Australian eye-tracking technology company Seeing Machines Limited (LSE: SEE) climbed more than 10% this morning, after the company announced a new memorandum of understanding with Samsung Electro-Mechanics Corporation (SEMCo).
It’s the second new strategic partnership this month for Seeing Machines, following news of a 15-year agreement with a subsidiary of Takata Corporation — a company that makes automotive safety systems — earlier this month.
Why does it matter?
Seeing Machines biggest customer to date, Caterpillar, is making very successful use of the firm’s eye-tracking technology in its large mining machines, where driver fatigue is a real problem — and the human and financial costs of a moment’s drowsiness can be massive.
The firm’s deal with Takata is a logical extension of this, as many road accidents are also caused by tiredness.
However, today’s deal with Samsung opens up a whole new potential market to Seeing Machines: the consumer electronics industry is massive, and eye-tracking is likely to be one of the key elements of next-generation user interfaces.
Is Seeing Machines a buy?
Seeing Machines isn’t the kind of investment we’d normally discuss in-depth here at the Motley Fool — it’s a loss-making, early-stage technology company.
However, there’s an exception to every rule, and I believe that Seeing Machines is worth serious consideration for growth investors with a longish horizon.
Here’s why:
1. World-class partners
I’m not a world-class expert on Seeing Machines’ technology, but some of the world’s leading industrial names — such as Caterpillar and Samsung — are experts, and are seriously enthusiastic about Seeing Machines.
2. Use your imagination
The potential market for driver fatigue monitoring systems alone is huge.
It’s not hard to imagine this kind of technology being standard fitment in all new cars, trains, buses, lorries, aeroplanes and industrial plant, 10-15 years from now.
I suspect that the cost of the new technology would largely pay for itself in terms of accident reduction.
3. Cash in hand
Although Seeing Machines is currently loss-making, the firm has £15m of cash on hand — equivalent to a quarter of its market cap — and revenues are expected to double in 2015.
In my view, the technology is highly commercial, and Seeing Machines is a sector leader — so at some point, profits — or a takeover deal — are likely to follow the firm’s rising revenues.
Buy today?
Seeing Machines isn’t dirt cheap at today’s 7.6p share price, and it’s possible that the market will provide better buying opportunities in the weeks and months ahead.
