Ormat sells OPTI shares to finance biodiesel activity
Ormat Industries (TASE: ORMT) today announced that it sold 4 million shares in its subsidiary OPTI Canada for $69 million in order to finance its entrance into the field of biodiesel.
Prior to the sale, Ormat Industries had an indirect stake of 7.5% in OPTI, its stake was diluted to 5.3% by the sale.
Ormat Industries had announced its intention to enter the field of biodiesel in late September. The company invested $13.5 million in R&D and $35-50 million in infrastructure. The total investment is expected to be $48.5-63.5 million.
Ormat Industries, which controls Ormat Technologies (NYSE: ORA), will post an after tax capital gain of $34 million for 2006.