Visual Defence Share Discussion Threads

[par12] 30/12/2007 10:48

Its a deal done and reported in Canadian Dollars, which are worthless;

[dasein] 28/12/2007 19:26

well the contract seems genuine...Previous poster on here was spot on it would seem, lots of work to do,starting with the airport website which is pretty bad..(keeps crashing my browser) and some improved customer service as people at Budget Travel have not been too impressed

ABIDJAN, Côte D'Ivoire
What you can look forward to:
bucket seats at the gates
missing benches at check-in
the words "sphincter" and "rectum" have been used to describe the people that run this airport
an overnight stay might be impossible here
the restaurant receives good reviews




African Airport Aims for TSA Clearance
John Barham, International Editor
12/11/2007 - A Canadian company has won a 25-year contract to raise security standards at West Africa's Abidjan airport, which government officials hope will enable it to win TSA certification and turn the airport into an international hub for the continent.

Toronto-based Visual Defence and its subsidiary AviSecure won a passenger safety and security screening contract with the government of Ivory Coast to install security systems at the airport and implement new security management standards. The Abidjan airport lacks TSA certification, which prevents it from handling direct flights to the U.S. Travelers between North America and West Africa have to fly via London or Paris.

"We need to do some major training to meet TSA standards," says Visual Defence CEO Dagan Sadeh. "It's not just about security, it's about everything, like complying with regulations and arriving at meetings on time. The challenge is to adapt to the western pattern of work."

The project's revenues, estimated at $140 and $250 million through 2032, are tied to passenger traffic. The more passengers transit through the airport, the more money Visual Defence will make. Winning TSA certification is the key to raising revenues, because this would turn Abidjan into the only airport in West Africa with direct flights to the US.

Ivory Coast was torn apart by coups and a two-year civil war. The airport was overrun during the fighting, and was only returned to government control after French troops recaptured it. Traffic fell by one-third to 800,000 passengers a year. Peace returned in March 2007 with the formation of a unity government.

Sadeh says technology will play a key role in instilling a new security culture at the airport. As in many African airports, well-connected travelers access aircraft directly, dispensing with security checks, customs, and passport control. Employees generally ignore security procedures. Africa has the world's worst air safety record mainly because aircraft are poorly maintained, but also because of inadequate airport infrastructure and security.

Visual Defence's system will force passengers and staff to observe security procedures. Pushing into a secure area in the terminal or breaching perimeter security would automatically trigger alarms. "An integrated command and control center will help people understand procedures and implement policies," says Sadeh. "The system will make life tougher for people who want to get around it."

Visual Defence is a security convergence company. Its Common Management Platform is a software system that ties all security systems into a single common interface. A workflow engine runs in the background to allow staff to manage security procedures. The project includes risk assessment, security strategy development, and procuring, installing, and integrating security technology. The company will also hire, train, and manage airport security personnel.

AviSecure Inc., a 50-50 joint venture owned by Visual Defence and SkyLink Security (Canada) Inc., will manage the project directly. AviSecure handles airport security outsourcing projects around the world.

[rivaldo] 28/12/2007 12:51

There's been sellers of VDI for ages due to the historic problems. I suspect they're probably happy to get any price for their shares - for investment funds etc it's pointless keeping a small holding like VDI in their portfolio as it's so small as to be meaningless, and any loss is irrelevant relative to overall size.

Hopefully VDI are keeping their powder dry and any PR up their sleeve for when the seller is out. I agree with HP - more disclosure is necessary, though I assume VDI are constrained by confidentiality agreements at present. Perhaps more will emerge on publication of results.

Nickcduk, you out there? Having talked to the company in the past perhaps you've done so again? Otherwise I might try myself.

[hugepants] 28/12/2007 12:23

It doesnt look like anyone beleives this massive airport contract is for real. Id have expected a share price over 30p on the news. Perhaps VDI should have given more detail in the RNS.

[stegrego] 19/12/2007 19:35

My buying back into this the other day on the back of the contract news is not looking particularly clever at the moment is it....

[par12] 19/12/2007 11:42

Yep down she goes; The company prob can not deliver on contracts I am guessing.

[par12] 17/12/2007 18:04

SP has closed today at the Lowest level EVER;

Something smells,

[par12] 15/12/2007 22:21

But the price falls to new lows

[ponty] 12/12/2007 23:18

Well sad PAR12 its a lot of airports

[par12] 12/12/2007 22:30

Customer is BAA; Heathrow is just a matter of time :0)

[iain123] 11/12/2007 12:54

Its not soo good that they bother to RNS such a tiney contract win. Whats $400 cad - about £150K??

[hotfinance14] 11/12/2007 10:04

Is it Heathrow ?

[par12] 11/12/2007 09:38

I had a Dream :0)

[rivaldo] 10/12/2007 20:28

A nice RNSNON issued tonight - why they couldn't have embargoed it till the morning to have more of an impact is beyond me.

Good to see them winning business here in the UK, and evidently their expertise has impressed sufficiently to gain further work - maybe BAA will award more contracts to VDI:

"VISUAL DEFENCE AWARDED $400K EXPANSION ORDER FROM BAA

RICHMOND HILL, ONTARIO, Dec 10, 2007

Visual Defence Inc. (LSE: VDI), the security convergence company, today
announces that it has been awarded a CAD $400,000 expansion order from BAA to
augment its CCTV management system at an airport in the United Kingdom."

[dasein] 05/12/2007 22:12

Some interesting information on the partner to the project..Skylink..unstable regimes don't seem to bother them too much...

Page 28 to 30 are the relevant pages

[par12] 05/12/2007 13:01

Israeli forces about to attack GAZA; This must be the reason for Negative sentiment

[par12] 05/12/2007 10:50

dealer is back !!

[par12] 05/12/2007 10:29

Only two dealers on the books ?? Are they going to pull the share ? Something strange; 250 MIL DOLLAR contract yet no trades NO interest;

[par12] 05/12/2007 09:58

Something is not quite right here

[rivaldo] 04/12/2007 15:14

Nice detective work smarkmmm.

The Ivory Coast hasn't exactly been stable. But it does seem to have been turned around now - the buffer zone dividing the country into two has been removed, the rebel leader is now Prime Minister, and elections have been scheduled soon. And they have a great footie team (Drogba, Toure etc!)!



Whilst this deal is potentially a company-maker, VDI now should be in a prime position for winning similar work from neighbouring and other African countries.

[arthurly] 04/12/2007 12:59

Less than the directors paid in may - well before they knew for certain that this contract would be signed.