SCI
ENGINEERED MATERIALS, INC.
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
to
be held
June
2, 2008
and
PROXY
STATEMENT
IMPORTANT
Please
mark, sign and date your proxy
and
promptly return it in the enclosed envelope.
SCI
ENGINEERED MATERIALS,
INC.
2839
Charter Street
Columbus,
Ohio 43228
(614)
486-0261
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO
BE HELD JUNE 2, 2008
April
18,
2008
To
Our
Shareholders:
The
Annual Meeting of Shareholders of SCI Engineered Materials, Inc. (the “Company”)
will be held at our offices located at 2839 Charter Street, Columbus, Ohio
43228, on June 2, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. local time, for the following
purposes:
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1.
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To
elect five directors of the Company, each to serve for terms expiring
at
the next Annual Meeting of
Shareholders;
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2.
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To
ratify the selection of the independent registered public accounting
firm
for the year ending December 31, 2008;
and
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3.
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To
transact any other business which may properly come before the meeting
or
any adjournment thereof.
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Accompanying
this Notice of Annual Meeting is a form of a Proxy, Proxy Statement, and a
copy
of our Form 10-KSB Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2007, all
to be
mailed on or about April 18, 2008.
Our
Board
of Directors has fixed April 10, 2008, as the record date for the determination
of shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at the annual meeting and any
adjournment thereof. A list of shareholders will be available for examination
by
any shareholder at the annual meeting and for a period of 10 days before the
annual meeting at our executive offices.
You
will
be most welcome at the annual meeting and we hope you can attend. Our directors
and officers as well as representatives of our registered independent public
accounting firm are expected to be present to answer your questions and to
discuss the Company’s business.
We
urge
you to execute and return the enclosed proxy as soon as possible so that your
shares may be voted in accordance with your wishes. If you attend the annual
meeting, you may cast your vote in person and your proxy will not be used.
If
your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, you must
instruct them on how to vote your shares.
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By
Order of the Board of Directors,
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Daniel
Rooney
Chairman
of the Board of Directors,
President
and Chief Executive Officer
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PLEASE
SIGN AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY
IN
THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE
NO
POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED
STATES
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SCI
ENGINEERED MATERIALS, INC.
2839
Charter Street
Columbus,
Ohio 43228
PROXY
STATEMENT
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
June
2, 2008
This
proxy statement is furnished to the shareholders of SCI Engineered Materials,
Inc., an Ohio corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the solicitation
of proxies to be used in voting at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be
held
at our executive offices located at 2839 Charter Street, Columbus, Ohio 43228
on
June 2, 2008 at 9:30 a.m., and at any adjournment or postponement thereof (the
“Annual Meeting”). The enclosed proxy is being solicited by our Board of
Directors. This proxy statement and the enclosed proxy will be first sent or
given to our shareholders on approximately April 18, 2008.
We
will
bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies, including the charges and expenses
of brokerage firms and others for forwarding solicitation material to beneficial
owners of stock. Representatives of the Company may solicit proxies by mail,
telegram, telephone, fax, or personal interview.
The
shares represented by the accompanying proxy will be voted as directed if the
proxy is properly signed and received by us prior to the Annual Meeting. If
no
directions are made to the contrary, the proxy will be voted
FOR
the
election of Daniel Rooney, Robert J. Baker, Jr., Walter J. Doyle, Robert H.
Peitz, and Edward W. Ungar as directors of the Company and, at the discretion
of
persons acting under the proxy, to ratify the selection of Maloney + Novotny
LLC
as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending
December 31, 2008 and to transact such other business as may properly come
before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Any shareholder voting the
accompanying proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before its exercise
by
giving notice of revocation to us, by duly executing and delivering to us a
proxy card bearing a later date, or by voting in person at the annual meeting.
The officers, directors, and nominees for directors of the Company are the
beneficial owners of 31.1% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares. The
officers, directors and nominees for directors of the Company have indicated
that they will vote in favor of each nominee for director and in favor of the
ratification of the selection of the independent public accountants of the
Company.
Only
holders of record of our common stock at the close of business on April 10,
2008
will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. At that time, we had
3,502,050
shares
of
common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Each share of our common stock
outstanding on the record date entitles the holder to one vote on each matter
submitted at the Annual Meeting.
The
presence, in person or by proxy, of a majority of the outstanding shares of
our
common stock is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business
at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted for
purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum. Broker non-votes
occur when brokers, who hold their customers’ shares in street name, sign and
submit proxies for such shares and vote such shares on some matters, but not
others. Typically, this would occur when brokers have not received any
instructions from their customers, in which case the brokers, as the holders
of
record, are permitted to vote on “routine” matters, which typically include the
election of directors.
The
proposal to ratify the selection of the independent registered public accounting
firm for the year ending December 31, 2008, is considered a routine matter
and
broker/dealers who hold their customers’ shares in street name may, under the
applicable rules of the exchanges and other self-regulatory organizations of
which such broker/dealers are members, sign and submit proxies for such shares
and may vote such shares on this matter.
The
election of the director nominees requires the favorable vote of a plurality
of
all votes cast by the holders of our common stock at a meeting at which a quorum
is present. Proxies that are marked “Withhold Authority” and broker non-votes
will not be counted toward such nominee’s achievement of a plurality and thus
will have no effect.
Each
other matter to be submitted to the shareholders for approval or ratification
at
the Annual Meeting requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of
our common stock present and entitled to vote on the matter. For purposes of
determining the number of shares of our common stock voting on the matter,
abstentions will be counted and will have the effect of a negative vote; broker
non-votes will not be counted and thus will have no effect.
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
Our
Restated Code of Regulations provides that the number of directors shall be
fixed by the Board. The total number of authorized directors currently is fixed
at five. The nominees for director, if elected, will serve for one-year terms
expiring at the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Daniel Rooney, Robert
J.
