The firm is tapping into what it expects to be a surge in infrastructure spending - and the associated debt to finance it.

Ostrum Asset Management, an affiliate of the international investment house Natixis, has created a Singapore/Hong Kong-based team of experts to drive private debt management services.

The move has involved Ostrum building a new subsidiary in Hong Kong, Ostrum Asset Management (Hong Kong) Limited. As part of this development, Charles Regan has been appointed managing director, head of APAC Infrastructure Real Assets Private Debt, and Alistair Ho has been appointed MD, head of co-lending for Asia-Pacific.

Co-lending activity will be done in partnership with Natixis’ Corporate & Investment Banking division, the firm said. Ostrum oversees €257.6 billion ($290.5 billion) of assets under management. 

This move forms part of Ostrum’s broader strategy to expand its global platform for this asset class, managed by Denis Prouteau, real asset private debt chief investment officer. This newly-created subsidiary will provide investors with investment opportunities in the infrastructure real asset private debt space in Asia-Pacific, along with co-lending opportunities in partnership with Natixis’ corporate and investment banking division.

The organisation said that an expected surge in Asian infrastructure spending is helping to drive the creation of this new group.

“Asia-Pacific alone is set to account for 60 per cent of global infrastructure spending by 2025, including the One Belt, One Road programme, which will require a hefty amount of financing. Hiring renowned experts into our teams in Asia-Pacific is key to helping us develop a fund range suited to our clients’ needs over the months ahead,” Ibrahima Kobar, chief investment officer and deputy chief CEO of Ostrum AM, said.

Prior to his appointment, Regan was co-founder and MD of Windward Capital Asia. Prior to Windward Capital Asia, Regan carried out a number of senior roles covering the region including MD, regional co-head of CIB and regional head of FIG, Asia-Pacific at Banco Santander (Hong Kong), and head of originations, capital markets and managing director, Asia-Pacific at WestLB AG (Hong Kong).

Regan will initially be heading a team of two comprising Angus Davidson, MD, and Evelyn Chan, director.