Paris-based private equity firm Antin Infrastructure Partners has launched a fund that invests in European infrastructure assets.
Antin managing partner Mark Crosbie is currently in Australia to raise capital for the fund from local institutional investors.
The fund is targeting an investment pool of $1.7 billion and has already received $525 million from its cornerstone investor, BNP Paribas.
The firm is hoping to raise $874 million by the second half of the year.
To date, the fund has invested in European port company Euroports, United Kingdom rail leasing company Porterbrook and Croatian toll road Bina Istra.
The Euroports investment was part of a deal made in March in which Babcock and Brown Infrastructure sold its 30 per cent share to Antin and Luxembourg-based fund BBEIF.
Porterbrook is involved in the provision of railway and associated equipment and was purchased by Antin in 2008 as part of consortium with Deutsche Bank and Lloyds.
The transaction was the third largest private equity deal in 2008 in Europe, according to research firm Dealogic.
Antin would be eyeing similar opportunities, Crosbie said.
"We will be looking at possibly purchasing infrastructure assets that some Australian investors own in Europe who are now looking to sell," he said.
Macquarie has already sold off its interests in airports in Copenhagen and Brussels.
"It's an opportunity-rich environment at the moment. We are seeing some very good opportunities," Crosbie said.
Changing energy regulation in Europe under which energy companies would be required to unbundle their services would be the next wave of opportunity for the firm, he said.
Antin is led by Alain Rauscher and Crosbie. In November last year, BNP Paribas Investment Partners bought a 40 per cent stake in the business.
