Igneo opens private infrastructure strategy to advised investors

Igneo Infrastructure Partners has launched its first private infrastructure fund for advised and wholesale investors in Australia.

Igneo said the fund expands access to an asset class that has historically been reserved for institutional investors.

The Igneo Australia New Zealand Private Infrastructure Fund (APIF) provides exposure to a diversified portfolio of predominantly Australian and New Zealand infrastructure assets through the firm's Australia New Zealand Diversified Infrastructure Fund.

The launch marks the first time Australian advised retail and wholesale investors will be able to access Igneo's private infrastructure capability, which has until now been available exclusively to institutional clients.

The strategy invests across sectors including renewable energy, water and wastewater, digital infrastructure, distributed energy and embedded network solutions, and transport and mobility. Igneo said the portfolio is designed to balance long-term growth opportunities with active asset optimisation.

Igneo Australia and New Zealand head and partner Danny Latham said expanding access to private infrastructure reflected growing demand from investors seeking diversified sources of long-term returns.

"Private infrastructure has traditionally been limited to institutional investors but can be an attractive asset class for those seeking long-term capital growth as well as diversification and inflation protection characteristics," Latham said.

"With APIF, private infrastructure is now within reach to a broader investor base, enabling advised and wholesale investors in Australia to benefit from Igneo's global track record and active asset management capabilities."

The fund offers exposure through a stapled structure comprising of two unregistered Australian unit trusts, which is the Australia New Zealand Diversified Infrastructure Fund (Passive) and the Australia New Zealand Diversified Infrastructure Fund (Active).

This follows last year's leadership expansion at Igneo Infrastructure Partners, when the infrastructure manager promoted Carolyn Pearce and Daniel Timms to partner roles.

The appointments expanded Igneo's senior leadership team and reflected the firm's focus on strengthening capital raising and investor engagement capabilities as it continued to grow its global infrastructure investment platform.