Hi everyone..Just got back from Portugal (home of Port wine...Oporto..FUN city..)..and finished reading thru approx 100 posts or so...(actually, Warren and I were snatched by MM aliens and only released us after threatening them with a mauling by Idaho Pete's Sam and Lady...) <GG>
Where to begin? I read Warren's post to you all and he pretty much captured the gist of the meeting..I can elaborate on a few more areas but first, I would like to remind all of the major players involved...
Jean Pierre Collardeau has been involved in international trade for the last 30 years, specifically in matters of international banking, rules and regulations. In 1968 he was involved with transactions between Asia and Africa..10 yrs later he was the No 1 importer and distributor for Peugot in Nigeria and in 88 was the representative and negotiator of Fiat and worked directly with the Ministry of Works of various Governments of West African countries.For the last 10 yrs, from Paris, Geneva and London he has supervised commercial operations and foreign investments from Europe to africa and has advised on government tenders and bids to major infrastructure projects funded by the World Bank..He is also a member of many world wide trade associations..According to Taylor, when he is not out of town, he comes to the office everyday and is proactive in running the company.
David Walker came to PNLK from Unz & Co.., the leading provider of import/export publications, software, and training programs to the US international trade community, and was instrumental in the creation and development of many unique products and services for importers and exporters which was recognized in Commerce achievement awards. He has 20 years of experience in International Trade which include a strong technical background in development and installation of various network operating systems, including software and regulatory CD-Roms..In my opinion, it is this background and knowledge of International Buisness and Commerce which will accelerate PNLK's success as an internet webtool to the ever increasing globalization of business and its success to streamline the complicated and intricate transactions that pervade the industry today.
PNLK is located in the Olympic Tower Building on 5th Ave. You can see the big green awning out front, and when you enter you see a beautiful marble green lobby with an impressive directory of clients including ProNetLink suite 303. (That is right, not a PO box Office or in some small back office in a strip mall..)...
Warren and I were 15 minutes early and were greeted by I think Judy, who hung up our coats and escorted us to the conference room. Originally I had just requested an introduction as I was in the city for a day trip and knew Glenn was out of town so I wasn't expecting a meeting. When I knew Warren was going to be in the city at the same time, we decided to meet with Mr Walker (But I forgot to ask Taylor to hold a block of time) so Mr Walker had originally only planned on maybe 15 min but instead he was nice enough to last minute extend to over an hour while he waited for his next appointment which was with the Journal of Commerce.
We opened up the meeting with a discussion of the private placement and the fact that investors confidence was waning because of lack of news by the company and the 144 filings. We knew going into the meeting that we wouldn't get much information re how it was structured. We were told that a PP is just that and PNL is not compeled by law to disclose the way it was done, but that it was done to raise funds for the website development and marketing. As for the 144 filings, Warren mentioned a couple of the names and Taylor assured us they were not JPC's family members..
Now we come to the lack of news issue..Walker said PNL right now is working very hard to get V3 ready by April and there will be all kinds of news coming out when it is ready to launch. There is a PR campaign in place. PNLK will not issue press releases until they are ready and not before. He was very emphatic on that issue. It doesn't matter how much investors jump up and down, stand on their heads, barrage them with e-mail..(.get the picture?)....
The news is timed with the launch of V3 and it most likely will start with the first of the newsletters which I think Walker said would be ready sometime in Feb and will be posted on the website. The newsletter will NOT discuss stock issues..only information regarding import/export and E-commerce and the features PNLK will offer to its members.
Walker was very excited about V3. He said they have tracked approx 80 competitors but none will offer many of the features V3 will offer. I can talk about a few of them..one feature unique to their webtool will be a tracking database of the user much like Amazon.com uses wherin the website will remember your data and track your needs in which to facilitate and streamline the process to the user. Also it is developing a scrolling toolbar for the user very similar to that of Pointcast. Some other features include a direct link to experts to expedite assistance for business related matters, secured on-line payment connections, fax support directly from within the site, help with banking needs and completing transactions under guidelines set forth in the international UCP500 Documentary Credit Agreements. Also members can place banner and advertisements within the site to increase their exposure to their targeted markets..
Walker did mention Click will be instrumental in the implementation of some of these features and the technical support aspect of the website. Also they will be announcing another alliance besides Rare Medium and Click who will be coming on board as well.
Their trade both is ready. They do plan on going to I think he said 3 shows coming up...The booth has a curved backdrop of the website with the globe and it will have brochures, and a computer which will walk the user through a transaction from start to finish. They will soon be able to do this in their offices.
Warren did mention TK's idea. Walker was receptive and took several notes throughout the meeting.
Chamber of Commerce alliances was a major topic. Israel is a done deal. Other countries mentioned were China, Singapore and several others that I can't remember. Down the road is South America.
By the way, the 15c2-11 Information Statement is back from the printers. If you emailed your address to Taylor you should be receiving it anyday. Mine came in the mail while I was gone.
Sort of off the topic..my seatmate on the way to Lisbon was interesting enough an Executive Vice President with Dun and Bradstreet..When he told me who he worked for I mentioned The work his company did for ProNetLink....
Have a great day fellow PNLKers and if I remember anything else,I will let you know.
Regards,
Terri
And good morning to Planter, wherever you are... |
