Shonstrom Research Associates Initiates Coverage of
2000-08-15 09:18 (New York)
Nano-Particle Producer,
Altair International with a Speculative BUY Rating
Shonstrom Research Associates Provides Proprietary Research Product to NASD
Member PCS Securities CRD#23734.
DENVER, Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Altair International (Nasdaq: ALTI), a
development stage company is expected to begin shipping commercial quantities
of titanium dioxide nano-particles in this year's fourth quarter.
The company's first market opportunity is for Altium TiNano 40 anatase
crystals to be used as UV protection in skin care and cosmetic products. A
second application is as an additive to a ceramic coating developed for the
Navy that increases impact resistance 4 times.
Nanotechnology (a nanometer equals one billionth of a meter) is the
marriage of chemistry and engineering in building materials at the molecular
level. Current nanomaterials increase strength and resilience, remove
imperfections, lower weight and cost, and provide photo resistance. Over the
next decade nanomaterials will influence "virtually every man-made object"
according to the National Science and Technology Council. While many
potential advances such as computing at the molecular level are years away, a
number of commercial markets, on which Altair is focused, are just emerging.
Altair's thin film process appears to produce a more consistently sized
nano-particle at a lower cost than that of existing vapor and solution
processes. Further, Altair's surface chemistry control methods and dopants
can allow for variations in porosity, conductivity, photo catalytic activity
and other desirable features not obtainable through these other technologies.
Michael Shonstrom, President of Shonstrom Research Associates noted that
the industry's only pure play, Nanophase Technologies (Nasdaq: NANX) currently
has a market capitalization of $135 MM and the company's stock sells at a
multiple of 52.1 x trailing twelve month revenues of $2.5 MM. Altair's
nano-particle revenues could reach an estimated $5.0 MM in 2001. Further, the
company is expected to announce a number of new applications and technological
initiatives with significant industry partners over the next year.
On a parallel path the company is developing a titanium ore deposit to add
new production to $7 Billion mineral markets faced with diminishing sources of
supply.
Shonstrom Research Associates has initiated coverage with a speculative
BUY rating and a 12 month price target of $9 per share.
SOURCE Shonstrom Research Associates
-0- 08/15/2000
/CONTACT: Amy Evans of Shonstrom Research Associates, 303-321-2392/
(ALTI NANX)
CO: Shonstrom Research Associates; Altair International; Nanophase
Technologies
-0- Aug/15/2000 13:03 GMT
EOS (PRN) Aug/15/2000 09:03 85
-0- (PRN) Aug/15/2000 13:18 GMT |
