MVIS Up 30% so far today

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Stifel Nicolaus & Co. chip analyst Doug Reid today weighed in on the amazing surge in shares of Microvision (MVIS), which makes parts for pico projectors. The shares were up as much as 50% after a report by Ticonderoga Securities this morning led some to believe Microvision could get a boost from a future version of Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone.

“One of the multiple reports published today speculates that Microvision technology could be used in iPhone 5, a scenario we believe is highly unlikely,” writes Reid in a note to clients.

Reid goes on to say that he sees it unlikely that any pico projectors will find their way into gadgets before 2012:

We continue to believe that limited green laser supply in 2011 and the excessive power consumer profile and limited brightness of existing Microvision technology will delay a meaningful ramp of pico projectors for embedded use in consumer mobile devices until 2012 at the earliest.

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Only if you're as big as Zilla.

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In my last post¦¡ on the subject of ¡°Microvision: White Knight in Shining Armor¡±¦¡ I wrote¡¦



¡°Something is cooking at Microvision; and considering the available options at this stage, and knowing how Microvision management operates, it could be the ¡°knight in shining armor¡± knocking at the door shortly.¡±


Well, there you have it.

Today's news is about Memorandum of Understanding; which in my opinion is the precursor to Pioneer Corporation coming on-board as the joint venture strategic partner... in other words, our ¡°knight in shining armor¡±.


The reason I say Pioneer is coming on-board as the joint venture partner; is very obvious from the wording of the press release...


¡°We believe that by combining our respective market and product development capabilities, and leveraging best practices in manufacturing, MicroVision and Pioneer can accelerate introducing next-generation laser display products while reducing the total cost for both companies in getting there.¡±


And then consider this...


¡°Earlier this year, the two companies executed a joint development agreement to develop two critical components of the PicoP display engine: a laser light source module using direct red, blue, and green lasers and a separate display engine subsystem based on MicroVision¡¯s patented PicoP laser scanning technology. Both are key pieces of the next-generation PicoP display engine that will offer OEMs significant commercial advantages in price, size, power, and performance for embedded solutions ranging from cell phones and eyewear, to airplanes and automobiles.¡±

We're all too familiar with the Azimuth funding situation, so I believe at this point the management had to be looking at some serious alternatives. Here's some quotes from the 3rd Qtr earnings conference call...

"...As a result of these events, most recent events, we have immediately accelerated our internal efforts to develop and commercialize the best performance, tiniest, low-cost engine for the high-volume consumer applications based on direct green lasers. We're in the process currently of selecting strong partners, who will help us to accelerate this effort, such that, our time-lines match the commercialization of the direct green laser time-lines."

This is what Alex Tokman, Microvision CEO said, when answering a question about cost containment...

"...We're gonna rely for, uh, for this second-generation engine, we're gonna very closely ally ourselves with, uh, one or two strategic partners, who will take on a lot more of a development and manufacturing than what we've done in the past."

I don't know what this means to you?


But to me, it means strategic partnership with sharing of joint venture costs and surely there's a possibility of equity funding from a strategic partner.


Once the market realizes the full impact of this strategic partnership with Pioneer Corporation, the MVIS stock price may start on the path to recovery, which in turn should allow Microvision to tap into the remaining money under the Azimuth facility starting now and more at a later date.

For a company like Microvision, with huge future potential but running out of cash while waiting for cheap diode lasers, Pioneer is the ¡°knight in shining armor¡± and is the friendly enterprise that comes-on-board upon invitation of the management¡¦ and possibly offers cash, but surely shares development costs, for the next crucial 36 months, in exchange for an opportunity to joint venture in mega billion dollar market potential.


The good thing in this relationship is that; there are no stock dilutions from progressively increasing number of shares and warrants.


Having said that¡¦
Microvision¡¯s current financial situation leaves them vulnerable to possible ¡°hostile takeover¡± and the corporate management may be exploring every possible cost saving and additional funding strategy for the company in an effort to continue as an independent enterprise.

The only problem is; it may be too late to conserve available capital, including additional funds raised thru Azimuth¦¡ if any, and make it last another 36 months as an independent ¡°going concern¡±.


This joint venture strategic partnership, or whatever else you may call it, is the best of all possible avenues to financial survival and future growth without giving away the keys to the store.


I¡¯m sure the recent purchase of a patent portfolio from Motorola was at the heart of this deal with Pioneer... because, it not only strengthens Microvision¡¯s patent portfolio but also makes their [Microvision] laser based pico projection technology IP portfolio so much more broader that companies like Pioneer may find it cheaper to ¡°join them¡± rather than ¡°fight them¡±.


That is all good.


However, it¡¯s not more patents and diversity of products that Microvision needs at this stage. What they need is fiscal responsibility to conserve capital for the next 24 to 36 months while they patiently wait for cheap diode/SHG green lasers¡¦ because without cheap green lasers, Microvision will not survive as a financially viable independent entity,¡© with or without Pioneer.

You are right, this joint venture with Pioneer [ whether you see it for what it is or not] is the most significant and positive news for Microvision employees and its investors.


It may not be obvious to the naked eye...
Pioneer is the "knight in shining armor" and they don't even know it. Equity funding from Pioneer is always possible... but it is not necessary while Azimuth funding is still in place.
This ¡°knight in shining armor¡± comes with NO stock dilution to the existing stockholders... and that's a very good thing under the circumstances.
Microvision just transferred [some] of their SG&A and R&D cost to the joint venture with Pioneer... without laying-off any key personnel.
Microvision just about [indirectly] solved its funding issue... because, sooner or later the market would recognize the financial significance of this joint venture and with PPS increasing gradually, the funding from Azimuth would keep flowing.
Microvision just expanded their product offering to include Integrated RGB Laser Light Modules, Integrated Photonic Modules, and PicoP Display Engines.
The biggest news is...


This joint venture would now allow Microvision to introduce [spec] consumer products in partnership with Pioneer as a strategically aligned OEM with deep pockets... rather than waiting for OEM customers to come to the table with firm commitment to dollars, time-lines and product configurations.

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