Thursday 28 November 2013

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited sells 1,000 BlueGEN units to Baltic distributor

RNS Number : 1276U
Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited
28 November 2013
Market
Announcement
Thursday, 28 November 2013
CFU sells 1,000 BlueGEN units to Baltic distributor
Agreement signed for 1,000 BlueGEN units valued in excess of EUR20M, to be delivered in CY2014 and CY2015
Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (AIM/ASX: CFU), a world leader in developing and manufacturing fuel-cell-based micro power plants, is pleased to announce it has signed a cooperation agreement with Synergy International OÜ (SI). Under this agreement, initially a minimum of 1,000 BlueGEN m-CHP units, with a value in excess of EUR20 million, will be sold to SI over the next two calendar years. The agreement has the option to be extended for a third year.
CFU has appointed SI as its exclusive distribution partner for the Baltic States and Scandinavia (Finland, Sweden and Norway). A main business partner and shareholder of SI is the Tameo Grupp, one of the biggest wholesalers of electrical materials in Estonia.
SI will be responsible for arranging the distribution and servicing of CFU's BlueGEN product across its distribution region. Under the agreement SI will purchase from CFU, on a take-or-pay basis, 500 BlueGEN units in CY2014 and a further minimum 500 units in CY2015. The first 100 systems are scheduled to be delivered in the first quarter of CY2014. In addition to the distribution agreement being on a take-or-pay basis, under the agreement 50 percent of the price of the initial 500 unit sale will be paid to CFU before the end of this calendar year. Further payments will be received quarterly in advance for units to be delivered during the CY2014. This payment profile is repeated in CY2015 for the 500 units to be ordered on a take-or-pay basis.
Frank Obernitz, Managing Director of Ceramic Fuel Cells GmbH in Germany, said: "I am delighted that CFU has partnered with SI in the highly promising markets of the Baltic States and Scandinavia. We have been especially impressed by their well established network of major industry and policy stakeholders."
Bob Kennett, Managing Director of CFU, explained: "We are very pleased to have received this major order. Apart from the commercial success, the terms of the agreed take-or-pay contract enable our company to significantly strengthen its working capital position in response to market requirements. We are very much looking forward to working closely with Synergy International in what I'm sure will be a very successful relationship."
Taxation Refund
CFU advises that it has recently received a refund of circa $4M from the Australian Taxation Office for research and development activities relating to FY2013. The expectation of this refund was announced on 30 October 2013 in the Company's Quarterly Cashflow announcement.
-End-
 
For more information please contact: 
 
    Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited 
 
        Clifford Ashby                        Tel.        : +61 (0) 3 9554 2300 
        (CFO)                                 Email       : investor@cfcl.com.au 
                                              Tel.        : +44 776 4200661 
        Bob Kennett (CEO)                     Email       : investor@cfcl.com.au 
                                              Tel         : +49 (0) 2452 153 
        Frank Obernitz                        Email       763 
        (GER)                                 Tel         : frank.obernitz@cfcl.com.au 
                                              Email       : +49 (0) 171 1933 
        Ludmila Fuhrmann                                  611 
        Corporate Communications                          : ludmila.fuhrmann@cfcl.com.au 
 
                 Arden Partners Plc (AIM Nomad) 
                 Steve Douglas Tel. : +44 (0) 12 1423 8900 
 
                 German media enquiries 
                 Sebastian Mewißen Tel. : +49 (0) 211 
                 430 7926 
                 Hering Schuppener Consulting E-Mail : smewissen@heringschuppener.com 
 
                 Netherlands media enquiries 
       Kees Jongsma                          Tel.         : +31 (0) 654 79 82 
        SPJ                                   Email        53 
                                                           : cjongsma@spj.nl 
    UK media enquiries 
       David Stürken                    Tel.         : +44 (0) 207 379 5151 
        Maitland                              Email        : dsturken@maitland.co.uk 
 
