Investment in energy infrastructure accelerated in the second half of last year, while transport investment slowed, according to full year data from InfrastructureInvestorAssets. Boosting the energy total was the huge Jubail Refinery project in Saudi Arabia.
Australia’s Future Fund has made further increases to its real estate, private equity and infrastructure portfolios as its overall assets under management grow past the A$70 billion (€50.6 billion; $69.4 billion) mark for the first time.
The UK-based development finance institution has committed $30m to the African Infrastructure Investment Fund 2. The latter is targeting a final close of $600m and will invest in transport and energy projects.
The Middle East’s largest private equity firm has launched a joint venture entity with Saudi gateway investment body Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), to invest SAR2bn in the country across sectors including real estate, private equity and infrastructure.
The €1.1bn infrastructure fund has acquired independent energy producer Neolectra’s French assets from ArcLight Capital. Neolectra has close to 40 assets throughout France, including district heating plants, gas distribution networks and renewable and fossil fuel power generation plants.
The UK-based infrastructure fund manager has reached a first close of £70m on its second infrastructure fund, targeting PPPs backed by government revenues. Local pension funds played a crucial role in helping Equitix approach half of its £150m target after three months of fundraising.
The Australian fund manager’s Asian Giants Infrastructure Fund has acquired its first asset in China through the purchase of a stake of just over 19% in Qujing Gas. The fund has also attracted $66m of new commitments and is targeting a final close in Q1 2011.
CIC is to open an office in Toronto according to a report by CNBC. The office is only the second to be opened by the $300 billion sovereign wealth fund outside of Greater China since its inception in 2007.
The government is gearing up to launch a vehicle that will allow the capital markets to refinance PPP debt post-construction without exposing them to project risk. The bonds issued will have the same rating as the French state (AAA) in projects where it is the procuring authority.
The emerging markets private equity and infrastructure investor has appointed fundraising veteran Marc Nahum as a distribution director for Europe and the Middle East within its investor development group.
With a further $2.9bn raised in the fourth quarter, global infrastructure fundraising reached a full-year total of $19.0bn in 2010. This made it the third-most-prolific year after the peak years of 2007 and 2008 and represents a solid recovery from the big decline seen in 2009.
The Indian financial services firm has announced its intention to float on the London Stock Exchange a new, closed-end fund to invest in Indian infrastructure. The Kotak India Infrastructure Fund will aim to raise a maximum of £100m.
The real estate division of Colonial First State Global Asset Management has started fundraising on an investment fund aimed at Australia's 'sub-regional' and 'neighbourhood' shopping centres.
The $18bn gatekeeper has hired Eric Warner to spearhead its fundraising and investor relations activity, as it nears a first close on its debut real assets fund.
Impax Asset Management Group, the London-listed fund manager, has announced a third close of its New Energy Investors II renewable energy fund on €275m. The fund is aiming for a final total between €300m and €400m.