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CONTACT:
SmallCaps Online LLC
(212) 554-4158 (phone)
(212) 554-4058 (fax)
info@SmallCapsOnline.com
SmallCaps Online LLC Comments on AMBI's
Fiscal Second Quarter Results
Please Visit SmallCaps' Web Site at www.SmallCapsOnline.com for Detailed Report
New York, NY, February 10, 1999 -- SmallCaps Online LLC
released comments today on AMBI Inc. (Nasdaq: AMBI) following the release
of AMBI's fiscal second quarter results. The full text of this report
can be accessed at SmallCaps' web site, at www.SmallCapsOnline.com.
Excerpts from the report follow:
We continue to be impressed with AMBI management's ability to deliver
on their promises. As expected, AMBI reported strong fiscal second quarter
results yesterday. When we first considered recommending AMBI, management
had publicly announced that several transforming events should occur over
the next six months or so: a major strategic partnership, continued financial
turnaround, and one or more product/business acquisitions. AMBI has delivered
on all these in a very short period of time.
This second quarter was particularly indicative of AMBI's ability to
deliver on its promises:
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AMBI closed its deal with American Home Products (AHP) for
the U.S. retail distribution of AMBI's CARDIA® Salt Alternative.
As a result of the agreement, AHP made a $4.0 million equity investment
in AMBI and paid a $1.0 million one-time license fee that is reflected
in AMBI's fiscal 2Q99 results. AMBI management has indicated that
AHP is planning a national launch of CARDIA Salt in July/August of
this year. We believe that the increased brand awareness that should
result from the AHP promotion of this CARDIA product should prove
invaluable to AMBI as it rolls out additional CARDIA brand products.
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At the end of November, AMBI announced that it had revised
its agreements with the holders of its convertible Series C and D
preferred stock to redeem a portion and convert the remainder to Series
E and F preferred stock. Where the Series C and D had been at a floating
conversion price, the newly issued Series E and F shares are both
fixed at $1.25 and are convertible into a maximum of 1.66 million
shares of AMBI common stock. We continue to believe this to be a very
important event for AMBI, as it removed a negative technical factor
as well as assuaged investor concerns about dilution.
-
We found it impressive that in its recent announcement of
Optimum Lifestyle, Inc., it was mentioned that AMBI had repaid all
of its debt associated with the August 1997 acquisition of Nutrition
21. This fact seems to have gone unnoticed.
-
Operating margins at AMBI have improved dramatically, up
from 11% in fiscal 2Q98 to 26% in fiscal 2Q99. In addition, at the
end of the second fiscal quarter, AMBI had generated $2.1 in EBITDA
(ex the $1.0 million one-time payment from AHP).
Although they may prove conservative, we are maintaining our current
sales and earnings estimates for the fiscal year 1999 of $28 million
in sales and $0.16 per share. (N.B. Our EPS estimate is fully diluted
and fully taxed, although AMBI has NOLs remaining.) As AMBI stock
is currently trading at only 1.4 times projected sales, just 4.5 times
projected EBITDA and at a P/E multiple of 5 times projected Net Income,
we continue to believe that AMBI shares are grossly undervalued. By
taking advantage of the multitude of distribution channels (retail,
wholesale, Internet, television and media), we believe AMBI is well
positioned to launch additional nutrition products over the coming
year, as well as being able to continue its success in the acquisition
of growing nutritional businesses and products. We recommend purchase
of AMBI shares for those investors tolerant of the risks associated
with higher-risk, micro-cap equity investments.
###
SmallCaps Online LLC is focused on identifying emerging growth
companies in the healthcare and information technology sectors that
offer compelling investment opportunities over the long term. By providing
comprehensive financial services, including corporate finance, M&A
advisory, strategic partnering and communications consulting, the
company positions itself to provide a fully integrated package of
value-added services to emerging growth companies.
###
The information in this press release has been obtained from sources
that SmallCaps Online LLC believes to be reliable, but the
Company does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Neither the
information nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation by
SmallCaps Online LLC for the purchase or sale of any securities.
SmallCaps Online LLC has performed investment banking, consulting
or other services for or may solicit investment banking, consulting
or other business from, AMBI Inc. SmallCaps Online LLC or persons
associated with SmallCaps Online LLC may at anytime be long
or short any of the securities referred to herein and may make purchases
or sales thereof while the Company's reports are in circulation or
posted on the SmallCaps Online LLC web site at www.SmallCapsOnline.com.
This material, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced without
prior permission from SmallCaps Online LLC. SmallCaps Online LLC is not responsible for the contents of this document that
is intended for electronic transmission and could be thus subjected
to tampering or alteration. Copyright 1999 by SmallCaps Online
LLC. All rights reserved.
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