 
About Tameo
Tameo MT OÜ is one of the biggest electrical materials wholesalers in Estonia. The company offers full solutions for projects as well as dwelling from customers special needs. Tameo has over 4 000 different products available in stock, and based on customer needs this list improves constantly. The suppliers are internationally known companies and the product assortment of Tameo complies with the standards established for quality and nature protection. Tameo has sales offices and warehouses in Tartu, in Tallinn, and in Pärnu. The affiliated company Tameo Electric Group SIA operates in Riga, Latvia and also Tameo UAB in Klaipeda, Lithuania.
http://www.tameo.ee/en/
About Synergy International
Synergy International OÜ (SI) has been founded recently in order to establish the cooperation agreements with Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd. and to execute the business plan agreed on by the shareholders of SI.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Managing Directors Report Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday 20 November 2013

RNS Number : 4940T
Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited
20 November 2013
Market
Announcement
Wednesday 20 November 2013


CASH MANAGEMENT
The management team has concentrated on rigorous cash management over the last year whilst balancing the need to satisfactorily service our external sales, marketing and manufacturing requirements. We are managing our relationships with our distributors and manufacturing partners, through all phases of the sales, installation and service period to minimise any impact on our cash flow. Any delay by our distributors will impact our revenue, so this remains a high priority as we take the company forward.
SALES
Following the company restructure from the beginning of 2013 we have focused our sales and marketingactivities solely on Europe and specifically Germany, UK and Benelux.
Our approach has been to use a combination of direct and indirect sales resources to maximise penetration in the emerging markets for micro generation. In Germany this includes SME's, Stadtwerke and utilities.
In the UK we have focused on social housing, SME's, Esco's and local authorities with responsibility for schools and public amenity buildings.
Additional fiscal support has now been confirmed in Germany.
In addition to the NRW capital grant finally announced earlier this year, two other regions have now confirmed similar incentive schemes. They are Hesse and Saxony. One other is currently considering an introductory programme and we continue to lobby at high level in Germany for a federal support scheme.
We are now building sales and marketing resource. Our financial position in early 2013 seriously restricted our planned build up of sales and marketing resources. With limited funds available we are now establishing teams to address the selected markets.
And we consider the refocus and emphasis on marketing is beginning to deliver results.
We have recently announced a contract of 45 BlueGens for Ameland. The units form part of an energy supply scheme including solar and wind. The BlueGen units will operate as a virtual power station and support the variability of supply from the renewable plant.
In Germany over the last month an additional 20 units have been sold through our distribution and direct sales channels.
In the UK we have also recently received confirmation of a contract for 10 units with NGAWS. AWS (Affordable Warmth Solutions) is a subsidiary of National Grid and is focused on alleviating fuel poverty in the social housing sector. We have established a very good relationship with AWS and we are seeking to expand our activities in the coming months.
A new programme, BlueGens for free to the user, has great potential in the UK and we are working closely with a number of supporting organisations to develop this opportunity.
Refer to link for Accumulated NRW Applications graph and European Order Entry graph.
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/4940T_-2013-11-20.pdf
PRODUCTION
We are putting major effort in to our cost reduction programme.
So far this year the team has achieved a 25% reduction in the base cost of the BlueGen unit and we are now working on a number of initiatives both internally and with our supply partners to secure further significant improvements.
It is a key objective to achieve a cost base that offers commercial viability without the need for fiscal incentives.
This is being achieved through volume production programmes, outsourcing to low cost, high quality suppliers, automation, continued evaluation of manufacturing process and value engineering based on experienced gained from the current 3.5 million operating hours.
In late 2012 we began working with CCTC in China to investigate and confirm improvements in the manufacturing of our product components. The exercise aimed to introduce significant reductions in the basic cost structure of our BlueGen product, thereby improving its marketability. Over the last year we are able to report that an excellent relationship has been established between our teams at all levels and we are confident that we will continue to successfully develop our manufacturing processes to achieve our strategic objectives.
As our order book grows, we need to liaise closely with our suppliers to manage the associated increase in production capacity. Our main objective going forward is to secure contractual order quantities that support the necessary investment in production capacity and the subsequent reduction in component cost. However, these large orders put pressure on our working capital, and we are concentrating on the efficient management of this process.
Our Heinsberg assembly plant is fully commissioned and the 4*4 Furnace fully operational.
Our research and development facility is retained in Melbourne and is concentrating on product improvements and future development opportunities.
HEALTH & SAFETY
We have 3 fully operational plants. Our research and development resources are retained in Melbourne together with administrative facilities. Our Heinsberg plant in Germany is the focus for manufacturing and assembly of the BlueGen product. We have also been operating our powder plant in Bromborough in the UK.
Throughout the last year CFCL has continued with an excellent safety record with a very limited number of LTI's for minor incidents. As the company continues to grow, the management and staff will concentrate on maintaining high standards for health and safety.
THE FUTURE - 2014
As always our major objective will be to significantly increase our sales results through direct and indirect channels. We will endeavour to expand our distribution partners at the earliest opportunity in order to minimise our direct sales overheads.
Equally important is for us to continue with our major objective of achieving a significant reduction of our unit costs.
As recently demonstrated, we have achieved some success in securing additional fiscal incentive support schemes in Germany. We will continue to develop our contacts with other regions and to continue our lobbying for Federal support.
The management team will continue to closely manage the company's cash and resources and ensure we are operating as efficiently as possible and able to take full advantage of our market position.
We expect to receive a further tax rebate against our research and development activities, in the next few weeks.
In order to take the company forward over the next couple of years it is necessary for us to secure additional funding, primarily as working capital. This will include inventory build up, some plant expansion and de-bottle necking at our Heinsberg facility and continued operational costs for the company.
In conclusion, I would also like to take the opportunity of thanking our investors for their support for the company. I think with continued support we can take full advantage of CFCL's technical lead in our selected markets and ultimately, successfully develop the company on a global basis.
Bob Kennett
Managing Director
-End-

