Trade Secrets Case Settled

Evergreen Holdings, Inc., and its engineering affiliate, Chemical Engineering Partners (the “Evergreen” group), and Rohit Joshi announced today that they have entered into a global settlement, dispositive of the arbitration action filed by the Evergreen group against Mr. Joshi, in December 2007, and all related actions. The actions requested enforcement of a confidentiality agreement signed by Mr. Joshi while employed by Evergreen, and injunctive relief restraining Mr. Joshi from using re-refining trade secrets developed by Evergreen. As part of the settlement, Mr. Joshi, on behalf of himself, Sequoia Global, Inc., and Sequoia Global Private Ltd., agreed, that in providing used oil distillation and/or hydrotreating engineering and design services, they have not and will not make use of the following Evergreen trade secrets: 1.   A proprietary method of chemically treating used oil feedstock, to inhibit fouling and reduce catalyst poisons in the re-refining process; 2.   A proprietary method of operating the thin film evaporator, as practiced by Evergreen at its Newark re-refinery, for the purpose of producing distillate of specific specifications; 3.   A proprietary engineering design whereby the use of a separate depoisoning reactor, is eliminated; 4.   Use of Dr. Magnabosco’s HYMP and HYSMP catalytic hydrogenation kinetic models programs, and their derivatives, to determine initial operating reactor inlet temperatures, and adjustments to reactor inlet temperatures, necessary to achieve essential deactivation of all catalysts in a multiple reactor design, simultaneously. This methodology is as applied to two or three catalytic hydrogenation reactors configured in-line, or in series, without the use of a sacrificial guard reactor(s). 5.   A combination trade secret which includes some or all of the above stated trade secrets. In addition, as employed at Evergreen’s Newark re-refinery, some or all of the elements of, the sizing and proportions of the hydrogenating reactors, and the selection, placement and packing of catalysts. 6.   The Evergreen and CEP list of leads and customers known to the Joshi Group. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, no damages were paid, and no wrongdoing or liability was admitted by either party, or its affiliates. Pursuant to the settlement, the parties have exchanged General Releases, under which each released all claims it may have against the other, and its affiliates. The agreement includes settlement of all litigation between the parties, as filed in Irvine, California; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Pune, India. If you would like more information about this topic please call Mark Williams at 949-440-8317 or email Mark at mwilliams@evergreenoil.com.


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About Evergreen Oil & Chemical Engineering Partners: Evergreen Oil is a used oil re-refiner located in Newark, CA, USA. Evergreen Oil has been operating its state of the art re-refinery for 22 years. It produces API Group II Base Oil and offers environmental services throughout California as well. Chemical Engineering Partners (CEP) is an affiliate of Evergreen Oil and is a process technology and design firm that is authorized to sell the Evergreen Oil re-refining technology. CEP has designed plants around the world. More information can be found on their websites: www.evergreenoil.com and www.ceptechnology.com

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