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CYIOS Corporation (OTCBB: CYIO) Up 17.39% on Tuesday
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December 18, 2007 - CYIOS - Wins $4.6M Army Contract
CYIOS Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: CYIO) announced today that it has been awarded a contract for one base year and four option years with the U.S. Army's Office of the Chief of Staff, Senior Leader Development (SLD) Office worth over $4.6 Million. CYIOS will provide support to develop and implement, maintain and sustain knowledge management systems that will provide timely, accurate, and comprehensive information to General Officers, Colonels and other senior DoD decision makers. "We are proud to have the opportunity to provide 24/7 Knowledge Management systems to the Army Senior Leadership in support of their mission of utilization, and management of the Army strategic leadership," stated Program Manager Scott DiStefano.
SLD is a knowledge centric organization empowering the CSA and Secretary of the Army to make the most informed decisions with accurate, timely data. "We have a great team with the combined experience to help support SLD in their missions and in bringing their goals to fruition," stated CEO Timothy Carnahan.
BioTime, Inc. (OTCBB: BTIM) Up 21.21% on Tuesday
Detailed quote: http://beaconequityresearch.com/BTIM
December 18, 2007 - BioTime, Inc. Announces Plan to Map the Human Embryome
BioTime, Inc. (OTCBB:BTIM) announced its plan to build a relational database for its Embryome Sciences subsidiary that will display information useful in identifying the hundreds of cell types that can be made from human and mouse embryonic stem cells. BioTime believes that this database will be the first of its kind in the stem cell field.
"Human embryonic stem cells have enormous potential in medicine due to their ability to become all of the cell types of the human body," said Michael West, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of BioTime. "A careful delineation of markers of embryonic cell pathways will create a map of the embryome that will facilitate the purification of many therapeutically-useful cell types. The identification of specific therapeutic cell lines will, in turn, help ensure that future cell-based therapies are safe and unlikely to suffer serious side effects, such as tumor formation."
The relational database will be built using core software licensed, on an exclusive basis for this purpose, from Targeted Therapeutics Consulting, Inc., which currently operates a relational database for cancer therapy research and the development of anti-cancer drugs. When the new embryome database is operational, Embryome Sciences will provide researchers access to it through an internet website. Embryome Sciences plans to launch this new website early next year beginning with a database map of the embryome of the mouse, and plans to add the human embryome by June 2008.
In addition to providing access to its embryome database, Embryome Sciences' new website may also be used to market stem cell research products developed by Embryome Sciences and by other companies.
Other products that Embryome Sciences plans to develop include growth and differentiation factors that can be used to induce embryonic stem cells to become desired cell types, and a line of purification tools useful to researchers in purification and quality control analysis of products in regenerative medicine.
BioTime believes that the development of products such as these in the Embryomics(TM) sector may allow Embryome Sciences to commercialize products more quickly, using less capital, than developing therapeutic products from stem cells. Embryome Sciences' plan is to market its products and services to companies and academic researchers, such as those working under the $3 billion California stem cell initiative, in this growing industry, and to provide them the tools they need to attain their goals.
National Energy Services Company, Inc. (OTCBB: NEGS) Up 20.00% on Tuesday
Detailed quote: http://beaconequityresearch.com/NEGS
December 18, 2007 - National Energy Services Company Receives Endorsement From the Printing Industries Alliance
National Energy Services Company, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: NEGS), today announced it has signed a two year agreement with the Printing Industries Alliance serving New York State, Northern New Jersey and Western Pennsylvania to develop individualized green and/or sustainability initiatives as well as telecommunications products and services. In addition to the printing industry, National Energy Services Company helps long term care, hospitality, and commercial and industrial facilities reduce energy costs through its customized cost effective products and management services.
National Director of Sales and Marketing for National Energy, Michael Brice said, "We are honored to be an exclusive partner with the Printing Industries Alliance. As a former executive in the printing industry, I know the value the organization provides its members. Our products and services for energy efficiency and conservation are aligned with the printing industry's "green" focus. This strategic partnership is a win/win situation for the organization's members and the environment. We are also excited about bringing the benefits of our aggregated energy procurement and telecom solutions to PIA members."
National Energy lighting upgrades consume significantly less energy as well as provide better quality light, increase productivity, lower maintenance costs and a reduced carbon footprint. Lighting upgrades typically reduce electrical consumption by a minimum of 50% and T-5 and T-8 florescent technology dramatically reduces UV exposure compared to other light sources. Total building energy analysis; LEED (EB) and Energy Star Certification; and wireless energy management programs are available and enhance a printer's green credentials.
