Enerkem Raises $60 Million in Latest Financing Round
June 1, 2011
For Immediate Release
Valero Energy joins as strategic investor; Waste Management increases investment
CHICAGO, IL (June 1, 2011) — Enerkem Inc., a leading waste-to-biofuels and chemicals company, announced today the closing of US$60 million in financing. As part of this financing, Valero Energy Corp. joins existing investors Waste Management, Rho Ventures, Braemar Energy Ventures and Cycle Capital, who have each invested in the new equity round.
With its investments in 10 ethanol plants throughout the Midwest, Valero has long been a champion of renewable fuels in the United States. The investment in Enerkem demonstrates Valero's commitment to the advanced biofuel sector. Valero and Enerkem have also agreed to jointly consider commercial opportunities.
“With Valero joining Waste Management as a strategic investor, Enerkem becomes one of the very few renewable products companies that is aligned with industry leaders from both upstream and downstream parts of the business,” said Vincent Chornet, president and chief executive officer of Enerkem. “This buy-in is yet another testament to the solid ongoing growth of our company, which is uniquely positioned to successfully meet the demand for clean transportation fuels and biochemicals.”
“We’re proud to reinvest and increase our position in Enerkem,” said Tim Cesarek, managing director of Organic Growth Group at Waste Management. “By combining Waste Management’s industry leadership and expertise in the collection and management of a wide range of segmented waste streams with Enerkem’s leading clean technology solutions, we are broadening our portfolio of conversion technologies in the waste-to-biofuels market, which is key to developing new, higher value-added end markets for materials.”
Enerkem’s financing round, for which Credit Suisse acted as agent, will support the company’s large roll-out of current and future planned projects. It comes on the heels of $130 million in financial support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Energy (DOE) for a plant in Pontotoc, Mississippi, expected to break ground later this year. Construction is already underway on a similar 10 million gallon per year waste-to-biofuels facility in Edmonton, Canada, the company’s second commercial facility.
About Enerkem
Enerkem has developed and is marketing its breakthrough technology to produce, from non-recyclable waste, circular chemicals and advanced biofuels intended for hard to decarbonize sectors, such as sustainable aviation and marine fuels. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec (Canada), Enerkem operates a full-scale commercial demonstration plant in Edmonton, Alberta, as well as an innovation centre in Quebec. A large-scale commercial facility is currently under construction in Varennes, Quebec (Canada) which will use Enerkem’s technology. This also applies to agroforestry waste that, like urban waste, can be recycled into new products. Such technology can therefore diversify energy and chemical portfolios, as well as produce greener everyday products. It also provides a smart and sustainable alternative to landfilling and incineration. For more information, visit www.enerkem.com, follow us on Twitter @Enerkem or visit our LinkedIn or Facebook page.
For more information
- Enerkem Media Contact
- 514-375-7800
- communications@enerkem.com
About Valero
Valero Energy Corporation is an international manufacturer and marketer of transportation fuels, other petrochemical products and power. Its assets include 14 petroleum refineries with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 2.6 million barrels per day, 10 ethanol plants with a combined production capacity of 1.1 billion gallons per year, and a 50-megawatt wind farm. Valero is also one of the largest retail operators with approximately 5,800 retail and branded wholesale outlets in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean under the Valero, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar and Beacon brands. Based in San Antonio, Valero is a Fortune 500 company with approximately 20,000 employees. Please visit www.valero.com for more information.
About Waste Management
Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is the largest residential recycler in North America and a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more information about Waste Management visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.
About Braemar Energy Ventures
Founded in 2003, Braemar Energy Ventures is a leading venture capital firm focused on investing in transformative energy-tech and related companies contributing to global sustainability and combating climate change. Using sector expertise and experience, Braemar aims to be an engaged partner with its portfolio companies to best help them navigate the path to creating significant global impact. For more information, visit braemarenergy.com.