Baker, Jr., Walter J. Doyle, Robert H. Peitz, and Edward W. Ungar currently
serve as directors of the Company and are being nominated by the Board of
Directors for re-election as directors.
It
is
intended that, unless otherwise directed, the shares represented by the enclosed
proxy will be voted
FOR
the
election of Messrs. Rooney, Baker, Doyle, Peitz, and Ungar as directors. In
the
event that any nominee for director should become unavailable, the number of
directors of the Company may be decreased pursuant to the Restated Code of
Regulations or the Board of Directors may designate a substitute nominee, in
which event the shares represented by the enclosed proxy will be voted for
such
substitute nominee.
The
Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders vote FOR the election of
the
nominees for director.
The
following table sets forth each nominee’s name, age, and his position with the
Company:
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Name
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Age
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Position
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Daniel
Rooney
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54
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Chairman
of the Board of Directors,
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President
and Chief Executive Officer
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Robert
J. Baker, Jr.
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68
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Director
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Walter
J. Doyle
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73
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Director
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Robert
H. Peitz
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47
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Director
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Edward
W. Ungar
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71
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Director
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Daniel
Rooney
has
served as a Director of our Company since joining us in March 2002 as President
and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Rooney was elected as the Chairman of the
Board
of Directors of our Company on January 8, 2003. Prior to joining us, Mr. Rooney
was General Manager for Johnson Matthey, Color and Coatings Division, Structural
Ceramics Sector North America from 1994 to 2001. Prior to that, Mr. Rooney
held
various management positions at TAM Ceramics, Inc., a Cookson Group Company.
Mr.
Rooney has a Bachelor of Science in Ceramic Engineering from Rutgers College
of
Engineering and an MBA from Niagara University.
Robert
J. Baker, Jr., Ph.D.
has
served as a Director of our Company since 1992. Dr. Baker is the President
and
founder of Venture Resources International and the co-founder of Business Owners
Consulting Group, which assists companies in the development of growth
strategies, including marketing position and competitive strategies. Dr. Baker
was graduated from the University of Illinois with B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees
in Ceramic Engineering. In addition, he is a Sloan Fellow at MIT where he earned
a Management Science degree.
Edward
W. Ungar
has been
a Director of our Company since 1990. Mr. Ungar is the President and founder
of
Taratec Corporation, a technology business-consulting firm in Columbus, Ohio.
Prior to forming Taratec Corporation in 1986, Mr. Ungar was an executive with
Battelle Memorial Institute. Mr. Ungar earned Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in
Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a B.M.E. in Mechanical
Engineering from The City College of New York.
Walter
J. Doyle
has
served as a Director of our Company since 2004. Mr.
Doyle
is
the President of Forest Capital, an angel capital firm. Previously, Mr. Doyle
was President and CEO of Industrial Data Technologies Corp. for 21 years. Mr.
Doyle earned an Electrical Engineering degree from City College of New York
and
an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Robert
H. Peitz
has
served as a Director of our Company since 2004. Mr. Peitz is the former Managing
Director and Head of Financial Markets for PB Capital in New York, New York.
Previously, Mr. Peitz was a Managing Director at BHF Capital, Treasurer of
BHF-Bank New York Branch and an Associate at Morgan Stanley in International
Operations. Mr. Peitz graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a
Bachelor of Arts in Economics and has an MBA from the Thunderbird School of
Global Management.
The
Board
of Directors is seeking an individual(s) to strengthen our
board.
INFORMATION
CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS,
AND
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
Meetings
and Compensation of the Board of Directors
Our
Board
of Directors had a total of seven meetings during the year ended December 31,
2007. During 2007, no director attended fewer than 86% of the meetings of the
Board of Directors, held during the period for which he has been a director,
and
the total number of meetings held by all committees of the Board of Directors
in
which he served. Directors who are employed by the Company receive no
compensation for serving as directors.
As
compensation for their service as directors of our Company, non-employee
directors may periodically receive cash, grants of stock or grants of stock
options with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common
stock on the date of grant and a ten-year term. Directors are also reimbursed
for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. In the year ended December 31, 2007,
each of Messrs. Baker, Jr., Doyle, Peitz and Ungar received compensation of
1,819 shares of the Company’s common stock and $5,000 in cash.
It
is our
expectation that all members of the Board of Directors attend the Annual Meeting
of Shareholders. All members of our Board of Directors were present at our
2007
Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Shareholder
Communication
Our
Board
of Directors welcomes communications from shareholders. Shareholders may send
communications to the Board of Directors or to any director in particular,
c/o
Gerald S. Blaskie, SCI Engineered Materials, Inc., 2839 Charter Street,
Columbus, Ohio 43228. Any correspondence addressed to the Board of Directors
or
to any one of our directors in care of our offices will be forwarded to the
addressee without review by management.
Committees
of the Board of Directors
We
have
an Audit Committee and a Stock Option and Compensation Committee (the
“Compensation Committee”).
The
Audit
Committee consults with our Chief Financial Officer and other key members of
our
management and with our independent auditors with regard to the plan of audit;
reviews, in consultation with the independent auditors, their report of audit,
or proposed report of audit and the accompanying management letter, if any;
and
consults with our Chief Financial Officer and other key members of our
management and with our independent auditors with regard to the adequacy of
the
internal accounting controls. The Chairman of the Audit Committee is Mr. Ungar,
and the members are Messrs. Baker and Doyle. The Audit Committee met two times
during 2007. The Board of Directors has not adopted a charter for the Audit
Committee. The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Doyle and Ungar
qualify as “audit committee financial experts” as that term is defined in Item
401(e) of Regulation S-B. Messrs. Doyle and Ungar and Dr. Baker each meet the
criteria for audit committee independence as defined in NASDAQ Rule 4350, and
Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reviews executive compensation
and administers our stock incentive and incentive compensation performance
plans. The Chairman of the Compensation Committee is Dr. Baker and the members
are Messrs. Doyle and Ungar. The Compensation Committee met once during
2007.
