Water. Desalination + reuse
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/86284
BUSINESS CORPORATE CHANGES INVESTMENT AND CREDIT SUCCESS FOR NANOH2O Innovative membrane-maker NanoH2O Inc announced on 30 April 2012 that it has closed a US$ 40 million equity round and US$ 20.5 million in credit facilities. NanoH2O's patented thin-film nanocomposite membrane technology can purify water from a broad range of sources and claims higher productivity, better water quality or reduced energy consumption over traditional membranes. BASF Venture Capital GmbH, Total Energy Ventures GERMANY'S LAHMEYER ACQUIRES GKW CONSULT Two long-standing German consulting engineering firms have been combined, hard on the heels of the Dutch DHV-Haskoning merger. Lahmeyer Group, which works in energy, hydropower and water International and Keytone Ventures co-led the equity financing that included all of NanoH2O's existing investors including Khosla Ventures, Oak Investment Partners, CalPERS Clean Energy & Technology Fund represented by Capital Dynamics and PCG Clean Energy & Technology Fund. The growth capital, working capital and equipment financing credit facilities were provided by Comerica Bank and Lighthouse Capital Partners, with the working capital line backed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The investment brings NanoH2O's total equity funding to US$ 75 million, and total debt and equity funding to over US$ 100 million, making the company one of the most highly funded water technology companies in the industry. Proceeds from the equity offering will enable the company to accelerate its growth, expand its manufacturing capabilities and broaden its product offerings. Jeff Green, co-founder and CEO of NanoH2O stated, "We are delighted to have such highly regarded, international organizations invest in our future and appreciate the continued support of our existing, globally renowned investors. With these funds and new strategic partners, we are well positioned to continue to provide our global customers with new, leading-edge RO membranes that lower the energy, operating and capital costs of desalination and other water treatment applications. In connection with this financing, representatives from BASF Venture Capital, Total Energy Ventures and Keytone Ventures will join the company's board of directors. DUTCH CONSULTANTS MERGE INTO SIGNIFICANT WATER-SECTOR PLAYER Leading Dutch consulting engineers DHV and Royal Haskoning signed a letter of intent on 27 February 2012 to merge. The new company will be one of Europe's leading independent resources, announced on 2 March 2012 that it had acquired Pöyry Environment GmbH, which operated until 2006 as GKW Consult GmbH. Pöyry specialises in water supply, seawater desalination, wastewater and solid-waste disposal. With some 70 staff, Pöyry Environment had a turnover of € 12.4 million in 2011. Its key markets are in Africa, and the firm is also represented in southeast Europe, South America, the Middle East and Asia. The company will in future operate under the name Lahmeyer GKW Consult and will co-ordinate its services closely with Lahmeyer International. "With the acquisition of Pöyry Environment GmbH, Lahmeyer is taking an important step towards our strategic goal of markedly strengthening our capacity in the future-oriented water market," said Dr-Ing Bernd Kordes, CEO of Lahmeyer International. "Our worldwide competence in the construction of major storages and long-distance water conveyance systems has now been significantly reinforced by the addition of key competencies and capacity in the water supply and wastewater treatment segments." Tarek El-Shafie, vice-president of sales and marketing, told D&WR at the European Desalination Conference in Barcelona, that the new site, only 20 miles (32 km) from its old base in Tampa, Florida, will allow more production and increased research and development. The facility includes a wet chemistry laboratory, a scanning AWC IN FULL PRODUCTION AT NEW TAMPA FACTORY American Water Chemicals (AWC) has resumed full production of its membrane water treatment chemicals following its recent move into a new 41,000 ft2 (3,800m2 ) building. electron microscope/energy-dispersive x-ray lab, an optical and infrared microscopy lab, a sample preparation room for membrane autopsy and a training room. The company recently won a large contract to supply antiscalants for a desalination plant in Antofagasta, Chile. project management, engineering and consultancy service providers and will rank globally in the top 10 of independently owned, non- listed companies and top 40 overall. The intended name of the new company will be Royal Haskoning DHV with its headquarters in Amersfoort, Netherlands, where DHV has its current HQ. The company's 8,000 staff will provide services from more than 100 offices in over 35 countries. Royal Haskoning DHV will deliver solutions to clients in planning and transport, delta and water technology, maritime, aviation, industry and energy, and buildings. The new combination will have a turnover in excess of € 700 million and will be a significant global player in the maritime, water and delta technology markets and a major party in aviation, mobility and infrastructure. Signing of the merger agreement is scheduled for mid-summer, after due diligence and all approvals have been obtained. | 12 | Desalination & Water Reuse | May-June 2012 CHANGES FOR SEVERN TRENT SERVICES IN SPAIN Severn Trent Services (STS) has set up a website for its Spanish subsidiary STS/Aplicor, which will henceforth be known simply as Severn Trent Services. Enric Cardoner, operations director for STS' European Water Purification business, said, "The Apliclor name was retained for a transition period after the acquisition by STS in 2009 to take advantage of the brand recognition and tradition of outstanding service the company had earned in Spain for nearly 100 years." Although the transition period is now over, the Apliclor name to receive the excellent service they have become accustomed to receiving from STS/Apliclor," Cardoner added. The new STS Spanish site is www.severntrentservices.es. will continue to be used as a product brand within the Spanish office's chemicals business. "Our company name is changing, but our customers will continue