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In 2005 L&M restructured and the group then comprised six operating companies: L&M Mining Ltd, L&M Lignite Ltd, L&M Coal Ltd, L&M Coal Seam Gas Ltd, L&M Petroleum Ltd, and Mintago Investments Ltd. All were owned by Hong Kong based company, Auriferous Mining Ltd.<ref>Coal Association of NZ, [http://www.coalassociation.org/publications/e-News/Coal%20e-news%20No.%2011%20%28final%29.pdf?page=1013 "Coal e-newsletter, September 2005"], accessed December 2012.</ref> The present companies in the Group are almost wholly overseas owned and hold prospecting rights over thousands of square kilometres of the New Zealand mainland. In a presentation to the 2012 conference “Excellence in Oil & Gas”, L&M Energy gave reasons for New Zealand exploration that included a supportive government and a favourable royalty regime.<ref>L&M Group, [http://www.lmenergy.co.nz/download/LME_Oil&Gas_2012.pdf?inline "2012 Excellence in Oil and Gas, page 5"], accessed December 2012.</ref>
[[Archibald Geoffrey (Geoff) Loudon]] is an experienced mining professional who has had interests in dozens of New Zealand and overseas companies. He is the New Zealand Chairman and Director of Hong Kong based Auriferous Mining, and is or was a major shareholder in the company (he owned one-third of the shares in December 2009), . He has a key role in the L&M Group. Among other positions, he holds the chairmanship of and is or has been the L&M Group and of L&M Energyowner, and is usually the sole director , of L&M Mining (Sep 2012).<ref>almost 20 NZ Companies Office, [http://www.business.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/search?q=L%26M+Energy+Limited&entityTypes=ALL&entityStatusGroups=ALL&incorpFrom=&incorpTo=&addressTypes=ALL&addressKeyword=&start=0&limit=15&sf=&sd=&advancedPanel=false&mode=standard#results "Search the Register"], accessed December 2012.</ref> In addition he is the sole director of each of the five New Zealand registered companies (such as L&M Lignite Mataura Limited) owned by L&M Southland Lignite Holdings Ltd, which is itself registered with interests in Belizecoal mining. Mr Loudon had a pivotal role in gold mining in Papua New Guinea and in 2006 was described as having, “broad ambitions for his New Zealand investments which take in a billion-dollar plan to be a large-scale producer of synthetic fuels from lignite, coal-seam methane and coal, plus a petroleum exploration float and a possible revival of alluvial gold mining on the South Island.”[6] From 2006 to 2016 he served as the Chairman of Canadian company Nautilus Minerals Inc. Nautilus was the first company to explore the ocean floor for massive sulphide deposits of copper, gold and silver. In October 2016 he registered yet another NZ company, L&M Waikato Limited, whose intended role in the L&M Group is unknown.<ref>Ross LoutheanMining.com, 22 May 2016, [http://www.mining-journal.com/focusweb/loudon-embarksnautilus-onminerals-morechairman-big-picture-projects "Loudon embarks on more big picture projects"retires/ “Nautilus Mineral chairman retires”], ''Mining Journal''accessed February 2017</ref><ref>Companies Office, September 15[https://www.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/ “Search the NZ Companies Register”], 2006.accessed February 2017</ref>
NB L&M’s websites do not appear to be regularly updated so it is often unclear whether information provided is still current.<br>
==L&M Personnel==
'''[[Geoff Loudon]]''' is a mining professional with Australian qualifications in geology, engineering and international finance. He is Chairman of the L&M Group and of L&M Energy; was a Director of L&M Petroleum at the time when it existed as a separate company; director and founder of Lihir Gold Ltd, a Papua New Guinea gold mine; the NZ chairman and director of Nautilus Minerals, a company set up to exploit high grade mineral ores in the Western Pacific<ref>Nautilus Minerals Inc, [http://www.nautilusminerals.com/s/Corporate-Management.asp "Board & Managers"], accessed December 2012</ref> a founder and investor in Peru Copper Inc; and a cornerstone investor in European based fuel cell, information technology and industrial companies.<ref>L&M Group website, [http://www.lmgroup.net.nz/pagef0db.html?pri=19&sec=651&tpl=1 "Personnel"], accessed December 2012</ref>
