We explore how legacy assets like real estate and infrastructure are being restructured, revalued, and redistributed through emerging financial models and digital infrastructure. For builders and investors shaping the next generation of cities.
Investing in nature: the new infrastructure
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I recently spoke with a CEO working at the forefront of natural capital investing. London-based firm, global portfolio. Here are some emerging trends: · These deals are like elephant hunting - infrequent, but massive when they land. · Saudi Arabia government are investing in reversing desertification and re-greening efforts. · Sub-Saharan Africa faces urgent needs: food security, reforestation, crop resilience, regional transformation. · Goal is to build commercially viable, repeatable, self-sustaining projects - think blended finance, not charity. · Structured to generate real returns and attract external capital. · Built for patient capital - 20+ year horizons. · Returns are stable and predictable- low volatility, long-term cash flows. · Strong human rights component - projects must respect and benefit local and Indigenous communities. · Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is set to double (1.5 bn → 3 bn). Climate stress and migration risks make restoration urgent. · Even parts of Europe (Spain, Mediterranean) face creeping desertification. · Carbon credits sound good- but they dodge the real problem. They are the icing, not the cake. The system needs deeper change, not just surface fixes. · Big players are backing specialist firms: o ImpactA Global launched with support from Legal & General Capital to address infrastructure gaps in emerging markets. o Climate Asset Management (HSBC AM + Pollination JV) focuses solely on natural capital. |
The future of real assets
We explore how legacy assets like real estate and infrastructure are being restructured, revalued, and redistributed through emerging financial models and digital infrastructure. For builders and investors shaping the next generation of cities.
I’ve always loved Bruce Lee’s quote: “I do not fear the man who has practised 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practised one kick 10,000 times.” Then one day I thought- what if I take that literally? So I set out to train a single Muay Thai roundhouse kick (right side) 10,000 times. What I realised: 1. Be like water Power is not brute force- it’s a balance between effort and flow. A clean, devastating kick comes from knowing when to relax and when to strike. Many people tense up,...
Infrastructure and real estate were traditionally treated as separate sectors, despite similarities. They have their own networks, professionals, and ways of structuring deals. Real estate, especially in private equity, moves faster, driven by financial engineering, particularly during the era of cheap debt. Infrastructure is slower, bigger, often public sector led, and requires a longer time horizon. We are now seeing both sectors converging under the broader “real asset” umbrella. Today’s...
I recently chatted with Matteo Bosco, CEO of Conser Invest, about the future of sustainable investing. One topic stood out: the demographic shift toward aging populations - and its implications for urban development and capital deployment. The context: By 2050, 1 in 6 people globally will be over 65. Most of them will live in cities that weren’t built for longevity. Matteo’s lens: He’s caring for his mother today, but the generational contract around aging is shifting. Cities need to support...