Investments Associate

Job Title: Infrastructure Investments – Associate

Location: London

Overview:

DWS Group (DWS) is one of the world's leading asset managers with €896bn of assets under management (as of 31 December 2023). Building on more than 60 years of experience, it has a reputation for excellence in Germany, Europe, the Americas and Asia. DWS is recognised by clients globally as a trusted source for integrated investment solutions, stability and innovation across a full spectrum of investment disciplines.

The role will sit in DWS Infrastructure’s growing European Equity Investment division, which acquires and manages private equity investments in businesses that provide essential infrastructure services and display infrastructure-like characteristics in the mid-market space. This could range from traditional infrastructure investments such as ports, toll roads, airports and utility companies, to Core+ and Value-Add infrastructure investments such as digital infrastructure (e.g. datacentres and fibre), social infrastructure (e.g. healthcare) and energy transition (e.g. circular economy, biofuels, renewables and energy efficiency). The European Equity Investment division has a strong track-record in delivering strong performance through its investments across the wide spectrum of different infrastructure businesses and assets.

DWS Infrastructure’s European Equity Investment Division has invested out of its flagship Pan-European Infrastructure Fund (“PEIF”) series and has recently achieved first close on its new Sustainable Growth Infrastructure Fund (“SGIF”) fund, a complementary strategy to the flagship PEIF series focused on infrastructure investments in the lower-mid cap market space with higher growth potential and a sustainability angle.

DWS Infrastructure has one of the longest track records of performance in the mid-market infrastructure sector which has been illustrated in the growing sizes of each subsequent flagship fund raised.

• PEIF I: c. €2bn

• PEIF II: c. €2bn

• PEIF III: c. €3bn + c. €500m Co-Investment + €750m Secondary Capital

• SGIF: €500m Target (First Close achieved)

• PEIV IV: €4bn Target (First Close expected c. mid-2024)

You will be part of supporting the growing acquisition and asset management activities as DWS Infrastructure’s European Equity Investment business grows – with exposure to the full fund-lifecycle, including acquisitions out of SGIF and PEIF IV, asset management of portfolio companies, and realisations of existing portfolio companies in PEIF II and PEIF III.

The DWS Infrastructure European Equity Investment team sits within DWS Alternatives, which is comprised of a diversified set of business activities including Private Equity, Private Real Estate, Private Infrastructure, Liquid Real Assets (Real Estate/Infrastructure and Commodity Securities), Sustainable Investments and Hedge Funds. The global team invests on behalf of a global client base that includes governments, corporations, individuals and institutional investors.

What we’ll offer you:

A healthy, engaged and well-supported workforce are better equipped to do their best work and, more importantly, enjoy their lives inside and outside the workplace. That’s why we are committed to providing an environment with your development and wellbeing at its centre.

You can expect:

• Competitive salary and non-contributory pension

• 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional days

• Hybrid working flexibility

• Life Assurance and Private Healthcare for you and your family

• A range of flexible benefits including Retail Discounts, a Bike4Work scheme and Gym benefits

• The opportunity to support a wide-ranging CSR programme + 2 days’ volunteering leave per year

Your key responsibilities:

• Managing the appraisal of investment opportunities in the infrastructure sector across Europe and assisting in managing the assets in the funds’ portfolio

• Supporting the due diligence and acquisition process for new investments including liaising with Financial Advisers, Consultants, Lawyers, Accountants and Tax Specialists and other experts, both internally and externally

• Building, reviewing and updating financial models

• Supporting the deal team through the investment committee process during an acquisition process

• Providing investment appraisal and valuation analysis

• Monitoring and reporting performance of portfolio assets

• Supporting in the realisation (sale) of existing portfolio assets

Your skills and experience:

• Previous experience in either Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Finance, Private Equity or Management Consultancy with a focus on investments across sectors such as Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Industrials, and TMT

• Educated to at least a Bachelor’s degree level or equivalent qualification / relevant work experience

• Master’s degree or MBA would be advantageous

• Working knowledge of the infrastructure landscape across mainland Europe

• A second European Language would be beneficial

• Strong project management skills

How we’ll support you:

• Training and development to help you excel in your career

• Coaching and support from experts in your team

• A culture of continuous learning to aid progression

• A range of flexible benefits that you can tailor to suit your needs

We at DWS are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, one that embraces dialogue and diverse views, and treats everyone fairly to drive a high-performance culture. The value we create for our clients and investors is based on our ability to bring together various perspectives from all over the world and from different backgrounds. It is our experience that teams perform better and deliver improved outcomes when they are able to incorporate a wide range of perspectives. We call this #ConnectingTheDots.