The global investment house has established a new infrastructure business.

International asset manager Natixis said it intends to create Vauban Infrastructure Partners, a new affiliate.

The entity will be established by transferring the infrastructure team of Mirova, which was formed in 2012, into a new specialised affiliate. The team manages €2.8 billion ($3.55 billion) of assets and will pursue its international growth as a stand-alone affiliate. 

Natixis Investment Managers said this is the latest build-out of its alternative and real asset range following the launch in December 2018 of Flexstone Partners, a global private equity manager. In June 2018 it launched MV Credit, a private debt specialist and in May last year it launched a co-investment offering - for real estate, infrastructure and aviation private debt - between its affiliate Ostrum Asset Management and Natixis’ Corporate & Investment Banking arm.

Vauban will be led by Gwenola Chambon, chief executive, and Mounir Corm, deputy CEO, both founding partners, and they will work with a team of 35 professionals. Over the last 10 years, the team has raised five infrastructure funds invested in more than 50 assets across Europe.

The team will continue to specialise in structuring and managing equity funds dedicated to investing in global greenfield and brownfield infrastructure assets with a focus on the transportation, utilities, digital infrastructure and social infrastructure sectors. Vauban Infrastructure Partners will cater to institutional investors - including pension funds, insurance companies, financial institutions and family offices - across Europe and Asia. 

Natixis has €855.4 billion ($967.3 billion) of assets under management.