Low Carbon Acc. Share Discussion Threads

[tokyojohn] 10/2/2011 11:47

Expected more reaction to the RNS today.

[andrbea] 29/11/2010 19:49

Nov 8

There's growing interest, too, in distributed generation, particularly in developing countries, says Steve Mahon, Chief Investment Officer at Low Carbon Investors and fund manager for AIM-listed Low Carbon Accelerator Ltd. He is launching a fund for Asia aimed at mini-grids of 5MW and under, typically provided by a mix of wind, solar or hydro: meeting local needs without all the expense and inefficiencies of a large transmission network. Along with other VCs, he sees considerable potential in combining small-scale renewable with sophisticated IT to run local energy service companies (ESCOs).

/...

On the same theme, Mahon sees a shift away from large capital-intensive projects such as wind and solar schemes, to smart energy management. He's particularly interested in 'grid-balancing' technologies, which can even out the peaks and troughs of supply and demand – essential if a greater proportion of electricity is going to be generated from intermittent sources such as wind. This includes sophisticated demand-side management controls on everything from fridges and air conditioning to lighting. "It's about putting enough intelligence into the system to make it really efficient", says Mahon. "It's not too capital-intensive, and you can scale it up very quickly. It's the really high-growth area of the next few years." Rob Wylie of WHEB Ventures agrees. "Remote sensing, monitoring and control approaches will take off", he says. And it's a perfect example of the way in which ICT companies are, as Forum for the Future calls it, "gatecrashing the energy sector" (see p36).

[andrbea] 27/10/2010 09:02

feed-in tariffs are important to LCA

so a tick up today

maybe because of the good news after the CSR:

Solar energy feed-in-tariffs narrowly escape the chop

[rambutan2] 29/9/2010 16:35

so long as the govt doesn't fiddle with the feed-in-tariffs on oct 22nd, and they've been making reasurring noises so far.

[andrbea] 29/9/2010 14:37

nice 5200 quid buy this morning

[jambo172] 23/9/2010 10:33

Still on a discount of more than 30% to their low ball NAV estimate.
Their largest investment Proven should be trousering money due to new feed-in-tariffs for wind projects.

[andrbea] 23/9/2010 09:27

lca now up 20%
discount to (projected) nav and illiquid

[lpf] 06/9/2010 10:14

Today's RNS puts the NAV at around 58-63p. Which means that even with today's rise, it's on a 50% discount.

[andrbea] 25/8/2010 13:05

rns today about Lumenergi (see last post)

Investment Update: Lumenergi Inc.

Low Carbon Accelerator ("LCA" or "the Company") announces that Lumenergi Inc. ("Lumenergi") has closed commitments on a US$12.7 million Series B round of funding (approx. £8.1 million) bringing in two new investors, Braemar Energy Ventures II, L.P. and Townsend VC, LLC. The Series B funding includes the existing convertible loan investment of US$3.7 million (approx. £2.4 million) from LCA and its co-investor, Noventi Ventures, that was issued in four tranches from August 2009 to June 2010 and which has now converted into equity at the price set for these Series B Preferred shares.

LCA now has a 22.7% shareholding in Lumenergi on a fully diluted basis for a total investment of US$5.97 million (approx. £3.8 million).

Andrew Affleck, Executive Chairman of Low Carbon Investors, the Investment Manager of LCA said: "We are very pleased to welcome two new shareholders into Lumenergi who bring with them real expertise in the US lighting and energy efficiency market. Lighting typically accounts for approximately 25% of the energy used in commercial buildings, making it one of the key target areas for building owners seeking to reduce their energy consumption. The additional investment will be used to fund the commercial expansion of the company as it seeks to meet the strong market demand and to convert its growing sales pipeline."

Lumenergi is a US based company that has developed intelligent lighting technology that reduces lighting energy costs 50 to 70 percent, while typically delivering ROI in one to three years. This unique technology incorporates advanced networked control system with smooth dimming to lead buildings into the Smart Grid world. U.S. Federal and State governments represent the largest market segment for advance lighting controls. Lumenergi's strategic focus has resulted in several large awards and growing success in the segment, in addition to the company's expanding commercial portfolio. These successes have reinforced Lumenergi's position as the de facto name in large energy-efficient lighting retrofits.

[lpf] 28/6/2010 16:26

I quite like LumEnergi, but I don't really see much of a moat there - DALI lighting is pretty widespread, now. But they do have good promotional material, and put a convincing case, so they should make us money.

Proven Wind Energy is MCS certified, so will benefit from FITs, and yes, smallhold farmers should be a very good market for their kit. Vigor Energy exists to make money from FITs.

There are lots of entrants into the field so it's a fast-growing and competitive area.

[andrbea] 28/6/2010 09:36

so we have a stake of 25.3% stake in LUMEnergi

pity it's a private company

so no price chart we can follow:

[andrbea] 11/6/2010 12:00

did an email today to the company:

Dear Sir


I am small-time investor with shares in LCA

Are you planning to update us soon eg with a trading / operations update?

eg smallhold farmers in the UK might be putting up small wind turbines under the uk feed-in tariff scheme (since April 1)
Is that something your company is hoping to target?


