Sydney, Oct 31, 2007 (ABN Newswire) - Reporter James Lush talks with managing director Tim Wise about Wasabi's strategy of investing in environmentally friendly companies and bringing them through to an IPO. Mr Wise says Wasabi targets and invests in these companies earlier than other investment funds.

The following text is a transcript of the Finance News Network video report linked to this page.

TRANSCRIPT OF FINANCE NEWS NETWORK INTERVIEW WITH WASABI ENERGY MANAGING DIRECTOR, TIME WISE

James Lush: With me today in the studio is Tim Wise, the managing director of Wasabi Energy, a company that looks for green and clean technology. First of all Tim, is it possible to have a profitable green and clean technology company?

Tim Wise: Yeah absolutely, it's not only possible, as we now know it's imperative, so our intention is absolutely to make our company profitable and there are numerous examples of it having it been done.

The full report is available at the following video and audio links.

Video Link

http://abnnewswire.net/fnnlnk/6402468M


Audio Link

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/WP664Z91


James Lush: And what do you look for, obviously you have a portfolio of lots of different companies with different technologies, what do you look for?
Tim Wise: We look for early stage companies that can be taken to an initial public offering relatively quickly. Anything from six months to say two years.

James Lush: Ok, and in terms of what they do, is that important?

Tim Wise: Yes it is. Primary we've focused on energy related companies with a ?green tinge' if you like. We are now extending our view and we have looked at some water related technologies which prevent evaporation on dam services.

James Lush: Ok, what do you think you bring to the table, what expertise are you able to offer investors?

Tim Wise: Well Wasabi is part of a larger group, our major share holder Xtract Energy, which is also part of a group in turn called the Cambrian Mining Group out of London, so we have a vast array of resources available to us, both in Wasabi and outside.

James Lush: But how do you differ from say an energy investment fund?

Tim Wise: Well we typically get involved a bit earlier than your typical fund would. We invest in these technologies and businesses at the very early stage and then we bring them along and incubate them to, as I said before, IPO.

James Lush: Ok, once we get beyond that, do you leave them to be or do you still keep an involvement?

Tim Wise: We will generally have a seat on the board of the company, but we will step aside to a large degree and let the management and the board of those companies direct that company.

James Lush: Ok so if we are looking at the radar, what's coming up in the next few weeks and months?

Tim Wise: Well in the next month we've got an IPO taking place in a subsidiary called Rum Jungle. At listing we will have 40% of that company, the company is looking to raise between 8 and 12 million dollars and yeah, that's a very exciting prospect and we will be capitalised at about 30 million dollars at listing if it comes on at par.

James Lush: But with uranium companies would you say that the timing is now, you know, maybe a little bit later than you would have liked?

Tim Wise: Look I think that, you know, these things are going to ebb and flow. Everyone's heard of the resources boom and we've benefited from that, we see that boom taking place over the next 20-30 maybe even 40 years or longer and there will be dips and spikes but that just par for the course.

James Lush: And beyond that, any other things in the pipeline?

Tim Wise: We've got, as I mentioned we've invested in a water technology business, we see that business coming on towards the end of the year and then beyond that we've got Global Geothermal Limited which is a company that we've been invested in for many years, newly formed company but the assets we've been involved with for many years and that should be listing early in the new year.

James Lush: Ok, I noticed also you are involved in coal, that doesn't sort of strike me as being the green, clean technology of the future, so how do you see that fitting within the brief?

Tim Wise: Yeah we have some very exciting developments in the coal area. We have a joint venture with a company by the name of Danieli Chorus. It's one of the largest steel making groups in the world, they're based out of Holland and they are part of British Steel. We have a technology called the Char Maker which is used for taking low grade coal and turning it into an environmentally benign product using the steel making industry. This technology can also be used for extracting oil from oil shales, which at the moment is typically very messy, but we can, we think we can make it cleaner.

James Lush: Ok and just in terms of the number of companies that you would look to invest in, is it limited?

Tim Wise: Look, one of the benefits we have of putting our trust in the board and the management of newly spun out companies, is that we can then focus on new companies to invest in. It frees us up and it allows us to keep growing.

James Lush: And let me ask you finally how the financial markets actually perceive a company that is looking at green and clean technology? Is it taking some time?

Tim Wise: Look I think it's become the flavour of the month politically and from the point of view of just a necessity for the planet to take action, for people and everyone to recognise from now on that we must take action and so it's becoming very popular.

James Lush: But in terms of investing, people say oh, that might be one for the future rather than today.

Tim Wise: Yeah look I think that that's changed and we are at the right place at the right time.

James Lush: Good talking to you today, Tim Wise the Managing Director of Wasabi Energy. Thank you.

Tim Wise: Thank you James.

END TRANSCRIPT

Source: Finance News Network © 2007 http://www.finnewsnetwork.com.au

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