paul from edi, page-30

"im going to leave it as its the same arguements played over and over"

Too true Cap!

It's the same old..same old. The same old negative banalities from the usual predictable suspects.

So easy to tell the posters from the 'instant gratification' generation. You can cut their petulant and frustrated air with a knife.

Good to have Mr 47's optimism to offset the exaggerated negativism but, in my view, Deepfish and Mon are closest to the mark amongst recent posts.

Deepfish is right in saying that SBN has always been a punt - albeit a compelling one based on its IP and market opportunities - with many difficulties on its path. These have increased markedly with the international financial crisis and impact on market demand in some markets.

But they only need to get a couple of deals over the line (probably only one if it includes China). Mon is exactly right when he keeps on reminding us that, with respect to SiYi JV timelines, nothing has changed. We are still on track and, until we are told otherwise, that remains the case.

Of course, its still a punt because there will remain uncertainty until the field trials are completed, judged to be successful and final approvals for rollout granted.

But for Serpie to suggest its a bigger gamble than more conventional forms of gambling is a nonsense. Simply because MPS and SiYi would not have come so far (more than 2 years now) if they did not like the technology and want to make it work. They would have to have very compelling reasons to withdraw at this stage of such a lengthy process.

And the situation in Mexico is also fairly clear in broad brush terms. Until such time as the import licence application is formally refused and/or the Nuevo Leon Government abandons the Stage 2 rollout of the schools testing program, the opportunity remains open.

Captain is right to be frustrated with some of the delays we have had. There have been too many - with some of them being inexcusable (such as Oraline 8). But there is a big gulf between that and the company being 'dead in the water'. That would at least require China to fall over and at this stage I don't believe that is likely to happen.