'''[[Greg Hogan]]''' is General Manager of the L&M Group and was instrumental in reengineering it from a gold mining company to an energy group. He was a Director of L&M Petroleum at the time when it existed as a separate company. Mr Hogan has commercial and management experience in gold mining, coal mining and petroleum businesses and is also a non-executive director of L&E Energy.<ref>L&M Group website, [http://www.lmgroup.net.nz/pagef0db.html?pri=19&sec=651&tpl=1 "Personnel"], accessed December 2012</ref>
'''[[Kent Anson]]''' was the Managing Director of L&M Energy from 2008 until the end of 2012. His background is in the exploration and development of coal seam gas projects. In 2010 Mr Anson’s remuneration was 428,500 NZD.<ref>Financial Times market data, [http://markets.ft.com/Research/Markets/Tearsheets/Directors-and-dealings?s=LME:NZC "L&M Energy Ltd"], accessed December 2012</ref>
'''[[Bruce McGregor]]''' has been the Chief Financial Officer of L&M Energy since 2007. He has held senior accounting and finance roles with a number of international public companies.
'''[[David Manhire]]''' has been the L&M Group Exploration Manager since 1990. He has been involved in exploration for coal, oil and gas, and gold principally in New Zealand, South America and Australia.
'''[[Shirley Herridge]]''' became the Financial Controller of the L&M Group in 2005. Her background is in tax consultancy.
'''[[Douglas Ellenor]]''' is a Canadian-based non-executive Independent Director of L&M Energy. He is a geologist with extensive experience in the petroleum exploration and production industry.
'''[[Charles Lutyens]]''' is a UK-based non-executive Independent Director of L&E Energy who has worked in the oil, gas and coal sectors as well as in ferrous and non-ferrous metals, gold and timber.
'''[[Trevor Taylor]]''' is a non-executive Independent Director of L&E Energy. Taylor is a management professional with experience in the New Zealand and international petroleum industry.
==Background==
The [[L&M Group]] is made up of a number of companies with interests in the minerals and energy sectors. The “L&M” dates back to the original company founded in 1935, “Lime & Marble Ltd”. Since then the company has been through various iterations involving mineral, coal, gold and petroleum exploration and mining.<ref>L&M Group,[http://www.lmgroup.net.nz/page7f10.html "L&M Group website"], accessed April 2012.</ref> L&M Group Limited became incorporated as a NZ Limited Company (no 467639) on 26 Sep 2013. Archibald Geoffrey Loudon is the sole owner and director.<ref>Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment,[https://www.business.govt.nz/@@fb-searchlite/companydetails/4672639 "NZ Companies"], accessed October 2014</ref>
==Role of the Chairman==
==Activities of the Group==
In 2010 there was a merger between L&M Petroleum (which held three joint-venture permits in the Taranaki Basin plus South Island exploration permits including one in the Te Anau basin<ref>[http://www.energynewspremium.net/storyview.asp?storyid=60898§ionsource= "L & M explores remote South Island"], Energy News Premium, 26 June 2006.</ref> and L&M Coal Seam Gas, forming a new company, L&M Energy. Geoffrey Loudon and Gregory Ross Hogan are the only significant New Zealand based shareholders in the company; approximately 73% of the shares are held by overseas investors. The formation of L&M Energy was intended to “underpin an aggressive more than year-long drilling programme targeting coal seam gas in Otago and Southland.”<ref>[http://www.odt.co.nz/news/business/86491/lampm-group-subsidiaries039-merger-and-listing-likely "L&M Group subsidiaries' merger and listing likely"], ''Otago Daily Time''s, 18 December 2009.</ref> (Other sources refer to L&M Energy’s acquisition of L&M Coal Seam Gas, rather than to a merger.)<ref>[http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/lm-energy-shareholders-approve-acquisition-118921 "L&M Energy shareholders approve acquisition 118921"], ''National Business Review'', 22 February 2010.</ref>
