Velocys plc, a technology innovator for smaller scale gas-to-liquids (GTL), last Wednesday announced the acquisition of Pinto Energy LLC and the Ashtabula GTL project. Pinto Energy is one of the leading project developers of smaller scale GTL in North America. As its first facility, Pinto Energy is developing an approximately 2,800 barrels per day plant at an 80 acre industrial site that it owns near the Port of Ashtabula, Ohio, USA. The project will have access to abundant low-cost natural gas from the Marcellus shale region, as well as benefiting from substantial existing infrastructure. Initial engineering for the facility is complete and the air permit has been issued. Final investment decision is expected within six to nine months. Future expansions could see installed capacity of 10,000 bpd or more at the site. In addition to Ashtabula, Pinto Energy has a pipeline of smaller scale GTL projects it is seeking to develop throughout North America.
Velocys said the acquisition of Pinto Energy will allow it to further stimulate early market adoption of its technology in North America by accelerating the development of "shovel ready" GTL projects. It also provides complementary skills and business synergies from which to improve both the breadth and quality of the company's service offerings to customers, it said.
Velocys technology remains fully available for license to new customers. Furthermore, Velocys said it is also open to partner with project developers to bring promising smaller scale GTL opportunities to market.
Roy Lipski, CEO of Velocys, said "The acquisition of Pinto Energy, one of North America's leading smaller scale GTL project developers, provides Velocys a key stepping stone for commercial growth. It will strengthen our route to market, accelerate early adoption, and deepen our ties with suppliers, partners, investors and customers across the entire GTL value chain".
"Our primary mandate remains technology leadership in smaller scale GTL; Velocys continues to work with and welcome customers seeking to take advantage of the historic opportunity presented by smaller scale GTL." Lipski said.
Susan Robertson, CFO of Velocys, said "The acquisition of Pinto Energy affords Velocys the means to further advance smaller scale GTL projects in North America in a fiscally prudent manner. When fully established, this added capability should not only allow Velocys to better serve its customers and accelerate success in its core technology business, but could also generate income in its own right."
John Baardson, CEO of Pinto Energy, said "The entire Pinto Energy team is excited to be joining Velocys. Combining its technology leadership with Pinto's project development capabilities makes for a formidable business. Together we are set to accelerate development of smaller scale GTL assets in North America, the time for which has never been better."
Velocys has acquired 100% of Pinto Energy and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Ashtabula Energy LLC, for an initial consideration of 955,977 ordinary shares in Velocys plc, and a further sum of 1,072,476 shares at successful financial close of the Ashtabula GTL project (subject to certain conditions), as well as five year warrants over up to $750,000 worth of shares that will be granted for each additional project in the Pinto Energy pipeline (up to a maximum of two projects) that achieves financial close by the end of 2015, struck at a price equivalent to the greater of £2.192 per share and 200 per cent of the share price at financial close of the project in question.
