Cleantech
PE-backed Indian power companies plan solar plants
Adani Group, whose publicly listed power subsidiary is backed by 3i Group, has commissioned India’s largest solar power project in what is its first foray into the renewable energy sector. The project at Kutch in Gujarat has an initial capacity of 40...
TFG Radiant to increase holding in US solar panel maker
TFG Radiant, a joint venture between Chinese property developer Radiant Group and Singapore-based investment company Tertius Financial Group, will increase its stake in Ascent Solar Technologies. The purchase will take its holding in the company to approximately...
StanChart invests $70m in TPG-backed Greenko
TPG portfolio company Greenko, a cleantech developer in India, has received a $70 million funding tranche from Standard Chartered.
Southern Cross to run Australian state-backed VC fund
VC firm Southern Cross Venture Partners has secured the mandate to run the Australian government’s first renewable energy venture fund, the REVCF.
OneGate, Catalyst set up Sino-Israeli fund manager - report
Shanghai-based private equity fund OneGate Capital and Israel's Catalyst Investments have set up a fund manager called China Israel Technology Fund Management Company.
SAIF Partners invests $80m in Guodian IPO
SAIF Partners has become a cornerstone investor in the IPO of Beijing-based Guodian Technology and Environment Group by contributing $80 million to the deal.
Aloe ‘to count IFC among LPs’ in third fund
International Finance Corp. (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, is reportedly poised to join the LP roster for Aloe Private Equity's its third fund, Aloe Environment Fund III.
Maybank sees SE Asia cleantech potential
China and India's near monopoly over the Asian cleantech space may have come to an end if the first close last week of Maybank’s Southeast Asia-focused fund is anything to go by.
Tata Capital, IFC form cleantech investment JV
Tata Capital and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have established Tata Cleantech Capital Ltd (TCCL), which will provide capital to Indian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Maybank launches $500m regional cleantech fund
The Singapore arm of Malaysian financial services major Maybank has launched a $500 million regional cleantech fund.
SBI to manage Malaysia’s first Asian cleantech fund
SBI Investment, a subsidiary of SBI Holdings, has announced that it will manage Malaysia’s first cleantech venture fund to invest in Asia Pacific.
Q&A: CLSA's Peter Kennedy
Cleantech has emerged as a hot investment topic in Asia, but generating returns is a work in progress. Peter Kennedy, head of CLSA’s Clean Resources Fund, gives advice on navigating the space.
Q&A: First Reserve Corp's Jamie Paton
Energy-focused private equity firm First Reserve Corporation set up its first office in Asia earlier this year. Jamie Paton, managing director of the company’s Asia operations, assesses the investment landscape
India's Kiran Energy gets $50m from PE consortium
Argonaut Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners and New Silk Route Partners have invested $50 million in Kiran Energy Solar Power, a solar power project developer in India.
VCs monetize energy efficiency
Chinese government incentives to firms operating in the energy-efficient vehicles industry have been generous. Is there a catch?
Northern Light eyes healthcare sector
Healthcare will be a stronger area of focus for Northern Light Venture Capital’s third US-dollar fund, which last week achieved a final close of $400 million.
Tsing Capital backs solar panel maker Sunpreme
Tsing Capital has participated in a $50 million round of financing for existing portfolio company Sunpreme, a Silicon Valley-based solar cell manufacturer. The round was led by International Finance Corp. (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, and...
Prudent Energy gets $29.5m from Asian investors
Prudent Energy, a US- and Beijing-based energy storage firm, has raised $29.5 million in an investment rounding led by Japan’s Mitsui & Co. and including Vangoo Investment Partners – which is an affiliate of Japan’s Ant Capital Partners - Asia Clean...
PE players see India’s wind potential
Private equity investment in India's cleantech sector continues to rise. With two months remaining in 2011, $505.6 million has been committed in 13 deals, more than double the amount for the whole of last year. Investments are approaching the pre-crisis...
TPG’s Greenko to build Indian wind farms with GE
TPG portfolio company Greenko Group will build $115 million of wind farms in India alongside General Electric (GE). This represents GE’s first investment in India’s renewable energy sector.
India PE deals reach $8.57b in first three quarters of 2011
Private equity firms invested approximately $2.25 billion in 98 deals in India in the third quarter of 2011, bringing the industry’s total to $8.57 billion in 317 transactions for January-September. This marks a significant increase on the $6.4 billion...
Contour Energy gets Asia PE backing for battery development
California-based next-generation battery developer Contour Energy Systems has closed a more than $20 million Series C round of financing led Singapore-based EDBI. CMEA Capital, Harris & Harris, Schlumberger and US Venture Partners, along with new investor...
South Korea’s Hanwha backs US solar firm OneRoof Energy
South Korea’s Hanwha International has led a $50 million round of financing for residential solar company OneRoof Energy, which works directly with roofers to lease and install residential solar power systems.
Goldman Sachs invests $202m in India's ReNew Wind Power
Goldman Sachs’ private equity arm has committed INR10 billion ($202 million) for a majority stake in Indian start-up ReNew Wind Power, marking one of the largest investments into the country’s clean energy sector.