Chris Josselyn

Prime minister Gordon Brown has unveiled proposals to sell ‘non-financial’ assets for a combined £3bn. The subsequent sale of local government real estate assets could raise an additional £13bn.

The French energy giant said it is considering selling its UK electricity distribution business in order to reduce its debt level by €5bn. The grid serves the London, the South-East and East region of the UK, supplying around eight million households.

The Infrastructure Planning Commission is intended to streamline the planning process of major infrastructure projects, acting as an advisor to private developers. It will target projects in the power, transport and water sectors.

The winning contractor saw off three rival bidders for the contract to renew and replace over 2,500km of railway infrastructure across the UK over the next four years.

Georg Allendorf is to become head of the alternative investments group in Germany following the appointment of its former boss, Holger Naumann, to a role in Deutsche Bank’s DWS group.

The $182 billion US pension will choose from Meketa Investment Group, Pension Consulting Alliance, R.V. Kuhns & Associates and Wilshire Consulting to advise its nascent infrastructure investment programme.

The group has continued its push into China, setting up a trust company joint venture that will enable it to offer RMB-denominated products in addition to arranging debt and equity financing in the country.

The buyout firm's first US deal is for Everpower Wind Holdings, which it has purchased from renewable-focused Good Energies.

As Macquarie and Everbright tap Chinese sources for capital, will other infrastructure funds overcome Chinese regulatory challenges and follow their lead? Chris Josselyn investigates.

The German insurance group is set to merge its fund of funds, infrastructure and renewable energy businesses into its Allianz Capital Partners unit.