Following the December 23, 2010 Asset Sale, the Company engaged in the process of finalizing settlement and release agreements with its secured creditors, other noteholders, former employees and its other unsecured creditors.

During this period, the Company was focused on negotiating and finalizing the settlements and releases with its creditors and did not materially pursue plans to shift its primary business operation focus to product design. Arkados had no employees and did not produce any products or services during the period following December 23, 2010 through November 30, 2012, the end of the period described in this report.


We did not generate revenue from operations during quarter ending November 30, 2012 and we were entirely dependent on outside sources of financing for our operations.

Corporate Background We conduct our business activities principally through Arkados, Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary. In September 2006, we changed our corporate name from CDKnet.com, Inc., to its current form to align our corporate identity with the "Arkados" brand developed by our subsidiary.

We were an early adopter in the powerline communication space, and experienced in home automation. Our Arkados, Inc. subsidiary was a member of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, an independent trade organization which has developed global specifications for high-speed powerline communications, the world's leading professional association for the advancement of technology.

The Company underwent a significant restructuring between December 23, 2010 and continuing beyond May 31, 2012 (the period ending for this report) during which substantially all of its assets were acquired by STMicroelectronics (sometimes referred to hereinafter as the "Asset Sale"), as disclosed in the 8-K filed December 29, 2010 and further described (as to the closing) in the 8-K filed July 12, 2011. Following December 23, 2010, the Company had minimal operations but also attempted to develop a plan to pursue a different course of operations.

During the period covered by this report back to December 23, 2010 (i.e. the date of the Asset Sale), we were principally engaged in developing and marketing technology and solutions enabling broadband communication, multimedia, and networking over standard household electrical lines.

Most recently (i.e. following January, 2013), Arkados has shifted its focus towards development of a universal platform that provides software solutions for smart grid and smart home applications primarily in the areas of energy management, home health care, smart appliances and home security and entertainment.

Market Opportunities We expect to develop our sales force to include a network of direct sales regions. As we develop our international relationships with Tatung and STMicroelectronics, we expect to establish international sales offices and develop relationships with organizations related to our business that will be located worldwide. We anticipate supplementing our direct sales force with sales representative organizations and distributors. The scope and development of our sales and marketing organization will depend, among other things, on the amount of capital available to us and when products are ready for testing.

Industry Background While endeavoring to restructure the Company following the Asset Sale and settle obligations as a result of the Asset Sale, we retained the ability to pursue key elements of our software and platform solutions.

Electric meters with enhanced communication capabilities-an essential component of the smart grid-are becoming more prevalent. In 2011, more than 23% of all U.S. electrical customers had smart meters. These meters use two-way communication to connect utilities and their customers. They support demand response and distributed generation, can improve reliability, and also provide information that consumers can use to save money by managing their use of electricity.

2 According to research firm Zpryme, the smart grid core and enabled technology market will reach $220 billion in size by 2020. The explosive growth in this market is driven primarily by the first wave of smart grid implementation: advanced metering infrastructure (the "AMI"). Utilities throughout the world have aggressively implemented smart meters to residential and industrial customers mainly because it is the required first step to achieve a true smart grid and, secondarily, in response to significant government incentives to do so. AMI lays the foundation as a hub for networking and communication and it the gateway to the HAN. From the perspective of the end user (residential or industrial), in-home (or in-building) devices are not only capable to communicating with the other devices within the local network, but are also capable of communicating outward to the WAN and implementing demand response protocols.

Strategic Relationships We continue to foster our relationships with STMicroelectronics and Tatung. Each of these relationships will allow Arkados to engage in our devised strategy of developing software and platform solutions for home automation services.

Research and Development While we may engage in certain activities in pursuit of home automation services plans, no such activity exists through the end of the period covered by this report.

Patents, Licenses and Trademarks The Company did not acquire any patents, licenses or trademarks during the period of this report. We continue to maintain our license with STMicroelectronics for patents relating to home automation services.

Competition We face competition both from established players that are beginning to focus on powerline networking technology, as well as recent entrants in the field. Some of these competitors create solutions that are compliant with existing standards and specifications, while other competitors' products are based on proprietary technologies. Key competitors include companies such as Tendril, Greenbox Technology and Echelon.

Results of Operations We have not had significant revenue from operations since inception and, as a result of the sale of substantially all our assets that occurred during 2011, as of November 30, 2012, we are still a development stage company. Furthermore, we have financed operating losses since September 2004 with the proceeds primarily from related party lending from our major stockholders and affiliated lenders, as well as other stockholders and lenders.

