___________________________________________________________________
Eco
Investor Update
A
Weekly News Update for Environmental Investors
14
November 2011 - No 57
___________________________________________________________________
ASX 100
APA Group
After a strong rise in recent weeks, APA's securities reached a new four
year high of $4.45 on 11 November. No specific news appears related to
the rise, although in early November APA completed its debt refinancing
program and set up new debt facilities of $1.4 billion.
Cautious investors might want
to think about taking some profits. (ASX: APA)
Sims Metal Management
While Sims Metal Management's Remuneration Report was comfortably passed
by shareholders, the Long Term Incentive Plan for chief executive Daniel
Dienst received a strong no vote. There were 45,942,062 no votes, or just
over 30 per cent.
Chairman Paul Varello told
the annual general meeting that the strength of the company's balance
sheet is without peer in its industry. "At the end of the financial
year, the company had net debt balances of approximately $126 million,
undrawn lines of credit of approximately $1.4 billion and shareholder
equity of $2.9 billion," he said.
The Sims Recycling Solutions
division is now the world's leading recycler of electronic goods and equipment.
In 2010-11 "it was particularly acquisitive and increased its global
geographic footprint in response to the increasing community demands for
the safe and efficient recycling of end of life electronic products".
In fiscal 2011, the company
also achieved its best ever health and safety performance.
Sims Metal Management director
Robert Lewon has ceased to be a director. Bob Lewon has been a director
since March 2008, but has ties with Sims that go back to the late 1980s
when Simsmetal made its first acquisition in North America.
Among the attendees at the
Melbourne AGM were Christine Crabb, the wife of John Crabb, the managing
director when Sims was relisted on the ASX 20 years ago and who passed
away in February this year. Also present was former chairman, Paul Mazoudier,
who joined Simsmetal in 1974; and Bill Proler, who runs Sims' US Southern
Region operations out of Houston, and whose family invented the automobile
shredder which is used by most major metal recycling operations around
the world.
Mr Dienst said that in Fiscal
2011 Sims saved almost 13.6 million Mega-Watt hours of energy compared
to the use of the same amount of virgin mined material. "Our operations
also reduced carbon emissions, pollution and energy consumption. By providing
the steel industry with ferrous scrap metal, which is used instead of
virgin iron ore, more than 14.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions were avoided
in Fiscal 2011." (ASX: SGM)
ASX 200
Dart Energy
Dart Energy (CBM) International Pte Ltd (DECI) has become a wholly owned
subsidiary of Dart Energy, with the 8.2 per cent held by Shell group exchanged
for a mixture of cash and equity in Dart.
DECI owns the great majority
of Dart's assets and operations in China, India and Indonesia. Dart said
the transaction will facilitate the full consolidation of DECI with its
European and other non-DECI owned international assets as part of its
strategic restructuring and financing plans.
Consideration to Shell comprises
US$12 million cash; 14,056,468 Dart shares which Shell cannot sell until
at least 30 June 2012; 9,759,601 options over Dart shares exercisable
until 31 March at 59.1 cents each and only if Dart's shares trade at above
99 cents for 5 or more consecutive days during the exercise period; and
5,492,357 options over Dart shares exercisable until 31 March 2014 and
exercisable at 59.1 cents each if Dart's shares trades at above $1.30
for 5 or more consecutive days during the exercise period.
The Dart shares and options
issued to Shell, assuming the exercise of all options, would result in
Shell holding 3.9 per cent of Dart on a fully-diluted basis.
Dart said the cash amounts
may not require Dart to utilize cash previously raised to fund drilling
and other operational activities, and instead these will be funded from
the disposal of non-core assets over the next six months, possibly including
shares held in other listed entities and cash realizations for financial
instruments.
Executive chairman, Nick Davies,
said "Shell retained a minority stake in the DECI entity post the
demerger of Dart. The agreement with Shell removes Shell's legacy shareholding
in DECI and paves the way for the full consolidation of DECI with other
Dart International assets. This is a necessary precursor to considering
and, if applicable, implementing various strategic initiatives for Dart
Energy International as previously announced."
