Accsys Technologies Share Discussion Threads

[partimetrader] 16/5/2007 11:17

I am here for the long term.

[rrr] 16/5/2007 10:48

Agreed azalea.

[azalea] 16/5/2007 10:23

Each to their own. I'm staying put, the best is yet to come.

[asparks] 16/5/2007 10:14

a few profit takers around today

[azalea] 16/5/2007 07:48

What a fantastic vote of confindence in AXS future -awarding directors 1.25m options @ 3.84 euros, subject to certain performance criteria being met. None of your old fill your boots boys wth half price shares at investors expense. Love it!

[goosegreen] 15/5/2007 20:45

Excellent article jonwig

jon

[azalea] 15/5/2007 18:02

A 10-20 bagger by 2010.

[asparks] 15/5/2007 17:53

Market: AIM Wood is everywhere - window frames, roofs, beams, floors, musical instruments, decking, indoor furniture, outdoor furniture - the list goes on and on. The timber industry is the second largest in the world (after agriculture) and has an estimated value of €100 billion per annum. Timber is an incredible material: durable, strong, light, pleasing to the eye, completely renewable and, if managed correctly, can supply global needs indefinitely.

No product is perfect, and wood in its natural state contains 'free hydroxyls' - molecules which absorb and release water depending on changes in the environment - causing the wood to expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity making wood vulnerable to rotting. This movement also stresses any coating on the surface of the wood as it is repeatedly stretched and shrunk.

Different species of wood contract and expand as different rates according to circumstances. Generally speaking, hardwood species are more resistant to rot, more durable and more stable and are in demand where these qualities count - this is not good news for tropical forests, which consist mostly of hardwood species! But the global timber industry is also cost sensitive, and while hardwoods are in high demand, they grow more slowly and are thus more expensive than softwoods. This has encouraged the timber industry to develop a range of chemical processes to increase the durability and stability of faster growing soft wood species such as pine – a species which grows in abundance in the northern and southern hemisphere. Unfortunately, the processes normally used to treat softwood to make it durable simply don't stand up to an environmental scrutiny in today's world – and we won't even talk about plastic substitutes like UPVC!

Accsys Technologies claims to have developed a 'new' wood species using its own unique patented process, which changes the chemical structure of wood. This new species goes by the brand name 'Accoya' - the potential for Accoya is mind-boggling.

Accoya is a form of acetylated softwood, which is not a new phenomenon, but the ability to produce it in commercial quantities at economic prices is new. (This is about as technical as we are going to get – remember 'free hydroxyls' - bad, 'acetyl'- good.) The acetylating process substitutes acetyl molecules for active hydrogen atoms in the free hydroxyls molecules, thus reducing the number of free hydroxyl molecules in the wood. The process also introduces additional acetyl molecules - which occur naturally in wood anyway. This keeps the cell wall moisture content low, which means that the wood becomes unattractive to micro-organisms and stabilises because it no longer takes up water. This increases the durability, dimensional and colour stability of the wood – essentially giving a board of cheapo softwood the performance characteristics of a board of pricey hardwood. Because the process of acetylating wood has been studied since the 1920s the properties of acetylated soft wood are well researched and well understood. So Accsys Technologies is able to promote Accoya on the back of decades of experimental research!

The breakthrough that Accsys has brought to the market is to do with the scale and economics of acetylating wood. The company has found a cost effective way to make pickled wood using acetic anhydride, on a large scale, and knows how to use up the liquid waste from the pickling process to make more acetic anhydride, on site as they go along ...a patent, and useful, wood pickling process, with a closed processing materials loop ...and there is no competition in sight!

Because the acetylating process penetrates the wood all the way through, changing the nature of the wood, this provides the basis for Accsys Technologies claiming to have created a new species of wood. Typically pine carries 2 per cent acetyl, oak 4 per cent, and Accoya carries 20 per cent acetyl – and a board of Accoya could well have started out as a board of ordinary pine.

Titan Wood, Accsys's 100% owned Accoya development and production subsidiary, sources its softwood from the 400 or so species of pine that are widely available from sustainable sources. In fact, Accoya is specified as being derived from sustainable wood sources – and because it is modified softwood it, by definition, does not involve any endangered hard wood tropical species. The production of Accoya apparently creates no environmentally negative by-products, and Accoya contains no undesirable chemical compounds, has a much longer life than unmodified softwood, and is recyclable. This sounds like an environmentalist's dream come true!

Shares in Accsys Technologies reflect the optimism surrounding the company's products. Since listing in October 2005 the share price has nearly quadrupled – giving the company a rather heady market capitalisation. However, Executive Chairman Willy Paterson-Brown is the personification of 'a man on a mission', and his mission will not be complete until Accoya is a globally successful wood species. What the company's market capitalisation will be if is that goal reached – the mind boggles.

The milestones to date for Accoya are impressive to say the least. Acetylated wood is a proven technology covering many soft wood species and the group has built a plant in the Netherlands which already has a full order book for 2007. The company has just signed a strategic relationship with Celanese – a US$5 billion chemicals behemoth that will distribute acetyls to Accsys licensees anywhere on the planet. If that isn't a big enough sign of approval in the commerciality of the technology - try this - Celanese subscribed to around 8.1 million shares and now owns 5.5% of Accsys's issued capital. Celanese also has an option to increase its stake, at the prevailing market price, to 29.9% within three years.

