Infrastructure Investor Digital Infrastructure Forum 2021

Jussi Ahonen

Head of Digital Infrastructure and Solutions, Finnfund

Jussi works as a Senior Investment Manager at Finnfund, leading the origination and execution of Telecommunications, Technology, and Fintech -sector investments.

Recent transactions include investments into Lebanese Telecom-ESCO company IPT Powertech, South African based financial technology firm JUMO World, and a leading telecommunications operator in Iraq, Zain Iraq.

Prior joining Finnfund Jussi was a corporate finance advisor at EY and worked in various emerging markets investment banking roles at Standard Bank plc. Jussi holds a master’s degree in finance from Durham University and a bachelor’s degree in international business.

Finnfund

Finnfund is a development financier which builds a sustainable world by investing in responsible and profitable businesses in developing countries. We provide businesses operating in developing countries with risk capital, long-term investment loans, mezzanine financing and expertise on how to invest in the developing markets.

We expect our projects to be profitable, socially and environmentally responsible and produce measurable development impact in their target countries. Finnfund invests in businesses that drive sustainable development, whether they are companies are already operational or in the process of being set up.

Every year, we make 20-30 new investments worth 180-250 million euros and our current portfolio plus undisbursed decisions is nearly 1 billion euros.

Matteo Andreoletti

Head of Infrastructure Equity - Europe & North America, Whitehelm Capital

Matteo leads Whitehelm’s equity investment activities in Europe & North America for economic infrastructure and digital investments. He is a partner of Whitehelm’s European Infrastructure Fund, a mid-market focused core infrastructure strategy, and the Smart City Infrastructure Fund, a global investment program with a unique focus on next generation digital infrastructure and smart city applications. Matteo is a board member of SiFi Networks, one of the largest community-wide open access fiber developer in the USA, and Saren Infrastructure, the owner of energy-related investments in the Nordics with focus on sustainable technologies and circular economy. His investment experience at Whitehelm also includes Connexin’s IoT networks, Kvitebjørn Varme’s district heating and Kinland’s social infrastructure portfolio. Prior to joining Whitehelm, Matteo held roles at Macquarie, Societe Generale and Natixis where he was involved in the development of private financing for major infrastructure projects in continental Europe. Matteo holds an M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering from the Ecole Centrale Paris and the Politecnico di Torino, and studied finance and business administration at the Collège des Ingénieurs in Paris.

Whitehelm Capital

Whitehelm Capital is one of the worlds most experienced infrastructure managers, partnering with clients to invest in true infrastructure assets for over 23 years. With €6.7 billion in direct infrastructure debt and equity investments made since inception, and €3.7 billion of funds currently under management. Whitehelm invests in true infrastructure assets that protect investment value, while providing predictable cash returns.

The firm is majority staff-owned, with employees owning 70%, and benefits from an independent perspective and experienced investment managers. Whitehelm has successfully generated attractive returns from infrastructure assets for its investors for over two decades and through several economic cycles.

Canan Anli

Senior Advisor, PMP Strategy

Canan specializes in TMT and Digital Infrastructure investments. Before joining PMP, Canan spent the last 10 year with Mubadala Investment Company where most recently she was heading the new investments in ICT and Digital Infrastructure. Prior to that Canan was a consultant with McKinsey. Canan holds an MSc in Earthquake Engineering from Bogazici University and an MBA from INSEAD.

PMP Strategy is a boutique strategy consult.ancy firm with 150 consultants in 8 offices: Paris, London, Madrid, Brussels, Casablanca, Dubai, Montreal and Toronto with a strong sector focus to create a differentiated, highly insightful and impactful offering in TMT, Transport/Mobility/Tourism, Energy, Retail and Banking/Insurance sectors. In addition to all the traditional strategy management consulting subjects, PMP has strong practice in Innovation & Transformation, Digital, Big Data, Client Capital, Finance & Performance and Due Diligence.

Dr. Dmitriy Antropov

Co-Head Private Infrastructure Integrated Investments, Managing Director, Partners Group

Dr. Dmitriy Antropov is Co-Head of the Private Infrastructure Integrated Investments business unit, based in Zug. He is a member of the Private Infrastructure Investment Committee. Dmitriy is leading Partners Group datacenter thematic globally and has been involved in multiple digital infrastructure investments in the US, Europe and Asia. He has been with Partners Group since 2008 and has 17 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Partners Group, he worked at UniCredit Group, L.E.K. Consulting and Apax Partners. He holds a PhD in world economics from Financial University under the Government of Russian Federation, Moscow. He is also a Financial Risk Manager.

