News

• US awards $500m in grants to renewables projects

  03 September 2009

  In a quicker than expected turnaround, the US government has awarded more than $500 million in grants to 12 renewable energy projects whose developers chose to receive cash payments rather than tax credits.

• Indian Energy IPO limps over the line

  03 September 2009

  The first clean-technology company to seek a stock market listing in London since the financial crisis began trading yesterday – but with just £9.75 million ($15.75 million) raised, down from the £25 million hoped for by Indian Energy's brokers.

• Khosla raises more than $1b into clean-tech funds

  03 September 2009

  Venture capital (VC) firm Khosla Ventures has closed two funds investing in clean technology (clean-tech) and information technology with more than $1 billion.

• Biopetrol sees turnover halve and warns of more cheap imports

  02 September 2009

  Turnover of the Switzerland-based biodiesel producer Biopetrol Industries dropped by half in the first half of this year compared with a year before, to €69.7m ($99.5m) from €139.8m, while the net loss increased to €12.3m from €7.1m.

• Khosla closes $250m seed fund

  01 September 2009

  Venture capital firm Khosla Ventures has closed a $250 million clean-tech investment fund, called the Khosla Ventures Seed, with the help of a $60 million commitment from the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).

• iii launches 'first' green property fund in Germany

  01 September 2009

  Germany's iii-investments, a subsidiary of HypoVereinsbank, has launched a real estate fund that will focus on investing in sustainable and energy efficient office blocks in Europe.

• FTSE, HSBC chosen by New York pension fund for green investments

  01 September 2009

  The New York State Common Retirement Fund (CRF) is to invest $100 million each against the FTSE Environmental Technology 50 and the HSBC Global Climate Change Index, as the first investments under its planned $500 million 'Green Strategic Investment Program' (GSIP).

• Five firms ejected from PRI

  01 September 2009

  Five financial institutions have been delisted from the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) initiative after failing to file an annual report on how they are integrating environmental, social and corporate governance issues into their investment processes. Meanwhile, one of the largest US pension funds has voluntarily left the UN-backed initiative.

• Chinese PE fund targets $350m

  01 September 2009

  Chinese private equity firm Nature Elements Capital is hoping to raise $350 million into US dollar and yuan-denominated funds over the next two years to invest in clean energy projects and companies.

• Cheviot eyes October launch for climate fund

  01 September 2009

  UK-based Cheviot Asset Management is hoping to launch a sustainability-orientated investment fund in October with £20 million ($32 million) in commitments, according to its recently appointed portfolio manager Claudia Quiroz (see People, page 14).