"We are also pleased that
we will be able to finance the cash component of the consideration from
liquidation of non-core assets, thus not requiring us to use any funds
otherwise ear-marked for drilling and operational activities." (ASX:
DTE)
Envestra
Four Envestra directors participated in Envestra's recent share purchase
plan - Olaf O'Duill with 23,438 shares, Ian Little with 15,625 shares,
Michael McCormack with 23,438 shares, and John Allpass with 23,438 shares.
(ASX: ENV).
Transpacific Industries
Group
Warburg Pincus has increased its holding in Transpacific Industries from
33.9 per cent to 35.8 pr cent.
As foreshadowed, Transpacific
has invited tenders for its outstanding 6.75 per cent Subordinated Convertible
Notes due in 2014. The invitation is in line with the capital management
initiatives recently announced by the company.
Transpacific will pay cash
at a price to be determined by the company to repurchase all or part of
the Notes.
Macquarie Capital (Australia)
Limited is acting as dealer manager in the Invitation to Tender and Australia
and New Zealand Banking Group is acting as co-manager. (ASX: TPI)
ASX 300
Ceramic Fuel Cells
Ceramic Fuel Cells has raised £3.8 million ($5.9 million) through
a placing and subscription at 7 pence per share. £3.8 million of
the placement was to institutional investors and underwritten by Nomura
Code Securities Ltd. £0.6 million ($0.9 million was by way of a
subscription with an existing private investor in the UK.
The company has also launched
a rights issue and an overseas offer at the same issue price. The non-renounceable
rights issue is 1-for-4 in Australia and New Zealand aims to raise up
to $21.7 million at 10.8 cents per share. The overseas offer is for shareholders
in the UK and other jurisdictions and seeks to raise up to £2.15
million at 7 pence per share.
The funds will enable the company
to increase volume production of its products to match the orders it has
started to receive. The additional working capital will enable it to leverage
economies of scale by placing volume orders with suppliers and to implement
value engineering to reduce manufacturing costs, it said.
Following recently orders and
discussions with other potential customers, the directors said they believe
that now is the time to invest in driving down the unit cost of the company's
BlueGen and Gennex units and increase volume manufacturing of these products.
The placement is underwritten
by Nomura Code Securities. The subscription and rights issue are not underwritten.
In other news, Ceramic Fuel
Cells is among a group of leading UK companies in the micro-CHP (Combined
Heat and Power) sector that have launched a report highlighting how micro-CHP
can contribute to the UK's transition to greener heat and power generation
if given the right government support.
The report gives a road-map
on how micro-CHP could replace condensing boilers in the home heating
market, saying installation of over 1 million micro-CHP units in the UK
by 2020 is achievable.
But the right Government support
is key to making it happen. The companies have launched a campaign to
adjustment the policy framework, asking for raising of the Feed-in Tariff
(FiT) for micro CHP to at least 15p/kWh, and commitment to continued support
for micro-CHP after the initial pilot of 30,000 units.
The report is at www.jdsassociates.com.
(ASX: CFU)
Infigen Energy
Infigen Energy's low security price was a key shareholder concern at the
company's annual general meeting. One shareholder told the meeting her
investment was 82 per cent behind, and another expressed disappointment
at the loss of the dividend.
Managing director Miles George
said the past year was a challenging and turbulent one for Infigen and
its security holders, and this was reflected in the security price's substantial
decline during the period. But despite the turbulence, the management
team remains focused on the key controllable objectives, he said.
Chairman Mike Hutchinson also
expressed frustration over the share price, and said that there is a huge
discrepancy between the security price and the value of the company's
assets. The market is ascribing almost no value to the large US wind farm
portfolio, he said.
In response to questioning
on executive remuneration he said that no long term incentives have been
paid to management.
Despite these issues, the meeting
was positive and all agenda items won strong support.
Mr Hutchinson said the company
was now considering possible modest development activity" in
the US wind portfolio. This is in regard to the long term future of the
US
business, which will still be sold when the right price can be achieved.
Meanwhile, the company's focus
is on reducing operating costs and developing more production capacity.
Mr Hutchinson said tThe 48.3
MW Woodlawn Wind Farm has been completed on time and on budget. Woodlawn
is adjacent to Infigen's Capital Wind Farm and provides enough renewable
energy to power 23,000 homes.
