By: maurozanna on Martedì 26 Ottobre 2004 21:12
Per chinonse ne fosse accorto e avesse il titolo in portafoglio
segnalo "l'esplosione" a rialzo di MACE con un +70% circa grazie ad un nuovo prodotto per la difesa personale e non.
Mace Shares Surge; Firm Unveils Pepper Gel Product
By Roger Cheng
Dow Jones Newswires
NEW YORK -- Mace Security International Inc.'s (MACE) shares surged Tuesday after the company introduced a new gel form of its namesake pepper spray.
The Mount Laurel, N.J., security-products maker hopes the pepper gel spray will make inroads in the police and military markets, which it virtually lost after the company licensed the Mace brand to Armor Holdings Inc. (AH).
In 1998, Mace sold its law-enforcement business to Armor Holding, allowing Armor to sell Mace-brand pepper sprays. Last year, Mace was able to sell pepper sprays to the military and police again, but under a new Takedown brand, which company spokesman Eduardo Nieves said isn't significant to its business.
The company, however, continues to sell Mace pepper sprays to consumers.
At approximately 12:30 p.m. EDT on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Mace was at $5.07, up $2.10, or 71%, on volume of 12.6 million shares. Average daily volume is 561, 500 shares.
While Mace is selling its new pepper gel spray as Mace Gel to consumers, it's selling the product to police and military as Pepper Gel.
"We're hoping this new market will help us get back to the law-enforcement business," Mr. Nieves said, referring to the gel product.
The marketing and rollout of the product will occur this quarter, he said, adding the company doesn't give guidance and wouldn't comment on the projected impact of the new products.
Depending on the size and whether it's for civilian or law enforcement use, the product will cost $15 to $50.
Morgan Keegan & Co. analyst Brian Ruttenbur compared the kick in the stock price to Taser International Inc. (TASR), which similarly sees price spikes on news that doesn't fundamentally change its business.
While up Tuesday, Mace's stock is well off its high of $14.80 set in April when security concerns bolstered shares of any companies seen benefiting from increased Homeland Security spending.
The pepper-spray market for police and military is worth about $20 million to $30 million world-wide, said Morgan Keegan's Mr. Ruttenbur.
"I don't know how big the pepper-spray market will grow," he said. The analyst didn't have an estimate for the consumer market, but believed it was smaller than the market for military and police.
Mr. Ruttenbur said he believes there will be a niche market for the gel product, but he doesn't see it completely replacing pepper spray. It isn't clear what percentage of pepper spray will be replaced by pepper gel. He added most law-enforcement personnel carry pepper spray.
Mr. Ruttenbur doesn't cover Mace, but covers Armor Holdings and Taser. He doesn't own a stake in any of the companies, but his firm is seeking an investment-banking relationship with Armor and Taser.
In its press release, Mace touted the gel spray's longer range and cheaper price, advantages, it says, over Taser's stun guns. The gel formula sticks like glue to assailants, leaving them temporarily blinded.
A spokesman for Taser wasn't immediately available to comment on Mace's claims.
Miller Johnson analyst Jay Meier, who covers technology companies with a Homeland Security focus but doesn't cover Mace specifically, said the stock run- up appears to be a lot of expectations being built into the product.
"It's a twist on the same application they've been trying to sell," Mr. Meier said.
Considering Mace hasn't sold any of the products, he would hold off on investing in the company. The stock is likely up because of its association with Homeland Security.
Another concern is whether the gel product cannibalizes its traditional pepper-spray product, he said.
Along with pepper-spray products, Mace runs a car-wash division and electronic surveillance business.
-By Roger Cheng, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5393; roger.cheng@dowjones.com
Mace Security International Develops & Introduces a New Less-Than-Lethal Personal Defense Device for Civilian, Law Enforcement & Military Use
MOUNT LAUREL, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 2004--Mace Security International, Inc. ("Mace") (Nasdaq:MACE), a manufacturer of electronic surveillance and personal defense products and an owner and operator of car and truck wash facilities, today announced the introduction of a new less-than-lethal personal defense device for civilian, law enforcement and military use.
Mace's new advanced product is a sticky gel that has a 10% pepper formulation. The sticky gel can be contained in various sized canisters, and is propelled out of the canister by compressed air. The product is a less-than-lethal personal defense device that has the ability to neutralize an assailant from up to 25 feet away. Mace believes that there are no other less-than-lethal personal defense devices on the market, including a stun gun, Taser(R) (1) and similar weapons, with the ability to neutralize an assailant from this distance.
The new product, which will be called Mace Gel(TM) in the civilian market and Pepper Gel(TM) in the law enforcement and military market, has been tested and will be launched into the marketplace this quarter. Mace's tests have concluded that its new gel defense device will not be ignited by a stun gun, Taser(R) (1) and similar weapons. This is an important feature for law enforcement and military agencies currently utilizing electronic weapons.
The new product has a unique formulation because it is suspended in a gel instead of a liquid stream. The gel formulation results in several new advantages.
NEW ADVANTAGES
-- Longer Distance: The new product's spray distance has
increased to up to 25 feet. (Conventional aerosol sprays
travel up to approximately 15 feet in distance. Most Taser(R)
(1) devices shoot up to 21 feet and two darts must stick into
an assailant to be effective. Stun guns are only effective at
an arms-length distance.)
-- Price: Less expensive than electronic less-than-lethal
personal defense devices in the marketplace.
-- Shelf Life: Lasts up to three years. (No batteries are
necessary. Electronic weapons must be powered by batteries.)
-- Sticks Like Glue: The gel formula sticks to the face of an
assailant leaving them temporarily blinded, which allows for
safe detaining by law enforcement and military officials,
and/or a safe escape by civilians.
-- Super Powerful 1.4% Capsaicinoid Concentration (non-toxic):
The new product is hotter than other pepper sprays on the
market. The unit is non-toxic and only causes temporary
discomfort.
-- Non-Flammable: This feature will allow police officers to use
Pepper Gel(TM) in conjunction with the use of a stun gun,
Taser(R) (1) and similar weapons.
-- Less Contaminating: The gel formula is ideal for indoor use
and minimizes cross-contamination. This is important because
streaming pepper sprays can contaminate a home, mall,
hospital, business, prison cell or police car with an
uncomfortable pepper scent that will take several hours to
dissipate. The gel formula allows an assailant to be sprayed
without contaminating the entire area. The pepper scent sticks
to the affected area as it is suspended in the gel.
-- Easy Decontamination: The gel allows for easy and quick
decontamination of an assailant by using soap and water or a
decontamination spray.
Mace Security International, Inc. is a manufacturer of electronic surveillance and personal defense products, and an owner and operator of car and truck wash facilities. More information about Mace is available at www.mace.com.
