Jaroslava Korpanec article in Infrastructure Investor: Driving value in the mid-market
In Infrastructure Investor, Jaroslava Korpanec, Managing Director and Head of Central and Eastern Europe, Infrastructure at Actis, discusses why success in the infrastructure mid-market should be defined not simply by ticket size, but by the ability to drive operational execution and disciplined growth.
In the article, Jaroslava argues that leverage is rarely the principal driver of returns in the mid-market. Instead, value creation depends on thoughtful thesis formation, clear underwriting of operational improvements, carefully calibrated contracting strategies and the deliberate strengthening of institutional frameworks. She notes that mid-market investing is distinct in infrastructure because it is centred on building growth engines and preparing businesses for the next phase of ownership from day one.
The piece also highlights how operational value creation begins well before acquisition, through identifying actionable improvements during due diligence, improving cashflow visibility and durability, and implementing best-practice reporting frameworks. Following acquisition, growth is achieved through disciplined execution, including capacity expansion, entry into adjacent geographies, consolidation and selective bolt-on acquisitions.
Jaroslava also outlines why growth markets are especially well suited to this model, particularly where structural undersupply of infrastructure is combined with robust demand, credible regulatory and legal frameworks, and a track record of private investment. The article concludes by reinforcing that the mid-market can serve as a bridge: transforming under-institutionalised platforms into scalable, institutional-quality businesses designed for future ownership.
Click here to read the full article online and here to read it in the digital edition of the print magazine.
Disclaimer
The statements contained herein by Jaroslava Korpanec regarding investments in mid-markets are as of 1 April 2026 and represent the views of Actis or the source cited which is not research and should not be treated as research. The case studies are presented for informational purposes only and were selected to demonstrate the type of investments that Actis will seek to make. There can be no guarantee that transactions with similar characteristics will be available to Actis. Moreover, there is no assurance historical trends will continue. Historic market trends are not reliable indicators of actual future market behaviour or future performance of any particular investment which may differ materially and should not be relied upon as such.