This puts Accsys in a very strong position. The technology is proven, the patents are secured, the commercial arguments are robust and the exclusive distribution agreement with Celanese enables the company to supply licensees anywhere in the globe. So what about those licensees then? Willy is supremely confident that investors won't have to wait too long before the ink is drying on licensing deals. Accsys is working on a model of a one off up front fee to acquire a licence based on the size of the operation planned plus an ongoing production royalty based on cubic metres of wood produced. As the time span from signing a license to first production is likely to be 12-24 months, the upfront one off fees will be a vital part of revenues for Accsys for the April 2007-March 2008 financial year.

House Broker, Collins Stewart, has the onerous task of calculating just how much revenue Accsys could generate over the next few years, and they originally forecast that Accoya would sell for €700-1100 per cubic metre. Willy told Proactive that the price is now likely to more in the region of €1000-1500 per cubic meter, and Accsys will be targeting an upfront licensing fee of €200 per cubic metre of planned production capacity and production royalties of €22 per cubic metre.

It is not often that a company comes to market with a developed product with the commerciality of Accoya, and with the hurdles to success substantially de risked. Despite the meteroic share price performance to date, their could still be plenty of upside potential in the share price.

A unique investment opportunity.

[jonwig] 15/5/2007 17:43

... need to register (free).

[azalea] 15/5/2007 16:31

Excellent news from the EGM. Now I can sit back and wait for Celanese to take its 5.5%,for orders to roll in for AXS patented process and then not before too long(this year) for Celanese to up its stake.

[partimetrader] 15/5/2007 15:34

Accsys Technologies EGM Statement


RNS Number:6393W
Accsys Technologies PLC
15 May 2007


15th May 2007
AIM: AXS

Result of Extraordinary General Meeting

On 28 March 2007, Accsys Technologies plc (the "Company") announced the terms of
its strategic partnership and supply agreement with Celanese Corporation. At the
same time, the Company also announced, inter alia, the proposed subscription by
Celanese for 8,115,883 new ordinary shares of Euro0.01 each in the Company at Euro2.72
per share (the "Subscription") conditional, inter alia, upon the approval of
shareholders of the Company at an Extraordinary General Meeting convened for the
purpose ("EGM").

The Company is pleased to announce that at the EGM held earlier today, the
special resolution put to shareholders to approve the Subscription was duly
passed.

Completion of the Subscription remains conditional, inter alia, upon the
admission of the 8,115,883 new ordinary shares (the "Subscription Shares") to
trading on AIM ("Admission"). It is expected that Admission will become
effective and that dealings in the Subscription Shares will commence at 8.00
a.m. on 21st May 2007. The Subscription Shares will rank pari passu in all
respects with the existing ordinary shares of Euro0.01 each in the Company.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Accsys Technologies PLC William Paterson-Brown, [phone]
www.accsysplc.com Executive Chairman

Collins Stewart Limited Tim Mickley / Michael O'Brien [phone]

Parkgreen Communications Justine Howarth / Clare Irvine [phone]


Notes to Editors

About Celanese

As a global leader in the chemicals industry, Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE)
makes products essential to everyday living. Our products, found in consumer
and industrial applications, are manufactured in North America, Europe and Asia.
Net sales totalled $6.7 billion in 2006, with approximately 60% generated
outside of North America. Known for operational excellence and execution of its
business strategies, Celanese delivers value to customers around the globe with
innovations and best-in-class technologies. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company
employs approximately 8,900 employees worldwide. For further information about
Celanese, please visit www.celanese.com.

Titan Wood Limited (www.titanwood.com) is wholly owned subsidiary of the Accsys
Technologies PLC (www.accsysplc.com) group of companies. Accsys Technologies PLC
is listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market under the symbol 'AXS'.

Wood Acetylation is a process, which increases the amount of 'acetyl' molecules
in wood, thereby changing its physical properties. The process protects wood
from rot by making it "inedible" to most micro-organisms and insects, without -
unlike conventional treatments - making it toxic. It also greatly reduces the
wood's tendency to swell and shrink, making it less prone to cracking and
ensuring that when painted it requires dramatically reduced maintenance.

Accoya(TM) wood (www.accoya.info) is produced using a patented process that
effectively converts sustainably grown softwoods and non-durable hardwoods into
what is best described as a 'new wood species'. Distinguished by its durability,
dimensional stability and, perhaps most importantly of all, its reliability (in
terms of consistency of both supply and quality), Accoya(TM) wood is
particularly suited to exterior applications where performance and appearance
are valued. Unlike most tropical and European hardwoods, its colour does not
degrade when exposed to ultraviolet light. Moreover, the Accoya(TM) wood
production process does not compromise the wood's strength or machinability. The
combination of UV resistance, dimensional stability, durability and retained
strength means that Accoya(TM) wood offers a wealth of new opportunities to
architects, designers and specifiers. For marine uses where weight is also
important, Accoya(TM) wood for the first time provides boat builders with a wood
that is strong, lightweight, durable and which retains its natural beauty for
far longer.

