Kalliope Gourntis

Digital infra has certainly moved into the mainstream. But with technology advancing at lightning speed, a growing number of investors are quickly recognising its wider potential.

Segmentation within the infrastructure asset class didn’t emerge in 2019 but it did take on new forms, one being specialist funds.

The French fund manager will finance its portion of the €2.2bn acquisition through its recently closed European renewables fund and a co-investment vehicle created for this specific transaction.

The fund manager used crowdfunding for an industrial-scale clean energy project in France, while in the US it partnered with Engie to help the University of Iowa transition to a zero-carbon footprint under a 50-year utilities concession.

In the past two years, MIRA has increased its exposure and presence by establishing a team on the ground after investing in the region for more than 15 years.

The firm has already made its first investment, acquiring a 44% stake in Germany’s A8 motorway from InfraVia and Egis.

Pollination will focus solely on energy transition through advisory services it will provide to governments and policy makers and its investment arm, which will seek to raise $4bn.

The project marks the beginning of the Swiss fund manager’s partnership with Perth-based Starling Energy, a manager of distributed energy assets.

After 10 years at the helm of the energy transition-focused firm he founded, Tobias Reichmuth will continue to provide strategic direction as chairman of the board.

Greece’s privatisation agency agreed an extension to the existing concession agreement through November 2046 in order to make the 30% stake on offer ‘sexier and more attractive’.