Attached files

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EX-3.4 - EX-3.4 - Vuzix Corpo55928a3exv3w4.htm
EX-5.1 - EX-5.1 - Vuzix Corpo55928a3exv5w1.htm
EX-3.2 - EX-3.2 - Vuzix Corpo55928a3exv3w2.htm
EX-10.3 - EX-10.3 - Vuzix Corpo55928a3exv10w3.htm
EX-16.1 - EX-16.1 - Vuzix Corpo55928a3exv16w1.htm
EX-23.1 - EX-23.1 - Vuzix Corpo55928a3exv23w1.htm
EX-23.2 - EX-23.2 - Vuzix Corpo55928a3exv23w2.htm
EX-10.17 - EX-10.17 - Vuzix Corpo55928a3exv10w17.htm
EX-10.20 - EX-10.20 - Vuzix Corpo55928a3exv10w20.htm
EX-10.10 - EX-10.10 - Vuzix Corpo55928a3exv10w10.htm
EX-10.19 - EX-10.19 - Vuzix Corpo55928a3exv10w19.htm
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 16, 2009
Registration No. 333-160417
 
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
 
Amendment No. 3
to
Form S-1
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
 
 
 
VUZIX CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
         
Delaware   3577   04-3392453
 
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
 
75 Town Centre Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
(585) 359-5900
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
 
 
 
 
Copies to:
 
     
Robert F. Mechur, Esq.
Boylan, Brown, Code, Vigdor & Wilson, LLP
2400 Chase Square
Rochester, New York 14604
(585) 232-5300
  Kenneth G. Sam, Esq.
Jason Brenkert, Esq.
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
370 17th Street, Suite 4700
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 629-3400
 
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.
 
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, check the following box.  þ
 
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o
 
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o
 
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
             
Large accelerated filer o
  Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company þ
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
 
                     
      Proposed Maximum
    Amount of
      Aggregate
    Registration
Title of Securities to be Registered     Offering Price(1)     Fee(6)
Units, each consisting of one share of Common Stock, $0.001 par value, and one-half of one Common Stock Purchase Warrant(2)
    $ 15,464,625.00       $ 862.93  
Shares of Common Stock included as part of the Units
                    
Common Stock Purchase Warrants included as part of the Units
                    
Shares of Common Stock underlying the Common Stock Purchase Warrant included in the Units
    $ 11,598,469.00 (3)(5)     $ 647.19  
Agent Compensation Options(4)
                   
Shares of Common Stock included as part of the Agent Compensation Options
    $ 1,933,079.00       $ 107.87  
Common Stock Purchase Warrants included as part of the Compensation Options(5)
                    
Shares of Common Stock underlying the Common Stock Purchase Warrants included in the Compensation Options
    $ 1,449,808.00 (3)(5)     $ 80.90  
Total
    $ 30,445,981.00       $ 1698.89  
                     
 
 
(1) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act, the number of shares being registered and the maximum offering price per share are not included in this table.
 
(2) Public offering of units, each unit consisting of one share of common stock, $0.001 par value, and one-half of one common stock purchase warrant.
 
(3) Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(g).
 
(4) Options entitling the Canadian agents to purchase that number of shares of common stock and warrants equal to 12.5% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock and warrants sold under the offering, respectively, at the offering price per share and warrant, respectively, for a period of 12 months from the closing date.
 
(5) Pursuant to Rule 416, there are also being registered such indeterminable additional securities as may be issued as a result of any additional shares of common stock that shall become issuable by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration that results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of common stock.
 
(6) Registration fee previously paid in connection with the initial filing of this Registration Statement.
 
 
 
 
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
 


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EXPLANATORY NOTES
 
This Registration Statement contains a prospectus relating to an offering of shares of our common stock, warrants and common stock acquirable upon exercise of warrants in the United States, together with separate prospectus pages relating to an offering of shares of our common stock, warrants and common stock acquirable upon exercise of warrants in Canada. The U.S. prospectus and the Canadian prospectus will be identical in all material respects. The complete U.S. prospectus is included herein and is followed by those pages to be used solely in the Canadian prospectus. Each of the alternate pages for the Canadian prospectus included in this registration statement has been labeled “Alternate Page for Canadian Prospectus.”


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
 
 
(Subject to Completion) Dated October 16, 2009
 
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
 
Vuzix Corporation
 
(VUZIX CORPORATION LOGO)
 
Minimum Offering of Cdn$6,000,000
Up to 50,000,000 Units
(each consisting of one share of common stock and one half of one common stock purchase warrant)
 
This is the initial public offering of our securities. We are offering for sale up to 50,000,000 units at a price between Cdn$0.15 and Cdn$0.25 per unit, on a best efforts basis. This offering is subject to us raising minimum gross proceeds of Cdn$6,000,000. Each unit consists of one share of our common stock, par value US$0.001 per share, and one-half of one common stock purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles its holder to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of 150% of the initial public offering price per unit at any time for 36 months after the closing of this offering, subject to acceleration based upon the market price of our common stock. Our units are being concurrently offered to the public in Canada by our Canadian agents under the terms of a prospectus filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Our agents are not purchasing any of the offered units. The agents must sell the number of units that will result in us receiving the minimum gross proceeds (Cdn$6,000,000) if any are sold. The agents are required to use their best efforts to sell the maximum number of units offered (50,000,000 units). The shares of common stock and warrants underlying the units will be issued separately. Pursuant to an escrow agreement among us, the agents and an escrow agent, the funds received in payment for the units sold in this offering will be deposited into a non-interest bearing escrow account and held until the closing of the offering. The offering will close as soon as practicable after the minimum gross proceeds have been raised. At the closing, certificates representing the shares of common stock and the common stock purchase warrants will be delivered to one of our Canadian agents in its nominee name for deposit with CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc. and the proceeds from the offering will be delivered to us. No funds shall be released to us until such a time as the minimum gross proceeds are raised. If the minimum gross proceeds are not raised within 90 days of the date of this prospectus, all funds will be returned to investors promptly without interest or deduction of fees. There is currently no public market through which our securities may be sold, and you may not be able to resell any securities you purchase under this prospectus. We have applied to list our common stock and the warrants included in the units on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbols “l” and “l”, respectively. Listing of our common stock and warrants will be subject to fulfilling all of the requirements of the TSX-V.
 
Our business and an investment in our securities involve significant risks. These risks are described under the caption “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus.
 
Neither the SEC nor any other securities commission or regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of these securities or has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
If we raise the minimum proceeds from this offering (Cdn$6.0 million) by selling 30,000,000 units at Cdn$0.20 per unit (the midpoint of our estimated initial public offering price range), we estimate that the net proceeds to us from the offering, after agents commissions, would be approximately Cdn$5.52 million or Cdn$0.184 per unit. If we sell the maximum number of units we are offering (50,000,000 units) at Cdn$0.25 per unit (the maximum of our estimated initial public offering price range), we would receive gross proceeds of Cdn$12.5 million and estimate that the net proceeds to us, after agents commissions, would be approximately Cdn$11.5 million or Cdn$0.23 per unit.
 
The offering is denominated in Canadian dollars. The purchase price for the offered units may be paid by US investors in Canadian or US dollars. If any purchaser indicates that his or her payment will be made in US dollars, the payment will be converted to Canadian dollars at the real-time, wholesale rate at which our Canadian agents are able to purchase US dollars in the foreign exchange market on the date on which securities offered under this prospectus are allocated to that purchaser.
 
The agents expect to deliver the shares of common stock and warrants comprising the units in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on or about          , 2009.
 
CANACCORD ADAMS INC.
 
The date of this prospectus is          , 2009.


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Through and including          , 2009 (the 40th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in units or shares of our common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
This summary provides an overview of selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our securities. You should carefully read the prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part in their entirety before investing in our securities, including the information discussed under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 and our financial statements and notes thereto that appear elsewhere in this prospectus.
 
BUSINESS
 
Company Overview
 
We are engaged in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of devices that are worn like eyeglasses and feature built-in video screens that enable the user to view video and digital content, such as movies, computer data, the Internet or video games. Our products (known commercially as Video Eyewear, but also commonly referred to as virtual displays, wearable displays, personal viewers, personal displays, head mounted displays, or near-to-eye displays) are used to view high-resolution video and digital information primarily from mobile devices (such as cell phones, portable media players, gaming systems and laptop computers) and from personal computers. Our products provide the user with a virtual viewing experience that simulates viewing a large screen television or desktop computer monitor practically anywhere, anytime.
 
Our Video Eyewear products feature high performance miniature display modules, low power electronics and related optical systems. We produce both monocular and binocular Video Eyewear devices that we believe are excellent solutions for many mobile computer, mobile internet devices (MID) or video viewing requirements, including general entertainment applications. We focus on two markets: the consumer markets for gaming, mobile video viewing and stereoscopic three-dimensional video viewing; and rugged mobile displays for defense and industrial applications. We also offer low-vision assist Video Eyewear products that are designed to assist and improve the remaining vision of people suffering from macular degeneration.
 
The development of intellectual property rights relating to our technologies is a key aspect of our business strategy. We have generated and continue to generate intellectual property as a result of our ongoing performance of development contracts and our internal research and development activities. We have also acquired technologies developed by third parties and we may do so in the future.
 
Our business is subject to numerous risks, as discussed more fully in the section entitled “Risk Factors” immediately following this prospectus summary. The risks we face include the following:
 
  •  We have incurred net losses since our inception and if we continue to incur net losses in the foreseeable future the market price of our common stock may decline.
 
  •  We have depended on defense related engineering contracts and product orders from two customers for the majority of our sales and our revenues would be materially reduced if we are unable to obtain sales from government contracts or if either of our two significant customers reduce or delay orders from us.
 
  •  If management continues to own a significant percentage of our outstanding common stock, management may prevent other stockholders from influencing significant corporate decisions.
 
  •  We do not manufacture our own microdisplays, one of the key components of our Video Eyewear products, and we may not be able to obtain the microdisplays we need.
 
  •  If we fail to develop new products and adapt to new technologies, our business and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
 
  •  If microdisplay-based personal displays do not gain some reasonable level of acceptance in the market for mobile displays, our business strategy may fail.
 
  •  We may incur substantial costs or lose important rights as a result of litigation or other proceedings relating to our products, patents and other intellectual property rights.


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  •  Purchasers of our units will experience immediate and substantial dilution as a result because their common stock will be worth less on a net tangible book value basis than the amount they invested.
 
Industry Overview
 
Many mobile devices now allow the user to view high-resolution full color content. We believe that typical displays currently used on mobile devices do not work well for this purpose because they are either too small, making it extremely difficult to view the detail in their display images with a human eye, or too large, making the mobile device cumbersome and difficult to use and carry. Some mobile devices employ a touch screen with software to magnify or zoom in on a partial image. We believe that many consumers consider this solution unsatisfactory because it is difficult to navigate and find information on the portion of the page being viewed.
 
In contrast, our Video Eyewear products enable the user to effectively view the entire screen on a small, eyeglass-like device. Our products employ microdisplays that provide full screen resolution but are smaller than one-inch diagonally, with some as small as one-quarter of an inch. To make images on the microdisplays viewable, our Video Eyewear products incorporate proprietary magnifying optics that are usually designed by us. The result is a detailed virtual image that appears to the viewer to be similar to the image on a full size computer screen from a normal desktop working distance or the image on a large flat panel television from normal home TV viewing distance. For example, when magnified through our optics, a high-resolution 0.44-inch diagonal microdisplay can provide a viewing experience comparable to that on a 62-inch diagonal television screen viewed at nine feet. We refer to this as a 62-inch virtual display.
 
We believe that there is growing demand for mobile access to high-resolution content in both the consumer and industrial and defense markets.
 
Our Products
 
We offer products that use our proprietary technology and are designed to meet the unique requirements of the consumer, industrial and defense markets.
 
Binocular Video Eyewear Products
 
Each binocular Video Eyewear product contains two microdisplay screens, one in front of each eye, mounted in a frame attached to eyeglass-style temples with headphones. These products enable mobile private viewing of video content on virtual displays that can simulate theater-sized screens. They are currently sold on the basis of resolution and their effective virtual viewing screen size. Our products today range from 320 × 240 pixels (Quarter Video Graphics Array or QVGA) to 800 × 600 pixels (Super Video Graphics Array or SVGA) resolution and provide virtual screen sizes of 44- to 62-inch screens viewed at nine feet. We also offer an interactive version for PC gaming which includes our proprietary head tracking technology, which enables the user to look around the environment being displayed in the game by simply moving his or her head, and a microphone to enable communication with others. Finally, we offer a binocular Video Eyewear product that integrates a high-resolution camera with digital magnification, designed to assist and improve the remaining vision of persons suffering from macular degeneration.
 
Monocular Video Eyewear Products
 
Our Tac-Eye® monocular (single eye) Video Eyewear products are designed to clip on to a pair of ballistic sunglasses, a head set or conventional safety goggles. They can be used with rugged laptops, security and night vision cameras and thermal night vision sights, including those sights for which we currently build the display drive electronics as a sub-contractor to the US Department of Defense. Tac-Eye® enables users to have wearable, private, hands-free and glanceable access to high-resolution content or information while retaining most of their real world view.


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Defense Sub-Assembly and Custom Solutions
 
We are involved in several programs as part of contracting teams that produce thermal night vision sights to the US Department of Defense. We design and manufacture many of the display drive electronic subassemblies for light, medium, and heavy weight thermal weapon sighting systems for the US and other defense forces. When possible, we obtain a first right of refusal to be the volume manufacturer of our proprietary display subassemblies as part of our contracting process for the custom design of products.
 
Our Strategy
 
Our strategy is to establish and maintain a leadership position as a worldwide supplier of Video Eyewear and other virtual display technology solutions. We intend to offer our technologies across major markets, platforms and applications. We will strive to be an innovator in designing virtual display devices that enable new mobile video viewing as well as general entertainment applications.
 
To maintain and enhance our position as a leading provider of virtual display solutions, we intend to:
 
  •  improve our brand name recognition;
 
  •  develop products for large markets;
 
  •  broaden and develop strategic relationships and partnerships;
 
  •  expand market awareness for virtual display solutions;
 
  •  maintain and exploit any cost advantage our technology can provide us;
 
  •  extend our proprietary technology leadership; and
 
  •  establish multiple revenue sources.
 
Company Information
 
We were incorporated under the Delaware General Corporation Law in 1997 as VR Acquisition Corp. In 1997 we changed our name to Kaotech Corporation. In 1998 we changed our name to Interactive Imaging Systems, Inc. In 2004 we changed our name to Vicuity Corporation and then to Icuiti Corporation. In September 2007 we changed our name to Vuzix Corporation.
 
Our principal executive offices are located at 75 Town Centre Drive, Rochester, New York 14623. Our telephone number is (585) 359-5900. We maintain an Internet website at www.vuzix.com. The information contained on, connected to or that can be accessed via our website is not part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus as an inactive textual reference only and not as an active hyperlink.
 
Our wholly-owned direct subsidiary is Vuzix (Europe) Limited, which we refer to in this prospectus as Vuzix Europe. Vuzix Europe was incorporated on April 10, 2008 pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Act (England and Wales). The registered and head office of Vuzix Europe is located at St. John’s House, 5 South Parade, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7JL.
 
The Offering
 
Securities offered by Vuzix Up to 50,000,000 units; each unit consisting of one share of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and one half of one common stock purchase warrant.
 
Up to 84,375,000 shares of our common stock.(1)
 
Up to 25,000,000 common stock purchase warrants. Each whole warrant will entitles its holder to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of 150% of the initial public offering price per unit at any time for 36 months after the closing of this offering. If the weighted-average closing price of our common stock on the TSX-V exceeds 250% of the initial public offering price per unit for 20 consecutive trading days at any time beginning 180 days after the date on which our common stock is first traded on the TSX-V, we will have the right, exercisable at our sole discretion, to accelerate the


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expiration date of the warrants by providing written notice to each registered warrant holder within five business days and issuing a press release to the effect that the warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on the date specified in the notice and press release, provided that the accelerated expiration date may not be less than 30 days following the date of the notice and press release.
 
Minimum gross proceeds Cdn$6,000,000
 
Common stock to be outstanding after this offering Between 275,105,285 shares (assuming minimum gross proceeds of Cdn$6,000,000 at the initial public offering price of Cdn$0.15 per unit) and 285,305,285 shares (assuming the sale of the maximum number of units offered (50,000,000 units).(2)
 
Agent Compensation As consideration for their services, the Canadian agents will receive: (i) a commission equal to 8% of the gross proceeds of the offering; (ii) options entitling the Canadian agents to purchase that number of shares of our common stock and warrants equal to 12.5% of the aggregate number of shares of our common stock and warrants sold under the offering, at the offering price per share and warrant, for a period of 12 months from the closing date; and (iii) a non-refundable due diligence fee of Cdn$15,000. The Canadian agents will also be reimbursed for their reasonable fees and expenses including the reasonable legal fees and disbursements of legal counsel to the agents. Canaccord Adams Inc. and any US selling agents that the Canadian agents may appoint will be paid cash selling commissions not to exceed 6% of the gross proceeds of the offering in the United States and options entitling the US selling agents to purchase that number of shares of our common stock and warrants sold in the United States under the offering equal to 8% of the aggregate number of shares of our common stock and warrants at the initial public offering price for a period of 12 months from the closing date. The commission paid to US selling agents will be paid by the Canadian agents from their commissions and the options issued to the US selling agents will be assigned by the Canadian agents from their options. This prospectus covers the sale of the shares of our common stock and warrants issuable upon exercise of the agents’ options.
 
In consideration of certain fiscal advisory services rendered by the Canadian agents to us pursuant to a fiscal advisory fee agreement between us and the Canadian agents, we have agreed to issue to the Canadian agents at the closing of this offering, in payment of a fiscal advisory fee, that number of shares of our common stock equal to, depending on the gross proceeds of the offering, between 1.0% and 2.0% of our common stock issued and outstanding immediately upon the closing of the offering. The issuance of these shares to the Canadian agents is not covered by this prospectus. These shares will be subject to resale restrictions under applicable United States and Canadian securities legislation and a contractual lock-up agreement for one year. See “Underwriting — Fiscal Advisory Fee Agreement.”
 
Use of proceeds The minimum gross proceeds to us from the offering will be Cdn$6,000,000 and we estimate that the net proceeds to us from such amount, after payment of agents’ commissions and offering-related expenses, would be approximately Cdn$5,000,000. Assuming the sale of the maximum number of units offered (50,000,000 units) and an initial public offering price of Cdn$0.25 per unit (the maximum of our estimated initial public offering price range), we would receive gross proceeds of Cdn$12,500,000 and we estimate that the net proceeds to us from such amount, after payment of agents’ commissions and offering-related expenses, would be approximately


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Cdn$10,978,000. We expect to use $1,181,000 of the net proceeds of this offering to repay outstanding indebtedness, including accrued interest. The indebtedness to be repaid includes $165,500 in principal amount plus interest payable to our President and Chief Executive Officer. We intend to use the remainder of the net proceeds from this offering new product development and tooling expenses; for research and development expenses; capital expenditures; selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses; possible acquisitions of businesses, technologies or other assets; and general corporate purposes. For additional information see “Use of Proceeds.”
 
Risk Factors See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 and other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our securities.
 
 
(1) Consists of up to (i) 50,000,000 shares included in the units; (ii) 25,000,000 shares issuable upon exercise of the common stock purchase warrants included in the units; and (iii) up to 6,250,000 shares issuable upon exercise of the options issued to the agents as compensation and up to an additional 3,125,000 shares issuable upon exercise of common stock purchase warrants issuable upon exercise of the options issued to the agents as compensation.
 
(2) Includes (i) up to 5,592,246 shares issued to the agents in payment of a fiscal advisory fee; (ii) up to 7,148,982 shares issuable upon conversion of 168,500 outstanding shares of our Series C 6% Convertible Preferred Stock (Series C Preferred Stock), together with all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon through September 30, 2009, at the rate of $0.2917 per share; and (iii) up to 4,642,189 shares issuable upon conversion of $575,000 in aggregate principal amount of convertible promissory notes outstanding, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon through September 30, 2009. Does not include (i) up to 15,304,554 shares issuable upon exercise of options granted under our 2007 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan; (ii) any of the shares described in footnote (1) above other than those described in clause (i) of footnote (1); (iii) up to 1,200,00 shares issuable upon exercise of options under our 2009 option plan that we intend to grant to our four new non-employee directors at the closing of this offering; and (iv) up to 3,542,107 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants.


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Selected Summary Financial Data
 
The following tables present our summary financial data and should be read together with our financial statements and accompanying notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary financial data for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 are derived from our audited annual financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited summary financial data as of June 30, 2009 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 have been derived from our unaudited interim financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus, and include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and results of operations for these periods.
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
Statement of Operations Data
  2009     2008     2009     2008  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
 
Sales
  $ 2,063,733     $ 3,087,338     $ 5,082,087     $ 4,807,982  
Cost of Sales
    1,390,819       1,871,661       3,221,861       3,358,739  
                                 
Gross Margin
    672,914       1,215,677       1,860,226       1,449,243  
Operating Expenses
                               
Research and development
    428,737       1,224,265       945,897       1,960,982  
Selling and marketing
    520,257       483,695       976,041       933,257  
General and administrative
    534,142       438,831       990,729       972,630  
Depreciation and amortization
    167,509       123,696       306,343       247,392  
                                 
Total operating expenses
    1,650,645       2,270,487       3,219,010       4,114,261  
                                 
Profit (Loss) from operations
    (977,731 )     (1,054,810 )     (1,358,784 )     (2,665,018 )
Interest and other income (expense)
    11             59       166  
Foreign exchange (loss) gain
    (3,657 )     (300 )     (4,969 )     (33 )
Interest expense
    (56,711 )     (57,353 )     (122,095 )     (99,019 )
Tax (expense) benefit
    (888 )     (2,897 )     (1,776 )     (3,650 )
                                 
Total tax and other income (expense)
    (61,245 )     (60,550 )     (128,781 )     (102,536 )
                                 
Net (Loss)
  $ (1,038,976 )   $ (1,115,360 )   $ (1,487,565 )   $ (2,767,554 )
                                 
Income (loss) per share:
                               
Basic and fully diluted*
  $ (0.0048 )   $ (0.0057 )   $ (0.0070 )   $ (0.0141 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic and fully diluted*
    220,268,927       200,424,027       219,935,594       200,015,546  
 


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    Year Ended December 31,        
Statement of Operations Data
  2008     2007     2006        
 
Sales
  $ 12,489,884     $ 10,146,379     $ 9,538,308          
Cost of Sales
    8,788,905       6,783,473       5,767,550          
                                 
Gross Margin
    3,700,979       3,362,906       3,770,758          
Operating Expenses
                               
Research and development
    3,366,518       2,365,412       1,279,239          
Selling and marketing
    2,128,625       1,920,164       1,191,800          
General and administrative
    2,299,685       1,718,627       1,560,278          
Depreciation and amortization
    510,133       374,078       276,989          
                                 
Total operating expenses
    8,304,961       6,378,281       4,308,306          
                                 
Profit (Loss) from operations
    (4,603,982 )     (3,015,375 )     (537,548 )        
Interest and other income (expense)
    188       2,549       313          
Foreign exchange (loss) gain
    (24,216 )                    
Interest expense
    (260,977 )     (241,692 )     (179,019 )        
Legal settlement
          96,632                
Tax (expense) benefit
    (5,212 )     98,372       (3,700 )        
                                 
Total tax and other income (expense)
    (290,217 )     (44,139 )     (182,406 )        
                                 
Net (Loss)
  $ (4,894,199 )   $ (3,059,514 )   $ (719,954 )        
                                 
Income (loss) per share:
                               
Basic and fully diluted*
  $ (0.0240 )   $ (0.0176 )   $ (0.0047 )        
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic and fully diluted*
    207,710,498       185,263,660       173,254,715          
 
 
* All outstanding warrants, options, and convertible debt are anti-dilutive, therefore basic and diluted earnings per share are the same for all periods.
 
                                         
    Year Ended December 31,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
Cash Flow Data
  2008     2007     2006     2009     2008  
                      (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
 
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities
  $ (1,285,449 )   $ (3,295,900 )   $ 120,053     $ (476,637 )   $ (107,925 )
Cash flows (used in) investing activities
    (549,804 )     (316,743 )     (479,236 )     (148,777 )     (259,193 )
Cash flows provided by financing activities
    2,289,116       3,408,328       874,569       91,820       106,255  
 
                                         
    As of December 31,     As of June 30,  
Balance Sheet Data
  2008     2007     2006     2009     2008  
                      (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 818,719     $ 364,856     $ 569,171     $ 285,126     $ 103,993  
Working Capital (deficiency)
    (1,846,289 )     966,658       69,766       (2,808,676 )     (2,150,731 )
Total Assets
    6,221,897       6,967,254       5,013,263       4,351,101       5,939,483  
Long-Term Liabilities
    1,754,379       2,014,476       1,980,476       1,797,680       1,606,559  
Accumulated (deficit)
    (14,687,276 )     (9,691,977 )     (6,531,363 )     (16,225,391 )     (12,510,081 )
Total Stockholders’ equity (deficit)
    (2,089,942 )     423,236       (603,954 )     (3,253,196 )     (2,274,435 )

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RISK FACTORS
 
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, before making an investment decision. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could suffer. In that case, the market value of our securities could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
 
RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS
 
Because we have a limited operating history in the Video Eyewear industry, there is a limited amount of past experience upon which to evaluate our business and prospects.
 
We were formed in 1997 to develop and sell virtual reality and other personal display technology and products. Since our inception the majority of our sales have been derived from the sale of night vision display drive electronics and from research and development contracts with suppliers to the US government and others. In 2003, we discontinued our original virtual reality product line to focus on Video Eyewear products. Since that time, the market for Video Eyewear products has developed more slowly than we anticipated. Although we sold our first monocular Video Eyewear products in 2003 and our first binocular Video Eyewear products in February 2005, since 2003 we have continued to earn the majority of our revenues from defense related engineering contracts. Accordingly, there is a limited amount of Video Eyewear-related experience upon which to evaluate our business and prospects, and a potential investor should consider the challenges, expenses, delays and other difficulties involved in the development of our business, including the continued development of our technology and the achievement of market acceptance for products using our technology.
 
We have incurred net losses since our inception and if we continue to incur net losses in the foreseeable future the market price of our common stock may decline.
 
We incurred annual net losses of $4,894,199 in 2008, $3,059,514 in 2007 and $719,954 in 2006 and net losses of $1,487,565 and $2,767,554 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. We had an accumulated deficit of $16,225,391 as of June 30, 2009.
 
We may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future. In particular, we expect that our expenses relating to sales and marketing and product development and support, as well as our general and administrative costs, will increase, requiring us to increase sales in order to achieve and maintain profitability. If we do not achieve and maintain profitability, our financial condition will be materially and adversely affected. We would eventually be unable to continue our operations unless we were able to raise additional capital. We may not be able to raise any necessary capital on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we fail to achieve or maintain profitability on a quarterly or annual basis within the timeframe expected by investors, the market price of our common stock may decline.
 
We have depended on defense related engineering contracts and two customers for sales and our revenues would be materially reduced if we are unable to continue to obtain sales from government contracts or if either of our two significant customers reduce or delay orders from us.
 
Since inception, the majority of our sales have been derived from the sale of night vision display drive electronics to two suppliers to the US government. Sales of night vision display drive electronics to these customers amounted to 20%, 17% and 42% of our sales in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and 44% and 16% for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. We have no long-term contracts with these customers. A significant reduction or delay in orders from either of our significant customers would materially reduce our revenue and cash flow and adversely affect our ability to achieve or maintain profitability in the future.
 
The next largest source of revenues has been sales directly to the US Department of Defense, primarily for engineering programs. Such sales amounted to 12%, 54% and 27% of our sales in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and 6% and 2% for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. We have no long-term contracts with the US government for engineering services. We plan to submit proposals for additional


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development contract funding. However, development contract funding is subject to legislative authorization and, even if funds are appropriated, such funds may be withdrawn based on changes in government priorities.
 
Together, these two groups of customers accounted for 32%, 71% and 69% of our sales in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and for 50% and 18% of our sales in the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008. We may not be successful in obtaining new government contracts or in receiving further night vision display electronics orders. Our inability to obtain sales from government contracts could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and would likely cause us to delay or slow our growth plans, resulting in lower net sales and adversely affect our liquidity and profitability.
 
Because our US government defense contracts and subcontracts are subject to procurement laws and regulations, we may not receive all of the revenues we anticipate receiving under those contracts and subcontracts.
 
Generally, US government contracts are subject to procurement laws and regulations. Some of the our contracts are governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which lays out uniform policies and procedures for acquiring goods and services by the US government, and agency-specific acquisition regulations that implement or supplement the FAR. For example, the Department of Defense implements the FAR through the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (DFAR).
 
The FAR also contains guidelines and regulations for managing a contract after award, including conditions under which contracts may be terminated, in whole or in part, at the government’s convenience or for default. If a contract is terminated for the convenience of the government, a contractor is entitled to receive payments for its allowable costs and, in general, the proportionate share of fees or earnings for the work done. If a contract is terminated for default, the government generally pays for only the work it has accepted. These regulations also subject us to financial audits and other reviews by the government of our costs, performance, accounting and general business practices relating to our government contracts, which may result in adjustment of our contract-related costs and fees.
 
Our US government contract and subcontract orders are funded by government budgets that are proposed by the President of the United States and reviewed and approved by the Congress. Funds allocated to government agencies are administered by the Executive Office of the President. There are two primary risks associated with this process. First, the process may be delayed or disrupted because of congressional schedules, negotiations over funding levels for programs or unforeseen national or world events. Second, funding for multi-year contracts can be changed in future appropriations. Either of these events could affect the allocation, timing, schedule and program content of our government contracts and subcontracts.
 
Our lack of long-term purchase orders and commitments from our customers may lead to a rapid decline in our sales and profitability.
 
All of our significant consumer division customers issue purchase orders solely in their own discretion, often only two to four weeks before the requested date of shipment. Our customers are generally able to cancel orders (without penalty) or delay the delivery of products on relatively short notice. In addition, our customers may decide not to purchase products from us for any reason. Any of our current customers may stop purchasing our products in the future. If those customers do not continue to purchase our products, our sales volume and profitability could decline rapidly with little or no warning whatsoever.
 
We cannot rely on long-term purchase orders or commitments to protect us from the negative financial effects of a decline in demand for our products. The limited certainty of product orders can make it difficult for us to forecast our sales and allocate our resources in a manner consistent with our actual sales. Moreover, our expense levels are based in part on our expectations of future sales and, if our expectations regarding future sales are inaccurate, we may be unable to reduce costs in a timely manner to adjust for sales shortfalls. Furthermore, because we depend on a small number of customers for the vast majority of our sales, the ramifications of these risks is greater than if we had a greater number of customers. As a result of our lack of long-term purchase orders and purchase commitments, we may experience a rapid decline in our sales and profitability.


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If either of the two customers on whom we depend fails to pay us amounts owed in a timely manner, we could suffer a significant decline in cash flow and liquidity which, in turn, could cause us to fail to pay our liabilities and purchase adequate inventory to sustain or expand our sales volume.
 
Our accounts receivable represented approximately 30%, 53% and 53% of our total current assets as of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and 20% and 11% as of June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. As of June 30, 2009, our two major customers represented 17% of our total accounts receivable. As a result of the substantial amount and concentration of our accounts receivable, if any of our major customers fails to pay us amounts owed in a timely manner, we could suffer a significant decline in cash flow and liquidity which could adversely affect our ability to pay our liabilities and to purchase inventory to sustain or expand our current sales volume and adversely affect our ability to continue our business.
 
In addition, our business is characterized by long periods for collection from our customers and short periods for payment to our suppliers, the combination of which may cause us to have liquidity problems. We experience an average accounts settlement period ranging from one month to as high as three months from the time we deliver our products to the time we receive payment from our customers. In contrast, we typically need to place certain deposits and advances with our suppliers on a portion of the purchase price. Because our payment cycle is considerably shorter than our receivable collection cycle, we may experience working capital shortages. Working capital management, including prompt and diligent billing and collection, is an important factor in our results of operations and liquidity. System problems, industry trends, our customers’ liquidity problems or payment practices or other issues may extend our collection period, which would adversely impact our liquidity, our ability to pay our liabilities and to purchase inventory to sustain or expand our current sales volume, and adversely affect our ability to continue our business.
 