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited Results of Annual General Meeting

RNS Number : 5800T

21 November 2013

In accordance with ASX Listing Rule 3.13.2 and section 251AA of the Corporations Act, Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (AIM/ASX: CFU) announces that, at the Company's Annual General Meeting held at 6:00pm AEDST on 20 November 2013, all resolutions were duly passed.
Details of the resolutions and the proxies received in respect of each resolution passed are as follows:
 
 2)    Remuneration Report 
       The instructions given to validly appointed 
        proxies in respect of the resolution were 
        as follows: 
 
           For        Against      Abstain     Proxy's discretion 
      ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------------- 
       264,698,610   33,244,600   2,631,578        6,536,454 
      ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------------- 
 
       The motion was carried as an ordinary resolution 
        on the taking of a poll, the voting details 
        being: 
 
           For        Against      Abstain 
      ------------  -----------  ----------- 
       282,126,335   45,418,527   2,743,422 
      ------------  -----------  ----------- 
 
 3)    Election of Director - Dr Roman Dudenhausen 
       The instructions given to validly appointed 
        proxies in respect of the resolution were 
        as follows: 
 
           For        Against      Abstain     Proxy's discretion 
      ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------------- 
       244,533,864   38,839,678   17,226,336       9,882,674 
      ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------------- 
 
       The motion was carried as an ordinary resolution 
        on the taking of a poll, the voting details 
        being: 
 
           For        Against      Abstain 
      ------------  -----------  ----------- 
       265,413,434   50,985,605   17,278,180 
      ------------  -----------  ----------- 
 
 4)    Election of Director - Clifford Ashby 
       The instructions given to validly appointed 
        proxies in respect of the resolution were 
        as follows: 
 
           For        Against      Abstain     Proxy's discretion 
      ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------------- 
       211,289,830   87,344,480   1,965,568        9,882,674 
      ------------  -----------  -----------  ------------------- 
 
       The motion was carried as an ordinary resolution 
        on the taking of a poll, the voting details 
        being: 
 
