LEUVEN MINDGATE

Capricorn Venture Partners continues its expansion into cleantech


Over the summer the Belgium based venture capital firm Capricorn Venture Partners has been busy expanding its cleantech franchise. With investments in Ensartech bv, Fluxome Sciences A/S, Alaska Food Diagnostics Ltd and Concentrator Optics GmbH, Capricorn has been expanding its cleantech portfolio to a total of 7 investments. In line with Capricorn's approach to the clean technology sector these investments cover a broad range of different subsectors, including renewable energy
components, biomass, waste to energy, food diagnostics, sensor systems and micro filtration solutions.

Following the successful closing of its cleantech fund in May this year, Capricorn also held a one time reopening of its Capricorn Cleantech Fund to accept the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra as a strategic partner to the fund. For Sitra, this is the second investment in a Capricorn managed fund and it is in
line with its recently established Energy Programme.

'We welcome Sitra as a returning investor' said Dr. Jos B. Peeters, Managing Partner of Capricorn Venture Partners, 'with their arrival, we not only increase the capital base of our Cleantech Fund by ? 10 million to ? 112 million, but through our collaboration we will have better access to Scandinavian
deal flow in general and Finnish opportunities in particular. We look forward to working with them in this important area'.

'Capricorn Cleantech Fund is one of the most promising cleantech funds operating in Europe. In addition to get a good view on what is happening in Europe in the cleantech market, it is also very important for Sitra to get a good return on its investments', says director Anu Nokso-Koivisto, who is
responsible for Sitra´s investments in venture capital funds supporting Sitra´s own activities.

The investment complements Sitra´s previous Cleantech Programme. 'We think that a strategic partnership with Capricorn creates added value for Sitra's direct investment activities in Finland', highlights business director Sami Tuhkanen who is responsible for direct venture capital investments
of Sitra's Energy Programme. Mr Tuhkanen has been appointed to the board of the Capricorn Cleantech Fund NV.

In order to manage its continuous growth Capricorn Venture Partners welcomes Daniel von Scheven as a new investment manager. Daniel von Scheven joins the team from the Carbon Trust in London and brings with him solid experience in private equity/venture capital investing as well as strategic
consulting. He is a trained civil engineer with an MSc in Environmental Engineering from University College London.

Further appointments include Sabine Vermassen, who joins as part time legal advisor, bringing more than 15 years of legal experience in venture capital and Liesbet Peeters as part
time investor relations and CFO.

About Capricorn Venture Partners
Capricorn Venture Partners is a pan-European manager of venture capital funds seeking to invest in technology-based growth companies. The Cleantech Fund is Capricorn's third consecutive venture capital fund. The fund invests in European growth companies developing innovative breakthrough technologies in the field of e.g. renewable energy and energy efficiency, water purification and re-use, bio-based material conversion and biorefinery platforms, clean air, climate change, green chemistry
and advanced materials, materials recovery and recycling.
The investment team of Capricorn is composed of experienced investment managers with deep technology expertise and a broad industrial experience and will be further expanded in light of the successful Cleantech Fund's closing. More information can be found on www.capricorn.be.

About Sitra
Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, is an independent public fund which under the supervision of the Finnish Parliament promotes the welfare of Finnish society. Sitra´s operations take place through innovation activities and programmes that aim to benefit the future of Finland. The current programme
areas are Healthcare, Food and Nutrition, Energy and Growth Programme of Mechanical Industry.

More information can be found on www.sitra.fi.

For further details, please contact:
Capricorn Venture Partners:
Dr Jos B. Peeters, Managing Partner, +32 16 28 41 00, jos@capricorn.be

Sitra:
Anu Nokso-Koivisto, Director, +358 50 563 6997
Sami Tuhkanen, Business Director, +358 40 548 3482

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