Global logistics solutions provider Infinium Logistics has launched what it claims is the world’s first dedicated EV fleet charging real estate fund which aims to decarbonise and electrify the final mile sector.
The launch will provide £500m of funding to invest in FleetHubs – a new sustainability-focused asset class which combines commercial real estate and low carbon energy infrastructure.
Infinium’s property investment fund is seeking sites of over 1.5 acres in key industrial locations across Europe that are situated within a ten-minute drive of its clients’ occupational requirements.
Each hub will offer “excellent” grid access and include a development plan to support its clients' EV transition strategies, the company said.
Infinium Logistics is also strengthening its management team with the appointment of L&G’s Tom Gough (pictured) as investment director, former Deliveroo, Amazon and Gett lawyer Chris Fletcher as general counsel; and Amazon’s Ben Clark as acquisitions manager.
Gough will lead the company’s property investment strategy, overseeing its real estate origination team and sourcing FleetHubs sites across Europe. His previous post was as senior transactions manager for Legal & General Investment Management Real Assets Platform.
Fletcher has joined Infinium as general counsel and brings 20 years of international legal experience to the team, having trained as a lawyer in the City and then worked in senior positions within leading technology-backed global logistics and fleet organisations including Amazon, Deliveroo and Gett.
He has extensive experience in rapid growth environments, building and scaling the legal and compliance functions in the technology, real estate and asset management sectors.
Clark takes up the newly created role of acquisitions manager, which is dedicated to sourcing and acquiring sites for the development of EV FleetHubs and HGV truck stops. He has eight years’ real estate transactions and leasing experience and previously worked for Amazon, CWM and KLM Retail.
Phil Bayliss, chief executive of Europe, Infinium Logistics, said: “With these hires, Infinium takes a big step forward in our transactions capabilities and ability to secure innovative deal pipeline as we seek to deploy capital into the market quickly to capture the once in a generation conversion of transport spend into real estate.
“I am delighted to welcome Tom, Chris and Ben to the team, they bring with them significant experience in sourcing on and off-market deal flow, structuring complex transactions and scaling platforms.”
Gough said: “Having a baby in lockdown led me do a lot of thinking about the future and challenged me to be part of the solution for the climate problems we face today and the impact it will have on generations to come.
“Infinium has given me a fantastic opportunity to use my skillsets and experience to satisfy that brief. I’m excited to be part of an agile team with fresh ideas to develop a new asset class and facilitate the decarbonisation of supply chains.”