NIIF raises $2 bn for second infra fund

The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), India's infrastructure-focused investment vehicle, has successfully raised $2 billion for its second infrastructure fund, marking the first close of the fund. This significant milestone was achieved through contributions from esteemed investors such as AustralianSuper, CPP Investments, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority's wholly-owned subsidiary Temasek, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Life Insurance, and HDFC Life Insurance, among others.

NIIF's second infrastructure fund has a target to raise an additional $3.2 billion, bringing the total capital raised by the fund to $5.2 billion. The existing investments reflect the continued confidence of NIIF's partners in India's vast infrastructure opportunities and the fund's ability to deploy disciplined, sector-specific capital with robust governance.

Sanjiv Aggarwal, NIIF's Managing Director & CEO, expressed gratitude to the Government of India, the anchor investor, and global and Indian partners for their trust in the organization. He highlighted that the fund is well-positioned to connect global and domestic institutional capital with high-quality infrastructure businesses.

Vinod Giri, NIIF's Managing Partner for Infrastructure, emphasized that the second infrastructure fund builds upon the strong performance and capabilities established by the first fund. The fund will continue to create large-scale infrastructure platforms, take a hands-on approach to value creation, and selectively invest across established and emerging infrastructure sectors.

NIIF aims to mobilize around $950 million for co-investment opportunities, providing investors with the chance to make direct equity investments in companies they deem attractive. The Indian government has contributed 49% of the capital raised for the second infrastructure fund, underscoring the government's commitment to India's infrastructure development.