Ascendant Partners Recent Engagements

Development of the First Integrated Biodiesel and Ethanol Biorefinery in the U.S.: Ascendant Partners and the client partnered to develop the first integrated ethanol and biodiesel biorefinery in the United States. Ascendant Partners performed the feasibility study, business planning and worked as the project manager of a multidisciplinary team to develop the biorefinery project. During the feasibility and business planning stages of the project, Ascendant Partners worked with the customer and the team to understand the cost savings and value enhancement, and to quantify the diversification, provided by the integrated biorefinery. The development phase included:
•     finalizing contracts with vendors for construction, marketing and origination,
•     working with the technology providers & constructor to developed the integrated model,
•     finalizing site and permitting details,
•     working with the railroad to determine options for plant access,
•     working with legal and accounting on the prospectus,
•     working with lenders and investors to understand the value of the project,
•     working with the board on management selection and on capital raising strategies.

Integrated Oilseed Crush Facility and Biodiesel Plant Feasibility Study and Business Plan: Ascendant Partners put our client in a position to make an informed business decision as to the attractiveness of investing in a biodiesel production and an oilseed crushing facility by analyzing the market, economic, technical and financial feasibility of both ventures. Ascendant Partners assessed each venture on its individual merit as well as the opportunity as a vertically integrated strategy. The client has decided to move forward with the biodiesel venture and now understands the market and economic requirements for a potential expansion into an oilseed crushing facility. Ascendant Partners also completed the business plan for the proposed biodiesel plant.

Private Placement Memorandum Development for Client Planning to become Leader in Ethanol Production Ascendant Partners assisted in the development of private placement memorandum designed for the public market. The client is a renewable fuels company that has plans to be the industry leader in ethanol production. Ascendant Partners worked with the company’s legal counsel, investment bankers and business representatives to help articulate the company’s strategy and package the document to meet the requirements of the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Biodiesel Product Development Analysis and Feasibility Study of Biodiesel Plant for Internal Use: Ascendant Partners worked for a Fortune 500 industrial catalyst company to educate the team on the biodiesel industry, and to look at product development opportunities in the biodiesel industry. Ascendant Partners also worked with the team to help the company understand the feasibility of producing biodiesel at one of their industrial facilities to be used for the company’s internal energy needs as a means of diversifying its industrial energy risk.

Destination Market Ethanol Plant Feasibility Study: Ascendant Partners conducted a feasibility study for a planned 50 million gallon per year ethanol plant to be located in a destination market. The project seeks to leverage a waste energy resource and reduce infrastructure costs by co-locating with an established industrial operation in the area. As a result, the plant expects to qualify for 2.5 renewable energy credits associated with the Biomass and Waste Energy Utilization program as part of the RFS. In addition to an analysis of the market, economics, technical and financial implications, the feasibility analysis also included a national assessment of the net cost of starch to the plant and benchmarked projected performance against national 100 million gallon per year and 50 million gallon per year plants around the country.

Glycerin Market Assessment and Biodiesel Impact Analysis: Ascendant Partners conducted a detailed market analysis of the global and domestic glycerin markets and identified the major producers and consumers in the market for a publicly traded producer of renewable fuels. The study highlighted the impact of biodiesel on the glycerin market and how it is affecting the traditional players in the glycerin market. Ascendant Partners researched numerous developing technologies that could produce new applications for the glycerin streams coming off of biodiesel plants and interviewed many of the companies to gain a working knowledge of their processes and technologies. Ascendant Partners concluded the study with three potential pathways the client could take to create value from their glycerin by product of their biodiesel plant.

Technology Viability Assessment (Biodiesel): Worked on behalf of a large Canadian private equity firm to assess the financial, operational and market ramifications of a new biodiesel technology in order to facilitate informed business decision making.

RENEWABLE FUELS EXPERIENCE

Feasibility Study (Biodiesel and Ethanol): In the last year, Ascendant Partners has conducted over twenty business feasibility assessments of constructing and operating a commercial sized biodiesel or ethanol production facility. The objective of the engagements was to put the customer in the position to make an informed business decision by looking at the market, economic, technical and financial feasibility.

Business Plan to Investment Prospectus (Biodiesel, Ethanol, and Integrated Biodiesel and Ethanol): Worked with more than a dozen teams, typically including the customer, the engineer/constructor and legal counsel, to fortify their business plan with additional due diligence, project and market detail, and robust financials so the principles could solicit investment from the public.

Private Placement Memorandum: Worked with teams consisting of legal, financial, and client representatives to develop a private placement memorandum for several renewable fuels companies.

Investment Evaluation (Biodiesel and Ethanol): Conducted several comprehensive investment due diligence financial, technical, operational and market assessments on behalf of a potential large equity investor to assess of the viability of these ethanol plants.

Investment Analysis and Marketing Strategy (Ethanol and Biodiesel): Conducted multiple financial and market analysis, and formulated a market penetration strategy for a global commodities marketer and logistics company. The company is a major ethanol and biodiesel marketer and often makes investments to complement their service offerings.

Joint Venture Due Diligence and Feasibility (Biodiesel): Performed comprehensive investment due diligence assessments and feasibility studies on several joint venture projects to ensure an understanding of the market, economic, technical and financial viability and synergies of such ventures for our clients.

Project Development and Management (Biodiesel): Led and worked with several client-teams to identify and obtain strategic vendor & construction/design partners, worked on site development & oversight, the development of financial structure and facilitated meetings with banks and equity providers, and contributed to board oversight & management.

EXPERIENCE IN OTHER INDUSTRIES

Oilseed Processing Feasibility: Provided the client with the information necessary to make an informed business decision based on the market, technical, business, economic, and financial feasibility factors for both small and large scale oilseed processing facilities.

Investment Due Diligence: Performed a comprehensive investment due diligence assessment, for potential investors, on a leading technology solutions provider. This provider serves the livestock management, traceability and source verification markets.

Grain and Fertilizer Unit Train Shuttle Expansion Feasibility and Business Plan: Conducted a feasibility study and authored a business plan for a client who was assessing the investment feasibility of re-aligning their organization around a shuttle certified grain and fertilizer terminal. The project entailed shifting the companies focus from a marginal company in many enterprises (grain, agronomy, energy, feed, hardware, C-stores, tire shops) to a company focused in a businesses they could dominate and thrive in for the long-term.

Capital Planning for Large Dairy Processor: Developed comprehensive strategic and capital plans designed to identify strategic investment objectives and priorities as well as to determine appropriate capital requirements and structure.

Interim Chief Operating Officer: Serving as interim COO to help a rapidly expanding organization build the necessary operating and management infrastructure to support ambitious growth plans and attract necessary capital investment.

Business Transformation: Developed an accelerated performance improvement plan for a $65 million farm supply and marketing cooperative. The plan is expected to deliver $5.2 million to the bottom line.

Fresh Vegetable Feasibility Study and Development of Pilot Marketing Program: Conducted a market and business feasibility study to assess the viability of four vegetable companies working together to market their products under one common platform. Additionally, a pilot program was developed for the 2005 harvest season to test the value of the approach and quantify the impact back to the businesses.