In 2000, SAM Group (Sustainable Asset Management), a leading asset management company specializing in sustainability investments and headquartered in Zurich, launched SAM Private Equity as its venture capital arm. That same year SAM Private Equity closed the SAM Sustainability Private Equity Fund and the SAM Private Equity Energy Fund with a combined EUR 90 million in commitments from leading institutions and strategic corporations. Both of these first funds are fully invested.

In 2002, SAM Private Equity initiated the first European Energy Venture Fair in Zurich. The annual event now attracts the who-is-who of the European energy venture scene and has established itself as the key platform for investors in this space. For more information, see www.europeanenergyventurefair.com

In 2004, SAM Private Equity was awarded the portfolio management mandate from la Caisse de Dépot et Placement du Québec (CDP), a large Canadian-based pension fund, to manage its direct energy technology venture capital portfolio. Following the awarding of this mandate, SAM Private Equity increased its North American presence with two former members of the CDP team and established a North American office in Toronto, Ontario.

In 2005, SAM Private Equity was awarded its second portfolio management mandate from Ontario Power Generation, a large Canadian electric utility, to manage its direct energy technology venture capital portfolio. To further strengthen its North American investment focus, two members of the former venture capital arm of Ontario Power Generation also joined the team.

In 2007, in parallel to Robeco's acquisition of a majority position in SAM Group, the SAM Private Equity management team bought out the SAM Private Equity business to form Emerald Technology Ventures as the leading private independent venture capital fund focused on the global clean technology investment sector.

Later in 2007, Emerald closed its second clean technology focused venture fund, Emerald Cleantech Fund II, with commitments of EUR 150 million (USD 220 million). Emerald currently manages over EUR 300 million (USD 440 million) on behalf of some of the most respected institutional investors and multinational corporations in the world.