Partners Group

Partners Group is a leading global private markets firm. Since 1996, we have invested over USD 170 billion in private equity, private debt, private real estate, and private infrastructure on behalf of our clients globally. We seek to generate strong returns through capitalizing on thematic growth trends and transforming attractive businesses and assets into market leaders. We are a committed, responsible investor and aim to create sustainable returns with lasting, positive impact for all our stakeholders. Partners Group received USD 25 billion in new commitments from its global client base in 2021 (2020: USD 16 billion), bringing the firm's total assets under management ("AuM") to USD 127 billion as of 31 December 2021, an increase of 17% year on year. Partners Group is fully aligned with our clients and provide bespoke solutions to institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and private investors globally.
We have over 1,500 employees, including more than 500 private markets investment professionals, across 20 offices. Our global footprint is built on the deep experience and expertise of our local teams.

Oliver Bradley

Managing Director, Macquarie Capital

Oliver Bradley is Managing Director, Digital Infrastructure Investing at Macquarie Capital, the advisroy, capital markets and principal investment arm of Macquarie Group Limited. The Digital Infrastructure team invests directly in and supports the growth of companies that are facilitating the increasing data consumption of businesses and consumers, including fibre networks and data centres.

Since returning to Macquarie in 2019 (he previously worked at the firm from 2005-15), Oliver has led Macquarie Capital's investment into Voneus, a UK rural Fixed Wireless to Fibre broadband developer and Onivia, a new SPV Macquarie established to acquire Fibre to the Home networks in Spain, creating Spain's first wholesale only FTTH network with a footprint in excess of 3.5m homes.

Prior to re-joining Macquarie, Oliver was Corporate Finance Director at CityFibre, the wholesale FTTx business and largest UK Altnet. Before CityFibre, Oliver was a commercial specialist at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, part of the UK government. There he advised ministers on digital infrastructure policy and was responsible for the Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund, which saw the UK government commit £400m, matched by private sector investors on the same terms, to invest in UK fibre.

Macquarie Capital Infrastructure & Energy Capital

Macquarie Capital’s IEC division specialises in investing our own capital in smart, sustainable infrastructure projects, and companies. We sponsor the development of landmark projects that strengthen communities by creating new digital, energy and social infrastructure. We also offer flexible, partnership capital to infrastructure companies to help fund capital expenditure, business

Melissa Cohen

Managing Director - Infrastructure, Eurazeo

Melissa joined Eurazeo as Managing Director of the Eurazeo Infrastructure team.

Prior to that, Melissa was in the investment team of Marguerite, a European manager infrastructure fund with 1.5bn€ AuM, where she spent 10 years. During her time at Marguerite, Melissa closed eight transactions, in the digital, transport and renewable space, which were mostly procured under a PPP / Concession scheme.

She began her carrier in the project finance team of Natixis, where she spent 4 years between London and Paris.
Melissa holds a Master in Corporate Finance and Financial Engineering from the Paris-Dauphine University.

Eurazeo

Eurazeo is a leading global investment group, with a diversified portfolio of €22.7 billion in assets under management, including €16.0 billion from third parties, invested in 450 companies. With its considerable private equity, private debt, real estate and infrastructure expertise, Eurazeo accompanies companies of all sizes, supporting their development through the commitment of its nearly 300 professionals and by offering deep sector expertise, a gateway to global markets, and a responsible and stable foothold for transformational growth. Its solid institutional and family shareholder base, robust financial structure free of structural debt, and flexible investment horizon enable Eurazeo to support its companies over the long term. Eurazeo has offices in Paris, New York, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, London, Luxembourg, Frankfurt, Berlin and Madrid. Eurazeo is listed on Euronext Paris.

Phil Cooper

Director, Digital Infrastructure Accelerator

Phil Cooper is a Director of the Digital Infrastructure Accelerator. The DIA exists to help accelerate investment in emerging market digital infrastructure. Currently the DIA is working with digital infrastructure investors and owners in Asia, Africa and Emerging Europe.

Previously, Phil was a Managing Director at Digital Bridge / Digital Colony, covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Before Digital Bridge, Phil was a founder and CFO of Apollo Towers Myanmar where he was responsible for two landmark infrastructure financing transactions.
Prior to Apollo, Phil worked with Eaton Towers as Group Commercial Manager, where he managed the acquisition of a number of MNO owned tower portfolios across sub Saharan Africa.

The Digital Infrastructure Accelerator (DIA)

Working closely with investors and management teams, the DIA exists to help accelerate the growth of emerging digital infrastructure ventures. The DIA works across all pillars of digital infrastructure and creates value through originating, vetting and where required creating investable neutral host platforms.
The DIA is focused on emerging infrastructure markets, including India, South East Asia, Africa and central & eastern Europe.