Due
to
the limited size of our Board of Directors, the Board of Directors has
determined that it is not necessary to establish a nominating committee.
Nominations for directors are considered by the entire Board of Directors.
The
directors take a critical role in guiding the strategic direction and oversee
the management of the Company. Director candidates are considered based on
various criteria, such as their broad based business and professional skills
and
experiences, a global business and social perspective, concern for long term
interests of shareholders, and personal integrity and judgment. In addition,
directors must have available time to devote to Board activities and to enhance
their knowledge of the industry.
Accordingly,
we seek to attract and retain highly qualified directors who have sufficient
time to attend to their substantial duties and responsibilities to the Company.
Recent developments in corporate governance and financial reporting have
resulted in an increased demand for such highly qualified and productive public
company directors.
The
Board
of Directors will consider the recommendations of shareholders regarding
potential director candidates. In order for shareholder recommendations
regarding possible director candidates to be considered by the Board of
Directors:
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such
recommendations must be provided to the Board of Directors c/o Gerald
S.
Blaskie, SCI Engineered Materials, Inc., 2839 Charter Street, Columbus,
Ohio 43228, in writing at least 120 days prior to the date of the
next
scheduled annual meeting;
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the
nominating shareholder must meet the eligibility requirements to
submit a
valid shareholder proposal under Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange
Act
of 1934, as amended; and
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the
shareholder must describe the qualifications, attributes, skills
or other
qualities of the recommended director
candidate.
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Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None
of
our executive officers have served:
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as
a member of the Compensation Committee of another entity which has
had an
executive officer who has served on our Compensation Committee;
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as
a director of another entity which has had an executive officer who
has
served on our Compensation Committee;
or
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as
a member of the Compensation Committee of another entity which has
had an
executive officer who has served as one of our
directors.
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INDEMNIFICATION
OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section
1701.13(E) of the Ohio Revised Code gives a corporation incorporated under
the
laws of Ohio power to indemnify any person who is or has been a director,
officer or employee of that corporation, or of another corporation at the
request of that corporation, against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts
paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, criminal or civil,
to which he is or may be made a party because of being or having been such
director, officer, employee or agent, provided that in connection therewith,
such person is determined to have acted in good faith in what he reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation of
which he is a director, officer, employee or agent and without reasonable cause,
in the case of a criminal matter, to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
The
determination as to the conditions precedent to the permitted indemnification
of
such person is made by the directors of the indemnifying corporation acting
at a
meeting at which, for the purpose, any director who is a party to or threatened
with any such action, suit or proceeding may not be counted in determining
the
existence of a quorum and may not vote. If, because of the foregoing
limitations, the directors are unable to act in this regard, such determination
may be made by the majority vote for the corporation’s voting shareholders (or
without a meeting upon two-thirds written consent of such shareholders), by
judicial proceeding or by written opinion of legal counsel not retained by
the
corporation or any person to be indemnified during the five years preceding
the
date of determination.
Section
1701.13(E) of the Ohio Revised Code further provides that the indemnification
thereby permitted shall not be exclusive of, and shall be in addition to, any
other rights that directors, officers, employees or agents have, including
rights under insurance purchased by the corporation.
Article
5
of the Company’s Restated Code of Regulations contains extensive provisions
related to indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents. The
Company is required to indemnify its directors against expenses, including
attorney fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement of civil,
criminal, administrative, and investigative proceedings, if the director acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed
to, the best interests of the Company. When criminal proceedings are involved,
indemnification is further conditioned upon the director having no reasonable
cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Entitlement
of a director to indemnification shall be made by vote of the disinterested
directors of the Company. If there are an insufficient number of such directors
to constitute a quorum, the determination to indemnify directors shall be made
by one of the following methods: (1) a written opinion of independent legal
counsel, (2) vote by the shareholders, or (3) by the court in which the action,
suit or proceeding was brought.
The
Company may pay the expenses, including attorney fees of any director, as
incurred, in advance of a final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding,
upon receipt by the Company of an undertaking by the affected director(s) in
which he (they) agree(s) to cooperate with the Company concerning the action,
suit or proceeding, and agree(s) to repay the Company in the event that a court
determines that the director’s action, or failure to act, involved an act, or
omission, undertaken with reckless disregard for the best interests of the
Company.
The
indemnification provisions of the Articles of Incorporation relating to
officers, employees and agents of the Company are similar to those relating
to
directors, but are not mandatory in nature. On a case-by-case basis, the Company
may elect to indemnify them, and may elect to pay their expenses, including
attorney fees, in advance of a final disposition of the action, suit or
proceeding, upon the same conditions and subject to legal standards as relate
to
directors. These indemnification provisions are also applicable to actions
brought against directors, officers, employees and agents in the right of the
Company. However, no indemnification shall be made to any person adjudged to
be
liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the
Company unless, and only to the extent that a court determines, that despite
the
adjudication of liability, but in view of all of the circumstances of the case,
shall deem proper. The Company currently carries directors and officers
insurance in the amount of one million dollars.
The
above
discussion of the Company’s Restated Code of Regulations and of Section
1701.13(E) of the Ohio Revised Code is not intended to be exhaustive and is
respectively qualified in its entirety by such documents and
statutes.
Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933
(the
“Act”) may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Company issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable.
REPORT
OF AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The
Audit
Committee consults with our Chief Financial Officer and other key members of
our
management and with our independent auditors with regard to the plan of audit;
reviews, in consultation with the independent auditors, their report of audit,
or proposed report of audit and the accompanying management letter, if any;
and
consults with our Chief Financial Officer and other key members of our
management and with our independent auditors with regard to the adequacy of
the
internal accounting controls.
In
fulfilling its responsibilities, the Audit Committee selected Maloney + Novotny
LLC as our independent accountants for purposes of auditing our financial
statements for 2007. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with
management and the independent auditors our audited financial statements;
discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed
by
Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards No. 61; received the written
disclosures and the letter from the independent auditors required by
Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1; and discussed with the independent
accountants their independence from our Company.
