The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Brookfield Asset Management has beaten the fundraising target for its first infrastructure debt fund as the alternative-asset manager looks to capitalize on the retreat of traditional banks from leveraged finance. A Bloomberg dispatch to The Globe says that the Brookfield Infrastructure Debt Fund raised $885-million, above its $700-million target, over about 18 months from institutional investors in North America and Asia (all figures U.S.). This comes after Brookfield raised a target-topping $14-billion for its third infrastructure fund in July, 2016. The 10-year, closed-end debt fund targets high single-digit percentage returns investing in mezzanine capital, such as secured bonds and loans at the subordinated or holding-company level. Brookfield is building on its knowledge of mezzanine lending in real estate to exploit opportunities resulting from postfinancial crisis regulations that restrict banks' ability to lend. Brookfield, which has about $72-billion of infrastructure assets under management, will target its areas of expertise -- transportation, renewables, energy and utilities -- to pursue opportunities with a focus on North America.