Rgds

.....

[swiss paul] 06/5/2010 21:28

andr - a bit down today - just wonder if it is pre election jitters. Silly thing is that all parties support what we are doing. If anything I would look on this as a safe harbour

[andrbea] 04/5/2010 09:31

bit in last RNS (FIT tariff market):

The introduction of UK feed-in tariffs (FITs), which came into effect on 1 April
2010, marks one of the most significant recent changes to UK renewable energy
regulation. The tariffs set an inflation linked tariff for each kilowatt hour of
energy generated from renewable energy projects, payable to the generator for 20
years in the case of wind developments and 25 years for solar, in addition to
the power export and off-take arrangements. The scheme has been designed to
give investors in qualifying renewable technologies an attractive return on
their investment, meaning that for electricity users that have the capital
available, electricity will generate them money in the future rather than being
a cost. Investors in FIT qualifying technologies will also have a reduced
exposure to future increases in energy prices and to security of supply risks in
the event that the UK is unable to meet its electricity demands from 2016 as
some government scenarios forecast.
Vigor aims to partner with land-owners and commercial property owners and
managers, to build, own and operate wind and solar power generating assets on
sites across the UK.
With the UK general election only weeks away, the Investment Manager is pleased
that all three major political parties intend to keep the FITs structure intact,
with only minor amendments or extensions announced.
As well as offering attractive returns to the investors in the generating
equipment, the launch of FITs in the UK is expected to be a significant stimulus
for companies operating within the FITs supply chain, such as Proven Energy,
LCA's largest holding. Proven has already seen this in the increased enquiries
and orders being made for its turbines during the quarter.

[andrbea] 23/4/2010 10:52

more about Sterling Planet

Founded in 2000, Sterling Planet's market leading position was established in 2003 when they made the largest single sale of RECs to date in U.S. history, equivalent to nearly 800,000 megawatt hours, to the corporate partners of the World Resources Institute's Green Power Market Development Group. Sterling Planet has a Blue Chip customer base which includes Alcoa, DuPont, Delphi Corporation, Staples, Cargill Dow, Interface, National Geographic, the 2004 Democratic and 2004 Republican National Conventions, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. General Services Agency, U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Los Alamos National Lab, Sandia National Laboratory, the Western Area Power Administration, Niagara Mohawk, PEPCO Energy Services, Pitney Bowes, and hundreds more renewable energy clients.

[andrbea] 23/4/2010 10:49

post 17 intrigues me

"revenue growth of well over 100% per annum"



LCA is also the largest shareholder in Sterling Planet, a US renewable power developer and carbon trader that has delivered revenue growth of well over 100% per annum since LCA invested in February 2007. Sterling Planet could be a potential IPO or trade sale candidate and Mahon said initial talks with some US investment bankers had already taken place. "We've tested the water and could look for an exit over the next two years," he told this news service. LCA invested an initial USD 7m in Sterling Planet in February 2007 and has a 21.3% stake in the company. "We believe a listing in the US would be well received by the market, but we're not ruling out a trade sale either. One of the big investment banks may be interested," he added. Last year, JP Morgan bought AIM-listed Eco Securities, a similar business operating in the carbon trading space.

But LCA are in no rush. "It's better to wait and have Sterling Planet be a quoted company with a multi-hundred million dollar market capitalisation whose shares are regularly traded than see it struggle to sustain investor interest as another micro-cap renewable play," said Mahon.

[swiss paul] 19/4/2010 20:57

her'shoping that Vykson do well eh.LCA still at a massive discount IMHO

[andrbea] 15/4/2010 09:18

rns out today


15 April 2010

Investment Update: Vykson Limited



Low Carbon Accelerator Limited ("the Company" or "LCA") announces that it has made a further equity investment of £150,000 into Vykson Limited ("Vykson"). This forms part of an overall funding round of £500,000 that has attracted two new investors, E-Synergy's Invest Growth Fund LP and an 'Angel' investor, Dr. Ramnath Nandakumar. Dr Nandakumar and a representative of E-Synergy will join the board of Vykson. LCA has now invested a total of £450,000 into Vykson and holds a 21.21% stake. Assuming full vesting and exercise of warrants and share options under the proposed management incentive scheme, LCA's share would fall to 19.49%.



If LCA were to revalue its existing holding (prior to this investment round) at the price set at this round, the carrying value would increase from the current £460,000 to approximately £493,000, and imply a carrying value of its entire investment in Vykson of £643,000.



Vykson's unique gas turbine engine enables the generation of renewable power from low quality gas, such as that given off at landfill sites, where the alternative is to flare at an economic and environmental cost.