Based
on
the reviews and discussions with management and Maloney + Novotny LLC, the
Audit
Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that our audited consolidated
financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
The
Board
of Directors evaluated the independence of each member of the Audit Committee.
As part of its evaluation, the Board of Directors determined, in the exercise
of
its business judgment, that Messrs. Ungar and Doyle, and Dr. Baker are
independent under Rule 4350(d) of the Nasdaq Stock Market and are financially
literate each in his own capacity.
Based
upon its work and the information received in the inquiries outlined above,
the
Audit Committee is satisfied that its responsibilities for the period ended
December 31, 2007, were met and that our financial reporting and audit processes
are functioning effectively.
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Submitted
by the Audit Committee
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of
the Board of Directors:
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Robert
J. Baker, Jr.
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Edward
W. Ungar
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Executive
Officers
In
addition to Mr. Rooney, the following persons serve as executive officers of
the
Company:
Gerald
S. Blaskie
,
age 50,
has served as our Chief Financial Officer since April 2001. On March 2, 2006,
our Board of Directors appointed Mr. Blaskie to the position of Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining us, Mr. Blaskie was the Controller
at Cable Link, Inc. from February 2000 to March 2001. From 1997 to 2000, he
was
the Plant Manager at Central Ohio Plastics Corporation, where he also served
as
Controller from 1993 to 1997. Mr. Blaskie earned a B.S. degree in Accounting
from Central Michigan University and passed the CPA exam in the State of Ohio.
Scott
Campbell
,
Ph.D
.,
age
50,
has served as our Vice President of Technology since March 2005. Dr. Campbell
served as our Vice-President of Research and Engineering from July 2004 to
March
2005. Dr. Campbell joined us in July 2002 as our Technical Director. Prior
to
joining us, he was Senior Research Manager at Oxynet, Inc. for five years.
Dr.
Campbell earned his Ph.D., Metallurgy, from the University of Illinois at
Chicago. In addition, he earned M.S. and B.S. degrees in Ceramic Engineering
from The Ohio State University. He is a member of the American Vacuum Society
and the Materials Research Society.
Michael
K. Barna
,
age 51,
has served as Vice President, Sales-Photonics, since March 2, 2006. Mr. Barna
joined us as Director of Sales and Marketing in January 2004. Prior to joining
us, Mr. Barna had more than 20 years of experience in thin film sales, including
major account sales of Physical Vapor Deposition equipment, high purity targets
and evaporation materials for these systems, hybrid microelectronic,
telecommunications, and the commercial glass coating markets. Mr. Barna earned
a
B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of
Kentucky.
Officers
are elected annually by our Board of Directors and serve at its
discretion.
Ownership
of Common Stock by Directors and Executive Officers
The
following table sets forth, as of April 10, 2008, the beneficial ownership
of
the Company’s common stock by each of the Company’s directors, each executive
officer named in the Summary Compensation Table, and by all directors and
executive officers as a group.
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Name
of Beneficial Owner
(1)
|
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Number
of Shares Beneficially Owned
(2)
|
|
Percentage
of
Class
(3)
|
|
|
Robert
H. Peitz
(4)
|
|
|
714,953
|
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19.3
|
%
|
|
Daniel
Rooney
(5)
|
|
|
141,152
|
|
|
3.9
|
%
|
|
Walter
J. Doyle
(6)
|
|
|
120,238
|
|
|
3.4
|
%
|
|
Robert
J. Baker, Jr.
(7)
|
|
|
75,051
|
|
|
2.1
|
%
|
|
Scott
Campbell
(8)
|
|
|
66,000
|
|
|
1.8
|
%
|
|
Edward
W. Ungar
(9)
|
|
|
56,188
|
|
|
1.6
|
%
|
|
Michael
K. Barna
(10)
|
|
|
55,000
|
|
|
1.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
directors and executive officers as
a
group (8 persons)
(11)
|
|
|
1,284,582
|
|
|
31.1
|
%
|
(1)
The
address of all directors and executive officers is c/o SCI Engineered Materials,
Inc., 2839 Charter Street, Columbus, Ohio 43228.
(2)
For
purposes of the above table, a person is considered to “beneficially own” any
shares with respect to which he exercises sole or shared voting or investment
power or as to which he has the right to acquire the beneficial ownership within
60 days of April 10, 2008. Unless otherwise indicated, voting power and
investment power are exercised solely by the person named above or shared with
members of his or her household.
(3)
“Percentage
of Class” is calculated by dividing the number of shares beneficially owned by
the total number of outstanding shares of the Company on April 10, 2008, plus
the number of shares such person has the right to acquire within 60 days of
April 10, 2008.
(4)
Mr.
Peitz’ ownership includes 199,162 shares of common stock beneficially owned by
Park National Bank (Trustee for the Ingeborg Funk Children’s Trust), of which
43,750 shares of common stock can be acquired under stock purchase warrants
exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008 (Mr. Peitz includes these shares
because he has the power to dispose of the shares). Mr. Peitz’ ownership also
includes 154,712 shares of common stock, which can be acquired by Mr. Peitz
under stock options and purchase warrants exercisable within 60 days of April
10, 2008.
(5)
Includes
128,000 common shares, which may be acquired by Mr. Rooney under stock options
exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008 and 7,800 shares which are held
in
Mr. Rooney’s IRA.
(6)
Includes
24,250 common shares, which may be acquired by Mr. Doyle under stock purchase
warrants exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008.
(7)
Includes
51,000 common shares, which may be acquired by Dr. Baker under stock options
exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008, and 16,063 shares which are held
in Dr. Baker’s IRA.
(8)
Includes
66,000 common shares, which may be acquired by Dr. Campbell under stock options
exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008.
(9)
Includes
51,000 common shares, which may be acquired by Mr. Ungar under stock options
exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008.
(10)
Includes
52,000 common shares, which may be acquired by Mr. Barna under stock options
exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008.
