Macquarie to roll out more fast charging after Roadchef buy
Macquarie Asset Management has agreed to buy Roadchef, a company which operates motorway service areas at 30 locations in the UK.
Macquarie is buying Roadchef from Antin Infrastructure Partners for the Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 6. The terms have not yet been disclosed.
Macquarie Asset Management said it intends to support Roadchef to develop and accelerate the rollout of fast-charging infrastructure for electric vehicles across its estate. Across its 30 locations, Roadchef operate 91,000 sq ft of catering, 41,000 sq ft retail, 15,000 sq ft grocery and 690 hotel bedrooms.
“As a key part of the UK’s motorway infrastructure, we believe Roadchef has a major role to play in facilitating the transition to net zero,” said Macquarie Asset Management senior managing director Gordon Parsons.
“Its extensive network of locations across the country make it well positioned to support the fast-charging infrastructure that is key to the adoption of electric and low carbon vehicles.”
Macquarie’s involvement will also enable Roadchef to invest in its sites and in partnerships with brands such as McDonald’s, Costa Coffee and Leon.
Macquarie Group, which has operated in the UK for more than 30 years, said that it is one of the largest investors in the UK, having invested and arranged more than £50 billion in essential infrastructure in recent years.
It also supported the development of Moto Services, another of the UK’s largest motorway service area operators, which was oned by a Macquarie-managed consortium between 2006 and 2015.
