Company
Profile
Avatar Systems provides ERP/Accounting Software
and Computing Infrastructure Solutions for
companies engaged in petroleum exploration
and production. Avatar has a growing customer
base using its Petroware2000™ and
Integra Energy™ products for Microsoft
Windows and Avatar400™ on the IBM
AS400 platform, as well as many subscribers
utilizing its Software as a Service (SaaS)
On-Demand ASP services. Avatar’s products
and services provide an excellent resource
for the critical information management
requirements of the petroleum industry.
Avatar also provides document imaging, workflow
and business process management as well
as disaster recovery and remote backup services
for all the vertical markets it serves.
The Company is headquartered in Frisco,
Texas and has branch offices in Midland
and Tyler, Texas.
In
August 2006, Avatar acquired Questa Software
Systems, Inc., which also develops ERP/Accounting
Software for the petroleum production industry.
Questa’s contribution to Avatar’s
growth is evidenced in the Company’s
financial results for the six months ended
June 30, 2007. Avatar’s revenues increased
36.4% year-over-year to $1.9 million. Questa
contributed about one-third of revenue growth.
In the second half of 2007, the Company
plans to release two new software modules,
which are expected to produce significant
sales in the fourth quarter of 2007 and
in 2008. Avatar
Systems, Inc. was founded in September 1996
as a limited partnership firm with Avatar
Systems International as the general partner.
In July 2000, the limited partners assigned
their respective partnership interests to
Avatar International, Inc. The partnership
was dissolved and Avatar International changed
its name to Avatar Systems, Inc. The common
stock of Avatar Systems began trading in
April 2001 and moved to the NASD OTC Bulletin
Board in December 2001. Its shares trade
over the counter as AVSY.OB.
Investment
Highlights
A huge opportunity
in the energy application market
The
increasing demand for oil, coupled with
high prices and declining US oil production,
has necessitated new exploration activities
to help meet future demand. According to
API, US drilling activity in the first quarter
of 2007 hit a 21-year high and was nearly
twice the level of first quarter drilling
activities recorded during the 1990s. Also,
major US oil companies have divested many
of their smaller US-based assets to pursue
opportunities abroad. These sales have opened
the door for independent oil companies to
acquire more energy assets. Independent
energy producers are purchasing oil and
gas accounting and financial software to
manage their operations, creating a major
new sales opportunity for software providers
such as Avatar Systems.
New
software modules will fuel future growth
The
Company is planning to release two significant
new software modules in the second half
of 2007 that are expected to drive sales
gains in 2007 and in 2008. In addition,
the Company is raising prices on its Software
Maintenance services. The new software modules
and higher maintenance services contract
rates should provide additional revenue
streams. In addition, Avatar has also announced
plans to develop software solutions specifically
designed to run on the 64-bit Microsoft
.NET platform.
Partnerships
with major players
The
Company’s partnerships with Microsoft,
HP and IBM have extended its product and
service offerings and expanded its business
into new vertical niche markets.
Acquisitions
extend market reach
Avatar
plans to leverage its technology, business
and marketing strengths by acquiring software
businesses in additional IT industry verticals
such as financial services and healthcare.
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