Our future growth and profitability may be adversely affected if our marketing initiatives are not effective in generating sufficient levels of brand awareness.
 
Since inception, the majority of our sales have been derived from the sale of night vision display electronics and from research and development contracts with suppliers to, or directly to the US government and other customers. Our long-term business plan contemplates that we will transition our business so that the majority of our sales are earned from consumer products sales. In connection with this transition, we are engaged in a variety of marketing initiatives intended to promote sales of our consumer products. Our future growth and profitability from our consumer products will depend in large part upon the effectiveness and efficiency of these marketing efforts, including our ability to:
 
  •  create awareness of our brand and products, including general awareness of this new Video Eyewear product category;
 
  •  identify the most effective and efficient levels of spending for marketing expenditures in our new target market;
 
  •  effectively manage marketing costs (including creative and media) in order to maintain acceptable operating margins and return on marketing investment;
 
  •  select the right markets in which to market; and
 
  •  convert consumer awareness into actual product purchases.
 
Our planned marketing expenditures may not result in increased total sales or generate sufficient levels of product and brand name awareness. We may not be able to manage our marketing expenditures on a cost-effective basis.
 
The current decline and any future decline in general economic conditions could lead to reduced consumer demand for our products and otherwise have an adverse effect on our liquidity and profitability.
 
We believe that purchases of our consumer Video Eyewear products are dependent upon levels of discretionary spending by our customers. This means that our financial performance will be sensitive to changes in overall


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economic conditions that affect consumer spending. Consumer spending habits are affected by, among other things, prevailing economic conditions, levels of employment, salaries and wage rates, consumer confidence and consumer perception of economic conditions. As widely reported, general worldwide economic conditions have experienced a downturn due to, among other things, slower economic activity, concerns about inflation, decreased consumer confidence, reduced corporate profits and capital spending, and adverse business conditions. This can impact us through reduced sales, elongated selling cycles, delays in product implementation and increased competitive margin pressure. We are unable to accurately predict the likely duration and severity of the current disruption in financial markets and adverse economic conditions in the United States and other countries. The continuation of this downturn, the further deterioration of economic conditions in the United States or key international economies or uncertainty as to the economic outlook could reduce discretionary spending or cause a shift in consumer discretionary spending to other products. Any of these factors would likely cause us to delay or slow our growth plans, result in lower net sales and adversely affect our liquidity and profitability. Similarly, the tightening of credit markets may adversely affect our supplier base and increase the potential for one or more of our suppliers to experience financial distress or bankruptcy, which could materially and adversely affect our business.
 
If we fail to accurately forecast seasonal demand for our consumer Video Eyewear products, our results of operations for the entire fiscal year may be materially adversely affected.
 
Historically, a high percentage of our consumer Video Eyewear product annual sales have been attributable to the winter holiday selling season. Like many manufacturers of consumer electronics products, we must make merchandising and inventory decisions for the winter holiday selling season well in advance of actual sales. Further compounding this forecasting are other fluctuations in demand for the consumer electronics products that work with our Video Eyewear products, often due to the same seasonal influences, as well as technological advances and new models which are often introduced later in the calendar year. Inaccurate projections of demand or deviations in the demand for our products may cause large fluctuations in both our fourth quarter results and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations for the entire fiscal year. We expect that our fourth quarter sales of consumer products will remain dependent on our performance during the winter holiday selling season.
 
Our Video Eyewear products require ongoing research and development and we may experience technical problems or delays and may not have the funds necessary to continue their development which could lead our business to fail.
 
Our research and development efforts remain subject to all of the risks associated with the development of new products based on emerging and innovative technologies, including, for example, unexpected technical problems or the possible insufficiency of funds for completing development of these products. If we experience technical problems or delays, further improvements in our products and the introduction of future products could be delayed, and we could incur significant additional expenses and our business may fail.
 
We anticipate that we will require additional funds and further US government engineering services contracts to maintain our current levels of expenditure for research and development of new products and technologies, and to obtain and maintain patents and other intellectual property rights in these technologies, the timing and amount of which are difficult to forecast. Our cash on hand after the successful completion of this offering coupled with the possibility of further negative cash flow from operations may not be sufficient to meet all of our future needs. We have no commitment for additional funds. Any funds we need may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we cannot obtain any necessary additional capital when needed, we might be forced to reduce our research and development efforts which would materially and adversely affect our business. If we attempt to raise capital in an offering of shares of our common stock, preferred stock, convertible securities or warrants, or if we engage in acquisitions involving the issuance of such securities, our then-existing stockholders’ interests will be diluted.


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We depend on advances in technology by other companies and if those advances do not materialize, some of our products may not be successfully commercialized and our anticipated new products could be delayed or cancelled.
 
We rely on and will continue to rely on technologies (including microdisplays) that are developed and produced by other companies. The commercial success of certain of our planned future products will depend in part on advances in these and other technologies by other companies. We may, from time to time, contract with and support companies developing key technologies in order to accelerate the development of them for our specific uses. Such activities might not result in useful technologies or components for us.
 
If we fail to develop new products and adapt to new technologies, our business and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
 
The market for our products is characterized by rapid changes in products, designs and manufacturing process technologies. Our success depends to a large extent on our ability to develop and manufacture new products and technologies to match the varying requirements of different customers and groups in order to establish a competitive position and become profitable. Furthermore, we must adapt our products and processes to technological changes and emerging industry standards and practices on a cost-effective and timely basis. Our failure to accomplish any of the above could harm our business and operating results.
 
Consumer electronics products are subject to rapid technological changes. Companies within the consumer electronics industry are continuously developing new products with increased performance and functionality. This puts pricing pressure on existing products and constantly threatens to make them, or causes them to be, obsolete. During the last two fiscal years, we sold one product below cost after introducing new product models and as a result incurred a negative gross margin of approximately 20% or approximately $28,000 in negative margin. As our unit sales increase, our ability to manage and mitigate future clearance discounting activities may be harder and greater sales with negative margins could increase. Our typical product life cycle is relatively short, generating lower average selling prices as the cycle matures. With cost reductions in component design and increased manufacturing volumes we have not faced significant margin erosion as we introduce new models of our Video Eyewear products. If we fail to accurately anticipate the introduction of new technologies, we may possess significant amounts of obsolete inventory that can only be sold at substantially lower prices and gross margins than we anticipated. In addition, if we fail to accurately anticipate the introduction of new technologies, we may be unable to compete effectively due to our failure to offer products most demanded by the marketplace. If any of these failures occur, our sales, profit margins and profitability will be adversely affected.
 
If microdisplay-based personal displays do not gain some reasonable level of acceptance in the market for mobile displays, our business strategy may fail.
 
The mobile display market is dominated by displays larger than one-inch, based on direct view liquid crystal display (LCD) and organic light emitting display (OLED) technology. A number of companies have made and continue to make substantial investments in, and are conducting research to improve characteristics of, small direct view LCDs. Many of the leading manufacturers of these larger direct view LCDs, including LG Electronics, Royal Philips Electronics, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Sony Corporation and Sharp Corporation, are large, established companies with global marketing capabilities, widespread brand recognition and extensive financial resources. Advances in LCD and OLED technology or other technologies may overcome their current limitations and permit them to remain or become more attractive technologies for personal viewing applications, which could limit the potential market for our Video Eyewear technology and cause our business strategy to fail.
 
It is difficult to assess or predict with any certainty the potential size, timing and viability of market opportunities for our microdisplay-based Video Eyewear products or their market acceptance. Market acceptance of Video Eyewear technology will depend, in part, upon consumer acceptance of near-to-eye displays and upon microdisplay technology providing benefits comparable to or greater than those provided by alternative direct view display technology at a competitive price. If consumers fail to accept near-to-eye displays in the numbers we anticipate or as soon as we anticipate, the sales of our Video Eyewear products and our results of operations would be adversely affected and our business strategy may fail.


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There are a number of competing providers of microdisplay-based personal display technology and we may fail to capture a substantial portion of the personal display market.
 
In addition to competing with direct view displays, we also compete with microdisplay-based personal display technologies that have been developed by other companies. Our primary personal display competitors include DaeYang Co., Ltd., Ilixco Inc., MyVu Corporation (MyVu), Carl Zeiss, Inc. (Zeiss), 5DT Inc., eMagin Corporation (eMagin), Kopin Corporation (Kopin), Lumus Ltd. (Lumus) and Kaiser Electro Optics Inc. (Kaiser). Additionally, at recent technology exhibitions Sony and Brother International Corporation have demonstrated personal display glasses that look like sunglasses. Most of our microdisplay-based competitors have greater financial, marketing, distribution and technical resources than we do. Certain of these competing microdisplay-based technologies entered the marketplace prior to us. Moreover, our competitors may succeed in developing new microdisplay-based personal display technologies that are more affordable or have more or more desirable features than our technology. If our products are unable to capture a substantial portion of the personal display market, our business strategy may fail.
 
Our business and products are subject to government regulation and we may incur additional compliance costs or, if we fail to comply with applicable regulations, may incur fines or be forced to suspend or cease operations.
 
Our products must comply with certain requirements of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulating electromagnetic radiation in order to be sold in the US and with comparable requirements of the regulatory authorities of the European Union (EU) and other jurisdictions in order to be sold in those jurisdictions. We are also subject to various governmental regulations related to toxic, volatile, and other hazardous chemicals used in connection with parts of our manufacturing process, including the Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) issued by the EU effective July 1, 2006. This directive restricts the distribution of products within the EU that exceed very low maximum concentration values of certain substances, including lead.
 
We believe that all our current consumer products comply with the regulations of the jurisdictions in which they are sold. Our failure to comply with these regulations in the future could result in the imposition of fines or in the suspension or cessation of our operations in the applicable jurisdictions. Additional regulations applicable to our business may be enacted in the United States or other jurisdictions in the future. Compliance with regulations enacted in the future could substantially increase our cost of doing business or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and our business.
 
Our products will likely experience rapidly declining unit prices and we may not be able to offset that decline with production cost decreases or higher unit sales.
 
In the markets in which we expect to compete, prices of established products tend to decline significantly over time. In order to maintain our profit margins over the long term, we believe that we will need to continuously develop product enhancements and new technologies that will either slow price declines of our products or reduce the cost of producing and delivering our products. While we anticipate many opportunities to reduce production costs over time, we may not be able to reduce our production costs. We expect to attempt to offset the anticipated decrease in our average selling price by introducing new products, increasing our sales volumes or adjusting our product mix. If we fail to do so, our results of operations will be materially and adversely affected.
 
If we cannot obtain and maintain appropriate patent and other intellectual property rights protection for our technology, our business will suffer.
 
The value of our personal display and related technologies is dependent on our ability to secure and maintain appropriate patent and other intellectual property rights protection. We intend to continue to aggressively pursue additional patent protection for our new products and technology. Although we own many patents covering our technology that have already been issued, we may not be able to obtain additional patents that we apply for, or that any of these patents, once issued, will give us commercially significant protection for our technology, or will be found valid if challenged. Moreover, we have not obtained patent protection for some of our technology in all foreign countries in which our products might be manufactured or sold. In any event, the patent laws and


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enforcement regimes of other countries may differ from those of the United States as to the patentability of our personal display and related technologies and the degree of protection afforded.
 
Any patent or trademark owned by us may be challenged and invalidated or circumvented. Patents may not issue from any of our pending or future patent applications. Any claims and issued patents or pending patent applications may not be broad or strong enough and may not be issued in all countries where our products can be sold or our technologies can be licensed to provide meaningful protection against any commercial damage to us. Further, others may develop technologies that are similar or superior to our technologies, duplicate our technologies or design around the patents owned by us. Effective intellectual property protection may be unavailable or limited in certain foreign countries. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise use aspects of our processes and devices that we regard as proprietary. Policing unauthorized use of our proprietary information and technology is difficult and our efforts to do so may not prevent misappropriation of our technologies. In the event that our intellectual property protection is insufficient to protect our intellectual property rights, we could face increased competition in the market for our products and technologies, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
We may become engaged in litigation to protect or enforce our patent and other intellectual property rights or in International Trade Commission proceedings to abate the importation of goods that would compete unfairly with our products. In addition, we may have to participate in interference or reexamination proceedings before the US Patent and Trademark Office, or in opposition, nullification or other proceedings before foreign patent offices, with respect to our patents or patent applications. All of these actions would place our patents and other intellectual property rights at risk and may result in substantial costs to us as well as a diversion of management attention. Moreover, if successful, these actions could result in the loss of patent or other intellectual property rights protection for the key technologies on which our business strategy depends.
 
In addition, we rely in part on unpatented proprietary technology, and others may independently develop the same or similar technology or otherwise obtain access to our unpatented technology. To protect our trade secrets, know-how and other proprietary information, we require employees, consultants, financial advisors and strategic partners to enter into confidentiality agreements. These agreements may not provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information in the event of any unauthorized use, misappropriation or disclosure of those trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information. In particular, we may not be able to fully or adequately protect our proprietary information as we conduct discussions with potential strategic partners. If we are unable to protect the proprietary nature of our technology, it will harm our business.
 
Despite our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights, intellectual property laws afford us only limited protection. A third party could copy or otherwise obtain information from us without authorization. Accordingly, we may not be able to prevent misappropriation of our intellectual property or to deter others from developing similar products or services. Further, monitoring the unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult. Litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights or to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. Litigation of this type could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources, may result in counterclaims or other claims against us and could significantly harm our results of operations. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect our proprietary rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States.
 
As is commonplace in technology companies, we employ individuals who were previously employed at other technology companies. To the extent our employees are involved in research areas that are similar to those areas in which they were involved at their former employers, we may be subject to claims that such employees or we have, inadvertently or otherwise, used or disclosed the alleged trade secrets or other proprietary information of the former employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend against such claims. Litigation of this type could result in substantial costs to us and divert our resources.
 
We also depend on trade secret protection through confidentiality and license agreements with our employees, subsidiaries, licensees, licensors and others. We may not have agreements containing adequate protective provisions in every case, and the contractual provisions that are in place may not provide us with adequate protection in all circumstances. The unauthorized reproduction or other misappropriation of our intellectual property could diminish the value of our brand, competitive advantages or goodwill and result in decreased sales.


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We may incur substantial costs or lose important rights as a result of litigation or other proceedings relating to our products, patents and other intellectual property rights.
 
In recent years, there has been significant litigation involving patents and other intellectual property rights in many technology-related industries. Until recently, patent applications were retained in secrecy by the US Patent and Trademark Office until and unless a patent was issued. As a result, there may be US patent applications pending of which we are unaware that may be infringed by the use of our technology or a part thereof, thus substantially interfering with the future conduct of our business. In addition, there may be issued patents in the United States or other countries that are pertinent to our business of which we are not aware. We and our customers could be sued by other parties for patent infringement in the future. Such lawsuits could subject us and them to liability for damages or require us to obtain additional licenses that could increase the cost of our products, which might have an adverse affect on our sales.
 
In addition, in the future we may assert our intellectual property rights by instituting legal proceedings against others. We may not be able to successfully enforce our patents in any lawsuits we may commence. Defendants in any litigation we may commence to enforce our patents may attempt to establish that our patents are invalid or are unenforceable. Any patent litigation could lead to a determination that one or more of our patents are invalid or unenforceable. If a third party succeeds in invalidating one or more of our patents, that party and others could compete more effectively against us. Our ability to derive sales from products or technologies covered by these patents could be adversely affected.
 
Whether we are defending the assertion of third party intellectual property rights against our business as a result of the use of our technology, or we are asserting our own intellectual property rights against others, such litigation can be complex, costly, protracted and highly disruptive to our business operations by diverting the attention and energies of management and key technical personnel. As a result, the pendency or adverse outcome of any intellectual property litigation to which we are subject could disrupt business operations, require the incurrence of substantial costs and subject us to significant liabilities, each of which could severely harm our business.
 
Plaintiffs in intellectual property cases often seek injunctive relief. Any intellectual property litigation commenced against us could force us to take actions that could be harmful to our business and thus to our sales, including the following:
 
  •  discontinuing selling the products that incorporate or otherwise use technology that contains our allegedly infringing intellectual property;
 
  •  attempting to obtain a license to the relevant third party intellectual property, which may not be available on reasonable terms or at all; or
 
  •  attempting to redesign our products to remove our allegedly infringing intellectual property.
 
If we are forced to take any of the foregoing actions, we may be unable to manufacture and sell products that incorporate our technology at a profit or at all. Furthermore, the measure of damages in intellectual property litigation can be complex, and is often subjective or uncertain. If we were to be found liable for infringement of proprietary rights of a third party, the amount of damages we might have to pay could be substantial and is difficult to predict. Decreased sales of our products incorporating our technology would adversely affect our sales. Any necessity to procure rights to the third party technology might cause us to negotiate the royalty terms of the third party license which could increase our cost of production or, in certain cases, terminate our ability to build some of our products entirely.
 
If we fail to renew, register or otherwise protect our trademarks, the value of our brand names may decline and we may be unable to use those names in certain geographical areas.
 
We believe our copyrights and trademarks are critical to our success. We rely on trademark, copyright and other intellectual property laws to protect our proprietary rights. If we fail to properly register and otherwise protect our trademarks, service marks and copyrights, we may lose our rights, or our exclusive rights, to them. In that case, our ability to effectively market and sell our products and services could suffer, which could harm our business.


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Our business and results of operations may suffer if there are, or if users claim there are, negative effects on eyesight from the long-term use of our products.
 
The personal display products that we currently market or may introduce and market in the future are new and utilize new technology. While virtual display technology has been in use over the past 25 years, sales to the general public have been limited. Extensive and continual viewing of any display, including standard computer monitors, for hours each day has the potential to negatively affect eyesight. Accordingly, it is possible that prolonged use of our products may adversely affect a user’s eyesight. We design our products with these considerations in mind to attempt to minimize any potential negative impact. We warn users that extensive daily use without appropriate rest periods may cause eye fatigue that could result in temporary or permanent damage (in much the same way that a computer monitor manufacturers now warn users about long-term computer use). Despite our efforts, we may be unable to overcome this risk and such risk could result in claims against us by users of our products. Any such claims, whether or not we are ultimately held liable for them, could diminish the value of our brand, competitive advantages or goodwill and may result in decreased sales and we could incur significant expense in defending against any such claims. In addition, if we are ultimately held liable for any such claims, the resulting liabilities may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Product liability claims, whether or not we are ultimately held liable for them, could have a material adverse affect on our business and results of operations.
 
Our business may expose us to product liability claims. Although no such claims have been brought against us to date, and to our knowledge no such claim is threatened or likely, we may face liability to product users for damages resulting from the design or manufacture of our products. Any such claims, whether or not we are ultimately held liable for them, could diminish the value of our brand, competitive advantages or goodwill and result in decreased sales and we could incur significant expense in defending against any such claims. While we plan to obtain and maintain product liability insurance coverage, product liability claims made against us may exceed coverage limits or fall outside the scope of such coverage. Also, insurance may not be available at commercially reasonable rates or at all. We do not have any such product liability insurance in effect.
 
Our results of operations may suffer if we are not able to successfully manage our increasing exposure to foreign exchange rate risks.
 
A substantial majority of our sales and cost of components are denominated in US dollars. As our business grows both our sales and production costs may increasingly be denominated in other currencies. Where such sales or production costs are denominated in other currencies, they are converted to US dollars for the purpose of calculating any sales or costs to us. Our sales may decrease as a result of any appreciation of the US dollar against these other currencies. The proceeds of this offering will be denominated in Canadian dollars and any substantial appreciation of the US dollar against the Canadian dollar during this offering may materially adversely affect our liquidity and capital resources.
 
The majority of our current expenditures are incurred in US dollars and many of our components come from countries that currently peg their currency against the US dollar. If the US dollar depreciates versus these foreign currencies, additional US dollars will be required to fund our purchases of these components.
 
Although we do not currently enter into currency option contracts or engage in other hedging activities, we may do so in the future. We can not assure you that we will undertake any such hedging activities or that, if we do so, they will be successful in reducing the risks to us of our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations.


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Due to our significant level of international operations, we are subject to international operational, financial, legal and political risks.
 
A substantial part of our operations are expected to be outside of the United States and many of our customers and suppliers have some or all of their operations in countries other than the United States. Risks associated with our doing business outside of the United States include:
 
  •  compliance with a wide variety of foreign laws and regulations, particularly labor, environmental and other laws and regulations that govern our operations in those countries;
 
  •  legal uncertainties regarding taxes, tariffs, quotas, export controls, export licenses, import controls and other trade barriers;
 
  •  economic instability in the countries of our suppliers and customers, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, causing delays or reductions in orders for their products and therefore our sales;
 
  •  political instability in the countries in which our suppliers operate, particularly in China and Taiwan;
 
  •  difficulties in collecting accounts receivable and longer accounts receivable payment cycles; and
 
  •  potentially adverse tax consequences.
 
Any of these factors could harm our own, our suppliers’ and our customers’ international operations and businesses and impair our and their ability to continue expanding into international markets.
 
We may lose the services of key management personnel and may not be able to attract and retain other necessary personnel.
 
Changes in our management could have an adverse effect on our business. This is especially an issue while our staff is small. We are dependent upon the active participation of several key management personnel, including Paul J. Travers, our President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). We do not carry key person life insurance on any of our senior management or other key personnel other than our CEO. While we have some life insurance coverage on our CEO, we do not believe it would be sufficient to completely protect us against losses we may suffer if his services were to become unavailable to us in the future. Our Chief Financial Officer, Grant Russell, a Canadian citizen, currently has his principal residence in Vancouver, Canada and a second residence in Rochester, New York. If he becomes unable to legally travel to and work in the United States, his ability to perform some of his duties could be materially adversely affected.
 
We must hire highly skilled technical personnel as employees and as independent contractors in order to develop our products. As of the date of this prospectus we have 52 full-time employees. The competition for highly skilled technical, managerial and other personnel is intense and we may not be able to retain or recruit such personnel. Our recruiting and retention success is substantially dependent on our ability to offer competitive salaries and benefits to our employees. We must compete with companies that possess greater financial and other resources than we do and that may be more attractive to potential employees and contractors. To be competitive, we may have to increase the compensation, bonuses, stock options and other fringe benefits offered to employees in order to attract and retain such personnel. The costs of retaining or attracting new personnel may have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results. If we fail to attract and retain the technical and managerial personnel we need to be successful, our business, operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
 
Our failure to effectively manage growth could harm our business.
 
We have rapidly and significantly expanded the number and types of products we sell, and we will endeavor to further expand our product portfolio. We must regularly introduce new products and technologies, enhance existing products, and effectively stimulate customer demand for new products and upgraded versions of our existing products.


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This expansion of our products places a significant strain on our management, operations and engineering resources. Specifically, the areas that are strained most by our growth include the following:
 
  •  New Product Launch:  With the growth of our product portfolio, we experience increased complexity in coordinating product development, manufacturing, and shipping. As this complexity increases, it places a strain on our ability to accurately coordinate the commercial launch of our products with adequate supply to meet anticipated customer demand and effective marketing to stimulate demand and market acceptance. If we are unable to scale and improve our product launch coordination, we could frustrate our customers and lose retail shelf space and product sales;
 
  •  Forecasting, Planning and Supply Chain Logistics:  With the growth of our product portfolio, we also experience increased complexity in forecasting customer demand, in planning for production, and in transportation and logistics management. If we are unable to scale and improve our forecasting, planning and logistics management, we could frustrate our customers, lose product sales or accumulate excess inventory; and
 
  •  Support Processes:  To manage the growth of our operations, we will need to continue to improve our transaction processing, operational and financial systems, and procedures and controls to effectively manage the increased complexity. If we are unable to scale and improve these areas, the consequences could include: delays in shipment of product, degradation in levels of customer support, lost sales, decreased cash flows, and increased inventory. These difficulties could harm or limit our ability to expand.
 
Our facilities and information systems and those of our key suppliers could be damaged as a result of disasters or unpredictable events, which could have an adverse effect on our business operations.
 
We operate the vast majority of our business from three locations in the Rochester, New York area. We also rely on third party manufacturing plants in China and third party logistics, sales and marketing facilities in other parts of the world to provide key components of our Video Eyewear products and services necessary for our operations. If major disasters such as earthquakes, fires, floods, wars, terrorist attacks, computer viruses, transportation disasters or other events occur in any of these locations, or our information systems or communications network or those of any of our key component suppliers breaks down or operates improperly as a result of such events, our facilities or those of our key suppliers may be seriously damaged, and we may have to stop or delay production and shipment of our products. We may also incur expenses relating to such damages. If production or shipment of our products or components is stopped or delayed or if we incur any increased expenses as a result of damage to our facilities, our business, operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
 
We generally do not have long-term contracts with our customers and therefore we may not be able to accurately forecast inventory requirements and sales.
 
Our business is operated on the basis of short-term purchase orders and engineering contracts that typically do not exceed 12 months in duration. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain long-term contracts in the future. The purchase orders that we receive can often be cancelled or revised without penalty. In the absence of a backlog of orders that can only be canceled with penalty, we plan production on the basis of internally generated forecasts of demand, which makes it difficult to accurately forecast inventory requirements and sales. Large supply line commitments and large inventories of various components will be required to support our business and provide reasonable order fulfillment for customers. If we fail to accurately forecast operating requirements, our business may suffer and the value of your investment in us may decline.
 
Terrorism and the uncertainty of future terrorist attacks or war could reduce consumer confidence which could adversely affect our operating results.
 
Terrorist acts or acts of war may cause damage or disruption to our facilities, information systems, vendors, employees and customers, which could significantly harm our sales and results of operations. In the future, fears of war or additional acts of terrorism may have a negative effect on consumer confidence or consumer discretionary spending patterns, as well as have an adverse effect on the economy in general. This impact may be particularly


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harmful to our business because we expect to rely heavily on discretionary consumer spending and consumer confidence levels.
 
RISKS RELATED TO MANUFACTURING
 
We do not manufacture our own microdisplays, one of the key components of our Video Eyewear products, and we may not be able to obtain the microdisplays we need.
 
We do not currently own or operate any manufacturing facilities for microdisplays, one of the key components in our Video Eyewear products. We currently purchase almost all of the microdisplays used in our products from Kopin and eMagin. Kopin accounts for approximately 95% of our microdisplays by unit volume. We estimate that products incorporating Kopin microdisplays will account for approximately 56% of our sales in 2009 and products incorporating eMagin microdisplays will account for approximately 19% of our sales in 2009. Our relationships with both Kopin and eMagin generally are on a purchase order basis and neither supplier has a contractual obligation to provide adequate supply or acceptable pricing on a long-term basis. Both Kopin and eMagin could discontinue sourcing merchandise for us at any time. If Kopin or eMagin were to discontinue their relationships with us, or discontinue providing specific products to us, and we are unable to contract with a new supplier that can meet our requirements, or if Kopin or eMagin or such other supplier were to suffer a disruption in their production, we could experience disruption of our inventory flow, a decrease in sales and the possible need to redesign our products. Any such event could disrupt our operations and have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Certain other components and services necessary for the manufacture of our products are available from only a limited number of sources, and other components and services are only available from a single source.
 
Our inability to obtain sufficient quantities of high quality components or services on a timely basis could result in future manufacturing delays, increased costs and ultimately in reduced or delayed sales or lost orders which could materially and adversely affect our operating results.
 
The consumer electronics industry is subject to significant fluctuations in the availability of components. If we do not properly anticipate the need for critical components, we may be unable to meet the demands of our customers and end-users.
 
The availability of certain of the components that we require to produce our Video Eyewear products may decrease. As the availability of components decreases, the cost of acquiring those components ordinarily increases. High growth product categories have experienced chronic shortages of components during periods of exceptionally high demand. If we do not properly anticipate the need for or procure critical components, we may pay higher prices for those components, our gross margins may decrease and we may be unable to meet the demands of our customers and end-users, which could reduce our competitiveness, cause a decline in our market share and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
 
Unanticipated disruptions in our operations or slowdowns by our suppliers, distributors and shipping companies could adversely affect our ability to deliver our products and service our customers.
 
Our ability to provide high quality customer service, process and fulfill orders and manage inventory depends on the efficient, timely and uninterrupted performance of our manufacturing and distribution facilities and our management information systems and the facilities and systems of our third party suppliers, distributors and shipping companies.
 
Any material disruption or slowdown in the operation of our manufacturing and distribution facilities or our management information systems, or comparable disruptions or slowdowns suffered by our principal suppliers, distributors or shippers could cause delays in our ability to receive, process and fulfill customer orders and may cause orders to be canceled, lost or delivered late, goods to be returned or receipt of goods to be refused. If any of these events occur, our sales and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.


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If we acquire any companies or technologies in the future, they could prove difficult to integrate, disrupt our business, dilute stockholder value or have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
 
We intend to expand our business primarily through internal growth, but from time to time we may consider strategic acquisitions. Any future acquisition would involve numerous risks including:
 
  •  potential disruption of our ongoing business and distraction of management;
 
  •  difficulty integrating the operations and products of the acquired business;
 
  •  unanticipated expenses related to technology integration;
 
  •  exposure to unknown liabilities, including litigation against the companies we may acquire;
 
  •  additional costs due to differences in culture, geographic locations and duplication of key talent; and
 
  •  potential loss of key employees or customers of the acquired company.
 
Additionally, to finance an acquisition we may incur substantial amounts of indebtedness, which would affect our balance sheet and results of operations, or we may issue a substantial number of shares of our common stock, which may be dilutive to our stockholders. If we make acquisitions in the future, acquisition-related accounting charges may affect our balance sheet and results of operations. We may not be successful in addressing these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with any acquisitions.
 
RISKS RELATING TO THIS OFFERING
 
There is currently no trading market for our securities and if an established trading market does not develop holders of our common stock and warrants may not be able to resell their securities at or near the offering price or at any price.
 
Our securities are not currently listed or quoted on any national securities exchange or national quotation system. We have applied to list our common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants included in the units offered under this prospectus on the TSX-V under the symbol “l.” Listing of our common stock will be subject to fulfilling all of the requirements of the TSX-V. We have also applied for listing of the warrants included in the units on the TSX-V under the symbol “l.” Listing of our warrants included in the units will be subject to fulfilling all of the requirements of the TSX-V, including distribution of the warrants to a minimum number of public security holders. Neither the TSX-V nor any other exchange or quotation system, may not permit our common stock to be listed and traded. Even if our common stock or warrants are accepted for listing on the TSX-V, the TSX-V has continuing listing requirements and we may not be able to comply with those requirements and maintain our listing. If our common stock and warrants are not listed on the TSX-V, we may seek to have them quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board of the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA). The OTC Bulletin Board is an inter-dealer, over-the-counter market that provides significantly less liquidity and transparency than the TSX-V. Therefore, prices for securities traded solely on the OTC Bulletin Board may be difficult to obtain and holders of our common stock and warrants may be unable to resell their securities at or near their original offering price or at any price.
 
Purchasers of our units may not be able to exercise their warrants if we cannot maintain a current prospectus relating to the common stock underlying the warrants.
 
The warrants included in the units may be exercised only if at the time of exercise (i) a prospectus relating to the issuance of the shares of our common stock underlying the warrants is then current or an exemption from registration under the federal securities laws is available and (ii) those shares are registered or qualified for sale or exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of the states in which the holders of the warrants reside. The issuance of the shares of our common stock underlying the warrants is covered by this prospectus but we may not be able to keep this prospectus or any other prospectus we file with the SEC covering the issuance of those shares current and such exemptions may not be available. We intend to apply to register or qualify the issuance of those shares in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia and Washington but we may not be able to maintain those


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registrations or qualifications. If we are not able to do so and no exemption from registration is available, the holders of the warrants will not able to exercise their warrants and they will expire unexercised. We have no obligation to compensate the holders if they are not able to exercise their warrants because we have failed to maintain the effectiveness of a registration statement filed with the SEC or the registration or qualification filed with any state. If the warrants expire unexercised, the purchasers of units will have effectively paid the entire initial public offering price per unit for one share of our common stock.
 
Purchasers of our units may not be able to resell their shares of common stock or warrants at or near the offering price because the offering price for our units may not be indicative of their fair market value.
 
