Press releases

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

L&G_Olivia_Bayliss_480x480px.jpg

Olivia Bayliss

Head of Communications

Capital and LGIM Real Assets

Notes to editors

LGIMRA is a division of Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM), one of Europe’s largest
institutional asset managers and a major global investor. LGIM manages £1.29 trillion1 ($1.57tn) in
assets, working with a range of global clients, including pension schemes, sovereign wealth funds, fund distributors and retail investors.

LGIM Real Assets has assets under management of £36 billion2 ($43.8bn) and is one of the largest
private markets investment managers in the UK. Investing in both debt and equity and across the
risk/return spectrum, LGIM Real Assets actively invests in and manages assets across commercial,
operational and residential property sectors, as well as infrastructure, real estate, corporate and
alternative debt.

Taking a long-term view in order to future proof our investments, LGIM Real Assets continues to lead the industry in ESG performance, considering all environmental, social and governance issues at asset level as well as portfolio level.

1LGIM internal data as at 30 June 2022. These figures include assets managed by LGIMA, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Data includes derivative positions.
2Source: LGIM Real Assets. AUM data as at 30 June 2022.

*at 13 Jan 2023

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

For professional clients only. Past performance is not a guide to the future. The value of an investment and any income taken from it is not guaranteed and can go down as well as up, you may not get back the amount you originally invested. Views expressed are of LGIM as at 12 January 2023. The Information in this document (a) is for information purposes only and we are not soliciting any action based on it, and (b) is not a recommendation to buy or sell securities or pursue a particular investment strategy; and (c) is not investment, legal, regulatory or tax advice. Legal & General Investment Management Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 02091894. Registered Office: One Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AA. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, No. 119272.

Established in 1836, Legal & General is one of the UK's leading financial services groups and a major global investor, with £1.2 trillion in total assets under management1 of which 40% is international. We have a unique and highly synergistic business model, which continues to drive strong returns. Legal & General provides powerful asset origination and management capabilities directly to clients, which also underpin our leading retirement and protection solutions. We are a leading international player in Pension Risk Transfer, in UK and US life insurance, and in UK workplace pensions and retirement income. Our purpose is to improve the lives of our customers and create value for our shareholders. Through inclusive capitalism, we are investing in long-term assets, such as real estate and infrastructure, that can help build a better society for the future.

1Data as at 31 December 2023.