Claudio Ghisu

Co-Head Infrastructure/Managing Director, YIELCO Investments (Switzerland) AG

Claudio is a partner at YIELCO Investments AG and managing director at YIELCO Investments (Switzerland) AG and in this role member of YIELCO's management and investment committee. Claudio is co-heading YIELCO's infrastructure practice and is YIELCO's Head of Switzerland.

Before joining YIELCO, Claudio worked as a portfolio manager for private equity at UBS Asset Management for over 5 years. He was responsible for the latest fund of funds flagship products and for several institutional mandates. During this time, he also covered investments in Asia.

Before joining UBS, Claudio was a co-founder and partner at Diamond Asset Advisors, an investment boutique in the private markets sector. Claudio began his career in the private market industry at Adveq Management AG (today SchroderAdveq) in 2005. Claudio holds an MBA from the William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Rochester, New York (USA) and a master's degree from the University of Bern (Switzerland).

YIELCO Investments (Switzerland) AG

YIELCO Investments was established in 2011 and is an alternative investment Manager based in Munich, Germany and in Pfäffikon (SZ), Switzerland. YIELCO combines the experience of senior professionals with extensive experience in Alternative Investments. Over the years, the Partners have held senior positions focusing on setting-up, investing and managing Alternative Investment programs and companies. The core of YIELCO’s philosophy is to develop innovative offerings ensuring a high alignment of interest with its clients. The profound industry background of the international Advisory Board, broadens YIELCOs expertise. Utilizing the advantages of multi-manager portfolios und separately managed accounts, YIELCO gives investors global access to investments in Infrastructure, Private Debt and Private Equity (with an emphasis on Special Situations). YIELCO is supported by a reputable group of international insurance companies, pension trusts and family offices. The company presently services approximately EUR 6.7 billion of capital commitments by institutional investors and family offices across a number of Multi Manager programs (fund of funds and mandates for Infrastructure, Private Debt and Special Situations).

Darren Glatt

Partner and Co-Head of Infrastructure Investing, Searchlight Capital Partners

Mr. Glatt is a Partner and Co-Head of Infrastructure Investing at Searchlight Capital Partners, overseeing the firm’s efforts in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (“TMT”) sectors. Prior to joining Searchlight in 2013, Mr. Glatt worked as a Partner in the Private Equity Group at Apollo Management, L.P., where he focused on both equity and credit investing in a range of industries that included TMT, Consumer, Leisure and Shipping, among others. Mr. Glatt also held positions at Apax Partners and The Cypress Group. He started his career at Bear Stearns in 1998 in New York. Mr. Glatt is a currently a member of the Boards of Bezeq and B Communications Ltd., and formerly a member of the Boards of Charter Communications, Rackspace, Ocean Outdoor, PatientPoint, MediaMath, 160over90, PlayPower, Veritable Maritime and Core Media. Mr. Glatt received a BS from The George Washington University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Searchlight Capital Partners

Searchlight Capital Partners is a global private investment firm with nearly $9 billion in assets under management and offices in New York, London and Toronto. Searchlight seeks to invest in businesses where its long-term capital and strategic support accelerate value creation for all stakeholders. For more information, please visit www.searchlightcap.com.

Matthias Hamel

Partner, Altman Solon

Matthias Hamel focuses on strategy advice of European and Global telecommunication companies and their shareholders. He works with integrated telcos as well as fiber, mobile / 5G and cable companies. He supports data centers, cloud / SaaS providers and enterprise software players. Matthias regularly advises investment committees of worldwide leading infrastructure and buy-out investors as well as shareholders and board members of leading telco players. His functional focus is on the development of product portfolios, infrastructure strategy, digitalization, innovation and business plans as well as investment advice and due diligence support.
He became Managing Director of Solon in 2013 and Partner in 2017. Matthias joined Solon in 2005 and was one of the founding members of the CEE office in 2006. He headed the company’s Technology and Innovation Practice since 2009 and has been a board member of CTAM Europe since 2011.

Altman Solon

Altman Solon is the worldwide largest strategy consulting firm with an exclusive focus on the TMT sectors. The firm serves leading corporations as well as shareholders and investors in more than 100 countries from offices in Munich, London, Paris, Milan, Warsaw, Boston, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Singapore and Sydney. Altman Solon combines strategic, commercial, operational and technical expertise as well as capital markets perspective. It is a trusted advisor to C-level executives from blue-chip companies worldwide conducting hundreds of strategy projects each year.

