Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management has completed a first close of its second vehicle, the Benjamin de Rothschild Infrastructure Debt Generation (BRIDGE) fund.

The Luxembourg-regulated fund would focus on opportunities across Europe over the next four years. It will have the same strategy as the previous fund and it will be managed by the same team of 11 experts based in London. 

The second BRIDGE fund will capitalize also on the strong pipeline of transactions available to its team across Europe, including in the UK where a few landmark transactions have already been closed in 2015 by the first fund. The BRIDGE platform will maintain a specific focus on addressing UK investment opportunities and investor interest.

The fund is expected to complete its fundraising during Q2 2017

The first BRIDGE fund was set up in August 2014 for French institutions like insurance companies, provident societies or mutuals. It has already made a number of investments and more are to come. It totals €595 million and has invested 71% of its commitments. In 18 months, it has invested €420 million, going well beyond its initial target, and now has a diversified portfolio of assets in conventional and renewable energy, road rail and air transport and social infrastructure (healthcare and Private Finance Initiative or PFI deals) in France, Germany, Austria, Belgium and the UK.