ON the landmark investment by Global Infrastructure Partners in Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., Aboitiz Group CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz (left) said, ‘GIP brings deep global expertise across energy, transport, digital infrastructure and utilities, which will strengthen AIC’s ability to scale, deliver faster, and create long-term value.’ For his part, Ray Nadarajah, Emerging Markets partner at GIP, said, ‘The collaboration (with AIC) reflects our shared commitment to supporting long-term, sustainable growth across the Philippines.’ Photograph courtesy of Indonesia Economic Summit and Daily Tribune images
BUSINESS

BlackRock’s GIP buys into Aboitiz Infra arm

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) has inked definitive agreements with BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners covering GIP’s P13.75-billion investment in Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., which develops and operates assets across airports, water and wastewater, and digital infrastructure. This is a landmark foreign direct investment in Philippine infrastructure, bringing substantial capital and global operational know-how.

Maria Bernadette Romero

Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), part of BlackRock, will acquire a 40 percent stake in Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. (AIC) through a P13.7-billion investment, bringing fresh capital and global infrastructure expertise to the Aboitiz Group’s infrastructure arm.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) said Friday it has signed definitive agreements with GIP covering the investment in AIC, which develops and operates assets across airports, water and wastewater, and digital infrastructure.

Deep global expertise

“GIP brings deep global expertise across energy, transport, digital infrastructure, and utilities, which will strengthen AIC’s ability to scale, deliver faster, and create long-term value,” Aboitiz Group CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz said.

GIP is a major independent fund manager that invests in, owns, and operates large-scale essential infrastructure assets globally, focusing on energy, transportation, digital, and water and waste.

In 2024, GIP became part of the world’s largest asset manager, multinational investment company, Black Rock which manages trillions in assets for clients like pension funds, governments, and individuals, offering investment products (like mutual funds, ETF-Exchange Traded Funds or investment funds holding a basket of assets like stocks, bonds, commodities, and trade on stock exchanges like individual stocks throughout the day, offering instant diversification, flexibility and often lower costs than traditional mutual funds) and risk management/tech services (like its Aladdin platform).

In the Aboitiz partnership, GIP, under a Share Subscription and Purchase Agreement and Shareholders’ Agreement, will invest a total P13.7 billion through a combination of a secondary share purchase from AEV and a primary share subscription in AIC.

Once completed, GIP will hold 40 percent of AIC, while AEV will retain a 60 percent controlling interest.

Shared commitments

“We are very pleased to partner with Aboitiz InfraCapital as we work together to help accelerate infrastructure development in the Philippines. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to supporting long-term, sustainable growth across the country,” said Ray Nadarajah, Emerging Markets Partner at Global Infrastructure Partners.

“By combining our global investment capabilities with Aboitiz’s deep local expertise, we aim to help deliver essential infrastructure that strengthens communities, drives economic progress, and creates lasting value,” he added.

Before the deal can be completed, the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and the receipt of required regulatory approvals.