Wildhorse Energy
Wildhorse Energy Ltd (ASX: WHE) is an emerging alternative energy company focussed on developing underground coal gasification (‘UCG’) projects in Central Europe. The Company’s primary focus is to become a major supplier of fuel in the region by producing syngas as a feedstock for power stations located in close proximity to Wildhorse’s strategically located coal assets.
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Company Statement:
The Company’s portfolio currently consists of the Mecsek Hills, Izabela and Amelie UCG projects, all of which have substantive coal deposits which demonstrate potential suitability for UCG application. Wildhorse is dedicated to expanding its coal portfolio and is currently evaluating a number of additional assets.
Central Europe has a significant energy demand due to the current reliance on Russian gas imports, something which is recognised by governments within the region. The Company believes that there is huge opportunity for fuel providers in Central Europe and has assembled a world-class UCG technical management team. This includes specialists with previous experience at Sasol, the world’s leading coal gasification company, and Eskom.
The Board of Wildhorse recognises the highly compelling energy market demand fundamentals of Central Europe, primarily due to the high level of reliance on Russian gas imports and the relating issues of energy security and high gas prices. Wildhorse has built a portfolio of assets with defined development schedules targeting first production of syngas by late 2012. The Company is well positioned for growth with a world class technical management team and a focussed development and growth strategy.
Importantly, the Company has also secured a non-binding strategic MOU with one of Europe’s leading energy services companies, Dalkia Energia, which is owned by major international energy companies EDF Energy and Veolia Environnement. This MOU includes a potential strategic investment in Wildhorse, a 20 year gas (syngas) sales agreement for Wildhorse’s Mecsek Hills UCG project and a proposed collaboration to evaluate the potential to supply syngas to other Dalkia and affiliated power stations in Central Europe.
The Company currently has three UCG projects in Hungary, the Mecsek Hills, Izabela and Amelie Gas Projects, all of which have coal deposits which demonstrate potential suitability for UCG application, excellent infrastructure and are in close proximity to natural gas pipelines and established power stations.
Current Operations:
Mecsek Hills Gas (UCG) Project
320 sq km area in southern Hungary – an area with a 120 year coal mining history
Current Exploration Target of between 1-1.25 billion tonnes of coal1
Scoping Study demonstrates the potential for robust economic returns from the supply of UCG syngas as a feedstock for power stations and for conversion into Synthetic Natural Gas (‘SNG’)
Non-binding MOU with Dalkia and its Hungarian affiliate PannonPower Holding Zrt. which includes
a proposed 20 year syngas sales agreement
Close proximity to the Pannon power station and excellent infrastructure including
the international gas pipeline network
1 The potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, and there has been insufficient exploration to define a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the determination of a Mineral Resource.
Izabela Gas (UCG) Project
46.1 sq km coal deposit in an historical mining district of northern Hungary
with recognised potential for UCG
Close proximity to three power stations and excellent infrastructure
including the international gas pipeline network
Data from 345 historic drill holes indicates the coal has significant potential for UCG application and assists the de-risking of the exploration phase of the project development
2 The potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, that there has been insufficient exploration to define a Mineral Resource and that it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the determination of a Mineral Resource
Amelie Gas (UCG) Project
25 sq km coal deposit in western Hungary located in an historical coal mining district.
Undergone significant exploration and 10km from the nearest power station
Existing data from 84 historic drill holes underpins the project's potential and significantly de-risks the exploration phase
Wildhorse is also evaluating additional projects in Central Europe to expand its portfolio and to achieve its objective of becoming a leading supplier of UCG syngas to power stations in the region.
Additionally, Wildhorse also holds the prospective Mecsek Hills Uranium Project located in southern Hungary. The project has a total Exploration Target of 55-90Mlbs of contained U3O8 with a grade of 0.075‐0.10%2.
For more information regarding Wildhorse's current projects please click here.
Management
Mr. Mark Hohnen - Chairman
Mr. Hohnen has been involved in the mineral business since the late 1970s and has held a number of directorships in both public and private companies. He was founding Chairman of Cape Mentelle and Cloudy Bay wines, as well as the oil and coal company Anglo Pacific Resources Plc and is currently Chairman of AIM listed Kalahari Minerals Plc.
Mr. Matt Swinney - Managing Director
Mr. Swinney has 20 years experience in business and project development, project finance and business start-up situations across a number of industries, including the development of greenfield energy projects in emerging markets.
