Alinda nabs Citigroup infrastructure director

Alinda Capital Partners has hired Citigroup infrastructure director Kathie Painter as its sixth partner.

Painter will join the New York-based firm’s London office, currently managed by Simon Riggall, Citigroup’s former European head of project finance.

Alinda managing director Christopher Beale, Citigroup’s former global head of project finance, spun-out from the global banking giant in 2005 to form the New York-based firm. Including Painter, five of the six Alinda partners had previous experience in Citigroup’s infrastructure wing.

Painter is Alinda’s first female partner.

Riding a wave of increased limited partner appetite for infrastructure investments, Alinda closed a massive $3 billion (€1.88 billion) debut fund last year.

The firm, which specialises in transportation, energy, power, water, wastewater and utility services, is currently shopping a $5 billion fund, according to the Probitas Partners 2008 Private Equity Deskbook.

To date, Alinda has invested in several prominent North American and European infrastructure assets, including the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel in Michigan; four toll bridges in Alabama; and the $710 million acquisition of US natural gas retailer Kinder Morgan.

In May of last year, Citigroup launched its own in-house infrastructure investment unit as part of its alternative investment division. Citigroup Infrastructure Investors is currently raising a $3 billion fund, according to Probitas.