First published in Cleantech magazine, May 2008. Copyright Cleantech Investor 2008

First published in Cleantech magazine, May 2008. Copyright Cleantech Investor 2008

3i has sold German cleantech company hte AG to industrial group BASF.

 First published in Cleantech magazine, May 2008. Copyright Cleantech Investor 2008

Belgium based Capricorn Venture Partners has held the final closing of its Capricorn Cleantech Fund at more than €100 million, above its original target. Three existing investors, including ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen (PMV), increased their participation in the fund. Flemish Minister of Economic Affairs and Innovation commented on PMV’s €15 million commitment that: “The Cleantech sector is a growing part of economic focus and in order to stimulate the necessary innovation and technology in the sector, we are proud to participate in funds like the Capricorn Cleantech Fund”.

by John Mainwaring

First published in Cleantech magazine, January/February 2008. Copyright Cleantech Investor 2008

Investment firms focused on university-developed intellectual property have been around for some years, but of the several currently quoted in London only two appear to have a significant interest in cleantech: Imperial Innovations and Sigma Capital Group.

Imperial Innovations’ roots are in an organisation called Impel, created by Imperial College London in 1987, which went on to become Imperial Innovations in 1997. Traditionally the company has invested in turning technologies developed at Imperial College into new businesses, but these days it backs intellectual property created at several organisations. Before floating on AIM in July 2006, the company had already generated more than £30 million from spinouts and licences, and had established holdings in 56 technology spinouts. Today, it has stakes in more than 75 spinouts.