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Technology Stocks : Net Perceptions, Inc. (NETP) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: bernieb2 who wrote (2766)	8/20/2000 10:48:14 AM
From: rupert1	Respond to of 2908

bernie: I am referring only to his contacts with analysts, the market and investors and to some extent, the media. Some people simply do not have an easy feel for imagery, words or rhythm of communication. My own theory is that he is too self-conscious about it. In written media interviews he comes off a bit better but I attribute that to the editing of the author. However, I am sure those who are already sold on NETP appreciate the personal and buseenss values he communicates, no doubt the same is true of employees and partners. The CEO's job is to assemble the team and execute and it does not really matter who promotes the company, as long as it is done well. At future CC's I hope that the CFO continues to represent the financials, the COO presents the sales and operations and CEO just gives an introduction and answers questions on strategy. He also has a Chairman's responsibility to promote the interest of shareholders.

To: bernieb2 who wrote (2766)	8/20/2000 11:13:42 AM
From: rupert1	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2908

bernie: It would be interesting to know how many analysts attended in person and how many listened to the live webcast. Some time ago, Tony in IR told you that they were talking to up to 7 analysts who were considering initiating coverage. As far as I recall he did not indicate the status of their houses. I suppose it is possible that the number has grown since then. I guess that the larger houses might still be put off by the low capitalization and by the poor PR (up until this week). It may be a hard slog to recruit them and perhaps it is going to have to be a war of attrition. We need one big one that is not an underwriter, what Intentional once referred to as "the lead steer" which will start the herd moving in the right direction. I would think that the 7 being talked to would all convert. Guessing, I would think that we have some claim on JP Morgan. They have bought into NETP's Knowledge Management in a big way and surely the information/technology guys in the company who are responsible for the installation, and the NETP sales and services staff who deal with them, have generated interest from the brokers. Following this line of thought, we also know that NETP's KM sales staff is targeting the financial services industry and is moving to New York to be nearer to the big houses. My next guess is Goldman Sachs. There may be some competitive reason why they are ignoring it - competitive with NETP underwriters - but Goldman have mentioned NETP before - and its claim to expertise in the sector should drive it to take a position. After that I would guess Merrill Lynch. ML likes to drum up business wherever it can. NETP has hardly any downside risk and great potential in the next six months - ML would not lose any customers by recommending a BUY. I find it difficult to believe that any analyst who studies NETP would be concerned about downside risk at these levels. They may wish to have 100% certainty and wait out the dynamics of the summer doldrums - but at some point they have to seize their chance to (a) buy some for their own account and (b) get out a recommendation when the price still gives them lots of upside. In fact, the danger for them is that they will miss NETP. It is beginning to have all the hallmarks of a sector leader - technological lead, mind share, entrenched ubiquity and consistent high growth. At some price the market will catch up (and probably overvalue it) at which stage NETP will be able to explode in size as it uses share value to fuel acquisitions. All of this presumes that NETP won't be bought out first.