PICK: WAVT @ 4
WAVT specializes in IT personnel certification
programs with a mix of individual and IT corporation
clients. They serve clients with remote training over
the net, self-study programs, at 12 company owned
training facilities, or at the client's facility.
Revenues = 37 million
MCAP = 16.6 million
4.15 mm shs/ 2.20 mm shs float
Gross margins = 45%
There are 2 major factors at work with
this company .. The management expects
a 'large' demand for Windows 2000 certification
starting Q1-2000 ( MSFT product certification
represented 65% of 1999 training ) .. they are also
making a 'strong' move for LINUX training as witnessed
by the following PR which popped the stock to 12.50 ..
I view this as a LINUX pick and shovel play ..
Year 2000 target $21.00
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This is an Update to the Company's Release Issued Friday Morning
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- A tremendous amount of activity in the Linux marketplace has spurred Wave Technologies International, Inc. (Nasdaq: WAVT - news) to expand its Linux training initiatives over the last six months. Wave Technologies is a global leader in IT certification training and development.
``Although the Linux marketplace is in its infancy, Wave has established a vital network of strategic relationships to provide the power behind online, instructor-led and self study Linux training initiatives,' said Ken Kousky, president and CEO of Wave Technologies. ``We believe that sooner or later the Linux industry has to coalesce around services since the software is free. We think the most scaleable element in the service portfolios of Linux companies should be training.'
Wave is one of the industry's leading providers of Linux technical training. The company's Linux training programs include the following initiatives:
1) Wave is a charter sponsor of the Linux Professional Institute
( www.lpi.org ). Kousky serves on the Linux Professional Institute Advisory Council, and Christine Atienza, vice president of business development for Wave Technologies, is a participant in advisory council activities. The LPI is an open industry consortium designing and developing technical certification for Linux. LPI's initial exams are being released now.
2) Wave Technologies has licensed existing courseware and has entered into
a development agreement with Caldera Systems©
( www.calderasystems.com ), developer of one of the six leading Linux release versions. Under this agreement Wave has licensed existing courseware and has modified it to provide instructor-led training materials that can be used worldwide through Caldera's network of authorized training centers. Wave is also providing Caldera software to its existing customers to expand Linux awareness.
3) Wave has entered into a licensing agreement with Linuxcare©
( www.linuxcare.com ) for the design development of a unique suite of technical training programs for Linuxcare clients. This initiative will include delivering courseware at Wave training centers. Linuxcare is a leading provider of services to the global 1000.
4) Wave has developed and is delivering Linux boot camps for the Red
Hat© distribution for students in pursuit of a Red Hat Linux
certification. To date, Wave has run successful boot camps that
prepare candidates for Red Hat certification, and the company is adding
to its certification offerings for Red Hat ( www.redhat.com ) and LPI.
5) The Linux marketplace is much broader than just the technical
certification addressed by Wave's certification boot camps. In
addition to these programs, Wave is developing content curriculum for
instructor-led and Web-delivered training. Wave's Web-delivered
training will be offered through a strategic distribution agreement
with ZD Education© ( www.zdeducation.com ). Instructor-led
courseware for Linux that Wave has developed will continually be
updated and expanded and will be distributed to independent training
centers through a distribution agreement with ComputerPrep©
( www.computerprep.com ) for instructor-led courseware.
``In our first year of business, we ran a radio ad with the line 'Get the software you WANT free when you get the training you NEED,' Kousky added. ``We based that message on the premise that the critical technologies of software will became cheaper and cheaper while human resources and skills will become the restraining factor. In the Linux space we believe that message rings truer than ever, and that services will be most important with training generating more revenue than software.'
Wave Technologies International, Inc. develops, markets and delivers training and instructional products related to complex information technologies. The company provides its products and services through instructor-led courses, seminars, multimedia-published products and over the Internet. Wave markets its services to information management systems professionals, system integrators, value-added resellers and others with systems management responsibilities. Wave's Web site is located at www.wavetech.com .
Certain forward-looking statements are included in this news release. They use such words as ``anticipate,' ``may,' ``will,' ``expect,' ``believe,' ``plan,' and other similar terminology. These statements reflect management's current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially due to changes in the market acceptance of Wave's integrated program, market delays related to anticipated or new releases of Windows 2000, the speed and success of new direct mail initiatives, global and local business and economic conditions, legislation and governmental regulations, competition, the Company's ability to effectively maintain and update its product portfolio, shifts in technology, political or economic instability in local markets, weather-related issues, and currency and exchange rates.
For more information on Wave Technologies via facsimile at no cost, simply dial 1-800-PRO-INFO and enter the company symbol ``WAVT,' or visit the Company's web site at www.wavetech.com .
Contact Wave Technologies for a press kit and/or analyst kit featuring product specifications.
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