The offering price range for our units was determined in the context of negotiations between us and the agents. Accordingly, the offering price may not be indicative of the fair market value of our company or the fair market value of our common stock or the warrants included in the units. We are making no representations that the offering price of our units under this prospectus bears any relationship to our assets, book value, net worth or any other recognized criteria of our value. If an established trading market for our common stock or warrants develops, the prevailing prices in that market may be substantially less than the original offering price.
 
The market price of our common stock and warrants may decline because of the number of shares of our common stock eligible for future sale in the public marketplace.
 
The price of our common stock and warrants could decline if there are substantial sales of our common stock in the public market after this offering. Based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of the date of this prospectus after pro-forma adjustments, upon completion of this offering the number of shares of our common stock outstanding will be between 275,105,285 (assuming that we receive the minimum gross proceeds from this offering (Cdn$6,000,000) at an initial public offering price of Cdn$0.15 (the minimum of our estimated initial public offering price range)) and 285,305,285 (assuming that we sell the maximum number of units offered under this prospectus). All of the shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any of those shares held by our “affiliates,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, whose sales would be subject to the volume and manner of sale limitations of Rule 144 described below. In addition, 134,836,808 shares of our common stock currently outstanding, or between approximately 47% and 49% of our common stock outstanding after this offering depending on the number of units sold, may be resold at any time, subject to the lock-up agreements and TSX-V escrow arrangements and seed share resale restrictions described below. Our executive officers and directors currently own 82,987,672 shares, or approximately 29% of our common stock outstanding after this offering, which are eligible for resale subject to the volume and manner of sale limitations of Rule 144 and subject to the lock-up agreements and TSX-V escrow arrangements described below. The remaining 2,444,447 shares of our common stock currently outstanding, or approximately 0.9% of our common stock outstanding after this offering, are “restricted” under Rule 144 and are eligible for sale under the provisions of Rule 144. See “Shares Eligible for Future Resale.”
 
Additionally, under our fiscal advisory fee agreement with the Canadian agents, we are obligated to issue to the Canadian agents at the closing of this offering, in payment of a fiscal advisory fee, that number of shares of our common stock equal to, depending on the gross proceeds of the offering, between 1.0% and 2.0% of our common stock issued and outstanding immediately upon the closing of the offering. The issuance of those shares to the Canadian agents is not covered by this prospectus. The shares issued to our Canadian agents under the agreement will be subject to resale restrictions in accordance with applicable US and Canadian securities laws and contractual resale restrictions for a period of one year following the closing of the offering under the lock-up agreements described below.
 
After this offering and the expiration of the lock-up periods, the holders of an aggregate of 31,764,437 shares of our common stock will have rights, subject to some conditions, to require us to include their shares in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or other stockholders. We also intend to register for resale all shares of common stock that we have issued and may issue under our option plans. Once we register these shares, subject to any lock-up restrictions, if any, they can be freely sold in the public market. Furthermore, our agents may, at their discretion and at any time without notice, release all or any portion of the securities from the restrictions on sale imposed by lock-up agreements. Due to


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these factors, sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could occur at any time. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares are able to or intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our common stock. See “Dilution.”
 
Purchasers of our units may not be able to resell their shares of common stock or warrants at or above the initial public offering price because the market price of our common stock and warrants may be highly volatile.
 
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our securities. We have applied to list our common stock on the TSX-V under the symbol “ l .” Listing of our common stock will be subject to fulfilling all of the requirements of the TSX-V. We have also applied for listing of the warrants included in the units on the TSX-V under the symbol “ l .” Listing of our warrants included in the units will be subject to fulfilling all of the requirements of the TSX-V, including distribution of the warrants to a minimum number of public security holders. An active trading market for our common stock and warrants may not develop following this offering. You may not be able to sell your common stock or warrants quickly or at the market price if trading in our common stock or warrants is not active.
 
The market for our common stock and warrants will likely be characterized by significant price volatility when compared to more established issuers and we expect that it will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. The market prices of our common stock and warrants are likely to be volatile for a number of reasons. First, our common stock and warrants are likely to be sporadically and/or thinly traded. As a consequence of this lack of liquidity, the trading of relatively small quantities of common stock or warrants may disproportionately influence their prices in either direction. The price of the common stock could, for example, decline precipitously if even a relatively small number of shares are sold on the market without commensurate demand, as compared to a market for shares of an established issuer which could better absorb those sales without adverse impact on its share price. Secondly, we are a speculative or “risky” investment due to our small amount of sales and lack of profits to date and uncertainty of future market acceptance for our current and potential products or engineering services. As a consequence of this enhanced risk, more risk-adverse investors may, under the fear of losing all or most of their investment in the event of negative news or lack of progress, be more inclined to sell their common stock or warrants on the market more quickly and at greater discounts than would be the case with the securities of an established issuer. We cannot make any predictions or projections as to what the prevailing market prices for our securities will be at any time or as to what effect the sale of our securities or the availability of our securities for sale at any time will have on the prevailing market price.
 
Purchasers of our units will experience immediate and substantial dilution because their securities will be worth less on a net tangible book value basis than the amount they invested.
 
The price that will be paid by investors in this offering for our units will be significantly higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock. Purchasers of our units will experience immediate and substantial dilution of between $(0.1391) assuming that we receive the minimum gross proceeds from this offering (Cdn$6,000,000) at an initial public offering price of Cdn$0.15 (the minimum of our estimated initial public offering price range) based on the sale of 40,000,000 units and $(0.2151) assuming that we sell the maximum number of units offered under this prospectus (50,000,000 units) at an initial public offering price of Cdn$0.25 (the maximum of our estimated initial public offering price range). In addition, a majority of our outstanding options, warrants, convertible debt and convertible preferred stock may be exercised for or converted into shares of our common stock at prices that are below the expected purchase price paid by investors in this offering. In connection with this offering, we will issue warrants as part of the units and agent options exercisable to purchase that number of shares of our common stock and warrants equal to 12.5% of the aggregate number of shares of our common stock and warrants sold under the offering, at the initial public offering price per share and warrant, for a period of 12 months from the closing date. To the extent that these outstanding options, warrants, convertible debt or convertible preferred stock are exercised or converted, there may be further dilution to investors. In addition, under our fiscal advisory fee agreement with the Canadian agents, we are obligated to issue to the Canadian agents at the closing of this offering, in payment of a fiscal advisory fee, that number of shares of our common stock equal to, depending on the gross proceeds of the offering, between 1.0% and 2.0% of our common stock issued and


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outstanding immediately upon the closing of the offering, which will further dilute investors. Accordingly, in the event we are liquidated, investors may not receive the full amount of their investment. See “Dilution.”
 
If management continues to own a significant percentage of our outstanding common stock management may prevent other stockholders from influencing significant corporate decisions.
 
Our officers and directors currently own approximately 38% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. Following the completion of this offering, our executive officers and directors will own between approximately 31% (assuming that we receive the minimum gross proceeds from this offering (Cdn$6,000,000) at an initial public offering price of Cdn$0.15 (the minimum of our estimated initial public offering price range) and approximately 30% (assuming that we sell the maximum number of units offered under this prospectus (50,000,000 units)) of the outstanding shares of our common stock. As a result, our management will exercise significant control over matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of our board of directors, the approval of mergers and other extraordinary transactions, as well as the terms of any of these transactions. This concentration of ownership could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in our control or otherwise discouraging a potential acquirer from attempting to obtain control of us, which could in turn have an adverse effect on the fair market value of our company and our common stock. The interests of these and other of our existing stockholders may conflict with the interests of our other stockholders.
 
Management will have broad discretion as to the use of the proceeds from this offering and may use the proceeds for purposes different from their current intent or not utilize the proceeds effectively.
 
While we intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to fund capital expenditures, sales and marketing efforts and research and development, repay bank and certain other borrowings, and for general corporate purposes, including working capital, we will have broad discretion to adjust the application and allocation of the net proceeds in order to address changed circumstances and opportunities. The success of our operations that are influenced by capital expenditures, research and development and working capital allocations will be substantially dependent upon the discretion and judgment of our management with respect to the application and allocation of the net proceeds of this offering. Our management will have broad discretion as to the application of the net proceeds and could use them for purposes other than those contemplated at the time of this offering. Moreover, our management may use the net proceeds for corporate purposes that may not lead to profitability or increase the fair market value of our company or our common stock.
 
It may be difficult for us to attract or retain qualified officers and directors because of the rules and regulations that we will be subject to as a public company.
 
As a public company, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Sarbanes-Oxley) and the related rules and regulations of the SEC, as well as the rules and regulations of applicable Canadian securities regulators and the rules of the TSX-V (if our listing application is accepted), will require us to implement additional corporate governance practices and adhere to a variety of reporting requirements and complex accounting rules. Among other things, we will be subject to rules regarding the independence of the members of our board of directors and committees of the board and their experience in finance and accounting matters and certain of our executive officers will be required to provide certifications in connection with our quarterly and annual reports filed with the SEC and applicable Canadian securities regulators. The perceived increased personal risk associated with these rules may deter qualified individuals from accepting these positions. Accordingly, we may be unable to attract and retain qualified officers and directors. If we are unable to attract and retain qualified officers and directors, our business and our ability to obtain or maintain the listing of our shares of common stock on a stock exchange could be adversely affected.
 
If we fail to implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud and may fail to comply with SEC rules and the rules and regulations of applicable Canadian securities regulators.
 
We must implement and maintain effective internal financial controls for us to provide reliable and accurate financial reports and effectively prevent fraud. Implementation and maintenance of effective internal financial controls will depend on the effectiveness of our financial reporting and data systems and controls. We expect these


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systems and controls to become increasingly complex to the extent that our business grows. To effectively manage this growth, we will need to continue to improve our operational, financial and management controls and our reporting systems and procedures. We cannot be certain that these measures will ensure that we design, implement and maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation or operation, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our financial reporting obligations. Inferior internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the market price of our common stock and our access to capital.
 
Rules adopted by the SEC pursuant to Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley require annual assessment of our internal control over financial reporting, and attestation of this assessment by our independent registered public accountants. Under the SEC rules currently in effect, both the management assessment of our internal control over financial reporting and the attestation of management’s assessment by our independent registered public accountants will first apply to our annual report for the 2010 fiscal year. The standards governing management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting are new and complex, and require significant documentation, testing and possible remediation to meet the detailed standards. In addition, the attestation process by our independent registered public accountants is new and we may encounter problems or delays in completing the implementation of any requested improvements and receiving an attestation of our assessment by our independent registered public accountants. If we cannot assess our internal control over financial reporting as effective, or our independent registered public accountants are unable to provide an unqualified attestation report on such assessment, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the market price of our common stock and our access to capital.
 
In addition, management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting may identify weaknesses and conditions that need to be addressed in our internal control over financial reporting or other matters that may raise concerns for investors. Any actual or perceived weaknesses and conditions that need to be addressed in our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure of management’s assessment of our internal control over financial reporting, or disclosure of our independent registered public accounting firm’s attestation to our report on management’s assessment of our internal control over financial reporting may have a negative effect on the market price of our common stock and our access to capital.
 
The additional expenses that we will incur as a public company, and the time our management will be required to devote to new compliance initiatives, may have a material adverse affect on our business and results of operations.
 
As a public company, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. In addition, Sarbanes-Oxley and the related rules and regulations of the SEC, as well as the rules and regulations of applicable Canadian securities regulators and the rules of the TSX-V (if our listing application is accepted), impose various requirements on public companies, including requiring changes in corporate governance practices. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. For example, we expect these new rules and regulations to make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to incur substantial costs to maintain the same or similar coverage. Compliance with Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley will also require that we incur substantial accounting expenses and expend significant management efforts.
 
If our common stock is considered a “penny stock” it will be subject to additional sale and trading regulations that may make it more difficult to sell.
 
Our common stock, which is not currently listed or quoted on any national securities exchange or national quotation system, may be considered to be a “penny stock” if it does not qualify for one of the exemptions from the definition of “penny stock” under Rule 3a51-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). Our common stock may be a “penny stock” if it meets one or more of the following conditions (i) the stock trades at a price less than $5.00 per share; (ii) it is not traded on a “recognized” national exchange; (iii) it is not quoted on the


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NASDAQ Capital Market, or even if so, has a price less than $5.00 per share; or (iv) is issued by a company that has been in business less than three years with net tangible assets less than $5,000,000.
 
The principal result or effect of being designated a “penny stock” is that US securities broker-dealers participating in sales of our common stock will be subject to the “penny stock” regulations set forth in Rules 15g-2 through 15g-9 promulgated under the Exchange Act. For example, Rule 15g-2 requires broker-dealers dealing in penny stocks to provide potential investors with a document disclosing the risks of penny stocks and to obtain a manually signed and dated written receipt of the document at least two business days before effecting any transaction in a penny stock for the investor’s account. Moreover, Rule 15g-9 requires broker-dealers in penny stocks to approve the account of any investor for transactions in such stocks before selling any penny stock to that investor. This procedure requires the broker-dealer to (i) obtain from the investor information concerning his or her financial situation, investment experience and investment objectives; (ii) reasonably determine, based on that information, that transactions in penny stocks are suitable for the investor and that the investor has sufficient knowledge and experience as to be reasonably capable of evaluating the risks of penny stock transactions; (iii) provide the investor with a written statement setting forth the basis on which the broker-dealer made the determination in (ii) above; and (iv) receive a signed and dated copy of such statement from the investor, confirming that it accurately reflects the investor’s financial situation, investment experience and investment objectives. Compliance with these requirements may make it more difficult and time consuming for holders of our common stock to resell their shares to third parties or to otherwise dispose of them in the market or otherwise.
 
Because we do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock, our stockholders will only realize a return (or recovery of a portion of their initial investment) on their investment upon the sale of their shares.
 
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain our future earnings, if any, to finance the operation and growth of our business and do not expect to pay any cash dividends.
 
Our certificate of incorporation, by-laws and Delaware law may discourage takeovers and business combinations that our stockholders might consider in their best interests.
 
Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and by-laws may delay, defer, prevent or render more difficult a takeover attempt that our stockholders might consider in their best interests. Even in the absence of a takeover attempt, the existence of these provisions may adversely affect the market value of our common stock if they are viewed as discouraging takeover attempts in the future. See “Description of Capital Stock” for additional information on the anti-takeover measures applicable to us.
 
Provisions in the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will be in effect immediately after the closing of this offering, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would benefit our stockholders. Our proposed amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws:
 
  •  provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors;
 
  •  provide that all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if such number is less than a quorum;
 
  •  require that any action to be taken by our stockholders be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and not by written consent;
 
  •  provide that stockholders seeking to present proposals before a meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at a meeting of stockholders must provide notice in writing in a timely manner, and also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice;
 
  •  do not provide for cumulative voting rights, therefore allowing the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors to elect all of the directors standing for election, if they should so choose; and


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  •  provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the chairman of the board, our chief executive officer or by the board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors.
 
The amendment of any of these provisions would require approval by the holders of at least two thirds of our voting stock then outstanding, voting together as a single class.
 
In addition, we may become subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date on which the stockholder became an interested stockholder. This provision could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control, whether or not it is desired by or beneficial to our stockholders.
 
If we issue new shares of preferred stock your rights as a holder of our common stock or warrants may be materially adversely affected.
 
As of the date of this prospectus, we are authorized to issue up to 6,745,681 shares of preferred stock. Immediately after the closing of this offering, the number of shares of preferred stock we are authorized to issue will be reduced to 5,000,000 shares. The designations, rights and preferences of our preferred stock may be determined from time-to-time by our board of directors. Accordingly, our board of directors is empowered, without shareholder approval, to issue one or more series of preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights superior to those of the holders of our common stock. For example, an issuance of shares of preferred stock could:
 
  •  adversely affect the voting power of the holders of our common stock;
 
  •  make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of us;
 
  •  discourage bids for our common stock;
 
  •  limit or eliminate any payments that the holders of our common stock could expect to receive upon our liquidation; or
 
  •  adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
 
168,500 shares of our Series C Preferred Stock were outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. We have agreed with the agents to use our best efforts to cause all of the outstanding shares of our Series C Preferred Stock, together with all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon, to be converted into common stock prior to the effective time of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
 
Purchasers of our units in this offering may be diluted if we raise additional funds.
 
Our operations to date have consumed substantial amounts of cash, and we expect our capital and operating expenditures to increase in the next few years. We believe that our existing capital resources and anticipated cash flow from planned operations, together with the net proceeds of this offering (assuming that we raise the minimum gross proceeds from this offering (Cdn$6,000,000), should be adequate to satisfy our cash requirements for the next 12 months. However, we may need significant additional capital before that time. Any additional required financing may not be available on acceptable terms or at all. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities or convertible debt securities, further dilution to existing stockholders may result. If adequate funds are not available, our business, financial condition and results of operations and the market price of our common stock would be materially adversely affected.
 
We may not be able to meet our liquidity needs or to access capital when necessary because of adverse capital and credit market conditions.
 
We have historically relied on private placements of equity and debt to fund our operating losses and capital expenditure. During the past 12 months, the capital and credit markets experienced extreme volatility and disruption. Disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the capital and credit markets may limit our ability to access the capital necessary to operate and grow our business. Adverse capital and credit market conditions may force us to


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delay raising capital or bear an unattractive cost of capital which could significantly reduce our financial flexibility. Our results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and capital position and the market value of our common stock could be materially adversely affected by disruptions in the financial markets.
 
If we sell additional shares of our common stock or preferred stock, we may not be able to fully utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes.
 
As of June 30, 2009, we had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $13,500,000 million for Federal and state income tax purposes. Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change income may be limited. An ownership change is defined for these purposes as a greater than 50% change in its equity ownership by value over a three-year period. We may also experience ownership changes in the future as a result of this offering or subsequent changes in our stock ownership.
 
GENERAL MATTERS
 
All references to Vuzix, the “company,” “we,” “us” and “our” are references to Vuzix Corporation.
 
Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “dollars,” “US$,” or “$” in this prospectus are to United States dollars and all references to “Cdn$” are to Canadian dollars. Unless otherwise indicated, all Canadian dollar values have been translated to US dollars, or vice versa, using a convenience translation of US$1.00 = Cdn$1.0424, the closing buying rate of the Bank of Canada on October 8, 2009.
 
This prospectus contains various company names, product names, trade names, trademarks and service marks, all of which are the properties of their respective owners.
 
Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “GAAP” in this prospectus are to United States generally accepted accounting principles.
 
We completed a 1-for-7 reverse stock split of our common stock in June 2007 and an 8-for-1 split of our common stock in July 2008. All share numbers and amounts per share in this prospectus have been retroactively adjusted to give effect to these changes.
 
Information contained on our websites, including www.vuzix.com, shall not be deemed to be part of this prospectus or incorporated herein by reference and should not be relied upon by prospective investors for the purposes of determining whether to purchase the units offered hereunder.
 
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the agents have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the agents are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
 
For investors outside the United States, neither we nor any of our agents have done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States and certain provinces of Canada. You are required to inform yourself about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus.


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USE OF MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA
 
This prospectus includes market and industry data that has been obtained from third party sources, including industry publications, as well as industry data prepared by our management on the basis of its knowledge of and experience in the industries in which we operate (including our management’s estimates and assumptions relating to those industries based on that knowledge). Management’s knowledge of such industries has been developed through its experience and participation in those industries. Although our management believes such information to be reliable, neither we nor our management have independently verified any of the data from third party sources referred to in this prospectus or ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon by such sources. In addition, the agents have not independently verified any of the industry data prepared by management or ascertained the underlying estimates and assumptions relied upon by management. Furthermore, references in this prospectus to any publications, reports, surveys or articles prepared by third parties should not be construed as depicting the complete findings of the entire publication, report, survey or article. The information in any such publication, report survey or article is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
This prospectus contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. The forward-looking statements are contained principally under the headings “Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Use of Proceeds” and “Business.” Forward-looking statements include statements concerning:
 
  •  our possible or assumed future results of operations;
 
  •  our business strategies;
 
  •  our ability to attract and retain customers;
 
  •  our ability to sell additional products and services to customers;
 
  •  our cash needs and financing plans;
 
  •  our competitive position;
 
  •  our industry environment;
 
  •  our potential growth opportunities;
 
  •  expected technological advances by us or by third parties and our ability to leverage them;
 
  •  the effects of future regulation; and
 
  •  the effects of competition.
 
All statements in this prospectus that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” “would” or similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify forward-looking statements.
 
The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These important factors include our financial performance and the other important factors we discuss in greater detail in “Risk Factors.” You should read these factors and the other cautionary statements made in this prospectus as applying to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this prospectus. Given these factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent our management’s beliefs and assumptions only as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we currently expect.


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USE OF PROCEEDS
 
This offering is subject to us raising minimum gross proceeds of Cdn$6,000,000. If we raise the minimum gross proceeds from this offering we estimate that the net proceeds to us, after payment of agents’ commissions and offering expenses, would be approximately Cdn$5,000,000. Assuming that we sell the maximum number of units offered (50,000,000 units) at Cdn$0.25 per unit (the maximum of our estimated initial public offering price range), we would receive gross proceeds of Cdn$12,500,000 and estimate that the net proceeds to us, after payment of agents’ commissions and offering expenses, would be approximately Cdn$11,000,000.
 
Assuming that we receive the estimated maximum amount of the proceeds from this offering, we plan to use approximately $1,181,000 of the net proceeds from this offering to repay the outstanding principal amounts of and interest accrued on our lines of credit and notes payable. The indebtedness we plan to repay includes $165,500 in principal amount plus interest payable to Paul J. Travers, our President and Chief Executive Officer, under a revolving loan agreement that we entered into with Mr. Travers in October 2008. Our indebtedness to Mr. Travers has been incurred since October 2008 and was incurred to fund our working capital requirements. This indebtedness bears interest at the annual rate of 12.0% and is payable on demand. The indebtedness under our lines of credit bears interest at annual rates ranging from 4.25% to 7.5% and is payable on demand. $500,000 in principal amount of the indebtedness we plan to repay from the proceeds of the offering was due and payable on January 31, 2009 and currently bears interest at the annual rate of 18.0%. $200,000 in principal amount of indebtedness that we plan to repay from the proceeds of the offering bears interest at an annual rate of 18.0% and is due and payable on October 31, 2009. We borrowed this $200,000 from three individual lenders (including $50,000 from Mr. Paul Churnetski, our Vice President of Quality Assurance and the beneficial owner of approximately 9% of our issued and outstanding common stock) to finance part of our working capital investment for a defense order that is currently in process and we intend to repay those loans out of revenues from that defense order if this offering does not close prior to the maturity date. Prior to the closing of this offering, we may borrow an additional $100,000 from one or more individual lenders on the same terms and conditions. We may not be able to borrow these additional funds on the same terms, or at all. We may not receive sufficient proceeds from this offering to repay any of this indebtedness.
 
We intend to use the remainder of the net proceeds from this offering for:
 
  •  new product development and research expenses;
 
  •  capital expenditures;
 
  •  selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses;
 
  •  possible acquisitions of businesses, technologies or other assets; and
 
  •  general corporate purposes.
 
We intend to continue our development and tooling of new products that leverage our advancements in our optics and electronics technology. We believe that these new technologies, if successfully implemented, will result in significant performance improvements in our products and as a result increase our overall customer demand. Assuming that we receive the estimated maximum amount of the proceeds from this offering, our current development plans by product line are as follows:
 
     
New Product Development Objectives
  Completion Date
 
Wrap Video Eyewear (consumer)
  Fall 2009
Blade Video Eyewear (consumer)
  Spring 2010
Blade Tac-Eye (defense)
  Summer 2010
Blade low vision-assist product
  Fall 2010
Blade II display engine
  Spring 2011
 
Among the capital expenditures that we propose to finance from the proceeds of this offering over the next 18 months are the expansion of our manufacturing facilities and the purchase of engineering equipment and computer hardware and software. Among the sales and marketing expenditures that we propose to finance from the


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proceeds of this offering over the next 18 months is the purchase of new point of purchase (POP) display systems to show case our new products at retail outlets that we expect to carry our new products as they are released. The amounts of the proceeds from the offering that we propose to use for the purposes described above will depend on the proceeds from the offering. The table below sets forth the amount of the proceeds from this offering that we propose to use for (1) the purchase of computers and equipment; (2) new product tooling; (3) new product engineering and design; (4) general research and development; (5) the purchase of POP display systems; and (6) working capital purposes depending on the gross proceeds from the offering over the range from Cdn$6,000,000 (the minimum gross proceeds of the offering) to Cdn$12,500,000 (the gross proceeds that we would receive upon the sale of 50,000,000 units (the maximum number of units offered under this prospectus) at Cdn$0.25 (the maximum of our estimated initial public offering price range). This table does not set forth all possibilities. Regardless of the number of units sold, we expect to incur offering expenses estimated at approximately Cdn$546,000 for legal, accounting, printing, and other costs in connection with this offering. We may not receive sufficient proceeds from this offering to undertake all these new product development and tooling programs, capital expenditures, sales and marketing efforts and ongoing research and accordingly we will have to reduce the speed and number of our new product development plans and the number of new products under development. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire businesses, technologies or other assets. We have no agreements or arrangements with respect to any acquisitions at the present time. There is no guarantee that we will be successful at selling any of the securities being offered in this prospectus. Accordingly, the actual amount of proceeds we will raise in this offering, if any, may differ.
 
                                 
Gross proceeds (Cdn$)
  $ 6,000,000     $ 8,000,000     $ 10,000,000     $ 12,500,000  
Less offering expenses:
                               
Selling agents’ commission (Cdn$)
    480,000       640,000       800,000       1,000,000  
Estimated expenses of offering (Cdn$)
    522,000       522,000       522,000       522,000  
                                 
Net proceeds from offering (Cdn$)
    4,998,000       6,838,000       8,678,000       10,978,000  
                                 
Net proceeds (US$)
    4,794,000       6,559,000       8,325,000       10,531,000  
Less use of net proceeds (US$):
                               
Repayment of debt
    1,181,000       1,181,000       1,181,000       1,181,000  
Computers and equipment
    150,000       200,000       300,000       400,000  
New product tooling
    500,000       700,000       850,000       1,000,000  
New product engineering and design
    250,000       350,000       400,000       550,000  
General R&D
    225,000       350,000       600,000       900,000  
Marketing POPs
    350,000       450,000       625,000       750,000  
                                 
Total planned use of proceeds
    2,656,000       3,328,000       4,369,000       5,750,000  
                                 
Unallocated for general working capital
  $ 2,138,000     $ 3,328,000     $ 4,369,000     $ 5,750,000  
                                 
 
Although we intend to use the proceeds from the offering as set forth above, the actual amount that we spend in connection with each intended use of the proceeds may vary significantly from the amounts specified above and will be dependent on a number of factors, including those referenced under “Risk Factors”.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we cannot specify with certainty the uses for the net proceeds to be received upon the completion of this offering. Our management will have broad discretion as to how to spend and invest between the approximately Cdn$2,100,000 and Cdn$5,750,000 in possible unallocated general working capital as shown in the table above. Investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of these proceeds. You will not have the opportunity to evaluate the economic, financial or other information on which we base our decisions on how to use these proceeds. The timing and amount of our actual expenditures will be based on many factors, including cash flows (used for) or from operations, available technology advances and the growth of our business. The funds may not be fully used for a significant period following the closing of the offering. Pending the uses described above, we intend to invest the net proceeds from this offering in short-term, investment grade, interest bearing securities. We cannot predict whether the proceeds invested will yield a favorable return.


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We have agreed with Mr. Travers and Grant Russell, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, that we will pay them deferred compensation in the aggregate amount of $445,096, plus interest at the annual rate of 8.0%, and $209,208 in aggregate principal amount, plus interest at the annual rate of 8.0%, in repayment of loans made to us more than five years ago by those officers to finance our operations, either in one lump sum on or before the first anniversary of the closing of this offering from the proceeds of the exercise of the warrants included in the units and the warrants issuable upon exercise of the agents’ compensation options if and when at least 50% of those warrants are exercised or otherwise in 12 equal monthly installments beginning on the first anniversary of the closing of this offering until paid in full. Any additional proceeds from any exercise of the warrants included in the units and the warrants issuable upon exercise of the agents’ compensation options will be used for working capital. If all of these warrants were to be exercised, we would receive additional funds ranging in total of approximately Cdn$4,500,000 to Cdn$9,375,000. These warrants may not be exercised before they expire 36 months after the closing.
 
DIVIDEND POLICY
 
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to support our operations and finance the growth and development of our business. We do not intend to pay cash dividends on our common or preferred stock for the foreseeable future. Any future determination related to dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors. Additionally, our lines of credit prohibit us from paying cash dividends at any time at which any amount remains outstanding under the lines. Although the outstanding principal amounts of and interest accrued on our lines of credit will be paid in full from the proceeds of this offering we expect that we will draw down on the lines of credit from time to time after this offering. We are not subject to any restrictions that would prevent us from paying a dividend except for the restrictions under our lines of credit and restrictions under TSX-V policies, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law.


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CAPITALIZATION
 
The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our capitalization as of June 30, 2009:
 
  •  on an actual basis;
 
  •  on a pro forma basis assuming the conversion of (i) 168,500 shares of our Series C Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior to the closing of this offering, together with all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon, at the conversion price of $0.2917 per share into 7,060,914 shares of our common stock; and (ii) $75,000 in aggregate principal amount of convertible promissory notes, together with all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, at the conversion price of $0.057089 per share into 2,251,985 shares of our common stock; and
 
  •  on a pro forma as adjusted basis assuming the events described above and the sale in this offering of (i) 40,000,000 units at an initial public offering price of Cdn$0.15 per unit (the minimum of our estimated initial public offering price range) resulting in gross proceeds of Cdn$6,000,000 (the minimum gross proceeds to us of this offering); (ii) 40,000,000 units at an initial public offering price of Cdn$0.20 per unit (the midpoint of our estimated initial public offering price range) resulting in gross proceeds of Cdn$8,000,000; (iii) 50,000,000 units at an initial public offering price of Cdn$0.20 per unit (the midpoint of our estimated initial public offering price range) resulting in gross proceeds of Cdn$10,000,000; and (iv) the sale of 50,000,000 units (the maximum number of units offered under this prospectus) at an initial public offering price of Cdn$0.25 per unit (the maximum of our estimated initial public offering price range) resulting in gross proceeds of Cdn$12,500,000, after deducting estimated underwriting commissions and offering expenses of between Cdn$1,002,000 and $1,522,000, and the issuance of between 2,696,123 and 5,592,246 shares of our common stock to the Canadian agents in payment of a fiscal advisory fee.


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You should read the information in this table together with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.
 
                                                 
    June 30, 2009  
    Actual     Pro Forma     Pro Forma As Adjusted  
    (Unaudited)                                
 
Gross proceeds from offering (Cdn$)
                  $ 6,000,000     $ 8,000,000     $ 10,000,000     $ 12,500,000  
Estimated net proceeds from offering (US$)
                    4,794,000       6,559,000       8,325,000       10,531,000  
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 285,126               5,079,126       6,844,126       8,610,126       10,816,126  
                                                 
Long-term debt (non-convertible) and related accrued interest
    1,294,268               1,294,268       1,294,268       1,294,268       1,294,268  
Accrued cumulative preferred dividends
    374,849       (374,849 )                        
Convertible promissory notes and bridge loans and related accrued interest
    128,563       (128,563 )                        
                                                 
Total long-term obligations
    1,797,680               1,294,268       1,294,268       1,294,268       1,294,268  
                                                 
Stockholders’ Equity:
                                               
Preferred stock
                                       
Series C preferred stock ($0.001 par value), 500,000 shares authorized, 168,500 and 0 shares issued and outstanding, actual and pro forma
    169       (169 )                                
Common Stock
                                               
Common stock ($0.001 par value), 400,000,000 shares authorized, 220,268,927 and 229,581,826 shares issued and outstanding, actual and pro forma
    220,269       9,343       275,005       275,005       285,205       285,205  
Additional paid-in capital
    12,979,093       494,238       18,221,938 (1)     19,986,938 (1)     21,742,738 (2)     23,948,738 (2)
Subscriptions receivable
    (227,336 )             (227,336 )     (227,336 )     (227,336 )     (227,336 )
Accumulated deficit
    (16,225,391 )             (16,225,391 )     (16,225,391 )     (16,225,391 )     (16,225,391 )
                                                 
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)
    (3,253,196 )             2,044,216       3,809,216       5,575,216       7,781,216  
                                                 
Total capitalization
  $ (1,170,390 )           $ 8,417,610     $ 11,947,610     $ 15,479,610     $ 19,891,610  
                                                 
 
 
(1) 275,004,557 shares of common stock issued and outstanding on a pro forma as adjusted basis.
 