           For        Against      Abstain 
      ------------  -----------  ----------- 
       242,102,494   88,657,313   2,917,412 
      ------------  -----------  ----------- 
 
 
 
 5)    Approval of additional placement capacity 
       The instructions given to validly appointed 
        proxies in respect of the resolution were 
        as follows: 
 
           For        Against      Abstain    Proxy's discretion 
      ------------  -----------  ----------  ------------------- 
       266,754,526   31,710,748   2,147,445       9,869,833 
      ------------  -----------  ----------  ------------------- 
 
       The motion was carried as a special resolution 
        on the taking of a poll, the voting details 
        being: 
 
           For        Against      Abstain 
      ------------  -----------  ---------- 
       298,239,242   33,238,688   2,199,289 
      ------------  -----------  ---------- 
 
 
-End-
 
For more information please contact: 
  Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited 
    Glenn Raines   Tel.    : +61 (3) 9554 2300 
                    Email   : investor@cfcl.com.au 
  Arden Partners plc 
    Steve Douglas  Tel.    : +44 (0) 12 1423 
                            8900 
 
 
About Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited
Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited is a world leader in developing fuel cell technology to generate highly efficient and low-emission electricity from widely available natural gas. Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited has sold its BlueGEN gas-to-electricity generator to major utilities and other foundation customers in Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Australia, and the USA. Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited is also developing fully integrated power and heating products with leading energy companies E.ON UK in the United Kingdom and EWE in Germany. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market and the Australian Securities Exchange (code CFU).
www.cfcl.com.au
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

Wednesday 6 November 2013

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (AIM/ASX: CFU), today released its quarterly cashflow report for the period ended 30 September 2013

RNS Number : 7010R
Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited
30 October 2013
30 October 2013
Cashflow Report for the September Quarter
Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (AIM/ASX: CFU), today released its quarterly cashflow report for the period ended 30 September 2013.
The Cashflow Report is available at www.cfcl.com.au
Highlights
   --      Sales volume - 49 units sold this quarter 
   --      Increased number of German states providing subsidies 
   --      Direct sales team generating greater volumes of sales leads in Germany and the UK 
   --      Cash position at 30 September 2013 AUD 4.1m (GBP 2.5m) 
Operational Review
Introduction
CFU makes small scale generators that use proprietary fuel cell technology to convert natural gas into electricity and heat for homes and small commercial buildings. CFU has commercialised its technology into products and is now focused on selling these products to commercial customers in Europe.
Market Developments and Sales
As announced on 10 October 2013, The Government in the German state of Hesse has announced a funding program to support micro combined heat and power (mCHP) installations. The level of subsidy per unit is comparable to that of the North Rhine Westphalia programme at circa EUR13,000 per installed mCHP unit.
The Company is also pleased to announce that The Government in the German state of Saxony has announced a EUR3m (AUD 4.3m, GBP 2.6m) funding programme for fuel cell products. Under the programme up to 75% of the product and installation costs will be funded. The programme will be in place until the end of 2014.
CFU remains confident that other German states will soon be announcing programmes to support clean energy. These subsidies are in addition to the German Federal Government feed-in tariff for mCHP products.
As a result (and as previously announced to the market), in response to the opportunities these subsidies provide, the Company has expanded its direct sales channels in both Germany and the UK. These direct sales teams are generating a greater volume of sales leads and product interest and the Company is confident that these will translate into an increasing number of sales.
On 10 October 2013 the Company announced that the second tranche of 40 mCHP units under the Soft-Pac project will be installed in the third quarter of this financial year. The Company is pleased with the interest shown in its "BlueGEN for free" sales initiatives and is in the process of finalising arrangements with a financier.
CFU is pleased to advise that it was awarded a tender to supply 10 BlueGENs and 2 mCHP units to the Local Gas and Heating Institute's "Innovation City Ruhr". These units will be installed in the city of Bottrop, in North Rhine Westphalia, over the coming months.
The Company believes that these orders are the initial signs of the impact of both subsidies becoming available and the investment that the Company has made in its sales resource gaining traction.
Sales volume during the first quarter of the year was 49 units. This compared to 48 units in the previous quarter and 47 units in the same quarter last year.
A summary of the Company's sales performance since FY11 is as follows:
 
