Unlisted Infrastructure Investing

Unlock opportunities with our unlisted infrastructure investments

What is unlisted infrastructure investing?

Infrastructure is the backbone of our society. It provides the essential services that we rely on every day, such as transportation, connectivity, energy, water, and sanitation. Infrastructure also plays a vital role in economic growth and development.

However, unlisted infrastructure remains underutilised as a diversifier. Traditional asset classes like equities and fixed income play crucial roles but are more susceptible to broader market volatilities and may be supplemented to meet the long-term return objectives of investors.

The global infrastructure landscape is diverse, encompassing transportation, utilities, and social infrastructure. Unlisted infrastructure within the broader infrastructure sector has a valuation surpassing $10 trillion and is expected to experience substantial growth. Key drivers include the need for enhanced energy efficiency, rising data demands, challenges in digital communications from changing work and lifestyle dynamics, and evolving demographics.

Benefits of investing in unlisted infrastructure:

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Diversification

As a real asset category, infrastructure offers a distinct risk, return and diversification profile relative to other asset classes, and thus merits consideration for a discrete allocation in a diversified portfolio.

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Income generation

Infrastructure investments typically feature steady cash flows derived from tangible, long-life assets with monopoly-like pricing power; many are regulated and may feature income linked directly to inflation.

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Long-term return potential

Secular growth trends in renewables, digital and social. Business models that are effective at harvesting these long-term trends are difficult to access in the listed market.

Why Russell Investments for Unlisted Infrastructure?

Open Architecture

We use thorough research and expertise to build portfolios, seeking distinct sources of return, creating value, and minimising downside risk. We collaborate with managers specialising in unique, hard-to-replicate strategies.

Breadth and Depth of Access

Our extensive manager research, scale, infrastructure, and industry experience enable Russell Investments to secure favourable capacity terms well in advance for our clients.

Our Experience

For 50+ years, Russell Investments has adeptly integrated private markets into institutional portfolios. Our robust governance culture, consulting legacy, and fiduciary mindset ensure tailored solutions aligning with client returns, risk preferences, and regulatory obligations.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Managing risk across vintages and profiles

Creating an unlisted infrastructure portfolio requires investors to maintain the designated exposure in capital and strategic allocations. Closed-end funds, commonly used for this purpose, present challenges due to their fixed legal duration. Navigating commitments, predicting capital calls and distributions is complex, especially with unpredictable business scenarios and blind pool commitments. Closed-end funds' continuous asset changes disrupt portfolio diversification metrics, necessitating ongoing oversight. Conversely, an open-end fund structure provides a streamlined and less complex approach, alleviating these challenges.

Types of unlisted infrastructure assets

There are different types of infrastructure assets and their relative position with respect to expected risk and expected return:

Our unlisted infrastructure solutions

Russell Investments Global Unlisted Infrastructure Fund

The Global Unlisted Infrastructure Fund invests in assets that provide essential services to enable, sustain or enhance economic activity and standards of living, such as Renewables, Digital, Social Utilities, Transportation, and Energy.

Fund Overview

Two-part video segment

Russell Investments' Chairman and CEO, Zach Buchwald sits down for a conversation with Michael Steingold, CFA, Director of Private Markets, to get his perspective on how we're investing in infrastructure and its impact to our daily lives if we invest now.

Part 1: Infrastructure projects that will help create a more renewable world

Part 2: How investing in infrastructure now, will impact our daily lives in the future

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Any opinion expressed is that of Russell Investments, is not a statement of fact, is subject to change and does not constitute investment advice.

The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and is not guaranteed. You may not get back the amount originally invested.

There are no assurances that the investment goals and objectives stated in this material will be met.

Investments in private market securities are generally illiquid as such investments are neither tradable on any exchange or in the secondary market nor would they be transferrable.

Applications for shares in the fund are subject to the terms and conditions set out in the fund’s prospectus, Key Investor Information Document (KIID), memorandum and articles of association. Investors and potential investors are advised to read these documents (and in particular the risk warnings), as well as the further information contained in the annual and half-yearly reports before making an investment.