Each week our research team tracks cleantech transactions across the globe. This week we recorded 12 venture deals, 3 fund announcements, 12 M&As and 1 IPO related announcement. Below are some of the highlights. Cleantech Group subscribers can see the full roundup of all the deals here.

VC, private company and corporate investments

Over $100 million was raised by 12 cleantech companies globally. The two largest deals were:

• California-based Transphorm, a developer of energy conversion technology for a wide range of applications, raised $20 million from Google Ventures and Kleiner Perkins.  The company’s technology cuts energy losses that result from converting alternating current, which comes out of wall sockets, to direct current.
• California-based MBA Polymers, a provider of plastics recycling services, raised $15 million from Ambienta. The investment is the latest in a round of $40 million that the company raised to support its growth plans, including the construction of new factories in Europe and Asia.

Funds

Announcements were made by 4 funds looking to raise over $2.8 billion. The top 2 were:

• Royal Philips Electronics announced it will commit €2 billion ($2.7 billion) towards green R&D investment over the next five years. The company has invested € 450

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Our research team regularly tracks key water sector news.  Below is this week’s highlights. Do you think we missed anything? Let us know!

Financings

• VC Investor Nanostart Backs Membrane Instruments. Frankfurt-based Nanostart AG, a venture investor focused on nanotechnology, has invested an undisclosed amount in cleantech startup Membrane Instruments and Technology. Formed in 2009, Singapore-based Membrane Instruments is developing technology for monitoring and controlling water quality in filtration-based water treatment plants. Nanostart now owns 18% of Membrane Instruments.http://www.pehub.com/96137/vc-investor-nanostart-backs-membrane-instruments/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+pehub/news/all+(PEHub+News)

• MIOX Corporation Awarded $497,746 for Phase II Small Business Innovation Research From the National Science Foundation. This funding, obtained by the MIOX science team in collaboration with Professor Shane Snyder at the University of Arizona and Dr. Benjamin Stanford at Hazen and Sawyer, provides a two year extension for a previously awarded NSF SBIR Phase I project investigating the use of aqueous chlorine as part of an Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP). http://www.waterefficiency.net/the-latest/miox-oxidation-nsf.aspx

• T Venture Backs Germany’s Cuculus. Cuculus GmbH, developer of smart metering and home control solutions, announces the completion of a strategic financing round. The funds will be used to gain market share and establish international presence as well as to further product developments. Existing shareholders will now

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Our research team regularly tracks key water sector news.  Below is this week’s round-up. If we missed anything, let us know!

Deals (Joint Ventures, New Orders and Contracts, Project Implementation, Incubators and Test Beds):

• Inge Water Technologies reinforces bond with distribution partner LG in KoreaA few years ago, Inge Water Technologies entered the Korean market by signing a distribution partnership with the South Korean global corporation LG Chem. LG has now brought together its water market activities in its subsidiary LG Electronics and announced its intention to invest $400 million with the goal of becoming a top 10 global water treatment company. LG decided to stick with its German partner and the two companies recently signed a new framework agreement. http://www.waterworld.com/index/display/article-display/1822223461/articles/waterworld/world-regions/far-east_se_asia/2011/02/German-water-company-presence-in-Korea.html

• French Water Company Saur Signs An 8 year agreement worth USD400 million with Saudi Utility, Marafiq. In order to provide water supplies in Jubail, Saur, which is the third largest public water management company in France, inked a $46 million deal with the National Water Company in June 2010 to produce and distribute drinking water and provide sanitation services in Makkah and Taif, Seche said. http://www.waterworld.com/index/display/news_display/1358677729.html

• Arcadis gets $8M contract for Oman work. Global engineering and consulting

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During lunch yesterday, I discussed possible topics for this very post while I sat in between Sally Gutierrez of the EPA and Steve Kloos from GE. When Steve asked me what I’m researching and writing about next, I had to say that in the immediate term, I’d likely be blogging about this event! After a few chuckles were shared about a possible ‘Water Tech Fashion Blunders’ piece, we caught up on one another’s efforts. Unsurprisingly, water technology innovation remains central to our respective activities.

For Sally and her group, they recently celebrated the announcement of their Water Technology Innovation Cluster in Cincinnati. An effort that we here at the Cleantech Group were delighted to support. Meanwhile, Steve quietly moves mountains over at GE as he identifies and evaluates early stage strategic innovation for GE’s water business. A non-trivial charge, to say the least. If you think you’re going to get any ‘on the record’ insight from this power house, think again.

Speaking of power houses, the first day of the main summit had plenty.

The first panel discussion uncovered a variety of perspectives on Corporate Water Risk and Efficiency/Sustainability Drivers. Of particular interest were the utility views represented by Joe …

Each week our research team tracks cleantech transactions across the globe. This week we recorded 18 venture deals, 4 fund announcements, 22 M&As and 2 IPO related announcements. Below are some of the highlights. Cleantech Group subscribers can see the full roundup of all the deals here.

VC, private company and corporate investments

Over $1.28 billion was raised by 18 cleantech companies globally. The two largest deals were:

• Barbados-based BioJet International, a developer of renewable jet fuel and related co-products for the aviation and transportation sectors, raised $1.2 billion funding from Equity Partners Fund SPC.  The company operates throughout the entire biofuel value chain including feedstock generation, technology, refining, logistics, sustainability certification, distribution, and end use by the aviation sector user.
• California-based Bridgelux, a producer of LED chips and lighting arrays, raised $21 million led by Vantage Point Venture Partners and DCM.  The funds will be used to scale up production with the aim of lowering costs to target the residential lighting market.

Funds

Announcements were made by 4 funds looking to raise over $1.25 billion. The top 2 were:

• Singapore-based Swiss-Asia Financial Services launched a new infrastructure fund called The China District Energy Fund, with a target size

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