(2) 285,204,557 shares of common stock issued and outstanding on a pro forma as adjusted basis.
 
The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 2009 and excludes:
 
  •  15,304,554 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of then outstanding options under our 2007 option plan, having a weighted average exercise price of $0.0999 per share;
 
  •  1,200,000 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of options under our 2009 option plan that we intend to grant to our non-employee directors at the closing of this offering, each having a per share exercise price equal to the initial public offering price per unit; and
 
  •  7,069,988 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants, having a weighted average exercise price of $0.1815 per share.
 
In consideration of certain fiscal advisory services rendered by the Canadian agents to us pursuant to a fiscal advisory fee agreement between us and the Canadian agents, we have agreed to issue to the Canadian agents at the closing of this offering, in payment of a fiscal advisory fee, that number of shares of our common stock equal to, depending on the gross proceeds of the offering, between 1.0% and 2.0% of our common stock issued and


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outstanding immediately upon the closing of the offering. The issuance of these shares to the Canadian agents is not covered by this prospectus. These shares will be issued pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of applicable United States and Canadian securities laws and subject to resale restrictions under those laws and a lock-up agreement for one year. See “Underwriting — Fiscal Advisory Fee Agreement.”
 
Consolidated Capitalization
 
Except as disclosed in the table above, there have been no material changes in our share and loan capital since December 31, 2008.


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DILUTION
 
If you invest in our units in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per unit and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering. The historical net tangible book value of our common stock as of June 30, 2009 was a deficit of approximately $5,700,000, or $(0.0256) per share, based on the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 2009. Historical net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing the number of outstanding shares of our common stock into our total tangible assets, or total assets less intangible assets, less our total liabilities and less the carrying value of our total convertible preferred stock. Investors participating in this offering will incur immediate, substantial dilution. Our pro forma net tangible book value as of June 30, 2009 was a deficit of approximately $(3,500,000), or approximately $(0.0161) per share. Pro forma net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets less our total liabilities, divided by the pro forma number of shares of our common stock outstanding after giving effect to the conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series C Preferred Stock, together with all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon, into 7,062,324 shares of our common stock and $75,000 in aggregate principal amount of convertible promissory notes, together with all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, into 2,281,060 shares of our common stock upon completion of this offering.
 
The following table sets forth our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2009 assuming the sale of (i) 40,000,000 units at an initial public offering price of Cdn$0.15 per unit (the minimum of our estimated initial public offering price range) resulting in gross proceeds of Cdn$6,000,000 (the minimum gross proceeds to us of this offering); (ii) 40,000,000 units at an initial public offering price of Cdn$0.20 per unit (the midpoint of our estimated initial public offering price range) resulting in gross proceeds of Cdn$8,000,000; (iii) 50,000,000 units at an initial public offering price of Cdn$0.20 per unit (the midpoint of our estimated initial public offering price range) resulting in gross proceeds of Cdn$10,000,000; and (iv) the sale of 50,000,000 units (the maximum number of units offered under this prospectus) at an initial public offering price of Cdn$0.25 per unit (the maximum of our estimated initial public offering price range) resulting in gross proceeds of Cdn$12,500,000, and after deducting estimated underwriting commissions and offering expenses of between Cdn$1,026,000 and Cdn$1,546,000, and the issuance of between 2,696,123 and 5,592,246 shares of our common stock to the Canadian agents in payment of a fiscal advisory fee:
 
                                 
Assumed number of units sold in offering
    40,000,000       40,000,000       50,000,000       50,000,000  
Historical net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2009
  $ (0.0256 )   $ (0.0256 )   $ (0.0256 )   $ (0.0256 )
Increase in net tangible book value deficit per share attributable to conversion of preferred stock and convertible notes
    0.0095       0.0095       0.0095       0.0095  
                                 
Pro forma net tangible book value deficit per share as of June 30, 2009
    (0.0161 )     (0.0161 )     (0.0161 )     (0.0161 )
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to investors participating in this offering, after offering costs
    0.0209       0.0273       0.0331       0.0408  
                                 
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering
    0.0048       0.0112       0.0170       0.0247  
Assumed gross initial public offering price per unit (US$)
    0.1439       0.1918       0.1918       0.2398  
                                 
Pro forma dilution per share to investors participating in this offering
  $ (0.1391 )   $ (0.1806 )   $ (0.1748 )   $ (0.2151 )
                                 
 
The following table summarizes, on a pro forma as adjusted basis as of June 30, 2009, the differences between the number of shares of common stock purchased from us, the total consideration and the average price per share paid by existing stockholders and by investors participating in this offering, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses of between Cdn$1,002,000 and Cdn$1,522,000, assuming the sale of the number of units at the initial public offering prices specified below and the issuance of the corresponding


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number of shares of our common stock to the Canadian agents pursuant to our fiscal advisory fee agreement with the Canadian agents:
 
                                         
    Shares Purchased     Total Consideration        
          Percent
          Percent
    Average Price
 
    Number     (%)     Amount     (%)     per Share  
 
Offering of 40,000,000 units at Cdn$0.15
                                       
Existing stockholders before this offering
    229,670,083       83.5     $ 13,475,607       73.8     $ 0.0587  
Investors participating in this offering
    40,000,000       14.5       4,794,704       26.2       0.1199  
Agents (in payment of fiscal advisory fee)
    5,392,246       2.0             0.0       0.0  
                                         
Total
    275,004,557       100.0     $ 18,270,311       100.0     $ 0.0664  
Offering of 40,000,000 units at Cdn$0.20
                                       
Existing stockholders before this offering
    229,670,083       83.5     $ 13,475,607       67.3     $ 0.0587  
Investors participating in this offering
    40,000,000       14.5       6,559,862       32.7       0.1640  
Agents (in payment of fiscal advisory fee)
    5,392,246       2.0             0.0       0.0  
                                         
Total
    275,004,557       100.0     $ 20,035,469       100.0     $ 0.0729  
Offering of 50,000,000 units at Cdn$0.20
                                       
Existing stockholders before this offering
    229,670,083       80.5     $ 13,475,607       61.8     $ 0.0587  
Investors participating in this offering
    50,000,000       17.5       8,325,019       38.2       0.1665  
Agents (in payment of fiscal advisory fee)
    5,592,246       2.0             0.0       0.0  
                                         
Total
    285,204,557       100.0     $ 21,800,626       100.0     $ 0.0764  
Offering of 50,000,000 units at Cdn$0.25
                                       
Existing stockholders before this offering
    229,670,083       80.5     $ 13,475,607       56.1     $ 0.0587  
Investors participating in this offering
    50,000,000       17.5       10,531,466       43.9       0.2106  
Agents (in payment of fiscal advisory fee)
    5,592,246       2.0             0.0       0.0  
                                         
Total
    285,204,557       100.0 %   $ 24,007,073       100.0     $ 0.0842  
 
The discussion and table above assume no exercise of the agents’ compensation options or any other options or warrants outstanding on the date of this prospectus. If the agents’ compensation options are exercised in full, the number of shares of common stock held by existing stockholders will be reduced to 78.8% of the total number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering, and the number of shares of common stock held by investors participating in this offering will be increased to 291,454,557 shares or 19.3% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding after this offering.
 
In consideration of certain fiscal advisory services rendered by the Canadian agents to us pursuant to a fiscal advisory fee agreement between us and the Canadian agents, we have agreed to issue to the Canadian agents at the closing of this offering, in payment of a fiscal advisory fee, that number of shares of our common stock equal to, depending on the gross proceeds of the offering, between 1.0% and 2.0% of our common stock issued and outstanding immediately upon the closing of the offering. The table above assumes that we will issue the maximum number of shares issuable to the Canadian agents under the fiscal advisory fee agreement. The issuance of these shares to the Canadian agents is not covered by this prospectus. These shares will be issued pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of applicable United States and Canadian securities laws and subject to resale restrictions under these laws and a lock-up agreement for one year. See “Underwriting — Fiscal Advisory Fee Agreement.”
 
The share data in the table above is based on the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 2009 and excludes:
 
  •  15,304,554 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of options then outstanding under our 2007 option plan, having a weighted average exercise price of $0.0883 per share;


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  •  1,200,000 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of options under our 2009 option plan that we intend to grant to our non-employee directors at the closing of this offering, each having a per share exercise price equal to the initial public offering price per unit; and
 
  •  7,172,160 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of then outstanding warrants, having a weighted average exercise price of $0.1815 per share.
 
To the extent that any of these options or warrants are exercised, new options are issued under our equity incentive plans or we issue additional shares of common stock in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering.
 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
 
In 2008, approximately 85% of our total sales were comprised of sales to customers in the United States and 15% were comprised of sales to customers outside the United States. Of our sales received in 2008 from customers outside of the United States, 95% were paid in currencies other than US dollars. Therefore, our results could be negatively affected by such factors as changes in foreign currency exchange rates, trade protection measures and changes in regional or worldwide economic or political conditions. We also buy many components manufactured in other countries in transactions denominated in US dollars. The domestic currencies of some of those suppliers fluctuate with the US dollar. As a result, changes in the cost of our components can occur with each new purchase. A decrease in the value of the US dollar against our supplier’s domestic currencies could negatively and materially affect our manufacturing costs. A 10% change in the value of the US dollar relative to each of the foreign currencies in which our sales are denominated would have resulted in a change in our sales of no more than 2%. Historically, we have not tried to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations by engaging in hedging activities.
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
At December 31, 2008, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents totaling $818,719, and at December 31, 2007 we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents totaling $364,856. These amounts were not held in interest-bearing accounts. The unrestricted cash and cash equivalents were held for working capital purposes. We do not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes. The interest rates on our $879,208 of notes payable outstanding at December 31, 2008 are fixed at a range of between 7.5% and 12.0% and a weighted average range of approximately 10%. If market interest rates increase, the fair value of our notes payable would decrease.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 141(R), Business Combinations, a revision to SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations (SFAS No. 141(R)). SFAS No. 141(R) provides revised guidance for recognition and measurement of identifiable assets and goodwill acquired, liabilities assumed and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at fair value. The statement also establishes disclosure requirements to enable the evaluation of the nature and financial effects of a business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) is required to be applied prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2009. The impact of the adoption of SFAS 141(R) on our consolidated financial position and results of operations for the first two quarters of 2009 did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. Any subsequent impact will be dependent on the size and nature of business combinations, if any, completed in the future.
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51 (SFAS No. 160). This statement establishes accounting and reporting standards for ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent. Specifically, SFAS No. 160 requires the presentation of non-controlling interests as equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and separate identification and presentation in the Consolidated Statements of Income of net income attributable to the entity and the non-controlling interest. It also establishes accounting and reporting standards regarding deconsolidation and changes in a parent’s ownership interest. SFAS No. 160 is effective as of January 1, 2009. The provisions of


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SFAS No. 160 are generally required to be applied prospectively, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which must be applied retrospectively. The adoption of SFAS No. 160 did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
 
In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. FAS 157-2, Effective Date of SFAS No. 157. This FSP delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). This FSP partially deferred the effective date of SFAS No. 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years for items within the scope of this FSP. We adopted this FSP for our fiscal year 2009, and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements in our first two quarters of that year.
 
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (SFAS No. 161). This statement enhances the disclosure requirements related to derivative instruments and hedging activity to improve the transparency of financial reporting, and is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 161 did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
 
In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165, Subsequent Events (FAS 165). This standard sets forth the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements, and the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date. FAS 165 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods ended after June 15, 2009. We adopted this standard during the quarter ended June 30, 2009 and have evaluated any subsequent events through the date of this filing. We do not believe there are any material subsequent events which would require further disclosure.
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (FAS 168). FAS 168 replaces FASB Statement No. 162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and establishes the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the Codification) as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). FAS 168 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. We will begin to use the new guidelines and numbering system prescribed by the Codification when referring to GAAP during the quarter ended September 30, 2009. The Codification will not have an impact on our financial results.


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SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA
 
The following tables present our summary financial data and should be read together with our financial statements and accompanying notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary financial data for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 are derived from our audited annual financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited summary financial data as of June 30, 2009 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 have been derived from our unaudited interim financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus, and include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and results of operations for these periods.
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
Statement of Operations Data
  2009     2008     2009     2008  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
 
Sales
  $ 2,063,733     $ 3,087,338       5,082,087     $ 4,807,982  
Cost of Sales
    1,390,819       1,871,661       3,221,861       3,358,739  
                                 
Gross Margin
    672,914       1,215,677       1,860,226       1,449,243  
Operating Expenses
                               
Research and development
    428,737       1,224,265       945,897       1,960,982  
Selling and marketing
    520,257       483,695       976,041       933,257  
General and administrative
    534,142       438,831       990,729       972,630  
Depreciation and amortization
    167,509       123,696       306,343       247,392  
                                 
Total operating expenses
    1,650,645       2,270,487       3,219,010       4,114,261  
                                 
Profit (Loss) from operations
    (977,731 )     (1,054,810 )     (1,358,784 )     (2,665,018 )
Interest and other income (expense)
    11             59       166  
Foreign exchange (loss) gain
    (3,657 )     (300 )     (4,969 )     (33 )
Interest expense
    (56,711 )     (57,353 )     (122,095 )     (99,019 )
Tax (expense) benefit
    (888 )     (2,897 )     (1,776 )     (3,650 )
                                 
Total tax and other income (expense)
    (61,245 )     (60,550 )     (128,781 )     (102,536 )
                                 
Net (Loss)
  $ (1,038,976 )   $ (1,115,360 )     (1,487,565 )   $ (2,767,554 )
                                 
Income (loss) per share:
                               
Basic and fully diluted*
    (0.0048 )     (0.0057 )     (0.0070 )   $ (0.0141 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic and fully diluted*
    220,268,927       200,424,027       219,935,594       200,015,546  
 


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    Year Ended December 31,  
Statement of Operations Data
  2008     2007     2006  
 
Sales
  $ 12,489,884     $ 10,146,379     $ 9,538,308  
Cost of Sales
    8,788,905       6,783,473       5,767,550  
                         
Gross Margin
    3,700,979       3,362,906       3,770,758  
Operating Expenses
                       
Research and development
    3,366,518       2,365,412       1,279,239  
Selling and marketing
    2,128,625       1,920,164       1,191,800  
General and administrative
    2,299,685       1,718,627       1,560,278  
Depreciation and amortization
    510,133       374,078       276,989  
                         
Total operating expenses
    8,304,961       6,378,281       4,308,306  
                         
Profit (Loss) from operations
    (4,603,982 )     (3,015,375 )     (537,548 )
Interest and other income (expense)
    188       2,549       313  
Foreign exchange (loss) gain
    (24,216 )            
Interest expense
    (260,977 )     (241,692 )     (179,019 )
Legal settlement
          96,632        
Tax (expense) benefit
    (5,212 )     98,372       (3,700 )
                         
Total tax and other income (expense)
    (290,217 )     (44,139 )     (182,406 )
                         
Net (Loss)
  $ (4,894,199 )   $ (3,059,514 )   $ (719,954 )
                         
Income (loss) per share:
                       
Basic and fully diluted*
  $ (0.0240 )   $ (0.0176 )   $ (0.0047 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                       
Basic and fully diluted*
    207,710,498       185,263,660       173,254,715  
 
 
* All outstanding warrants, options, and convertible debt are anti-dilutive, therefore basic and diluted earnings per share are the same for all periods.
 
                                         
    Year Ended December 31,     Six Months Ended June 30,  
Cash Flow Data
  2008     2007     2006     2009     2008  
                      (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
 
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities
  $ (1,285,449 )   $ (3,295,900 )   $ 120,053     $ (476,637 )   $ (107,925 )
Cash flows (used in) investing activities
    (549,804 )     (316,743 )     (479,236 )     (148,777 )     (259,193 )
Cash flows provided by financing activities
    2,289,116       3,408,328       874,569       91,820       106,255  
 
                                         
    As of December 31,     As of June 30,  
Balance Sheet Data
  2008     2007     2006     2009     2008  
                      (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 818,719     $ 364,856     $ 569,171     $ 285,126     $ 103,993  
Working Capital (deficiency)
    (1,846,289 )     966,658       69,766       (2,808,676 )     (2,150,731 )
Total Assets
    6,221,897       6,967,254       5,013,263       4,351,101       5,939,483  
Long-Term Liabilities
    1,754,379       2,014,476       1,980,476       1,797,680       1,606,559  
Accumulated (deficit)
    (14,687,276 )     (9,691,977 )     (6,531,363 )     (16,225,391 )     (12,510,081 )
Total Stockholders’ equity (deficit)
    (2,089,942 )     423,236       (603,954 )     (3,253,196 )     (2,274,435 )

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
You should read the following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the “Selected Financial and Other Data” and our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition to historical information, the following discussion and analysis includes forward looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. See the discussion under “Forward Looking Statements” beginning on page 24 of this prospectus.
 
Overview
 
We are engaged in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of devices that are worn like eyeglasses and feature built-in video screens that enable the user to view video and digital content, such as movies, computer data, the Internet or video games. Our products (known commercially as Video Eyewear, but also commonly referred to as virtual displays, wearable displays, personal viewers, head mounted displays, or near-to-eye displays) are used to view high-resolution video and digital information primarily from mobile electronic devices (such as cell phones, portable media players, gaming systems and laptop computers) and from desktop computers. Our products provide the user a viewing experience that simulates viewing a large screen television or a desktop computer monitor.
 
Our Video Eyewear products feature high performance miniature display modules, low power electronics and related optical systems. We produce both monocular and binocular Video Eyewear devices that we believe are excellent solutions for many mobile computer or video viewing requirements. We focus on two markets: the consumer markets for gaming and mobile video and rugged mobile displays for defense and industrial applications. We also offer low-vision assist Video Eyewear products that are designed to assist and improve the remaining vision of many people suffering from macular degeneration.
 
Since our inception in 1997, we have derived the majority of our sales from fees paid to us under research and development contracts and related volume manufacturing services primarily of night vision display electronics as a sub-contractor to defense suppliers to the US government. Since 2005, we have devoted significant resources to the development and commercial launch of our industrial and consumer products. During 2008 and 2007, we derived 35.4% and 32.4%, respectively, of our sales from our consumer Video Eyewear products.
 
We believe our intellectual property portfolio gives us a leadership position in microdisplay electronics, ergonomics, packaging, motion tracking and optical systems.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Developments and Estimates
 
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The preparation of these statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the appropriate application of certain accounting policies, many of which require us to make estimates and assumptions about future events and their impact on amounts reported in our financial statements, including the statement of operations, balance sheet, cash flow and related notes. Since future events and their impact cannot be determined with certainty, the actual results will inevitably differ from our estimates. Such differences could be material to the financial statements.
 
We believe that our application of accounting policies, and the estimates inherently required therein, are reasonable. These accounting policies and estimates are periodically reevaluated, and adjustments are made when facts and circumstances dictate a change. Historically, we have found our application of accounting policies to be appropriate, and actual results have not differed materially from those determined using necessary estimates.
 
Our accounting policies are more fully described in the notes to our financial statements included in this prospectus. In reading our financial statements, you should be aware of the factors and trends that our management


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believes are important in understanding our financial performance. The critical accounting policies, judgments and estimates that we believe have the most significant effect on our financial statements are:
 
  •  valuation of inventories;
 
  •  carrying value of long-lived assets;
 
  •  valuation of intangible assets;
 
  •  revenue recognition;
 
  •  product warranty;
 
  •  stock-based compensation; and
 
  •  income taxes.
 
Valuation of Inventories
 
Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined on a first-in, first-out method. Inventory includes purchased parts and components, work in process and finished goods. Provisions for excess, obsolete or slow moving inventory are recorded after periodic evaluation of historical sales, current economic trends, forecasted sales, estimated product lifecycles and estimated inventory levels. Purchasing practices, electronic component obsolescence, accuracy of sales and production forecasts, introduction of new products, product lifecycles, product support and foreign regulations governing hazardous materials are the factors that contribute to inventory valuation risks. Exposure to inventory valuation risks is managed by maintaining safety stocks, minimum purchase lots, managing product and end-of-life issues brought on by aging components or new product introductions, and by utilizing certain inventory minimization strategies such as vendor-managed inventories. The accounting estimate related to valuation of inventories is considered a “critical accounting estimate” because it is susceptible to changes from period-to-period due to the requirement for management to make estimates relative to each of the underlying factors, ranging from purchasing, to sales, to production, to after-sale support. If actual demand, market conditions or product lifecycles differ from estimates, inventory adjustments to lower market values would result in a reduction to the carrying value of inventory, an increase in inventory write-offs and a decrease to gross margins.
 
Carrying Value of Long-Lived Assets
 
If facts and circumstances indicate that a long-lived asset, including a products’ mold tooling and equipment, may be impaired, the carrying value is reviewed. If this review indicates that the carrying value of the asset will not be recovered as determined based on projected undiscounted cash flows related to the asset over its remaining life, the carrying value of the asset is reduced to its estimated fair value. To date, no impairment on long-lived assets has been booked. Impairment losses in the future will be dependent on a number of factors such as general economic trends and major technology advances, and thus could be significantly different than historical results.
 
Valuation of Intangible Assets
 
We perform a valuation of intangible assets when events or circumstances indicate their carrying amounts may be unrecoverable. We have not impaired the value of certain intellectual property, such as patents and trademarks, which were valued (net of accumulated amortization) at $715,958 as of June 30, 2009, because management believes that its value is recoverable.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
Revenue from product sales is recognized in accordance with the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition  Product sales represent the majority of our revenue. We recognize revenue from these product sales when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been provided, the sale price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. Additionally, we sell our products on terms which transfer title and risk of loss at a specified location, typically shipping point. Accordingly,


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revenue recognition from product sales occurs when all factors are met, including transfer of title and risk of loss, which typically occurs upon shipment by us. If these conditions are not met, we will defer the revenue recognition until such time as these conditions have been satisfied. We collect and remit sales taxes in certain jurisdictions and report revenue net of any associated sales taxes. We also sell certain products through distributors who are granted limited rights of return for stock balancing against purchases made within a prior 90 day period, including price adjustments downwards on any existing inventory. The provision for product returns and price adjustments is assessed for adequacy both at the time of sale and at each quarter end and is based on recent historical experience and known customer claims.
 
Revenue from any engineering consulting and other services is recognized at the time the services are rendered. For our longer-term development contracts, which to date have all been firm, fixed-priced contracts, we recognize revenue on the percentage-of-completion method. Under this method income is recognized as work on contracts progresses, but estimated losses on contracts in progress are charged to operations immediately. To date, all of our longer-term development contracts have been less than one calendar year in duration. We generally submit invoices for our work under these contracts on a monthly basis. The percentage-of-completion is determined using the cost-to-cost method.
 
The accounting estimate related to revenue recognition is considered a “critical accounting estimate” because terms of sale can vary, and judgment is exercised in determining whether to defer revenue recognition. Such judgments may materially affect net sales for any period. Judgment is exercised within the parameters of GAAP in determining when contractual obligations are met, title and risk of loss are transferred, sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonable assured.
 
Product Warranty
 
Warranty obligations are generally incurred in connection with the sale of our products. The warranty period for these products is generally one year, but can be 24 months in certain countries if required by law, such as in Europe. Warranty costs are accrued, to the extent that they are not recoverable from third party manufacturers, for the estimated cost to repair or replace products for the balance of the warranty periods. We provide for the costs of expected future warranty claims at the time of product shipment or over-builds to cover replacements. The adequacy of the provision is assessed at each quarter end and is based on historical experience of warranty claims and costs. The costs incurred to provide for these warranty obligations are estimated and recorded as an accrued liability at the time of sale. Future warranty costs are estimated based on historical performance rates and related costs to repair given products. The accounting estimate related to product warranty is considered a “critical accounting estimate” because judgment is exercised in determining future estimated warranty costs. Should actual performance rates or repair costs differ from estimates, revision to the estimated warranty liability would be required.
 
Stock-Based Compensation
 
Our board of directors approves grants of stock options to employees to purchase our common stock. Under SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, stock compensation expense, is recorded based upon the estimated fair value of the stock option at the date of grant. The accounting estimate related to stock-based compensation is considered a “critical accounting estimate” because estimates are made in calculating compensation expense including expected option lives, forfeiture rates and expected volatility. The fair market value of our common stock on the date of each option grant was determined based on the most recent cash sale of common stock in an arm’s length transaction with an unrelated third party. We engaged in at least one such transaction during each of our last four fiscal years. Expected option lives are estimated using vesting terms and contractual lives. Expected forfeiture rates and volatility are calculated using historical information. Actual option lives and forfeiture rates may be different from estimates and may result in potential future adjustments which would impact the amount of stock-based compensation expense recorded in a particular period.
 
Income Taxes
 
We account for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. Accordingly, we provide deferred income tax assets and liabilities based on the estimated future tax effects of differences between


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the financial and tax bases of assets and liabilities based on currently enacted tax laws. A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets in amounts for which realization is not considered more likely than not to occur. The accounting estimate related to income taxes is considered a “critical accounting estimate” because judgment is exercised in estimating future taxable income, including prudent and feasible tax planning strategies, and in assessing the need for any valuation allowance. To date we have determined a 100% valuation allowance is required and accordingly no amounts have been reflected in our consolidated financial statements. In the event that it should be determined that all or part of a deferred tax asset in the future is in excess of the nil amount currently recorded, an adjustment of the valuation allowance would increase income to be recognized in the period such determination was made.
 
In addition, the calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax regulations. As a result of the implementation of Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes- an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, we recognize liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on the two-step process prescribed within the interpretation. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step requires us to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as this requires us to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. We re-evaluate these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled issues under audit and new audit activity. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision in the period.
 
Finally, any future recorded value of our deferred tax assets will be dependent upon our ability to generate future taxable income in the jurisdictions in which we operate. These assets consist of research credit carry-forwards, capital and net operating loss carry-forwards and the future tax effect of temporary differences between balances recorded for financial statement purposes and for tax return purposes. It will require future pre-tax earnings in excess of $13,200,000 in order to fully realize the value of our unrecorded deferred tax assets. If we were to sustain future net losses, it may be necessary to record valuation allowances against such deferred tax assets in order to recognize impairments in their estimated future economic value.
 
Key Performance Indicators
 
We believe that a key indicator for our business is the trend for the volume of orders received from customers, especially those orders related to night-vision electronic modules. During weak economic periods, customers’ ability to forecast their requirements deteriorates causing delays in the placement of orders. Forward-looking visibility on customer orders is at an all time low. Our major night-vision electronics modules customers (Kopin and DRS Technologies, Inc.) are placing orders for product only when they have orders in hand from their governmental customer. Total shipments of night vision electronics module customers in 2008 amounted to $6,068,449, compared to $1,418,249 in 2007.
 
Comparison of Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007
 
Sales.  Our sales were $12,489,884 for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $10,146,379 for the year ended December 31, 2007. This represents a 23.1% increase for the year 2008 over the year 2007. Our sales from defense products increased to $6,397,221 or 51.2% of our total sales in 2008 versus $1,418,249 or 14.0% of total sales in 2007, an increase of $4,978,972 or 351.1%. The increase resulted primarily from new orders of night vision drive electronics from prime contractors and the introduction of our Tac-Eye® display product line in the fourth quarter of 2008. Sales from our defense-related engineering programs decreased to $1,548,703 or 12.4% of total sales versus $5,445,375 or 53.7% of total sales in 2007. The large decrease in fiscal 2008 was the result of the start and completion of a $4,300,000 engineering program in late 2007. Consumer Video Eyewear product sales increased to $4,451,121 or 35.64% of total sales for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $3,282,755 for our 2007 year or 32.4% of 2007’s total sales. This 35.6% sales dollar increase resulted from a broader Video Eyewear product line and increased distribution in the United Kingdom and Japan. Low-vision assist sales,


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consisting mainly of sales of low-vision assist products, were $92,839 or 0.7% of total sales in fiscal 2008 versus none in fiscal 2007.
 
Cost of Sales and Gross Margin.  Gross margin increased to $3,700,979 for fiscal 2008 from $3,362,906 for fiscal 2007, an increase of $338,073 or 10.1%. As a percentage of net sales, gross margin decreased to 29.6% for fiscal 2008 compared to 33.1% for fiscal 2007. This reduction was the result of changes in our revenue mix and related margins. Generally, we earn a higher gross margin on engineering only programs as compared to the gross margin on products, in which we incur cost of goods or volume production costs. Engineering services revenues decreased to 12.4% as a percentage of total sales in 2008 versus 53.7% of total sales in 2007, resulting in the majority of the reduction in overall gross margin in 2008 versus fiscal 2007.
 
Research and Development.  Our research and development expenses in 2008 increased by $1,001,106, or 42.3%, to $3,366,518 in fiscal 2008 versus $2,365,412 in 2007. This was due to increased internal development activities and less direct support of our research under government funded engineering programs. Expenses we incur under government funded engineering programs are included in costs of goods sold.
 
Selling and Marketing.  Selling and marketing expenses were $2,128,625 for fiscal 2008 as compared to $1,920,164 for fiscal 2007, an increase of $208,461 or 10.9%. Despite the increase in absolute dollars, as a percentage of total sales, the selling and marketing expenses decreased to 16.9% of sales for fiscal 2008 as compared to 18.9% for fiscal 2007. The absolute dollar increase was primarily due to increased advertising expenses along with increased marketing support paid out to our expanded consumer products resellers and the introduction of in-store point of purchase displays with US resellers.
 
General and Administrative.  General and administrative expenses were $2,299,685 for fiscal 2008 as compared to $1,718,627 for fiscal 2007, an increase of $581,058 or 33.8%. The higher general and administrative related to increases in staff and personnel costs, and increased legal expenses.
 
Depreciation and Amortization.  Our depreciation and amortization expense increased by $136,055, or 36.4%, to $510,133 in 2008 versus $374,078 in 2007. The increase was related to increased depreciation on new capital expenditures in 2008 and 2007.
 
Other Income (Expense).  Total other expenses, consisting primarily of interest expense, was $285,005 in 2008 versus $142,511 for 2007. The increase in expenses was primarily attributable to an offsetting legal settlement received during 2007 in the amount of $96,632.
 
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes.  The provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $5,212 versus a net benefit of ($98,372) in 2007. The 2007 net benefit includes our accrual of $130,130 in New York State tax credits for our research and development activities. The balance of each year’s tax provision was primarily for franchise taxes payable to the State of Delaware, our state of incorporation. These taxes were $5,212 for 2008 and $31,758 for 2007. This decrease was a result of the 8-for-1 split of our common stock in July 2008.
 
Net (Loss) and (Loss) per Share.  Our net loss was $(4,894,199) or $(0.0240) per share in 2008, an increased loss of $(1,834,685), or (60.0)%, from $(3,059,514) or $(0.0176) per share in 2007.
 
Comparison of Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006
 
Sales.  Our sales were $10,146,379 for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to $9,538,308 for the year ended December 31, 2006. This represents a 6.4% increase for the year 2007 over the year 2006. Our sales from defense products decreased to $1,418,249 or 14.0% of total sales in 2007 versus $4,888,243 or 51.2% of total sales in 2006, a decrease of $3,469,994. The decrease resulted from reduced orders from the prime defense contractor caused by technical problems in other areas of their supply chain. Sales from our defense related engineering programs increased to 53.7% of total sales or $5,445,375 versus $2,627,442 or 27.5% of total sales in 2006. This large increase was the result of a new $4,300,000 government research and development program in 2007. Consumer Video Eyewear product sales increased to $3,282,755 or 32.4% of total sales for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to $2,022,623 or 21.2% of sales for our 2006 fiscal year. This 62.3% increase in dollar sales resulted from the introduction of three new Video Eyewear models in 2007 and the commencement of our European sales activities in late 2007.


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Cost of Sales and Gross Margin.  Gross margin decreased to $3,362,906 for fiscal 2007 from $3,770,758 for fiscal 2006, a decrease of $407,852 or 10.8%. As a percentage of net sales, gross margin decreased to 33.1% for fiscal 2007 compared to 39.5% for fiscal 2006. This reduction was the result of changes in our revenue mix and related margins. Generally, we earn a higher gross margin on our defense products as compared to the gross margin on consumer products, and with the introduction of three new consumer Video Eyewear products our margins decreased. As defense product sales as a percentage of our total sales decreased to 14.0% in 2008 versus 51.2% in 2006 our overall margins decreased.
 
