cosmo: Re: ...I post things as they are...
I know. So do I. That is why I asked you to not take offense. I really was criticizing the content of your post, not you.
As far as the BOD collecting salaries, name ONE that DOESNT?
As a shareholder, I try to look at my ROI. In other words, what do I, and the company, get for my shareholder dollar. I specifically have no problem with Ketch drawing a modest salary. In fact, all of the officers of the company should draw a living wage. However, this is a broke startup company. Ray is taking down over a quarter million dollars a year, and I frankly don't see what he does to earn that. I recognize that we would not be here if it weren't for him, but I have no idea where "here" is, and I have no way of knowing if the only purpose of NVEI existing is to pay Ray a quarter million for as long as is humanly possible, while stringing the shareholder along in a financing death spiral. It would not be the first time this has happened on the OTC:BB. You could argue the same thing about Ivan, Winehouse and whoever else is on the company dole. I don't see those guys doing anything for us. Additionally, these guys are loaded with shares. If they truly believed that this thing will work, they could reduce their salaries to only that needed to get by until we hit the big time. They would still be billionaires, and they would have helped the company in a time of need. I have seen numerous start-up companies do this. In fact, I have rarely seen a company in as dire financial straits as NVEI pay such high dollar for officers and BOD.
You cannot reasonably compare the salaries paid to NVEI to the rest of the "industry". NVEI is not yet in the "industry". They want to be, but they are not - yet. If I had a "BOGUS" meter, it would be going off like crazy at this subject. Same thing goes about the gobs of money we have given to "consultants". An honest company would have a very difficult time explaining fees paid to consultants with Caribbean addresses. The "BOGUS" meter screams at that subject.
Many people have talked to the CEO...
Yeah, I know. So have I. I did so reluctantly. My reluctance is based simply on the principle that actions speak louder than words. Brad is a very eloquent and intelligent individual. One might even characterize him as charming. So was Ted Bundy. Now, before anyone jumps on my case, I am not comparing Brad to a serial killer. I am merely pointing out that someone could present a persona of complete trustworthiness and confidence, yet never deliver. His intentions could be completely honorable, and we could still end up losing all of our money. In my humble rationale, it is inappropriate to make investing decisions based solely on whether the CEO inspires confidence. That *is* an important consideration, but should not be the deal-maker or deal-breaker.
NVEI has hinted on past occasion that big players DO INDEED have interest, so this is hardly a baseless comment as you suggest. Anyone could be involved, such as ATT, Lucent, Nortel, Quest. These guys not big enough for you?
They are as big as they get. But, frankly just because you mention them does not mean that they are in any way involved with NVEI. There is no, and I mean absolutely *no*, evidence that any of the above companies are even remotely interested in NVEI. Yeah, the company hinted at interest by big players, but I have been following this for nearly 3 years, and those "hints" have come and gone over and over again. Every time I hear a "hint" coming from the company, the "BOGUS" meter screams. If the big boys were actually very interested, we would not have given one of our precious pseudo-prototypes to a small start-up. We would have given them both to the two biggest players.
At other times they said progress was being made but now is DIFFERENT because they released the numbers in the Dec PR and they have real customers testing now.
I agree that we are closer than we have ever been. We should be. But, let's not forget that numbers were released three years ago too. That technology was also verified by a big name. Nothing ever came of it.
What do you think these customer are testing?
I really have no idea, or at least *had* no idea. I think I know now, but even after repeated attempts to contact the company to find out if it was actually a silicon prototype, they dodged me even to the point of being rude and evasive. In fairness to Brad, he did call me personally and cleared some things up, andI respect that immensely. Nonetheless, the customers are not testing a product. They are testing a computer representation of a product. I can only speculate (and have extensively) about how complicated, expensive and time-consuming it will be to take this pseudo-prototype to the next stage.
They clearly stated that the tech WORKS.
You may not believe this, but I sincerely believe that the tech works. I would have sold out completely if I did not. However, a working theory does not pay the rent. They must *execute*. If they are executing, they are hiding it very well. In all fairness, that could be the strategy.
That last comment about analysts was an implied way of stating that this stock could move significantly and therefore capture the interest of the investment community.
We won't get any real analyst attention until we are listed on a major exchange. Hopefully, that will come in due time.
Please don't get the idea that I am attacking you, or that I have become a basher. However, for 3 years, we have been saying that this will happen soooooooon. I still hope and at least partly believe that it will. But I am at the same time very disappointed with the company and with Ketch. At times like this it is very important for a company to "dance with the one that brung ya". We "brung" NVEI to the dance, yet, we have no idea what is going on. I recognize the need for secrecy, but I also recognize that the veil of secrecy makes it very easy to deceive. We need money and we need communications. We need them both pretty sooooooon. If the bottom falls out of the share price, we will no longer be able to sell shares to pay the bills. That day may not be too far away. If the tech *is* real, there are probably already a few vultures waiting for us to file bankruptcy so they can swoop in and pick up the tech for a song. It could happen.
The one thing that could shore up the shareprice is investor confidence. Right now, I imagine that a large number of shareholders are planning an exit strategy. I think we saw some of that this week when there was a lot of selling on a little strength. If Ketch were to instill confidence in the investors, they would start buying the dips rather than selling the spikes. The best way to instill confidence is to communicate. Oh, and sell the damm movie already.
