UK-based investor Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA) is preparing to bid for Latin American social infrastructure projects through a new USD 250m fund vehicle, Inframation understands.  A source with knowledge of SEC-registered vehicle Andean Social Infrastructure Fund told Inframation that the fund is targeting social infrastructure investments in Chile,

Erik Savi, global head of infrastructure debt within BlackRock Alternative Investors is departing the asset management firm, Inframation has learned. Since joining BlackRock in 2013, Savi was responsible for building up BlackRock’s Infrastructure debt strategy globally, managing the platform’s investment origination activity and leading the development

At least four infrastructure funds and telecommunication companies are understood to be considering bidding for French telecoms giant TDF, although its broadcast services may put off some bidders. Switzerland-headquartered Partners Group is understood to be considering bidding for Brookfield’s 45% and PSP Investments’ 22.5% stakes in TDF, which

The NSW Coalition government will sink AUD 6.4bn (USD 4.5bn) into Sydney Metro West if it wins this months’ state election, it said on Sunday (3 March).  Construction is now due to start next year - about a year earlier than originally planned - on the huge project, which will transport commuters about 26km from the western suburb of Parramatta

The redevelopment of Sydney’s Circular Quay is sailing closer to reality with Plenary Group and Lendlease’s Capella Capital vying for the circa AUD 2bn (USD 1.43bn) project.   On offer is the right to give the Circular Quay wharves a major face lift. The precinct is a hub for transport and tourism - its home to museums, shops, ferry, bus and

The NSW government is racing to settle Acciona’s AUD 1.1bn (USD 790m) claim for cost blowouts on the Sydney Light Rail project before going into caretaker mode for the state election on Friday, Inframation understands. Adviser sources close to the negotiation said the parties were trying to finalise an agreement this week, but a government source

PV Operations Europe will host hundreds of PV Asset Owners and investors to discuss maximising the profitability of their plants and optimising power output on 27-28th February in Munich.

China’s Silk Road Fund will team up with Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power in renewable investments along the Belt and Road countries. The USD 40bn fund signed an agreement with the Saudi Arabian power investor and developer in Beijing. The agreement will see the Chinese fund invest in ACWA Power Renewable Energy Holding, the renewable offshoot of ACWA

Colombian authorities abandoned the country's long-term energy auction in a public ceremony on 26 February as requirements for competition were not fulfilled. Minister for Mining and Energy María Fernanda Suárez and Ricardo Ramírez, director at the agency of planning for energy and mining (UPME), said that authorities decided to abandon the process

Seven international consortia responded to an RFQ for the 20-year, USD 4.4bn Bogotá Metro concession, public company Empresa Metro de Bogotá (EMB) announced. In a 25 February statement, EMB announced the following teams, including bidders from Asia, Central America and Europe:​​​​ - Consorcio Metro de Bogotá: FCC concesiones de infraestructura,

Macquarie Capital has appointed Gabrielle Gauthey, an investment director at Caisse des Depots et Consignations, as a senior advisor to its EMEA infrastructure and energy group’s Paris office. Gauthey (pictured) joined Caisse des Depots in 2015, where she has sat on its executive committee and led investments across infrastructure, real estate

The city of Ottawa officially selected preferred proponents for both the Trillium Line Extension and the Confederation Line extension, according to 22 February public documents. SNC Lavalin’s affiliate TransitNEXT was selected as the preferred proponent for the Trillium line, while East-West Connectors was selected as the preferred proponent for the

OMERS Infrastructure acquired a 22.4% stake in IndInfravit Trust, which holds a portfolio of five operational toll road concessions throughout India, for INR 8.7bn (USD 122.3m), a 22 February press release states. L&T Infrastructure Development Projects Ltd (L&T IDPL), a subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T), built and operates the toll roads. L&T

Aberdeen Standard Investments is understood to be seeking to add two new members of staff to its infrastructure investment team following the departure of Nicholas Ritter from the firm this month, Inframation can reveal. The London-headquartered team is understood to be looking to add two new investment managers to the team headed by Dominic Helmsley

Two of China’s biggest funds focusing on outbound infrastructure and energy investments, among others, have merged amid a senior management reshuffle. The USD 10bn China-LAC Industrial Cooperation Fund and the USD 10bn China-Africa Industrial Cooperation Fund (CAFIC) have been undergoing a restructuring process over the last few months and are now

