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Non-Tech : Bill Wexler's Dog Pound -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: BDR who wrote (4883)	11/21/1999 10:44:00 AM
From: BDR	Respond to of 10293

ALTAIR- it is interesting to compare the wording of the press release describing the purchase of titanium dioxide producing technology- quicken.excite.com with the recently filed 8-K- freeedgar.com The press release states that "the purchase includes patents and inventions, as well as the operating BHP demonstration plant." The 8-K reveals that the process is not covered by a patent. A patent application has been filed but not granted in the U.S. and there is no patent protection anywhere else in the world. The release states that "Altair plans to immediately use the demonstration plant to produce titanium dioxide nanoparticles, which command a price of about $35,000 a ton." The 8-K states that "The Technology and Assets have not been used by Altair, or by anyone in a commercial setting, and may prove ineffective or unreliable when subjected to continuous use." It goes on to state that "We are purchasing the Technology and Assets based on our belief that, with our use of the Technology and the Assets, we will be able to produce titanium dioxide and other products more cheaply than many competitors. We have not, however, produced any mineral products using the Technology and Assets on either a test or a commercial basis." Regarding that commercial market the 8-K states- "Our plans for funding the purchase of the Technology and Assets depend upon our being able to quickly and effectively commercialize the Technology. If the Technology proves ineffective or the Assets prove unreliable in a commercial setting, we may be unable to fund our purchase of the Technology and Assets or may otherwise be unable to recoup our investment in the Technology and Assets..... We have not previously produced or marketed titanium dioxide nanoparticles and, to date, have not obtained or sought to obtain any orders for titanium dioxide nanoparticles." In fact it appears they have bought a pig in a poke: "We have reviewed test results produced by BHP suggesting that the Technology and Assets can effectively extract titanium dioxide from titanium containing ores. Nevertheless, Altair has not independently tested the Technology and Assets, and neither Altair nor BHP has attempted to use the Technology or Assets on a continuous basis in a commercial setting."