CLSA to raise clean water fund

Hong Kong investment bank CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets has launched efforts to raise Clean Water Asia, a fund focused on water and waste management in Asia. The fund will be run by Principals Andrew Pidden and Anthony Wilkinson and have a structure similar to sister fund Clean Resources Asia, as it invests in public and private securities. CLSA is launching the clean water fund with $5 million in capital and is accepting new subscriptions.

The target amount is undisclosed.

Much of the fund’s investment targets are based on various government projects in the region. “China alone has allocated $132 billion to water infrastructure, wastewater treatment and irrigation from 2006 to 2010,” Pidden says.

The Clean Resources Asia fund has generated a 35.7% return since its launch last summer, according to the firm. The clean water fund will be run by Hong Kong-based CLSA Capital Partners, a division of the investment bank. The division is also working to launch a fund focused on shipping, transportation infrastructure and other investments to facilitate interregional trade in Asia, according to its website.