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| Sajid Bhimani pitches Giant Interactive |
Following their fourth set of AIM equity presentations that were held in Chicago on Friday, April 29th, the students in the Class of 2012 voted to add seven more stocks to the AIM small cap equity and international equity funds.
Dr. David Krause, AIM program director, said, "The last round of AIM presentations held last week in Chicago was well received by the investment professionals and Marquette alumni in attendance. I was pleased with the quality of the write-ups and oral presentations."
Dr. Krause continued, "The fourth ‘road show’ by the students in the AIM Class of 2012 held during the month of April was a success – we will return in the fall. It was great to see many AIM graduates in attendance. Our list of AIM alumni in the Chicago-area continues to grow. Thanks to all of the attendees; their questions and comments are beneficial to the student presenters."
Dr. Krause continued, "The fourth ‘road show’ by the students in the AIM Class of 2012 held during the month of April was a success – we will return in the fall. It was great to see many AIM graduates in attendance. Our list of AIM alumni in the Chicago-area continues to grow. Thanks to all of the attendees; their questions and comments are beneficial to the student presenters."
Added to the AIM International Equity Fund was:
Sajid Bhimani presented Giant Interactive Group to the AIM students and a group of investment professionals in Chicago last Friday. GA is in the International Consumer Goods sector and the company develops and operates online games in China. The company focuses on massively multiplayer online (MMO) games that are played through networked game servers in which thousands of players are able to simultaneously connect and interact. GA markets and sells its prepaid game cards and game points through distributors and retail outlets, including Internet cafes, software stores, supermarkets, bookstores, newspaper stands, and convenience stores, as well as through their official game website.
Added to the AIM Small Cap Equity Fund were:
Nelnet, Inc. [Ticker: NNI].
James Carlson, an AIM Financial Services analyst, presented Nelnet, Inc. on Friday in Chicago. Nelnet, Inc., a transaction processing and finance company, provides education related products and services to students, families, schools, and financial institutions in the United States. Its Student Loan and Guaranty Servicing segment’s activities include loan origination activities, loan conversion activities, application processing, borrower updates, payment processing, due diligence procedures, and claim processing. The company is located in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Acacia Research Corp. [Ticker: ACTG]
Tom Kelly, the Business Services analyst for the AIM Equity Fund, presented ACTG before the AIM students and professionals in Chicago on April 29. Acacia Research acquires, develops, licenses, and enforces patented technologies in the United States. It assists patent owners with the prosecution and development of their patent portfolios, the protection of their patented technologies from unauthorized use, the generation of licensing revenue from users of their patented technologies, and the enforcement against unauthorized users of their patented technologies. The company owns or controls the rights to 140 patent portfolios. The company was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.
Ebix, Inc. [Ticker: EBIX]
Ebix, Inc. was presented by the Software analyst, Colleen Osborne. EBIX operates data exchanges, which provide connectivity between consumers, agents, carriers, and third party providers, as well as enables the participants to carry and process data in the areas of life insurance, annuities, employee health benefits, and property and casualty (P&C) insurance. It also involves in the sale, customization, development, implementation, and support of its P&C back-end insurance carrier system platforms. EBIX was formerly known as Delphi Systems, Inc. and changed its name in December 2003. It was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Omnivision Technologies, Inc. [Ticker: OVTI]
Nick Hiller, the AIM Equity Fund Hardware Analyst, presented Omnivision last Friday in Chicago. OVTI designs, develops, and markets semiconductor image-sensor devices. The company offers CameraChip image sensors, which are single-chip solutions that integrate various functions, such as image capture, image processing, color processing, signal conversion, and output of a processed image or video stream for use in various consumer and commercial mass-market applications; and CameraCube imaging devices that are image sensors with integrated wafer-level optics. It also provides companion chips used to connect its image sensors to various interfaces, including the universal serial bus and other industry standard interfaces; and companion digital signal processors that perform compression in standardized still photo and digital video formats. OVTI sells its products directly to original equipment manufacturers and value added resellers, as well as indirectly through distributors worldwide. OmniVision Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1995 and is based in Santa Clara, California.
Horsehead Holdings Corp. [Ticker: ZINC]
Horsehead Holdings was presented in Chicago on Friday, April 29, by Dan Leibforth, Industrial Materials analyst for the AIM Equity Fund. ZINC engages in the production and sale of zinc and zinc-based products in North America. The company’s products include PW zinc metal, which is used to provide a protective coating to various fabricated products, including pipe and guard rails, heat exchangers, and telecommunications towers, as well as for the production of brass; and SSHG zinc metal that is used as feed for the manufacture of high-purity zinc powder and zinc alloys. In addition, the company recycles electric arc furnace dust, a hazardous waste generated by steel mini-mills. The company was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Exact Sciences Corporation [Ticker: EXAS]
Harrison Davis, the AIM Healthcare analyst, pitched Exact Sciences on Friday in Chicago. EXAS, a molecular diagnostics company, focuses on the early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer. The company has exclusive intellectual property protecting its non-invasive, molecular screening technology for the detection of colorectal cancer. Its non-invasive stool-based DNA (sDNA) screening technology includes proprietary and patented methods that isolate and analyze human deoxyribonucleiccolorectal pre-cancer and cancer. The company’s principal product includes ColoSure, a non-invasive stool-based DNA testing service for the detection of colorectal cancer in the average-risk population. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin.
Dr. Krause concluded, "I've been very pleased with the quality of the research conducted by the new students in the Class of 2012. In addition, their presentations have been very professional. We continue to raise the level of expectations for each new class of AIM students - and this group has met the challenge thus far."
Copies of all AIM student write-ups in PDF format can be found at: AIM web site.
