The company strives for open communication with all stakeholders.

Ann Kile
Communications Manager, Minova International
+61 3 9665 7209
ann.kile@minovaint.com

(091105) Successful completion of Weldgrip acquisition

(091026) New manufacturing plant for New South Wales

(091016) Acquisition of 25 % shares of FiReP Holding AG

(090825) Minova Europe establishes subsidiary in Austria

(090608) Minova Asia Pacific opens regional office in Taiwan

(080818) Minova signs worldwide agreement with Atlas Copco

(071129) Orica appoints new CEO for Minova Group

(061017) Acquisition of Minova

The acquisition of Weldgrip brings new products and technical expertise to the Minova worldwide portfolio.

Established in 1975 to supply the construction industry with welded mesh, Weldgrip has expanded over the last 34 years into servicing and supplying the mining, tunnelling and civil engineering markets. This service-led business has a unique product portfolio, backed by a very capable and experienced support team of engineers who are looking forward to utilising the strength of the Minova Group.

Our Minova UK business and Weldgrip will be merged into a renamed company to be called Minova Weldgrip Limited and will operate out of premises in both Chesterfield and Barnsley, where the businesses will be covered by ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards.

We would like to give a warm welcome to the 15 new colleagues from Weldgrip into Minova Europe.

The new office will allow Minova to build stronger relationships with customers by facilitating face-to-face contact and more effective distribution of products.

The local sales and distribution workforce will now operate from the office in Taipei City, Taiwan, providing specialised products and technical services to the tunnelling, civil engineering and construction industries.

Vincent Chien, director Minova Asia Pacific, said the new Asia Pacific regional office further demonstrates Minova’s commitment to customers in the region by providing a strong local presence.

“We have operated throughout Asia for more than 10 years, providing product and technical solutions – predominantly on tunnelling, sewer repair and geotechnical projects,” Vincent said.

“Recent projects we have worked on include stabilising the Shih Men Reservoir in Taiwan and treating a water ingress issue on a 60-story high building in Kuala Lumpur.

“Having a centralised office will help us to expand in these markets and also provide innovative solutions for our customers.”

As well as providing products for strata control and ground support, Minova also offer a wide range of packaged services, delivered by local staff with a high level of technical expertise and local know-how.

Minova’s alliance agreements with Atlas Copco and FiReP also allow customers in the region to benefit from a comprehensive range of geotechnical solutions, using advanced technology from around the world.

The new management board is represented by Mr. Christian Richau and Mr. Edmund Lueftinger, who is also the branch manager. The team is completed by Mr. Johannes Rieger, responsible for geotechnics and tunnelling, and by Mr. Michael Derflinger, responsible for injection technology. Mrs. Cornelia Verdianz-Gutjahr supports the team in an administrative role.

Our team brings together a long technical expertise and is profoundly familiar with the civils market and products. We will support our Austrian customers successfully in their jobs and challenges on site.

The Austrian civil engineering market and projects mainly in the areas of geotechnics, tunnelling and injection technology will be handled from Wals-Siezenheim. “The team will be able to be on site very quickly and able to support the customers professionally” explains Christian Richau. “Proximity to our customers and the quick delivery of product on site are the keys to our success.”

Edmund Lueftinger adds: “We are convinced our new subsidiary will develop a better presentation of the Minova product range and will be able to intensify customer support.”

Minova GmbH
Bayernstraße 81
5071 Wals-Siezenheim, Austria
0662 85 74 73
info.at@minovaint.com

Edmund Lüftinger (Managing Director)
0664 88 510 511
edmund.lueftinger@minovaint.com

Cornelia Verdianz-Gutjahr (Administration)
0664 88 510 515
cornelia.verdianz-gutjahr@minovaint.com

Johannes Rieger (Sales Geotechnics and Tunnelling)
0664 88 510 513
johannes.rieger@minovaint.com

Michael Derflinger (Sales Injection technology)
0664 88 510 512
michael.derflinger@minovaint.com

Minova is the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of chemical strata support and ventilation products to the underground mining and tunnelling industries. As a leading player in rock bolting and strata control, Minova delivers strata reinforcing products from manufacturing facilities in Europe, the USA, Australia, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, China and South Africa.

In 1985 the development and manufacturing of GRP rock bolts was started and then used for the first time in a number of tunnelling projects in Switzerland. Today FiReP Group is one of the world‘s leading manufacturers of Fibre Reinforced Polymer products for mining, tunnelling and civil engineering with offices in Switzerland, Germany, China and Canada as well as manufacturing facilities in Slovenia and China.

