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ELTIF, Private Investors

Infrastructure – Mega Market Needs Private Involvement

Infrastructure forms the backbone of a functioning society and economy. From roads and bridges to energy supply and digital networks, infrastructure encompasses a wide range of sectors and projects essential for daily life and economic development. Investments in this area not only offer long-term stability and returns but are also crucial for the future viability of countries like Germany and the European continent.

BlackRock’s latest infrastructure study shows that global megatrends are currently converging on infrastructure:

  • Digital Future: The increase in work outside traditional offices (e.g., home office), video streaming, and artificial intelligence has raised demand for resilient and secure infrastructure, such as more powerful data centers.
  • Geopolitical Pressures: Companies are shortening their supply chains and relying on neighboring and allied suppliers, while countries are increasingly focused on energy security.
  • Demographic Development: The world population is growing. Developing countries need more infrastructure, while industrialized nations struggle with modernization and maintenance with a smaller tax base than before.
  • Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy: New laws, changing business practices, and shifting consumer and investor preferences are driving new energy investments.

Given the growing and intersecting macroeconomic challenges, the “infrastructure” asset class is expected to become one of the fastest-growing segments within private markets. The German Institute for Urban Affairs estimated in the summer of 2023 that the investment needed to meet the EU goal of climate neutrality by 2050 would be €300 billion per year. This exceeds the capacity of traditional sources of infrastructure financing, namely public budgets, even when combined with the real economy and the credit market.

This offers opportunities for private investors to participate in this asset class, with lucrative, long-term return prospects that ELTIF (European Long-Term Investment Funds) in various forms can primarily enable. The first providers have already offered infrastructure ELTIFs with different strategies: from a focused renewable energy approach to broadly diversified, cross-category investments.

 

Infrastructure is everywhere, but what exactly does it include?

Infrastructure can be divided into different categories, each comprising specific projects and investments. The most important and largest categories are:

  • Transportation Infrastructure: This includes roads, highways, bridges, rail networks, airports, and ports.
  • Energy Infrastructure: This comprises power grids, gas pipelines, power plants, and renewable energy facilities such as wind and solar farms.
  • Digital Infrastructure: This includes broadband networks, data centers, and communication systems.
  • Social Infrastructure: Schools, hospitals, public buildings, and social facilities fall into this category.

Importance and Impact of Infrastructure Products in the Private Markets

Not only because of the European Commission’s “Green Deal,” infrastructure products have gained increasing importance in the German and European private markets in recent years. Under this transformation program for the European economy, with the guiding principle of climate and environmental protection, Europe is to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. At the same time, as an industrial plan, it is also a guide for future growth strategies in Europe.

Since the required initial investments are enormous, private capital involvement will be essential. Both institutional investors and wealthy private individuals increasingly recognize the potential of this asset class.

 

What distinguishes infrastructure investments in particular

  • Stable Cash Flows: Infrastructure projects often generate stable and predictable revenues over long periods. For example, airports or utility companies offer regular and consistent income.
  • Inflation Protection: Many infrastructure investments have revenue streams linked to inflation. This provides investors with natural protection against purchasing power losses.
  • Diversification: Infrastructure products offer diversification opportunities for investors as they often have a low correlation with traditional asset classes like stocks and bonds.
  • Value Appreciation: By participating in the development and modernization of infrastructure, investors can benefit not only from ongoing earnings but also from the value appreciation of the underlying assets.

 

What Infrastructure Investment Products Are Available?

There is a vast range of infrastructure products on the private markets. Here are some of the most important:

  • Infrastructure ELTIF: These alternative investment funds often invest in a variety of infrastructure projects and can cover the entire spectrum. They provide access to diversified portfolios of infrastructure assets and allow private investors to participate easily and cost-effectively.
  • Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): These partnerships between public and private sectors enable private investors to participate in the financing, construction, and operation of public infrastructure projects. PPPs typically offer stable returns and are often secured by long-term contracts.
  • Green Bonds: These special bonds are used to finance sustainable infrastructure projects, such as renewable energy or environmentally friendly transportation systems. They are popular among investors who value environmental and social standards.
  • Direct Investments: Wealthy private as well as institutional investors sometimes make direct investments in infrastructure projects to retain full control and capture all the returns. However, this requires considerable capital resources and expertise.

Current Issues, Long-Term Investment

In Germany, in particular, the impacts of outdated infrastructure are almost tangible daily: notoriously delayed trains due to an outdated rail network, damaged roads, dilapidated bridges, paper-based bureaucracy, slower internet compared to the rest of Europe – Germany is living mainly off its substance. Through targeted investments in infrastructure funds, bonds, or direct participation, investors can not only achieve compelling returns but also make an important contribution to economic and societal development.

In an increasingly volatile market environment, these alternative investments serve as a valuable complement to traditional asset classes. As with any private markets investments, a long-term approach is essential, and only funds that will not be needed for several years should be invested.