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We have to date exploited our IM Technology in five
markets: media packaging, returnable transport packaging,
food packaging, automotive and consumer electronics
packaging. The roll-out of our IM Technology
started in 2001 as a joint operation based on a cooperation
agreement for media packaging with Cheng
Meng (also known as Founders), a contract manufacturer
in the People's Republic of China. In 2005, we licensed
our IM Technology for use in returnable transport
packaging (e.g. pallets and crates) to Schoeller Arca
Systems N.V. Subsequently, we licensed our IM
Technology to various parties in the food packaging
markets, most importantly Waddington North America
Inc. In 2007, we granted an exploratory license for our
IM Technology to International Automotive
Components Group for the automotive industry.
Finally, in 2008 we granted a license to Hoogerman
Holding B.V. to explore the potential for our IM
Technology in the consumer electronics packaging area.
In the near future we expect revenues related to our IM
Technology from the media packaging and returnable
transport packaging segment to be limited and we will
therefore primarily focus on food packaging and automotive.
In addition, we continue to explore possibilities
in returnable transport packaging and consumer electronics
packaging on a case-by-case basis. The current
stage of commercialisation of our IM Technology in
each of these five markets differs, but in none of these
markets have we yet reached the stage of achieving
multiple IM Technology mould sales to specific customers
on an ongoing basis.
With respect to commercialising our technology, initially
we aimed at (i) licensing of our IM Technology to converters,
often in consideration for an equity participation,
and (ii) marketing, product development and production
of packaging products for multinational producers
of food and beverage products. Although this strategy
held the promise of significant value creation in
the long term, it did not allow the operational costs of
our business to be covered by cash income in the short
term (as illustrated by the complete lack of license income
in 2009), thus creating a negative cash flow and
resulting in the necessity to obtain additional debt or
equity financing on a regular basis.
Following the appointment of our new CEO, Mr N.
Mehra, in June 2009, we decided to adopt a cash-focused
strategy in order to be less dependent on the availability
of additional financing and to improve our
financial performance in a sustainable way. This new
strategy is primarily aimed at exploiting our IM
Technology by selling moulds to converters with an
implied license fee per individual mould and in certain
cases ongoing royalties. Nevertheless, I-Pac
Technologies N.V. could still decide to license the IM
Technology on an exclusive basis for a specific market
segment if and when appropriate. By implementing
this new strategy, we expect our business to generate
more cash on a short term and create fewer hurdles for
potential business partners to start using the technology.
In addition, we expect that we can implement our
new strategy with a more streamlined organisation
and thereby reduce our costs.
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