ASI signals push into European rail industry

Fund manager Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) has struck a deal that could see it finance billions of pounds of investment in the European rail industry. The Edinburghbased firm has finalised an agreement with infrastructure group Rock Rail to fund, purchase and lease new fleets of trains across Europe.

The move extends an existing partnership between the two companies that has already financed £2 billion worth of new fleets for three UK rail networks and comes amid increasing competition in Europe for the funding and operation of rolling stock.

ASI will provide the funds from its infrastructure equity funds.

Dominic Helmsley, head of economic infrastructure for ASI, said: “Extending our partnership with Rock Rail will allow us to continue our journey in the rail industry, and access a much wider opportunity set within Europe for our infrastructure funds and clients.”