James Heath

Chief Executive, National Infrastructure Commission (UK)

James Heath is the Chief Executive of the National Infrastructure Commission, a position he has held since 2020. Previously, James was Director, Digital Infrastructure at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), responsible for advising Ministers on broadband, mobile and telecoms security policy, and overseeing the UK’s £200m million 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme. Prior to joining the UK Government, James was Director, Policy at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), responsible for public policy, government relations and regulation.

National Infrastructure Commission (UK)

The National Infrastructure Commission advises the UK Government on long-term strategy and policy for economic infrastructure, covering digital, transport, energy, water and wastewater, waste and flood risk management. First established in 2015, the Commission is an independent executive agency of HM Treasury. Its objectives are to support sustainable economic growth across all regions of the UK; improve competitiveness; improve quality of life; and support climate resilience and the transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Frank Heiss

Managing Director, ICG

Frank Heiss is a Managing Director in Intermediate Capital Group’s European Infrastructure Equity Team. He is responsible for originating mid-market core+ infrastructure deals across the DACH and Nordic regions. Frank joined ICG from Swiss Life Infrastructure Investments in Zurich, where he worked for four years in the DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), Nordics and Eastern Europe regions in the Private Equity Infrastructure Team. In this role he was responsible for direct infrastructure investments and served on several boards. Prior to this, Frank worked for four years as a Director at Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets and was responsible for the execution and asset management of European infrastructure investments. He began his career in M&A advisory, having spent seven years at Merrill Lynch and Lazard in London and Frankfurt. He holds a MBA (“Diplomkaufmann”) from the University of Mannheim.

ICG

ICG is a global alternative asset manager with over 32 years' history, managing $65.2bn of assets (as at 31 August 2021) in structured and private equity, private debt, real assets, and credit. We develop long-term relationships with our business partners to deliver value for shareholders, clients and employees, and use our position of influence to benefit the environment and society.
We operate across four strategic asset classes: corporate, capital market, real asset and secondary investments. ICG is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: ICP).
ICG Infrastructure focuses on Core+ mid-market infrastructure assets across Europe with the ability to invest across the capital structure, enhancing downside protection through investments into equity/quasi equity and mezzanine instruments. The dedicated team has strong industrial backgrounds and is able to drive operation value creation.

Dr. Bernd Kreuter

Managing Partner, Palladio Partners

Bernd Kreuter is managing partner and co-founder of Palladio Partners, Frankfurt, Germany. He advises German institutional investors on their infrastructure and other illiquid asset portfolios, including strategy definition, structuring, investments, and asset management.

From 2001 to 2011, Bernd was head of alternative investments and partner at Feri. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science, masters’ degrees in mathematics from Bonn and Paris VI, a master’s degree in economics, and is a CFA charterholder.

Palladio Partners

Palladio Partners is an owner-managed investment boutique and specializes in providing independent advice on the implementation of real asset strategies for German institutional investors including investments in infrastructure funds, direct investments, and co-investments.

Dr. Matthias Lang

Partner, Bird & Bird

Matthias is a Partner at Bird & Bird LLP based in Düsseldorf. He is head of the firm’s Infrastructure Group and, Co-Head of the Energy Digitalisation Group. He advises clients on infrastructure, energy, regulatory, state aid and environmental law.

Matthias has worked on numerous complex infrastructure, telecoms, energy and climate change projects, as well as transactions in regulated industries with an emphasis on digital transformation. Matthias represents clients before the Federal Network Agency, ministries and other authorities in diverse administrative, regulatory or legislative proceedings, before national and European courts.

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird is an international law firm which focuses on helping businesses being changed by technology and the digital world. Our global network of over 1,300 lawyers and legal practitioners assists clients from 29 offices worldwide.

It is clear to us that a key issue impacting on the successful delivery of major infrastructure projects is how technology can be better utilised and integrated into projects to secure better outcomes for all stakeholders.

Our unique focus on technology coupled with our global team's deep expertise in industries requiring, funding or delivering infrastructure and telecom projects, procurement, and areas of increasing importance such as cyber law, data protection and digital marketing, means we are ideally placed to guide clients in leading the way in this fast-paced, rapidly changing sector.

Our Infrastructure Group at Bird & Bird has exceptional experience of helping those involved in major projects to achieve successful outcomes for our clients.

