MTB VENTURES

APOLLO PLATINUM LLC

MTB formed a new company, Apollo Platinum LLC, which will employ a unique, environmentally friendly process to extract valuable platinum-group metals (PGMs) from recycled automobile catalytic converters.  The traditional process to extract PGMs from catalytic converters usually involves the use of extreme heat, with accompanying high energy usage and environmental concerns, such as emission of greenhouse gasses.  The Apollo process consumes much less energy, the chemicals used to extract the metals are easily contained, and the post-extraction effluent is treated to well below minimum standards.

The new company is already building a network to acquire the necessary volume of catalytic converters and expects to build its initial processing plant in the Denver metro area by late 2008.  In addition to the Denver plant, Apollo is evaluating the feasibility of establishing a plant in Mexico, and future plans include plant locations elsewhere in the United States. Please visit www.apolloplatinum.com for more information.

CHASKA RENEWABLE ENERGIES LLC

Chaska Renewable Energies (Chaska) is a new MTB subsidiary that will develop a project to produce ethanol fuels and electric energy from sugar cane in northern Peru.  Chaska is currently seeking interim financing to complete a comprehensive feasibility study, establish land ownership, and demonstrate the project’s economic viability.  Chaska is the result of a partnership between MTB and several international trade experts in Lima, Peru.  The project will be developed with Uni Systems, a Brazilian company with more than 30 years experience in the engineering and construction of ethanol plants.

The formation of Chaska was the result of the growing need for renewable fuels that are not petroleum-based and a recognition that a great opportunity exists to profitably meet this need through the development of Peruvian sugar cane.  The “green” project will produce cleaner-burning ethanol fuel, and it will also generate electric power for the region.  Chaska will also provide jobs and other benefits for local people in the region.  With northern Peru’s yearlong growing season, Chaska can develop a consistent source of ethanol.  The Chaska project, as currently defined, meets all the World Bank criteria for sustainable development as outlined in the Bruntland Report (1987) and also meets criteria established in the Kyoto Initiative.