Message #25 From:
NewsBot Date: October 5, 2007 07:21:30 AM
Ambient CEO Issues Letter to Stockholders
Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTGStock Discussion), a leader in Broadband over
Power Lines (BPL) solutions, issued today a letter to stockholders from
President and CEO John J. Joyce.
Dear Valued Stockholders:
At our Annual Meeting of Stockholders in May of 2007, we set forth four
primary goals and objectives: stabilizing Ambient’s
capital structure, increasing revenues, fostering the creation of
industry standards and enhancing our technology while protecting our
intellectual property. We continue to strive to meet these goals that
position Ambient for its future growth. I am pleased to provide you with
this report highlighting the latest developments.
To stabilize our capital structure, we have completed a number of
initial actions. We are pleased to report the results of our Special
Meeting of Stockholders held on Friday, September 21st.
A vote to increase the number of shares of Common Stock the Company is
authorized to issue, passed by greater than 70% approval, with 88% of
our outstanding shares participating in the vote. Ambient requested the
increase in Authorized Shares in order to be able to support raising
additional working capital. However, at this time, the Company has no
commitment for additional funding. Ambient strengthened its balance
sheet in August of 2007, retiring $2.4 Million of short-term debt and
closing on a $7.5 Million private placement of long-term debt securities
from an institutional investor, Vicis Capital Master Fund. Vicis Capital
shares Ambient’s vision and strategy, and is
backed by approximately $2 Billion in managed assets. Interest on the
private placement does not begin accruing until July 2008, with the
first quarterly interest payment due in September 2008. As part of our
continuing efforts to limit the distribution of Ambient stock at a
discount-to-market price and control further dilution, we have paid in
cash the scheduled monthly payments for July, August and September on
our 2006 Debentures.
Overall, 2007 has been a very active and challenging year for Ambient
and the BPL industry as a whole. Ambient now finds itself in a rapidly
changing environment where the term “Smart Grid”
has become more than just a catch phrase used by utilities seeking to
modernize their distribution grid. Smart Grid applications are driving
utility innovation and bringing much needed recognition to the looming
infrastructure dilemma facing U.S. electric utilities. It is in this new
environment of awareness for utilities, regulators and legislators that
Ambient is continuing its position as an innovative leader in the BPL
industry focusing on both the functionality and environmental benefits
of a BPL Smart Grid. Those not familiar with the environmental benefits
derived from BPL are invited to look on our website under “Company”
(http://www.ambientcorp.com/pages/about.htm)
for our “Environmentalism through Efficiency”
presentation.
We continue to validate our technologies in the field as Ambient is
presently conducting trials and commercial pilots with major electric
utilities that serve in aggregate of over 12 million electric customers.
These projects are directed towards a variety of goals including
developing and demonstrating Smart Grid utility applications,
residential and multi-dwelling unit consumer broadband Internet access,
and successful operation of our next generation hardware products and
network management software. We have also been actively seeking new
opportunities, replying to request for proposals (RFP) from both major
U.S. investor owned utilities (IOUs) and regional municipal electric
suppliers.
We have also completed a number of enhancements to our product suite. We
have received an addition to our FCC-certification to utilize Arteche
capacitive couplers in our BPL systems. We have installed these couplers
in our largest field deployment. Capacitive coupling was added to the
Ambient suite to increase Ambient’s
flexibility in network design and to address line and access concerns on
particular segments of the overhead medium voltage electrical grid.
Our ongoing product enhancement work continues with Consolidated Edison
of New York as we develop and modify our equipment to adapt to the
Manhattan underground environment. We are also upgrading our deployment
in Westchester County, NY to our FCC-certified, second-generation
equipment. Our deployments with Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy Service
Company and Entergy Corporation in Little Rock, Arkansas continue to
operate while these individual customers evaluate our technology for
larger deployments.
After an extended evaluation period, Ambient and San Diego Gas &
Electric (SDG&E) have concluded our BPL demonstration. While the pilot
demonstration has concluded with SDG&E, we believe that Ambient’s
experience and BPL technology will favorably position us should SDG&E
decide to proceed with Smart Grid utility applications in the future.
The BPL industry is now blossoming with increased support from
investors, the FCC and local and federal legislators. Legislation in
both the U.S. House of Representatives (HR 3221) and the U.S. Senate (HR
6) for Smart Grid capabilities have been introduced and lobbying through
the GridWise Alliance occurs. Based this support, the United Power Line
Council estimates the U.S. BPL market to generate $2.5 billion in
revenue by 2010. I believe Ambient’s
long-term strategy of choosing focused pilot deployments with innovative
utility partners will prove successful.
As always, thank you for your continued interest and support of Ambient.
Sincerely,
John J. Joyce
President and CEO
About Ambient Corporation
Ambient is a pioneer in the Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) industry
and is engaged in the design, development and marketing of patented,
FCC-certified BPL equipment and technologies. Ambient utilizes
proprietary technology and in-depth industry experience to provide
optimal solutions for Smart Grids and the Broadband Access and
In-premise markets. Headquartered in Newton, MA, Ambient is a publicly
traded company (OTCBB: ABTG). Visit Ambient at www.ambientcorp.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve
substantial uncertainties and risks.These forward-looking
statements are based upon our current expectations, estimates and
projections about our business and our industry, and that reflect our
beliefs and assumptions based upon information available to us at the
date of this release. We caution readers that forward-looking statements
are predictions based on our current expectations about future events.
These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that
are difficult to predict. Our actual results, performance or
achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied by
the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors,
including but not limited to, changes in economic conditions generally
and the broadband over power lines (“BPL”)
market specifically, changes in technology, legislative or regulatory
changes that affect us, the availability of working capital, changes in
costs and the availability of goods and services, the introduction of
competing products, changes in our operating strategy or development
plans, our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, and
changes in our acquisition and capital expenditure plans, and the risks
and uncertainties discussed under the heading "RISK FACTORS" in Item 1
of our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2006, and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any
forward-looking statement for any reason.
Ambient is a trademark of Ambient Corporation registered in the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office.
Media Contact: Ambient Corporation Anna E. Croop,
617-614-6739 Directorof Corporate Communications acroop@ambientcorp.com or Investor
Relations Contact: Flager Communications Jamie Dryer,
561-837-8057, Ext. 2 flagcom@bellsouth.net