Macquarie Group is looking to raise more than $1.5 billion in equity to invest in business opportunities and meet tougher capital requirements, as growth across all of its divisions saw half-year profits double to $2.04 billion.

The investment bank on Friday said it would seek to raise $1.5 billion from institutional investors through a placement, and it would also launch a share purchase plan to allow retail investors to chip in.

The profit results is ahead of guidance the investment bank gave last month, when it said earnings would be “slightly” less than the $2.03 billion it made in the six months to March.

“This first half saw a significant increase in net profit contribution from all four operating groups compared with 1H21, a period which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said chief executive Shemara Wikramanayake.

“Today’s result is consistent with a strong 2H21 and reflects improved trading conditions across our diverse platform.”

The capital raising comes after Macquarie’s share price has been on a tear, rising to a record high of more than $200 earlier this week before closing at $197.83 on Thursday. Macquarie shares were put into a trading halt on Friday morning.

The bank will pay a $2.72 a share dividend for the first half, an increase compared with the same half last year, but less than the final dividend it paid in the six months to March. The dividend, which will be franked at 40 per cent, was at the bottom of its dividend payout ratio range of 50 to 70 per cent.

Macquarie, a specialist in infrastructure financing, has benefited from the surge in infrastructure asset prices caused by low interest rates, and has emerged as a key financier of renewable energy. Ms Wikramanayake has been pushing for more ambitious action to address climate change, and she is set to attend the upcoming Glasgow climate change summit.