FRX Polymers, a US-based maker of environmentally-friendly flame-retardant plastic, has extended its series B round by $11m from a consortium co-led by Germany-based chemicals company BASF’s corporate venturing unit.
BASF Venture Capital invested $2.7m of the total. Oliver Guthmann, investment manager at BASF Venture Capital, said: "We have followed FRX’s progress since 2008 and we are excited to take part in its series B round of financing."
Alongside BASF Venture Capital in the B round extension was DB Masdar Fund, a clean-tech fund sponsored by Deutsche Bank and the United Arab Emirates.
Alex O’Cinneide, partner of the DB Masdar Clean Tech Fund, said: "Along with being at the edge of the environmentally clean flame retardant additive market [see graphic], it has a strong patent portfolio [20 granted and 58 in application], proven products, a scalable process, an impressive list of industrial partners, and a strong management team.
Venture capital firms Capricorn Cleantech Fund and Israel Cleantech Ventures reinvested in the round extension, which has gathered $26.7m in total after a $6m A round closed in July 2009.
FRX’s other investors include SAM Private Equity, industrial group DSM’s Limburg Technologies, Gadin Technologies, Habanera and Lebel Freres.
The funds will be used to partially finance FRX’s first commercial scale production facility, scheduled to start by the end of next year in Antwerp, Belgium, as well as to expand its Swiss pilot facility, build out its team, and complete its global product registration process.
FRX has also raised €13.5m ($15m) in debt from KBC Bank to fund its pilot plants.