Topic: How To Invest

Dear Pat: What’s your view on the prospects for TSO3, a stock listed on the TSX?

Article Excerpt

TSO3 Inc., $0.63, symbol TOS on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 47.9 million; Market cap: $30.2 million), has developed an innovative sterilization process that uses ozone, a gas comprised of three atoms of oxygen. Ozone is an effective killer of even the most resistant bacteria and pathogens. TSO3’s main product is its 125L ozone sterilizer, which is used for sterilizing heat-sensitive surgical and diagnostic instruments. Ozone gas is created in an enclosed ozone generator by passing oxygen through an electrical field. The electrical field converts the oxygen present in the atmosphere into ozone. At the end of the sterilization cycle, the 125L ozone sterilizer discharges only oxygen and water vapour. What gives the 125L special appeal is that it can kill even the most stubborn organisms, including the prion proteins that cause mad-cow disease. Prions survive the normal washing and sterilization used in hospitals. In the three months ended June 30, 2009, TSO3’s revenue fell 50.8%, to $510,626 from $1.04 million a year earlier. It…