Jefferies Financial Group has enticed two experienced infrastructure bankers from RBC Capital Markets in Sydney. Sources close to RBC confirmed head of M&A for Asia-Pacific, Tim Foy - who also led the investment bank’s infrastructure practice - and Vice President, Shyamal Chand, resigned on Monday (18 February) evening. It is understood the pair

Mexico has announced that the Tren Maya rail project will be financed through a mixed investment scheme. A part of the investment - approximately 10% - will be public funding and the rest will be privately financed. The estimated cost of the 30-year concession could be MXN 150bn (USD 7.74bn). The scheme implies that USD 774m of that will be publicly

Five banks from Europe and Asia are lending to the AUD 1.26bn (USD 893m) PPP supplying new trains for the NSW regional rail service TrainLink.  Sources familiar said these are Spanish bank Caixa, KDB Bank, HSBC, MUFG Bank and Societe Generale under a mini-perm structure, with tenor of around seven years. Caixa, HSBC and Societe Generale are each lending

China Merchants Port is slowing down marginally on its overseas investments for 2019 as the company is now focusing more on post-merger integration and optimisation of assets. The state-owned Chinese port operator has been actively exploring both brownfield and greenfield deal opportunities in Southeast Asia since last year. The company will not rule

The UK-based renewable developer Atlantica Yield announced on a market filing that the company formed a strategic review committee to evaluate “a wide range of strategic alternatives available.” The company did not set a timetable of the review, the filling added. Atlantica Yield, formerly Abengoa Yieldco, was created initially as a subsidiary

Grantors for the Pattullo Bridge replacement project have shortlisted three teams and concurrently issued a request for proposals (RFP), British Columbia officials announced 14 February. The teams shortlisted for the CAD 1.38bn (USD 1.04bn) project are: -Fraser Community Connectors: Kiewit, TY Lin International and Bridge Technologies Inc. -Flatiron/Dragados/Carlson

Information memoranda for the sale of a majority stake in French telecoms giant TDF are scheduled to be released this month, with the sale enterprise value expected to be up to EUR 7.1bn, sources said. Antin Infrastructure Partners is believed to be considering bidding, two sources said. Another expected bidder is Spanish telecommunications business

Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) is understood to be in exclusive negotiations to acquire the UK nursing home chain Barchester Healthcare, although completion of the sale is expected to be delayed due to brexit and economic uncertainty. The London-headquartered fund manager, which is being advised by Gleacher Shacklock, is believed to

AMP Capital was one of the only saving graces for its disgraced parent company, which unveiled a 97% profit slump after a tumultuous year following a Royal Commission into financial services.    AMP posted a 35% fall in full year underlying profit to AUD 680m (USD 481.8m) in the year to 31 December from AUD 1.04bn the previous year.   Chief

New South Wales confirmed on Thursday (14 February) that the Momentum Trains consortium had been awarded the AUD 2.8bn (USD 2bn) Regional Rail PPP, as foreshadowed. The consortium includes CAF Investment Projects, CIMIC subsidiaries Pacific Partnerships, CPB Contractors and UGL as well as DIF Infrastructure V Coöperatief. The project - which includes

Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corp, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, and Development Bank of Japan have launched an infrastructure equity fund of up to JPY 30bn (USD 270m) earmarked for investment into UK offshore wind power projects. The three companies said in their joint release Thursday (14 February) that they have launched Spring Infrastructure

SUEZ NWS is stepping up its expansion in China’s Greater Bay Area with waste and water treatment deals in Zhuhai and Macau. The JV between French environment giant SUEZ and Hong Kong’s NWS has agreed to DBFOM an industrial wastewater treatment project in the Gaolan Port Economic Zone (GPEZ) of Zhuhai city, southern Guangdong province.   The

Two major Spanish companies are among those eyeing a 70% stake in the Cartagena –Barranquilla highway, sources told Inframation. Among the bidders are Spanish road operators Globalvia and Roadis, it is understood. Companies are expected to present indicative bids at the end of March. Winning the asset would mark a Colombia entry for both companies,

San Diego-based energy infrastructure company Sempra engaged Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) to sell its South American assets, the company confirmed.  Sempra owns 100% of Chilquinta, 83.6% of Luz del Sur and participations in energy services companies Tecnored and Tecsur, according to Sempra’s 2017 annual report.  Two sources familiar

Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) is understood to be in exclusive talks to buy Bayer’s 60% stake in German chemicals storage company Currenta, in a deal expected to take longer than usual to complete because of the business’ pension liabilities and the position of its minority shareholder. The manager is believed to have entered into

