News.

London, 01 November – Arcus Infrastructure Partners (“Arcus”) is proud to celebrate another year of strong results in the 2024 GRESB assessment and benchmarking initiative, with excellent scores achieved at both a fund and asset level. The scoring is a demonstration of Arcus’ deep commitment to ESG, achieved through a disciplined and systematic implementation of targeted ESG initiatives in our portfolio assets, underpinned by our asset management framework.

AEIF2 and Portfolio Assets

AEIF2 maintained a 4-star GRESB rating, with the fund’s score increasing by two-points this year to 93 out of a possible 100 points in the GRESB fund assessment.

Constellation, which was sold by the fund in October 2024, scored 99 out of 100 points, an increase of six-points compared to 2023, and received a 5* rating, up from a 4* rating received in 2023. This compares to a score of 67 out of 100 received in the first year of the company’s participation in GRESB. This result reflects Arcus’ dedication to continuously improving Constellation’s ESG approach over the fund’s ownership and represents the significant change that can be generated by the point of exit.

Peacock ranked first out of 695 assets for the Performance module, with 60 out of 60 points. The asset scored 93 out of 100 points overall.

Other AEIF2 assets performed very well, with Horizon, SMA and Swiss4net all receiving 93 out of 100 points. Momentum received a score of 95 out of 100 points, and the HB and Opus scores increased to 77 and 86 points respectively (both out of 100 points).

AEIF3 and Portfolio Assets

AEIF3’s GRESB score increased by 18 points, from 67 to 85 out of 100 points in 2024, the second year of participation. Workdry’s score improved by 35 points, reflecting many of the initiatives Arcus has implemented with the management team during the last year, scoring 89 out of 100 points. The asset improved from a 1* rating in 2023, to a 3* rating in 2024. Officium and Portus participated for the first time in 2024, scoring solid first year results of 67 and 75 points (out of 100) respectively.

Sector Leader

Once again, Arcus European Trains (the Alpha Trains holding partnership) was named Sector Leader in the Infrastructure Fund category, and ranked first in the Transport Sector, scoring 98 out of 100 points. Alpha Trains also received a Sector Leader Award, scoring 100 out of 100 points, ranking first in the Rail Companies category for the third year in a row.

Arcus’ ESG and external benchmark approach

Given Arcus’ singular focus on investments in infrastructure assets, which are often public or community-facing, sustainability is a key area of focus and an important component of the firm’s investment strategy for all managed funds. We believe that our role as a controlling shareholder is deeply custodial in nature and that a thoughtful and active approach to ESG can have significant societal benefits. Importantly, external benchmarking initiatives, such as GRESB, allow Arcus to track performance year-on-year and hold both our team, and portfolio company management, accountable for the delivery of pre-agreed and budgeted ESG plans.

This year represents the eighth year of Arcus’ commitment to the GRESB assessment for both the firm’s funds and underlying assets, having joined GRESB in 2017. All investee companies have been assessed over this period. Arcus is also a member of the GRESB Infrastructure Standards Committee, having joined in October 2018. As best practice in ESG management continues to rapidly evolve, Arcus works hard to uphold the high standards already set and is continuously assessing where further improvements can be made.

For any queries, or if Limited Partners would like to receive a summary of the GRESB benchmark report, please contact the Arcus IR team at investor.relations@arcusip.com.

About GRESB

GRESB is a mission-driven and industry-led organization providing standardized and validated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data to financial markets. Established in 2009, GRESB has become the leading ESG benchmark for real estate and infrastructure investments across the world, used by 150 institutional and financial investors to inform decision-making. For more information, visit GRESB.com.

London, 18 October 2024

This summer, we hosted our second social mobility targeted internship for four university students who are alumni members of The Sutton Trust. One of our interns, Murray, tells us about his experience.

Why did an internship at Arcus appeal to you? 

I was initially drawn to the summer internship at Arcus due to their focus on investment in renewable energy and infrastructure. With my background in renewable energy and a keen interest in the tangible impacts of infrastructure, this internship seemed like an ideal opportunity for professional development. The chance to learn about diligent financial analysis and explore significant investment opportunities was something I couldn’t miss out on! 