(11)
Includes
626,712 common shares, which may be acquired under stock options and stock
purchase warrants exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008.
Ownership
of Common Stock by Principal Shareholders
The
following table sets forth information as of April 10, 2008, relating to the
beneficial ownership of common stock by each person known by the Company to
own
beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the
Company.
|
Name
of Beneficial Owner
(1)
|
|
Number
of Shares Beneficially Owned
(2)
|
|
Percentage
of
Class
(3)
|
|
|
Robert
H. Peitz
(4)
|
|
|
714,953
|
|
|
19.3
|
%
|
|
Thomas
G. Berlin
(5)
|
|
|
408,197
|
|
|
11.4
|
%
|
|
Laura
Shunk
(6)
|
|
|
403,328
|
|
|
11.2
|
%
|
|
Daniel
Funk
(7)
|
|
|
401,129
|
|
|
11.2
|
%
|
|
Curtis
A. Loveland
(8)
|
|
|
334,956
|
|
|
9.4
|
%
|
|
Windcom
Investments SA
(9)
|
|
|
332,810
|
|
|
9.4
|
%
|
|
Lake
Street Fund L.P.
(10)
|
|
|
310,300
|
|
|
8.7
|
%
|
|
Berlin
Capital Growth L.P.
(11)
|
|
|
290,497
|
|
|
8.2
|
%
|
|
Mid
South Investor Fund L.P.
(12)
|
|
|
250,000
|
|
|
7.0
|
%
|
|
Ingeborg
Funk Children’s Trust
(13)
|
|
|
199,162
|
|
|
5.6
|
%
|
(1)
The
address of Robert H. Peitz is c/o SCI Engineered Materials, Inc., 2839 Charter
Street, Columbus, Ohio 43228. The address of Thomas G. Berlin is c/o Berlin
Financial Ltd., 1325 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115. The address of
Laura Shunk is PO Box 490, Chesterland, Ohio 44026. The address of Daniel Funk
is 2123 Auburn Avenue, Suite 322, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219. The address of Curtis
A. Loveland is c/o Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP, 41 South High
Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. The address of Windcom Investments SA is Corso
Elvezia 25, 6900 Lugan, CH. The address of Lake Street Fund L.P. is 600 South
Lake Avenue, Suite 100, Pasadena, California 91106. The address of Berlin
Capital Fund, L.P. is c/o Thomas G. Berlin, Berlin Financial Ltd., 1325 Carnegie
Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115. The address of Mid South Investor Fund L.P.
is
1776 Peachtree St. NW, Suite 412 North, Atlanta, Georgia 30309. The address
of
the Ingeborg Funk Children’s Trust is c/o Tom Comisky, Park National Bank, 50 N.
3
rd
Street,
Newark, Ohio 43058.
(2)
For
purposes of this table, a person is considered to “beneficially own” any shares
with respect to which he or she exercises sole or shared voting or investment
power or as to which he or she has the right to acquire the beneficial ownership
within 60 days of April 10, 2008. Unless otherwise indicated, voting power
and
investment power are exercised solely by the person named above or shared with
members of his or her household.
(3)
“Percentage
of Class” is calculated by dividing the number of shares beneficially owned by
the total number of outstanding shares of the Company on April 10, 2008, plus
the number of shares such person has the right to acquire within 60 days of
April 10, 2008.
(4)
Mr.
Peitz’ ownership includes 199,162 shares of common stock beneficially owned by
Park National Bank (Trustee for the Ingeborg Funk Children’s Trust), of which
43,750 shares of common stock can be acquired under stock purchase warrants
exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008 (Mr. Peitz includes these shares
because he has the power to dispose of the shares. Mr. Peitz’ ownership also
includes 154,712 shares of common stock, which can be acquired by Mr. Peitz
under stock options and purchase warrants exercisable within 60 days of April
10, 2008.
(5)
Mr.
Berlin’s ownership includes 290,497 shares of common stock beneficially owned by
Berlin Capital Growth L.P., of which 52,083 shares of common stock can be
acquired under stock purchase warrants exercisable within 60 days of April
10,
2008. Mr. Berlin has shared voting and dispositive power over the shares of
common stock in this limited partnership as the controlling principal of Berlin
Capital Growth L.P. Mr. Berlin’s ownership also includes 20,833 shares of common
stock, which can be acquired by Mr. Berlin under stock purchase warrants
exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008.
(6)
Includes
98,611 common shares, which may be acquired by Ms. Shunk under stock options
and
stock purchase warrants exercisable within 60 days of April 10,
2008.
(7)
Includes
79,202 common shares, which may be acquired by Dr. Funk under stock options
and
stock purchase warrants exercisable within 60 days of April 10,
2008.
(8)
Includes
51,000 shares of common stock, which can be acquired by Mr. Loveland under
stock
options exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008.
(9)
Based
on
the Schedule 13G/A filed on February 14, 2005, Dr. Karl Kohlbrenner, CEO of
Windcom Investments SA, has voting and dispositive power over the shares of
common stock on behalf of the Company. Windcom Investments SA’s ownership
includes 20,286 shares of common stock, which can be acquired by Windcom
Investments SA under stock purchase warrants exercisable within 60 days of
April
10, 2008.
(10)
Includes
62,500 shares of common stock, which can be acquired by Lake Street Fund L.P.
under stock purchase warrants exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008.
(11)
Includes
52,083 shares of common stock, which can be acquired by Berlin Capital Growth
L.P. under stock purchase warrants exercisable within 60 days of April 10,
2008.
(12)
Includes
50,000 shares of common stock, which can be acquired by Mid South Investor
Fund
L.P. under stock purchase warrants exercisable within 60 days of April 10,
2008.
(13)
Includes
43,750 shares of common stock, which can be acquired by the Ingeborg Funk
Children’s Trust under stock purchase warrants exercisable within 60 days of
April 10, 2008.