EQT Infrastructure has acquired a Texas gas compression services firm from The Stephens Group, an 11 February EQT announcement states. EQT bought Kodiak Gas Services, which provides compression equipment and services to the oil and natural gas industry, from its EQT Infrastructure III vehicle. EQT plans to fund the firm’s continued expansion, the

London asset manager Foresight Group and Italian investor VEI Green have secured up to EUR 90m in capital for their second renewables investment platform since its launch last year, Inframation sister title SparkSpread has learnt. Foresight and VEI Green, which is majority owned by Palladio Holding, have together committed around 30% of this capital

Student accommodation at ANU Canberra could now be sold in its entirety after one of the shareholders opted not to buy out seller ASX-listed Infratil, said two sources familiar with the matter.   In a new development, Australia's Commonwealth Super has chosen not to take up its pre-emptive rights on the 50% Infratil shareholding and could even

US law firm Vinson & Elkins (V&E) has hired Eamon Nolan from Linklaters to work in their Energy, Transactions and Projects group. Nolan, who will be based in New York, told Inframation that while his career to date has largely been focused on energy project financing in Latin America, he has done a significant amount of telecommunications and infrastructure

CIMIC has named the AUD 8bn (USD 5.8bn) North East Link PPP, the AUD 3bn Inland Rail PPP and the first stage of the AUD 4bn-AUD 6bn Auckland Light Rail project as bid prospects in its latest annual results. The ASX-listed construction and finance company included these projects in its customary list of deals it is either “bidding on or has been shortlisted

Japanese trading house Marubeni said Tuesday (5 February) that it is seeking project financing for a 105MW solar project in Oman.     Marubeni said in its release that the special purpose company, launched jointly with local firms, has signed a contract with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO). Under the accord, electricity produced at the solar farm,

When Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) hired ex-DWS banker Philip Mikkelsen to spearhead a push into Scandinavian infrastructure last summer, the infrastructure investor had recently led the acquisition of Denmark’s biggest telecoms company and was gearing up for further M&A activity in the region.  Six months later, MIRA faces the

The Quezon City local government has not received any rival proposals for the waste to energy (WtE) project initiated by a Metro Pacific Investments Corp-led consortium under a Swiss Challenge process in the Philippines. Next the Quezon City Council will need to approve the proposal submitted by the Metro Pacific Investments Corp (MPIC), Covanta Energy

Morgan Stanley has a mandate to sell a minority stake in Lima’s Jorge Chávez international airport, Inframation understands.  The sellside advisor was hired to sell a 29.99% stake in the airport held by IFC (19.99%) and the Fund for Investment in Infrastructure, Public Services and Natural Resources (10%), managed by Peruvian investor AC Capitales.

Corsair Infrastructure Partners’ newly established investment fund has closed on the acquisition of Vantage Airport Group from Gateway Infrastructure Investments, another CIP-managed fund, according to a 4 February press release. The new CIP-managed fund, Corsair Vantage Partners, is a perpetual partnership with no fixed duration, and is capitalized

Infrastructure fund-owned Finnish energy group Elenia is preparing a sale of its district heating business as it looks to focus on its electricity distribution business, sources said. Elenia recently appointed DC Advisory and Danske Bank to advise on the process, it is understood. Elenia is owned by Allianz Capital Partners (45%), Macquarie Super Core

JP Morgan Asset Management led a consortium of several institutional investors who consolidated their ownership of the passenger terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, according to a recent press release. The acquisition represents a consolidation of ownership in the passenger terminal by core infrastructure investors who have a long-term investment

As countries in the West turn inwards and foreign investment rules shift in the name of national security, Australia's Queensland Investment Corp (QIC) is in the middle of a global pivot, placing bids for grid assets in Denmark, ports in Poland and PPPs in the US. “We are more outward focused and are moving people offshore, focusing on transport, energy

A developer backed by Partners Group and CWP Renewables has held preliminary discussions with lenders about financing a 150 MW wind project in New South Wales, market sources told our sister publication SparkSpread. The developer, Grassroots Renewable Energy Platform, is looking to arrange financing for the 150 MW Bango wind project, according to the

Essel Infraprojects is in talks to sell its solar energy portfolio to Actis and has also put its road portfolio on the block, sources said. Essel has 685MW solar capacity, including six operational projects and six under development projects. “The negotiations for the solar assets are in the final stages, due diligence is on and if all goes well