Also in 2010, Bathurst Resources Limited , L&M’s joint venture partner, acquired L&M Coal Limitedfrom L&M Coal Holdings. L&M Coal Limited , which held a 18,740 ha exploration permit in the Buller coal field, was renamed Buller Coal Holdings Limited which was , a wholly owned subsidiary of Bathurst. In February 2011, Buller Coal Holdings Limited was renamed Buller Coal Limited.[16] In Dec 2016 L&M Coal Holdings announced that it would file legal proceedings to recover US$40 million (NZ53.7m) of the performance payment as Bathurst had reached the trigger of 25,000 tonnes of coal product. Bathurst stated that it would fight any legal action, claiming that because it had made the relevant royalty payments, its failure to make the due performance payment was not a breach of the agreement with L&M. L&M Coal Holdings is no longer listed on the NZ Companies Register and its current ownership is uncertain. The Otago Daily Times reported that it was understood, but not confirmed, that L&M Coal Holdings had been sold about a year previously to a Hong Kong-based company.<ref>West Coast Regional CouncilNZ Herald, 22 December 2016, [http://www.wcrcnzherald.govtco.nz/escarpmentbusiness/news/indexarticle.htm cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11771767 "Escarpment mine project - Change of Company nameBathurst Resources sued for US$40m by L&M Coal Holdings"], accessed February 2017</ref><ref>Otago Daily Times, 20 December 20122016, [https://www.odt.co.nz/business/bathurst-denies-breaching-lm-agreement “Bathurst denies breaching L&M agreement”], accessed February 2017</ref>
L&M companies have significant investments in lignite and hold rights over about a third of Southland and Otago lignite deposits. (State-owned [[Solid Energy]] has rights over another third of the deposits.) L&M Group has exploration permits covering more than 20,000 ha over the Hawkdun, Benhar, Mataura, Edendale, and Ashers deposits.<ref>Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, [http://www.pce.parliament.nz/assets/Uploads/PCE-Lignite.pdf "Lignite and climate change: The high cost of low grade coal"], November 2010.</ref>
Yet another L&M Group venture is the formation in 2012 of Chatham Phosphate Ltd of which it owns 90%. The permit is for seafloor phosphate exploration near the Chatham Islands east of Christchurch.<ref>Chatham Phosphate, [ http://rockphosphate.co.nz/news/archives/2012/02/07/lm-group-in-new-chatham-rise-phosphate-quest/ "L&M Group in new Chatham Rise phosphate quest"], accessed December 2012</ref> ==Changes to L&M Companies 2014–2016==<ref>Companies Office, [https://www.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/ “Search the NZ Companies Register”], accessed February 2017</ref> '''24 Feb 2014'''<br>L&M Mining Limited went into liquidation and was struck off the register. '''27 March 2014'''<br>Notice was given that the following L&M companies had gone into liquidation and would be removed from the New Zealand Companies Register:[19]Kiwi Phosphate Limited<br>- Lime & Marble Limited<br>L&M Coal Mangapehi Limited<br>-
L&M Coal Maramarua Limited<br>-
L&M Lignite Edendale Limited<br>-
L&M Lignite Hawkdun Limited<br>-
L&M Lignite Mataura Limited<br>-
L&M Offshore Northland Limited<br>-