ACCOYA(TM) is a registered trademark owned by Titan Wood Limited.


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

[asparks] 15/5/2007 15:25

EGM passed resolution. Do we expect a rise now or on 21st May - or both?

[asparks] 15/5/2007 15:24

On 28 March 2007, Accsys Technologies plc (the "Company") announced the terms of
its strategic partnership and supply agreement with Celanese Corporation. At the
same time, the Company also announced, inter alia, the proposed subscription by
Celanese for 8,115,883 new ordinary shares of Euro0.01 each in the Company at Euro2.72
per share (the "Subscription") conditional, inter alia, upon the approval of
shareholders of the Company at an Extraordinary General Meeting convened for the
purpose ("EGM").

The Company is pleased to announce that at the EGM held earlier today, the
special resolution put to shareholders to approve the Subscription was duly
passed.

Completion of the Subscription remains conditional, inter alia, upon the
admission of the 8,115,883 new ordinary shares (the "Subscription Shares") to
trading on AIM ("Admission"). It is expected that Admission will become
effective and that dealings in the Subscription Shares will commence at 8.00
a.m. on 21st May 2007. The Subscription Shares will rank pari passu in all
respects with the existing ordinary shares of Euro0.01 each in the Company.

[damanko] 15/5/2007 15:11

Incidentally, the article above was published October 13th, 2006...

[damanko] 15/5/2007 15:09

Also this article:

New technology enhances wood stability
Technology developed by Ensis scientists has been purchased by Titan Wood Limited, a United Kingdom-based company that leads the field in the commercial production of acetylated wood. Titan Wood, a wholly owned subsidiary of UK environmental science and technology company, Accsys Technologies PLC, specialises in the development of new wood technologies. The company is on track to begin commercial production of its branded acetylated wood, Accoya", later this year.

The acetylation technology has been developed by Ensis scientist Kourosh Nasheri and technician Gavin Durbin. This technology will initially be tested in Titan Wood's large scale pilot plant in the Netherlands over the coming months, with the aim of adopting it for use in their new full scale facility. Wood acetylation is a process which increases the amount of "acetyl" molecules in wood, thereby modifying its physical properties. The process protects wood from rot by making it inedible to most micro-organisms and insects without making it toxic to humans. It also greatly improves the wood's dimensional stability, reducing its tendency to swell and shrink and making it less prone to cracking.

[markawhite01] 15/5/2007 14:58

Partimetrader - where did your Weighted Average scale come from - can you provide a link?

[partimetrader] 15/5/2007 14:54

"Carter Holt Harvey, controlled by billionaire entrepreneur Graeme Hart, is rumoured to be assessing Accsys Technologies Plc, listed on the London Aim market.

Mr Hart would be looking to repatriate technology developed in New Zealand but sold to the British company in September that allows softwoods like radiata pine to be transformed into having hardwood properties.

The technology could greatly enhance Carter Holt's remaining forest estate and its wood processing assets.

Accsys, with a market capitalisation of £200 million ($580 million), last month bought the technology developed by Rotorua Crown Research Institute Scion.

Accsys's Titan Woods bought Scion Acetylation Technology for an undisclosed sum and is on track to shortly begin commercial production of its branded acetylated wood Accoya in Arnhem in the Netherlands.

Titan has set up a large scale pilot plant and is about to scale up to full commercial production".





Can anyone shed any light on this previous news story please?

[partimetrader] 15/5/2007 14:05

Just market noise. The FTSE was generally down a little bit on the day but picking back up. All is okay.

[goosegreen] 15/5/2007 14:03

What goes up goes down - then up again!!!!!!!

[asparks] 15/5/2007 14:00

why the drop>?

[damanko] 15/5/2007 10:53

Doesn't give a time, here is the relevant stuff from the RNS in April:

Further to the announcement by the Company on 28 March 2007 of the strategic
partnership and long term exclusive supply agreement with Celanese Corporation
('Celanese'), the Company announces that on 3 April 2007 a circular (the '
Circular') was sent to shareholders of the Company containing, inter alia,
notice convening an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company (the 'EGM') to
be held on Tuesday, 15 May 2007 at the Company's offices at Kensington Centre,
66 Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UD to approve the subscription by Celanese for
8,115,883 new ordinary shares in the Company at a price of €2.72 per share (the
'Subscription') and the option for Celanese to increase its holding of equity
share capital in the Company to 29.9%, to increase the Company's authorised
ordinary share capital to €2,500,000 and to give the Directors of the Company
the requisite share capital authorities.

Completion of the Subscription and the grant of the Option are conditional on
the passing of the special resolution at the EGM and, subject to shareholder
approval being given, the Subscription is expected to take place on or before
25th May 2007. The long term exclusive supply agreement with Celanese is itself
conditional upon, and will come into effect on, completion of the Subscription.

[asparks] 15/5/2007 10:32

what time is the EGM and are we likely to get an RNS today?