Thomas Lefebvre

Partner, I Squared Capital

Thomas Lefebvre is a Partner of I Squared Capital, responsible for the Firm’s infrastructure strategy in North America. Since joining ISQ as a founding partner in 2012, Thomas has overseen the acquisition, development, and transformational strategies of eight platforms and companies spanning the power and utilities, oil and gas, and transportation and logistics sectors across the Americas. Formerly, Thomas was a portfolio manager for the Americas at Morgan Stanley Infrastructure, the global platform for infrastructure investments at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, which managed a $4 billion infrastructure investment fund. Based in New York, Thomas led the fund’s investment activities in the power, utilities, and oil and gas sectors across the Americas. Thomas holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

I Squared Capital is an independent infrastructure investor with over $30 billion in assets under management and specializing in sourcing, managing, and building global infrastructure platforms in the North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Headquartered in Miami, the firm has more than 165 professionals across its offices in Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, and Singapore. I Squared Capital has invested in a diverse portfolio of 40 companies in 53 countries across the energy, utilities, digital infrastructure, transport, and social infrastructure sectors, with over 24,000 employees and providing essential services to millions of people around the world.

Tom Maher

Managing Director, PATRIZIA

Tom is a Managing Director - Infrastructure at PATRIZIA. He is seasoned infrastructure investment professional with over 15 years of global experience. Tom has extensive experience across transaction sourcing and origination, active asset management, fundraising and business development initiatives. Tom previously led the business development and capital raising efforts at Whitehelm Capital, responsible for raising the Smart City Infrastructure Fund, PATRIZIA European Infrastructure Fund II and PATRIZIA Infrastructure Debt Partners I. Prior to this Tom led Whitehelm’s North American infrastructure origination, execution and asset management efforts. Tom has expertise in executing and managing investments across Europe, North America and Australia

PATRIZIA
With operations around the world, PATRIZIA has been offering investment opportunities in real estate and infrastructure assets for institutional, semi-professional and private investors for 38 years. PATRIZIA manages more than EUR 56 billion in assets and employs over 1,000 professionals at 28 locations worldwide. Through its PATRIZIA Foundation, PATRIZIA is committed to social responsibility. The Foundation has helped around 250,000 children in need worldwide gain access to education and thus, has given them the chance of a better life over the last 23 years. You can find further information at www.patrizia.ag

Steven Marshall

Chairman and Managing Partner, Cordiant Digital infrastructure, Cordiant Capital

Steven Marshall is Chairman of Cordiant’s Digital Infrastructure practice. He is Co-Head of both Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited (CORD:LSE) and Cordiant Digital GP/LP fund (in fundraising).

Formerly President of American Tower’s core business (AMT:NYSE; market capitalisation ~$120B), he oversaw two $5 billion acquisitions, as well as a significant programme of organic growth and tuck-under acquisitions during his 10 year tenure. Prior to that he helped American Tower establish operations in EMEA, India and parts of Latin America. Before AMT he was CEO of National Grid Wireless (then Europe’s largest digital infrastructure business) and Executive Chairman of a $1.5 billion fibre joint-venture between France Telecom, Sprint and National Grid. He served as Chairman of the Wireless Infrastructure Association in USA, and as a Director of the CTIA (the mobile carriers’ association in the USA). He currently Chairs the Board of CRA and sits on the board of Tawal, Saudi Telecom’s wholly owned Tower Company. Mr. Marshall trained as a civil engineer at the University of Manchester, UK and subsequently earned his MBA at Alliance Manchester Business School, UK.

Benn Mikula

CEO, Cordiant Capital

Benn Mikula is Cordiant’s CEO; he also co-heads the firm’s Digital Infrastructure practice alongside Steven Marshall. Cordiant’s funds in this area include Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited (CORD:LSE) and the new value-add Cordiant Digital Infrastructure II.. He and J-F Sauvé led the purchase of Cordiant from Ontario Teachers’, and the two are Cordiant’s principal shareholders.

He began his career at RBC, where he was a top-ranked equity analyst and led the technology ＆ telecoms industry research group. He subsequently became Head of European Technology Investment Banking at JPMorgan (advising major telecommunications equipment and digital infrastructure companies on capital structure and M&A). A founding investor of a managed services provider acquired by BMC, his board experience ranges from hybrid cloud optimisation and management to edge data centres and encompasses both private and public companies. He currently sits on the Board of portfolio companies including CRA and Hudson InterXchange. He holds a B.A. and M.A. from McGill University.

Cordiant Capital

Cordiant invests in growth platforms in the infrastructure middle market through dedicated, specialist teams in Digital Infrastructure, Energy Transition Infrastructure, Agriculture Value Chain and Direct Lending. We view these three sectors as constituting “Infrastructure 2.0”, where technology change and operating expertise drive IRR. The firm manages ~$4 billion of institutional capital. An early signatory of UN PRI, and a founding signatory of Operating Principles for Impact Management, Cordiant aims to combine profitable investment with sustainability and a responsible approach to capital deployment. Partner-owned and -run (ensuring tight alignment with LPs), Cordiant welcomes co-investment partnerships. The firm manages permanent capital vehicle Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited (CORD:LSE) and GP/LP funds (such as the pending Digital Infrastructure II). Cordiant has offices in Montreal, London, Luxembourg and Sao Paulo.