Also recently, the company
received development planning consent for its 100 MW+ Capital 2 Wind Farm
in what Infigen now calls the Capital Renewable Energy Precinct. This
is on the eastern side of Lake George, north of Bungendore in NSW, and
along with the Capital and Woodlawn wind farms also houses the site of
its potential 50 MW solar project.
Mr Hutchinson told Eco Investor
that a Capital 3 Wind Farm could also be considered down the track, so
the company clearly has high hopes for its Capital Renewable Energy Precinct.
One reason is that the main Snowy Mountains to Sydney grid connection
is directly overhead.
Mr Hutchinsion said Infigen's
1,500 MW pipeline of renewable energy projects is a valuable asset. The
strategy is to develop the projects so that they will be "construction
ready" when conditions are favourable for investment. Discussions
continue with potential co-investors.
On opposition to wind farms,
he said Infigen accepts that some in the community can be opposed to wind
farms for a range of reasons and "We respect those views, while disagreeing
with many of them." However he did opine that the board "sometimes
wish that others could be governed by restrictions on deceptive and misleading
conduct...
"We just ask that those
setting the rules in these processes do not bend to the unproven assertions
of a noisy minority that is not always as objective or disinterested in
its representations as it claims. Imposing unwarranted regulation to appease
noisy opponents can only handicap the attainment of important national
renewable energy goals."
Infigen has "welcomed
the legislation to start to put a price on carbon. For too long the world's
atmospheric polluters have emulated 19th and early 20th century industry
in treating the environment as a free dumping ground for waste. That treatment
saw the almost irrecoverable ruin of waterways and landscapes throughout
the industrial world."
If the Opposition wants to
persist with its threat to repeal the legislation "then it needs
to provide details on how its "direct action plan" would provide
equivalent economic conditions for investment, as well as abatement. While
pundits may doubt that repeal is a constitutional practicality, the commercial
fact is that the mere threat drives up the cost of capital and drives
down the scale of investment," he said
Infigen director Phil Green
from substantial investor The Children's Investment Fund (TCI) told Eco
Investor that the Fund's call to have Infigen's assets sold has largely
transpired with the sale of the European wind farms and the attempted
but so far unsuccessful sale of the US assets.
People seem to prefer an Australian
focused Infigen, he said. (ASX: IFN)
Tox Free Solutions
Listed investment company the Australian Foundation Investment Company
has increased its stake in Tox Free Solutions from 6.5 to 8.3 per cent.
The purchase of nearly 3 million shares occurred over August, September,
October and November. (ASX: TOX)
Emerging
Companies
CO2 Group
CO2 Group's partner CO2 New Zealand has won a $10 million carbon sequestration
project for the Iwi Maori community on the North Island of New Zealand.
CO2 Group holds a 45 per cent interest in CO2 New Zealand LP.
The project, which will be
undertaken in partnership with the Iwi and other local authorities, will
bring additional benefits such as carbon based afforestation, erosion
control and waterway management.
"This is a significant
project for CO2 Group and further strengthens our New Zealand business,"
said CO2 Group's chief executive, Andrew Grant. "It also diversifies
our revenue streams and client base, and it is in line with our strategy
of partnering with leading blue chip organizations, municipalities and
government bodies."
CO2 New Zealand also has $7
million of long term carbon contract sales with major New Zealand Emission
Trading Scheme compliance parties.
CO2 New Zealand is expanding
its range of services to position it as a broader environmental services
company. An example is the mapping of Pre-1990 forestry land it is currently
undertaking for a range of clients.
Owners of pre-1990 forest land
are subject to deforestation obligations under the New Zealand Emissions
Trading Scheme (ETS). The decrease in land value for some pre-1990 forest
landowners as a result of the ETS rules will be partially offset by a
one-off free allocation of New Zealand Units (NZUs) from the Government.
CO2 New Zealand is mapping
of more than 220,000 hectares which will realize close to 5.7 million
NZUs for clients. This makes CO2 New Zealand the largest land applicant
to the New
Zealand Government for Pre-1990 forest allocations on behalf of its clients,
said CO2.