Akif Chaudhry, Investment Manager at Low Carbon Investors, the investment manager of LCA said: "We are pleased to welcome two new shareholders as well as two valuable additional members of the Board of Vykson. Having demonstrated the operation of its first commercial scale engine at a UK landfill site of a major UK waste company, we are pleased to see Vykson move to the next stage of its lifecycle. The additional funding will provide Vykson with working capital to deliver its first units to the market."

[andrbea] 15/4/2010 09:18

rns out today


15 April 2010

Investment Update: Vykson Limited



Low Carbon Accelerator Limited ("the Company" or "LCA") announces that it has made a further equity investment of £150,000 into Vykson Limited ("Vykson"). This forms part of an overall funding round of £500,000 that has attracted two new investors, E-Synergy's Invest Growth Fund LP and an 'Angel' investor, Dr. Ramnath Nandakumar. Dr Nandakumar and a representative of E-Synergy will join the board of Vykson. LCA has now invested a total of £450,000 into Vykson and holds a 21.21% stake. Assuming full vesting and exercise of warrants and share options under the proposed management incentive scheme, LCA's share would fall to 19.49%.



If LCA were to revalue its existing holding (prior to this investment round) at the price set at this round, the carrying value would increase from the current £460,000 to approximately £493,000, and imply a carrying value of its entire investment in Vykson of £643,000.



Vykson's unique gas turbine engine enables the generation of renewable power from low quality gas, such as that given off at landfill sites, where the alternative is to flare at an economic and environmental cost.



Akif Chaudhry, Investment Manager at Low Carbon Investors, the investment manager of LCA said: "We are pleased to welcome two new shareholders as well as two valuable additional members of the Board of Vykson. Having demonstrated the operation of its first commercial scale engine at a UK landfill site of a major UK waste company, we are pleased to see Vykson move to the next stage of its lifecycle. The additional funding will provide Vykson with working capital to deliver its first units to the market."

[swiss paul] 13/4/2010 21:56

thanks for that andr good research

[andrbea] 13/4/2010 13:50

morea bout LCA

ft story March 29 2010

Steve Mahon, chief investment officer of Low Carbon Accelerator (LCA), the AIM-quoted VC fund focused exclusively on the low-carbon economy, believes the emerging markets for VC investment in 2010 are in smartgrids, adaptive infrastructure investments, such as land management, bio-sequestration and soil enhancement, hydroponics and water purification.

Its UK portfolio includes RLtec, a smart grid demand-response technology firm, Proven Energy, a market leading wind turbine manufacturer, QuantaSol, a nano-solar high efficiency PV cell innovator, and Eco-Solids, a sewage waste-to-energy producer. It recently invested GBP 500,000 in Vigor Renewables, a new company formed to take advantage of UK feed-in-tariffs.

"We look to back 'game changing' companies who have some type of innovative technology or service in the low carbon space. Typically, we look for an annual internal rate of return of over 30% and usually hold our investments for between five and seven years. On exit, we would expect to see a return of between five and ten times on our original investment," said Mahon.

LCA is also the largest shareholder in Sterling Planet, a US renewable power developer and carbon trader that has delivered revenue growth of well over 100% per annum since LCA invested in February 2007. Sterling Planet could be a potential IPO or trade sale candidate and Mahon said initial talks with some US investment bankers had already taken place. "We've tested the water and could look for an exit over the next two years," he told this news service. LCA invested an initial USD 7m in Sterling Planet in February 2007 and has a 21.3% stake in the company. "We believe a listing in the US would be well received by the market, but we're not ruling out a trade sale either. One of the big investment banks may be interested," he added. Last year, JP Morgan bought AIM-listed Eco Securities, a similar business operating in the carbon trading space.

But LCA are in no rush. "It's better to wait and have Sterling Planet be a quoted company with a multi-hundred million dollar market capitalisation whose shares are regularly traded than see it struggle to sustain investor interest as another micro-cap renewable play," said Mahon.

[andrbea] 13/4/2010 08:42

April 7 2010

However, there is only one AIM share – Low Carbon Accelerator – that has an overwhelming focus on emerging environmental technology businesses.

[andrbea] 13/4/2010 08:40

I'm also thinking of buying some more shares in Low Carbon Accelerator, a small London-listed green venture capital company that has been quietly assembling a fine group of companies that will sooner or later find their way on to the western stock markets.

The fund's share price was hit particularly hard after the government announced a potentially rival green investment fund in the Budget. However, I think that the current massive discount of the company's shares to net asset value is a great opportunity and my focus is on seeing the existing portfolio realise value.

[andrbea] 12/4/2010 13:09

Under the terms of the UK Energy Act, on April 1 the government will introduce a new and very generous feed-in tariff (FiT) subsidy, also known as the 'Clean Energy Cashback' scheme, for microgeneration power technologies of 5MW and under. Against this new legislative and regulatory backdrop, companies are lining up to bring micro-renewables to homes and businesses. In particular, some of the UK's largest incumbent retailers - the type that can sway public perceptions and boost the appeal and uptake of such technologies - have chosen to sell solar panels through their national network of stores.