Thursday, August 28, 2008

Greenish Tint To Latest Tech IPO Filings

From Investors Business Daily:

Cleantech companies are giving a quiet initial public offering market a sudden spark of activity.

As of Aug. 20, five "green" companies had filed for IPOs this quarter, according to market tracker Matthew Molberger of Renaissance Capital.

Five cleantech filings in roughly seven weeks isn't yet a trend, but it's a step in the right direction, Molberger says.

"To make a (trend), we need to see another string of flings in the coming weeks," he said. "But I think we're certainly starting to see a foundation."

The first half of the slow 2008 saw a total of just four cleantech IPO filings in the U.S., of which two have gone public, says Molberger.

Solar, Wind, Waste, Batteries

The five recent filers run the gamut in clean technologies. Two are involved in solar. One is in the wind-power field. Another is trying to clean up fuels by reusing food waste. The fifth is focused on rechargeable batteries.

Analysts say that despite the slow economy, green companies continue to attract investor attention as consumers and governments put more focus on using cleaner power and making the U.S. and other countries more energy independent.

"It's sort of the next sexy space," Molberger said....MORE