Mr. Brett Mitchell - Executive Director
Mr Mitchell has worked for both private and publicly listed entities for the past 18 years as a corporate finance executive. Mr Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Western Australia and has specific experience in the financial markets and resources sectors and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (ACID). Mr Mitchell is currently executive director and company secretary of Transerv Energy Limited, non-executive director of Quest Petroleum NL, XState Resources Limited and Newland Resources Limited.
Mr. Ian Middlemas - Non-executive Director
Mr. Middlemas is a Chartered Accountant. He acted as senior group executive for Normandy Mining Group for 10 years and has had extensive corporate and management expertise. He is currently a director with a number of publicly listed companies in the resources sector including Chairman of Mantra Resources Plc.
Mr. Johan Brand - Technical Director
Mr. Brand was previously an employee of Sasol Limited (Sasol) for 13 years and between the years of 2006 and 2009 held the position of UCG Business Manager, responsible for the establishment and management of UCG as a Sasol business unit. He has extensive coal mining and coal gasification experience and is an internationally recognised leader in the field of UCG. Mr. Brand is based full-time in Hungary.
Mr. James Strauss - Non-executive Director
Mr. Strauss has worked for 25 years as a stockbroker in The City of London, specialising in the corporate resource arena. Having left BMO Capital Markets as Managing Director of UK in 2009, Mr. Strauss is currently a Director of mining finance boutique, Strauss Partners. Mr. Strauss has raised in excess of $1bn in recent years for projects spanning the globe in both the energy and mineral world from leading institutions in North America, Australia and Europe. Mr Strauss has been a committee member of the Association of Mining Analysts for the last four years.
Dr Konrad Wetzker - Non-Executive Director
Dr. Wetzker has a Doctorate in Economics and is an expert on the Central European energy market, both commercially and politically, having worked with multiple international companies in the region including E.ON, RWE, GDF/Suez, EDF Energy and the Hungarian Regulator. He worked with the leading international management consultancy, The Boston Consulting Group, for almost 20 years prior to his retirement at the end of 2010 and was instrumental in shaping Central Europe’s energy arena.
Major Shareholders
The Company is aware of the following shareholdings which represent three per cent or more of the Company's issued Ordinary Shares or who exercise or could exercise control over the Company, as at 21 June 2011, being the latest practicable date prior to the issue of this Appendix:
| Name of Shareholder | Number of Ordinary Shares | Percentage of Ordinary Shares |
|---|---|---|
| PSL Client Safe Custody Asset | 26,326,348 | 10.49 |
| Capital Research and Management Company | 16,227,016 | 6.47 |
| Genesis Asset Managers LLP | 12,483,871 | 4.98 |
| Credit Suisse Securities Europe Ltd | 9,500,000 | 3.79 |
| JP Morgan Nominees Australia Limited | 8,538,805 | 3.40 |
| RBC (Channel Islands) Limited | 8,518,464 | 3.39 |
| NEFCO Nominees Pty Ltd | 7,995,833 | 3.19 |
For further information please click here
Contact Information
United Kingdom
1B, 38 Jermyn Street
London SW1Y 6DN
Tel. +44 (0) 20 7292 9110
Fax. +44 (0) 20 3214 0079
Australia
Level 21 Allendale Square
77 St Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6000 Australia
PO BOX Z5446
St Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6831
Tel. +61 8 9389 2000
Fax. +61 8 9389 2099
Hungary
Budawest - 5th floor
Rétköz u. 5.
1118 Budapest, Hungary
Tel. +36 1 472 3100
Fax. +36 1 472-3109
Email. info@wildhorse.com.au
Corporate Information
Nominated Advisor
Grant Thornton UK LLP
30 Finsbury Square
London, EC2P 2YU
United Kingdom
Broker
GMP Securities Europe LLP
Stratton House
5 Stratton Street
London, W1J8LA
United Kingdom
Solicitors to the Company in the UK
Watson, Farley & Williams LLP
15 Appold Street
London, EC2A 2HB
United Kingdom
Solicitors to the Company in Australia
Hardy Bowen
Level 1, 28 Ord Street
West Perth WA 6005
Australia
Auditor
BDO Chartered Accountants and Advisers Australia
38 Station St
Subiaco WA 6008
Australia
Australian Registrars
Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited
Level 2, 45 St Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6000
Australia
UK Depository
Computershare Investor Services Plc
The Pavilions
Bridgwater Road
Bristol, BS99 6ZZ
United Kingdom
Public Relations
St Brides Media & Finance Ltd
Chaucer House
38 Bow Lane
London, EC4M 9AY
United Kingdom























