Fundraising

The firm’s chief financial officer Michael Chae recently explained the different areas where it is looking to expand, including infrastructure and growth equity.

Blackstone is excited about the returns it can net by helping to make American infrastructure great again. But what’s really promising is to see that interest coincide with an increased appetite for higher-risk/higher-return strategies.

A rocky energy sector during Q4 2016 hit the firm’s business development company, causing a drop in earnings of nine cents per share.

The UK asset manager is currently pre-marketing a successor to its £1bn debut vehicle that is set to focus solely on primary investments.

The division is the latest asset of the defunct US solar developer snapped up by international investors.

Hinting at the potential of Africa’s port sector at large, the Old Mutual-owned fund manager believes the facility’s throughput will triple over the next 10 years.

In keeping with its pedigree as a privatisation pioneer, Australia has in recent years captured the world’s attention thanks to a multi-billion dollar asset divestment programme. Should investors be concerned about changing political winds, though?

The project, in operation since last year, will provide power to a nearby paper mill while exporting surplus supply.

A little over two years after sealing its debut investment in China, the firm has made its first move into the world’s largest solar market by acquiring 143MW in Shandong.

The clean energy financier has also committed A$20m to a solar farm backed by the vehicle, its first direct equity investment in a solar project.

The vehicle drew commitments from New York State Teachers’ Retirement System, Texas County and District Retirement System and the City of Philadelphia Board of Pensions & Investment.

The Dutch firm is roughly half way to its hard-cap for the vehicle, which will target the likes of unregulated utilities, telecoms and storage.

Jim Barry and Mark Florian, respective infra heads at the two US firms, tell Infrastructure Investor about the acquisition’s rationale and how it will help BlackRock move up the risk curve.