Richard Morgan

Partner, Analysys Mason

Richard is a Partner based in Analysys Mason’s London office, and has been with the company since 2006. He has worked extensively in both strategic and operational roles, and supported numerous large-scale transactions in the TMT sector with a focus on commercial and technical due diligence of digital infrastructure assets.

Richard has broad experience across the TMT sector, having supported clients such as telecoms operators (fixed, mobile, satellite and submarine cable), large Internet players, investors, tower companies, MVNOs and software developers. He has also worked with a variety of public-sector bodies to analyse broadband markets and develop intervention strategies to extend connectivity.

With project experience that spans Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, Richard provides analytical insight to inform clients’ strategies for market entry, growth, acquisition and divestment.

Analysys Mason

Analysys Mason is the world's leading management consultancy focused on TMT, a critical enabler of economic, environmental and social transformation. We bring together unparalleled commercial and technical understanding to deliver bespoke consultancy on strategy, transaction support, transformation, regulation and policy, further strengthened by globally respected research. Our clients value our advice which combines deep domain knowledge with global reach and local insight into markets to help them achieve meaningful business results. We are committed to our clients, employees and communities – contributing to a world where technology delivers for all.

Rohini Pahwa

Managing Director, Arjun Infrastructure Partners

Rohini is a Managing Director at Arjun where she is responsible for originating and executing investments with focus on Digital Infrastructure. She brings 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry. Her focus over the last decade has been in the transportation and digital sectors across Europe and the UK. Prior to Arjun, she was Head of Distribution for Power and Infrastructure Finance at Investec and before that she was a senior member in RBS’s (NatWest) Infrastructure and Project Finance team where she spearheaded efforts to establish RBS as a leader in Digital Infrastructure financing , leading debt financing and advisory transactions across Europe.

Arjun Infrastructure Partners

Arjun Infrastructure Partners is an independent asset management company dedicated to executing and managing infrastructure investments. Founded in 2015, Arjun now manages €4.8 billion of capital on behalf of 20 prominent institutional investors.
Arjun’s team of 30 professionals and a further 10 industry partners has extensive operational and financial experience in the utilities, energy & renewables, digital and transportation infrastructure sectors. Arjun offer a proven ability to source bilateral investment opportunities and have a strong focus on ESG as part of our long-term, responsible asset management approach.
Arjun works in close partnership with its clients, offering transparency throughout the investment lifecycle providing customised solutions which enable our clients to achieve their specific investment objectives.

Conor Plant

Partner, Hardiman Telecoms

Conor Plant is a Partner of Hardiman Telecommunications Ltd., (“HTL”), which he joined in 2003. HTL advises major investment banks, private equity funds and telecommunications carriers on Company Valuations, Flotations, Mergers and Acquisitions, Performance Optimisation, Competitive Strategy, Market Entry, Market Positioning, Operations, Licensing, Service Development, Service Positioning, and Technology Management and Transition.

From locations in London and Hong Kong, the company's expertise spans Western Europe, Central / Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Rim. As measured by transaction value and volume, HTL is one of the leading telecommunications consultancy active in emerging markets worldwide.

Assignments he has led have include strategy and market entry work for telecommunications operators, M&A work for private equity investors, telecommunications operators, towers operators, datacenter operators and extensive facilitation and support of project, debt and equity financing.

Mr. Plant graduated in Electronic Engineering from University College Dublin in 1995. Additionally, he holds Masters degrees in Engineering and Business Administration from University College Dublin and the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.
Prior to joining HTL, Mr. Plant worked with Aldiscon and Logica Mobile Networks engineering, operations, international business development and general management.

Alessandro Ravagnolo

Partner, Analysys Mason

Alessandro is a Partner based in Analysys Mason's London office. He specialises in advising businesses on organic and inorganic growth strategies. In the last ten years, he has completed over 200 assignments in more than 80 developed and emerging markets across six continents. His areas of expertise include telecoms commercial and technical due diligence, business planning, valuation, IPO process support, investment opportunity scouting, market sizing and forecasting, spectrum strategy and valuation, cost modelling and telecoms regulation.
Alessandro has advised on some of the major transactions involving telecoms assets in Europe, working for both financial and strategic investors. His experience in this area covers telecoms infrastructure (access and long-distance fibre networks, towers, data centres, submarine cables and digital real estate), operators (mobile, fixed incumbents, altcos, cablecos and mobile virtual network operators), mobile money and fintech businesses, and vendors (hardware, software and telecoms infrastructure service companies).

