Why countries should implement asset recycling, and where to get good guidance
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Authored by: David Ng and Rishabh Jain
This article has also been cross-published on the World Bank PPP Blog. Click here to view. To find out more, visit Guidelines for Implementing Asset Recycling, or Download the Full Report.
What if governments were able to leverage existing, aging infrastructure to raise funds for new development? Many countries are realizing that this is in fact possible through an approach called “asset recycling.” To see this approach in action, let’s look to India, which is on its way to creating a $5 trillion dollar economy by 2025. To meet this ambitious target, the government of India is seeking large-scale infrastructure investment, with asset recycling—or monetization of existing infrastructure assets—as a key pillar of sustainable infrastructure financing. The government’s National Monetization Pipeline (NMP), backed by a comprehensive framework developed by the Ministry of Finance, NITI Aayog (a government policy think-tank), and other relevant ministries, aims to generate $72.8 billion by leasing out public infrastructure assets between 2022 and 2025. The proceeds from the asset recycling initiative will be invested in new infrastructure assets, thus supporting the government's large-scale infrastructure investment plan of close to $1.4 billion, the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP). Asset recycling allows governments to concession out or lease existing, brownfield infrastructure assets, such as toll roads, airports, ports, rail, and electricity transmission assets that have the potential for private sector efficiencies in their operations and maintenance. Governments, in turn, can invest the realized proceeds into building new, sustainable greenfield infrastructure assets. This creates a virtuous cycle whereby the public accesses improved services provided by the private sector (operating existing assets) and benefits from additional services delivered by investment in new infrastructure assets. As seen in the case of India, there are four key reasons for implementing asset recycling : 1. Meet infrastructure investment needs and gaps The development of new infrastructure—a critical need in emerging and developing economies (EMDEs)—is estimated to require between 2-8% of a country’s annual gross domestic product (GDP) until 2030 to achieve infrastructure-related SDGs. An average annual investment of 4.5% of GDP is needed to enable EMDEs to limit climate change to below 2°C. In addition, resources are required for the operation and maintenance of existing infrastructure to ensure the quality of services provided by the infrastructure asset. This is estimated to cost EMDEs an additional 2.7% of GDP each year. The rehabilitation of infrastructure assets and capital improvements to ensure climate resilience require an additional upfront capital investment of 3% of GDP. 2. Alleviate constraints in raising financing and funding In EMDEs, government debt as a percentage of GDP has increased substantially over the last decade, resulting in a rising proportion of tax revenue used to service debt. This has impacted the ability of the government to spend on other critical public services. The median government debt service to tax revenue ratio of EMDEs has increased from approximately 33% in 2013 to 42% in 2021 (see Figure 1.16). Debt service is taking up an increasing proportion of tax revenue and preventing spending on measures that support socioeconomic benefits. With public budgets constrained by this factor, as well as by intertwined global crises and growing populations, governments in EMDEs are struggling to meet demand for infrastructure spending. This is a key reason why countries need to seek out alternative options—including asset recycling—to finance infrastructure needs. 3. Leverage private sector efficiencies for better service delivery of existing infrastructure assets Private sector participation in public infrastructure can help introduce efficiencies by leveraging the private sector’s technical expertise and innovation. Supported by contractual obligations that impose service delivery quality, under an asset recycling scheme there can be long-term gains in efficiency and effectiveness in the management and operations of assets. Open and competitive tendering processes can also help governments realize cost efficiencies while maintaining service level and quality. 4. Promote infrastructure as an asset class for domestic and foreign institutional investors An investment pipeline of brownfield infrastructure with a demonstrated history of operations can attract and mobilize private capital from foreign and domestic investors as well as institutional capital. When a country's financial institutions, such as pension funds or sovereign wealth funds, invest, they can effectively curb capital outflows; and at the same time, facilitate diversification of their portfolios and support the development of domestic infrastructure projects. Clearly much can potentially be achieved from pursuing asset recycling. But this is a relatively new approach, and countries need guidance to implement it effectively. With that in mind, the World Bank, with the assistance of KPMG, has developed a set of Asset Recycling Guidelines to support governments in selecting, preparing, and delivering asset recycling transactions using long-term concession and lease models. The asset recycling guidelines offer a structured approach to asset recycling transactions. Specifically, sections 3-8 of the guidelines outline the necessary steps that governments should follow to execute asset recycling transactions successfully—set out as follows: Section 3: Asset Selection Process undertaken by the government in selecting an asset that is appropriate for asset recycling. These include conducting operational checks, financial/commercial checks, legal and environmental checks, and social and environmental checks. Section 4: Project Preparation Process, including the due diligence process, project structuring, and market sounding activities. Section 5: Tendering Process for the asset recycling transaction, from development of the request for proposal (RFP) to bid award and contract finalization. Section 6: Financing options and instruments available for asset recycling transactions. Section 7: Contract Management process post-contract award; this includes guidelines for developing the contract management plan, monitoring and reporting, and dispute resolution mechanism. Section 8: Mechanisms for the use of proceeds realized from an asset recycling transaction based on international best practices. Asset recycling can be applied across many infrastructure sectors. Accordingly, the guidelines also provide sector-specific examples of due diligence requirements, a risk allocation matrix, and terms of reference for the selection of transaction advisors. The guidelines are also supplemented with information to support asset recycling transactions. These include: Template for a term sheet for concession/ lease model Range of bid parameters for a typical concession/ lease model Bundling and unbundling criteria for assets considered for asset recycling transaction Details of climate finance and Islamic finance as a financing option for asset recycling transactions.
