News & Analysis

Thierry Deau is leading a team of runners from Paris-based fund manager Meridiam Infrastructure as part of a 250-strong line-up for the groundbreaking Athens event, which is aiming to raise €2.5m. Find out how you can help Meridiam in its efforts to improve the lives of children around the world.

Zug-based Partners Group is building up its team to deploy its largest ever pool of direct investment capital. The firm specialises in private equity, infrastructure, real estate and debt.

In a statement announcing its annual results, The Future Fund – which was established in 2006 to manage the Australian government’s budget surplus – has revealed that property and infrastructure rose from 4% of the portfolio to almost 10% in the year to 30 June 2010.

Oppenheimer Investments Group, the Zurich-based project finance adviser, has appointed veteran private equity real estate lawyer Iain Morpeth, who spent 23 years at Clifford Chance, as its new global chief operating officer. Among his mandates, Morpeth advised on the sale of the Millennium Dome.

A research note from UK stockbroker and advisory firm Oriel Securities has delivered a vote of confidence to listed infrastructure funds with exposure to the UK’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI), despite fears over the impact of a reduction in the number of new projects.

The Colombian energy group has concluded the purchase of a 60% stake in Cintra Chile for $290m with an option to buy the remaining 40% later. The deal was delayed for several months following the Chilean earthquake.

Nigeria’s National Pension Commission has issued proposals that would allow Nigerian pension plans to invest for the first time in infrastructure bonds, infrastructure funds and private equity.

Exxon Mobil and Shell are selling two sets of gas storage assets in Germany with different profiles but the lack of long-term concession contracts for one set of assets is causing infrastructure investors to walk away from the deal or consider realignment with industrial partners.

The Spanish construction firm has unveiled an all-stock offer to acquire full control of German infrastructure group Hochtief, in which it already owns close to 30%. ACS is offering eight of its own shares for every five Hochtief shares.

Leading charity UNICEF has been in the frontline of helping children cope with the flooding in Pakistan. Find out how, by supporting the groundbreaking Marathon of Marathons, you can offer a lifeline to those in desperate need

More than 220 projects currently underway in Poland may end up being procured as public-private partnerships (PPPs), a report from the Polish PPP Centre says. During the first half of 2010, Polish local authorities have announced 38 PPP projects, up from the 34 announced throughout 2009.

Investors in one of Henderson’s infrastructure funds are threatening litigation over mismanagement, while Henderson denies legal liability. Bruno Alves reports on the fallout

The initiatives are among several - including support of a state bill forcing placement agents to register as lobbyists - designed to ‘restore confidence, integrity and accountability’.