Bat - some answers-
"1) If they are such a great financial team, why couldn't they get venture capital to start the company? Why couldn't they drum up $50M in cash and just start out on the AMEX?"
It is because they didn't use a venture capitalist that I am interested in the company. Venture capitalist go into a company expecting to drive the price of the stock after they move to the exchange and then get out with a lucrative return. "The pressure on management from a Venture Capitalist is not on "building" a company, but "selling" a company. The vision behind this management is "building" a great company in a great new industry. "Vulture" Capitalists are called that because ultimately they do not care if a company grows, succeeds, or meets its potential. Their focus is on short-term profits within 5 years. The strategic plan of this company is to build on the base of an emerging market. To succeed you do not want venture capitalists on your board redirecting your efforts towards short term profits. Instead, they are partnering with strategically forward looking companies.
This is only speculation on my part, but the reason why they took on a pink-sheet shell last year probably had to do with the political issues between the US and Russia. Russia had identified itself as wanting to be a major player in the nuclear industry. The US started putting up roadblocks. Russia's involvement is a strategic critical component of NNRF's strategy. It was faster and cheaper to start the company from a pink-sheet shell than to lay out the time and capital needed to start by getting on the exchange. There was far greater risk last year given the political issues around this industry. Also, by starting from a basic shell, they were able to begin flexible operations, start negotiations, and continue to work on strategies, while the political issues sorted themselves out. They would have lost considerable time and money if they waited until they got on a major exchange. If the politics between US and Russia made the success of this venture too difficult, they could have closed the shell with far less loss.
And this is where the intelligence of this management team has proven itself. Early this year, the US announced it would not stand in the way of Russia's movement in the nuclear industry. Then NNRF started announcing alliances and strengthening future growth plans. In the future they will probably issue more stock but additionally, they will use other forms of debt and capital to grow. And the alliances will add to the EPS. The primary difference between an amateurish pink-sheet management team and a fortune 500 team is that inexperienced management just keeps issuing more stock to capitalize the company. The Fortune 500 team has access to superior money markets, better debt instruments, and combination capital/debt strategies that enable the company to grow without cannabalizing the shareholders.
"2.) If they were used to working with Fortune 500 companies, why are they here, and not working with Fortune 500 companies any more?"
The answer here is that they are here to develop an incredible company - not just "any" company. Looking at each bio it would appear that they are all financially pretty well off and well connnected. So, don't think of them as your typical start up management team that works out of an office from 9 - 5. These guys are traveling the world using their connections to build a world class business. Again, look at the strategic thinking that is going on. Build alliances, develop the technology and manufacturing foundations first around the critical market centers. This is far different than just quickly ramping up a manufacturing plant and pushing a product out the door.
"3.) What's so unique about it? I haven't seen a single product they offer that doesn't have a direct competitor which will win some of the competitions."
All products have competitors that will take some of the customers. But in the long run this company will have succeeded in expanding market penetration due to their strategic build-up.
"4.) How come they have to pay for so much stock promotion? Couldn't they just call thier old buddies at the fortune 500 companies and say, "hey. I got my small business off the ground, come on over and grab a million shares while they are still cheap".
Again, you are thinking too much like a small company manager. They brought in the "marketing" of the company at its early, riskiest stage. I doubt much was really spent. Fortune 500 "frineds" are going to be more interested in mergers, alliances, and alternative funding strategies. And, a compnay like this will only want to partner with someone that shares the same long-term vision. Otherwise, you put people on your board that try to drive the company and the stock into different areas.
So, everything I have seen and read has demonstrated to me that the management team has a long-term goal, has the strategic capability to make it a reality and has the financial connections to fund the company's growth in the most logical and orderly manner possible.
Companies don't get much better than that.
