UK renewable infrastructure manager eyes Australian market
UK-based global renewable infrastructure and private equity manager, with A$5.3 billion under management, Foresight Group, has announced the appointment of Kim Nguyen as its new head of Australian operations to lead its expansion across the Australian energy infrastructure sector.
Nguyen, who had global experience across energy and infrastructure projects, would oversee the launch of new local investment products with a focus on energy and infrastructure. She would also manage the Foresight Renewable Energy Income Fund (FREIF) which was due to launch in August and would look to maximise the opportunities in Australia’s debt markets to provide an attractive risk-adjusted return on infrastructure debt to Australian wholesale investors.
“Kim Nguyen is hugely qualified to lead our Australian operations. She has an impressive track record with market leaders. She will provide the guidance and innovative leadership that will create value for Foresight, its investors, and the Australian economy,” Foresight’s head of infrastructure, Nigel Aitchison, said.
Prior to this, Nguyen held a number of roles at Macquarie Capital, Origin Energy, Hastings Funds Management and established her own investment advisory consultancy.
Foresight, which had more than A$3.7 billion of energy infrastructure assets, including more than 100 operating solar plants in the UK, Southern Europe and Australia, said it also managed A$400 million across four Queensland solar farms and the Bannerton project in Victoria.
The company said its expanded operations in Australia would mirror its portfolio in Europe which covered other energy assets including wind, bioenergy and flexible generation.
Recommended for you
There is one specific risk that is a significantly higher concern for financial services directors compared to companies overall and is impacting their risk appetite, according to the AICD.
Global fund managers are shunning bonds, with the asset class seeing the largest drop in allocations in more than 20 years.
Australian Ethical has seen its funds under management reach $10 billion, driven by organic customer growth and superannuation contributions.
Financial advisers will have access to private equity investments run by WTW for the first time as it launches a pooled fund to provide savers with access to traditionally institutional assets.
