Leaf Clean Energy Co, which invests in clean-energy companies mainly in North America, said it made five investments worth about $130.5 million in the first half of the year, taking its total commitments to $243.05 million.
Leaf Clean Energy, which also posted a first-half loss of $39.4 million from continuing operations, said its net asset value (NAV) as at the end of the first half to December 31, 2008 rose to 1.24 pounds ($1.78) from 0.989 pound previously due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar.
The company, which was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on May 14, 2007, said it expected to be substantially invested by end of 2009.
"We are looking at a total commitment of at least $300 million by the end of 2009," Simon Shaw, chairman of Energy and Climate Advisors which manages projects on behalf of Leaf Clean Energy, told Reuters. He, however, declined to name the projects.
In the first half of the year, Leaf Clean Energy invested in Johnstown Regional, MaxWest Environmental Systems, Invenergy Wind, Multitrade Telogia LLC and Vital Renewable Energy Co, taking the total number of its investments to 11 portfolio companies.
The company, which had $200 million in cash as of December 31, of which $116 million was uncommitted, said it was optimistic about the prospects for realizing substantial long-term capital appreciation from its investments in the renewable energy and environmental sectors.
