1.19 As PFI has become better understood and the market has developed, more companies are taking part in the PFI market in some form and it has become an attractive investment for private sector equity and debt. Over the past few years there has also been significant growth in the number of global infrastructure funds as infrastructure has become an asset class in its own right. Global infrastructure funds, which scarcely existed when PFI was launched, are introducing new possibilities for the ownership and management of infrastructure and in a number of countries are bringing a new range of opportunities for private sector involvement in public service delivery. Chapter 3 outlines the role private finance can play in public infrastructure investment and some of the issues the Government is taking forward.