HSH Nordbank bets on infrastructure

Take a drive in one of Asia's many teeming metropolises and the region's infrastructure deficit becomes immediately apparent. Now, transportation powerhouse HSH Nordbank is entering the fray of firms working to change this, with the launch of a new infrastructure advisory group led by Phillip Hall.

Generally speaking, infrastructure projects have assumed greater importance among investors in the wake of the financial crisis, due to their predictable earnings and manageable risks, said Mathis Shinnick, global head of transportation at HSH Nordbank. The formation of the advisory group takes account of this trend.

CLSA Research estimates that Asia ex-Japan will spend $2.5 trillion on infrastructure through 2014, rising at an annual rate of 15%. The...