racket: No deals made?
How did AACS get Chariot? How did AACS get AFG? How did AACS get involved with Amour (now known as American Fiber Green)? It's the FINANCING deals that have not come through over the years (the CCE debacle in '04, the failed financing deals that were "90% complete" in '05, the "energy" deal of '06).
So in '07 we have "the Chariot dealer" deal(s) and AFGP. AFGP is probably more important to AACS overall, but the dealerships for Chariot are also important for funding. I can give you no concrete reason to believe in Hefner ... a lot of what he's attempted to do the last few years has not worked out, obviously. I have met him a few times, I've met Ken a few times, and all I can tell you is that I honestly believe they are trying hard to make this work not only for themselves but for the shareholders. Again, they have not had much success yet, but the constant chipping away at something good happening has to break sometime, IMO. It's just a "gut" feeling - that's all I can say.
I'm pretty disappointed in the IMW manufacturing deal not getting done, that would have been huge for AACS (assuming Dan was on the level as to what would happen if that deal got signed). That's why I got back in late '05, that and the fact that this company still has good assets/book value. I feel I'm safe from losing it all. Dan will lose a lot more than all of us if this didn't work out, his family's financial future is tied up in AACS so he has a lot on the line.