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Najafi Companies/Energy Capital Investments, LLC Purchase Majority Interest in Solverdi, LLC: Solverdi, LLC to Build 'Micro-Projects' in Renewable Biodiesel Market

Posted on: Monday, 4 August 2008, 09:00 CDT

PHOENIX, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Najafi Companies, LLC and its portfolio company, Energy Capital Investments, LLC, jointly announced today that they will provide funding to Solverdi, LLC in return for majority interest in Solverdi.

Solverdi specializes in producing renewable fuel serving the military and large industrial users. The company's proprietary process to convert waste materials into fuel is designed to significantly reduce negative environmental impact.

"These are unprecedented times for the growth of alternative energy in our country, and we're thrilled to partner with Solverdi, which is positioned to rise exponentially in the renewable biodiesel space," said Jerry Pence, a partner with Najafi Companies. "The company has a superb management team, an exciting and well-founded strategic plan, solid funding, and most significantly, a commitment at all levels of our three companies to ensure success."

"The timing is perfect for us to join forces with Najafi and ECI -- which will enable us to make even greater strides in the biodiesel market and take on the many initiatives we've been planning," said Dennis Danzik, scientific and technical advisor to Solverdi. "Solverdi's present and future opportunities in the renewable fuel sector will bring profitability to an industry in need of innovation, as well as proven commercialized engineering applications, and processing technology that substantially lowers cost."

Clifford J. Svoboda, ECI's Chief Executive Officer, said, "Solverdi is a unique company with a production process and business plan unlike any other firm in the renewable biodiesel space. Both ECI and Najafi Companies feel privileged to have the opportunity to participate in the singular opportunity presented by Solverdi. We anticipate that this company will quickly become one of the principal players in the renewable biodiesel business in the United States."

Key Contacts Dennis M. Danzik, Scientific and Technical Advisor

With more than 25 years of experience in scientific research and engineering project development, as well as military and industrial contracting experience, Dennis Danzik is one of a handful of uniquely qualified renewable energy experts in the world. Dennis holds United States and foreign patents in six fields of polymer design, composite structures, and renewable energy applications.

Dennis sits on the Development Board of the American College of Polymer Scientists and Engineers, and is a member of the Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada Society of Professional Engineers, as well as the National Society of Professional Engineers. Mr. Danzik is a Senior Member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers, and a member of ASTM.

Michael Olson, President, Olson Precast Company

Mike Olson founded Olson Pre-Cast Company (OPC) in 1989. OPC is a leading manufacturer of precast concrete products for infrastructure related applications in the Western United States. His proven 20-year track record in manufacturing will serve Solverdi's manufacturing goals and rapid market delivery of infrastructure, equipment and construction schedule.

Mike will manage an 11-acre south Phoenix manufacturing facility solely dedicated to the design and production of Solverdi processing equipment and international parts support.

Mike serves on a variety of Boards, and is a member of both the Arizona and Nevada Young Presidents Organization.

Thomas Davanzo

Tom, a leader and innovator in the biodiesel industry, comes to Solverdi with more than 25 years of manufacturing experience. He has held several senior management positions including Chief Operating Officer of Teletrade, Inc. and Executive Vice President of Arrowhead Industries. Beginning in 2003, Tom was one of the first biodiesel experts to emerge from America's need for renewable energy sources.

Tom's research has produced developments in biodiesel refining and unique "water stripping" processes for renewable fuels that are now patent pending in the United States. These technologies significantly reduce the cost of refining renewable feedstocks into liquid fuels for diesel powered cars and trucks, and avoid the use of harmful processing chemicals, such as methanol, and other chemicals.

About Solverdi

Solverdi produces a proprietary renewable fuel that qualifies for use in road and off-road vehicles under the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) Section 6751. Solverdi's renewable fuel efforts are targeted to serving military and large industrial users, through the retrofitting of existing biodiesel plants that currently use antiquated transesterification processes to produce biodiesel. The Solverdi process has the ability to convert renewable virgin and waste materials into renewable fuel without the use of chemicals such as methanol, and caustics, which have a negative environmental impact. The unique de-polymerization process provides a clean, low chemical demand biodiesel production process that is safer for the environment.

About Energy Capital Investments, LLC

Energy Capital Investments, LLC invests across a range of energy projects including solar, geothermal, biomass, and other forms of alternative energy. The company operates as an investor originating and acquiring alternative renewable energy projects and companies.

About Najafi Companies

Najafi Companies is a private investment firm based in Phoenix, Arizona. The firm makes highly-selective investments up to $1 billion in size in companies with strong management teams across a variety of industries, and often in industries out of popular favor. The firm takes a long-term view on its investments and focuses its efforts to create value through growth and superior performance. Najafi Companies funds investments with internally generated capital, not through a fund. Free from the restrictions of a fund, the firm is able to move quickly and decisively when investing, and with no requirements to return capital to outside partners, Najafi Companies is able to make investments that create maximum value for the long term. For more information about Najafi Companies, visit http://www.najafi.com/.

Contact: Anne Robertson/Greg Sexton The Lavidge Company (480) 998-2600 arobertson@lavidge.com

Najafi Companies, LLC

CONTACT: Anne Robertson, arobertson@lavidge.com, or Greg Sexton, both ofThe Lavidge Company, +1-480-998-2600, for Najafi Companies, LLC

Web site: http://www.najafi.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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