Stafford holds second close on infra fund

The firm has raised €164m for Stafford Infrastructure Secondary Fund II, more than two-thirds of its target.

Stafford Capital Partners has raised more than two-thirds of the target for its latest infrastructure secondaries fund focusing on core assets.

The London-based fund of funds held the second close on €164 million for Stafford Infrastructure Secondaries Fund II, according to a statement on its website. SISF II held its first close on €69.5 million in June and is targeting €250 million.

SISF II is the first dedicated infrastructure secondaries fund Stafford has raised after the firm was formed through the merger of Stafford Timberland and Australia’s Quay Partners in 2014, according to sister publication Infrastructure Investor data.

Deal volume in infrastructure secondaries almost doubled to 9 percent during the first half of the year, amid a drop in private equity and real estate transactions, according to a mid-year report by advisory firm Evercore.

Stafford provides advisory services on alternative assets and has $4.4 billion under management and advice, according to its website. The firm has 30 professionals across primary, secondaries and co-investments and specialises in agriculture, infrastructure, private equity, sustainable capital, timber and venture capital.