         Unit sales booked to revenue 
--------------------------------------------- 
             Quarter       Qtr unit   FY unit 
                             sales     sales 
------  ----------------  ---------  -------- 
 FY11                                   61 
------------------------  ---------  -------- 
 FY12                                   169 
------------------------  ---------  -------- 
      September 2012          47 
 -----------------------  ---------  -------- 
      December 2012           43 
 -----------------------  --------- 
        March 2013            9 
 -----------------------  --------- 
 FY13       June 2013         48        147 
------  ----------------  ---------  -------- 
 FY14    September 2013       49        49 
------  ----------------  ---------  -------- 
 
Financial Review
September Quarter Cash Flows
Net operating cash outflow for the September quarter was AUD 5.8m (GBP 3.5m). This compares to the previous quarter's pre-tax receipt, net operating cash outflow of AUD 6.2m (GBP 3.7m) and AUD 6.6m (GBP 4.0m) in the third quarter of FY 2013.
The Company lodged its tax return for FY2013 in early October 2013 which included circa $4m (GBP 2.4m) of research and development activities for which it expects to receive a tax credit and resultant refund. Indications are that it will receive this refund in November. This is the second tax refund for research and development activities claimed by the Company following on from the receipt of AUD 5.2m (GBP 3.1m) in June 2013. It is anticipated that going forward claims will be made annually in early October subject to Australian taxation legislation remaining the same.
Net investing cash flows for the quarter were an outflow of AUD 0.3m (GBP 0.2m).
Net financing cash flows for the quarter were an inflow of AUD 0.06m (GBP 0.04m).
Cash on hand at 30 June was AUD 4.1m (GBP 2.5m).
In its Annual Report, the Company advised shareholders that it would maintain a focus on fundraising and strong cash management. It also stated that in order to meet its sales targets and to continue with its research and product development programme, a capital raising will be necessary.
 
For more information please contact: 
    Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited 
          Clifford Ashby (Australia)     Tel.    : +61 (3) 9554 2300 
                                          Email   : investor@cfcl.com.au 
          Bob Kennett (UK)               Tel     : +44 (0) 7764 200 661 
                                          Email   : investor@cfcl.com.au 
          Ludmila Fuhrmann (Germany)     Tel     : +49 (0) 2452 153 752 
           Corporate Communications       Email   : investor@cfcl.com.au 
           Manager 
 
    Arden Partners Plc (AIM Nomad) 
          Steve Douglas                  Tel     : +44 (0) 121 423 8900 
 
    Australian media enquiries 
          Richard Allen                  Tel.    : +61 (0) 3 9915 6341 
           Oxygen Financial Public        Email   : richard@oxygenpr.com.au 
           Relations 
 
    UK media enquiries 
          David Sturken                  Tel.    : +44 (0) 207 379 5151 
           Maitland                       Email   : dsturken@maitland.co.uk 
 
    German media enquiries 
          Sebastian Mewissen             Tel.    : +49 211 430 7926 
           Hering Schuppener Consulting   Email   : smewissen@heringschuppener.com 
 
 
About Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited:
Ceramic Fuel Cells is a world leader in developing fuel cell technology to generate highly efficient and low-emission electricity from widely available natural gas. Ceramic Fuel Cells has sold its BlueGen gas-to-electricity generator to major utilities and other foundation customers in Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Australia, and the USA. Ceramic Fuel Cells is now focusing on markets in Germany, the United Kingdom and Benelux and is developing fully integrated power and heating products with leading energy companies E.ON UK in the United Kingdom and EWE in Germany.
The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market and the Australian Securities Exchange (code CFU).
www.cfcl.com.au
www.bluegen.info
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END