FirstFlight, Inc. (OTCBB: FFLT) Up 14.29% on Tuesday
Detailed quote: http://beaconequityresearch.com/FFLT
December 18, 2007 - FirstFlight Appoints Special Committee to Study Strategic Options
FirstFlight, Inc. (OTCBB:FFLT), a charter management and aviation services company, today announced that its Board of Directors has decided to explore a broad range of strategic alternatives to enhance stockholder value. The Board has appointed a special committee drawn from its independent members to study these alternatives and has retained Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd., as its financial advisor to assist in this effort. The Board has taken this action in response to a number of acquisition opportunities and to a recent unsolicited indication of interest in the acquisition of FirstFlight.
FirstFlight previously announced record results for the nine months to September 30, 2007. Revenues rose to almost $35.1 million up from $29.8 million in the nine months to September 30, 2006. In 2007's first nine months, revenue was composed of: $28.5 million in charter management (up from $23.4 million in the same period prior year), another $4.5 million from fixed base operations (FBO, up from $4.2 million in the nine months through September 30, 2006), and $2.1 million from aircraft maintenance, off slightly from $2.2 million in the same period of 2006.
The Company reported a net income for the first nine-months of 2007 of $183,868, an improvement from the $2.5 million net loss for the first nine month of 2006. FirstFlight's management credits the turn around to the completion of a program to improve costs, a larger fleet of managed aircraft, a better mix of mid- to large-cabin aircraft, conversion of preferred shares and repayment of senior debt.
John Dow, President and CEO of FirstFlight said, "We engage in the aircraft charter management and aircraft maintenance businesses as well as FBO activities such as fueling and hangaring for general aviation. We believe that these markets are attractive for consolidation. At the same time, The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) pointed out last year that 30% of charter travelers have almost totally abandoned the scheduled airlines for their travel needs, in large part due to the security aggravations brought on by 9/11 and service that has declined in recent years. We anticipate that this trend is going to continue and will increase demand for our services. Indeed, we hired Marketshare Development Inc., a marketing company based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to help us continue developing our business. FirstFlight has had a year of consolidation, and we believe we are now in a position to explore ways to take advantage of these market conditions.
"Looking at our business segments individually, one can see that there are a great many opportunities, and the new committee will be involved in separating the good prospects from those that are less attractive. The charter management segment of the aviation industry where we operate is defined as those operators flying under Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 135 covering aircraft with 30 seats or fewer and up to 7,500 pounds of payload. NATA noted last year that there were approximately 3,000 holders of Part 135 charter certificates, which include 2,550 for fixed wing aircraft and 450 for helicopter operators. We are confident that there are economies of scale that can be achieved through consolidation in this highly fragmented market.
"Our FBO business operates in a similarly fragmented and diffuse market. Here, NATA said that there are over 3,000 operators who serve customers at one or more of the over 3,000 airport facilities that have at least one paved 3,000-foot runway. The vast majority of these companies are single location operators. Aircraft maintenance is similarly structured."
Dow concluded, "We have reached an important stage in our development, and the research and deliberations of this committee in examining our strategic options will result in an active and exciting 2008."
FirstFlight also noted that there can be no assurance that the exploration of these strategic alternatives will result in any transaction. FirstFlight does not intend to disclose developments with respect to the exploration of strategic alternatives unless and until its Board of Directors has approved a specific transaction.
Laidlaw & Co., which has been involved with FirstFlight since its infancy, possesses a wealth of industry knowledge and years of transactional experience, allowing it to raise capital and advise clients who seek efficient market access and creative solutions to their corporate financing needs. With investment banking expertise and merchant banking capital under one umbrella, Laidlaw is uniquely suited to serve emerging growth companies and satisfy special situation funding requirements.
GoldSpring, Inc. (OTCBB: GSPG) Up 15.79% on Tuesday
Detailed quote: http://beaconequityresearch.com/GSPG
December 18, 2007 - GoldSpring, Inc. Hires Drilling Contractor and Drilling Expected to Commence Immediately
GoldSpring, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: GSPG) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Orbit Garant Drilling, Inc., one of the largest drilling companies in North America, to perform exploration and developmental drilling at its Comstock Lode Project. The drill rig and crew are scheduled to arrive today, and the Company expects drilling to commence this week.
GoldSpring's COO, James Golden, said, "During the past several months we have been studying the geological data of the Comstock District and delineating ore bodies to determine the most advantageous drilling strategy. The results of our study allowed us to develop a drilling program which is anticipated to increase our mineral reserves and provide the necessary data to complete our mine plan and reserve report for the Hartford Complex. Our Phase 1 Drilling program is the next step in our preparatory plan for mining operation resumption in 2008."
