Cleantech Venture Network LLC announced today in their Cleantech Venture Monitor' quarterly report. Researchers reported that a six-year high of $513 million in venture capital was invested in cleantech during Q1 2006, representing a 2.3% increase over Q4 2005 and a 52.9% increase over Q1 2005.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Q1 2006 CLEANTECH INVESTMENT HITS SIX-YEAR HIGH AT $513 MILLION

Record $357 Million Invested in the Energy Segment

ANN ARBOR, MI, May 25, 2006 - Cleantech investing in North America continues to gain momentum in 2006, the Cleantech Venture Network LLC announced today in their Cleantech Venture Monitor' quarterly report. Researchers reported that a six-year high of $513 million in venture capital was invested in cleantech during Q1 2006, representing a 2.3% increase over Q4 2005 and a 52.9% increase over Q1 2005.

There were 67 separate deals done in the quarter, down from the 73 done in Q4 2005, but up 37% from the 49 done in Q1 2005.

Most significant was the increase in average deal size to $8.28 million, up 20% from the Q4 average of $6.88 million and 16.7% from Q1 2005. According to research data to be officially released June 7 at Cleantech Venture Forum X in London, the cleantech equity investment category in North American venture capital remains in fifth place, ahead of semiconductors and behind only biotechnology, software, medical and telecommunications.

"The data trends reflect the impact of existing global political, economic, technological and social market drivers and the increased confidence investors have in the cleantech category," said Nicholas Parker, Chairman and Co-Founder of the Cleantech Venture Network, which tracks cleantech industry data for North America and Europe.

Keith Raab, CEO and Co-Founder of the Cleantech Venture Network, pointed out that energy-related deals dominated cleantech investments for the quarter. "The $357 million invested in energy accounted for nearly 70% of all cleantech Q1 investments and 48% of the total energy investment made in 2005," he said. "Energy generation led the other three energy areas with $154 million invested."

Cleantech investment accounted for 8.5% of all North American venture capital investment in Q1 compared to 9.1% in the previous quarter and 7.5% in Q3 2005.

The Cleantech Venture Monitor', the leading source for quarterly cleantech deal information, has tracked more than $8.8 billion in cleantech deals since 1999. The latest analysis shows that investment in cleantech is continuing to grow and may soon surpass the record $797 million made during Q1 2000.

"We will officially release the detailed analysis of this data and our European investment information to over 300 investors and global thought leaders on June 7," said Mr. Raab. The announcement will be made June 7 at the Cleantech Venture Forum X at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square.

This quarter's data brings the total amount of North American venture capital invested in the cleantech category since 1999 to more than $8.8 billion. In the recently released comprehensive Cleantech Venture Capital Report -2006, Cleantech Venture Network estimates that capital requirements of cleantech companies between 2006 and 2009 may reach $8.7 billion in North America.

About Cleantech Venture Network, LLC

The Cleantech Venture NetworkTM LLC is a membership group that brings investors together with cleantech entrepreneurs who are seeking capital through the Cleantech Venture Forum' series of events. The network has over 900 affiliate members worldwide who take advantage of the global forums, comprehensive market research services and reports, online proprietary database of pre-screened venture grade companies, online deal flow, online directory of investors active in cleantech, and information services including the quarterly Venture Monitor publication that tracks and analyzes all cleantech venture deals in North America and Europe and the twice monthly market briefing.

Of the $5 billion of venture capital raised in cleantech since 2002, over $450 million has been raised at presenting companies at the forums. The organization has tracked and analyzed more than $8.8 billion of North American venture investment in cleantech since 1999 and all European cleantech investments.

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