Northleaf Capital Partners reaches $500 million in capital commitments for infrastructure program; expands investment team

TORONTO, June 12, 2012 /CNW/ - Northleaf Capital Partners, Canada's largest independent global private markets fund manager and advisor, is pleased to announce that its infrastructure investment program, which was launched in mid-2011, has reached approximately $500 million in capital commitments across its infrastructure co-investment fund and customized investment mandates.  Northleaf's infrastructure program is focused on direct investments in OECD markets and is currently in advanced due diligence on several promising investment opportunities.

"We are very pleased with the progress of our infrastructure investment program and the confidence demonstrated by leading investors and consultants in our team, investment strategy and track record," said Stuart Waugh, Managing Partner of Northleaf. "Our innovative approach is designed to overcome the implementation challenges facing both large and small institutions seeking cost-effective access to long-term infrastructure investments."

"Northleaf's infrastructure funds provide access to attractive investment opportunities alongside leading institutional investors, infrastructure fund managers and strategic operators," said Jamie Storrow, Managing Director and co-head of Northleaf's infrastructure program. "We are building relationships with industry partners who share our long-term investment goals and are actively seeking opportunities that fit our focus on direct equity or equity-like investments in mature and greenfield contracted, regulated and GDP-driven assets."

In parallel with its successful fundraising, Northleaf has expanded its investment team with the appointment of George Zakem as Managing Director and co-head of its infrastructure program. George joined Northleaf in 2011 as a Senior Advisor after a decade at the Macquarie Group, where he participated in some of the most prominent and successful infrastructure transactions in Canada and was most recently head of the firm's Public-Private Partnership (PPP) team in Toronto. Previously, George held senior positions with TD Securities in the Government and Infrastructure Projects group and worked as a project management engineer.

"I am delighted to have joined Northleaf to help build an innovative, market-leading infrastructure business as a key component of Northleaf's global private markets platform" said George Zakem.  "Over the past nine months, we have made excellent progress with our deal sourcing and origination program and we are excited by the scope and scale of the opportunities ahead."

Northleaf also recently welcomed Olivier Laganière as an Associate. Olivier joined Northleaf's Toronto office from the Infrastructure Finance Group at RBC Dominion Securities. He was previously with the Macquarie Group's infrastructure team in Toronto.

Northleaf is continuing to raise capital for Northleaf Infrastructure Co-Investment Partners (the "Fund").  The Fund provides cost-effective access to a diversified portfolio of mature, conservatively-positioned core infrastructure assets in OECD countries. The Fund is focused on assets that generate stable, long-term cash flows and deliver incremental returns relative to conventional fixed income investments. Additional closings are anticipated over the next nine to twelve months.

Northleaf's infrastructure program is part of the firm's global private markets investment business. Northleaf currently manages over $4 billion of private markets commitments through five global private equity funds, a specialist private equity secondary fund, an infrastructure co-investment fund and a series of customized private equity and infrastructure investment mandates tailored to meet the specific investment and governance objectives of institutional investors. Northleaf's clients include corporate, public and multi-employer pension plans, endowments, foundations, government agencies, financial institutions and family offices.

About Northleaf Capital Partners
Northleaf Capital Partners is Canada's largest independent global private markets fund manager and advisor.  Founded in 2009, following the successful spin-out of TD Capital Private Equity Investors, Northleaf invests on behalf of leading institutional investors, including the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.  Northleaf's 55-person team operates from offices in Toronto, Canada, London, UK and Menlo Park, USA. Northleaf's global investment program has produced top-quartile returns since its inception in 1969 and currently includes more than 200 active private markets fund, secondary and direct co-investments in 13 countries. For more information, please visit www.northleafcapital.com.

Investor and media inquiries: 
Jeff Pentland
Managing Director
t: 416.477.6165
e: [email protected]

Transaction-related inquiries:
Jamie Storrow
Managing Director
t: 416.477.6721
e: [email protected]

George Zakem
Managing Director
t: 416.477.6509
e: [email protected]