2016 Supply Contracts & New Production Facility
18 January 2016
Active Energy Group Plc
("Active Energy Group" or the "Group" or the "Company" or "AEG")
AEG WoodFibre 2016 Supply Contracts
and New Softwood Production Facility Update
Active Energy Group Plc (AIM: AEG.L), the London Stock Exchange AIM-quoted international supplier of timberland management and development services, industrial wood fibre, and Biomass coal replacement fuels, is pleased to announce that its AEG WoodFibre division has secured two significant new supply contracts for 2016, and that it is investing in a new softwood production line to augment its recently-upgraded hardwood processing facilities.
New Hardwood and Softwood Wood Fibre Supply Contracts:
Under the two 2016 supply contracts, signed on 15 January 2016 with Yildiz Entegre, the leading MDF manufacturer in Turkey, AEG WoodFibre has agreed to deliver up to 300,000 metric tonnes of its proven hardwood wood fibre product, as well as up to another 200,000 metric tonnes of its new softwood wood fibre offering. These significant contracts are expected to generate revenues of over US$50 million in FY 2016.
Additional off-take supply negotiations with other Turkish MDF manufacturers are ongoing, and the Group expects to announce further contract wins over the coming months.
New Softwood Wood Fibre Production Line:
MDF, the material of choice for carpentry, cabinet-making and other joinery applications, is produced from a combination of hardwood and softwood wood fibre. To date, AEG WoodFibre has only provided the hardwood raw material required by its customers.
Following the difficult mid-year trading, which impacted on its overall 2015 performance and delayed the planned investment in new facilities, AEG WoodFibre has now returned to profitable operations and recorded an excellent performance in Q4:2015, for the first time delivering three bulk cargo loads in a single month at good margins.
In light of this, the Board has approved an investment of US$0.75 million to purchase the equipment to manufacture softwood wood fibre from Pine logs. The new softwood production line, which is planned to be operational by Q2:2016, will substantially increase AEG WoodFibre's manufacturing capacity and broaden its market offering, making it the only supplier in the Black Sea region to supply both of the key raw materials for MDF manufacturing from a single facility.
Commenting on this excellent start to 2016, Richard Spinks, CEO of Active Energy Group Plc, said: "The success of AEG's operational and executive team over the past three years in transforming the Group's Ukrainian wood fibre business is confirmed by these significant new supply contracts."
"The entire MDF industry now recognises that AEG WoodFibre is a leading force in the European wood fibre supply market that can be relied upon to consistently deliver bulk volumes of high-quality feedstock; demonstrated by our clients' willingness to support the expansion of our manufacturing facilities to include softwood production."
"We are extremely proud of securing these new supply contracts with one of AEG WoodFibre's largest clients, which both confirms our increasingly strong market presence and our position as the largest supplier of processed wood products from Ukraine. Credit is due to our COO Matteo Girlanda and his entire team for all their efforts."
"AEG WoodFibre's performance in Q4:2015 proved that we have now established the right structure across all our operations, which is enabling us to achieve both the volumes and the margins that we had planned. Demand for wood fibre continues to exceed supply, and regional developments provide a strong indication that this will continue. Expanding our wood fibre product range to include softwood is further evidence of our commitment to the long-term development of this vibrant and continually-expanding area of the Group's business."
"Allied to the increases in gross margins and the reduction in overheads across the business, and the progress in our AEG TimberLands and AEG CoalSwitch divisions - further news of which is expected to be announced in the near future - the Board of Active Energy Group is confident that 2016 will be the first profitable year for the company."
- ENDS -
NOTES TO EDITORS & CONTACT INFORMATION
ABOUT ACTIVE ENERGY GROUP PLC:
Active Energy Group Plc is a London Stock Exchange AIM-quoted company (AIM: AEG.L). Headquartered in the UK, it is a fast-expanding international business that has experienced exceptionally strong growth and diversification into complementary industry sectors since the current management team assumed responsibility in mid-2012.
The Group has considerable expertise across the entire timber industry supply chain - from forest to factory and fuel.
Its three trading divisions, which operate as independent business units but work together to optimise resources and opportunities, are focussed on providing environmentally-sensitive solutions to specific global market sectors:
· AEG TimberLands: Forestry Asset Management and Development
· AEG WoodFibre: Industrial Wood Fibre for Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF) Manufacturing
· AEG CoalSwitch: Advanced Biomass Coal Replacement Fuels and Fuel Processing Systems
Active Energy Group Plc operates from four international locations:
· Ukraine, where it is the largest producer and exporter of wood fibre for the Turkish MDF manufacturing sector.
· Canada, where it has entered into a joint venture with several indigenous Métis Settlements to commercialise in excess of 300,000 hectares of their lands, which contain valuable forests and natural resources.
· The United Kingdom and United States of America, where it develops advanced Biomass fuels and fuel processing systems that convert waste wood and industrial/agricultural residues into coal replacement feedstock for clean energy power generation in a joint venture with Biomass Energy Enhancements LLC.
Active Energy Group Plc is led by a highly experienced management team, supported by forestry, timber processing and renewable energy experts within its trading divisions. All possess a proven track record in the industries and regions in which the company operates and from which its revenues are generated.
The Group has grown significantly in recent years, and has established a firm foundation, excellent reputation and international customer base upon which to deliver lasting value to all stakeholders.
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ENQUIRIES:
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Active Energy Group Plc |
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Richard Spinks |
richard.spinks@active-energy.com |
Intl.: |
+39 344 111 6071 |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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Ukraine: |
+380 503 942 702 |
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Brian Evans-Jones |
brian.evans-jones@active-energy.com |
UK: |
+44 (0)7500 861 696 |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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Ukraine: |
+380 955 227 745 |
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Mark Broomer |
mark.broomer@active-energy.com |
Intl.: |
+972 (0)54 575 3091 |
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Corporate Communications |
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UK: |
+44 (0)7703 18 88 18 |
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WH Ireland Ltd. (Nominated Adviser and Broker) |
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Chris Fielding/Mark Leonard |
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+44 (0)20 7220 1666 |
This information is provided by RNS
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