Virginia has signed agreements with Transurban to deliver four projects along the I-495 and the I-95, according to a 29 January statement issued by Governor Ralph S. Northam. Transurban signed a project development agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for the Capital Beltway Express Lanes Northern Extension project, which

Asterion Industrial Partners is moving towards a first close of its inaugural infrastructure fund, just five months after it launched its maiden strategy. Founded by former KKR head of energy and infrastructure Jesús Olmos, Asterion Industrial is understood to be targeting a first close in the region of EUR 450m for Asterion Industrial Infra Fund I

Nova Scotia has shortlisted three teams for its CAD 285m (USD 214.89m) Highway 104 Twinning P3 project. The three shortlisted teams are Atlantic Safelink Partners, Dexter Nova Alliance and Osprey Transportation Solutions, according to a 24 January press release. A source told Inframation that the three teams include the following firms: •  

Portuguese motorway investor Brisa is considering taking legal action against hedge fund Strategic Value Partners (SVP), which last week decided to take over ownership of Auto Estradas do Douro Litoral (AEDL). A consortium of lenders led by SVP on 24 January announced its decision to take over AEDL, saying that the Portuguese concessionaire had been

An inquiry into the Sydney Light Rail has called for a review of the "effectiveness" of Public Private Partnership contracts for significant state infrastructure projects.    The call to tighten up PPP contracts were among the findings of a NSW parliamentary inquiry released today (25 January) into the bungled construction of the CBD and Eastern

Japanese trading house Marubeni and Mizuho Bank said Friday (25 January) they have launched a new infrastructure equity fund for overseas investment, aiming to eventually bring the fund’s size to JPY 50bn (USD 456m). Marubeni, Mizuho Bank and Mizuho’s Asset Management One (AM-One) unit, jointly set up MM Capital Partners in November 2018, which

Canadian infrastructure investor Brookfield is talking to investment banks about selling its regional distribution company Empresa de Energía de Boyacá (EBSA), two sources briefed told Inframation. The first source said that it is still very early in the process a sellside advisor has not been mandated as of yet. Brookfield acquired the distribution

France’s Engie and equity partner CDPQ are in talks with at least seven banks to arrange acquisition financing for a 90% stake in the TAG pipeline in Brazil, Inframation understands. Multiple sources involved in the deal said they are canvassing BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, Société Génerale, MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho and ING to participate in the financing

Qatar’s Nebras Power is considering making a bid to acquire Malakoff Corp.’s 50% interest in the 420 MW Macarthur wind farm in Victoria, market sources told our sister publication SparkSpread.  Malakoff has lined up Rothschild to advise on the sale, which has not yet launched, the sources said.  New Zealand’s H.R.L. Morrison, which owns the

AMP Capital has launched a dedicated global direct investments team, the firm announced, looking to tap LPs aiming to co-invest alongside AMP’s equity funds. The move comes amid a “growing preference” for direct equity investments among institutional investors, AMP said in a 24 January press release. Dylan Foo, AMPs Head of Infrastructure Equity,

Chinese state-owned company COSCO Shipping has signed a co-investment agreement with Peruvian mining company Volcan at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to develop a USD 3bn port.  According to a 23 January stock exchange filing from Volcan, Cosco Shipping Ports Limited has agreed to pay USD 225m through a capital increase for a 60% equity

John Laing Group plc appointed Luciana Germinario as Chief Financial Officer-designate to replace current CFO Patrick O’Donnell Bourke, Inframation has learned. Germinario will come to John Laing from her prior position as CFO at Eight Roads Ventures, the principal investment division of Fidelity International Ltd., according to the 23 January announcement. She

Macquarie Infrastructure Debt Investment Solutions’ (MIDIS) newly-hired Americas head Magali Cohen will be part of a global team that oversees USD 8.4bn of committed capital. Cohen, who replaces Ariel Jankelson, joined from Investec. Her new title is senior VP. Jankelson is leaving his New York-based post for Sydney, as reported. The committed

Law firm K&L Gates has beefed up its energy and infrastructure teams in Australia this month. The latest to join the law firm in Sydney is Matt Baumgurtel, the firm announced on Tuesday (22 January). Baumgurtel started the month as a partner in the firm's energy, infrastructure and resources team. He was previously the general counsel and company

A rule change by the Indian government is luring global investors to the country’s biggest airport privatization drive. Sources familiar with the matter said global investors preparing to bid in the process include Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), PSP Investments-backed AviAlliance, Macquarie Group, Sydney-based AMP Capital, Fairfax, Zurich Airport,