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PRESS RELEASE: Beringea Invests in Cleantech Company ReCellular

October 11, 2010

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — Beringea, Michigan’s largest venture capital firm, has invested in ReCellular, a Dexter, Mich.-based e-waste company specializing in the collection, reuse and recycling of used personal electronics, particularly mobile phones. The investment, made through Beringea’s InvestMichigan! Growth Capital Fund, will help fund ReCellular’s rapid growth and expansion into the global marketplace. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. This marks the 17th investment in the InvestMichigan! Growth Capital portfolio.

"We are excited to partner with Beringea in building upon our nearly 20-year heritage in Michigan,” said Steve Manning, CEO for ReCellular. “This investment will allow us to increase both the volume of phones we keep out of landfills and our contribution to Michigan's recovery.”

ReCellular, which employs 280 in Michigan, collects more than 400,000 mobile phones a month. Approximately 70 percent of those phones are refurbished and resold both domestically and worldwide; the rest are recycled for the precious metals, electronics and plastics that make up a phone. Phones are collected through partnerships with major mobile carriers, charities and large corporations and through direct purchases from consumers, and then sent to the company’s Dexter, Mich. facility for data removal and refurbishment or recycling. In 2009, the company collected and processed five million phones for reuse and recycling, keeping more than 1.6 million pounds of solid and potentially harmful waste out of landfills.

“The proliferation of electronic devices over the past decade (cell phones, cameras, mp3 players, etc.) has created a massive and urgent environmental challenge, yet presents an attractive opportunity to companies that provide effective and reliable solutions,” said Jeff Bocan, managing director for Beringea. “ReCellular has established itself as the cell phone recycling market leader and we are very excited to partner with its world-class team to help take the business to greater heights.”

About Beringea

Beringea offers advice, guidance and capital to support growing businesses. Headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich., the Firm also has offices in London and more than 70 portfolio companies in the U.S. and U.K. Beringea has more than 20 years of investing experience in a range of sectors, including health care and life sciences, clean technology, advanced manufacturing, media, Internet technologies and specialized consumer products. Beringea is the manager of funds, including the InvestMichigan! Growth Capital Fund, InvestCare Partners, Global Rights Fund II and the ProVen family of venture capital trusts. For more information, visit www.beringea.com.

About ReCellular Inc.

With offices in the United States and Hong Kong, ReCellular Inc. is the world's leading electronics sustainability firm. We provide solutions for the collection, reuse and recycling of used personal electronics that generate financial return for our partners, quality products for our customers, funding for charity organizations, and protection of the environment. Corporate, charitable, consumer and wholesale information is available at www.ReCellular.com.

 

Mophie Media Contact

Audrey Sahl
Formula PR
Phone: 212.219.0321
Email: Sahl@formulapr.com

Media Contact

Andi Wilmes
Beringea
Phone: 248.489.9000
Email: awilmes@beringea.com

 

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