In Australia, CO2 Group has
welcomed the passing of the Clean Energy legislation through the Senate,
saying it creates legislative certainty for the industry, and provides
new market opportunities for the business.
Whilst the Carbon Farming Initiative
(CFI), which became law in September. is the basis for the creation of
carbon credits, the Clean Energy legislation allows only compliant credits
(ACCUs) to be used by companies liable to pay the carbon tax to acquit
their carbon liability.
Mr Grant said "The Clean
Energy legislation is a milestone occasion for the carbon offset industry,
with CO2 Group well positioned to take full advantage of the opportunities
that the legislation provides.
"Not only does the legislation
open up the company to more than 500 new potential customers looking to
acquit their tax liability, but it also allows the business to expand
into offshore markets through the repatriation of carbon credits. This
is a truly exciting time for CO2 Group, with this legislation providing
a framework that delivers us the prospect of rapid growth."
The company has raised $260,454
through the issue of 2,170,449 shares on the conversion of options at
12 cents per share. The options expired on 12 November. (ASX: COZ)
ERM Power
ERM Power has increased its interest in Metgasco from 5.5 to 7.1 per cent.
The company has raised $120,900
through the issue of 150,000 shares on the conversion of unlisted options
at 80.6 cents per share. (ASX: EPW)
Micro
Cap Companies
Algae.Tec
Algae.Tec said the introduction of a price on carbon approved by the Australian
Parliament will boost demand for its technology by carbon dioxide emitting
industries. Algae.Tec's algae growth system captures carbon dioxide pollution
from power stations and manufacturing facilities.
Executive chairman Roger Stroud
said the Clean Energy Future (CEF) package the carbon price, the
$3.2 billion Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the $10 billion Clean
Energy Finance Corporation will deliver unprecedented interest
in clean energy and proven carbon capture solutions. "The CEF package
will encourage carbon emitting companies and industries to seek out carbon
dioxide reduction technologies," said Mr Stroud.
"This will significantly
add to the commercial appeal of the Algae.Tec technology. Algae.Tec is
one of few advanced biofuels companies globally with a closed modular
engineered technology designed to grow algae on an industrial scale and
produce biofuels that replace predominantly imported fossil fuels for
transportation use," said Mr Stroud.
"As an Australian listed
company we are particularly proud that Australia is now a world leader
in pricing carbon and supporting clean energy," he said. (ASX: AEB)
Australian Renewable Fuels
Having received 90 per cent acceptances, Australian Renewable Fuels is
moving to full ownership of Biodiesel Producers Ltd by compulsorily acquiring
the 10 per cent it does not own.
The company now has three operating
plants at Largs Bay in South Australia, Picton in Western Australia and
Barnawartha in Victoria with combined capacity of 150 million litres.
The conversion of options has
raised $41,304. (ASX: ARW)
Carbon Conscious
Carbon Conscious has received the first carbon bio-sequestration options
exercised since the passing of the Clean Energy Act.
Origin Energy has exercised
the 2012 component of its 2009 Carbon Plantation Agreement, and will bring
forward the 2013 contract plantings into the 2012 planting season.
The exercise of the option
means Carbon Conscious will plant around 10 million native Mallee eucalypt
trees in WA's wheatbelt region in the 2012 planting season, a fivefold
increase on the previously anticipated planting for the year.
Origin retains $163 million
worth of commercial forestry options, which can be exercised for the three
planting seasons of 2013 to 2015. Carbon Conscious said both companies
anticipate further near term discussion around the balance of the options.
The agreement is subject to
a review by Origin of its existing plantations, expected within 21 days
of the signed option.
Carbon Conscious executive
chairman Stephen Lowe said "We have always believed that when carbon
pricing became a reality in Australia, Australian business would be eager
to invest in carbon abatement projects. Carbon forest sinks offer the
best opportunity due to proven technology, low project risk and scalability.
"Origin is the first of
many Australian companies expected to make substantial investments in
carbon bio-sequestration. As the industry matures, the size and value
of such investments is expected to grow significantly. This is a new multibillion
dollar Australian industry in its infancy that will attract substantial
investments from Australian and international companies."
