Empresas y finanzas

Q1 2007 Cleantech Venture Investment Totals EUR 663 Million



    Cleantech Venture Network(R) researchers reported today that in Q1
    2007, North American and European venture investment in the cleantech
    category totaled EUR 663 million. This represented a 16.5% increase
    over the EUR 569 million invested in Q4 2006 and a 42% increase over
    Q1 2006 investment of EUR 465 million. Cleantech Venture Network(R) is
    the leading network of cleantech investors worldwide containing a
    membership across asset classes with over EUR 2 trillion under
    management and organizing the Cleantech Forum(TM) in Frankfurt on May
    14-16 where over 400 investors will meet to discuss emerging European
    technology, trends and investment opportunities.

    For the quarter, European cleantech venture capital investment
    totaled EUR 126 million, a 6% increase over Q4 2006 and a 43% over Q1
    2006. Germany accounted for EUR 28 million, or 22%, and UK investment
    reached EUR 46 million accounting for 36%. North American venture
    capital investment totaled EUR 536 million, an increase of 19% over Q4
    2006 and 42% increase over Q1 2006 investment.

    In Europe, EUR 72 million was invested in the energy generation
    category, garnering 57% of total European cleantech investment. The UK
    accounted for 40% of the total energy generation investment and
    Germany 20%. In North America, energy generation took in EUR 292
    million, accounting for about 54% of total venture capital investment.

    Q1 2007 growth follows a 45% increase in venture investment in
    2006 over 2005. European and North American venture capitalist
    invested EUR 2.6 billion in 2006.

    "The increasing amount of venture investment coupled with M&A and
    IPO activity globally continues to demonstrate the potential for
    cleantech returns," said Nicholas Parker, chairman and co-founder of
    the Cleantech Group(TM), parent company of the Cleantech Venture
    Network(R).

    Germany is taking the lead to further reduce greenhouse gas
    emissions throughout the EU and is riding the success of its Renewable
    Energy Law that stimulated investment and public offerings making
    Frankfurt the logical site for Cleantech Forum(TM) XIII being held
    14-16 May. The Cleantech Forums(TM) are the world's premier cleantech
    investment platforms, providing unparalleled industry definition,
    analysis, networking, deal flow and thought leadership for the rapidly
    emerging cleantech industry. This is the largest gathering of top tier
    cleantech investors, corporate leaders and innovators in Europe each
    year. www.cleantech.com/Frankfurt

    About Cleantech Venture Network(R), LLC

    The Cleantech Venture Network(R) LLC is a membership group that
    catalyzes investment, business opportunities and relationships driving
    the growth of cleantech globally. The Cleantech Venture Network(R)
    popularized the term cleantech in 2002 and defined the category,
    providing investors, executives, government agencies and media
    accurate and consistent data dating from 1999. The network has over
    8,000 cleantech investors and 9,500 companies worldwide that take
    advantage of the global Cleantech Forums(TM), comprehensive market
    research services and reports, online proprietary deal flow, and an
    investor directory. In addition, CVN provides information services,
    including the twice-a-month market intelligence newsletter Cleantech
    Capital Alert(TM) and the quarterly Cleantech Investment Monitor(TM)
    report that tracks and analyzes all cleantech investments, M&As and
    IPOs in North America and Europe. www.cleantech.com