A resilient U.S. greentech M&A market saw 248 greentech mergers, acquisitions, and capital raises in 2009 for a reported total of $9.5 billion, falling a respective 14% and 4% from 2008. The declines, however, were more than offset by generous amounts of funding from the Department of Energy (DOE), courtesy of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
While Argonaut Private Equity’s $198 million investment in Solyndra was the largest private raise of the year, the DOE trumped that figure with numerous investments such as loan guarantees of $528 million and $535 million to Fisker Automotive and Solyndra, and a $334 million investment in carbon sequestration with American Electric Power.
As we look ahead to 2010 and beyond, it will be interesting to see whether venture capitalists step up when DOE funding runs out, and whether large utilities and Fortune 500 companies continue funding programs initially financed by the DOE.
For a comprehensive analysis of the greentech M&A environment in 2009, download the complete report from Peachtree Media Advisors at http://peachtreegreenadvisors.com/?