Research and Development.  Our research and development expenses in 2007 increased by $1,086,173 or 84.9%, to $2,365,412 in fiscal 2007 versus $1,279,239 in 2006. This was due to increases in the number of our research and development personnel and the lease of additional space dedicated to this function.
 
Selling and Marketing.  Selling and marketing expenses were $1,920,164 for fiscal 2007 as compared to $1,191,800 for fiscal 2006, an increase of $728,364 or 61.1%. The increase resulted from the preparatory marketing and advertising launch expenses by three new consumer Video Eyewear products, the establishment of our first print advertising programs and increased trade show costs to promote our new Video Eyewear products.
 
General and Administrative.  General and administrative expenses were $1,718,627 for fiscal 2007 as compared to $1,560,278 for fiscal 2006, an increase of $158,349 or 10.1%. The increase was mainly attributable to increased staffing and legal expenses.
 
Depreciation and Amortization.  Our depreciation and amortization expense increased by $97,089, or 35.1%, to $374,078 in 2007 versus $276,989 in 2006. The increase was related to increased depreciation provisions on new capital expenditures in 2007 and full year’s provision on our 2006 additions.
 
Other Income (Expense).  Total other expenses, consisting primarily of interest expense, was $142,511 in 2007 versus $178,706 in 2006. Our borrowing costs were $62,673 higher in 2007 than in 2006 but our 2007 borrowing costs were offset by $96,632 in miscellaneous income related to the settlement of a legal dispute.
 
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes.  The provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2007 was a net benefit of $98,372 versus an expense of $3,700 for 2006. The 2007 benefit includes our accrual of $130,130 in New York State tax credits for our research and development activities. The balance of each year’s tax provision was primarily attributable to franchise taxes payable to the State of Delaware, our state of incorporation. These taxes were $31,758 for 2007 and $3,700 for 2006. The large increase was a direct result of the 7-for-1 reverse stock split that took place in 2007.
 
Net (Loss) and (Loss) per Share.  Our net loss was $(3,059,514) or $(0.0171) per share in 2007, an increase of $(2,339,560) from $(719,954) or $(0.0047) per share in 2006.
 
Comparison of Three Months Ended June 30, 2009 and June 30, 2008
 
Sales.  Our sales were $2,063,733 for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to $3,087,338 for the three months ended June 30, 2008. This represents a (33.2%) decrease for the 2009 period over the comparable 2008 period. Our sales from defense production programs decreased to $1,179,146 or 57.1% of total sales for the 2009 period from $2,442,817 or 79.1% of sales in the comparable 2008 period, a decrease of $(1,263,672) or (51.7%). The decrease resulted directly from our early completion during the three months ended March 31, 2009 of a large order and fewer resulting follow on sales versus the prior year when a production order spanned most of the same second quarterly period. These orders are normally completed in 90 to 120 days once deliveries commence, so any given calendar quarter can contain anywhere from zero to three months of shipments resulting in substantial revenue variations. Sales from our defense related engineering services programs decreased slightly to $116,865 or 5.7% of sales for the 2009 period versus $127,006 or 4.1% of total sales in the comparable 2008 period. Engineering services were slower in 2009 as we were still in transition between new major programs. Consumer Video Eyewear product sales increased to $764,629 or 37.1% of total sales for the three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to $516,214 or 16.7% of total sales for the same period in 2008. This 48.1% increase in revenues was primarily due to our increased sales of Video Eyewear products in Europe and Japan as compared to 2008. Low-vision assist sales for the three months ended June 30, 2009 were $3,094 versus $1,301 in the prior year’s period and were in both periods less than 0.1% of revenues.


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Cost of Sales and Gross Margin.  Gross margin decreased to $672,914 for the three-months ended June 30, 2009 from $1,215,677 for three months ended June 30, 2008, a decrease of $(542,763) or (44.6%). As a percentage of net sales, gross margin decreased to 32.6% for 2009 period compared to 39.4% for the comparable 2008 period. Gross margins for the 2008 period were higher than for the similar period in 2009 due to increased margins earned on defense product sales which were 79.1% of sales and only 57.1% in the 2009 period. This change in our revenue mix and their related lower gross margins on Consumer Video Eyewear resulted in the decrease in the 2009 margin as we generally earn a higher gross margin on engineering services and our defense product sales as compared to the gross margin on products.
 
Research and Development.  Our research and development expenses in the three months ended June 30, 2009 were $428,737 versus $1,224,265 in the comparable 2008 period, a decrease of $(795,528) or (65.0)%. This decrease was due to lower staffing levels and a decreased use of external contractors for development work versus 2008.
 
Selling and Marketing.  Selling and marketing expenses were $520,257 for the three months ended June 30, 2009 as compared to $483,695 for the comparable 2008 period, an increase of just $36,562. As a percentage of total sales, the selling and marketing expenses increased to 25.1% of sales for the three month period in 2009 as compared to 15.5% for same period in fiscal 2008 which is reflective of our previously mentioned change in revenue mix and decreased total sales between the comparable quarters. Consumer Video Eyewear sales require higher sales and marketing expenses over defense product sales consisting primarily of night vision display electronics.
 
General and Administrative.  General and administrative expenses were $534,142 for the three months ended June 30, 2009 as compared to $438,831 for the comparable 2008 period, an increase of $95,311 or 21.7%. The higher general and administrative expenses are attributable to increases in accounting fees related to our commencement of external accountant reviews of our quarterly results and increased wage costs as compared to same quarterly period in 2008.
 
Depreciation and Amortization.  Our depreciation and amortization expense increased by $43,813, or 35.4%, to $167,509 in the three months ended June 30, 2009 versus $123,696 in the comparable 2008 period. The increase is attributable to increased depreciation provisions on new capital expenditures and patent investments made in fiscal 2008.
 
Other Income (Expense).  Interest expense, net of interest income and foreign exchange adjustments, was $60,357 in the three months ended June 30, 2009 versus $57,653 for the comparable 2008 period. The increase represents increased borrowings and higher interest rates on a note payable.
 
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes.  The provision for income taxes was for franchise taxes to Delaware, our state of incorporation. Such income taxes for the three months ended June 30, 2009 were $888 and $2,897 for the comparable 2008 period.
 
Net (Loss) and (Loss) per Share.  Our net loss was $(1,038,976) (or $(0.0048) per share) in the three months ended June 30, 2009, a decrease from an overall loss of $(1,115,360) or $(0.0057) per share for the same quarter in 2008.
 
Comparison of Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 and June 30, 2008
 
Sales.  Our sales were $5,082,087 for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to $4,807,982 for the six months ended June 30, 2008. This represents a 5.7% increase for the 2009 period over the comparable 2008 period. Our sales from defense production programs were $2,633,300 or 51.8% of total sales for the 2009 period versus $3,300,428 and 68.6% of total sales in the comparable 2008 period, a decrease of $(667,128). As a percentage of total revenues this category of product sales was 51.8% of sales for the first six months of 2009 versus 68.6% of sales for the same period in 2008. The decrease resulted directly from decreased orders for our night vision display drive electronics customer due to timing issues, which as explained previously can vary significantly from quarter to quarter. Offsetting this reduction was a continued strengthening of our Tac-Eye product line, which had minimal sales in the comparable 2008 period. Sales from our defense related engineering service programs increased to $565,355 or 11.1% of total sales for the 2009 period versus $317,994 in the comparable 2008 period. The majority of this $247,361 increase occurred in the first quarter of 2009 over the same period in 2008. Overall engineering


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program revenues rose to 11.1% of total sales as compared to 6.6% in the first six months of 2008. Consumer Video Eyewear product sales increased to $1,865,815 or 36.7% of total sales for the six months ended June 30, 2009 as compared to $1,182,859 or 24.6% of total sales for the same period in 2008. This 57.7% increase was entirely due to increased sales in Europe and Japan as compared to the same period in 2008. Low-vision assist sales for the six months ended June 30, 2009 were $17,617 versus just $6,701 for the same period in 2008, both less than 0.3% of our overall revenues in each year’s period.
 
Cost of Sales and Gross Margin.  Gross margin increased to $1,860,226 for the six-month ended June 30, 2009 from $1,449,243 for six months ended June 30, 2008, an increase of $410,983 or 28.4%. As a percentage of total net sales, overall gross margin increased to 36.6% for 2009 period compared to 30.1% for the comparable 2008 period. Gross margins for the 2008 period were lower than for the similar period in 2009 due to product clearance activities, when an older product model was being phased out and larger reseller discounts were being offered to assist its sales. Additionally, our cost reductions improved margins for the 2009 period.
 
Research and Development.  Our research and development expenses in the six months ended June 30, 2009 were $945,897 versus $1,960,982 in the comparable 2008 period, a decrease of $(1,015,085) or (51.8%). This was due to staff reductions made in late 2008 and a decreased use of external contractors in the 2009 period versus 2008.
 
Selling and Marketing.  Selling and marketing expenses were $976,041 for the six months ended June 30, 2009 as compared to $933,257 for the comparable 2008 period, an increase of $42,784. As a percentage of total sales, the selling and marketing expenses decreased slightly to 19.1% of sales for the six month period in 2009 as compared to 19.3% for same period in fiscal 2008.
 
General and Administrative.  General and administrative expenses were $990,729 for the six months ended June 30, 2009 as compared to $972,630 for the comparable 2008 period, an increase of $18,099 or 1.9%. The higher expenses are attributable to increased accounting and audit services involved in our changeover of audit firms, external accountant reviews of our quarterly results and higher wage costs against the same period in 2008.
 
Depreciation and Amortization.  Our depreciation and amortization expense increased by $58,951, or 23.8%, to $306,343 in the six months ended June 30, 2009 versus $247,392 in the comparable 2008 period.
 
Other Income (Expense).  Interest expense, net of interest income and foreign exchange adjustments, was $127,005 in the six months ended June 30, 2009 versus $98,886 for the comparable 2008 period. The increase represents increased borrowings and higher interest rates on a note payable.
 
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes.  The provision for income taxes was for franchise taxes to Delaware, our state of incorporation. Such income taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2009 were $1,776 and $3,650 for the comparable 2008 period.
 
Net (Loss) and (Loss) per Share.  Our net loss was $(1,487,565) (or $(0.0070) per share) in the six months ended June 30, 2009, an improvement of $1,279,988, or 46.2%, from the larger loss of $(2,767,554) or $(0.0141) per share in the comparable 2008 period.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
As of June 30, 2009, we had cash and cash equivalents of $285,126, a decrease of $533,593 from $818,719 as of December 31, 2008.
 
Our cash requirements are primarily for research and development, product tooling, and working capital. Historically, we have met these requirements through capital generated from the sale and issuance of our common equity securities, convertible debt and notes payable to private investors, cash flow provided by operations and our revolving bank lines of credit.
 
Operating Activities.  Cash (used in) operating activities was $(1,285,449) in fiscal 2008 and $(3,295,900) in fiscal 2007. Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding cash, provided (used) cash were $2,785,425 in fiscal 2008 and $(800,177) in fiscal 2007. The decreases in our accounts receivable by December 31, 2008 of $1,494,613 along with a $733,691 increase in accounts payable and customer deposits of $683,040 primarily resulted in this cash flow improvement in 2008 over 2007. Our reduced accounts receivable year over year was due


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to the completion of a defense product production program in December 2008, whereas in 2007 a similar program was in mid-stream at December 31, 2007 along with the larger receivables from the final deliveries and billings on a large 2007 engineering program, including the programs holdback. To accelerate our cash collections we offer early payment allowances to certain customers on our defense production programs. In both 2008 and 2007, those customers took the early payment discounts we offered. We intend to continue to offer early payment discounts as long as we continue to operate with a working capital deficit. On one defense production program, early payment discounts reduced our working capital investment in accounts receivable by an average of $800,000. Cash (used in) operating activities was $(476,637) and $(107,925) for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding cash, provided cash were $614,521 and $2,322,088 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. In both these periods, the reductions in accounts receivable from the seasonally higher December 31st balances were the major providers of cash. The 2009 period’s reduction versus the same period in 2008 resulted mainly from a $(1,089,159) decrease in accounts payable since December 31, 2008, a direct result of the normal seasonal slow-down in parts of our business. Offsetting this decrease was an increase in customer deposits of $451,399 over those as at December 31, 2008 attributable to the advance component purchasing requirements for a large order for special night vision electronics that commenced production in September 2009. We normally request an advance from customers placing large orders for special goods. If in the future we are unable to obtain such advance deposits, our liquidity and ability to support large orders would decrease.
 
Investing Activities.  Cash used in investing activities was $549,804 in fiscal 2008 and $316,743 in fiscal 2007 and $148,777 and $259,193 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Cash used for investing activities in fiscal 2008 related primarily to production tooling and computer software equipment additions of $424,166 and in the six-month period ended June 30, 2009 related primarily to tooling acquisitions of $81,837 versus $193,126 for the same 6 month period in 2008. The costs of registering our intellectual property rights, included in the investing activities totals described above were $125,638 in fiscal 2008 and $136,433 in fiscal 2007 and $66,940 and $66,067 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
 
Financing Activities.  Cash provided by financing activities was $2,289,116 in fiscal 2008 and $3,408,328 in fiscal 2007 and $91,820 and $106,255 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. We sold shares of our common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,138,646 in 2008 and $3,792,362 in 2007 and $300,000 in the six-month period ended June 30, 2009 in private placements offerings. In the six-month period ended June 30, 2008 we sold shares of our common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of $16,697 upon exercise of stock options and received $13,586 from the exercise of warrants.
 
Capital Resources.  As of December 31, 2008, we had a cash balance of $818,719. As of June 30, 2009, we had a cash balance of $285,126. We had $123,952 available under our bank lines of credit (total drawings as of June 30, 2009 were $88,548). The credit lines are with two banks, are payable on demand and secured by the personal guarantee of our President and Chief Executive Officer, Paul J. Travers. The bank credit agreements contain various restrictions on indebtedness, liens, guarantees, redemptions, mergers, acquisitions or sale of assets, loans, transactions with any affiliates, and investments. They also prohibit us from declaring and paying cash dividends without the bank’s prior consent.
 
On September 19, 2006, we borrowed $500,000 from an individual lender and issued a convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $500,000 in evidence of the loan. Interest on the outstanding principal amount of the note accrues at the annual rate of 10.0%. The outstanding principal amount of the note, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, is convertible at the option of the holder into shares of our common stock at the rate of $0.2667 per share. The outstanding principal amount of the note together with all unpaid accrued interest thereon was due and payable on January 31, 2009. As of January 31, 2009, the interest accrued and unpaid on the note was $118,493. Since January 31, 2009 interest on the principal amount of the note has accrued at the annual rate of 18.0% and we have made monthly payments of interest only. As of the date of this prospectus, no demand for immediate payment of the principal amount of the note has been made. Such a demand would have a negative impact on our liquidity and ongoing operations. As the conversion price of the note is greater than our expected maximum offering price, we intend to pay the outstanding principal amount of the note in full, together with all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, from the proceeds of this offering.


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In August and September 2009, we borrowed an aggregate amount of $200,000 from three individual lenders, including $50,000 from Mr. Paul Churnetski, our Vice President of Quality Assurance and the beneficial owner of approximately 9% of our issued and outstanding common stock. These loans bear interest at an annual rate of 18.0% and are due and payable on October 31, 2009. We borrowed these funds to finance part of our working capital investment for a defense order in process. We are negotiating to borrow an additional $100,000 from one or more individual lenders on the same terms and conditions. We intend to repay all these loans from revenues from the receivables collections from that order or out of the proceeds from this offering if the closing occurs prior to the maturity date.
 
Our cash requirements depend on numerous factors, including new product development activities, our ability to commercialize our products, their timely market acceptance, selling prices and gross margins, and other factors. We expect to carefully devote capital resources to continue our development programs, hire and train additional staff, expand our research and development activities, new product marketing and increased inventory levels. Assuming we are able to continue to increase our sales and maintain our planned gross margins, we anticipate that we will also experience growth in our operating expenses for the foreseeable future. Our future net operating losses, product tooling expenses, and related working capital investments will be the principal use of our cash. In particular, we expect that potentially significant amounts of working capital investments in accounts receivable and inventories that are not offset by corresponding increases in accounts payable will use cash with our planned growth.
 
We anticipate, based on our internal forecast and assumptions relating to our operations (including, among others, assumptions regarding our working capital requirements, the progress of our research and development efforts and Video Eyewear product sales and gross margins) that, taking into account the minimum anticipated proceeds of the sale of our securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will have sufficient cash to meet our working capital and other cash flow requirements for at least the next 12 months. In the event we do not close this offering in the near future, we will have to make adjustments in our operating plans and scale back on new product development as our net operating activities still are consuming cash. Many of our proposed new products would be placed on hold and staff reductions across the company would be required. In parallel with such spending reductions, management would begin an active search for private sources of financing, including debt and equity offerings to reduce our working capital deficiency. If we were unsuccessful in obtaining alternative financing by December 31, 2009, management would have to reassess its operating plans for fiscal 2010.
 
The recent global economic crisis has caused disruptions and extreme volatility in global financial markets, increased rates of default and bankruptcy, and has impacted consumer spending levels. These macroeconomic developments could adversely affect our business, operating results or financial condition. Current or potential customers, including suppliers to the US government, may delay or decrease spending on our products and services as their business and/or budgets are impacted by economic conditions. The inability of current and/or potential customers to pay us for our products and services may adversely affect our earnings and cash flows.
 
Current Financial Position
 
As of September 30, 2009 we had approximately $181,197 in cash and cash equivalents and we had $28,210 in available bank credit lines. In August and September 2009 we borrowed an aggregate amount of $200,000 from three individual lenders, including $50,000 from Mr. Paul Churnetski, our Vice President of Quality Assurance and the beneficial owner of approximately 9% of our issued and outstanding common stock. These loans bear interest at an annual rate of 18.0% and are due and payable on October 31, 2009. We borrowed these funds to finance part of our working capital investment for a defense order in process. We are negotiating to borrow an additional $100,000 from one or more individual lenders, on the same terms and conditions. We intend to repay all these loans from revenues from the receivables collections from that order or out of the proceeds from this offering if the closing occurs prior to the maturity date.
 
We had a working capital deficit of $2,808,676 as of June 30, 2009 and this deficit will increase by a further amount since that date due to our expected operating losses in our third quarter of fiscal 2009. Our ability to continue operations is currently reliant on the extended support of certain of our major trade suppliers, several of whom have granted us extended credit terms on our accounts payable. Further we have a $500,000 note payable that was due as of January 31, 2009 that has not been repaid as of the date of this prospectus. The lender to date has not


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demanded repayment of this note nor have they agreed to any formal extension. In the event the note holder or a major trade supplier demanded repayment of their overdue accounts payable before the successful closing of this offering, management would be forced to look immediately for other financing resources, which may or may not be available, regardless of terms. If such funds were not readily available management would have to look at restructuring the company, reducing our operations and/or the sale of a portion or all of the company’s assets. As a result without the successful closing of this offering our future as an operating entity would be jeopardy.
 
In May 2009, we were awarded a contract to deliver our Tac-Eye LT® display system to the Air Force’s Battlefield Airman Program. The system has been developed over the last five years with support from various US military commands including the Air Force Research Laboratory, Natick Soldier Center and US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). If the Air Force exercises all of its options under the contract, our revenues under the contract could equal $2,000,000 over the next 19 months.
 
In October 2008, we received approval of a $640,000 government engineering program. We anticipate that the contract relating to this award will be executed and our work on the program will commence in fall 2009. We expect the program to be completed in nine months.
 
As of September 30, 2009 we had approximately $1,287,000 in purchase orders for our defense-related products and night vision drive electronics. Those purchase orders are generally non-cancelable. Backorders for our consumer Video Eyewear products as of September 30, 2009 were $197,000, which is normal for this time of the year for our consumer product sales along with customer anticipation regarding are fall new product releases. We had orders totaling $334,000 for our Tac-Eye Video Eyewear products as of September 30, 2009. We have an engineering program in progress with eventual gross billings of $336,000 which is expected to be completed by November 2009. Since June 30, 2009, our inventory and accounts payable have not changed materially but we expect them to increase during the remainder of 2009 as a result of the seasonal ramp-up for our consumer products, subject to the continued extended support of our suppliers.
 
We believe that if we succeed in raising the minimum gross proceeds from this offering, we will achieve additional growth in sales of our consumer Video Eyewear products and that our defense products should contribute to revenue growth for the remainder of 2009 and beyond. Subject to the closing of this offering, we also anticipate that we will continue to experience increases in our sales and marketing, and general operating expenses throughout the remainder of 2009 and in 2010 but that they should not grow as a percentage of overall sales.


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BUSINESS
 
Company Overview
 
We are engaged in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of devices that are worn like eyeglasses and feature built-in video screens that enable the user to view video and digital content, such as movies, computer data, the Internet or video games. Our products (known commercially as Video Eyewear but also commonly referred to as virtual displays, wearable displays, personal viewers, head mounted displays, or near-to-eye displays) are used to view high-resolution video and digital information from mobile electronic devices, such as cell phones, portable media players, gaming systems and laptop computers. Our products provide the user with a viewing experience that simulates viewing a large screen television or a desktop computer monitor that can be viewed practically anywhere, anytime.
 
Our Video Eyewear products feature high performance miniature display modules, low power electronics and related optical systems. We produce both monocular and binocular Video Eyewear devices that we believe are excellent solutions for uses including many mobile computer, mobile internet devices (MID) or video viewing requirements, including general entertainment applications. We focus on two markets: the consumer markets for gaming and mobile video and rugged mobile displays for defense and industrial applications. We also offer low-vision assist Video Eyewear products that are designed to assist and improve the remaining vision of many people suffering from macular degeneration.
 
Owners of mobile display devices increasingly want to use them to view high-resolution, full color content. The displays currently used in these mobile devices do not work well for this purpose because they are either too small, which makes it extremely difficult for the human eye to view the detail of the images that they display, or they are too large, making the device heavier, larger and difficult to carry. Recently, some mobile devices, like the iPhone, have employed a touch screen with software capable of magnifying or zooming in on a small portion of the image. We believe that many consumers consider this solution unsatisfactory because it is not like their desktop computer viewing experience and they find it difficult to navigate touch screens and to find information on the portion of the image being viewed.
 
In contrast, our Video Eyewear products enable users of many mobile devices to effectively view the entire screen on a small, eyeglass-like device. They can be used as a wearable replacement for any television or desktop computer monitor in almost any environment. Our products employ microdisplays that are smaller than one-inch diagonally, with some as small as one-quarter of an inch. They can display an entire, detailed image with resolution of up to 1280×720 pixels (High Definition or HD). The images on the microdisplay are viewed through proprietary magnifying optics that are usually designed by us and incorporated into our Video Eyewear products. Using these optics and displays, our Video Eyewear products provide a virtual image that appears to be similar to the image on a full size computer screen from a normal desktop working distance or the image on a large flat panel television from normal home TV viewing distance. For example, when magnified through our optics, a high-resolution 0.44-inch diagonal microdisplay can provide a viewing experience comparable to that on a 62-inch diagonal television screen viewed at nine feet.
 
Overall Strategy
 
Our goal is to establish and maintain a leadership position as a worldwide supplier of Video Eyewear and virtual imaging technology solutions. We intend to offer our technologies across major markets, platforms and applications. We will strive to be an innovator in designing virtual display devices that enable new mobile video viewing and general entertainment applications.
 
To maintain and enhance our position as a leading provider of virtual display solutions, we intend to:
 
  •  improve brand name recognition;
 
  •  provide excellent products and service;
 
  •  develop products for large markets;
 
  •  broaden and develop strategic relationships and partnerships;


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  •  promote and enhance development of third party software that can take advantage of our products;
 
  •  expand market awareness for Video Eyewear, including use for Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality;
 
  •  obtain and maintain market leadership and expand customer base;
 
  •  maintain and exploit cost advantage;
 
  •  extend our proprietary technology leadership;
 
  •  enhance and protect our intellectual property portfolio;
 
  •  establish multiple revenue sources;
 
  •  continue to invest in highly qualified personnel;
 
  •  build and maintain strong design capabilities; and
 
  •  leverage our outsourcing model.
 
The Market
 
We believe that there is growing demand for mobile access to high-resolution content in several major markets. Our business focuses on the consumer mobile entertainment and gaming markets and the industrial and defense markets. The demand for personal displays in these markets is being driven by such factors as:
 
  •  Increasing use of the Internet in all aspects of society and business, which is increasing demand for Internet access “anywhere, anytime”.
 
  •  Low cost wireless networks, with significantly increased bandwidths and improved compression of digital media, continue to evolve. They now allow users to view television or access the Internet on mobile devices. However, the relatively lower resolution and larger size of the displays currently used in these mobile devices do not allow the users to take full advantage of the high-resolution content available to them. We believe that our Video Eyewear products are well suited for this purpose.
 
  •  Increased spending by consumers on mobile entertainment devices such as iPods and cellular telephones. We expect that full-featured, cellular handsets with video capabilities will become more widely available and that a single handset will replace today’s separate telephone, PDA, digital camera, handheld game player and MP3 music player. Our Video Eyewear products can provide viewable high-resolution mobile displays for users of these merged devices, with better viewing capability and higher detailed resolution than the small screens on existing mobile devices.
 
  •  Industrial, defense and security sectors are employing mobile communications, sensors and surveillance devices that are light, durable and easy to use but require displaying their high-resolution content on an external device and often in a hands-free way. Our wearable Video Eyewear products can be ideal for this and will allow a user their physical mobility.
 
  •  Video gaming on PCs and consoles continues to grow in North America and around the world. We believe that our Virtual Display technologies will significantly increase user satisfaction with gaming applications by engaging the user through the use of stereoscopic imagery and interactive head tracking. Our Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Video Eyewear are designed to provide this capability.
 
  •  The widening distribution of new three dimensional (3D) movies and other 3D content in North America is creating a need for a method to play this content outside movie theaters. We believe that Video Eyewear, with its inherent dual display design, is well suited for the playback of 3D content. Stereoscopic 3D video playback on Video Eyewear also avoids many of the negative issues commonly encountered by shutter, polarized or color anaglyph glasses used in competing technologies and allows the user to view 3D content without purchasing new computer or television equipment.
 
  •  People with low-vision problems require devices to magnify and capture images that they wish to see and to display them in a manner that they can view with their remaining vision. Our Video Eyewear, with the


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  addition of a camera and digital signal processing in a single device, can provide this capability to many people suffering from certain types of vision problems.
 
Target Markets
 
Our target markets and applications by major sector are:
 
Consumer
 
Entertainment and Internet.  We believe that there is an increasing demand for convenient, high-resolution, 3D displays to view content such as movies, entertainment and the Internet in a mobile environment.
 
Gaming.  We believe that there is a need for high-resolution, interactive, stereoscopic 3D display devices for use with desktop computers, consoles and other gaming products. We believe that gaming on modern mobile devices with small, direct view screen is not a satisfactory experience for many consumers. Our Video Eyewear products are designed to significantly enhance a consumer’s experience by providing larger, high-resolution images with stereoscopic 3D capabilities. We believe that there is also a demand for display devices that enable the user to simulate and experience movement within a three-dimensional environment when using either gaming consoles or mobile devices. We anticipate that Virtual Reality (VR) (which allows a user to interact with a computer-simulated environment, whether that environment is a simulation of the real world or an imaginary world) and Augmented Reality (AR) (which combines real-world and computer-generated data in real time) will become increasingly popular entertainment applications. Both VR and AR are difficult to implement using traditional desktop computer monitors and televisions.
 
Industrial and Defense
 
The US government requires display devices for mobile and hands-free viewing of computer and mapping information, remote viewing of sensor data, and remote viewing of transmissions from targeting systems. These applications currently include:
 
  •  Night vision and thermal sighting systems;
 
  •  Unmanned vehicle and robotic systems; and
 
  •  Training and simulation systems, including AR Video Eyewear.
 
These systems typically are required to provide detailed, high-resolution images, with limited power consumption and low external light emission, and to be durable.
 
Our Video Eyewear products are also used for a number of industrial applications, including as remote camera displays and wearable computer displays, for viewing of industrial thermal signature systems and for providing hands-free access to manuals and other required information in remote and in-field maintenance servicing.
 
Low-vision Assist
 
We believe that our Video Eyewear products may provide solutions for patients suffering from certain types of visual handicaps. Our low-vision assist products are designed to assist patients suffering from macular degeneration by signal processing and re-focusing an integrated camera image into the areas of the retina that are not affected by the patient’s macular degeneration.
 
In the United States, macular degeneration in older people is the leading cause of loss of sight. As an indication of the size of the low-vision assist market, according to US National Eye Institute, there are currently over 1,800,000 Americans suffering from some form of degenerative low-vision disease with an additional 200,000 being diagnosed annually.


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Products
 
We believe we provide the broadest range of consumer Video Eyewear product offerings available in the market and that our products contain the most advanced electronics and optics for their target markets and uses. Our products include:
 
Binocular Video Eyewear Products
 
The features of our binocular Video Eyewear products, including their resolution and apparent display size, microphones, tracking devices and support of three-dimensional viewing are designed to suit consumer applications. Our binocular Video Eyewear products contain two microdisplays, a separate display for each eye, typically mounted in a frame attached to eyeglass style-temples. These products enable mobile and hands-free private viewing of video content on screens that simulate home theater-sized screens. Headphones are built into the temples so that users can listen to accompanying audio in full stereo. They can be employed as mobile high-resolution displays with products such as portable DVD players, laptop computers, MIDs, cellular phones with video output capability, and personal digital media/video players (video iPods).
 
For the consumer markets, we currently produce four binocular Video Eyewear products, all of which support 3D applications. Each has a different apparent display size and native resolution. They are:
 
  •  AV230 XL — QVGA (320x240 three-color pixels) resolution and simulating a 44-inch screen at nine feet.
 
  •  AV310 widescreen — WQVGA (420x240 three-color pixels) resolution and simulating a 52-inch screen at nine feet.
 
  •  AV920 — VGA (640x480 three-color pixels) resolution and simulating a 62-inch screen at nine feet.
 
  •  VR920 — VGA (640x480 three-color pixels) resolution, simulating a 62-inch screen at nine feet, designed to plug into a computer’s USB and video ports, and containing our proprietary three degrees of freedom head tracking technology, which enables the user to look around the environment being displayed by simply moving his or her head. A microphone allows the user to communicate with others. We expect those features to be of particular interest to users playing games using the VR920, but they also can be used in commercial 3D applications and for exploring Internet virtual worlds like Second Life. The VR920 is currently compatible with over 80 titles that work with it out of the box, including popular games such as Microsoft’s Flight Simulator X and World of Warcraft. We currently have over 1000 software developers’ kits being used in applications from college research programs to commercial developers to develop additional titles for the VR920. With the addition of a clip-on camera which we are currently tooling the VR920 can also used in AR applications.
 
We sell our current binocular products into the consumer marketplace under the brand iWear®. At the Consumer Electronics show in January 2009 we introduced our first sunglass styled Video Eyewear product that we will be selling under the Wraptm brand. We plan to introduce two versions of our Wrap optics, including one that will both allow the user to see through to the real world when the display is off or be just partially transparent when the display is on. The first version will not be see-through and we expect it will be introduced by October 2009. We anticipate that by spring 2010 we will be offering a second version with see-through optics and a higher display native resolution that will accept HD inputs and support AR applications and at the same time be backwards compatible to all the VR920 gaming applications already written. We also anticipate that by spring 2010 we will be offering our six degrees of freedom tracking technology, which is currently still in development. That technology is being designed to both accurately track an object’s and the user’s position in 3D virtual space and to combine that tracking capability with translational information about the three rotational axes (roll, yaw, pitch). The addition of this translational information will allow the device to report information about its X, Y and Z position as it moves. This will expand the realism and accuracy for users interacting in a VR or AR environment. We anticipate that our six degrees of freedom tracking technology will be available both separately as an accessory and as a built-in feature of many of our Video Eyewear products.
 
We anticipate that future generations of our Video Eyewear products will have form factors that should be even more appealing to consumers, with appearances and sizes that are more like ordinary sunglasses, and be more


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ergonomic and fashionable. We intend to sell our binocular products into the defense markets and have developed and delivered prototypes of a rugged version for marine applications. We also intend to sell our binocular products for industrial applications that are similar to those in the defense markets and with our new Wraptm line of Video Eyewear we anticipate advanced applications from training and tools for maintenance and repair to interactive product design and development.
 