Executive
Compensation
The
following summary compensation table sets forth information regarding
compensation earned during 2007 and 2006 to our Principal Executive Officer,
and
our two most highly compensated officers other than the principal executive
officer.
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
|
Name
and principal position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
|
|
Bonus
|
|
Stock
awards
|
|
Option
awards
(h)
|
|
Non-equity
incentive plan compensation
|
|
All
other compensation
|
|
Total
|
|
|
PEO
Daniel
Rooney
|
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
174,038
|
|
$
|
5,000
(a
|
)
|
$
|
10,001
(a
|
)
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
10,579
(a
|
)
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
199,617
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
149,615
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
45,395
|
|
|
37,477
(b
|
)
|
|
0
|
|
|
232,487
|
|
|
VP-
Sales Photonics
Michael
K. Barna
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
89,865
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
5,400
(c
|
)
|
|
0
|
|
|
62,211
(d
|
)
|
|
0
|
|
|
157,476
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
86,404
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
30,260
|
|
|
93,240(e
|
)
|
|
0
|
|
|
209,904
|
|
|
VP-Technology
Scott
Campbell
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
141,510
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
9,290
(f
|
)
|
|
0
|
|
|
150,800
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
114,230
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
15,132
|
|
|
6,000
(g
|
)
|
|
0
|
|
|
135,362
|
|
|
|
a-
|
As
approved by the Compensation Committee; paid in
2008.
|
|
|
b-
|
Deferred
under our incentive compensation plan; paid in
2007.
|
|
|
c-
|
1,000
shares of Company stock awarded based on stock price at December
31, 2007,
paid in 2008.
|
|
|
d-
|
$32,599
deferred under our incentive compensation plan; paid in
2008.
|
|
|
e-
|
$34,420
deferred under our incentive compensation plan; paid in
2007.
|
|
|
f-
|
$7,790
deferred under our incentive compensation plan; paid in
2008.
|
|
|
g-
|
$3,000
deferred under our incentive compensation plan; paid in
2007.
|
|
|
h-
|
Options
granted under our 2006 Stock Option Plan - Mr. Rooney 15,000 shares;
Mr.
Barna 10,000 shares; Mr. Campbell 5,000 shares. The shares vest 20%
per
year beginning June 19, 2007 and the weighted average fair values
at date
of grant were $3.03 and were estimated using the Black-Scholes option
valuation model with the following assumptions: Interest rate of
5%;
Volatility of 107.55% and Dividend yield of
0%.
|
Salaries
The
salaries of the Named Executive Officers are reviewed on an annual basis.
Increases in salary are based on an evaluation of the individual’s performance
and level of pay compared to general industry peer group pay levels. Merit
increases normally take effect on January 1
st
of each
year.
Executive
Annual Incentive Plan
Mr.
Rooney received the following incentive compensation award for services during
2007: (i) $7,000 upon the Company attaining a net income of a certain amount
(as
determined from the audited statements), and (ii) 4% of adjusted net income
in
excess of a certain amount. Adjusted net income is defined as the 2007 actual
net income as it appears on the Company’s audited financial statements plus
expenses related to Sarbanes-Oxley and non-cash director compensation.
Mr.
Barna
received the following incentive compensation award for services during 2007:
(i) $38,021 for attaining and exceeding quarterly bookings goals, (ii) $5,000
upon the Company attaining a net income of a certain amount (as determined
from
the audited statements), (iii) $7,500 for exceeding annual booking and gross
profit goals and (iv) 2% of adjusted net income in excess of a certain amount.
Adjusted net income is defined as the 2007 actual net income as it appears
on
the Company’s audited financial statements plus expenses related to
Sarbanes-Oxley and non-cash director compensation.
Mr.
Campbell received the following incentive compensation award for services during
2007: (i) $500 for reducing scrap a specified amount, (ii) $500 for the Company
meeting specified on-time delivery goals; (iii) $5,000 upon the Company
attaining a net income of a certain amount (as determined from the audited
statements), (iv) $1,000 for achieving grant income of a specified amount and
(iv) 2% of adjusted net income in excess of a certain amount. Adjusted net
income is defined as the 2007 actual net income as it appears on the Company’s
audited financial statements plus expenses related to Sarbanes-Oxley and
non-cash director compensation.
Employment
Agreement for Principal Executive Officer
The
Principal Executive Officer, Mr. Daniel Rooney has an employment contract that
entitles him to 100% of his compensation for six months following his
termination without cause. Following the initial six-month period after his
termination, Mr. Rooney is also entitled to receive six months of pay at a
rate
of 50% of his compensation at the time of his termination.
OUTSTANDING
EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
|
|
|
OPTION
AWARDS
|
|
STOCK
AWARDS
|
|
|
Name
and Principal Position
|
|
Number
of securities underlying unexercised options (#) -
exercisable
|
|
Number
of securities underlying unexercised options (#) -
unexercisable
|
|
Equity
incentive plan awards: number of securities underlying unexercised
earned
options (#)
|
|
Option
exercise price
|
|
Option
expiration date
|
|
Number
of shares or units of stock that have not vested
|
|
Market
value of stock that is not vested
|
|
Total
number of unearned shares, units or other rights that have not
vested
|
|
Market
or payout value of unearned shares, units or other rights that
have not
vested
|
|
|
PEO
Daniel
Rooney
|
|
|
100,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
$
|
1.55
|
|
|
3-1-12
|
|
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
|
Rooney
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
2.60
|
|
|
1-21-14
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
Rooney
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
2.40
|
|
|
3-8-15
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
Rooney
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
|
12,000
(a
|
)
|
|
0
|
|
|
3.25
|
|
|
6-19-16
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
VP-
Sales Photonics
Michael
K. Barna
|
|
|
40,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
2.85
|
|
|
4-28-14
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
Barna
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
2.40
|
|
|
3-8-15
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
Barna
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
8,000
(a
|
)
|
|
0
|
|
|
3.25
|
|
|
6-19-16
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
Barna
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,000
(b
|
)
|
|
10,800
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
VP-Technology
Scott
Campbell
|
|
|
50,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
1.55
|
|
|
7-15-12
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
Campbell
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
2.60
|
|
|
1-21-14
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
Campbell
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
2.40
|
|
|
3-8-15
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
Campbell
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
4,000
(a
|
)
|
|
0
|
|
|
3.25
|
|
|
6-19-16
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
a
-
Options granted June 19, 2006 vest in five equal annual installments on each
anniversary of the date
of
the
grant beginning June 19, 2007.
b
- Mr.