Analysys Mason

Analysys Mason is the world's leading management consultancy focused on TMT, a critical enabler of economic, environmental and social transformation.
We bring together unparalleled commercial and technical understanding to deliver bespoke consultancy on strategy, transaction support, transformation, regulation and policy, further strengthened by globally respected research.
Our clients value our advice which combines deep domain knowledge with global reach and local insight into markets to help them achieve meaningful business results.
We are committed to our clients, employees and communities – contributing to a world where technology delivers for all.

Simon Söder

Partner, Antin Infrastructure Partners

Simon joined Antin in 2014 and was promoted to Partner in 2016. He holds boards seats for Fund II portfolio company Eurofiber and for Fund III companies FirstLight, Lyntia and Solvtrants. He previously held a board seat for Fund II portfolio company Roadchef.

Simon has over 16 years’ experience in Corporate Finance, Principal Investing and Corporate Development, working across the Infrastructure, Transport, Energy, Industrials and Financial Services sectors.

He was previously at Macquarie Capital where he was Senior Vice President in the Infrastructure, Utilities and Renewables team. Whilst at Macquarie, Simon was involved in M&A, principal investments and corporate finance advisory to Infrastructure Funds, Private Equity and Corporates and worked on a range of mandates including Energy-from-Waste, Toll Roads, Ferries, Car Parks and Towers. He joined Macquarie after roles at Westpac and Lacima Group.

Antin Infrastructure Partners

Antin Infrastructure Partners is a leading independent private equity firm focused on infrastructure investments. Based in Paris, London and New York, and fully owned by its partners, the firm employs over 140 professionals. Antin targets majority stakes in infrastructure businesses in the energy and environment, telecom, transport and social infrastructure sectors. Since its founding, Antin has €19.9 billion in Assets under Management and has made investments in 28 companies.

Matias Sottile

Managing Partner, Ayres Partners

Matias Sottile is the founder of Ayres Partners, a boutique financial and strategy advisory firm specializing in funding of energy transition, digital infrastructure and infrastructure funds across investment grade and emerging markets. Ayres Partners advises private investors, infrastructure funds and asset managers on funding projects and specific sector funds.

Matias was responsible of Infrastructure Debt at RiverRock AM, held several senior management roles at Santander bank as European Head of Infrastructure Finance and Leveraged Finance and Head of Credit and Infrastructure for Poland and Germany. Matias has extensive expertise in energy and infrastructure, having been responsible for originating and executing transactions across Europe, the Nordics, CEE and LatAm. Matias has total investment experience of c. USD5bn across all geographies and sectors.

Matias holds a master’s in economics and Utilities from the University of Barcelona, and an MBA from IAE/IESE Business School with a specialization in Corporate Finance through the Schulich Business School in York University (Canada).

Ayres Partners

Boutique financial and strategy advisory firm specialized in supporting infrastructure investors and European Asset Manager to fund their projects across Western Europe, Nordics, CEE and selectively in emerging markets. We advise on both equity and Debt supporting clients in finding suitable funding (debt funds+ banks) and co-investors (infrastructure funds) Main activities during the last 4 years in the digital Infrastructure and energy transition sectors.

Michael Wellesley-Wesley

Chairman and Founder, Green Edge Cloud

Mike is an experienced executive in the technology sector. He has founded and led private and public companies in the US and UK and has helped to build several start-up companies in his 30-year adventure through the fast-changing technology and media space.
Mike is the Founder, Chairman, and largest shareholder in Green Edge, and he is also a member of the 12-person Wisdom Council of the ThreeFold Foundation and The Alliance for a Conscious Internet.
His current focus, and the primary goal of the Wisdom Council, is to achieve sustainable and organic growth of the ThreeFold Grid the most extensive peer-to-peer cloud infrastructure on the planet. By stimulating the development of the ThreeFold Grid in emerging and existing markets with innovative products and partnerships, steady utilisation growth will be achieved. The first solutions will be brought to the market in November 2021 with well-established cloud and blockchain household names.
Green Edge and ThreeFold continue to distract Mike from improving his golf game.