Guidelines for implementing asset recycling
You can find the Guidelines for Implementing Asset Recycling Transactions online at the Public-Private Partnership Resource Center, or download the PDF version here.
Related Content
Guidelines for Implementing Asset Recycling
Page Specific DisclaimerThe Guidelines have not been prepared with any specific transaction in mind and are meant to serve only as general guidance. It is therefore critical that the Guidelines be reviewed and adapted for specific transactions To find more, visit the Guidelines to Implementing Asset Recycling Transactions Section Overview and Content Outline, or Download the Full Report.
This is a new section of the website and is currently in draft form. For feedback on the content of this section of the website or suggestions for links or materials that could be included, please contact the PPP Resource Center at ppp@worldbank.org.
KeywordsTable of contents TitleTable of ContentsTable of contents link/Asset_Recycling_Guideline_OutlineBanner Notice
The Guidelines to Implementing Asset Recycling Transactions is intended to be a living document and will be reviewed at regular intervals. Visit the Asset Recycling: Decision maker’s notes for a practitioner's overview of Asset Recycling programs. To find more, check out the Section Overview and Content Outline, or Download the Full Report. Let us know what you think by taking a Quick Survey.
Annex in Asset Recycling
Page Specific DisclaimerThe Guidelines have not been prepared with any specific transaction in mind and are meant to serve only as general guidance. It is therefore critical that the Guidelines be reviewed and adapted for specific transactions To find more, visit the Guidelines to Implementing Asset Recycling Transactions Section Overview and Content Outline, or Download the Full Report.
This is a new section of the website and is currently in draft form. For feedback on the content of this section of the website or suggestions for links or materials that could be included, please contact the PPPLRC at ppp@worldbank.org.
Case Studies in Asset Recycling
Page Specific DisclaimerThe Guidelines have not been prepared with any specific transaction in mind and are meant to serve only as general guidance. It is therefore critical that the Guidelines be reviewed and adapted for specific transactions To find more, visit the Guidelines to Implementing Asset Recycling Transactions Section Overview and Content Outline, or Download the Full Report.
This is a new section of the website and is currently in draft form. For feedback on the content of this section of the website or suggestions for links or materials that could be included, please contact the PPPLRC at ppp@worldbank.org.
KeywordsTable of contents TitleTable of ContentsTable of contents link/Asset_Recycling_Guideline_OutlineBanner Notice
The Guidelines to Implementing Asset Recycling Transactions is intended to be a living document and will be reviewed at regular intervals. Visit the Asset Recycling: Decision maker’s notes for a practitioner's overview of Asset Recycling programs. To find more, check out the Section Overview and Content Outline, or Download the Full Report.
Asset Recycling Guide: Tools and References
Page Specific DisclaimerThe Guidelines have not been prepared with any specific transaction in mind and are meant to serve only as general guidance. It is therefore critical that the Guidelines be reviewed and adapted for specific transactions To find more, visit the Guidelines to Implementing Asset Recycling Transactions Section Overview and Content Outline, or Download the Full Report.
This is a new section of the website and is currently in draft form. For feedback on the content of this section of the website or suggestions for links or materials that could be included, please contact the PPPLRC at ppp@worldbank.org.
KeywordsTable of contents TitleTable of ContentsTable of contents link/Asset_Recycling_Guideline_OutlineBanner NoticeThe Guidelines to Implementing Asset Recycling Transactions is intended to be a living document and will be reviewed at regular intervals. Visit the Asset Recycling: Decision maker’s notes for a practitioner's overview of Asset Recycling programs. To find more, check out the Section Overview and Content Outline, or Download the Full Report.
Table of Contents for Asset Recycling
Page Specific DisclaimerThe Guidelines have not been prepared with any specific transaction in mind and are meant to serve only as general guidance. It is therefore critical that the Guidelines be reviewed and adapted for specific transactions To find more, visit the Guidelines to Implementing Asset Recycling Transactions Section Overview and Content Outline, or Download the Full Report.
This is a new section of the website and is currently in draft form. For feedback on the content of this section of the website or suggestions for links or materials that could be included, please contact the Public-Private Partnership Resource Center at ppp@worldbank.org.
KeywordsBanner Notice
The Guidelines to Implementing Asset Recycling Transactions is intended to be a living document and will be reviewed at regular intervals. Visit the Asset Recycling: Decision maker’s notes for a practitioner's overview of Asset Recycling programs. To find more, check out the Section Overview and Content Outline, or Download the Full Report.
Additional Resources
Guidelines for Implementing Asset Recycling Transactions (Download PDF version) - Now Available!
Asset Recycling: Decision Maker’s Notes
Page Specific DisclaimerTo find more, visit the Guidelines to Implementing Asset Recycling Transactions Section Overview and Content Outline, or Download the Full Report.
This is a new section of the website and is currently in draft form. For feedback on the content of this section of the website or suggestions for links or materials that could be included, please contact the Public-Private Partnership Resource Center at ppp@worldbank.org.
KeywordsTable of contents TitleTable of ContentsTable of contents link/Asset_Recycling_Guideline_Outline