http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/2014/01/is-raleighs-cherokee-trying-to-cut-an.html
Jan 7, 2014, 8:50am EST Is Raleigh's Cherokee trying to cut an energy deal in China? Amanda Jones Hoyle Staff Writer - Triangle Business Journal Executives at Cherokee Investment Partners in Raleigh have so far been quiet about what they are doing with a new entity that raised $11.6 million last fall called Industrial Heat LLC. But there’s at least one theory circulating among the energy production market that Industrial Heat is one of the backers behind a new energy catalyzer device being developed by inventor Andrea Rossi. Rossi, in turn, has has been pitching the thermal heat energy technology to Chinese officials with help from Cherokee, according to the blog site E-Cat World. Cherokee CEO Tom Darden says that due to “strict confidentiality requirements,” he can’t address any of the specific technologies that Industrial Heat is supporting. “But the company has investigated or supported several,” he says. “I am sure it will be a while before there are any results.” Darden says none of the entities referenced in the E-Cat World blogs have invested in Industrial Heat. “Nor does Industrial Heat have any Chinese investors,” he says. When Industrial Heat reported to the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission in August that it had raised $11.6 million of a proposed $20 million round of financing, it noted that 14 investors had provided funding so far. Darden and Cherokee senior analyst J.T. Vaughnwere listed as managers of the fund. Vaughn also spearheads the Cherokee-McDonough Challenge that through Cherokee and its advisory group helps support and fund startup environmental companies. Darden says that on a recent trip to China, Industrial Heat was one of the topics he discussed with Chinese officials, “but my main focus was to encourage them to bring new environmental technologies to China from some of the Challenge companies.” http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/2014/01/is-raleighs-cherokee-trying-to-cut-an.html
