BIOGAS PRODUCTION
Envio’s new business segment is the production of biogas through processing food waste and
other organic components which the operation company receives for disposal. The company
entered this business area through the takeover of the activities of Bebra Biogas GmbH in
January 2008. The subsidiary was subsequently renamed Envio Biogas GmbH.
Envio Biogas has extensive experience in constructing and managing biogas production
facilities and its superior technology optimises the fermentation process. Envio made the
move into biogas after realising the demand for the service in certain market, such as South
Korea, where the company already signed letters of intent for erecting biogas facilities with
14 provincial governments. Alone the capital Seoul produces roughly 3,000 tonnes of food
waste per day and there is currently no facility for processing the waste. Management expect
the company to start construction its first biogas facility in South Korea in the short term.
Moreover, further smaller plants are planned in Germany, where management are currently
in talks with major utility companies interested in purchasing biogas for use in their gas
network. We expect the new biogas segment to contribute to sales from 2009.
Envio can construct up to 2 MW facilities for processing organic waste. In contrast to other
biogas technologies, the end-products of Envio’s fermentation process are gases that can be
used to generate energy in power plants, and cleaned biogas that can be fed into the gas
network. Moreover, the remaining material can be converted into fertilizer and sold.
MANAGEMENT
Dr Dirk Neupert (CEO) has a degree in electrical engineering from Ecole Nationale
Supérieure des Télécommunications in Paris and a diploma in business administration from
the University of Stuttgart. He also obtained a Ph.D. (Dr.-Ing.) in process control engineering
from the RWTH Aachen.
Dr Neupert worked in several positions within the ABB Group from 1991, including R&D
engineer and project manager for expert system applications, and export sales manager for
France, the Benelux and Northern Africa. Between 1999 and 2003, he worked as general
manager for Environmental Services at ABB Transformatoren GmbH, where he had full
responsibility for ABB’s worldwide transformer recycling activities. Dr Neupert became
managing partner of Envio after the management buyout of ABB Transformatoren GmbH. He
had held the position of CEO since the company’s IPO in late 2007.
Dr Neupert directly holds 37% of Envio AG and indirectly, through his 50% stake in CD
Vermögensverwaltung GbR, an additional 1.9% stake. The lock-up period after which he can
sell his shares expired on 24 September 2008.
Christoph Harks (CFO) graduated in electrical engineering with focus on power
engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Gelsenkirchen. He also completed an
MBA program at the International School of Management in Dortmund.
Before his studies, Mr Harks worked for five years as electronics specialist at a STEAG power
plant. During his studies, he gained industry experience by working as technical assistant on a
project aimed at simulating and optimising automatic control systems and constructing a
battery storage plant at the EUS GmbH in Dortmund. Mr Harks also worked at Siemens
Components in Singapore, where he developed an entry strategy for the power capacitors
market in Asia. After completing his studies, he began working for ABB in Dortmund, where
he was employed in several departments. In 2004, he and Dr Neupert conducted the
management buyout of ABB’s Environmental Services division and he has sat on the
company’s management board since. Mr Harks has been Envio’s Chief Financial Officer since
September 2007.
During our meeting at Envio’s headquarters in Dortmund, both managers made a good
impression and we regard them as strong and competent entrepreneurs capable of leading
Envio in the next stage of profitable growth.
www.envio-group.com/fileadmin/media/pdf/Envio_30_March_2009.pdf
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