LONDON. July 20, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Green private equity is on the agenda of virtually all institutional investors, with more than 90 per cent wanting exposure to the sector, according to a new survey. Over 90% of institutional investors claim they want to have exposure to ‘green’ investments.

The level of interest and commitment varies markedly across institutional investors, with most taking a cautious but positive step into the green sector. However, there is strong expectation in the private equity industry that the performance of green investments will improve over the next few years and that increased institutional allocations will follow. The challenge for green private equity and venture capital managers is to accelerate the current levels of interest and future expectations into actual commitments into their funds sooner rather than later.

www.altassets.com/ ), a private equity research company, provides a snapshot of the views of 110 leading institutional investors who invest in private equity and venture capital funds around the world (and who are referred to as Limited Partners or LPs). It is clear that these LPs are giving much consideration to their green investment strategies but are holding back until they have more positive performance information on which to base their investment decisions and have overcome a range of other concerns and obstacles.

About the Survey

www.altassets.com/ ) in June 2010 in direct interviews or via questionnaires on the AltAssets website. All information was provided, and will remain, in strictest confidence. The report uses only aggregated information. The objective of this survey was to gain an in-depth understanding of the level of interest amongst Limited Partners for investing in green private equity funds. 110 institutional investors from around the world participated, including pension funds, insurance companies, asset management firms, endowments, foundations, funds of funds and family offices.

The following definitions were used for this survey:

‘Green’ investments refer to investments made in companies that operate primarily in the renewable energy, clean technology, environmental technology or sustainability related markets.

‘Green’ private equity funds refer to all funds that commit a majority of their capital to ‘green’ investments.

New Energy World Network (NewNet) is a publishing and events company focused on green investments. It aims to promote and facilitate investment in innovation by providing the latest news, views and analysis to the global clean energy investor community. We also organise exclusive networking events between the leaders, experts and shapers of the industry.

AltAssets is the most widely read private equity and venture capital news service in the industry, with more than 400,000 visits a month and three million page impressions. Our weekly newsletter is read by 7,500 private equity and venture capital investors and 5,000 institutional investors. The website provides the latest news, opinion and research that serve the needs of professionals working in all parts of the industry, from the institutional investor to the venture-backed entrepreneur.

SOURCE New Energy World Network Ltd