Barna will receive 1,000 shares of Company stock effective December 31, 2008
and
December 31, 2009. Mr. Barna must be employed by the Company at the time the
shares are paid.
Stock
Options
At
our
2006 Annual Meeting, our shareholders approved our 2006 Stock Incentive Plan
(the “2006 Plan”). The purpose of the 2006 Plan was to further the growth and
profitability of the Company by providing increased incentives to and encourage
share ownership on the part of key employees, officers and directors of, and
consultants and advisors who render services to the Company and any future
parent or subsidiary of the Company. The 2006 Plan permits the granting of
stock
options and restricted stock awards (collectively “Awards”) to eligible
participants. The maximum number of shares of common stock which may be issued
pursuant to the 2006 Plan is 600,000 shares. If an Award expires or is cancelled
without having been fully exercised or vested, the unvested or cancelled shares
will be available again for grants of Awards. The 2006 Plan is administered
by
the Company’s Stock Option and Compensation Committee (the “Committee”). All the
members of the Committee qualify as “non-employee directors” under Rule 16b-3 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as “outside directors” under Section
162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). Pursuant to the 2006 Plan, the
Committee has the sole discretion to determine the employees, directors and
consultants who may be granted Awards, the terms and conditions of such Awards
and to construe and interpret the 2006 Plan. The Committee is also responsible
for making adjustments in outstanding Awards, the shares available for Awards,
and the numerical limitations for Awards to reflect any transactions such as
stock splits or stock dividends. The Committee may delegate its authority to
one
or more directors or officers; provided, however, that the Committee may not
delegate its authority and powers (a) with respect to any Section 16b-3 Persons,
or (b) in any way which would jeopardize the Plan’s qualifications under Section
162(n) of the Code or Rule 16b-3. The Board of Directors may amend to terminate
the 2006 Plan at any time and for any reason. To the extent required under
Rule
16b-3 material amendments to the 2006 Plan must be approved by the
shareholders.
Eligibility
to participate in the 2006 Plan extends to management, key employees, directors
and consultants of the Company. The estimated number of eligible participants
is
approximately 25 persons. The actual number of individuals who may receive
options of restrictive stock awards under the 2006 Plan cannot be determined
because eligibility for participation of the 2006 Plan is at discretion of
the
Committee. No participant may receive Awards covering more than 300,000 shares
under the 2006 Plan.
The
Stock
Option and Compensation Committee granted stock options to each executive
officer in June 2006 under our 2006 Stock Incentive Plan. The executive officers
were awarded incentive stock options with an exercise price equal to the fair
market value of our common stock on the date of the grant. Accordingly, those
stock options will have value only if the market price of the common stock
increases after that date. In determining the size of stock option grants,
the
Committee considers Company performance against the strategic plan and
individual performance. The Named Executive Officers were awarded the number
of
stock options shown in the table above. The stock options vest in five equal
annual installments on each anniversary of the date of the grant beginning
June
19, 2007. Also shown in the table are the total stock options outstanding and
held by each Named Executive Officer.
Director
Compensation
The
following Director Compensation table sets forth information regarding
compensation paid to our non-employee directors. Directors who are employed
by
us do not receive any compensation for their board activities.
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION - 2007
|
Name
|
|
Fees
earned or paid in
cash
|
|
Stock
awards
|
|
Option
awards
|
|
Non-equity
incentive
plan compensation
|
|
Change
in
pension
value and non-qualified
deferred
compensation
earnings
|
|
All
other
compensation
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Robert
J. Baker, Jr.,
Walter
J. Doyle, Robert H. Peitz, Edward W. Ungar
|
|
$
|
5,000
|
|
$
|
10,005
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
0
|
|
$
|
15,005
|
|
1
-
Compensation for Dr. Baker, Jr., Messrs. Doyle, Peitz, and Ungar is
identical.
2
-
Daniel Rooney is the Principal Executive Officer and is Chairman of the Board
of
Directors. Mr. Rooney does not appear on this table and receives no director
compensation.
3
- Stock
awards of 1,819 shares were granted January 5, 2007 for the 2007 fiscal year.
The
following discloses the aggregate number of stock option awards outstanding
for
all directors:
Mr.
Peitz
- Mr. Peitz’ ownership includes 199,162 shares of common stock beneficially
owned by Park National Bank (Trustee for the Ingeborg Funk Children’s Trust), of
which 43,750 shares of common stock can be acquired under stock purchase
warrants exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008. Mr. Peitz’ ownership also
includes 154,712 shares of common stock, which can be acquired by Mr. Peitz
under stock options and purchase warrants exercisable within 60 days of April
10, 2008.
Mr.
Rooney - 128,000 common shares may be acquired by Mr. Rooney under stock options
exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008.
Mr.
Doyle
- 24,250 common shares may be acquired by Mr. Doyle under stock options and
stock purchase warrants exercisable within 60 days of April 10,
2008.
Dr.
Baker
- 51,000 common shares, which may be acquired by Dr. Baker under stock options
exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008.
Mr.
Ungar
- 51,000 common shares may be acquired by Mr. Ungar under stock options
exercisable within 60 days of April 10, 2008.
Non-Employee
Director
Reimbursement
Non-employee
directors are reimbursed for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses connected
to Board travel.
