Press release

Legal & General appoints infrastructure strategist as it increases exposure to clean energy and transport infrastructure

LGIM Real Assets (Legal & General) announces that it has appointed Marija Simpraga as Infrastructure Strategist as it continues to successfully build its infrastructure capabilities, investing in strategic infrastructure assets which stimulate economic growth.

7 Dec 2017


Marija previously worked at Bloomberg as European Utilities Equity Research Associate and Team Leader, where she focused on clean energy and the equity side of the infrastructure market. In her new role at LGIM Real Assets, Marija will report to Rob Martin, Director of Research, and be responsible for view formation and thought leadership on infrastructure investment opportunities, as well as contributing to fund strategy and the development of new investment products.

LGIM Real Assets has been investing in infrastructure assets since 2012. With approximately £3 billion of infrastructure debt now invested, LGIM Real Assets is an active investor in all key social and economic infrastructure sectors across the UK, Europe and the US. Its largest investment to date is the £400m London Gateway Port refinancing with investment activity expected to increase further.

This year LGIM Real Assets has broadened its activities across the infrastructure sectors, including clean energy and transport. Key deals include: its first debt investment into the UK offshore wind sector to support the Walney extension, the world’s largest offshore wind farm; first and second rail-related private debt investments, including its investments into the new fleet of south western trains and High Speed 1 (HS1), the high-speed railway connecting London to the Channel Tunnel; and first US renewables debt transaction with solar portfolio funding.

Rob Martin, Director of Research, said: "Marija is an excellent addition to our team. This year we have made significant moves into a number of key sectors of the infrastructure market and Marija’s expertise in clean energy and equity will help support our ambitions to continue to grow and expand our offering to clients. Following our first investment into UK offshore wind, we have a strong appetite for future investments across a range of sectors. We are also looking to expand into the equity side of the market and Marija’s experience will prove invaluable."

Bill Hughes, Head of LGIM Real Assets, said: "We have made a number of senior hires this year which have allowed us to further bolster our investment capabilities in new emerging sub-sectors while also capitalising on the synergies that exist across our infrastructure, property and corporate credit businesses. The speed with which we have grown our capabilities and our ability to deploy capital into strategic assets is testament to our holistic real assets strategy and the deep cross sector expertise that we have now embedded into our business."

Legal & General has invested £12 billion in UK infrastructure, direct investments and urban regeneration projects to date, and aims to invest £15 billion. Long-term capital is a good match for investment into new assets, providing income for pension funds and stimulating UK economic growth.

Further information

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Olivia Bayliss

Head of Communications

Capital and LGIM Real Assets

Notes to editors