I2BF and VTB to Co-Manage New Nanotech Fund

Seed investors of a new Russian-Kazakhstan nanotech fund have settled on VTB Capital and London-based I2BF as managers of the fund. Kazyna Capital Management and Rusnano, both of whom have already contributed USD $25 million to the $100 million fund, expect the co-managers to raise the balance of the fund’s target amount.

The goal of the new fund is to invest in nanotech projects over the next ten years that will benefit both the Kazakh and Russian economies. The partners also hope the joint fund will encourage the sharing of nanotechnology developments among both their countries.

I2BF (www.i2bf.com)
I2BF is a technology-based venture capital and asset management firm established in 2005.
The firm focuses its activities on clean technology companies active in Asia, Europe, and the U.S., via two funds: I2BF Holdings I and I2BF Arbat Clean Technology Fund.
I2BF maintains a Moscow office staffed with researchers in the renewable energy field. Other facilities are located in New York, London, and Dubai. Currently, I2BF has total assets under management in excess of USD $100 million.

VTB Capital (www.vtbcapital.com)
VTB Capital is the investment branch of VTB Group. VTB Capital was founded in 2008 and has participated in more than 160 deals, generating over USD 87.8 billion in investments in Russia.

VTB Capital is headquartered in Moscow, with offices in Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and London. Since the founding of this fund, VTB Capital has seen a 55% growth rate each year.