Green Edge Cloud

Green Edge connects computers and servers to the ThreeFold Grid, the most extensive peer-to-peer cloud infrastructure in the World. Green Edge is currently the largest and most active participant on the ThreeFold Grid which will emerge from 5 years of stealth-mode development and launch in November 2021.
Green Edge was founded in 2018 on the belief that we are facing a tsunami of compute and storage capacity demand. The current internet giants are already struggling to meet this demand and will continue to push their highly centralised technologies that compromise personal sovereignty and privacy, while burning through an unsustainable amount of energy and natural resources.
This presents an excellent business opportunity for a truly decentralised and local compute & storage platform, as well as an opportunity to have a positive impact on the planet and the future of humanity. With servers in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, USA, Canada, and South Africa providing 20 Petabytes of storage and 2,850 CPU cores, Green Edge will be going ‘live’ with its enterprise storage offerings on the ThreeFold Grid in November 2021.
Assuming this next Proof-of-Concept phase is successful Green Edge plans to scale rapidly in 2022. We will be looking to grow our storage capability from 20 Petabytes to 200 Petabytes in 2022/3.

Blaise van der Zwaal

Director, TMT & Healthcare Sector Coverage Group, ING Bank

Blaise van der Zwaal is a Director in the TMT & Healthcare Sector Coverage Group at ING with over 20 years of financing experience in the telecom sector. In this role Blaise is responsible for the origination and execution of lending and other wholesale banking solutions within the sector across the EMEA region. He is further a trusted strategic advisor and relationship manager for several established telecom operators. His experience spans from working with MNOs, incumbent telecom operators, cable operators, mobile tower operators, fiber companies and related players in the market.
Blaise started out as a structured finance professional with a focus on telecoms. In this role he has arranged a wide range of financings in the sector including project financings, acquisition financing transactions, cross-over financings, high-yield bridge facilities and telecom infrastructure financings.
Blaise holds an MA in Business Economics from the University of Amsterdam.

ING Profile

ING is a global bank with a strong European base, where our Wholesale Banking division serves corporations, multinationals and financial institutions in over 40 countries. Whatever your financial needs are, whether you are looking to expand and want strategic advice, we are here to support your business ambitions. For our Wholesale Banking clients we provide general and specialised lending, tailored corporate finance, debt and equity market solutions, payments and cash management, as well as trade and treasury services.
The Telecom Industry is a priority sector for ING, covering clients with over 80 sector bankers from our offices in Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Singapore and New York with a focus on financing digital infrastructure. ING is particularly strong in the structuring of innovative and customized financing solutions, as well as debt- and M&A advisory for fiber businesses with strong network expansion ambitions.

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Agenda

Digital Infrastructure Forum - Thursday 21st

Introduction from Infrastructure Investor

Welcome from the chair

Alessandro Ravagnolo

Investing towards an inclusive, global digital economy

Matthias Hamel

Jussi Ahonen

Melissa Cohen

Claudio Ghisu

James Heath

Convergence and consolidation in digital infrastructure

Conor Plant

Canan Anli

Benn Mikula

What it takes to invest in fibre amidst overbuild, consolidation and increasing end-user demand

Conor Plant

Darren Glatt

Dr. Bernd Kreuter

Thomas Lefebvre

Rohini Pahwa

Coffee & networking

Examining the edge data centre explosion - moving closer to the customer

Alessandro Ravagnolo

Dr. Dmitriy Antropov

Simon Söder

Michael Wellesley-Wesley

Fireside Chat: Dissecting digital’s appeal for debt investors

Matias Sottile

Blaise van der Zwaal

Digital infrastructure investment case study

Steven Marshall

Lunch

Fireside Chat: The manifestation of ESG in digital infrastructure assets

Dr. Matthias Lang

Tom Maher

Assessing the desire & deployment for digital infrastructure assets across a changing world

Richard Morgan

Oliver Bradley

Phil Cooper

Frank Heiss

Beyond the big three – what’s next on the horizon for digital infrastructure?

Phil Cooper

Matteo Andreoletti

Matthias Hamel

Close of conference

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Senior Advisor, PMP Strategy

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Managing Director - Infrastructure, Eurazeo

Director, Digital Infrastructure Accelerator

Co-Head Infrastructure/Managing Director, YIELCO Investments (Switzerland) AG

Partner and Co-Head of Infrastructure Investing, Searchlight Capital Partners

Partner, Altman Solon

Chief Executive, National Infrastructure Commission (UK)

Managing Director, ICG

Managing Partner, Palladio Partners

Partner, Bird & Bird

Partner, I Squared Capital

Managing Director, PATRIZIA

Chairman and Managing Partner, Cordiant Digital infrastructure, Cordiant Capital

CEO, Cordiant Capital

Partner, Analysys Mason

Managing Director, Arjun Infrastructure Partners

Partner, Hardiman Telecoms

Partner, Analysys Mason

Partner, Antin Infrastructure Partners

Managing Partner, Ayres Partners