The passage of the carbon pricing
legislation has removed the legislative uncertainty surrounding investment
in carbon farming and bio-sequestration projects under the Carbon Farming
Initiative, he said. (ASX: CCF)
Carnegie Wave Energy
Australian Ethical Investment has invested in Carnegie Wave Energy. However,
it did not say when it made the investment, its entry price, or through
which fund or funds.
What it has highlighted is
that Carnegie has proprietary wave energy technology, it has just begun
producing electricity at the southern hemispheres first commercial
scale wave power farm near Garden Island off the WA coast, and that its
system is distinct from most other wave energy systems by being anchored
to the sea floor and cannot be seen from the shore.
it also said the World Energy
Council has identified Australias southern coast from Perth to Hobart
as one of the worlds most promising sites for wave energy generation.
(ASX: CWE)
EcoQuest
EcoQuest is to substantially restructure its bio-degradable nappy business.
It will reduce the cost of goods to improve margins, increase distribution
channels to improve revenue, and develop product specifications to improve
competitive differentiation.
In addition, the company will
"more aggressively pursue acquisition opportunities" to build
a diversified stable of environmental products over the next few years.
The company will also substantially
reduce recurrent costs.
The board said the aim is to
fulfil the objectives originally set for Eco Quest - to be a sponsor of
leading-edge environmentally sustainable products.
The moves follow an independent
review of the business, and less than expected sales of the bio-degradable
nappies. (ASX: ECQ)
Eden Energy
Eden Energy is the latest company to enter a fund raising agreement with
La Jolla Cove Investors Inc.
Eden will issue up to three
$1 million convertible notes. Eden said the facility will give it flexibility
and supplement the funds to be raised under the pro-rata non-renounceable
rights issue it recently announced.
The first note will be issued
on or around 14 November, when Eden will receive the first instalment
of US$250,000.00. The payment of the balance will be by monthly instalments
of US$250,000.
There appear to be some measures
in place to help reduce the potential impact on Eden's share price if,
as it usually does, La Jolla sells large numbers of converted shares on
market.
Eden must issue the first note,
but can elect whether or not to issue the second and third notes. If it
does not issue the second or third note, either party can terminate the
funding agreement. La Jolla can then either convert any advanced but unconverted
principal into shares, or redeem the principal at a cash price of 120
per cent of the principal, plus any unpaid interest of 4.75 per cent per
annum.
If on the day La Jolla issues
a conversion notice the Volume Weighted Average Share Price is below 7
cents, Eden has the right to prepay that portion of the principal plus
any unpaid interest at 105 per cent of the amount.
The Funding Agreement provides
for the downward adjustment of the floor price in some circumstances.
Eden is paying La Jolla a Funding
Agreement facility fee of US$60,000 through the issue of shares, and will
pay a further US$60,000 fee through shares on the closing date for the
issue of the second note.
Eden will seek shareholder
approval for the issue of the second and third notes, which is one of
the conditions of the agreement.
The funds to be raised are
for working capital.
Meanwhile, Eden said its US
subsidiary, Hythane Co, is continuing to make great strides"
with its carbon nanotubes.
The most recent advancement
has been to produce high-quality multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) which
are more valuable than the tubes it currently produces. High-quality carbon
nanotubes are more desirable in many applications because of the integrity
of the tube walls. which leads to higher strength in reinforcing applications.
Higher integrity also gives
better electrical conductivity in electrostatic discharge, sensor, and
battery applications.
The high-quality nanotubes
do not break apart as easily during dispersion and maintain their high
aspect ratio (the ratio of length to width). Higher aspect ratio materials
can provide greater levels of reinforcement and allow lower loadings when
electrical conductivity is desired.
The company can manufacture
these higher quality nanotubes in quantities of tons per year. (ASX: EDE)
Enerji
Enerji has raised $1 million through the placement of 55 million shares
at 1.8 cents each to professional and sophisticated investors. The placement
was arranged by Sydney based KS Capital.
The new shares come with one
for two options exercisable at 3 cents by June 2015.
The capital will help fund
the installation of the Opcon Powerbox at the Carnarvon Power Station,
further Powerboxes, and working capital. (ASX: ERJ)
Geodynamics
Geodynamics has reiterated its strong support for the Government's legislation
to establish a
carbon pricing scheme. The company said the clearing of the legislation
through the Senate is a crucial step for Australia developing long-term
clean energy options.
