Metal Storm Annual General Meeting 25 May 2005
25 Maio 2005 - 1:37PM
PR Newswire (US)
Metal Storm Annual General Meeting 25 May 2005 Chief Executive
Officer's Report ARLINGTON, Va., May 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Metal Storm Limited
(NASDAQ:MTSXNASDAQ:andNASDAQ:ASXNASDAQ:tradingNASDAQ:code:NASDAQ:MST)
Thank you Mr. Chairman. This is a very exciting event for me! Above
and beyond it being my first Annual General Meeting, it has allowed
another opportunity for Kate and me to travel to your wonderful
country which has long been a favorite destination of mine ever
since I first came here as a wide-eyed midshipman, having just
completed my first year at the U.S Naval Academy. Let's suffice it
to say that it was "a few" years ago! I am very pleased that you
have come to attend today's meeting in Melbourne. For the next few
minutes I will discuss the changes I have implemented since taking
over as the Metal Storm Chief Executive Officer... ...the most
significant of which is the change of the company's business model,
to that of a Systems Integrator...Where we can now use our unique
technology as the foundation for growing a wider and larger
business. After assessing the needs and requirements of key US DoD
and Government Agencies, it became clear that none had the
resources or desire to take our Intellectual Property and develop
it into a fully functioning weapon. This is mainly because their
requirements are NOT solely for a gun, but rather for a true
"weapon system". What also became clear was that these prospective
end- users had requirements for a lightweight, low power,
net-centric weapons "system" that would provide unparalleled fire
power at a significantly reduced size/weight ratio and across a
wide range of projectile types and calibers, which are all the
attributes that our "systems" Bring to the table. As a Weapon
Systems Integrator our success hinges on pairing our Launch Systems
with Targeting Systems, Control Capabilities, Platform
Compatibilities, Communications Protocols, and Munitions produced
by other expert manufacturers. The Business Development Team,
focused on these criteria, has already begun aligning Metal Storm
with well-suited partners. Our goal is to generate a range of
products that exploit the unique selling points of our technology
and provide systems packages that match market needs. Teaming
agreements with several companies are currently in the pipeline.
Successful partnering of this nature are an important part of the
Company's strategy as we progress our systems into the future. Our
aim is to partner with larger, more experienced and successful
companies, thereby validating to the market, the quality and
potential of our technology. We have already achieved successes in
collaborating with other partners. This has convinced me of the
merits of Metal Storm's new business strategy. For example, our
collaboration with Dragonfly Pictures, Inc., a producer of small
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), has resulted in the placement of a
two barrel 40 mm system on the DP4X UAV. We still expect to conduct
airborne live fire demonstrations in the next few months. The
company is pursuing several opportunities which arose as a direct
result of customer representatives attending our 40 mm Weapons
System demonstration in New Jersey in March this year. The
potential partners observed our system, correlated our capabilities
to their requirements and concluded that Metal Storm provided the
necessary technology for their needs. This is why I will continue
to place a strong emphasis on system demonstrations. I am committed
to pursuing and successfully finalizing arrangements that arise out
of approaches of this nature. I continue to prioritize my technical
team against the following key product areas that we will focus on:
* First of all, our 40mm launch system in the Low Pressure/ Low
Velocity regime is the most robust and mature that we have; and was
very successfully demonstrated at Picatinny Arsenal in March of
this year. * Our second and simultaneous thrust is the 40 mm Metal
Storm Munitions Line-up of pyrotechnic effects, then progressing to
a High Explosive Practice Round, to a full-up High Explosive Round
and various Specialty and Less Than Lethal (LTL) Rounds. * We have
also dedicated a portion of our engineering capacity on a
SUPERSONIC launch system for special purpose applications * And we
continue to work on the engineering development of Small caliber
(50 Cal and under) launch systems and munitions. Placing our focus
on commercializing these prioritized areas has and will continue to
put Metal Storm in a position to win commercial contracts. We are
in the midst of some very hard engineering work that is aimed at
producing a weapon system, both launcher and munitions, that we
plan to present to the US Military for Certification. Accomplishing
this will position the company to enter its first phase of Limited
Quantity Production Many investors that have communicated directly
with me have questioned the company's longevity. I believe the
Company's new focus as a Systems Integrator will place it on a
solid foundation to achieve its aim of generating revenue. However,
even without any revenue, we have adequate financial resources to
fund our planned activities through mid 2006. Cost monitoring and
cost reduction programs have been implemented to stretch that even
further in whatever ways we can find. In that regard, I have one
last significant announcement to make. On 25 May, 2005, Metal Storm
and Monroe Machining of Seattle, Washington entered into a formal
agreement for Monroe to purchase the assets and current order
backlog and assume the accounts payable liabilities of ProCam
Machining, our wholly owned subsidiary. We expect this deal to be
completed by the 31st of May 2005. Importantly, the expertise and
toolsets that have been built up at ProCam to support Metal Storm
will continue to be available to us, whilst the sale of the
business allows us to release valuable cash resources to support
our main focus in creating saleable products. As I have stated in
the recent past, even though I feel we remain in a solid financial
condition, well improved by the sale of ProCam, it is my
responsibility to ensure we have the necessary resources to achieve
our goals in the shortest possible time frame. We will continue to
evaluate various opportunities to secure additional funding, if
necessary; however, we will do so in a manner and at a time which
takes into account the interests of existing shareholders. Ladies
and Gentlemen, in conclusion, I am fully dedicated to exploit Metal
Storm's tremendous technology on a global basis. We "have" made a
start and we have "endless" opportunity, top notch engineering
talent, a committed and professional Executive Team and an
experienced and well connected Board of Directors, and most
importantly, a Defense industry and market that manifests a serious
desire for our technology. I believe that every step into the
future that we take we are that much closer to sustainable
long-term growth and value for YOU...our shareholders. Thank you
for your attention, thank you for attending, and most sincerely
thank you for your long and positive support of Metal Storm. We
will get there!!! Stay the Storm!!! David Smith Chief Executive
Officer About Metal Storm Metal Storm Limited is a defense
technology company, employing 60 staff, headquartered in Brisbane,
Australia and incorporated in the US, with offices in Washington DC
and a defense engineering capability located in Seattle, operating
as ProCam Machine LLC. The Company has invented 100% electronic
ballistics technology that has no known conventional equivalent.
Metal Storm is working with government agencies and departments,
including the National Institute of Justice (US), the US Navy and
US Army to develop a variety of systems utilizing the Metal Storm
non-mechanical, electronically fired stacked ammunition system.
Safe Harbor Certain statements made herein that use the words
"estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe" and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties which could cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the company to be materially
different from those which may be expressed or implied by such
statements, including, among others, risks or uncertainties
associated with the development of the company's technology, the
ability of the company to meet its financial requirements, the
ability of the company to protect its proprietary technology,
potential limitations on the company's technology, the market for
the company's products, government regulation in Australia and the
U.S., changes in tax and other laws, changes in competition and the
loss of key personnel. For additional information regarding these
and other risks and uncertainties associated with the company's
business, reference is made to the company's reports filed from
time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
the company's Form 20-F. DATASOURCE: Metal Storm Limited CONTACT:
David Smith of Metal Storm, Inc., +1-703-248-8218, ; Investors -
Gregory Pettit, +1-212-885-0301, , or Stefan Anikewich,
+1-212-885-0505, , both of Hill and Knowlton, for Metal Storm, Inc.
Copyright
Metal Storm Limited ADS (MM) (NASDAQ:MTSX)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Jan 2025 até Fev 2025
Metal Storm Limited ADS (MM) (NASDAQ:MTSX)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Fev 2024 até Fev 2025