does tanfield have 2 good businesses ( smith electrics and upright)which are good value for the medium to long term hold ?

if the markets are determined to tumble (consolidate), then it is a racing certainty that the mini-minnows will get clobbered the hardest, for they tend to be the least liquid and are also more likely to be help by small margin-traders who are then forced to liquidate

Reason for drop a couple of days ago?

SEVUS Kansas factory opening delayed by 1 month, but some staff for there now being trained at SEV;

http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/1309453.html

Re 50 electric vehicles purchased by Sainsburys recently. Sainsburys being the purchaser can decide when the seller is revealed - probably next wednesday as its their AGM and able to make a headline along with their other green issues. Were they purchased from tanfield ? Well as they have previously purchased tanfield vehicles they are clearly odds on favourites.

Interesting summary.

http://www.iii.co.uk/articles/articledisplay.jsp?section=ShareDealing&article_id=10034007&campaign=newsletter0001&link=tanfield_weeklyalert_268_272&cp_c=ndc67y

Now you can read it Fred - good find.

http://www.iii.co.uk/articles/articledisplay.jsp?section=ShareDealing&article_id=10034007&campaign=newsletter0001&link=tanfield_weeklyalert_268_272&cp_c=ndc67y

Nissan to creat hundreds of jobs

News beginning to filter in from the USA.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/columns/oped_contributors/A-Big-Blue-Bucket-Truck-will-soon-save-our-economy-51372092.html

Also, apparently, 6 Smith Newton trucks will be handed over on the Capitol Mall in Washington to:-
Coca Cola Enterprises.
Frito-Lay.
AT&T.
Staples Inc.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
Kansas City Power and Light.

http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2009/07/smith-electric-vehicles-set-to-deliver-first-trucks-made-in-us-plant.html

Further coverage of the Washington hand over, which is due to take place on 28 July:-

http://www.electricdrive.org/index.php?ht=display/ReleaseDetails/i/13306

There was an RNS yesterday referring to a small share purchase by a Director:-

The Company has been informed that John Bridge, Non-executive Director of the
Company, has today purchased 10,000 ordinary shares of 5p each in the Company
("Shares") at a price of 59.875 pence per share.


Following this transaction, Mr. Bridge's interest in the Company comprises
20,508 Shares, representing approximately 0.03% of the Company's current issued
Shares.

It's slow, but it is progress!

It is worth noting, from the Electric Drive Transportation Association website, the following list of 'guests' at the Washington event:-

Members of Congress, leaders from the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, General Services Administration, the U.S. Postal Service, and other honored guests at this historic event.

The U.S. Postal Service have been purchasing ev's from Ford and Chrysler for some years now and are due to begin using a fleet of 250 Chrysler battery mini vans. There has, apparently, been a U.S. Postal Van parked at Tanfield for a while. Although not stated, it could be presumed that they will include a few Smith Newtons in their fleet, otherwise unless purely to appear to be supporting 'green', why would they be included in the Washington party?

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/07/27/electric-trucks-arrive-on-capitol-hill.html

RNS Number : 4115W
Tanfield Group PLC
28 July 2009



28 July 2009




The Tanfield Group Plc ('Tanfield')




FIRST TANFIELD ELECTRIC TRUCKS DELIVERED TO MAJOR US CORPORATIONS




Smith Newton electric trucks will be delivered later today to six customers, including four Fortune 500 Companies:




Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Coca-Cola

Staples

Frito-Lay

AT&T

Kansas City Power & Light




Smith Electric Vehicles US Corporation will today deliver electric trucks to six customers in North America, including four Fortune 500 companies, at a launch event in Washington DC.




Coca-Cola, Staples, Frito-Lay, AT&T, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) will become the first customers to take delivery of the Smith Newton truck. In total they have committed to an initial 30 seed vehicles.




Newton was launched in the UK by Smith Electric Vehicles, a trading division of The Tanfield Group Plc, in 2006. Newton is produced in North America by Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp, based in Kansas City, Missouri.




Darren Kell, CEO of The Tanfield Group Plc, said: 'The electric vehicle technology delivered to these customers today can readily be delivered to fleets in every major town and city in North America.