Managing director Geoff Ward
said "The introduction of this policy will be transformative for
energy generation in Australia. We now have a real opportunity to direct
funding and expertise into the development of new promising national scale
technologies that will provide cleaner energy and the range of energy
options that Australia requires for our long term energy security and
long term, cost affordable power.
Crucial to this are the pricing
signals that will be established and the managed funding for the sector
under the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and Clean Energy
Finance Corporation (CEFC)."
Australia has some of the most
advanced clean energy projects globally, and cooperation between the private
sector and government will greatly enhance the nation's ability to deliver
on some of this promise, he said. (ASX: GDY)
Greenearth Energy
Greenearth Energy has raised $1.2 million from its 1 for 2 rights issue.
The company will issue 15.3 million shares and unlisted incentive options.
The company will seek to place a shortfall of 29.7 million shares with
interested parties during the next three months.
Greenearth Energy subsidiary,
Pacific Heat and Power Pty Ltd (PHP), has been awarded a services contract
with Newcrest Mining's Lihir operations for geothermal brine testing services.
The project involves evaluating
the low temperature brine that is currently under-utilized, using a specialized
test rig. The project is part of Newcrest's efforts to maximize the value
from the geothermal heat resources available to it. PHP has the lead coordination
role between international equipment suppliers and local geothermal experts.
The results of the project
will provide information to select and design a Turboden Organic Rankine
Cycle (ORC) system that maximizes geothermal power production and reliability
while minimizing maintenance.
Managing director, Mark Miller,
said the contract strengthens his belief that there is a substantial future
for ORC technology in the Pacific Islands. (ASX: GER)
Intec
Intec has participated in the entitlements issue by Bass Metals Ltd. Intec
said it has foregone cash royalty payments for completed and anticipated
minerals processing until the end of calendar 2011 at the Hellyer Mill
in exchange for receiving 3.1 million BSM shares.
The shares were issued 15 cents
each and each has a free three year listed option exercisable at 20 cents.
"The nominal face value
of the foregone 2011 royalty payments has been discounted to the $465,000
investment amount, with ensuing royalties of $3.50 per tonne of ore processed,
to a $5.725 million maximum (inclusive of foregone royalties)," it
said.
These arrangements assist the
near term cash flows of BSM's Hellyer Project, which Intec said it is
strongly supports, along with continued operational collaboration between
the companies where appropriate. (ASX: INL)
Intelligent Solar
Intelligent Solar is looking to be recapitalized and relisted early next
year following a Deed of Company Arrangement with the executor, Arowana
Partners Group Pty Ltd and secured creditors of the company.
Shareholders will be asked
to vote on a share consolidation and capital raising. (ASX: ISL)
Kimberley Rare Earths
Kimberley Rare Earths has appointed Michael Chan as General Manager
Project Development. Mr Chan commences on 12 December 2011. His number
one priority is to deliver a Preliminary Evaluation Study or Scoping Study
for the near term commercial development of the Cummins Range rare earths
deposit.
This will to assess the commercial
viability of the project with an accuracy in the range of plus or minus
35 to 45 per cent.
The Australian Tax Office (ATO)
has published its Class Ruling on the June 2011 in specie distribution
of shares in Kimberley Rare Earths by Navigator Resources.
The in specie distribution
was one KRE share for every 20 Navigator shares. The ATO determined that
the value of the in specie distribution is 0.75 cents per Navigator shares.
The ATO said the entire distribution should be classified as a return
of capital, with no dividend component.
Shareholders who participated
in the in specie distribution will have the cost base of their Navigator
shares reduced by 0.75 cents per share, and the cost base of a KRE share
received is 15 cents. (ASX: KRE)
Metgasco
With both ERM Power and LNG Ltd recently lifting their holdings, Metgasco's
shares have reached a one year high of 59.5 cents. ERM Power has increased
its interest from 5.5 to 7.1 per cent. (ASX: MEL)
Mission NewEnergy
In what it says is a first of its kind for the region, Mission NewEnergy
is to build a major waste material processing facility in Malaysia that
will allow it to recover palm oil from waste material in the palm oil
refining process.
