have the same effect as negative votes. Broker non-votes are counted toward a quorum, but are not counted for any purpose in determining whether this matter has been approved.
The Board of Directors recommends that our shareholders vote “FOR” the ratification of the independent registered public accounting firm.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of our securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Copies of the reports are required by SEC regulation to be furnished to us. Based on our review of such reports, and written representations from reporting persons, we believe that all reporting persons complied with all filing requirements during the year ended December 31, 2008.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Notes Payable and Capital Lease
On October 14, 2005, we entered into an agreement with the Estates of Edward R. Funk and Ingeborg V. Funk. We were indebted to the Estates in the amount of $289,391.92. The Estates agreed to cancel $288,000 of the indebtedness in exchange for 144,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase an additional 36,000 shares of common stock at $3.00 per share, which expire October 2010. We transferred $1,391.92 to the Estates in full satisfaction of the remaining amount of the indebtedness.
Convertible Promissory Notes and Stock Purchase Warrants
On January 7, 2000, we issued common stock purchase warrants at $2.50 per share for 150,000 shares of common stock related to the subordinated notes payable to Edward R. and Ingeborg V. Funk. The warrants are 100% vested and expire ten years from the date of grant. The Estate of Edward R. Funk and the Estate of Ingeborg V. Funk were both greater than 5% beneficial owners of our Company.
On June 30, 2003, we issued a $100,000 convertible promissory note payable to Windcom Investments SA, a greater than 5% beneficial owner of our Company. The interest on the convertible promissory note was determined by the Prime Commercial Rate in effect at Bank One, N.A., Columbus, Ohio. In addition, we issued warrants to purchase 20,333 shares of our common stock to Windcom Investments SA, at $1.00 per share expiring June 2008. The warrants vested according to the following schedule: (1) 8,333 vested on the date of grant; and (2) 12,000 vested at a rate of 333 per month for 32 months, then 336 per month for 4 months. On May 13, 2004, in accordance with the terms of the convertible promissory note, the balance and accrued and unpaid interest owed automatically converted to 43,119 shares of common stock after we raised over $500,000 in private equity financing. As of May 13, 2004, the vested warrants were fixed at 11,633. These warrants were exercised in June 2008. In connection with the private equity financing, we also issued 8,623 warrants to Windcom Investments SA to purchase shares of common stock at $2.88 per share. These warrants expire May 2009.
On June 30, 2003, we issued warrants to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock at $1.00 per share to the Estate of Edward R. Funk in connection with a lease guarantee. These warrants were exercised in 2008.
On June 30, 2003, we issued a $166,666.67 convertible promissory note payable to Robert H. Peitz. Mr. Peitz is a greater than 5% beneficial owner of the Company. Mr. Peitz currently serves on our Board of Directors. The Prime Commercial Rate in effect at Bank One, N.A., Columbus, Ohio determined the interest on the convertible promissory note. In addition, we issued warrants to purchase 33,889 shares of our common stock to Mr. Peitz at $1.00 per share, expiring June 2008. The warrants vested according to the following schedule: (1) 13,889 vested on the date of grant; and (2) 20,000 vested at a rate of 556 per month for 32 months, then 552 per month for four months. On May 13, 2004, in accordance with the terms of the convertible promissory note, the balance and accrued and unpaid interest owed on the note automatically converted to 71,873 shares of common stock after we raised over $500,000 in private equity financing. As of May 13, 2004, the vested warrants were fixed at 19,449. These warrants were exercised in June 2008. In connection with the 2004 private equity financing, we also issued 14,374 warrants to Mr. Peitz to purchase shares of common stock at $2.88 per share, which expire May 2009.
On November 3, 2004, we entered into a loan agreement between the Company, as borrower, and Robert H. Peitz, as lender. Mr. Peitz agreed to loan us up to $200,000 for working capital, to be drawn by us in increments of $50,000. The interest rate was Huntington National Bank’s prime rate plus 2%, which accrued and compounded monthly. The loan was secured by our assets and perfected by the filing of a UCC-1 financing statement. For each $50,000 increment drawn on the loan Mr. Peitz received 5,000 warrants to purchase our common stock, without par value, at a purchase price of $2.50 per share and exercisable until November 1, 2009. The principal loan balance of $200,000 and accrued interest was repaid in October 2005 and the UCC-1 financing statement was terminated.
On April 14, 2005 we entered into a loan agreement between the Company, as borrower, and Robert H. Peitz, as lender. Mr. Peitz agreed to provide a $200,000 convertible secured loan to us for working capital. The interest rate of 10% accrued and compounded monthly. Because we completed equity financing of at least $500,000 during 2005, the principal and accrued interest totaling $209,110 automatically converted on the same basis as the new financing to 104,555 shares of common stock ($2.00 per share) and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 26,139 shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $3.00 per share exercisable until October 2010.
Legal Services
Curtis A. Loveland is the beneficial owner of greater than 5% of our outstanding common stock. Mr. Loveland is a partner with Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP, our legal counsel through November of 2006. In November of 2006 we elected to change legal counsel to Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP. Mr. Loveland’s ownership includes 51,200 shares of common stock, of which 200 shares are held directly in a Keogh account and 51,000 shares which can be acquired by Mr. Loveland under stock options exercisable within 60 days of April 20, 2009, and 283,756 shares beneficially owned by Mr. Loveland as the trustee of generation-skipping irrevocable trusts established by Edward R. and Ingeborg V. Funk.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2010 ANNUAL MEETING
Each year our Board of Directors submits its nominations for election of directors at the annual meeting of shareholders. Other proposals may be submitted by the Board of Directors or the shareholders for inclusion in the proxy statement for action at the annual meeting. Any proposal submitted by a shareholder for inclusion in the proxy statement for the annual meeting of shareholders to be held in 2010 must be received by us (addressed to the attention of the Secretary) on or before January 5, 2010. Any shareholder proposal submitted outside the processes of Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for presentation at our 2010 annual meeting will be considered untimely for purposes of Rule 14a-4 and 14a-5 if notice thereof is received by us after March 20, 2010. Any such proposal to be submitted at the meeting must be a proper subject for shareholder action under the laws of the State of Ohio.
ANNUAL REPORT
Our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, containing financial statements for such year and the signed opinion of Maloney + Novotny LLC, registered independent public accounting firm, with respect to such financial statements, is being sent to shareholders concurrently with this proxy statement. The Annual Report is not to be regarded as proxy soliciting material, and we do not intend to ask, suggest or solicit any action from the shareholders with respect to such report.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting. If other matters should come before the meeting, however, each of the persons named in the proxy intends to vote in accordance with his judgement on such matters.
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