Monocular Video Eyewear Products
 
Our Tac-Eye® monocular (single eye) high-resolution Video Eyewear models are designed to clip onto a pair of ballistic sunglasses, a head set or conventional safety goggles. They can be used with the large installed base of rugged laptops, security and night vision cameras and thermal night vision sights, including those systems that we currently act as a sub-contractor of display drive electronics to the US defense department. Tac-Eye® enables users to have wearable, private and hands-free access to high-resolution content or information. They enable the viewing of material that is difficult or impossible to accurately view on the lower-resolution direct view screens that are standard on many of these devices without extensive zooming in or panning across the screen.
 
Most of our Tac-Eye® products have an SVGA display and afford a 28 degree field of view, the equivalent of a 20-inch computer screen at three feet. They are also designed to be durable and suitable for defense field use and industrial applications.
 
Defense Sub-Assembly and Custom Solutions
 
We are involved in two programs as part of contracting teams that produce display drive electronic subassemblies for light, medium, and heavy weight thermal weapon systems for US and other defense forces. We produce the display drive electronics as part of these night-vision systems and over the last five years we have delivered over 107,000 systems. These products have accounted for over 50% of our sales in the last two years.
 
We also have provided full optics systems, including head mounted devices, wrist worn displays, human computer interface devices, and wearable computers as prototypes under several armed services test programs. These are being tested in applications such as the remote control of unmanned vehicles. When possible, we obtain a first right of refusal to be the volume manufacturer of our proprietary display subassemblies as part of our contracting process for the custom design of products.
 
Low-vision Assist Products
 
We offer two Video Eyewear products specifically for low-vision assist applications. The first is a bundle of our AV920 Video Eyewear with an external handheld camera that magnifies written information to help a user to read small print. The second consists of binocular Video Eyewear that incorporates a camera and digital signal processor that uses our proprietary digital signal processing algorithms to increase contrast, magnification, color correction, edge detection, histogram flattening, and using other video processing techniques. The image received by the camera is processed, enhanced and transmitted to the displays within the Video Eyewear to be viewed by a user suffering from macular degeneration. These devices are designed to permit many users suffering from macular degeneration to perform a number of normal daily functions, such as reading or signing a check, that they could not perform unaided.
 
Technology
 
We believe that it is important to make substantial investments in research and development to maintain our competitive advantage. The development and procurement of intellectual property rights relating to our technologies is a key aspect of our business strategy. Near-to-eye virtual displays and their components use relatively new technologies. We believe that it is technologically feasible to improve the weight, ergonomics, optical performance, luminance, power efficiency, design compactness, field of view and resolution of the current generation of virtual displays and display components. We expect to continue to improve our products through our ongoing research and development and advancements made by our third party suppliers of key components. We also develop intellectual property through our ongoing performance under engineering service contracts for the US Government. During our fiscal years ended December 31, 2008, December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, we spent $3,366,518,


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$2,365,412 and $1,279,239, respectively, on research and development activities. We expect to continue to increase our research and development expenditures in the future. We have also acquired technologies developed by third parties and we may do so in the future.
 
We believe that the range of our proprietary technologies gives us a significant competitive advantage. Our technologies include motion tracking systems; stereoscopic display assemblies; optic systems; display backlights; mobile and wearable computing devices and user interface technology; low-power electronics; software drivers; and software applications. Our technologies enable us to provide low-cost, small form factor, high-resolution Video Eyewear products. To protect our technologies, we have developed a patent portfolio which consists of:
 
  •  44 total patents issued worldwide;
 
  •  27 US patents issued (12 non-provisional, 15 design);
 
  •  12 US patents pending (3 design, 7 non-provisional, 2 provisional);
 
  •  17 international (non-US) patents issued (15 design, 2 non-provisional);
 
  •  11 international (non-US) patents pending (3 design, 5 non-provisional, 3 applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty); and
 
  •  5 applications in preparation but not yet filed, covering our virtual display technology.
 
Our US patents expire on various dates from May 7, 2010 until September 23, 2024. Our international patents expire on various dates from May 30, 2015 until May 30, 2030.
 
Major technologies that we employ in our products include:
 
Hardware Technology
 
Virtual Display Technology (including Lens Technology and Optics Assemblies)
 
Microdisplay optics represents a significant cost of goods for both us and our competitors. Driving this cost is the significant trade off between the physical size of the microdisplay and the cost of the supporting optics. Smaller displays require larger and more sophisticated optics, while larger displays require less magnification and less complex optics. The smaller a microdisplay is, the less it costs to produce. But the smaller a microdisplay is, the more difficult it is to make optics systems that have no user adjustments, large fields of view and very low distortion specifications. To improve our Video Eyewear’s fashion and ergonomics we are developing thin and lightweight optics that can be integrated with display engines that match conventional eyewear frames in size and weight and provide what we believe are significantly improved ergonomics compared to competing wearable virtual displays.
 
Vuzix Quantum Optic:  We believe we have developed revolutionary “first surface” optics assemblies that include lenses, microdisplays, and backlights, all assembled into a single sub-assembly. This technology permits the production of inexpensive microdisplay engines that provide low-distortion and large field of view images. We expect that this technology will also enable us to produce sunglass-styled Video Eyewear products that will allow the user to see through the display to the real world. We expect to introduce the first of these products in the fourth quarter of 2009 under the Wraptm brand. We have both issued and pending patents with respect to this technology.
 
Vuzix Blade Optic:  We are developing an optical display engine that uses a blade of glass or plastic as a wave guide, which we refer to as the Bladetm. The Blade uses a “projected” image from a conventional microdisplay that is “squeezed” into a thin blade of glass or plastic and, using a proprietary light guide expander, the image exits from the glass in front of the user’s eye. We expect this display engine will provide a large field of view from a very thin lens system. The Blade can also function in see-through applications. Unlike competing wearable virtual displays, a see-through display does not obstruct the wearer’s vision or reduce his awareness of what is happening around him. Video Eyewear employing this display engine will be closer to conventional sunglasses than currently available products in comfort, size, weight and ergonomics. We have filed patent applications with respect to this technology.
 
Holographic Display Engine:  We have numerous patents and patents pending on our new Holographic Display Engine (HSE). The HSE incorporates both a display subsystem and associated optics in a single monolithic design. The image is projected into the edge of a slim piece of glass where it is internally reflected and directed out


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through a holographic element where it appears as a large virtual screen to the user. To date we have successfully prototyped a monochrome version of this display engine in our design lab. If our continued research is successful we believe we should ultimately have a low cost very high-resolution display engine that by price, resolution, weight, form factor and power consumption all should far exceed existing microdisplay technology.
 
Low Power — LCD Drive Electronics:  We believe that our numerous successful designs for the defense market demonstrate that we can design and successfully implement very low-power microdisplay electronics modules. The electronics required to drive advanced microdisplays are a complex and costly piece of a virtual display system. We may develop application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) to further reduce the cost, number of components, and size of our electronics package while improving the performance with various input sources. While costly and complicated to develop, we believe these ASICs could be critical to the success of our cost reduction programs and, once completed, should also create barriers to entry for competitors.
 
Position Tracking:  Our tracking system incorporates patented, multi-axis, “source-less” tracking technology to track the rotational orientation of the user’s head. Using the earth’s magnetic field and gravity as references, a silicon sensor supplies the yaw information and a silicon-based tilt sensor supplies pitch and roll, as well as error correction. We have significantly reduced the cost of tracking with our patented technology as compared to competitive alternative solutions available today. We have also begun development on our 6 degrees of freedom tracker that adds translational tracking about the three rotational axes (roll, yaw, pitch). We believe that cost-effective tracking technology is fundamental to any Virtual and Augmented Reality Video Eyewear system’s success and will help create a significant barrier to entry for the competition.
 
3D Content Delivery
 
Vuzix Automated 3D Watermark:  In response to the proliferation of large-screen, HD home entertainment systems, the motion picture industry has recently begun to invest in stereoscopic 3D technologies to attract theater viewers. Over 5,000 North American movie theaters are being converted to both digital projection and full 3D and production of 3D motion pictures is increasing. Video Eyewear, with its immersive environment and two separate displays, is well suited for viewing 3D content and avoids many of the negative issues typically encountered by shutter, polarized or color anaglyph glasses used in competing technologies such as video color distortion, noticeable flicker, decreased contrast and bleed-through. Currently, in order to effectively display 3D content, the viewer must manually switch the projection system or display device to 3D mode as required by the content. We have developed and have patents pending on a system that does this automatically for the viewer. Using our system, a “watermark” is embedded into the video stream that identifies it as being 3D content. Our Video Eyewear can decode the watermark and reconfigure the Video Eyewear to view the content in 3D without any involvement by the viewer. If the content is not in 3D, the Video Eyewear remains functioning in two-dimensional mode. Our technology can be used with both legacy and advanced Digital Rights Managed (DRM) delivery systems.
 
Vuzix 3D Stereoscopic USB Drivers:  We have developed a USB driver that will allow most 3D titles to work in 3D stereoscopic mode with our PC based Video Eyewear. This driver allows 3D titles that have been and are being created utilizing Microsoft’s Direct X 3D graphics drivers and Open GL, industry standards for entertainment and other 3D graphic applications, to be viewed in stereoscopic 3D using our Video Eyewear. We release support for the 3D titles using “Monitor Software” on a title-by-title basis, typically coincident with added tracking capabilities.
 
General Eyewear Technology
 
Vuzix Ergonomics and Industrial Designs:  We have developed ergonomic technologies that make head-worn displays easier to use in a wide variety of applications. For example, we are currently one of the only producers of Video Eyewear solutions that offers focus adjustment on our products that accommodate many of our users that need glasses for vision correction and at the same time we offer the ability to accommodate glasses for those that need them. We generally file design patents on our more advanced solutions.
 
Software/Firmware Technology
 
We believe that our substantial software portfolio provides a competitive advantage. We have developed an extensive set of Windows XP/Vista 32 and 64 bit drivers, Mac through to WIN CE and .NET drivers and core code


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capability that allows us to efficiently add new feature sets centered around our hardware and their related software products. We anticipate that this software technology will be the foundation for some of our future products. Additionally, we have a base of embedded microprocessor and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) code related to microdisplay drive electronics. We also have a large library of internally developed, copyright-protected software that is used throughout our products. Usable software applications and add-on accessory hardware drivers can greatly increase customer value of our Video Eyewear products.
 
Patents and other Intellectual Property
 
We have a comprehensive intellectual property policy which has as its objectives: (i) the development of new intellectual property both to ensure and further our intellectual property position in relation to personal display technology; and (ii) the maintenance of our valuable trade secrets and know-how. We seek to further achieve these objectives through the commencement of more education and training of our engineering staff and the adoption of appropriate systems and procedures for the creation, identification and protection of intellectual property.
 
Our general practice is to file patent applications for our technology in the United States, Europe and Japan, while inventions which are considered to have the greatest potential are further protected by the filing of patent applications in additional countries, including Canada, Russia and China. We file and prosecute our patent applications in pursuit of the most extensive protection including, where appropriate, the applications of the relevant technology to the broader display industry.
 
We believe that our intellectual property portfolio, coupled with our key supplier relationships and accumulated experience in the personal display field, gives us an advantage over potential competitors. We also believe our copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and patents are critical to our success, and we intend, directly or indirectly, to maintain and protect these. We also rely on proprietary technology, trade secrets, and know-how, which are not patented. To protect our rights in these areas, we require all employees and, where appropriate, contractors, consultants, advisors and collaborators to enter into confidentiality, invention assignment and non-competition agreements.
 
In addition to our various patents, Vuzix currently has 11 registered US trademarks and a total of 27 trademark registrations worldwide.
 
Competitors and Competitive Advantage
 
The personal display industry in which we operate is highly competitive. We compete against both direct view display technology and against near-eye display technology. We believe that the principal competitive factors in the personal display industry include image size, image quality, image resolution, power efficiency, manufacturing cost, weight and dimension, feature implementation, ergonomics and finally the interactive capabilities of the overall display system.
 
Most of our competitors’ products are based on direct view display systems, in which the user views the display device, or screen, directly without magnification. These products have several disadvantages compared to virtual displays and our Video Eyewear products. If the screens are large enough to read as conventional internet page or HD video without external magnification or image zooming, the products must be large and bulky, such as laptops, personal computers or portable DVD players. If the displays are small, such as those incorporated in cellular phones and PDA-like devices, the screens are difficult to read when displaying higher resolution content. Despite the limitations of direct view personal displays, advanced multi-media enabled or smart cellular phones are being produced in ever increasing volumes by a number of manufacturers, including Motorola, Inc., Nokia Corporation, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, Research In Motion Limited, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., LG Electronics and Apple Inc. (Apple). We expect that these large and well-funded companies, as well as newer entrants into the marketplace, will make products that seek to compete with ours based on improvements to their existing direct view display technologies or on new technologies.
 
We also have competitors who produce near eye personal displays or Video Eyewear. However, most of our competitors’ current products lack one of more of the following critical features: advanced optics, video up-scanning, 3D stereoscopic support, on-screen video controls, and tracking. Furthermore, we believe that most of our


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competitors’ near eye products have inferior optics, marginal electronics and poor industrial design and that, as a result, our Video Eyewear products are superior to those of our competitors in both visual performance and ergonomics. They are lightweight and provide high-resolution images. They have convenient and easy to use controls that enable the user to control the display. Our systems are also typically more power-efficient than those of our competitors. We believe that tracking technology is a critical component of any VR or AR system and that our patented tracking technology gives us a competitive advantage in the markets for those systems.
 
Competition — Consumer Products
 
A number of major companies, such as Sony, Olympus Corporation and Canon Inc., produced head worn video display products for the consumer market in the late 1990s. These products were not well accepted by consumers and were ultimately discontinued. We believe that these products were not well accepted because they were ergonomically unsatisfactory and provided only low resolution images and because, at that time, there was little demand for mobile Video Eyewear. When these products were available, video content was generally stored on video tape and could only be viewed by playing the videotape on a videotape recorder connected to a television. Currently there are a number of smaller companies that have products which compete with our Video Eyewear products. Our major competitors are MyVu, Zeiss, i-O Display Systems, LLC, DaeYang Co., Ltd., Cybermind Interactive Nederland, Mirage Innovations, Ltd., Lumus, Shenzhen Oriscape Electronic Co., Ltd., Microvision Corporation (Microvision) and Kopin.
 
Kopin began offering QVGA and VGA binocular display modules (BDM) complete with drive electronics to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in 2006. Those modules are designed for easy customization by OEMs and include microdisplays, backlights, optics and drive electronics. The availability of those BDMs has greatly reduced the investment required for new competitors to enter the business. To date, the Kopin products have been primarily used by Asian-based Video Eyewear manufacturers. Kopin does not currently compete with Vuzix at the retail level. Kopin is our primary supplier of microdisplays.
 
In addition to numerous Asian-based companies using Kopin BDMs, we currently have two principal competitors in the consumer Video Eyewear market: MyVu and Zeiss.
 
  •  MyVu has based its most recent product line on an optic design that results in relatively small virtual image sizes. While this allows for a smaller form factor, it does not provide the large virtual image that we believe consumers desire from Video Eyewear products. Images on our Video Eyewear products appear as much as four times larger than those on MyVu products. MyVu products also do not currently support 3D, VGA video from a PC or tracking. Finally, MyVu does not have a Video Eyewear product designed specifically for the gaming market.
 
  •  Zeiss introduced its first Video Eyewear product in the spring of 2008. This product is bigger and bulkier than ours and we believe it will be less acceptable in the mobile markets. And while Zeiss does provide some level of 3D video support, it does not currently offer PC products nor does it support the tracking technology that would allow its products to be interactive.
 
There are also several Chinese manufacturers offering Video Eyewear products that have one or more of the deficiencies described above.
 
Competition — Industrial and Defense
 
Although several companies produce monocular Video Eyewear, we believe that opportunities for sales of their products to date have been limited. So far, the market opportunity outside of the night vision products has been limited primarily to trial tests, rather than commercial volume purchases for defense and industrial applications. We are aware of only very limited commercial volume purchases in the defense and industrial markets. Our current competitors in these markets are Liteye Systems, Inc., Lumus, Shimadzu Corporation, Microvision, Kopin, Creative Display Systems, LLC, OASYS Technology, LLC, Rockwell Collins, Inc. and its subsidiary Kaiser. Some of these companies are currently shipping product and others have only introduced prototypes and/or are offering only limited sample quantities. We expect that we will encounter competition in the future from major


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suppliers of imaging and information products for defense application, including DRS Technologies, Inc. (DRS), Insight Technology Incorporated, Raytheon Company and BAE Systems, Inc.
 
There is competition in all classes of products manufactured by us, including from divisions of the large companies, as well as many small companies. Our sales do not represent a significant share of the industry’s market for any class of its products. The principal points of competition for electronic products of both a defense and industrial nature include, among other factors: price, product performance, the experience of the particular company and history of its dealings in such products. We, as well as other companies engaged in supplying equipment for military use, are subject to various risks, including, without limitation, dependence on US and foreign government appropriations and program allocations, the competition for available military business, and government termination of orders for convenience.
 
We believe that most of the monocular Video Eyewear products offered by our competitors are inferior to ours because they are bulky, have small image sizes with poor optics and/or are currently priced higher than our products.
 
Competition — Low-Vision Assist
 
The majority of competitors in the low-vision assist market offer magnification systems that consist of a large desktop television or computer screen that displays a magnified version of an image captured by a hand scanner or stationary camera. Over 30 companies currently offer such vision tools. The largest providers are Enhanced Vision Inc. (Enhanced Vision) (which markets its product under the Merlin brand name), MagniSight, Inc., Optelec Holding B.V., REHAN Electronics Ltd. (which markets it product under the Affinity brand name), Beirley Associates, Inc., Telesensory Corporation and eSight Corporation. Although the products offered by these companies can provide effective low-vision assistance to many users, they are not mobile and they are often difficult to use. They generally require the user to sit in front of the large screen to view the image. Recently, some companies, including Enhanced Vision, have introduced mobile digital magnifiers that include a camera and an integrated six-inch LCD screen. Enhanced Vision’s product is marketed under the Amigo brand. We do not believe that any of these competitive products offers the flexibility of usage, portability and some of the advanced digital video signal processing capabilities of our LV920. Moreover, the utility of all of the other competitive tools is generally limited to reading, whereas the LV920, which employs a wearable camera and is mobile, can also be used for many other normal vision applications.
 
In the wearable low-vision assist market, our competitors are manufacturers of optical loops and head worn optical systems and one manufacturer of a digital magnifying system similar to our LV920. The optical loops are usually worn by dentists, doctors, and jewelry makers for their fine work, and have gained limited use in the low-vision assist market due to their lack of signal processing and image brightness issues. The competitive digital magnifier is manufactured by Enhanced Vision and is sold under the Jordy and Maxport brand names. While the Enhanced Vision product has been sold for several years now, its market penetration has been limited. We believe our low-vision assist product is more ergonomic and offers more advanced digital video signal processing techniques than those manufactured by Enhanced Vision.
 
Sales and Marketing
 
Sales
 
Our sales strategy is to introduce our products to the widest possible audience within our target markets. We focus today on the consumer and industrial and defense markets. Historically, most of our sales efforts were directed toward obtaining contracts to provide custom engineering solutions and products for the defense and industrial markets. However, in 2005, as our products and technology evolved, we began to also sell standard Video Eyewear products for the consumer markets. In fall 2008, we began offering products for the low-vision assist market.
 
We have separate marketing and sales strategies for each of our target markets. We have an internal sales force of five people. We regularly attend industry trade shows in our markets and have begun establishing some level of separate branding for both of our divisions. The consumer division sells under the Vuzix name and the industrial and defense division under the Tac-Eye® name.


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During the years 2008 and 2007, 63.8% and 67.6% of our sales were derived from providing goods and services to the US government, directly and indirectly. Of those amounts, 80.7% in fiscal 2008 and 20.7% in 2007 were derived from subcontracts with Kopin and DRS, and we are dependent upon continuing to be engaged as a subcontractor to them. We derived 35.4% of our sales from consumer Video Eyewear products in fiscal 2008 and 32.4% and 21.2% in fiscal 2007 and 2006 respectively.
 
Marketing
 
Our marketing group is responsible for product management, planning, advertising, marketing communications, and public relations. We intend to become known as the premier supplier of Video Eyewear in the consumer markets, where our products are currently sold under the iWear® brand. We also intend to become known as the premier supplier of virtual display technology and systems for the industrial, defense, and low-vision assist markets. We employ public relations firms in both the United States and England and a marketing firm to help convey our message through brochures, packaging, tradeshow messaging and advertising campaigns. We plan to undertake specific marketing activities as needed, including, but not limited to:
 
  •  product reviews, case studies and promotions in trade publications;
 
  •  enhancement and maintenance of our Website;
 
  •  Internet and web page advertising and targeted emails;
 
  •  public relations, print advertising, catalogs and point of purchase displays
 
  •  trade shows and sponsorships;
 
  •  co-marketing relationships with relevant companies in selected markets; and
 
  •  Internet awareness and outreach activities.
 
Industrial and Defense
 
We primarily solicit and manage our government/defense products and engineering services directly. We expect to continue to obtain business through marketing our existing reputation within the defense markets for quality, precision electronics for defense night vision and thermal weapons systems. We believe this market to be a relationship and “word of mouth” market in which large contracts are generally awarded only to those who have performed well on previous contracts. We employ, and expect to continue to employ, a Washington-based lobbying firm to help increase our visibility as a potential supplier in these markets and to assist us in uncovering new sales opportunities. We also act as a value added supplier, supplying our products to major defense suppliers, such as iRobot and DRS, to complement their products so that they can offer a complete turn-key solution to their potential defense customers. We are attempting to expand such partnerships and co-marketing agreements with government- and defense-focused value added resellers and system integrators, for our Tac-Eye® product lines. We market our products primarily through our own direct sales organization. Business is solicited from large industrial manufacturers and defense companies, the US government and foreign governments and major foreign electronic equipment companies. In certain countries we have and will use external sales representatives to help solicit and coordinate foreign contracts. We are also on the eligible list of contractors of many agencies of the US Department of Defense and may now be solicited by such agencies for procurement needs falling within the major classes of products we produce. We also search the various government contract offering sites for procurement programs in which we believe we are qualified to participate.
 
Consumer
 
We engage in a variety of marketing efforts that are intended to drive customers to our products and to grow awareness of our consumer products and Video Eyewear in general. Public relations is an important aspect of our


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marketing and we intend to continue to distribute samples of our products to key industry participants. We currently plan to focus our marketing efforts for the next 12 months on:
 
  •  distinguishing the Video Eyewear product category from current competitors and legacy head mounted displays;
 
  •  building consumer acceptance and momentum around the new Video Eyewear category;
 
  •  creating awareness of the benefits of Video Eyewear as compared to existing technologies; and
 
  •  creating brand awareness of the Vuzix, iWear® and Wraptm brands.
 
Our Video Eyewear and VR Video Eyewear products are currently sold directly to consumers, through select specialty retailers, through catalogue offerings and through third party North American distributors including D&H and Wynit. Our products are currently sold by the following US based resellers: SkyMall, Brookstone, Hammacher Schlemmer, Amazon and Micro Center. Our website, www.vuzix.com is an important part of our direct sales efforts.
 
If our marketing efforts are successful and our sales volume increase we expect that most of our products will then be sold through the traditional consumer electronics and PC mass-market distribution channels and to a smaller extent from our current specialty retailers. Therefore, we intend to spend the majority of our marketing budget during this phase on website, direct sales support and on reseller incentives and support. For resellers with physical retail locations we began offering in the US, point of purchase systems that include a video frame running a slide show presentation on the products as well as an integrated fully functional Video Eyewear product that allows potential customers to use our products.
 
We may also explore and consider OEM and licensing relationships with manufacturing partners, consumer electronics firms, and mobile phone makers.
 
We intend to sell our products internationally through our growing network of international distributors. Our distributorships are being established on a country by country basis, where market size allows. Normally, we appoint two or more distributors in each area. However, in August 2009, we entered into a long-term exclusive distribution arrangement for the Chinese marketplace with a single distributor. This agreement is subject to minimum funding and annual sales volume requirements. Under this agreement, the distributor has the option, subject to its achievement of unit sales volume thresholds, to manufacture some of products under license directly in China for that marketplace only.
 
Our initial international focus was on Japan. In late 2007 we opened a branch sales and service office in Tokyo, staffed by two full-time personnel. In addition to supporting local resellers and distributors and providing end user customer support, we are seeking new sales channels and partnerships with software and hardware solution providers in Japan.
 
To serve the EU market, in spring 2008 we established a wholly owned subsidiary, Vuzix (Europe) Limited, through which to conduct our business. As of June 30, 2009 we had resellers in 23 countries that had placed orders with us in the last six months. While we do not currently maintain a European office, we have contracted with a third-party end user technical support firm and fulfillment center to service our customers in the EU. We have also retained a sales consultant (who acts as our European Director of Operations), a UK public relations firm and a mobile applications consultant to provide us with advice regarding the European cellular phone market.
 
Low-Vision Assist
 
We intend to market our low-vision assist products through low-vision clinics, catalogs and the Internet. Our research indicates that most low-vision sufferers visit a low-vision clinic after visiting a retinal specialist (of which there are approximately 2,000 in the United States) or after a low-vision examination at an optometrist or ophthalmologist. We intend to develop an awareness campaign aimed at retina specialists and to provide demonstration systems and brochures at low-vision clinics, which are the most common purchase point for low-vision assist products. An internal sales force and independent sales representatives will be used to sell our products through and to those clinics. We intend to test our products against other low-vision aids and publish the results in medical journals and present them at medical conventions. There are at least five major trade shows each


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year for retina specialists in North America and we intend to exhibit both our products and present the results of our testing at those shows.
 
Manufacturing
 
Currently, we purchase product components from our suppliers and perform the final assembly of our Video Eyewear products ourselves in our Rochester, New York facility. We are experienced in the successful production of our products in moderate volumes. We expect to continue to perform final assembly of our Video Eyewear products ourselves over the short term. However, if our assembly volume increases and cost effective third party sourcing becomes feasible, we anticipate that we will outsource the bulk of the final assembly, with the possible exception of certain critical optical and display components.
 
We currently purchase almost all of the microdisplays used in our products from Kopin and eMagin. Kopin accounts for approximately 95% of our microdisplays by unit volume. Our relationships with both Kopin and eMagin generally are on a purchase order basis and neither supplier has a contractual obligation to provide adequate supply or acceptable pricing on a long-term basis. We estimate that products incorporating Kopin microdisplays will account for approximately 46% of our sales in 2009 and products incorporating eMagin microdisplays will account for approximately 20% of our sales in 2009. We procure increasing percentages of our microdisplays from other sources, but they are very limited currently. While we do not manufacture our components, we own the tooling that is used to make our custom components (with the exception of Apple iPod authentication chips and connectors that we acquire directly under license from Apple). We do not believe that we are dependent on our relationships with any supplier other than Kopin and eMagin in order to continue to operate our business effectively. Some of our accessory products, such as screen-less portable DVD players and mouse based camera systems are sourced from third parties as finished goods. We typically have them print our Vuzix brand name on the products. Such third party products represent less than 2% of our sales in 2008.
 
We are committed to globally sourcing all our components to minimize product costs. We anticipate that procuring assembled products from third parties will result in decreased labor force requirements, capital equipment costs, component inventories, and the cost of maintaining inventories of work in progress. We generally procure components and products from our vendors on a purchase order basis without any long-term commitments. We currently use several Asian manufacturing sources, where we have located some of our tooling.
 
Employees
 
As of the date of this prospectus, we had 52 full-time employees in North America: seven in sales and marketing, distribution, and customer service; 17 in research and development and engineering services support; 20 in manufacturing, operations and purchasing; one in quality assurance; and seven in finance, management, and administration. We also work with a group of sub-contractors mainly for industrial, mechanical and optical design assistance in the Rochester, New York area, some of which have been continually contracted over the last 36 months. In Japan we have two full-time employees and in the UK we have one full-time contractor to manage our European sales and marketing activities.
 
Facilities
 
Our manufacturing facility, consisting of approximately 8,800 square feet, is located at 2166 Brighton Henrietta Townline Road, Rochester, New York 14623, and our research and development, sales and administration offices, consisting of approximately 9,600 square feet, are located in two different suites at 75 Town Centre Drive, Rochester, New York 14623. We currently pay approximately $65,000 per year in rent for our manufacturing facility and $110,000 per year for our research and development, sales and administration offices. The manufacturing facility is leased on a calendar year term and we expect to renew the lease on substantially the same terms prior to its expiration at the end of 2009. We currently occupy the suite on which our lease expired on a month-to-month basis. Our lease on both our office suites expires in June 2010.
 
We believe that each of our facilities is in good operating condition and will adequately serve our needs for at least the next 12 months. Subject to the successful completion of this offering, we intend to start re-consolidating our facilities. This will be done for efficiency reasons. We anticipate that, if required, suitable additional or


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alternative space would be available on commercially reasonable terms to accommodate expansion of our operations.
 
Legal Proceedings
 
As at the date of this prospectus, we are not a party to, and our property is not the subject of, any legal proceedings, and we are not aware of any such proceedings contemplated by or against us or our property.
 
There have been no penalties or sanctions imposed against us by a court relating to Canadian provincial and territorial securities legislation or by a Canadian securities regulatory authority within the three years immediately preceding the date of this prospectus.
 
There have been no penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body against us that are necessary to be described herein for the prospectus to contain full, true and plain disclosure of all material facts relating to the securities being distributed, nor have we entered into any settlement agreements before a court relating to Canadian provincial and territorial securities legislation within the three years immediately preceding the date of this prospectus.
 
History
 
We were incorporated in Delaware in 1997 as VR Acquisition Corp. In 1997, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Forte Technologies, Inc. (Forte), which was engaged in the manufacture and sale of virtual reality headsets and the development of related technologies. It was originally owned and controlled by Kopin, our main current microdisplay supplier. Most of the technologies developed by Forte are now owned and used by us.
 
Thereafter in 1997 we changed our name to Kaotech Corporation. In 1998 we changed our name to Interactive Imaging Systems, Inc. In 2004 we changed our name to Vicuity Corporation and then to Icuiti Corporation. In 2007, we changed to our current name, Vuzix Corporation. None of these name changes were the result of a change in our ownership control.
 
Our corporate offices are located at 75 Town Centre Drive, Rochester, New York 14623. Our phone number is (585) 359-5900. The URL for our website is www.vuzix.com. The information contained on, connected to or that can be accessed via our website is not part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus as an inactive textual reference only and not as an active hyperlink.


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MANAGEMENT
 
Executive Officers, Key Employees, Directors and Director Nominees
 
Below are the names, ages and positions held with us of our executive officers, key employees, directors and directors elect.
 
             
Name
 
Age
 
Position(s)
 
Paul J. Travers
    47     CEO, President and Director
Grant Russell
    56     CFO, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Director
Vincent J. Ferrer
    37     Director of Engineering
Paul Churnetski
    61     Vice President — Quality Assurance
Gary VanCamp
    62     Vice President — Low-Vision Assist Products
Steven D. Ward
    48     Controller
Stephen J. Glaser
    37     Vice President — Sales & Marketing — Defense
Mike Hallett
    36     Director Sales — Consumer
Peter Artz
    40     Director of Manufacturing
William Lee
    56     Director
Frank Zammataro
    51     Director Elect
Kathryn Sayko
    42     Director Elect
Bernard Perrine
    46     Director Elect
 
Executive Officers
 
Paul J. Travers was the founder of Vuzix and has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since 1997 and as a member of our board of directors since November 1997. Prior to the formation of Vuzix, Mr. Travers founded both e-Tek Labs, Inc. and Forte Technologies Inc. He has been a driving force behind the development of our products for the consumer market. With more than 20 years experience in the consumer electronics field, and 13 years experience in the virtual reality and virtual display fields, he is a nationally recognized industry expert. He holds an Associate degree in engineering science from Canton, ATC and a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical and computer engineering from Clarkson University. Mr. Travers resides in Honeoye Falls, New York, United States.
 
