SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA // 29 July, 2016: The Global Infrastructure Hub (GI Hub) and EDHEC Infrastructure Institute-Singapore (EDHECinfra) have released the results of study of more than 184 infrastructure investors and advisors, representing approximately USD 8 trillion of global assets under management. The study, released today, is one of the largest such studies undertaken and includes the views of C-level, investment directors and senior advisors in the infrastructure sector.

The study found that investors are increasingly comfortable with long-term investments and less concerned about the lack of liquidity typically associated with infrastructure investment; 81% of respondents intend to hold investments for at least 10 years.

Respondents identified diversification (40%), higher returns (20%) and inflation hedging (12%) as key drivers of their increased weighting to infrastructure investments. Nevertheless, the study found that increased demand for infrastructure investments is fuelling concerns that available capital will exceed the number of available opportunities. 92% of the surveyed investors expressed concerns about the build-up of ‘dry powder’ (or funds allocated to infrastructure in excess of available investment opportunities).

Chris HEATHCOTE, GI Hub CEO said that the study findings will help infrastructure bodies guide regulation and identify opportunities for sector growth, “In an increasingly volatile marketplace, it comes as no surprise that stability in regulation and earnings were listed as two of the most important factors of for investors looking to invest in infrastructure.

“Importantly, the report highlights need for a number of reforms to help galvanise the investment landscape, particularly in emerging markets, including guaranteeing regulatory and contractual stability, minimising policy reversals, and a focus on creating a pipeline of viable projects,” said Chris.

Co-author and Director of EDHECinfra, Dr Frédéric Blanc-Brude said, “The study results were telling of a much needed progress for infrastructure investment management and the study is only the first step to take the market forward. We hope the findings will encourage investors, regulators and policy makers to recognise the importance of creating usable benchmarks for private infrastructure investments that can

measure their risk-adjusted performance to allow investors to better understand the potential of these assets.”

Chris Heathcote continued: “As the market evolves, investors are looking for clearly agreed benchmarks to measure asset class performance. The study found that 70% of investors believe defining infrastructure as an investment class – and all that this entails – will be critical to growth in the sector.”

“We are witnessing a significant shift in the appetite for infrastructure investment. The time is ripe to review and reset the structures, processes and approaches that underpin the sector to create a pipeline of viable projects to meet investor demand and the needs of society,” said Heathcote.

A copy of the study can be found at http://www.globalinfrastructurehub.org/reports/.