Alstom and Schneider Electric launch venture capital fund

Alstom and Schneider Electric are joining forces to launch a new venture capital fund to finance innovative start-ups in the fields of energy and the environment. This is the first time two major industrial groups are associated in a joint initiative of this nature, which, in addition, remains open to the participation of other potential partners.

The fund, Aster Capital, is based in Paris and will receive progressively a capital subscription of €70m, from Schneider Electric (€40m) and Alstom (€30m). Other industrial partners can be invited to join this initiative to create the European benchmark fund specialising in energy and the environment.

Aster Capital will benefit from the venture capital expertise the Schneider Electric Ventures team has acquired since 2000 through the management of its first €50m fund invested in more than 20 companies in North America and Europe (www.se-ventures.com). Two experts from Alstom have recently joined the team, further strengthening its capabilities.

The mission of Aster Capital (www.aster.com) is to take minority interests in innovative start-ups based in Europe, North America and Asia, developing new technologies that could lead to major breakthroughs in the fields of energy and the environment.