Grant Russell has served as our Chief Financial Officer since 2000 and as a member of our board of directors since April 2009. From 1997 to 2004, Mr. Russell developed and subsequently sold a successful software firm and a new concept computer store and cyber café. In 1984, he co-founded Advanced Gravis Computer (Gravis), which, under his leadership as President, grew to become the world’s largest PC and Macintosh joystick manufacturer with sales of $44,000,000 worldwide and 220 employees. Gravis was listed on NASDAQ and the Toronto Stock Exchange. In September 1996 it was acquired by a US-based Fortune 100 company in a successful public tender offer. Mr. Russell holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in finance from the University of British Columbia and is both a US Certified Public Accountant and a Canadian Chartered Accountant. Mr. Russell resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
 
Key Employees
 
Paul J. Churnetski — Mr. Churnetski held the position of Vice President of Manufacturing from November 1997 to December 2005, when he became Vice President of Quality Assurance at Vuzix. Mr. Churnetski was also a member of our board of directors from November 1997 to August 2007. He was previously employed with medical manufacturers Fisons Corp. and Pennwalt Corp., where he held senior positions in the areas of technical operations, quality assurance, manufacturing, and information technology. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York, College at Geneseo, and was previously certified as a Quality Engineer. Mr. Churnetski resides in Henrietta, New York, United States.


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Vincent J. Ferrer has served as our Director of Engineering since September 2005. Mr. Ferrer is responsible for directing our research and development team as well as managing our intellectual property portfolio and regulatory affairs for markets served. From July 1993 to September 2005, Mr. Ferrer was an engineer and project manager at Belkin Components, Inc. Mr. Ferrer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology. Mr. Ferrer resides in Pittsford, New York, United States.
 
Gary VanCamp has been with us since March 2004 and has served as our Vice President — Low-vision Assist Products since August 2007. Prior to joining us, Mr. VanCamp was a Project Manager — World Wide Training (Sales and Marketing Department) at Intel Corporation from January 1998 through July 2003. His more than 25 years of electronics engineering, manufacturing, and project management experience includes project management, Vice President of Engineering positions and extensive hardware design and development experience. Mr. VanCamp holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical/electronics engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology. Mr. VanCamp resides in Rochester, New York, United States.
 
Steven D. Ward has served as our Controller since January 1998. Mr. Ward, formerly a Certified Public Accountant, is responsible for all of our accounting and human resource services. Mr. Ward’s previous experience includes positions as Controller/Tax Manager for AM&M Companies, a financial services firm, and as a principal in a regional certified public accounting firm. Mr. Ward holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the State University of New York, College at Fredonia. Mr. Ward resides in Rochester, New York, United States.
 
Stephen J. Glaser has served as our Vice President Sales & Marketing — Defense and Industrial since January 2000. Prior to joining Vuzix, Mr. Glaser worked in sales with Johnson & Johnson. Mr. Glaser holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and business administration from State University of New York, Empire State College. Mr. Glaser resides in Pittsford, New York, United States.
 
Michael Hallett has been with us since May 2005 and has served as our Director of Sales — Consumer since October 2008. From June 2004 to May 2005, Mr. Hallett was a sales manager at Wards Natural Science. Prior to that position, Mr. Hallett held sales positions at Unisys Corporation and Paychex, Inc. Mr. Hallett holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing and a minor in economics from the State University of New York, College at Brockport. Mr. Hallett resides in Canandaigua, New York, United States.
 
Peter Artz has been with us since February 2005 and has served as our Director of Manufacturing since October 2006. Mr. Artz is responsible for directing our Production, Manufacturing Engineering and Purchasing activities. Prior to joining Vuzix, Mr. Artz was with ECR Software Corporation for one year as a manufacturing analyst. Prior to joining ECR Software he was with PSC Inc. for eight years as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, developing laser barcode scanners. Mr. Artz holds a Bachelor of Science degree in manufacturing engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology. Mr. Artz resides in Penfield, New York, United States.
 
Director
 
William Lee has served as a member of our board of directors since June 2009. Mr. Lee has been self-employed as a financial consultant since May 2008. From January 2006 to May 2008, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Jinshan Gold Mines Inc., a mining company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. From July 2004 to January 2006, he was engaged as a business analyst for Ivanhoe Energy Inc., a Toronto Stock Exchange and NASDAQ-listed company, and Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. Vancouver, an independent international heavy oil development and production company with operations in Canada, the United States, China, and Ecuador and listed on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges. Mr. Lee spent nine years engaged in the practice of public accounting with the firm of Deloitte & Touche. Mr. Lee is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia. Mr. Lee also currently serves as a director of Tinka Resources Ltd., Halo Resources Ltd., both of which are listed on the TSX-V, and Golden Peaks Resources Ltd., which is listed on the TSX. Mr. Lee resides in Delta, British Columbia, Canada.
 
Directors Elect
 
Frank Zammataro has been elected, and has agreed to serve, as a member of our board of directors upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Mr. Zammataro is the President of


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Rentricity, Inc., a privately held, renewable energy company which he founded in 2003. Prior to founding that business, Mr. Zammataro served as Chief Marketing Officer of w-Technologies, Inc., a wireless solutions start-up which provided a software platform and applications framework for companies developing consumer-based wireless services. From 1979 through 2000, he was employed by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., where in his last position he led the Internet-related market and services development activities. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications arts and political science from St. John’s University. Mr. Zammataro resides in Chatham, New Jersey, United States.
 
Kathryn Sayko has been elected, and has agreed to serve, as a member of our board of directors upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Ms. Sayko is a Managing Director of J.P. Morgan, Inc., most recently serving as its Head of North East Middle Market Investment Banking Coverage. Ms. Sayko has been employed by J.P. Morgan since 1993. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from James Madison University School of Business and a Master of Business Administration degree from New York University, Stern School of Business. Ms. Sayko resides in New York City, New York, United States.
 
Bernard Perrine has been elected, and has agreed to serve, as a member of our board of directors upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Mr. Perrine, one of the founders of Kinko’s Inc., has been self-employed as a business consultant since December 2007. From October 2006 through November 2007, Mr. Perrine served as Vice President — U.S. Sales and Marketing of Rexel, Inc., an electrical distribution company. From November 2005 through May 2006, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Telezygology, Inc., a start-up provider of intelligent fastening technologies. From August 2004 through September 2005, he was a Worldwide General Manager for Microsoft, Inc. Prior to August 2004, Mr. Perrine was Worldwide Vice President/General Manager, Digital & Film Imaging Systems for Eastman Kodak Co. He is in the process of completing a Bachelor of Science degree in management from the University of Akron. Mr. Perrine resides in Lincolnshire, Illinois, United States.
 
Each of our directors serves, and each of our directors elect shall serve, until the next annual meeting of our stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, subject to his or her earlier removal or resignation.
 
Indebtedness of Directors and Executive Officers
 
As of the date of this prospectus, no amount is owed to us or any of our subsidiaries by any of our directors, directors elect or executive officers.
 
As of the date hereof and during the fiscal period ended December 31, 2008, there was no indebtedness owing to us in connection with the purchase of securities or other indebtedness by any of our current or former executive officers, directors or employees except as described below under the “Related Party Transactions — Officer Loan.”
 
No individual who is, or at any time during our most recent completed fiscal year was, a director or officer of our company, none of our directors elect, or any associate of any one of them is, or at any time since the beginning of our most recent completed fiscal year has been, indebted to us (other than in respect of amounts which would constitute routine indebtedness) or was indebted to another entity, which such indebtedness is, or was at any time during our most recent completed fiscal year, the subject of a guarantee, support agreement, letter of credit or other similar arrangement or understanding provided by us except as described below under the “Related Party Transactions — Officer Loan.”
 
Family Relationships
 
There is no family relationship between or among any of our directors, directors elect or executive officers.
 
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
 
During the past five years, none of our directors, directors elect, executive officers, promoters or control persons has: (1) filed a petition under the federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law, nor had a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer appointed by a court for the business or present of such a person, or any partnership in which he was a general partner at or within two years before the time of such filing, or any corporation or business


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association of which he was an executive officer within two years before the time of such filing; (2) was convicted in a criminal proceeding or named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses); (3) was the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining him from or otherwise limiting the following activities: (i) acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment advisor, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director of any investment company, or engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with such activity; (ii) engaging in any type of business practice; (iii) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any violation of federal or state securities laws or federal commodity laws; (4) was the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any federal or state authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days the right of such person to engage in any activity described in clause (3) above, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity; (5) was found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC to have violated any federal or state securities law and the judgment in subsequently reversed, suspended or vacate; or (6) was found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to have violated any federal commodities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the CFTC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated.
 
Cease Trade Orders, Bankruptcies and Penalties and Sanctions
 
None of our directors, directors elect, officers or control persons is, or within the ten years prior to the date of this prospectus has been, (a) a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any issuer (including us) that, (i) was subject to an order that was issued while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or (ii) was subject to an order that was issued after that person ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; or (b) a director or executive officer of any company (including us) that, while that person was acting in that capacity, or within a year of that person ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets. For the purposes of this paragraph, “order” means a cease trade order, an order similar to a cease trade order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation, in each case that was in effect for a period of more than 30 consecutive days.
 
None of our directors, directors elect, officers or control persons has been subject to any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation or by a securities regulatory authority or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority or has been subject to any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body which would be important to a reasonable investor making an investment decision.
 
None of our directors, directors elect, officers or control persons (or a personal holding company of any such person) is, or within the ten years prior to the date of this prospectus has become, bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or has been subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold his assets.
 
Conflicts of Interest
 
Certain of our proposed directors are also directors of other public companies and our existing and proposed directors and officers are or may be shareholders of other public companies. Accordingly, conflicts of interest may arise between such persons’ duties as directors and officers of Vuzix and their positions as directors and shareholders of such other companies. All such possible conflicts are required to be disclosed in accordance with the requirements of applicable corporate law and the directors and officers are required to act in accordance with the obligations imposed on them by law.


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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
Summary Compensation Table
 
The following table sets forth information for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 concerning compensation of (i) the one individual serving as our principal executive officer during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and (ii) the one individual serving as our principal financial officer during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (collectively, the “named executive officers”):
 
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
                                                 
                      Stock
    All Other
       
          Salary
    Bonus
    Awards
    Compensation
    Total
 
Name and Principal Position
  Year     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)  
 
Paul J. Travers, President and
    2008     $ 200,000                       $ 200,000  
Chief Executive Officer
    2007     $ 142,460                       $ 142,460  
Grant Russell, Chief Financial
    2008     $ 175,000                 $ 24,571 (1)   $ 199,571  
Officer & Executive Vice President
    2007     $ 127,407                 $ 23,309 (1)   $ 150,716  
 
 
(1) Consists of amounts paid to Mr. Russell as a reimbursement for the rental of an automobile and direct travel to and from his residence in Vancouver, Canada to Rochester.
 
Employment Agreements
 
Paul J. Travers
 
On August 1, 2007, we entered into an employment agreement with Paul J. Travers providing for his continued service as our Chief Executive Officer and President. Under the agreement, Mr. Travers is entitled to an initial annual base salary of $200,000, subject to increases in the sole discretion of the board of directors, and upon the initial public offering of common stock an annual base salary of $300,000 or such greater amount as shall be determined by the board of directors. He is also eligible to receive such periodic, annual or other bonuses as the board of directors in its sole discretion shall determine and to participate in all bonus plans established for our senior executives. The agreement also provides that Mr. Travers may be awarded, in the sole discretion of the board of directors, stock options and other awards under any plan or arrangement for which our senior executives are eligible. The level of his participation in any such plan or arrangement shall be determined by the board of directors in its sole discretion. To the greatest extent permissible under the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) and the regulations thereunder, options granted to Mr. Travers shall be incentive stock options within the meaning Section 422 of the Code. He is also eligible to participate in all employee benefit plans which are generally available to our senior executives and entitled to receive fringe benefits and perquisites comparable to those of our other senior executives.
 
Mr. Travers’ employment under the agreement shall continue indefinitely until terminated by him or by us. In the event that his employment is terminated by us other than for “cause” (as defined in the agreement), by him for “good reason” (as defined in the agreement) or upon his death or “disability” (as defined in the agreement), Mr. Travers shall be entitled to be paid, in addition to any base salary and bonuses then accrued and unpaid, and his then current base salary for 24 months after the date of termination and the entire bonus that would have been payable pursuant to any agreement, understanding, arrangement or plan in which he is entitled to participate for the year in which the termination of his employment occurred as if he had been employed for the entire year, provided that, in the opinion of the board of directors, he is likely to have met any bonus plan goals for the relevant period had he not been terminated. As a condition to our obligation to make any such payment, we, in our sole discretion, may require Mr. Travers to release us and our officers, directors, employees, and agents, from any and all claims and causes of action, including, but not limited to those arising from his employment and the termination of his employment. In the event of such termination, all stock options, restricted stock grants, stock appreciation rights and other similar awards held by Mr. Travers at the date of termination shall immediately vest, the period during which any options or rights relating to such grants may be exercised shall be the longer of the date specified in such


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grants or the date that is thirty (30) days after the end of the 24-month period following the date of termination and will, in all other respects, continue to be governed by, and continued in accordance with, their applicable plan and grant documents. In the event that Mr. Travers’s employment is terminated by us for cause or by him other than for good reason, Mr. Travers shall be entitled to be paid only any base salary then accrued and unpaid and annual bonus amounts for any fiscal year completed prior to the date of termination and we shall have no further obligations to him.
 
In the event of a “change of control” (as defined in the agreement), any unvested stock options held by Mr. Travers shall be fully vested and become immediately exercisable. Such options shall remain exercisable for the period remaining under the relevant stock option agreement and shall not have a shortened period of exercisability as a result of the change of control, except for statutory stock options which shall, at Mr. Travers’s election, (i) expire 90 days after his termination (or one year after his termination upon his death or permanent and total disability) or (ii) be converted into non-qualified stock options expiring at the end of the entire term of such option under the relevant stock option agreement. Additionally, if Mr. Travers is terminated within one year of a change of control for any reason other than by us for cause, or if he elects to terminate his employment (whether or not for good reason) after the expiration of 120 days after and on or before the two-year anniversary of a change of control, Mr. Travers shall be entitled to be paid, in addition to any base salary and bonuses then accrued and unpaid, and his then current base salary for 48 months after the date of termination and the entire bonus that would have been payable pursuant to any agreement, understanding, arrangement or plan in which he is entitled to participate for the year in which the termination of his employment occurred as if he had been employed for the entire year, provided that, in the opinion of the board of directors, he is likely to have met any bonus plan goals for the relevant period had he not been terminated.
 
Under his agreement, we are obligated to reimburse Mr. Travers for the costs of an automobile at the rate of $750 per month and for all actual, reasonable and customary expenses incurred in the course of his employment in accordance with our policies as then in effect. Mr. Travers is subject to certain restrictive covenants under the agreement, including a covenant not to compete for 24 months after his termination for any reason other than by him for good reason or by us without cause and for 48 months after his termination if such termination results in our obligation to pay him the change of control payment described above.
 
Grant Russell
 
On August 1, 2007, we entered into an employment agreement with Grant Russell providing for his continued service as our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President. Under the agreement, Mr. Russell is entitled to an initial annual base salary of $175,000, subject to increases in the sole discretion of the board of directors, and upon the initial public offering of common stock an annual base salary of $275,000 or such greater amount as shall be determined by the board of directors. He is also eligible to receive such periodic, annual or other bonuses as the board of directors in its sole discretion shall determine and to participate in all bonus plans established for our senior executives. The agreement also provides that Mr. Russell may be awarded, in the sole discretion of the board of directors, stock options and other awards under any plan or arrangement for which our senior executives are eligible. The level of his participation in any such plan or arrangement shall be determined by the board of directors in its sole discretion. To the greatest extent permissible under the Code and the regulations thereunder, options granted to Mr. Russell shall be incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. He is also eligible to participate in all employee benefit plans which are generally available to our senior executives and entitled to receive fringe benefits and perquisites comparable to those of our other senior executives.
 
Mr. Russell’s employment under the agreement shall continue indefinitely until terminated by him or by us. In the event that his employment is terminated by us other than for “cause” (as defined in the agreement), by him for “good reason” (as defined in the agreement) or upon his death or “disability” (as defined in the agreement), Mr. Russell shall be entitled to be paid, in addition to any base salary and bonuses then accrued and unpaid, and his then current base salary for 24 months after the date of termination and the entire bonus that would have been payable pursuant to any agreement, understanding, arrangement or plan in which he is entitled to participate for the year in which the termination of his employment occurred as if he had been employed for the entire year, provided that, in the opinion of the board of directors, he is likely to have met any bonus plan goals for the relevant period had he not been terminated. As a condition to our obligation to make any such payment, we, in our sole discretion, may


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require Mr. Russell to release us and our officers, directors, employees, and agents, from any and all claims and causes of action, including, but not limited to those arising from his employment and the termination of his employment. In the event of such termination, all stock options, restricted stock grants, stock appreciation rights and other similar awards held by Mr. Russell at the date of termination shall immediately vest, the period during which any options or rights relating to such grants may be exercised shall be the longer of the date specified in such grants or the date that is thirty (30) days after the end of the 24-month period following the date of termination and will, in all other respects, continue to be governed by, and continued in accordance with, their applicable plan and grant documents. In the event that Mr. Russell’s employment is terminated by us for cause or by him other than for good reason, Mr. Russell shall be entitled to be paid only any base salary then accrued and unpaid and annual bonus amounts for any fiscal year completed prior to the date of termination and we shall have no further obligations to him.
 
In the event of a “change of control” (as defined in the agreement), any unvested stock options held by Mr. Russell shall be fully vested and become immediately exercisable. Such options shall remain exercisable for the period remaining under the relevant stock option agreement and shall not have a shortened period of exercisability as a result of the change of control, except for statutory stock options which shall, at Mr. Russell’s election, (i) expire 90 days after his termination (or 1 year after his termination upon his death or permanent and total disability) or (ii) be converted into non-qualified stock options expiring at the end of the entire term of such option under the relevant stock option agreement. Additionally, if Mr. Russell is terminated within one year of a change of control for any reason other than by us for cause, or if he elects to terminate his employment (whether or not for good reason) after the expiration of 120 days after and on or before the two-year anniversary of a change of control, Mr. Russell shall be entitled to be paid, in addition to any base salary and bonuses then accrued and unpaid, and his then current base salary for 48 months after the date of termination and the entire bonus that would have been payable pursuant to any agreement, understanding, arrangement or plan in which he is entitled to participate for the year in which the termination of his employment occurred as if he had been employed for the entire year, provided that, in the opinion of the board of directors, he is likely to have met any bonus plan goals for the relevant period had he not been terminated.
 
Under his agreement, we are obligated to either reimburse Mr. Russell for the costs of an automobile at the rate of $750 per month or to bear all expenses associated with his lease of an automobile for his use while in Rochester, New York and to reimburse him for all actual, reasonable and customary expenses incurred in the course of his employment in accordance with our policies as then in effect. Mr. Russell is subject to certain restrictive covenants under the agreement, including a covenant not to compete for 24 months after his termination for any reason other than by him for good reason or by us without cause and for 48 months after his termination if such termination results in our obligation to pay him the change of control payment described above.
 
2007 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan
 
Our stock option plan was originally adopted by our board of directors and approved by our stockholders in October 1997. Our board of directors adopted and our stockholders approved the adoption of the amendment and restatement of our 1997 plan in August 2007. Throughout this prospectus we refer to the plan as amended and restated as our 2007 option plan. An aggregate of 45,714,288 shares of our common stock are reserved for issuance under the 2007 option plan. Our board of directors has determined that, upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, no further options will be granted under our 2007 option plan.
 
Shares Available for Awards.  As of the date of this prospectus, we had issued 2,876,263 shares of our common stock upon the exercise of options granted under the 2007 option plan, options to purchase 15,304,554 shares of common stock had been issued and were outstanding under the plan and 27,533,471 shares of common stock remained available for issuance under the plan. Our board of directors has determined that, upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, no further options will be granted under our 2007 option plan.


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Eligibility.  Only our employees, our directors, our consultants and other key persons are eligible to participate in our 2007 option plan. We may grant incentive stock options only to employees.
 
Administration.  Our board of directors administers the 2007 option plan. Our board, however, may delegate this authority to a committee of one or more directors. The party administering our 2007 option plan, whether it is our board of directors or a committee appointed by our board of directors, is referred to under the 2009 option plan as the “committee”. Subject to the provisions of the 2007 option plan and the rules of any stock exchange on which shares of our common stock may be listed, the committee has complete authority to interpret the 2007 option plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to it, to determine who will receive stock options, to determine the terms and provisions of the respective option agreements (which need not be identical), and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2007 option plan.
 
Stock Options.  We grant incentive and nonstatutory stock options under the plan pursuant to incentive and nonstatutory stock option agreements. The committee determines who will receive stock options, whether the stock options will be incentive or nonstatutory stock options, and the number of stock options to be granted. The committee determines the exercise price for a stock option, consistent with the terms and conditions of the 2007 plan and applicable law. The exercise price of any incentive stock option cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. Under the 2007 option plan, “fair market value” means the value of a share of the Company’s common stock on any date as determined by the committee. The exercise price for stock options shall be paid in the form of cash or certified or bank check, or consideration received by us under a cashless exercise program if implemented by us in connection with the 2007 option plan and if permitted by the rules of any stock exchange on which shares of our common stock may be listed. Options granted under the 2007 option plan vest at the rate determined by the committee and specified in each stock option agreement. The committee determines the term of stock options granted under the 2007 option plan, which can be up to ten years, except in the case of certain incentive stock options, which may have a term of up to five years. Unless an option agreement provides otherwise, if an optionee’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason, whether voluntary or otherwise, the optionee, or his or her beneficiary, may exercise any vested options for a period of 30 days from the date of termination of service. An optionee may not exercise an option beyond the expiration of its term.
 
Adjustment of Shares.  In the event that we have a specified type of change in our capital structure, such as, a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, spin-off, reclassification or similar occurrence, then the committee must appropriately adjust the number of shares reserved under the 2007 option plan, as well as the numbers of shares covered by each outstanding award and the exercise prices or purchase prices, if applicable, of all outstanding stock awards under the 2007 option plan.
 
Consolidation or Merger.  In the event of any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another company or in case of any sale or conveyance to another company or entity of the property of the Company as a whole or substantially as a whole, shares of stock or other securities equivalent in kind and value to those shares and other securities an optionee would have received if he or she had held the full number of shares of common stock remaining subject to the option immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and had continued to hold those shares (together with all other shares, stock and securities thereafter issued in respect thereof) to the time of the exercise of the option shall thereupon be subject to the option. However, unless any option agreement shall provide different or additional terms, in any such transaction the committee, in its discretion, may provide instead that any outstanding option shall terminate, to the extent not exercised by the optionee prior to termination, either (a) at the close of a period of not less than ten (10) days specified by the committee and commencing on the committee’s delivery of written notice to the optionee of its decision to terminate such option without payment of consideration as provided in the following clause or (b) as of the date of the transaction, in consideration of the Company’s payment to the optionee of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the aggregate fair market value of the shares of common stock for which the option is then exercisable and the aggregate exercise price for such shares under the option.


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Other Terms.  Whenever shares are to be issued in satisfaction of an option granted under our 2007 option plan, the Company shall have the right to require the optionee to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local or other withholding tax requirements if and to the extent required by law (whether so required to secure for the Company an otherwise available tax deduction or otherwise) prior to the delivery of any certificate or certificates for such shares. An optionee may not transfer a stock option granted under our 2007 option plan other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and each option is exercisable, during the lifetime of the optionee, only by the optionee. Shares issued upon exercise of an option may be subject to forfeiture conditions, rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal and other transfer restrictions as determined by the committee and as set forth in the stock option agreement.
 
Amendment and Termination.  Subject to compliance with the rules of any stock exchange on which shares of our common stock may be listed, the 2007 option plan may be amended, altered, suspended or terminated by our board of directors at any time. We may not alter the rights and obligations under any option granted before amendment of the 2007 option plan without the written consent of the affected optionee. Our board of directors has determined that, upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, no further options will be granted under our 2007 option plan.
 
2009 Stock Option Plan
 
Our 2009 stock option plan has been approved by our board of directors and stockholders and will become effective as of the time the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is declared effective by the SEC. An aggregate of 37,000,000 shares of our common stock are reserved for issuance under the 2009 option plan, No options have been granted under our 2009 option plan. At the closing of this offering, we intend to grant to each of our four new non-employee directors an option to purchase 300,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price per share equal to the initial public offering price per unit. These options will be 50% vested immediately on grant and the balance will vest ratably, on a monthly basis, over the next 12 months.
 
Shares Available for Awards.  The total number of shares of our common stock that may be subject to awards under our 2009 option plan is 37,000,000 shares. At the closing of this offering, we intend to grant to each of our four new non-employee directors an option to purchase 300,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price per share equal to the initial public offering price per unit. These options will be 50% vested immediately on grant and the balance will vest ratably, on a monthly basis, over the next 12 months. If these options are granted, an additional 35,800,000 shares will be available for issuance under the 2009 option plan.
 
Eligibility.  The persons eligible to receive awards under our 2009 option plan are our officers, directors, employees and independent contractors who render consulting or advisory services to us and those of our subsidiaries. An employee on leave of absence may be considered as still in our employ or in the employ of one of our subsidiaries for purposes of eligibility for participation in our 2009 option plan.
 
Administration.  Our 2009 option plan provides that it shall be administered by our board of directors or a committee appointed by our board of directors, which committee shall be constituted to comply with applicable laws. The party administering our 2009 option plan, whether it is our board of directors or a committee appointed by our board of directors, is referred to under the 2009 option plan as the “administrator”. Subject to the terms of our 2009 option plan, the administrator is authorized to select eligible persons to receive awards, determine the type and number of awards to be granted and the number of shares of our common stock to which awards will relate, specify times at which awards will be exercisable or settleable (including performance conditions that may be required as a condition thereof), set other terms and conditions of awards, prescribe forms of award agreements, interpret and specify rules and regulations relating to our 2009 option plan and make all other determinations that may be necessary or advisable for the administration of our 2009 option plan. Our board of directors has designated the compensation committee of the board to act as the administrator of our 2009 option plan.
 
Stock Options.  The administrator is authorized to grant stock options, including both incentive stock options or ISOs, which can result in potentially favorable tax treatment to the participant, and nonstatutory stock options. The exercise price per share subject to an option is determined by the administrator, but in the case of an ISO must not be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant and in the case of a nonstatutory stock option must not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the


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date of grant provided that if stock options are granted within 90 days of a distribution by way of prospectus, the exercise price must not be less than the offering price under the prospectus. For purposes of our 2009 option plan, the term “fair market value” means, as of any date, the value of our common stock determined as follows: (1) if our common stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, its fair market value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day prior to the date of grant, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the administrator deems reliable; (2) if our common stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its fair market value shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for our common stock on the day of determination; or (3) in the absence of an established market for our common stock, the fair market value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the administrator. The maximum term of each option, the times at which each option will be exercisable, and provisions requiring forfeiture of unexercised options at or following termination of employment or service generally are fixed by the administrator except that no option may have a term exceeding ten years. The exercise price for stock options shall be paid using such method of payment as shall be determined by the administrator, including, without limitation: (1) cash or check (2) pursuant to a broker-assisted cashless exercise program developed under Regulation T promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board if permitted by the rules of any stock exchange on which shares of our common stock may be listed; or (3) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. Grants of stock options are subject to the limitation that, in any 12 month period, no individual may receive options to purchase shares of our common stock in excess of 5% of the number of shares of our common stock then outstanding and no individual who is a consultant or engaged in investor relations activities may receive options to purchase shares of our common stock in excess of 2% of the number of shares of our common stock then outstanding.
 
Adjustment of Shares.  In the event that we have a specified type of change in our capital structure, such as a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, spin-off, reclassification or similar occurrence, then the administrator must appropriately adjust the number of shares reserved under the 2009 option plan, as well as the numbers of shares covered by each outstanding award and the exercise prices or purchase prices, if applicable, of all outstanding stock awards under the 2009 option plan.
 
Other Terms of Awards.  The administrator may institute an exchange program which is a program under which (1) outstanding awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same type (which may have lower exercise prices and different terms), awards of a different type, and/or cash, and/or (2) the exercise price of an outstanding award is reduced, but subject to such approvals as may be required by any stock exchange on which shares of our common stock may be listed. The terms and conditions of any exchange program will be determined by the administrator in its sole discretion. The administrator may to allow participants to satisfy withholding tax obligations by electing to have the Company withhold from the shares of our common stock to be issued upon exercise of an award that number of shares of common stock having a fair market value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld. Awards may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and may be exercised during the lifetime of the participant, only by the participant. Awards under our 2009 option plan are generally granted without a requirement that the participant pay consideration in the form of cash or property for the grant (as distinguished from the exercise), except to the extent required by law. The administrator may, however, grant awards in exchange for other awards under our 2009 option plan awards or under our other plans, or other rights to payment from us, and may grant awards in addition to and in tandem with such other awards, rights or other awards.
 
Acceleration of Vesting; Change in Control.  The administrator may, in its discretion, but subject to such approvals as may be required by any stock exchange on which shares of our common stock may be listed, accelerate the exercisability, the lapsing of restrictions or the expiration of vesting periods of any award. In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation, or a “change in control” of the Company, as defined in our 2009 option plan, each outstanding award shall be assumed or an equivalent award substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the award, the participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of his or her outstanding options and stock purchase rights, including shares of our common stock as to which such awards would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on restricted stock will lapse, and all outstanding restricted stock units will fully vest. In addition, the administrator may provide in an award agreement that the


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performance goals relating to any performance based award will be deemed to have been met upon the occurrence of any change in control.
 
Amendment and Termination.  Our board of directors may amend, alter, suspend, or terminate our 2009 option plan at any time without further stockholder approval, except stockholder approval must be obtained for any amendment or alteration if such approval is required by law or regulation or under the rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which shares of our common stock are then listed or quoted. Thus, stockholder approval may not necessarily be required for every amendment to our 2009 option plan which might increase the cost of our 2009 option plan or alter the eligibility of persons to receive awards. Stockholder approval will not be deemed to be required under laws or regulations, such as those relating to ISOs, that condition favorable treatment of participants on such approval, although our board of directors may, in its discretion, seek stockholder approval in any circumstance in which it deems such approval advisable. Unless earlier terminated by our board of directors, our 2009 option plan shall continue in effect for a term of ten years from the later of (1) the effective date of our 2009 option plan, or (2) the earlier of the most recent board of directors or stockholder approval of an increase in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under our 2009 option plan.
 
Incentive Bonus Plan
 
Our board of directors has adopted an incentive bonus plan under which Paul J. Travers, our Chief Executive Officer and President, and Grant Russell, our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, may be awarded cash bonuses based upon increases in our sales and improvements in our profitability in 2009 compared to 2008. Under the plan, Mr. Travers will be entitled to a cash bonus of 0.50% of his base salary for each 1.0% increase in our sales and Mr. Russell will be entitled to a cash bonus of 0.35% of his base salary for each 1.0% increase in our sales, provided however, that no bonus shall be paid unless our sales increase by at least 20%, the amount paid for increases in our sales to Mr. Travers shall not exceed 100% of his base salary and the amount paid to Mr. Russell shall not exceed 70% of his base salary. Additionally, but only if our 2009 sales are equal to or greater than our 2008 sales, Mr. Travers and Mr. Russell will each be entitled to a bonus of 15% of their respective base salaries if our operating loss for 2009 is less than $1,000,000 or a bonus of 30% of their respective base salaries if our operating income for 2009 is more than zero but less than 3% of our sales for 2009. If our operating income for 2009 is more than 3% of our sales for 2009, Mr. Travers and Mr. Russell will each be entitled to an additional cash bonus based upon the our 2009 operating income as a percentage of our 2009 sales. In Mr. Traver’s case, the bonus will be determined by multiplying his base salary by 10 times our 2009 operating income expressed as a percentage of our 2009 sales. In Mr. Russell’s case, the bonus will be determined by multiplying his base salary by 7.5 times our 2009 operating income expressed as a percentage of our 2009 sales. However, the amount paid to Mr. Travers shall not exceed 100% of his base salary and the amount paid to Mr. Russell shall not exceed 75% of his base salary.
 
