Lawmakers can open doors for infrastructure investors as well as close them, writes Andy Thomson.
The name of his firm may suggest otherwise but Matthias Burghardt, head of infrastructure at Paris-based fund manager AXA Private Equity, believes that it’s difficult to make a case for private equity-style investing and fund modelling in infrastructure.
Bouygues, Eiffage and VINCI need to submit final offers for the €3bn Bretagne Pays de la Loire high-speed rail line by October 13. An extension of the government’s debt guarantee for PPPs beyond December 31 is likely to be crucial for the project to reach financial close.
The Paris-based fund manager has exceeded its target for its debut fundraising by €100m. The ten-year, closed-end fund will focus on acquiring unlisted, brownfield assets located in the Eurozone and is aiming for a 15% IRR.
Public-private partnerships have made their way onto the agenda in California, but constitutional debt restrictions are a possible hindrance. In an exclusive article for Infrastructure Investor, two leading lawyers explore how potential issues can be negotiated.
David Bonderman, TPG’s founder, reportedly has said he is interested in the country’s aviation sector, including airports.
A proposal allowing the French government’s €10bn debt guarantee – which can cover up to 80% of the commercial debt used in public-private partnership deals – to be extended beyond its original closing date of December 31 2010 is set to be sent to the legislature next month.
The Swiss firm’s five MoM contenders are in the final stage of their training programme, and their €50k fundraising effort is also on track.
Tom Sikorski has left the energy-focused private equity giant and is understood to be planning a new venture.
The EU-focused infrastructure investment firm, which is currently raising its debut fund, has appointed three independent members to its management board and investment committee. This follows swiftly from three new hires at Marguerite Advisor, the fund’s advisory company.
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.
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.
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.
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.