The waste material, called
Spent Bleached Earth (SBE), has historically had no application.
"Mission is delighted
to be working in collaboration with the government and the local palm
oil processing industry. The facility will reduce waste being sent to
the landfill, create jobs and provide Mission with a low cost, environmentally
friendly raw material to produce biofuels," said group chief executive,
Nathan Mahalingam.
Producing biodiesel from this
recovered non-food grade waste palm oil provides Mission with access to
lower cost feedstock and increased margins. Green house gas savings are
also increased.
Mission expects to commence
construction of the 66,000 ton per annum SBE Solvent Extraction Facility
in January 2012 and the facility to be fully operational by September
2012.
Mission has secured agreements
and understandings with almost all the palm oil refiners in the State
of Sabah to provide a supply of SBE and has received all necessary sanctions
from government authorities including the Department of Environment.
The facility will cost US$10
million and will be funded with equity and debt from a Malaysian commercial
bank. Financial closure is expected by the end of December.
Mission said palm oil refineries
typically use bleaching earth to removing gum and other impurities when
refining crude palm oil. The bleaching earth absorbs and retains some
of the palm oil which cannot be recovered in the normal refinery process.
Once the bleaching earth is used, it is referred to as Spent Bleaching
Earth, a waste material that traditionally is disposed off in landfills.
Mission NewEnergy has lifted
its September quarter revenue by 297 per cent to $18.1 million compared
to $4.6 million in the same period last year.
Net profit rose 269 per cent
to $8.4 million, up from a net loss of $5 million for the first quarter
of the 2011 fiscal year. The improvement is primarily a result of a $10.3
million gain
on the settlement of the $15 million 2012 convertible notes and operating
performance.
During the quarter, the company
significantly strengthened its balance sheet by buying back its 2012 convertible
notes at a significant discount, said Mr Mahalingam.
"The increase in revenue
relates primarily to increased revenue from biofuel product sales and
recognition of biological asset revenue from the company's Jatropha business
of $3.2 million and the recognition of a gain from the buyback of the
company's 2012 convertible notes of $10.3 million," he said.
"Our biodiesel refining
operations continue to deliver positive cashflow to our company as we
build our Jatropha supply, with sales into the European and Malaysian
markets." (ASX: MBT)
Nanosonics
Nanosonics received a high no vote from shareholders of around 15 per
cent for its Remuneration Report.
Nanosonics' US distributor,
GE Healthcare, says the launch of the Trophon EPR sterilizer has been
encouraging. "A number of high-profile customers across North America
have already installed the Trophon. Early feedback from these customers
continues to indicate that Trophon is quickly being recognized as the
preferred choice in automated ultrasound probe reprocessing.
"Our GE team is enthusiastic
about expanding globally to offer our customers an innovative technology
that supports their patient safety initiatives and offers environmental
benefits by eliminating the use of toxic chemicals and the associated
OH&S risks," it said.
"Our customers also value
the rapid speed and automation of the Trophon EPR to enhance clinical
workflow.
"GE Healthcare has a large
global installed base of ultrasound devices with a strong emphasis on
women's health and reproductive medicine. We are pleased with the early
acceptance of the benefits of the Trophon EPR in these areas."
Trophon accessories are a mobile
cart and a wall mount. Accessories in development include a printer, software
and wipes.
Nanosonics says the Trophon
is a $1.5 billion opportunity.
Wilson HTM has ceased to be
a substantial shareholder. (ASX: NAN)
Panax Geothermal
Panax has given Molten Power Corporation a six week extension to complete
financing arrangements under which it will contribute the first $10 million
in exploration and development funding for Panax's Indonesian Projects.
Panax said it remains confident
that Molten will be able to provide the funding.
Managing director Kerry Parker
said Panax is delighted to be progressing a partnership with a company
of Molten Power's calibre. "Molten will bring additional strength
of personnel and experience to Panax's advanced portfolio of projects
in Indonesia, and it is clear that they have made sufficiently strong
progress in their financing discussions to date.
"Molten and its people
have significant experience in large-scale geothermal development activities
across the world, and they have recognised the quality and strength of
Panax's portfolio of projects that have been assembled over the past 18
months."
