360˚ Buy-In: Aligning Key Stakeholder Interests on Infrastructure Investments

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. No assurance can be given that any investment will achieve its given objectives or avoid losses. Unless apparent from context, all statements herein represent GCM Grosvenor’s opinion.

INTRODUCTION

Infrastructure investments are notoriously complex, particularly in the United States and Canada where projects may be influenced by an array of stakeholders. As a result, getting infrastructure projects across the finish line in these jurisdictions has proven at times to be challenging. To discuss the challenges, three GCM Grosvenor experts with experience from key stakeholder perspectives – labor, government and private capital – share their viewpoints on what it takes to achieve the necessary buy-in to get projects done effectively. It turns out to be a mix of holistic and realistic factors – and always goes beyond the numbers to the very human dynamics of infrastructure deals.

LABOR

Organized labor should be viewed as a true stakeholder."

Private capital investments in infrastructure projects often ignore the perspective of local labor organizations. Not necessarily because investors oppose working with organized labor, but rather labor may simply not be front-of-mind of those considering an infrastructure investment. There have been many quality infrastructure opportunities that never came to fruition because investors did not consider the labor perspective and its impact and potential benefits. In our experience, successful investments are those that view labor as a true stakeholder, not simply as an input where the cost must be minimized.

When labor is considered a partner, there is a higher degree of confidence among all stakeholders that the work is being performed by properly trained professionals with countless hours of safety training. It can be considered a risk mitigation policy; we believe the odds are increased that the work will be done right, on time and on budget. Moreover, when labor is a partner, a project is more likely to have labor peace. These are real benefits to an investor, as poor quality, jobsite accidents, and/or labor disputes can, at the very least, cause a significant drag on any infrastructure investment.

Another common issue is that, in many places, labor is represented by a centralized organization that covers all workers – building and construction trades, the service sector, the industrial and public sector unions, etc. Often, these centralized organizations are made up of hundreds of separate unions, some of which may have divergent priorities. As a result, getting the central labor council to support a project can be challenging. For example, if the electricians and plumbers are happy with a deal because it creates jobs for its members, but the service sector trades are not, because the operation and maintenance of the asset will be performed by non-union members, the labor council may be pushed to a neutral position on the project. It is a nuanced but important distinction that can have implications on whether the organization will be an active advocate for the project, which can help determine if the deal moves forward or not. A savvy investor will recognize these nuances and work with the central labor council to garner support from member unions at the earliest stages of project development.

It is important to remember that infrastructure is inherently local and impactful to everyday life. We believe that if an investor approaches projects with an eye toward collaboration with key stakeholders such as labor, they can earn a reputation for being fair, which may prove beneficial in the immediate-term as well as the long-term.

Government

Investors need to see the inter-jurisdictional puzzle clearly.”

Obtaining the requisite buy-in from various governmental entities in the U.S. and Canada often hinders an infrastructure project. This multi-governmental puzzle can be difficult to assemble, as each government authority has its own agenda and constituencies, which do not always mesh with one another. This is particularly true when dealing with elected officials from different political parties at different levels of government. A major infrastructure project in the U.S. may fall under a number of jurisdictions, with dozens of elected officials having a voice in the process. Take, for example, a proposed rail line that loops around a city – the federal government is involved in funding and transportation regulation, while the governments of the state, counties and cities affected by the rail route will also have interests.

This challenge is unique from other parts of the world where some national governments have the ability to dictate the outcomes of infrastructure projects at the local level. International investors may be accustomed to dealing within this top-down approach, which can make an infrastructure investment less complex. But many of these same investors have struggled to find their footing in the hyper-local government construct that dominates U.S. and Canadian infrastructure investing.

While these governmental and political challenges can at times seem daunting, we believe they can be overcome by thoroughly understanding a particular project and dedicating adequate resources to it. An investor should begin by understanding how governments work and how decisions are made, and grasp the basics of how governments interact with one another. Then, as a project proceeds through the diligence process, a picture starts to emerge of how its puzzle fits together. At that point, investors should put resources toward understanding the interests of each jurisdiction involved.

Appreciating competing interests enables an investor to adjust project details or messaging as necessary in order to garner maximum support across jurisdictions. While navigating these nuances may help push a project to the finish line, doing so can also illuminate any governmental or political obstacles that will be insurmountable, allowing the investor to pass on a deal before expending significant resources. It is important that an investor remains nimble as a project progresses through the local government channels; doing so gives them the best chance at being successful.

alignment of interests

private capital

Private infrastructure investment works best when interests are aligned.”

Some municipalities and elected officials in North America view monetization or development of a public asset with private capital as a detriment to constituents. This is an unfortunate reputation because there is no inherent reason why public-private partnerships (“P3s”) are flawed. In fact, private investment in public infrastructure projects is prevalent outside the U.S. In Asia, Australia, and Europe, private capital has successfully flowed into roads, bridges, tunnels, airports, and rail lines for decades, spurring development and modernization of infrastructure.

When considering the decline in public funding sources in the U.S. and Canada, it is apparent there is a real need for private capital. Historically, infrastructure has been funded by gas taxes, passenger facility charges for airports and the like, but the purchasing power of these fees has declined. On top of that, rising healthcare costs and pension funding issues have effectively maxed out the borrowing capacity of many government entities. In short, P3s are needed.

However, there are many factors that contribute to a successful P3. How a deal is structured is critical. The public side of the transaction must gain from future financial benefit; the project cannot be structured in a way that private stakeholders alone benefit. Another structural issue is that any transaction involving public assets must be a lease – never an outright sale. It is crucial that elected officials and constituents view P3 transactions as finite. When the lease ends, the asset goes back to being purely public and the municipality has the option to re-lease.

Private capital is only one of many interests in a potential transaction, and all interests must be aligned. Private capital should not only ensure that the municipality or government retains its rights and benefits, but also that organized labor and minority- and women-owned businesses are benefiting. That way, politicians can go back to their constituents with a positive outcome for the community overall. By aligning these interests in a thoughtful and collaborative way, investors can unlock opportunities across the U.S. and Canada and improve the state of infrastructure in the process. And, importantly, proper alignment of these various interests and constituencies is ultimately accretive for investors.

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Important Disclosures:

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. No assurance can be given that any investment will achieve its objectives or avoid losses.Investments in alternatives are speculative and involve substantial risk, including strategy risks, manager risks, market risks, and structural/operational risks, and may result in the possible loss of your entire investment. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The views expressed are for informational purposes only and are not intended to serve as a forecast, a guarantee of future results, investment recommendations or an offer to buy or sell securities by GCM Grosvenor. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic, or political conditions. The investment strategies mentioned are not personalized to your financial circumstances or investment objectives, and differences in account size, the timing of transactions and market conditions prevailing at the time of investment may lead to different results. Certain information included herein may have been provided by parties not affiliated with GCM Grosvenor. GCM Grosvenor has not independently verified such information and makes no representation or warranty as to its accuracy or completeness.

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