To: dcrice (39 )
From: Ariella
Monday, Jan 11 1999 10:53AM ET
Reply # of 41
An initial understanding of VDAT for any newbies to the thread:
VISUAL DATA (VDAT) -- a fledgling BCST?
Visual Data is relatively undiscovered (DNET is its 51%-owned subsidiary), has a fantastic
business model, and just signed an extremely important contract with PR Newswire.
I've read SEC documents, know about the two recent financings (already converted) and think
that the site will become a portal site on the scale of MKTW in the future. Very creative
thinking here. They have been short on cash, but are getting help in that arena. Some people
compare them to BCST, but it's early to do so. On the other hand, the price is really low
compared to BCST and still has a lot of upward potential.
______________________________________________________
Stock Name: Visual Data (VDAT)
Profile: Visual Data Corporation is a multi-media content developer specializing in the
production, marketing and distribution of visual information for the Internet and other On-line
services.
Total Shares outstanding: 3.7 million
Float: 2.7 million
Market Cap: $33 million
Homepage: vdat.com
Market Makers:
nasdaqtrader.com.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ways to play (Friday's close figures):
VDAT common stock - last 8 13/16, up 30%
VDATW warrants -- last 3 1/2, up 20% (2001, strike price $6)
DNET (51% owned subsidiary) last 0.47, up 9%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chronology of news:
Oct. 26, 1998: Extension of agreement with PR Newswire
Visual Data Corporation (Nasdaq: VDAT) today announced that it and PR Newswire have
agreed to extend their exclusive marketing agreement to September 30, 2000...
Oct. 28, 1998: Oct. 28 Retaining of Investment Banker
Visual Data Corporation (Nasdaq: VDAT) today announced that it has retained New York
City-based Coleman and Company Securities, Inc. to act as its exclusive investment banking
and financial advisor. Coleman will assist Visual Data in the development of strategic
partnerships; the securing of additional capital, as needed, to support future growth; and will
also provide advice on future business expansion and development...
Nov. 24, 1998 - Expanded distribution of VideoNews with PR Newswire
Video News Wire Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Visual Data Corporation (Nasdaq:
VDAT), today announced that as result of a recent agreement between PR Newswire and NBC,
video news clips available as part of PRN.NewsReel through its exclusive partnership with PR
Newswire, will soon be available on the VideoSeeker Web site. VideoSeeker, owned by NBC, is
a leading on-demand Internet video service and can be found on the Web at
www.videoseeker.com. The line of PRN.Newsreel products includes Video News Wire, PRN
Video Clips, PRN Photos, PRN Corporate Profiles and Live Events...With prices starting at
about $700, Video News is one of the most economical and efficient ways to tap into the
growing power of the Internet as a mainstream media channel.
Since its introduction, Video News Wire has been warmly received by a wide range of
companies and organizations, both large and small. Included among the list of major
corporations that have already used the service are Baxter Healthcare, Chrysler Corporation,
Delta Airlines, H.J. Heinz Company, McDonald's Corporation, Yahoo and Warner Brothers. In
addition, organizations such as Leukemia Society of America, National Wildlife Foundation, and
Guiding Eyes for the Blind, have started using the service...
Dec. 15, 1998 - HotelView gets expanded distribution
HotelView Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Visual Data Corporation (Nasdaq:
VDAT), today announced that Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates, the country's No. 1 travel
agency franchiser, is incorporating the HotelView system into its proprietary Mercavia intranet
and Mercavia RS extranet web systems, created for the use of its 7,000 leisure agents...
Jan. 7, 1999 - Expanded partnership with PR News
Visual Data Corporation (Nasdaq: VDAT - news), today reported that PR Newswire, the
world's largest distributor of news releases to the media and financial community, has expanded
its partnership with Visual Data and its majority-owned subsidiary, EDnet, Inc. (OTC Bulletin
Board: DNET - news), to provide PR Newswire's 33,000 customers with live audio and video
event broadcast capabilities via the Internet. (see
biz.yahoo.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homepage: www.vdat.com
The shell is in place in terms of what the company hopes to achieve. Not every section is
accessible and even Hotel View has relative few videos in its content library yet. But recent
partnerships with PR Newswire for Video News and the 12/15/98 expansion of HotelView will
pump up the site. Various sites already developed have e-commerce built into them (ordering
info, etc.)
Hotel View - 87 matches
Attraction View -- 26 matches (all in USA)
Cruise View (under development)
Campus View (under development)
Adventure View (under development)
Fitness View (under development)
Medical View (under development)
Product View (under development)
Resort View ( 4 gateways available)
ResortView links developer inventory to the Global Distribution System that connects the five
major Central Reservation Systems via which all 650,000 worldwide travel agents book
reservations. As well, the resort is linked to major travel related websites by which consumers
can access data and book reservations
Care View Assisted Living/Skilled nursing facilities listed county-by-county/state-by-state. All
facilities listed, some videos available
Convention View (under development)
Video News Wire
Video News Wire creates a full motion "TV newslike" video clip of a company's written press
release, digitizes the clip and makes the Video News Release available to anyone via the Internet.
Using the company's worldwide camera crew network, Video News Wire videotapes press
conferences and events incorporating them into each press release.
______________________________________________________
Conclusion:
VDAT is going to be valued by perception of its revenue growth potential, which is high,
especially given the recent partnership with PR News and , through it, NBC. DNET has had
plenty of financial headaches and the partnership with VDAT is a bail-out as well as a
synergistic move. Wouldn't be surprised to see DNET bought out by VDAT.
Because e-commerce is built into several of the "VIEW" sites and VDAT has the ability to take a
percentage of transactions in some cases, the progression of the site will lead eventually to a
geometric progression of VDAT's revenue/eps. Unlike BCST, VDAT is developing its own
content library in interesting fields that help people save time, that help vendors make money,
and are optimal for presentation on the internet once users upgrade their RealNetworks
software.
|
