Record European infrastructure fund to invest in transport projects

Ardian said raised what it claims is the largest infrastructure fund ever raised by a European firm "in a matter of months".

Around €1 billion of the fund has already been committed to four high profile investments, Ardian said. The fund will invest in 2i Aeroporti, the largest airport holding in Italy, in April; in a Portuguese toll-road network operator in July, in a Spanish and UK oil and storage transport company in September; and in French strategic oil storage and transport company Géosel in September.

The funds investors include European, North American and Asian pension funds, insurance companies and sovereign wealth funds, Ardian said. "In particular there was a breakthrough in take up from US investors, illustrating the attraction of the mature European infrastructure market," Ardian said.

This is the fourth infrastructure fund raised by Ardian. The third, in 2013, raised €1.75 billion, the company said.

Over €900 billion of the investments are from new investors, Ardian said, while investment from the company's existing investor base exceeded the total of the third fund.

Dominique Senequier, president of Ardian, said: "Closing a fund that surpasses the size of its predecessor by 50% is a huge achievement for the Ardian Infrastructure team. The speed at which this process was conducted demonstrates the market recognition of the team, while the amount re-committed by existing investors lies as a testament to the performance of our [third] Fund."