Instrata Capital appoints Patrick Townsend as Executive Director

Patrick joins Instrata Capital to enhance its deal origination and transaction execution capability as the company pursues its growth strategy. Patrick brings with him over 15 years of regional and international experience in project finance with both Schroders and HSBC and has advised upon Gulf-based deals worth more than $10bn whilst working for HSBC in both London and Dubai.

During his career he has advised numerous governmental and multi-national corporate clients. Projects on which he has worked include Shoaibah, the first Independent Water and Power Production project in Saudi Arabia and Petro-Rabigh, the largest project financing to date in the region, as well as a number of other projects in the power, oil and gas sectors.

Simon Monk, Head of Infrastructure Investments at Instrata said, "Patrick is an important addition to the Instrata team and we're looking forward to putting his regional expertise to use in sourcing investment opportunities for our investors, as well as adding to our transaction execution capabilities. Patrick's extensive experience is going to be invaluable as Instrata Capital identifies and structures compelling investments for our investors across the region. We intend to open up new investment avenues and asset classes for our clients and believe we have identified the right sectors and strategies to deliver superior returns."

Khalid Alshakrani, Head of Placement, Instrata Capital, commented, "As an initial asset class offering, Instrata Capital aims to provide private and institutional investors with a diversified product offering by investing in a range of infrastructure sub-sectors and in projects and companies at different stages of development including greenfield as well as operational projects and companies. Instrata Capital's strategy meets the market demand from investors who wish to access the specialist skills necessary to evaluate, structure and arrange direct infrastructure investments.

"Opportunities across the infrastructure sector are broad ranging and development will continue to be facilitated by high fiscal surpluses, the corporate investment required for the expansion of many industrial and processing companies as well as the need for governments to meet the requirements of the region's rapidly growing population who require access to services such as electricity, water, transportation and social infrastructure including hospitals schools and universities."