#United States #New York #Ridgewood Infrastructure #Fund II #Public-Private Partnerships

Ridgewood Infrastructure Achieves Fund Close

Ridgewood Infrastructure, a prominent player in U.S. lower middle market investments, recently disclosed its remarkable achievement of closing its second fund, Ridgewood Water Strategic Infrastructure Fund II LP, with a total of $1.2 billion in capital commitments. This amount significantly eclipses its original target of $1 billion, showcasing the confidence investors have in Ridgewood’s strategic approach.

Diverse Investor Pool

The fund successfully attracted a wide array of institutional investors, with participation from new public and corporate pensions, insurance companies, endowment funds, and asset managers not only from North America but also from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. This global interest illustrates the increasing recognition of the importance of essential infrastructure investments.

Focus on Essential Sectors

Continuing with its established investment strategy, Fund II is set to target critical infrastructure sectors, including water, energy, transportation, and utilities. Ridgewood emphasizes an operationally focused approach that aims to enhance value by scaling and professionalizing its portfolio businesses, thus elevating their strategic market positions.

Acknowledgments from Leaders

Ross Posner, Managing Partner at Ridgewood Infrastructure, expressed gratitude towards existing partners while welcoming new limited partners from diverse regions. He articulated, "This is a meaningful milestone for our firm, and we are deeply appreciative of the trust our partners continue to place in our team and strategy."

Michael Albrecht, also a Managing Partner, noted, "We look forward to continuing to deliver value for our investors and the many communities in which our portfolio companies operate."

Noteworthy Investments

Since its launch, Fund II has already made significant investments. One such investment includes the Prospect Lake Clean Water Center, which marks the third-largest public-private partnership in the U.S. for water services. This project is poised to supply approximately 80% of Fort Lauderdale's fresh water under a 30-year concession agreement, thereby highlighting Ridgewood's focus on impactful infrastructure.

Previous Fund Successes

Additionally, Ridgewood’s inaugural fund, Fund I, has demonstrated encouraging exit strategies. Last October, the fund successfully sold its controlling interest in the Vista Ridge Water Pipeline, recognized as the largest water public-private partnership in the nation. This pipeline supplies about 20% of fresh water to San Antonio under a similar long-term agreement. More recently, Fund I enjoyed another success with the sale of its controlling interest in SiEnergy, one of America's fastest-growing regulated utilities.

Future Outlook

Matthew Swanson, Founding Partner at Ridgewood Infrastructure, remarked on the firm’s promising future, saying, "Our achievements reflect the exceptional capabilities of our team. We look forward to building upon this strong foundation of success in the years to come."

The firm engaged Eaton Partners, a subsidiary of Stifel, as the placement agent for Fund II and relied on Vinson & Elkins LLP for legal counsel, ensuring a structured and compliant investment process.

About Ridgewood Infrastructure

Founded with a commitment to essential infrastructure, Ridgewood Infrastructure focuses primarily on the U.S. lower middle market, addressing the critical need for sustainable and efficient utility services. For more information, you can visit Ridgewood Infrastructure's website.