To: John Rowe who wrote (6405 ) 9/26/2002 7:54:47 PM From: CAYMAN Respond to of 6467 Thermo Tech redeems two warehouses Company, whose stock currently trades at a fraction of a penny, says payments were made to regain possession Wyng Chow Vancouver Sun Thursday, September 26, 2002 Thermo Tech Technologies Inc. announced Wednesday the company has made the necessary payments to redeem two warehouses on Mitchell Island that had been seized and sold last year to cover about $216,000 worth of property tax arrears. In a statement, the company -- whose stock currently trades at a fraction of one cent -- said payments were recently made to the city of Richmond to regain possession of properties at 11611 and 11631 Twigg Place. The two facilities had been used for storage and warehousing until they were sold for back taxes in September 2001. The 2002 assessed value of the properties total about $2 million. Last December, the B.C. Securities Commission fined 13 investment dealers -- all members of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada -- a total of $376,000 for violating a cease-trade order imposed against Thermo Tech securities. The commission made the cease-trade order on the stock after the Malaysian-based company failed to issue a news release and material-change report about acquiring a 50-per-cent interest in two Ontario transfer stations and waste management facilities. The company, which has North American offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Atlanta, utilizes a patented process to convert biodegradable food waste into high-protein animal feed and waste water treatment sludges into fertilizer concentrate. Thermo Tech was listed on the former Vancouver Stock Exchange until February 1995, when VSE officials delisted it. It then listed on the Nasdaq small-cap market, but was delisted in February 1999 after failing to meet minimum-listing requirements. Subsequently, it obtained a listing on the virtually unregulated OTC Bulletin Board in the U.S., but was delisted from that exchange in December 2001. It now trades on the "pink sheets" in the U.S. The stock had been pounded by large losses and heavy dilution through the issuance of millions of new shares. It last traded at slightly more than one-tenth of one cent (.0013), with about 4.8 billion shares outstanding, and market capitalization of $6.23 million US. In November 2001, Thermo Tech launched a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court accusing former president Rene Braconnier, of Langley, and at least 75 others of theft, fraud and taking kickbacks. The lawsuit alleges the various defendants illegally transferred some company assets to themselves and made unauthorized payments on behalf of the firm. Thermo Tech is seeking about $12 million Cdn in damages from Planet Earth Operating Services Inc., its former services provider, for allegedly breaching a contract. Planet Earth is a spinoff company based in Blaine, Wash. Thermo Tech chairman Ismail Radi said Wednesday his company is still pursuing its claims through the courts. © Copyright 2002 Vancouver Sun canada.com {E898434C-07C0-45B7-8F55-98996FD7B02D}