EQUITY
COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The
following table sets forth additional information as of December 31, 2007,
concerning shares of our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise
of
options and other rights under our existing equity compensation plans and
arrangements, divided between plans approved by our shareholders and plans
or
arrangements not submitted to our shareholders for approval. The information
includes the number of shares covered by, and the weighted average exercise
price of, outstanding options and other rights and the number of shares
remaining available for future grants excluding the shares to be issued upon
exercise of outstanding options, warrants, and other rights.
|
|
|
Number
of Securities to be
issued
upon exercise of outstanding
options,
warrants and rights
(a)
|
|
Weighted-average
exercise
price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
(b)
|
|
Number
of securities remaining available for issuance under equity compensation
plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
(c)
|
|
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by security holders
(1)
|
|
|
584,250
|
|
$
|
2.26
|
|
|
275,450
|
|
|
Equity
compensation plans not approved by security holders
(2)
|
|
|
17,500
|
|
$
|
2.88
|
|
|
--
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
601,750
|
|
$
|
2.28
|
|
|
275,450
|
|
|
(1)
|
Equity
compensation plans approved by shareholders include our 1995 Stock
Option
Plan and our 2006 Plan.
|
|
(2)
|
Includes
17,500 stock purchase warrants that can be exercised to purchase
17,500
shares of our common stock, which were issued by us in exchange for
consideration in the form of goods and
services.
|
REGISTERED
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
On
October
25, 2007, our auditors, Hausser + Taylor LLC changed its name to Maloney +
Novotny LLC. On November 30, 2007, our audit committee selected Maloney +
Novotny LLC to perform the 2007 audit for SCI Engineered Materials, Inc.
We
have
selected Maloney + Novotny LLC to serve as our registered independent public
accounting firm for 2008. Maloney + Novotny LLC (formerly known as Hausser
+
Taylor LLC) served as the registered independent public accounting firm during
2007 and throughout the periods covered by our financial statements. A
representative of Maloney + Novotny LLC is expected to attend the Annual Meeting
of Shareholders in order to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders,
and will have the opportunity to make a statement.
FEES
OF THE REGISTERED INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR
THE
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007
Audit
Fees
The
aggregate fees billed and to be billed by Maloney + Novotny (formerly known
as
Hausser + Taylor LLC) for professional services rendered for the audit of our
annual financial statements and review of financial statements included in
our
Form 10-QSB were $56,600 for 2007, and $52,620 for 2006.
Tax
Fees
We
paid
$0 in 2006 and 2005 for professional services rendered for tax compliance and
tax advice in connection with our internally prepared corporate tax
return.
All
Other Fees
The
aggregate fees billed by Maloney + Novotny (formerly known as Hausser + Taylor
LLC) for professional services rendered in connection with the issuance of
consent and review of Form SB-2 registration statement and the review of a
SEC
letter were $14,070 in 2007.
Pre-Approval
Policy
The
Audit
Committee is required to pre-approve all auditing services and permitted
non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) to be performed for
us
by our independent auditor or other registered public accounting firm, subject
to the
de
minimis
exceptions for non-audit services described in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are approved by the Audit Committee prior
to completion of the audit.
RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING
FIRM
Our
Audit
Committee has appointed Maloney + Novotny LLC, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 2008, and has further directed that management submit the
selection of independent auditors for ratification by the shareholders at the
2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Maloney + Novotny LLC (formerly known
as
Hausser + Taylor LLC) has audited our financial statements since the fiscal
year
ending December 31, 1995. The Audit Committee believes that Maloney +
Novotny LLC’s experience with us and knowledge of us is important, and would
like to continue this relationship.
Maloney
+
Novotny LLC, has advised us that the firm does not have any direct or indirect
financial interest in us, nor has Maloney + Novotny LLC, had any such interest
since the inception of our Company in 1987, other than as a provider of auditing
and accounting services. In making the selection of Maloney + Novotny LLC to
continue as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year
ending December 31, 2008, the Audit Committee reviewed past audit results and
the non-audit services performed during fiscal year 2007 and which are proposed
to be performed during fiscal year 2008. In selecting Maloney + Novotny LLC,
the
Audit Committee carefully considered Maloney + Novotny LLC’s independence.
Maloney + Novotny LLC confirmed to us that it is in compliance with all rules,
standards and policies of the Independence Standards Board and the SEC governing
auditor independence.
Neither
our Code of Regulations nor other governing documents require shareholder
ratification of the selection of Maloney + Novotny LLC as the Company’s
independent auditors. However, we are submitting the selection of Maloney +
Novotny LLC to the shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate
practice. If our shareholders fail to ratify this selection, the Audit Committee
will reconsider whether or not to continue to retain Maloney + Novotny LLC,
but
may still retain them. Even if this selection is ratified, the Audit Committee,
in its discretion, may direct the appointment of different independent auditors
at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in
the
best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented
by
proxy and entitled to vote at the 2008 Annual Meeting will be required to ratify
the selection of Maloney + Novotny LLC. Abstentions will be counted toward
the
tabulation of votes cast on proposals presented to the shareholders and will
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, 2007.
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; no
additional warrants will vest. 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.
The warrants vested according to the following schedule: (1) 4,600 vested on
the
date of grant; and (2) 5,400 vested at a rate of 150 per month for 36 months.
These warrants expire June 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,
which expire 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 14,374; no
additional warrants will vest. In connection with the 2004 private equity
financing, we also issued 19,449 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 loan was drawn on the following schedule: November 3, 2004, $100,000;
January 7, 2005, $50,000; and April 1, 2005, $50,000. The loan balance
(principal 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. The loan was drawn on the following schedule: April 14,
2005, $100,000; and May 20, 2005, $100,000. Because we completed equity
financing of at least $500,000 during the fourth quarter of 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 10, 2008, 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 2009 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 2009 must
be received by us (addressed to the attention of the Secretary) on or before
January 5, 2009. Any shareholder proposal submitted outside the processes of
Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for presentation at our
2009 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, 2009. 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-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2007, 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.