NEW YORK, March 13, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- World Am, Inc. (OTCBB:WDAM) reported today that the company has been given a Speculative Buy recommendation in a newly issued basic analysis report from Barrow Street Research, Inc. Based in New York City, it is an independent research firm launched in 1994 to offer coverage of small cap companies.
"Our research suggests that World Am could emerge as a very rewarding long-term investment... As we currently view the company, we conclude it is poised to develop into an evolving 'mini-conglomerate' that, in large part, will focus on emerging technologies with significant revenue and profit growth potential," the report states.
"In fact," it continues, "in the opinion of WDAM management, many of the technologies that are being developed and commercialized have substantial revenue potential in the years immediately ahead. As we analyze the current market valuation of the WDAM shares, we have concluded that -- just based on current subsidiary operations -- the stock is undervalued.
"Moreover, when we consider the potential flow of future products, combined with particularly strong management that will usher these products into their respective markets, we believe that the shares are very undervalued at current price levels. Accordingly we are initiating coverage of the WDAM shares with a Speculative Buy rating."
Among the research firm's investment considerations in issuing the recommendation, it pointed out, were the facts that:
"Since its inception, World Am has been a company focused on how to make the world a better and safer place through the development of new technologies...
"WDAM has strategically close ties to a continuing pipeline of new technologies from its largest shareholder, Select University Technologies, which has relationships with 28 research universities, and which, in our view, is one of the nation's leading technology think-tanks -- focused on commercializing products coming out of the most prestigious research laboratories in U.S. universities, as its name underscores.
"The company's two operating subsidiaries already boast an impressive client list of major corporations, including financial institutions of national dimension, and key U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Energy and U.S. Air Force.
"World-Am's relationship with Select University Technologies (SUTI) is, in our opinion, a major investment plus for the company," says the Barrow Street report. "SUTI is a leading edge, multi-project business development enterprise that creates new technology companies from patented university innovation.
"Indeed... The SUTI strategy is deeply rooted in finding and delivering better ways to rapidly, successfully and repeatedly commercialize emerging technology that is first developed in an academic setting. One of the prime goals of SUTI is to increase the success rate for university technology commercialization over conventional start-up methods, matching or exceeding that of corporate America. SUTI's goal is to build each start-up company to an exit value of as much as $200 million within five years..."
Commenting on World Am's Senz-It operations, the research report points out that "...Business development continues to focus on innovator and early adopter candidates within the food safety and security and Homeland Security markets. Additional efforts are underway, targeting government development contracts for both bio-terrorism and other related fields of interest. The Senz-It product lines are intended to be a series of sensor products utilizing a novel new detection technology highly specific and sensitive to target analytes. The sensors will be small, economical to produce and use, and extremely stable, resulting in products that are portable, affordable, and can be employed for long periods of time in remote and hard to access areas."
In analyzing the Isotec subsidiary, the report notes "Isotec has already installed systems for the United States Department of Energy at facilities such as its Los Alamos Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore Laboratories, and Sandia Laboratories. Isotec also has installed systems for the United States Air Force and United States Navy. In addition to government and military installations, additional customized systems have been installed in facilities for various private sector companies, including a growing number of commercial banking facilities, and various retail facilities such as jewelry stores.
"World Am management believes that its planned growth and profitability through Isotec will depend in large part on its subsidiary's ability to promote products, expand its relationship with current and new distributors, and gain new clients. Accordingly, management intends to focus attention and investment of resources in marketing, strategic partnerships, and development of the Isotec client base.
"Our research suggests that the exact worldwide market size for "security products" is very difficult to quantify, but can safely be considered to be significant. In a world that is fearful of crime, and the increasing threat of random acts of violence and terrorism, the demand for all types of security products is increasing rapidly. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the department of Homeland Security and its agencies have paid private contractors at least $130 billion, an analysis of federal databases reveals."
"For 2008," Barrow Street reports, "management anticipates that both Senz-It and Isotec will experience an increase in revenue. For Senz-It, the recent award of a U.S. Air Force contract could be the stepping-stone to significantly greater revenue than initially awarded. Moreover, the new BioMedix agreement could result in some impressive revenue growth later this year and into 2009. For 2008, we estimate that the combined revenues for Senz-It and Isotec could reach $3.5 million. In fact, we view 2008 as a possible financial 'break-out' year for World Am, setting the stage for a very strong 2009."
In summation, said the Barrow Street analyst, "To be sure, the valuation of a company like World Am is a difficult exercise...Still, as we look forward to the prospects for 2008, and the possibility that total revenue could exceed $3.5 million, it's our view that compared to many other "concept" companies, the WDAM shares currently appear undervalued based on this expected revenue growth, and even more so based on anticipated results beyond 2008."
The full report is available for viewing at http://www.barrowstreet.com .
As noted at the conclusion of the report, John D. Attalienti, the research analyst who wrote the report, has received compensation in the form of $5,000 and 100,000 restricted warrants priced at $.005 from the company for its time and due diligence in preparing and distributing the research report.
Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications that may arise could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The company cautions that these forward looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to those, set forth in the World Am, Inc. Form 10-KSB filing and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at http://www.sec.gov). The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.