AMP Capital has created a global direct investments team as the Australian fund manager seeks to provide infrastructure equity co-investments for institutions.

The £106.8bn (€122.55bn) manager said it appointed Dylan Foo the global head of direct investments to lead the new global function as it grows this strategic pillar of its business.

Foo, who is currently partner and head of Americas infrastructure equity, will continue in his existing role. Foo has worked at AMP Capital since 2006

Patsy Sandys, an associate director on the infrastructure equity team in London, will lead the direct investments desk in Europe. Sandys joined AMP Capital in 2009.

AMP Capital said the new function will oversee direct investments made alongside AMP Capital’s infrastructure equity funds.

Boe Pahari, the global head of infrastructure equity at AMP Capital, said: “We are focussed on delivering excellent client service, providing solutions, and embracing innovation in the evolving infrastructure investment landscape.”

Pahari said infrastructure offers investment characteristics that are attractive to most institutional investors – predictable cashflows, attractive yields, defensive characteristics, long investment periods and liability-matching potential.

“It is therefore of little surprise that institutions are growing their allocations to infrastructure and increasingly seeking to benefit directly from the performance of assets that suit their investment strategy.”