Other Benefits
 
We believe establishing competitive benefit packages for our employees is an important factor in attracting and retaining highly qualified personnel. Executive officers are eligible to participate in all of our employee benefit plans, such as medical, dental, vision, group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance and our 401(k) plan, in each case on the same basis as other employees. While our 401(k) plan does permit us to make discretionary contributions and matching contributions, subject to established limits and a vesting schedule, we have not made any discretionary or matching contributions to the plan on behalf of any participating employees since its inception in 2007.
 
Perquisites
 
In general, we do not provide significant perquisites to our employees. As a result, the cost to us of any perquisites is minimal. We reimburse our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer for the costs of an automobile at the rate of $750 per month. We also provide our Chief Financial Officer, whose primary residence is in Vancouver, British Columbia, the option to receive portions of his regular salary as a housing allowance at the rate prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, for the maintenance of a second residence in Rochester, New York. Payment of such allowance is deductible by us for federal income tax purposes in the same


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manner as compensation. We also reimburse the costs of our Chief Financial Officer’s flights that are direct to and from his residence in Vancouver Canada and Rochester, New York.
 
The board of directors or its compensation committee may at any time choose not to implement, amend, suspend, discontinue or terminate the annual incentive or profit sharing plan.
 
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
 
The following table sets forth information concerning exercisable and unexercisable options and stock awards that has not vested for each of the named executive officers that is outstanding as of December 31, 2008. We have not granted any stock awards.
 
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
 
                                         
    Option Awards  
                Equity
             
                Incentive Plan
             
                Awards:
             
                Number
             
    Number of
    Number of
    of
             
    Securities
    Securities
    Securities
             
    Underlying
    Underlying
    Underlying
             
    Unexercised
    Unexercised
    Unexercised
    Option
       
    Options
    Options
    Unearned
    Exercise
    Option
 
    (#)
    (#)
    Options
    Price
    Expiration
 
Name
  Exercisable     Unexercisable     (#)     ($)     Date  
 
Paul Travers
    188,576                 $ 0.00875       9/03/12  
      1,485,232                 $ 0.02599       1/03/13  
Grant Russell
    174,256                 $ 0.00875       9/03/12  
 
Options to Purchase Securities
 
The following chart sets out, as at the date of this prospectus, information regarding outstanding options to purchase shares of our common stock which have been granted to our directors, executive officers, employees, consultants, past directors, executive officers, employees and consultants.
 
                                 
                        Market Value
     
        Securities
              of Common
     
    Number of
  Under
          Exercise
  Shares on Date
     
Relationship to the Corporation
  Options(1)   Option  
Grant Date
 
Expiry Date(2)
  Price(3)   of Grant      
 
All directors and past directors of Vuzix (4 individuals in total)
  3,365,224   common
stock
  November 1, 2001
to May 1, 2009
  November 1, 2011
to May 1, 2019
  $0.0608     (4 )    
All executive officers and past executive officers of Vuzix (3 individuals in total — all included in the above grouping also)
  2,222,320   common
stock
  September 3, 2002
to May 1, 2009
  September 3, 2002
to May 1, 2019
  $0.0355     (4 )    
All other employees or past employees of Vuzix (48 individuals in total)
  8,973,642   common
stock
  September 30, 2000
to May 1, 2009
  September 30, 2010 to
May 1, 2019
  $0.1373     (4 )    
All consultants and past consultants of Vuzix (24 individuals in total)
  6,821,587   common
stock
  March 30, 2000
to May 1, 2009
  June 30, 2009 to
May 1, 2019
  $0.1539     (4 )    
Other (none)
                   
 
 
(1) Represents the aggregate number of shares issuable upon exercise of all outstanding options and warrants held by the group. Except for warrants exercisable to purchase an aggregate of 3,855,899 shares of our common stock held by our current and former consultants, all the securities disclosed in this table are options granted under our 2007 plan.
 
(2) All options granted under our 2007 plan expire ten years from the date of grant. Warrants expire between two and five years from the date of issuance with a weighted average remaining term of 0.99 years.
 
(3) Represents the weighted average exercise price of all outstanding options and warrants held by the members of the group. Individual exercise prices range: (i) for directors, from $0.0088 to $0.2334; (ii) for executive officers,


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from $0.0088 to $0.1500; (iii) for employees, from $0.0061 to $0.2334; and (iv) for consultants, from $0.0061 to $0.2333.
 
(4) All options and warrants are exercisable at the fair market value of our common stock as of the date of grant as determined by our board of directors.
 
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
 
We have entered into an agreement with each of Paul Travers and Grant Russell that would require us to provide compensation to them in the event of a termination of employment or a change in control. See “Employment Agreements” above.
 
Their employment agreements entitle them to severance payments upon their termination by us other than for “cause” (as defined in the agreement) or by them for “good reason” (as defined in the agreement) or upon their death or “disability” (as defined in the agreement). Under the agreements: (a) we shall have “cause” to terminate them as a result of their: (i) willfully engaging in conduct which is materially injurious to us; (ii) willful fraud or material dishonesty in connection with their performance as an employee; (iii) deliberate or intentional failure to substantially perform their duties as employees that results in material harm to us; or (iv) conviction for, or plea of nolo contendere to a charge of, commission of a felony; (b) they shall have “good reason” to terminate their employment upon: (i) a material diminution during the term of the agreements in their duties, responsibilities, position, office or title; (ii) a breach by us of the compensation and benefits provisions of their agreements; (iii) a material breach by us of any other terms of their agreements; or (iv) the relocation of their principal place of business at our request beyond 30 miles from its current location; and (c) they shall be deemed to be “disabled” if they shall be rendered incapable of performing their duties to us by reason of any medically determined physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that can reasonably be expected to last for a period of either (i) six or more consecutive months from the first date of their absence due to the disability or (ii) nine months during any 12-month period. Any termination by us for cause or by them for good reason is subject to a 30-day notice period and opportunity to cure.
 
In the event that their employment is terminated by us other than for cause, by them for good reason or upon their death or disability, Mr. Travers and Mr. Russell shall be entitled to be paid, in addition to any base salary and bonuses then accrued and unpaid, and their then current base salary for 24 months after the date of termination and the entire bonus that would have been payable pursuant to any agreement, understanding, arrangement or plan in which he is entitled to participate for the year in which the termination of his employment occurred as if they had been employed for the entire year, provided that, in the opinion of the board of directors, they are likely to have met any bonus plan goals for the relevant period had they not been terminated. As a condition to our obligation to make any such payment, we, in our sole discretion, may require Mr. Travers and Mr. Russell to release us and our officers, directors, employees, and agents, from any and all claims and causes of action, including, but not limited to those arising from their employment and the termination of their employment. In the event of such termination, all stock options, restricted stock grants, stock appreciation rights and other similar awards held by them at the date of termination shall immediately vest, the period during which any options or rights relating to such grants may be exercised shall be the longer of the date specified in such grants or the date that is thirty (30) days after the end of the 24-month period following the date of termination and will, in all other respects, continue to be governed by, and continued in accordance with, their applicable plan and grant documents.
 
Under their employment agreements, “change of control” means: (i) the approval by our stockholders, and the completion of the transaction resulting from such approval, of (A) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all our assets or (B) our complete liquidation or dissolution; (ii) the sale, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the outstanding shares of our capital stock; (iii) the approval by our stockholders, and the completion of the transaction resulting from such approval, of a merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar corporate transaction, whether or not we are the surviving corporation in such transaction, in which the outstanding shares of common stock are converted into (A) shares of stock of another company, other than a conversion into shares of voting common stock of the successor corporation (or a holding company thereof) representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of all capital stock thereof outstanding immediately after the merger or consolidation or (B) other securities (either ours or those of another company) or cash or other property; (iv) pursuant to an affirmative vote of a holder or holders of seventy five percent (75%) of our capital stock


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of the entitled to vote on such a matter, the removal of a majority of the individuals who are at that time members of the board of directors; or (v) the acquisition by any entity or individual of one hundred percent of our capital stock.
 
In the event of a change of control, any unvested stock options held by Mr. Travers or Mr. Russell shall be fully vested and become immediately exercisable. Such options shall remain exercisable for the period remaining under the relevant stock option agreement and shall not have a shortened period of exercisability as a result of the change of control, except for statutory stock options which shall, at their election, (i) expire 90 days after their termination (or one year after their termination upon their death or permanent and total disability) or (ii) be converted into non-qualified stock options expiring at the end of the entire term of such option under the relevant stock option agreement. Additionally, if Mr. Travers or Mr. Russell is terminated within one year of a change of control for any reason other than by us for cause, or if they elect to terminate their employment (whether or not for good reason) after the expiration of 120 days after and on or before the two-year anniversary of a change of control, Mr. Travers and Mr. Russell shall be entitled to be paid, in addition to any base salary and bonuses then accrued and unpaid, their then current base salary for 48 months after the date of termination and the entire bonus that would have been payable pursuant to any agreement, understanding, arrangement or plan in which they are entitled to participate for the year in which the termination of their employment occurred as if they had been employed for the entire year, provided that, in the opinion of the board of directors, they are likely to have met any bonus plan goals for the relevant period had he not been terminated.
 
Compensation of Directors
 
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 of our directors and directors elect who are not also named executive officers:
 
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION — YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
 
                                                         
    Fees
                      Nonqualified
             
    Earned or
                Non-Equity
    Deferred
             
    Paid in
    Stock
    Option
    Incentive Plan
    Compensation
    All Other
       
    Cash
    Awards
    Awards
    Compensation
    Earnings
    Compensation
    Total
 
Name
  ($)     ($)     ($)(1)     ($)     ($)     ($)     ($)  
 
Robert F. Mechur(2)
              $ 1,081                       $ 1,081  
William Lee(3)
                                         
Frank Zammataro(4)
                                         
Kathryn Sayko(4)
                                         
Bernard Perrine(4)
                                         
 
 
(1) The amounts shown in this column represent the dollar amounts recognized for share-based compensation expense for financial statement reporting purposes for stock options granted in 2008 and unvested stock options granted in prior years in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, but without giving effect to estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting conditions. The assumptions used to compute the fair value are disclosed in note 18 (Stock-based Compensation Expense) to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 included in this prospectus.
 
(2) Resigned from our board of directors in June 2009.
 
(3) Elected to our board of directors in June 2009.
 
(4) Elected, and has agreed to serve, as a member of our board of directors upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
 
During 2008, no cash director fees were earned by or paid to any non-management member of the board of directors but each of our nonemployee directors was reimbursed for ordinary expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of the board of directors. In the future, to recruit and maintain qualified directors we believe that we will likely have to begin paying annual retainers, board committee membership and board meeting fees. It is not expected that such fees will be paid to any directors who are also our employees.


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At the closing of this offering, we intend to grant to each of William Lee, Frank Zammataro, Kathryn Sayko and Bernard Perrine, our four new non-employee directors, an option to purchase 300,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price per share equal to the initial public offering price per unit. These options will be 50% vested immediately on grant and the balance will vest ratably, on a monthly basis, over the next 12 months. Our 2007 option plan provided for each incoming non-employee director to be granted an option to purchase 250,000 shares of our common stock at the fair market value per share as of the date of grant and an annual grant of 125,000 shares of common stock. These options were exercisable at the fair market value of our common stock as of the date of grant and vested, in the case of the initial grant, 50% immediately on grant and the balance ratably, on a monthly basis, over the next 12 months, and in the case of the annual grant, on December 31 in the year granted.
 
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
 
During 2007 and 2008, Paul J. Travers, our President and Chief Executive Officer, participated in deliberations of our board of directors concerning executive compensation.
 
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
Since January 1, 2006, we have entered into the following transactions in which our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our capital stock had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. The following transactions do not include compensation, termination and change-in-control arrangements, which are described under “Management.” We believe the terms obtained or consideration that we paid or received, as applicable, in connection with the transactions described below were comparable to terms available or the amounts that would be paid or received, as applicable, in arm’s-length transactions. Except as described below, we are not aware, after enquiring with our directors and officers, of any material interest, direct or indirect, of any our directors, executive officers, principal stockholders, or any associate or affiliate thereof, in any transaction within the last three years, or in any proposed transaction, that has materially affected or will materially affect our company.
 
Officer Loan
 
In October 2002, we entered into a stock purchase agreement with four of our employees, including Grant Russell, our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, pursuant to which they purchased an aggregate of 32,537,135 shares of common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $276,566 or $0.0085 per share. Of these shares, Mr. Russell purchased 8,339,644 shares at an aggregate purchase price of $58,378. In order to finance the purchase of these shares, we loaned each employee an amount equal to the purchase price for the shares he purchased. Each loan was evidenced by a non-recourse promissory note and was secured by a pledge of the shares purchased. Each loan bore interest at the rate of 6% per annum, and all principal and interest was originally due and payable in September 2007. In September 2007, we extended the maturity date of each note until September 2012. In April 2009, we forgave the entire amount of Mr. Russell’s indebtedness under this loan in payment of a one-time bonus in consideration of Mr. Russell’s efforts in connection with this offering. At that time, the outstanding principal amount of the note payable by Mr. Russell together with all interest accrued thereon was $81,046. The aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes payable by the employees other than Mr. Russell, together with all interest accrued thereon as of June 30, 2009, was approximately $227,336.
 
Related Party Loan
 
On September 19, 2006, we borrowed $500,000 from Sally Hyde Burdick and issued Ms. Burdick a convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $500,000 in evidence of the loan. Interest on the outstanding principal amount of the note originally accrued at the annual rate of 10.0%. At the time of the loan, Ms. Burdick held 85,712 shares of our common stock (or less than 0.1% of our common stock then outstanding) and was otherwise unaffiliated with us. In consideration of the loan we issued to Ms. Burdick a warrant exercisable upon conversion of the note to purchase up to that number of shares of our common stock equal to the principal amount of and accrued interest on the promissory note then converted divided by 0.5334, exercisable at $0.35 per share for three years from the date of the issue of the promissory note. This warrant expired on September 30, 2009. The outstanding principal amount of the note, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, is convertible at the option of the holder into shares of


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our common stock at the rate of $0.2667 per share. The outstanding principal amount of the note together with $118,493 accrued and unpaid interest thereon was due and payable on January 31, 2009. As of that date, Ms. Burdick was the beneficial owner of 3,541,080 shares of our common stock (including 2,319,059 shares issuable upon conversion of the note and 1,136,309 shares issuable upon exercise of the warrant issued in consideration of the loan) or approximately 1.6% of our common stock then outstanding. As of the date of this prospectus, Ms. Burdick has not demanded payment of the note. In consideration of her forbearance to demand payment of the note, since January 31, 2009 we have made monthly payments to Ms. Burdick of interest only on the principal amount of the note at the annual rate of 18.0%. We intend to pay the outstanding principal amount of the note in full, together with all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, from the proceeds of this offering. We may not receive sufficient proceeds from this offering to repay this indebtedness.
 
Revolving Loan Agreement
 
In October 2008, we entered into a revolving loan agreement with Paul J. Travers, our President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to which Mr. Travers agreed to loan us such amounts as we may request and he may agree from time to time until December 31, 2010. Interest accrues on the principal amount outstanding under the agreement at the annual rate of 12.0% and is payable on demand. As security for our obligations under the loan agreement, we granted Mr. Travers a security interest in all of our assets. The principal amount outstanding under this loan agreement on the date of this prospectus is $165,500. We plan to the repay the entire principal amount outstanding under this agreement, together with all interest accrued thereon, from the proceeds of this offering. We may not receive sufficient proceeds from this offering to repay this indebtedness.
 
Payment of Deferred Compensation and Shareholder Loans
 
In June 2009, we agreed with Mr. Travers and Grant Russell, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, that we will pay them deferred compensation in the aggregate amounts of $445,096 and $209,208, respectively, plus interest at the annual rate of 8.0%, and for the repayment of loans made to us more than five years ago by those officers to finance our operations, either in one lump sum on or before the first anniversary of the closing of this offering from the proceeds of the exercise of the warrants included in the units and the warrants issuable upon exercise of the agents’ compensation options if and when at least 50% of those warrants are exercised or otherwise in 12 equal monthly installments beginning on the first anniversary of the closing of this offering until paid in full. Any excess proceeds from any exercise of the warrants included in the units and the warrants issuable upon exercise of the agents’ compensation options will be used for working capital. Assuming that we raise minimum gross proceeds of Cdn$6,000,000 by selling 40,000,000 units at the initial public offering price of Cdn$0.15 per unit (the minimum of our estimated initial public offering price range) and that we sell the maximum number of units offered (50,000,000 units) at Cdn$0.25 per unit (the maximum of our estimated initial public offering price range), if all of these warrants were to be exercised we would receive additional funds totaling between approximately Cdn$4,500,000 and Cdn$9,375,000, respectively. These warrants may not be exercised before they expire.
 
Indemnification Agreements
 
We have entered into a standard form of indemnification agreement with each of our directors and executive officers. Under this agreement we are obligated to indemnify the indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law for all reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements), judgments, fines (including excise taxes and penalties) and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnitee arising out of or connected with the indemnitee’s service as a director or officer and indemnitee’s service in another capacity at our request or direction. We are also obligated to advance all reasonable and actual expenses incurred by the indemnitee in connection with any action, suit, proceeding or appeal with respect to which he is entitled to be indemnified upon our receipt of an invoice for such expenses. Our obligation to advance expenses is subject to the indemnitee’s execution, upon our request, of an agreement to repay all such amounts it if is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by us under applicable law. If a claim for indemnification under this agreement may not be paid to the indemnitee under applicable law, then in any action in which we are jointly liable with the indemnitee, we are obligated to contribute to the amount of reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnitee in proportion to the relative


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benefits received by us and the indemnitee from the transaction from which such action arose, and our relative fault and that of the indemnitee in connection with the events which resulted in such expenses. The rights of an indemnitee under the form of indemnification agreement are in addition to any other rights that the indemnitee may have under our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, any agreement, or any vote of our stockholders or directors. We are not obligated to make any payment under the form of indemnification agreement to the extent payment is actually made to the indemnitee under an insurance policy or any other method outside of the agreement.
 
Related-Person Transactions Policy
 
Pursuant to our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, all employees, officers and directors of ours and our subsidiaries are prohibited from engaging in any relationship or financial interest that is an actual or potential conflict of interest with us without prior approval. Employees are required to disclose any potential or actual conflicts with supervisors or our ethics compliance officer if one has been appointed by the board and otherwise directly to the members of our board of directors. Officers and directors are required to disclose any potential or actual conflicts to our board of directors.
 
Our board of directors reviews and approves all transactions with directors, officers, and holders of five percent or more of our voting securities and their affiliates, or each, a related party. Prior to our board of directors’ consideration of a transaction with a related party, the material facts as to the related party’s relationship or interest in the transaction are disclosed to our board of directors, and the transaction is not considered approved by our board of directors unless a majority of the directors who are not interested in the transaction approve the transaction. Further, when stockholders are entitled to vote on a transaction with a related party, the material facts of the related party’s relationship or interest in the transaction are disclosed to the stockholders, who must approve the transaction in good faith.
 
All future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions, including any forgiveness of loans, will require prior approval by a majority of the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction and who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our disinterested independent directors or disinterested directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.
 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
 
Board of Directors
 
Our board of directors currently consists of three members: Paul J. Travers, our President and Chief Executive Officer, Grant Russell, our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President and William Lee. Frank Zammataro, Kathryn Sayko and Bernard Perrine have each been elected, and have agreed to serve, as a member of our board of directors subject to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Our board has determined that each of our directors and directors elect other than Mr. Travers and Mr. Russell is, or will be upon the effective time of their election be, an independent director as defined by Rule 5605(a)(2) of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (NASDAQ). We believe that, upon the effectiveness of the of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will be compliant with the independence criteria for boards of directors under applicable laws and regulations, including NASDAQ Rule 5605(a)(2). The board may meet independently of management as required. Although they are permitted to do so, the independent directors have not held regularly scheduled meetings at which non-independent directors and members of management are not in attendance.
 
Committees of the Board of Directors
 
Subject to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we have established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating committee.


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Audit Committee
 
Upon the effectiveness of the of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our audit committee will consist of William Lee, Kathryn Sayko and Bernard Perrine, each of whom will then be a non-employee director. Mr. Lee will be the chairperson of our audit committee. Our board of directors has determined that each member designee of our audit committee will be an independent director as defined by NASDAQ Rule 5605(a)(2) and will meet the requirements of financial literacy under SEC rules and regulations. Mr. Lee will serve as our audit committee financial expert, as defined under SEC rules.
 
Our audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:
 
  •  selecting and hiring our independent auditors, and approving the audit and non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditors;
 
  •  evaluating the qualifications, performance and independence of our independent auditors;
 
  •  monitoring the integrity of our financial statements and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they relate to financial statements or accounting matters;
 
  •  reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our internal control policies and procedures;
 
  •  discussing the scope and results of the audit with the independent auditors and reviewing with management and the independent auditors our interim and year-end operating results; and
 
  •  preparing the audit committee report that the SEC requires in our annual proxy statement.
 
Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for our audit committee, which will be available on our website upon the completion of this offering.
 
Compensation Committee
 
Upon the effectiveness of the of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our compensation committee will consist of Kathryn Sayko, Bernard Perrine and Frank Zammataro, each of whom will then be a non-employee director. Ms. Sayko will be the chairperson of our compensation committee. Our board of directors has determined that each member designee of our compensation committee will be an independent director as defined by NASDAQ Rule 5605(a)(2).
 
Our compensation committee will be responsible for, among other things:
 
  •  reviewing and approving compensation of our executive officers including annual base salary, annual incentive bonuses, specific goals, equity compensation, employment agreements, severance and change in control arrangements, and any other benefits, compensations or arrangements;
 
  •  reviewing and recommending compensation goals, bonus and stock compensation criteria for our employees;
 
  •  reviewing and discussing annually with management our “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” disclosure required by SEC rules;
 
  •  preparing the compensation committee report required by the SEC to be included in our annual proxy statement; and
 
  •  administering, reviewing and making recommendations with respect to our equity compensation plans.
 
Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for our compensation committee, which will be available on our website upon the completion of this offering.
 
Nominating Committee
 
Upon the effectiveness of the of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our nominating committee will consist of William Lee and Frank Zammataro, each of whom will then be a non-employee member of our board of directors. Mr. Zammataro will be the chairperson of our nominating committee. Our board of directors has determined that each member designee of our nominating committee will be an independent director as defined by NASDAQ 5605(a)(2).


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Our nominating committee will be responsible for, among other things:
 
  •  assisting our board of directors in identifying, interviewing and recruiting prospective director nominees;
 
  •  recommending director nominees;
 
  •  establishing and reviewing on an annual basis a process for identifying and evaluating nominees for our board of directors;
 
  •  annually evaluating and reporting to the our board of directors on the performance and effectiveness of the board of directors;
 
  •  recommending members for each board committee of our board of directors; and
 
  •  annually presenting a list of individuals recommended for nomination for election to our board of directors at the annual meeting of our shareholders.
 
Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for our nominating committee, which will be available on our website upon the completion of this offering.
 
Canadian Governance Matters
 
Generally
 
The Canadian Securities Administrators have published National Policy 58-201 — Corporate Governance Guidelines. These instruments set out a series of guidelines and requirements for effective corporate governance and in this prospectus we refer to them collectively as the “Guidelines.” The Guidelines address matters such as the constitution and independence of corporate boards, the functions to be performed by boards and their committees and the effectiveness and education of board members.
 
Independence
 
Our board of directors has determined that each of our directors and directors elect other than Mr. Travers and Mr. Russell is, or will be upon the effective time of his or her election, independent for the purpose of National Instrument 58-101 — Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices.
 
Except as described below, our directors and directors elect hold no other directorships at the present time with other reporting issuers:
 
     
Director Name and Municipality of Residence
 
Other Directorships
 
William Lee, Vancouver, British Columbia
  Tinka Resources Limited
    Halo Resources Ltd.
    Golden Peaks Resources Ltd.
 
Orientation and Continuing Education
 
Our board of directors is responsible for the orientation and education of new members of the board and all new directors are provided with copies of our policies. Prior to joining the board, each new director will meet with our Chief Executive Officer. Our Chief Executive Officer is responsible for outlining our business and prospects, both positive and negative, with a view to ensuring that the new director is properly informed to commence their duties as a director. Each new director is also given the opportunity to meet with our auditors and counsel. As part of its annual self-assessment process, our board of directors determines whether any additional education and training is required for board members.
 
Ethical Business Conduct
 
The directors encourage and promote a culture of ethical business conduct through communication and supervision as part of their overall stewardship responsibility. In addition, our board of directors has adopted a code of ethics and business conduct for our employees, officers and directors which addresses our continuing commitment to conducting business with highest integrity and in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. Our code of ethics and business conduct establishes procedures that allow our directors, officers and employees to


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confidentially submit their concerns to our ethics officer or to our audit committee regarding questionable ethical, moral, accounting or auditing matters, without fear of retaliation. A copy of our code of ethics and business conduct will be available on our website and at www.sedar.com upon the completion of this offering.
 
Nomination of Directors
 
Historically, because of our size and stage of development and the limited number of directors, the entire board of directors has taken responsibility for nominating new directors and assessing current directors. As of the closing of this offering, nominees for election to our board of directors will be identified, interviewed and recruited by our nominating committee. For additional information about our nominating committee, see “Corporate Governance — Committees of the Board of Directors — Nominating Committee” above.
 
Compensation
 
Historically, because of our size and stage of development and the limited number of directors, the compensation of our executive officers and directors was determined by our board of directors as a whole. As of the closing of this offering, our compensation committee will be responsible for reviewing and approving the compensation of our executive officers and directors and for reviewing and recommending compensation goals, bonus and stock compensation criteria for our employees. For additional information about our compensation committee, see “Corporate Governance — Committees of the Board of Directors — Compensation Committee” above.
 
Assessment
 
Historically, because of our size and stage of development and the limited number of directors, our board of directors considered a formal assessment process to be inappropriate and evaluated its own effectiveness on an ad hoc basis. As of the closing of this offering, our nominating committee will be responsible for annually evaluating and reporting to our board of directors on the performance and effectiveness of the board as a whole, its committees and individual directors. For additional information about our nominating committee, see “Corporate Governance — Committees of the Board of Directors — Nominating Committee” above.
 
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock by:
 
  •  each of our named executive officers;
 
  •  each of our directors and directors elect;
 
  •  each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock; and
 
  •  all of our directors, directors elect and executive officers as a group.
 
                                 
    Number of
    Percentage of Shares
 
    Shares
    Beneficially Owned  
    Beneficially
    Before
    After
 
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
  Owned(2)     Offering(3)     Offering(4)  
                40,000,000 Units     50,000,000 Units  
 
Paul J. Travers
    72,755,203 (5)     32.64 %     26.20 %     25.26 %
Grant Russell
    12,113,033 (6)     5.43 %     4.36 %     4.21 %
William Lee
    (7)     * %     * %     * %
Frank Zammataro
    (7)     * %     * %     * %
Kathryn Sayko
    (7)     * %     * %     * %
Bernard Perrine
    (7)     * %     * %     * %
Paul Churnetski
    20,452,709 (6)     9.17 %     7.37 %     7.10 %
Directors, directors elect and executive officers as a group (6 people)
    105,320,945 (8)     38.38 %     30.84 %     29.72 %


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 * less than 1.0%
 
(1) The address for each person is c/o Vuzix Corporation, 75 Town Centre Drive, Rochester, NY 14623.
 
(2) We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities. In addition, the rules include shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options or warrants, or the conversion of convertible promissory notes, that are either immediately exercisable or convertible, or that will become exercisable within 60 days after the date of this prospectus. These shares are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding those options, warrants or convertible promissory notes for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but they are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons or entities identified in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property laws.
 
(3) The percentage of shares beneficially owned before the offering is based on 220,268,927 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding as of the date of this prospectus.
 
(4) The percentage of shares beneficially owned after the offering is based on an estimated minimum 275,004,557 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding assuming the sale of 40,000,000 units in this offering and issuance of 5,392,246 shares to the Canadian agents under our fiscal advisory fee agreement with the Canadian agents and an estimated maximum 285,204,557 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding assuming the sale of 50,000,000 units in this offering and issuance of 5,592,246 shares to the Canadian agents under our fiscal advisory fee agreement with the Canadian agents, and in either case including 9,343,384 shares of common stock to be issued upon the conversion of both all our outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock, together with all accrued and unpaid dividends, and $75,000 in aggregate principal amount of convertible promissory notes, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, both as of June 30, 2009.
 
(5) Includes 1,673,808 shares issuable upon exercise of options granted under our 2007 option plan.
 
(6) Includes 548,512 shares issuable upon exercise of options granted under our 2007 option plan.
 
(7) Does not include an option to purchase 300,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price per share equal to the initial public offering price per unit that we intend to issue at the closing of this offering.
 
(8) Includes 1,879,556 shares issuable upon exercise of options granted under our 2007 option plan.
 
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
The following is a summary of the rights of our common stock and preferred stock. This summary is not complete. For more detailed information, please see our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
 
Common Stock
 
As of the date of this prospectus, we are authorized to issue up to 400,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share of which 220,268,927 shares were issued and outstanding and held of record by 246 stockholders. The outstanding shares of our common stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Immediately after the closing of this offering, the number of shares of common stock that we will be authorized to issue will be increased to 700,000,000.
 
The holders of our common stock are entitled to vote upon all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders and are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to cumulative voting on any matter, including in the election of directors. Subject to the rights and preferences, if any, applicable to shares of our preferred stock then outstanding, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, payable in cash, stock or otherwise, as may be declared by our board of directors out of any funds legally available for the payment of dividends and distributions to the stockholders. See “Dividend Policy.”


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In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all of our assets legally available for distribution after payment of our liabilities and distribution of the liquidation preference, if any, on our preferred stock then outstanding. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive or other subscription rights and no rights of conversion or redemption. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to the rights of holders of any series of our preferred stock that may then be issued and outstanding.
 
Preferred Stock
 
As of the date of this prospectus, we are authorized to issue up to 6,745,681 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. Immediately after the closing of this offering, the number of shares of preferred stock that we will be authorized to issue will be reduced to 5,000,000. The shares of our preferred stock may be issued in one or more series, and shall have such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such stock adopted from time to time by our board of directors. The board of directors is expressly vested with the authority to determine and fix in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuances of any series of preferred stock the voting powers, designations, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of each such series to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware.
 
As of the date of this prospectus, we have designated 500,000 shares of our preferred stock as Series C 6% Convertible Preferred Stock (Series C Preferred Stock). As of that date, 168,500 shares of our Series C Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. We have agreed with the agents to use our best efforts to cause all of the outstanding shares of our Series C Preferred Stock, together with all dividends accrued and unpaid thereon, to be converted into common stock prior to the effective time of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
 
The outstanding shares of our preferred stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
 
Series C Preferred Stock
 
Holders of our Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to vote with the holders of our common stock, together as a single class, on all matters submitted to the vote of holders of our common stock. On each such matter, each holder of our Series C Preferred Stock is entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of whole shares of our common stock into which such holder’s Series C Preferred Stock is then convertible. Holders of our Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to receive an annual cumulative dividend of $0.60 per share payable in cash out of the funds legally available therefor and are entitled to participate ratably on an as converted basis in any dividends paid on our common stock. In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, prior to any distributions to holders of our common stock, the holders of our Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to receive out of the assets legally available for distribution $10.00 per share (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, consolidations and similar changes) plus any accrued and unpaid dividends.
 
Each share of our Series C Preferred Stock is convertible at the option of the holder into that number of shares of our common stock equal to $10.00 divided by the conversion price then in effect. The initial conversion price of one preferred share for 30 shares of common equaled $0.3333 per share was subject to adjustment for stock splits, dividends payable in capital stock, capital reorganizations or reclassifications of our capital stock and is now $0.2917 per share. All of the shares of Series C Preferred Stock plus any unpaid accrued dividends then outstanding were to automatically convert into shares of our common stock at the same rate upon the earlier of the election of the holders of 67% of the Series C Preferred Stock outstanding or the closing of a public offering of our common stock pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act in which the aggregate public offering price of our securities sold in the offering, before deduction of agents commissions and discounts, is at least $10,000,000.
 
Our Series C Preferred Stock may be redeemed, at our option, at any time and from time to time and in whole or in part, upon written notice to the holder at a redemption price equal to $10.00 per share plus any accrued and unpaid dividends. The holders of our Series C Preferred Stock may exercise their conversion rights notwithstanding our delivery of a redemption notice until we have paid the redemption price.


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