Fiscal policy, vaccines and green initiatives are creating waves of change in infrastructure. What exactly is infrastructure now, and most importantly what is not infrastructure? This session examined how the digitalization of economies and the shift to renewable energy offer potential long-term growth opportunities in infrastructure; and how it can play a role in long-term investor portfolios.[vc_quotes layout=”accordion” 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title=”Speakers” el_class=””][vc_quotes layout=”accordion” 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title=”Moderator” el_class=””][vc_empty_space height=”10px”]
Key takeaways
In a panel session on opportunities in infrastructure investors noted how technological change is repricing assets and many investors are substituting fixed income with infrastructure debt.
US President Biden’s plans for sweeping infrastructure investment could have important investor consequences around tax cuts and renewables. Driving 5G development will enable greater penetration for tower companies and economically sensitive businesses like freight railway will benefit from growth.
Higher yields can be found in non-investment grade infrastructure allocations, but investors shouldn’t view this as a long-term strategy.
Renewables are often linked to quasi-guaranteed cashflows comprising long-term contracts with lower volatility. In contrast, digital assets will be subject to huge change as the “revolution” continues. Hence the need to adopt a shorter time frame investing in assets over a 3 to 5-year horizon.
In periods of high inflation, infrastructure credit risk falls. This is priced into how debt products are valued in the market, providing a “windfall opportunity.”
Investor areas of focus include renewables, telecoms and digital infrastructure given new trends in remote working.
Data is increasingly helping resolve intermittency challenges in renewables.
Stranded or obsolete assets could spike in traditional energy infrastructure as well as in assets subject to technological change. For example, technological disruption is growing in the satellite space.
Aware Super is considering a return to infrastructure funds after years of favouring direct investments. The infrastructure allocation currently stands at $15 billion and the fund sees benefits to access a “broader set of offerings” and opportunity sets via fund commitments to GPs, its head of infrastructure Mark Hector says.
In 2008 CalSTRS decided on building an exposure to infrastructure that eventually would total $3.5 billion or 2.5 per cent of its more than $148 billion overall portfolio. An experienced investor in other asset classes, it was a relative newcomer to infrastructure.mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3
With more than $A5 billion ($5.3 billion) invested in infrastructure through some 120 different types of assets, AustralianSuper is examining whether diversity is all its cracked up to be when it comes to infrastructure investing. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3
Ireland’s sovereign wealth fund has to delicately balance the twin demands of being a long-term investor with providing capital to rebuild the shattered Irish economy.mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3
This collaborative research looks at the constraints preventing institutional investors from taking their theoretical place of prominence in the market for private infrastructure. It offers insight into how institutional investors can establish internal programs, and details about the challenges of direct investment programs. But, it also concludes that funds managers will still have a crucial
Fiscal constraints around the world, but especially in Europe, are leading to a surge in investment opportunities in various asset classes. Greg Bright reports on one. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3
The Yale endowment has a substantial and growing exposure to green investments with allocations in timberland, emerging markets and venture capital including more than $100 million in cleantech. mrec4inarticleinline Sponsored Content scnative1 scnative2 scnative3
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