Imagine tomorrow… is the broader Vision behind VisionEdgeOne (VE1). VE1 has been founded by Boe Pahari, the previous global head of infrastructure at AMP Capital, and the founding team totalling 15 experienced industry executives, in response to their belief that the infrastructure asset class is ever-changing. Boe Pahari has been joined as a managing partner by Claus Lyngdal, PensionDanmark’s former Head of Alternatives who leads VE1’s Copenhagen-based team.

Infrastructure is adapting to shifts in modern living, supporting societal progress, and growing in size and complexity as an investable asset class offering a broad spectrum of returns. Global disruptors – such as the exponential growth of digital, the need to confront climate change, and the Covid-19 pandemic – are just a few of the factors that have led Boe Pahari and the VE1 team to believe that the pace of change and scale of opportunity are now greater than ever before.

“The infrastructure of tomorrow is borne from the ideas and inventions of today: Imagination to Infrastructure. New infrastructure moves from imagination to invention, then to adaptation, and finally to infrastructure, as it becomes an essential service, taken for granted,” Boe Pahari explains. “For example, over the course of a century global aviation evolved from a visionary dream of the Wright Brothers into a scientific invention and then a commercial opportunity. This ultimately reshaped the culture of a globalised world where international travel is considered essential, and airports are a major infrastructure sector. In more recent years, digital connectivity has rapidly followed a similar trajectory – high-quality fibre connections have become as essential to consumers and workers as any utility.”

VE1 believes that sustainably delivering the infrastructure of tomorrow pertains to identifying the sectors and technologies that will become essential and selecting the point on the spectrum from imagination to infrastructure at which an investor enters the sector. Boe Pahari notes that “this requires curiosity, courage, and skilful execution.” VE1’s investment process benefits from the team’s strong market presence and established relationships, with both advisors and corporates, built over decades of successful interactions all over the world. “Partnerships are at the heart of VE1’s activity,” says Boe Pahari.

“Providing co-investment opportunities to clients is central to our ambitions.”

Significant institutional talent present on the VE1 team, including Lyngdal’s heritage from PensionDanmark, gives the firm deep insights into the requirements of institutions to their investment manager and direct investment partnerships. To further supplement the proven sector expertise within the VE1 investment team, VE1’s VisionLab initiative will draw on the expertise of industry-leading advisors for value creation and thought leadership.

• Vision is how VE1 identifies and invests in the infrastructure of tomorrow
• Edge is derived from thought leadership and deep expertise in execution
• One encompasses VE1’s team culture of belonging and working towards a united purpose, and its belief in Epic Collaboration: with clients, stakeholders, portfolio companies and market relationships

Claus Lyngdal summarises: “VE1 is curating a culture that brings together the internal aim of being an Ultimate Destination for Talent, and an external focus on Client Partnerships and stakeholder collaboration. Global talent management is core to the business – within the VE1 team, portfolio company management teams, our network of advisors, and our clients investing with and alongside us.”

VE1’s culture and values have been carefully defined alongside its fully integrated ESG approach. According to Boe Pahari, “we believe this creates a cohesive framework for impactful activity and an infrastructure investment sponsor that is both dynamic and symbiotic with the universe in which it is active.”