L&M Offshore Otago Limited<br> '''09 March 2015'''<br>Ownership of New Brighton Collieries (Company number 2239106 Inc 08 May 2009) was transferred to Bathurst Resources Limited and the director became Richard Tacon. New Brighton Collieries holds Exploration Permit no 40625 over an area of 658.370ha in Ohai, Southland. The permit runs from 03 Sep 2004 – 02 Sep 2017.<ref>NZ Petroleum & Minerals, [https://permits.nzpam.govt.nz/aca/ “Online permitting system”], accessed February 2017</ref> '''10 June 2016'''<br> The following L&M Companies went into liquidation:L & M Earnscleugh Limited<br> L&M Coal Mount Somers Limited (197680 Formerly L&M Exploration Limited)<br>Pukemiro Coal Limited (4162738) <br>Mintago Investments Limited<br> '''17 Oct 2016'''<br>L&M Waikato Limited (6132628) was incorporated. ==L&M Companies Jan 2017==<ref>Companies Office, [https://www.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/ “Search the NZ Companies Register”], accessed February 2017</ref><ref>NZ Petroleum & Minerals, [https://permits.nzpam.govt.nz/aca/ “Online permitting system”], accessed February 2017</ref> L&M Group no longer has a website and it is difficult to obtain information about the structure, management and financial position of the group. The permits held by the removed coal and lignite mining companies had either been previously surrendered or were about to expire. ''L&M Group Limited''<br>Company number: 4672639<br>Incorporation date: 26 Sep 2013<br>Director: Archibald Geoffrey LOUDON<br>Shareholding: Archibald Geoffrey LOUDON<br>Minerals permits: None<br> ''L&M Energy Limited'' (Formerly L&M Energy Ltd and Kenham Holdings Ltd)<br>Company number: 847177<br>Incorporation date: 04 March 1997<br>Director: Archibald Geoffrey LOUDON<br> Bruce Nicholson MCGREGOR<br>Shareholding: New Dawn Energy Limited<br>Minerals permits: None<br> ''Lignite Ashers Waituna Limited'' (Formerly L&M Southland Lignite Limited)<br>Company no 1534444 Inc 06 Aug 2004<br>Director: Archibald Geoffrey LOUDON<br>Shareholding: Archibald Geoffrey LOUDON<br>Minerals permits: None<br> ''L&M Coal Kaitangata Limited'' (Formerly L&M Lignite Kaitangata Limited)<br> Company no 1848031 Inc 15 Aug 2006<br>Director: Archibald Geoffrey LOUDON<br>Shareholding: Archibald Geoffrey LOUDON<br>Minerals permits: Exploration permit 40626 11 Jan 2005 – 10 Jan 2018<br> Southland 1583 ha <br> ''L&M Coal Whitecliffs Limited''<br>Company number 3197886 Inc 17 Nov 2010<br>Director: Archibald Geoffrey LOUDON<br>Shareholding: Archibald Geoffrey LOUDON<br>Minerals permits:- Exploration permit no 53158 09 Jul 2012 – 08 Jul 2017<br> - Canterbury 3029.360 ha Status: Active<br> ''L&M Coal Seam Gas Limited''<br>Company no 1555755 Inc 01 Oct 2014<br>Directors: Archibald Geoffrey Loudon<br> Bruce Nicholson McGregor<br>Shareholding: L&M Energy Limited<br>Ultimate holding company: New Dawn Energy Limited<br>Minerals permits: Has held 16 permits in the past, all of which are either expired or have been surrendered. Does not appear to hold any current permits.<br> ''New Dawn Energy Limited''<br>Company no 4037599 Inc 28 Sep 2012<br>Directors: Archibald Geoffrey LOUDON<br> Bruce Nicholson MCGREGOR<br>Shareholding: Archibald Geoffrey Loudon <br>Minerals permits: None<br> ''L&M Waikato Limited''<br>Company no 6132628 Inc 17 Oct 2016<br>Director: Archibald Geoffrey LOUDON<br>Shareholding: Archibald Geoffrey LOUDON<br>Minerals permits: None<br>
==Financial status==
==Coal related projects – past and present==
MT – million tonnes
===Waiau Coal Seam Gas Permit===
The Waiau permit (PEP38226) adjoins the Ohai permit (PEP38220). Originally L&M was involved in a joint venture with Mighty River Power (MRP) but in 2011 it acquired the remaining 10% equity held by MRP. A number of coal seam gas wells have been drilled to depths of approx 450 m in the Waiau permit and the company plans to undertake further activity in conjunction with the Ohai pilot project when and if it is successfully completed.<ref>L&M Energy, [http://www.lmenergy.co.nz/coal-seam-gas#Section24611252 "Coal Seam gas permits: PEP38219 (Kaitangata)"], accessed December 2012</ref>
==Contact details==