Under an August 2011 Heads
of Agreement, within 90 days Molten will contribute the first $10 million
in exploration and development funding for the Indonesian Projects. In
return Molten will progressively earn into a 50 per cent interest in Panax's
wholly owned subsidiary, Panax Geothermal Singapore No.1. After this Panax
and Molten will contribute to costs on a 50-50 basis.
Also within 90 days, Molten
will subscribe for $1 million in equity in Panax at 2 cents per share,
with attaching listed options on a one for two basis with a strike price
of 4 cents per share and a three year term.
Molten is a Vancouver based
geothermal power development company formed in 2010 by experienced geothermal
professionals. Its strategy is to target the acquisition of late stage
and proven geothermal resources globally, and develop these to provide
renewable, baseload energy. (ASX: PAX)
Papyrus Australia
Papyrus Australia has raised $1,052,000 by way of a placement of 21 million
shares at 5 cents each to new and existing shareholders.
The placement is in two tranches.
The first tranche will occur immediately on receipt of cleared funds,
and raise $722,000. The remaining shares will require shareholder approval
at a general meeting probably in mid-December.
The funds are for working capital,
mainly to support the establishment of Papyrus Egypt, the Yellow Pallet
Project and the completion of the construction of the Veneering and Fibre
Production Units.
The substantial shareholding
of Ramy Azer has fallen from 25.2 to 22.5 per cent, despite their participation
in the placement. (ASX: PPY)
Petratherm
Petratherm has welcomed the passage of the carbon pricing legislation
through the Senate, saying the carbon pricing and clean energy funding
initiatives represent the single most significant government assistance
package for renewable energy in general and potentially for the geothermal
energy sector.
Petratherm said it is well
positioned to benefit from the new initiatives, and looks forward to working
with the new Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Australian Renewable
Energy Agency to promote geothermal energy, particularly its flagship
project at Paralana in South Australia. (ASX: PTR)
Refresh Group
Refresh Group directors Henry Eng Chye Heng and Edmund Soon Kin Teo have
each acquired 31,800 shares for $1,113, an average price of 3.5 cents.
(ASX: RGP)
Southern Crown Resources
Southern Crown Resources has released the JORC compliant resource estimate
on its Xiluvo rare earths project in Mozambique - a mineral resource of
1.1 million tonnes at 2.05 per cent total rare earth oxides (TREO) at
a cut-off grade of 1 per cent TREO.
The resource contains a good
balance between light and heavy rare earth elements containing an above
average quantity of the five critical rare earth oxides of neodymium,
europium, terbium, dysprosium and yttrium (CREO) projected to be
in critical undersupply for the next 5 to 10 years, it said.
Managing director, Dr Jock
Harmer, said "Generation of an indicated JORC resource at our Xiluvo
REE Project marks an important milestone for Southern Crown. Being unconsolidated
and lying on surface, the soils represent a rare earth deposit that is
expected to be easy and cheap to mine, positioned alongside excellent
rail and paved road access to the port of Beira only 110 kilometres away.
"Achieving an indicated
category resource on one of our projects within six months of acquisition
is a fantastic achievement. We will now look to embark on a comprehensive
program of metallurgical tests to identify an optimum process to concentrate
the REE from the soils." (ASX: SWR)
International
Companies
Contact Energy
Contact Energy is offering of up to NZ$150 million of Capital Bonds to
the New Zealand public, with the ability to accept oversubscriptions for
another NZ$100 million.
The Capital Bonds will be unsecured,
subordinated, redeemable, cumulative, interest bearing debt securities.
They have a maturity date of 15 February 2042 but can be redeemed on any
interest payment date from 15 February 2017, and earlier in certain circumstances.
The Capital Bonds will pay
interest quarterly at a rate to be set after the close of the offer. However
the minimum interest rate for the first five years to February 2017 will
not be less than 8 per cent per annum, and will be set on 22 November
2011 and announced on or before the opening date for the offer.
The offer is expected to open
on 23 November and close on 15 December.
The bonds will quoted on the
NZX Debt Market (NZDX) under the ticker CENFA.
Eco Investor
Update
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