Cordiant Capital announced the first close of its Cordiant VII Infrastructure & Real Assets Debt fund. The first close for the fund (and a parallel managed account that will co-invest alongside Cordiant VII) exceeded US$ 500 million. Investors, both new and returning, include large European insurers and a respected Canadian family office. This represents the largest first closing in Cordiant’s history. A final close of the fund is expected early in the first half of next year.

Cordiant has been a manager of private assets since 2001. The firm is focused on proprietary origination of sector-driven investments in infrastructure (particularly telecoms, transportation, and energy and related materials) and agriculture real assets. Cordiant VII will focus on structurally-advantaged private debt investments in these industries. Cordiant has a historic emphasis on the “uncrowded trade” in upper mid-market growth companies in regions such as Emerging Europe, Latin America and selected parts of Africa and Asia. The firm has made more than 300 investments in over 60 countries globally.

The firm’s 40 professionals are divided between offices in Montreal, London, São Paulo, and Luxembourg, with origination team members in Dublin, Boston, Istanbul, Sofia, Hanover, and Lima. Cordiant seeks to provide above-average benchmark returns whilst also offering a robust ESG capability and impact investing benefits. The firm was an early signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investing, is a member of GIIN and an adopter of the IFC Operating Principles for Impact Management. Through partnerships with leading international financial institutions such as the EIB/EIF, Cordiant also seeks to leverage credit enhancements where possible. With a client base of large, institutional investors (such as global insurers and pension plans), Cordiant focuses on generating attractive risk-adjusted returns through industry knowledge and the creation of tailored capital solutions.