Octopus Energy Generation, the fund management arm of Octopus Energy, has launched a semi-liquid investment strategy designed to open the doors to private market green infrastructure.
The CG Octopus Energy Sustainable Growth Fund I (‘Astris’) is designed as a “simple and flexible” way to invest in the global energy transition. The day one portfolio includes more than 50 renewable and energy transition assets across 15 countries, including wind, solar and energy storage, aimed at generating stable, inflation-linked investment returns.
Awarded the Financial Conduct Authority’s new ‘Sustainability Focus’ label, Astris launched with a £165m cornerstone investment and is now open to private wealth investors and pension schemes through major investment platforms.
Unlike most traditional private market funds, Astris also gives investors monthly access to the fund alongside some of the world’s largest institutional investors.
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Octopus already manages £7bn of green energy projects, with plans to unleash £20bn of projects by 2030.
Matt Setchell, co-head of Octopus Energy Generation, said: “For too long, pension schemes and private wealth have had limited investment opportunities in private markets due to a lack of innovative solutions. The launch of this fund changes that.
“It’s been built from the ground up to remove the structural barriers for investors wishing to participate in the $275trn generational investment opportunity to fund the energy transition and invest alongside professional investors and institutional funds from around the world. Day one investors will own a globally diverse portfolio of renewable projects and companies – delivering genuine impact with no compromise on financial returns.
“At Octopus, we’re always looking for new ways to give investors the chance to actively invest in the shift to clean, green energy and we couldn’t be prouder to be at the leading the charge with transformational funds like Astris.”
Jeremy Soutter, managing director at Carne Group which is responsible for overseeing the fund’s governance, commented: “Carne is delighted to be acting as independent authorised corporate director on Octopus Energy’s new Sustainable Growth fund.
“At a time of heightened attention on the UK’s role within the global green transition and investment in the productive assets at the forefront of this change, the fund is an important enabler of private wealth and pension fund exposure both to private infrastructure as an asset class and to the energy transition as an investment opportunity.
“As the partner of choice for bringing innovative private markets products to market, we believe our partnership with Octopus exemplifies the benefits of collaboration in facilitating this innovation and delivering best-in-class fund management processes for end investors.”
