Jim,
Although I think my investment position with VISG is the same as yours, I think rruff is right about airports. From the 10-K:
In addition to customized technology developed by the Company to meet customer requirements, the Company utilizes certain patented technology and trade secrets developed by its principal shareholder and technology partner, Lau. The Company has an exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, paid-up royalty-free, worldwide license to use all of the technology owned or controlled by Lau relating to the Company's business except for controlling human entry through doorways, gates, turnstiles, or similar thresholds in and to buildings or facilities located on properties owned or controlled by the United States federal government, or any other national government, using apparatus at the entry point (federal access control). The Company has also entered into nonexclusive, nontransferable, royalty-generating license agreements with Lau to allow Lau to use Viisage's proprietary technology to distribute FaceFinder products for certain European markets and for United States airports and federal agencies.
US airports are generally owned and controlled by the cities or states, or agencies thereof, so I doubt they were excluded under the national government clause. In any case, there appears to be a specific royalty-generating license from VISG to Lau, nonexclusive, which essentially says that both they and Lau agree that the airports are fair game.
I do think the stock has gotten a bit ahead of itself.
Regards,
Fund |
