AMP Capital boosts listed infrastructure team

AMP Capital Investors is preparing to introduce a new global listed infrastructure fund to Australian retail investors.

In the lead up to the launch the group has appointed a new senior analyst to its global listed infrastructure team, with former Hastings director of infrastructure securities Charles Hamieh joining the group.

Hamieh will be based in Sydney and will focus on Australian and Asian infrastructure companies. He has more than 12 years experience in the infrastructure field, including more than six years in listed infrastructure and utility securities with AMP Capital. He was most recently director of infrastructure at Hastings and has also acted as manager of Challenger’s global infrastructure fund.

Global listed infrastructure is a relatively new asset class for Australian retail investors. AMP is preparing to launch the AMP Capital Global Infrastructure Securities Fund in the third quarter.

Hamieh joined the group on 6 April and reports to AMP Capital global portfolio manager Craig Noble. Visiting Sydney this week, Noble said the Australian version of the fund would be leveraged off the pre-existing offshore version and would be available to both retail and institutional investors.

Noble said the actively managed fund, while offering a lower expected total return compared to global equities, does offer higher risk-adjusted returns relative to global equities.