Other than compensation agreements and other arrangements which are described in the "Director Compensation" and "Executive Compensation" sections of this proxy statement and the transactions described below, during our last fiscal year, there has not been, and there is not currently proposed, any transaction or series of similar transactions to which we were or will be a party in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed one percent of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last three completed fiscal years and in which any of our directors, nominees for director, executive officers, holders of more than five percent of any class of our voting securities or any member of the immediate family of the foregoing persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. |
In February 2004, we signed a license agreement with Universal Chemical Technologies, Inc. (UCT) to utilize its patented technology for an electroless nickel boride metal finishing process. This was a new venture for us and we had capital expenditures of approximately $913,000 spread over 2004 and 2005 (approximately $131,000 in 2005)in order to set up the operations. We had an exclusive license within a 150 mile radius of its facility for commercial and military applications. In the start of the second quarter of 2005, we began production in its metal finishing division, utilizing the patented UltraCem technology. However, we had been informed by potential new customers of the consumer division, that those customers were not comfortable with the metal finishing division being housed in the same facility as our consumer products division. In light of this information, we ceased operations under this venture. Frank Gerardi, our former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, as well a holder of more than 10% of our common stock, personally invested $350,000 in UCT, which represents less than a 1% ownership interest in UCT. We have written down the value of the assets that we own relating to this business to $350,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006. We currently do not conduct any business under this arrangement. In the second quarter of 2007, UCT re-purchased the plating equipment from us for a purchase price of $378,000. |
On December 12, 2005, we issued a secured promissory note in favor of Univest Management EPSP, c/o Frank Gerardi, Trustee, or its registered assigns, in the principal amount of $1,000,000. Mr. Gerardi is the trustee and controls Univest. Mr. Gerardi has previously served as our Chief Executive Officer from September 2003 to December 31, 2006 and was a member of our Board of Directors from 2002 until May 2007. In addition, Mr. Gerardi beneficially owns more than 5% of our common stock. The promissory note was originally payable on or before the earlier to occur of (i) the closing of the conveyance by us of our real property, identified as Lots 22.02 and 23 on the Tax Map of Buena Vista Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey; or (ii) July 31, 2006. The promissory note was secured by a mortgage covering Lots 22.02 and 23. On January 30, 2006, we entered into a letter agreement with Univest pursuant to which the stated interest rate on the secured promissory note, dated December 12, 2005, in favor of Univest, was revised from 30% per annum to 12% per annum as of February 1, 2006. On July 21, 2006, the maturity date of the loan was extended until the earlier to occur of (i) September 30, 2006; or (ii) the closing of the real property conveyance. On October 4, 2006, the maturity date was further extended to December 31, 2006, and the stated interest rate was reduced to 10% effective October 1, 2006. On December 29, 2006, the maturity date was further extended to January 31, 2007. On January 31, 2007, the maturity date was further extended to February 28, 2007. On March 1, 2007 the maturity date was further extended to April 3, 2008. The note was repaid in full on March 8, 2007. |
On December 10, 2007, we and Univest Management, Inc. EPSP, an entity controlled by Frank Gerardi, our former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors and a beneficial owner of over 5% of our common stock, entered into a subscription agreement pursuant to which we issued to Univest 150,000 shares of common stock and a warrant to purchase 52,500 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.25 per share, expiring two years from issuance, for aggregate consideration of $150,000. The closing of the transaction occurred on December 31, 2007. |