Australia’s ANZ bank to sell A$1bn infra arm(4)

A group of investors including a director of Gresham Private Equity is buying the business for a reported A$30 million. Among the infra group’s highest profile assets is the ANZ Stadium, built in 1999 for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Sydney-based ANZ Banking Group is exiting its infrastructure business by selling to a group of investors.

ANZ Stadium

The bank is selling its 80 percent stake to a consortium including John Clarke, managing director of the business who already owns 20 percent. The other members of the buyout group are John Fitzpatrick, chairman of the Australian Football League, and Les Fallick, a director of Gresham Private Equity.

ANZ Infrastructure Services manages two funds; Energy Infrastructure Trust and Diversified Infrastructure Trust.

Energy Infrastructure Trust is an open ended unlisted unit trust established in February 2003. The fund acquires and develops energy-related utility and infrastructure assets predominantly in Australia and New Zealand, and has more than A$750 million (€423 million; $590 million) in funds under management.

The Diversified Infrastructure Trust is an open ended unlisted unit trust that was established in August 2005. It invests directly in diversified infrastructure assets, targeting transportation, waste and water treatment, communications networks, related energy infrastructure, mining and commodities, health, education, and defence assets. It manages around A$220 million of funds.

Among the infra group’s highest profile assets is the ANZ Stadium, previously known as Stadium Australia, built in 1999 for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.