Chenggang Jerry Wu: Shakedown In China's Clean Tech Sector Near End, May Be A Good Time To Invest

Summary: In this episode of China Money Network, guest Chenggang Jerry Wu, principal investment officer of IFC's (International Finance Corporation) climate change fund, discusses IFC's commitment to Chinese private equity funds in the climate change sector, the new opportunities arising from China's pollution treatment efforts, and what he looks for in a first-time fund manager.<br> <br> Listen to the full interview in the audio podcast, watch an abbreviated video version, or read an excerpt.<br> <br> Q: Can you first give us a brief introduction of IFC's climate change fund and your role in managing the fund?<br> <br> A: IFC is the largest multilateral organization focused on emerging markets' private sectors. We invest more than $10 billion a year into private sectors across emerging markets. We started investing in private equity funds in 2000, and have invested in more than 130 funds in emerging markets. I believe IFC invested in roughly 10% of all the private equity funds ever existed in emerging markets. We currently have an active portfolio of more than $2 billion.<br> <br> Clean tech and energy efficiency is one of our focuses in our private equity investments. IFC started investing in these areas in 2007. Up until now, we have invested in 17 funds in total, and on average we invest in three to four funds per year. The main focus includes traditional clean tech, renewable energy (both upstream manufacturing and downstream power generation), and all sorts of resource efficiency and environmental services (such as recycling, water efficiency, sustainable agriculture and sustainable forestry).<br> <br> IFC has a subsidiary called IFC Asset Management Co., which is a fund manager that leverages IFC's own expertise and resources with the capacity to raise funds from third party investors. IFC Asset Management Co. set up a Fund of Funds (officially called the Climate Catalyst Fund), which just had its first closing of $500 million, to invest in climate change funds. IFC put $75 million into it, and it will do further fundraising in the future.<br> ......