'The Smith Newton provides depot-based truck fleets with a realistic, zero emissions transport solution that both lowers greenhouse gas emissions and helps improve air quality in our urban centres.'




Missouri Senator Kit Bond, who is hosting today's launch event, said: 'These next generation electric vehicles Smith is producing demonstrate exactly the kind of technology we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and end our dependence on foreign oil.




'Missouri is a growing leader in exciting new battery technology, making it an ideal partner for all-electric vehicle manufacturing.'




For further information:


The Tanfield Group Plc +44 (0)845 1557 755
Darren Kell, CEO
Charles Brooks, FD

Arbuthnot Securities +44(0)20 7012 2000
Nomad and Broker
James Steel

This is semi "Good News" - for this tiddler, but shows that saving the planet is still a PR effort in USA.

These US-companies are taking delivery of - ( is it ONE, each?), so they can get publicity - and that their Brand will be broadcast hither and thither. Let's hope TAN/Smiths manage to get their name in there, somewhere. I note the total is 30-vehicles, but there is no mention of the time-frame....let's hope it features completion this financial year, eh?

+++ It does mean there is no-one else that satisfies the best "Green" niche, so that is the message I take. To that extent it's good, but needs careful work so the next delivery is one more of many.

Current sp 66p, is a tad below the CONsolidation, but rising.

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/political-fix/political-fix/2009/07/a-plug-for-these-missouri-made-trucks/

Hopefully Roy Stanley's TAN/SEV in tray is full!


RNS Number : 5287W
Optare PLC
30 July 2009




Optare plc
(the 'Company' or 'Optare')

Directorate Change


Roy Stanley, the Company's principal shareholder and former Chairman, has informed the Board that, in order to devote more time to his other business interests and in order to avoid any future potential conflicts of interest, he no longer wishes to stand for re-election at the Company's Annual General Meeting ('AGM') which is to be held later today. Accordingly he will retire from the Board immediately post the AGM.

Roy Stanley was the creator of today's Optare business, when he reversed Darwen Group into Optare in June 2008, and will remain as the Company's largest shareholder. The Board would like to thank Roy for his hard work and dedication to the Company over the last few years.

Nissan rolls out new electric car

From The Independent:-

Warning: Oil supplies are running out fast
Catastrophic shortfalls threaten economic recovery, says world's top energy economist.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/warning-oil-supplies-are-running-out-fast-1766585.html


All the more reason to go electric then! :o)

SEV US & Tanfield are now recruiting staff.

RNS Number : 9150W
Tanfield Group PLC
05 August 2009



The Tanfield Group PLC
('Tanfield', or 'the Company')

5 August 2009

Tanfield Completes Negotiations over US Associate

Further to its announcement of 6th February 2009 Tanfield is pleased to announce that it has now entered into a licence agreement (the 'Licence') and shareholders' agreement ('Agreement') with its US Associate, Smith Electric Vehicles US Corporation (SEV US Corp).

Under the Agreement and following the completion of the SEV US Corp fundraising (the 'Fundraising'), which is expected to be closed shortly, Tanfield will hold 49% of the equity of SEV US Corp. In addition, to protect Tanfield's shareholding from dilution, Tanfield has been issued with a warrant with an exercise price of $0.01 per share over 49% of the aggregate of: (i) any shares issued pursuant to SEV US Corp's 2009 Incentive Compensation Plan and (ii) any SEV US Corp's shares issued pursuant to the Fundraising with a value of over $7,500,000 and up to $15,000,000.

In exchange, pursuant to the Licence Tanfield licenses Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), brand and all existing sales and sales enquiries in North America. Additionally, SEV US Corp will pay Tanfield a royalty calculated as 2% of the sales price of each vehicle up to 1m, and 1% per vehicle thereafter with an immediate advance against royalties of 1 million, the license can only be terminated in the event of non payment of royalties and non performance.


Nice. Very nice.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/us-department-of-energy-awards,916991.shtml

Interesting times !

Getting more interesting!

http://movementbureau.blogs.com/projects/smith-electric/