EIF Backs Vesper Infrastructure’s Latest Fund Close, Boosting Sustainable Infrastructure Investments Across Europe

EIF Backs Vesper Infrastructure’s Latest Fund Close, Boosting Sustainable Infrastructure Investments Across Europe

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Fund (EIF) has committed €75 million to Vesper Next Generation Infrastructure Fund I, bringing total assets to over €570 million. The Fund focuses on promoting clean energy, decarbonised mobility, and sustainable living solutions across Europe. With two significant investments already secured, the EIF’s backing strengthens the Fund’s efforts to accelerate decarbonisation and support the EU’s green transition.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 21-Jan-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Fund (EIF) has committed €75 million to Vesper Next Generation Infrastructure Fund I, bringing the total assets under management to over €570 million. This commitment, supported by InvestEU, will significantly contribute to the acceleration of Vesper Infrastructure’s investment strategy focused on decarbonisation, the sustainable circular economy, and promoting green transition initiatives across Europe.

The Vesper Next Generation Infrastructure Fund I aims to raise €800 million to invest in sustainable infrastructure, targeting opportunities in clean and digital energy, decarbonised mobility, data-centric digital infrastructure, and sustainable living solutions. The Fund’s focus is on projects that advance Europe’s environmental and technological goals, positioning it at the forefront of the continent’s drive for a greener future.

To date, the Fund has secured two major investments: the acquisition of RAD-x, a leading medical diagnostic imaging platform, alongside Swiss Life Asset Managers, and a majority stake in EAG Bioenergy, a developer and operator in the biogas and biomethane sector. These investments exemplify the Fund’s commitment to promoting both clean energy and sustainable infrastructure.

Marjut Falkstedt, Chief Executive of EIF, highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership: “This commitment aligns with our mission to accelerate Europe’s transition to sustainable energy and a circular economy. We are pleased to support Vesper Infrastructure, combining our financial strength with their proven investment expertise to mobilise additional capital, drive decarbonisation, and help build a more sustainable future for Europe.”

Vesper Infrastructure Partners’ Managing Partner, Livio Fenati, expressed his enthusiasm about the EIF’s involvement: “The EIF’s support enhances the scale and breadth of our operations across the EU, further strengthening our ability to identify and deploy capital into high-impact infrastructure projects. Their commitment is a significant endorsement of the Fund’s strategy and the track record of our investment team.”

With its strong backing and continued focus on sustainable infrastructure, the Fund is poised to play a pivotal role in driving Europe’s green transformation.

Background information

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the European Investment Bank Group. Its central mission is to support Europe’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by helping them to access finance. The EIF designs and develops venture and growth capital, guarantees and microfinance instruments which specifically target this market segment. In this role, the EIF fosters EU objectives in support of innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, growth and employment.

Vesper Next Generation Infrastructure Fund I SCSp (“Vesper Infrastructure” or the “Fund”) is a closed-end alternative investment fund based in Luxemburg managed by FundRock LIS S.A, which pursues infrastructure investment opportunities, in next generation infrastructure, by focusing on companies active in (i) Clean, digital and decentralised energy; (ii) Decarbonised mobility and connected logistics; (iii) Date centric, low latency digital infrastructure; and (iv) Sustainable, circular and healthy living solutions.

Vesper Infrastructure Partners SRL (“Vesper Infrastructure Partners”), based in Milan and London (through Vesper Infrastructure Advisory Ltd), acts as advisor to FundRock LIS S.A. in respect of the Fund by providing advice regarding the acquisition, structuring, financing and disposal of the fund’s assets. Established in 2022, Vesper Infrastructure Partners is a specialised value-add infrastructure advisor fully owned by its founding partners, who have more than 120 years of combined investment experience and have executed over €350 billion of infrastructure transactions across Europe.

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery and growth. It also helps mobilise private investments for the European Union’s policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. The InvestEU programme brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments currently available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners that will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment.

Media Contacts:

EIF:

Serena SERTORE, s.sertore@eib.org, tel.: +352 4379 70859

Website: www.eif.org — Media Office +352 4379 21000; press@eib.org

Vespe Infrastructure Partners:

Email: info@vesperam.com – Website: www.vesperam.com

SOURCE: European Investment Fund