If we are unable to raise funds to finance our working capital needs, we will not have the capital necessary for ongoing operations and for making our chip ready for mass production, we could lose professional staff necessary to develop our products and the value of our technology could be impaired. In addition, the lack of adequate funding could jeopardize our development and delivery schedule of our planned products. Such delays could in turn jeopardize relationships with our current customers, strategic partners and prospective suppliers.

For The Three Months Ended November 30, 2012 During the three month period ended November 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded no revenue. Total operating expenses for the three month period ended November 30, 2012 were $15,682 compared to total operating expenses for the three month period ended November 30, 2011 of $33,483. In both periods, the most significant expenses were consulting expenses and professional fees.

Interest expense on our existing debt for the three month periods ended November 30, 2012 and 2011 was $14,231 and $11,794, respectively.

For The Six Months Ended November 30, 2012 During the six month period ended November 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded no revenue. Total operating expenses for the six month period ended November 30, 2012 were $55,256 compared to total operating expenses for the six month period ended November 30, 2011 of $164,785. In both periods, the most significant expenses were consulting expenses and professional fees.

3 Interest expense on our existing debt for the six month periods ended November 30, 2012 and 2011 was $28,117 and $23,567, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources Our principal source of operating capital has been provided in the form of equity investments and, the private placement of debt securities coupled with warrants and related party loans. We do not have any significant sources of revenue from our operations. No assurance can be given that we can engage in any public or private sales of our equity or debt securities to raise working capital. We have depended, in part, upon loans from our present stockholders or management and there can be no assurances that our present stockholders or management will make any additional loans to us.

Our present material commitments are the compensation of our employees, including our executive officers, and professional and administrative fees and expenses associated with the preparation of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory requirements.

As of November 30, 2012, we had cash of approximately $179,928 and negative working capital of ($9,193,734) compared to cash of $4,913 and negative working capital of ($9,292,384) at May 31, 2012. The additional cash during this period resulted from the proceeds from the issuance of a convertible debenture in the principal amount of $180,000.

Commitments We do not have any commitments which are required to be disclosed in tabular form as of November 30, 2012.

Critical Accounting Policies The discussion and analysis of the Company's financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure on contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements.

Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions.

Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties, and may potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. As of November 30, 2012, management believes the critical accounting policies applicable to the Company that are reflective of significant judgments and or uncertainties are limited to equity based transactions or convertible debt instruments.

Accounting for Stock Based Compensation The computation of the expense associated with stock-based compensation requires the use of a valuation model. ASC 718 is a complex accounting standard, the application of which requires significant judgment and the use of estimates, particularly surrounding Black-Scholes assumptions such as stock price volatility, expected option lives, and expected option forfeiture rates, to value equity-based compensation. We currently use a Black-Scholes option pricing model to calculate the fair value of stock options. We primarily use historical data to determine the assumptions to be used in the Black-Scholes model and have no reason to believe that future data is likely to differ materially from historical data. However, changes in the assumptions to reflect future stock price volatility and future stock award exercise experience could result in a change in the assumptions used to value awards in the future and may result in a material change to the fair value calculation of stock-based awards. ASC 718 requires the recognition of the fair value of stock compensation in net income.

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of our estimates and assumptions, significant unanticipated changes in those estimates, interpretations and assumptions may result in recording stock option expense that may materially impact our financial statements for each respective reporting period.

Impact of Debt with Conversion Features The Company at times enters into financing transactions whereby such debt instruments contain conversion features into common stock and or may contain detachable equity rights. These debt inducement features may be considered freestanding and or beneficial conversion features in our financial statements pursuant to the accounting guidance under ASC 470-20. These features would be fair valued and recorded as a discount to the debt instrument and amortized over the life of the instrument. Additional valuation features of warrants, conversion features in debt, and similar terms that include "full-ratchet" or reset provisions, which mean that the exercise or conversion price adjusts to pricing in subsequent sales or issuances, no longer meet the definition of indexed to a company's own stock and are not exempt from equity classification provided in ASC Topic 815-15. This means that instruments that were previously classified in equity are reclassified to liabilities and ongoing measurement under ASC Topic 815. The amount of quarterly non-cash gains or losses we will record in future periods will be based upon the fair market value of our common stock on the measurement date.

4 Off Balance Sheet Arrangements We do not have any off balance sheet arrangements.

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