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Technology Stocks : VALENCE TECHNOLOGY (VLNC) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jim heger who wrote (4436)	10/17/1998 12:30:00 PM
From: FMK	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 27311

Jim, I remember Cal Reed comparing the cost differences over a year ago. He said most Cobalt comes from a more politically unstable part of the world and was something like 10x the cost of Manganese. There have been suggestions that Cobalt may become restricted in the European markets due to environmental and safety concerns. If so, Valence will have a significant competitive advantage, especially with their patent portfolio. Europe is a very large market. This would also explain rumors about renewed pressure from Asian companies for licensing Valence's technology. It would be a way for Valence to particate in a smaller part of the overall estimated $8 billion market for rechargeables, as would have resulted from the failed licensing discussions last fall with Sony. The smaller piece of the big pie could very well exceed the revenue Valence attains in the next few years by going it alone with production and sales of their own batteries.