How have you found your experience at Arcus? 

My time at Arcus has been thoroughly rewarding. Immersing myself in the private equity industry and the energy infrastructure sector has significantly improved both my technical and soft skills. This growth has been fuelled by the continual support and extensive knowledge shared by all the professionals at Arcus, for which I am extremely grateful. 

What responsibilities did you have during your internship? 

During my six-week internship, I gained valuable exposure to Arcus’ investment process. I engaged in the origination processes, critically analysed prospective investments, and considered market conditions and Arcus’ investment criteria. I honed my technical skills by analysing financial statements, formatting PowerPoints, and Excel documents, and creating databases to assess the suitability of our debt advisors and lenders for future investments. 

What was the most significant thing you learned/experience you had during your internship? 

The most significant thing I learned at Arcus was how to conduct accurate valuations and perform financial forecasts. This exercise, while quantitative, required a strong understanding of market conditions, company performance, and the macro-economy. Developing analytical thinking in this aspect will greatly benefit me in the future, and I am grateful for the excellent guidance and support I received. 

What did you find interesting about the Arcus sector team that you were involved with? 

Within the energy team, I looked at an asset called a ‘Synchronous Condenser’ and found it particularly interesting. This asset stabilises the frequency along the national grid, requiring a unique investment perspective influenced by regulation and global affairs. Learning about the technology behind these investments piqued my intellectual curiosity, making the internship a valuable educational experience in both finance and technology. 

Are there any other growth areas you’re interested in? 

I am particularly interested in the growing industry of smart meters. Arcus’ investments in smart meters, aimed at tackling climate change through improved energy efficiency, fascinate me. I am eager to see how this industry evolves with increasing urbanisation and AI innovations, which will make smart meters more intelligent and efficient. 

What are you looking to do next? 

After this internship, I am confident in my desire to pursue a career in the financial industry, especially within private equity. Analysing companies from an asset management perspective and actively adding value was one of the most enjoyable parts of the internship. The experience at Arcus has been extremely beneficial for my personal and professional development, and I am profoundly thankful for the continual support and guidance from everyone at Arcus. 

London, 08 October 2024 – Arcus Infrastructure Partners (“Arcus”) is delighted to announce the appointment of Ronak Patel as Partner and Head of Capital Formation & Investor Relations.   

Ronak joins Arcus from Campbell Lutyens, where he was a Partner in the firm’s infrastructure and energy transition practice and where his responsibilities included investor distribution, mandate origination, and fundraising execution. Ronak brings with him over 18 years of fundraising, investor communications, and GP advisory experience.  He has worked on over 35 fundraising mandates, representing c. €30 billion of aggregate investor commitments.

Ian Harding, Managing Partner at Arcus, comments: “We are very pleased to welcome Ronak to Arcus. He joins at an exciting time for our business following the closing of AEIF3 earlier this year. We continue to believe that strong, long-term relationships with our investors are key to the continued success of Arcus. With Ronak’s appointment, and the wider growth of our investor relations team over the last year, we believe that Arcus is well-placed to offer not only outstanding investment returns but also a best-in-class investor service to our underlying limited partners.

Ronak Patel, Partner and Head of Capital Formation & Investor Relations at Arcus, adds: “I am delighted to be joining Arcus. I have known and admired the team for many years whilst at Campbell Lutyens, with the team having demonstrated a truly differentiated investment approach within the European mid-market infrastructure space. I am thrilled to have an opportunity to contribute to the firm’s journey over the years to come.”

About Arcus
Arcus Infrastructure Partners is an independent fund manager focused solely on long-term investments in European infrastructure. Arcus invests on behalf of institutional investors through discretionary funds and specialist co-investment vehicles and, through its subsidiaries, currently manages investments with an aggregate enterprise value of c. €24n (as of 30 June 2024). Arcus targets mid-market, value-add infrastructure investments, with a particular focus on businesses in the digital, transport, logistics & industrials, and energy sectors. Further information on Arcus Infrastructure Partners can be found on .www.arcusip.com.