The acquisition of the FiReP Holding AG is the consequence of a long-time global cooperation in mining and tunnelling projects and will strengthen the market positions of both Minova and FiReP. The alliance brings new products and technical expertise to the Minova portfolio to be offered to Minova and FiReP customers around the world.

Sandy Arbuthnot will step aside from the day to day management of the business when this appointment takes effect on 1st February 2008 and will retire at the end of 2008.

Michael Reich is a German national with broad experience in the mining industry. He is currently CEO of Minova CarboTech and has been instrumental in the significant growth and development of this business both in Europe and Russia over the last five years.

In his new role, Michael will join the Orica Group Executive and report directly to Orica Limited Managing Director and CEO Graeme Liebelt.

The synergies between the companies will allow customers to benefit from a comprehensive offer of geotechnical solutions.

As a result of this agreement, Minova customers will have access to the Atlas Copco rockbolting products, including the world leading Swellex inflatable bolts. Atlas Copco customers will benefit from the extensive Minova range of rockbolts, resins, grouts and associated equipment. Both Atlas Copco and Minova brands will continue.

Both mining and civil engineering customers will now benefit from being able to source the world’s most comprehensive range of ground control products – thus providing them with a one stop shop for all ground control requirements.

“I believe this relationship between Atlas Copco and Minova is a major step forward in providing a complete rock bolting solution to our customers in underground mining and underground civil engineering.

“This further underlines Minova’s strategy to provide a total solution package through its combined steel and resin business.” said Michael Reich, CEO Minova International.

This expansion into steel strata support products for the Australian underground coal mining industry complements Minova Australia’s existing extensive market offering. Minova Australia is the leading manufacturer and supplier of chemical-based consumables, steel bolts, plates, application and services associated with rock bolting, ground consolidation, ventilation and water control in the underground mining, tunneling and civil engineering industries.

Minova’s launch into the coal bolt market is a natural progression following the acquisition of Australia’s leading hard rock bolt provider, Strata Control Systems (SCS), in May 2008. Minova also leveraged its global bolting position in the development of the Australian coal bolt product range and manufacturing facilities, with the significant involvement of personnel from Minova’s extensive global bolting operations. Large scale automation at the new facility will provide significant safety, efficiency and quality benefits unparalleled in the industry.

Matthew Berry, Minova Australia’s Coal Business Manager said of the new facility: “This is an exciting step for Minova Australia and for the Australian coal industry. We are proud to offer a wide range of Australian manufactured products and services designed specifically for domestic conditions and incorporating Minova’s world renowned technical expertise and quality standards.”

The new facility was opened by Michael Reich, CEO of Minova International who said: “We are delighted to be able to commission this state-of-the-art facility and expand our product offering to the Australian coal industry. Minova is committed to growing alongside its customers and improving industry safety and productivity standards in the process. Our new bolt manufacturing facility will also provide additional employment opportunities, further evidence of Minova’s commitment to supporting our local communities.”

UK based Minova is the clear global leader in providing specialist chemical products for underground mining and civil engineering activities. These products include resin capsules, powders and injection chemicals for use in strata support, ground consolidation and ventilation systems.

Minova operates in all of the world’s major mining regions with the exception of South America. It has over 1,200 employees, operates 17 manufacturing facilities in 10 countries and sells into more than 50 countries.

The acquisition of Minova is consistent with our strategy to grow Orica into a truly global company that delivers superior shareholder returns,” Orica Managing Director and CEO, Mr Graeme Liebelt said.

Minova is an outstanding business in an attractive and growing market segment that is closely adjacent to Orica’s existing Mining Services business. It has a high quality and committed management team that has demonstrated an excellent track record of significant earnings and cashflow growth.

The operations are highly complementary with Orica’s existing Mining Services business which will provide significant benefits going forward. We see a number of further opportunities to grow the business, both organically and by way of acquisition.

“Minova is also well positioned in higher growth markets such as Russia, Kazakhstan and China where we see strong prospects due to ongoing demand growth and product penetration with an increasing focus on the safety and efficiency of underground mining.” Mr Liebelt said.

Strategically the acquisition is compelling for Orica:

- Enhances Orica’s position as the clear global leader in mining services
- Is well positioned for growth and emerging markets
- Provides earnings diversification for Orica with low earnings volatility
- Has a strong financial position with very strong cashflow and earnings
- Provides product, geographic, customer and sector diversification
- Retains committed management team with strong record of success.