INVESTING

Totable Intelligence Inc. owns the property in Russell Township, Ohio where the Russell Sunoco operates as an independent company. I own both companies. If you are reading this, then you are likely aware of the history of the Russell Sunoco, but let me summarize it. We bought the business from True North and operated it for 12 years under a leasing agreement from the previous land owners. The land owners were unwilling to invest in maintaining the business/land scaping/parking lot/building/etc. so they fell into disrepair. As we did not own them, we did not feel that we could improve them. In January 2020, the land owners agreed to sell the land, and we acquired it and immediately started making improvements (new pumps, signage, lighting, and a new water well). We also hired an architect and selected a builder to redo the building and start offering a fresh-made carryout food service. I engaged Huntington Bank to secure financing through the Small Business Administration (SBA) and waited for that to come through.

Then COVID hit. Our township suspended in-person meetings for several months which kept us from getting our plans approved. The banking system completely changed overnight with banks administering the disaster bailouts and the SBA pumping out money. We did not hear back from Huntington Bank until July, and it was a negative. I selected a smaller regional bank and resumed my efforts to get financing. It's now December 3rd, 2020, and we are still waiting to hear, but clearly, it's not likely to come through.

Why is it so hard to get a bank to finance our business expansion? Well, in times of uncertainty, the easy answer is always "no". It's a gas station, and has been a gas station for many, many years. We have a clean bill of health from the EPA, but a bank doesn't really care. Why take the risk when there are other, easier businesses that they could back?

And this is where you come in...

We are seeking $550,000 of community investment. I would like to offer the public the opportunity to purchase a corporate bond in Totable Intelligence. Each bond would be for $5000, so there will be a total of 110 of them available. Totable Intelligence will pay 4% with a 7-year term. Each investor will receive semi-annual interest payments. Your investment will be secured by the value of the land which we purchased for $170,000 plus the value of the building improvements. I anticipate that the total value of the business and property upon completion of the improvements will be in excess of $1M.

We will not sell these bonds until we have commitments for 100 of them since the improvements must be completed in full. I will gladly provide you with whatever financial information you may require to aid your decision to invest with us. Contact me at the station with questions or a commitment to purchase a bond (or 10!).

Thank you.

Steve Gaetjens

My family has been in Russell Township for 82 years