Rockley Group expands Investment Team for $200 million China Fund

19th April 2011

Rockley China set to complete investment deals in next quarter

Rockley Group, the sustainable technology funding group led by Andrew and Robert Rickman, has expanded the investment team for its Rockley China Fund with the appointment of Dr Yanong Ning as investment director, David Ding as investment manager and Ella Huang as investment associate.

The appointments follow the Group’s announcement that it is expanding the Rockley China Fund LP to US$200 million. Rockley China includes Rockley Luxin, a US$100 million fund with the Shandong High-Tech Investment Corporation, and Shanxi Zhongying Rockley, a US$100 million fund with the Shanxi Province Small and Medium Enterprises Fund Development Group Co., Ltd.

The Rockley China Fund is expected to complete two significant investment deals within the next quarter. 

Headquartered in Beijing, the focus of the Fund is on investments in technology companies in the energy, environment, ICT and health and safety sectors that require expansion capital. Target companies will have the likelihood of a major liquidity event within two to five years and benefit from support provided by the Rockley team.

Dr Yanong Ning has assumed responsibility for the generation and management of transactions in China. Dr Ning has had a wide ranging career in sales, marketing and business development in the optical telecoms industry in the Asia Pacific region. He has extensive senior management experience in fibre optics and sensor technology businesses in the UK, Asia and USA. Dr Ning is a graduate of Xian Jiaotong University, China and holds research fellowships in physics and measurement and instrumentation at the University of Kent and City University, London.

David Ding brings substantial investment and product development experience from the clean tech, TMT and automotive industries. His previous roles include positions as investment manager at Shuangliang Group, a diversified China industrial group, and project manager with Motorola China and USA and Sony Japan, where he was involved in 3G and automotive products development. David holds a master degree in electrical engineering from Nanjing University of Science and Technology and an MBA from the HKUST Business School.

Ella Huang is responsible for investment activity including due diligence, financial modelling and portfolio management. Her previous experience includes analyst roles at Somerley Group and Bain Capital, Shanghai, and she is a graduate of Shanghai University of Finance & Economics and Farmer School of Business, Miami.

Rockley Group chairman, Dr Andrew Rickman, is the founder and former CEO of optical components giant Bookham Inc (now Oclaro Inc). He said: “I am delighted that Yanong, David and Ella have joined our Rockley China team. Yanong has a track record of managing and growing technology companies in the UK, Asia and US and generating significant shareholder value. They all combine commercial, investment and analyst expertise with a range of senior executive experience in firms from Rockley’s key target sectors that will prove to be invaluable.

“We are also pleased to be moving towards completion of two significant investments with a strong pipeline of other deals set to follow on.”

Dr Yanong Ning said: “Rockley offers unique access to high quality investment opportunities in growing technology companies with products and services to meet significant market demand in China whilst supporting sustainable economic growth. This is a very attractive proposition for investors. I am delighted to join Rockley China and look forward to working with Andrew and the rest of the team to progress our pipeline and support our investors.”

Rockley Group offers access to a portfolio of technology companies that are examples of prime investment opportunities which are attractive to fund investors. 

The portfolio includes Green Biologics (GBL), a world leader in biobutanol technology. The firm has signed agreements with the China - UK Low Carbon Enterprise Co Ltd and two of China’s major biochemical firms to roll out production of its next generation renewable chemicals and biofuels in China in a deal designed to boost China’s strategy of investment in renewable energy. 

Another portfolio company, Shandong Micro-Sensor Photonics, China, provides fibre optic sensor systems and services to the energy sector. The company’s clients include major coal, oil and power producers. The sensors are used in the coal mining industry to improve safety and the company’s technology was highlighted as world-leading during the Chilean mine disaster. The sensors are also applied in the oil and gas industry to improve well extraction efficiency and in electrical power generation to optimise load efficiency. New markets to monitor CO2 sequestration and capture methane from coal mines are also emerging.

Kotura Inc is a leading producer of silicon photonic circuits, which are used in fibre optic communication and sensing systems by telecom system manufacturers and computer companies. The company has assembly operations in China, which it will shortly be expanding to service the high level of demand for its products.