Preqin reported on Wednesday that, in addition to clean energy, the artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductors sectors were where unlisted Chinese companies attracted the most funding from investors in the initial six months. The report added that the Chinese government intended to grow and support the industries.
The report stated that “AI was a driving factor in these mega deals. By May this year, the volume had reached almost US$6 Billion – about half of 2023’s total full-year [for AI deals] US$12 Billion.”
This is despite the fact that the overall volume of China deals fell by 42 per cent on a quarter-on-quarter basis to US$12 Billion in the first quarter of this year. This was much more than the global decline in the same period of 12 per cent.
Preqin stated that the global venture funding market has been hit by higher interest rates, a lack exit pathways, and increased geopolitical tensions, especially between China and the United States.
Valerie Kor, the lead author of the study, said that the Greater China region is a challenging place for venture capital, as investors have difficulty exiting their private company investments. “However, Chinese domestic investors, such as technology companies and state-backed fund, have stepped up to fill the void as foreign investors pullback.”
In March, for example, the Shanghai-based EV manufacturer IM Motors raised US$1.1billion from investors including Beijing Chusudu Technology (autonomous driving technology), ICBC Capital Management, and Bank of Communications Investment.
Chan Ka-keung is CEO of Nature Elements Capital a private equity firm that specializes in the clean energy sector. He said that the outlook for raising private funds for clean energy projects in China was “reasonably positive”.
“Domestic investors play a greater role and deals must demonstrate a strong technology advancement or application in order to compete for limited funds,” he said.
Lucas Zhang Liutong of Hong Kong’s WaterRock Energy Economics said that clean energy technology is aligned with Beijing’s policy to boost economic growth and energy safety, so deal flow will likely continue to increase.
He said that most of the money would come from domestic state-backed companies, who have the capital and patience to invest in the cleantech sector under the current conditions.