National Standard Finance Pioneers Private Credit Solutions for Infrastructure and Sovereign Debt

NATIONWIDE - JUNE 2025 - (USAnews.com) — National Standard Finance, LLC (NSF), a longstanding player in global private credit markets, has announced an expanded commitment to innovative private credit solutions designed specifically for infrastructure and sovereign-linked debt financing. This strategic evolution emphasizes the firm’s objective to bridge the global infrastructure funding gap by leveraging tailored financial mechanisms that integrate sovereign guarantees, political risk coverage, and non-traditional revenue backing. The approach allows for durable financing across both emerging and developed markets.

With nearly two decades of specialization in infrastructure private credit financing, National Standard Finance has developed robust expertise in structuring complex financial transactions that accommodate the operational and regulatory needs of sovereign and sub-sovereign entities. The company’s track record in public-private partnerships (PPP) and government-supported infrastructure has positioned it as a leading provider of institutional-grade capital for capital-intensive projects in sectors such as transportation, clean energy, public health, and urban development.

The global infrastructure funding gap is expected to exceed $15 trillion by 2040, according to the World Bank, highlighting the urgent need for innovative funding mechanisms. To address this gap, NSF utilizes a blend of sovereign and quasi-sovereign credit enhancements and fiscal tools to deploy capital at scale over extended durations, typically with maturity profiles reaching up to 30 years. This model aligns with governments’ strategic infrastructure objectives while minimizing impact on public balance sheets.

Russell Duke, President and Group CEO of National Standard Finance, emphasized the importance of collaborative financial engineering in sovereign financing. “Government and sovereign financial support are an indispensable bridge between the capital markets and infrastructure execution. By strategically aligning long-term private credit with public sector credit support, we’re able to deliver efficient, lower-cost funding that is durable and resilient,” said Duke.

The company’s structuring methodology incorporates multiple instruments to mitigate credit risk and unlock capital access. Among these tools are sovereign guarantees, irrevocable payment undertakings, and off-balance sheet structures. Sovereign guarantees serve to underwrite debt repayment, increasing creditworthiness and enabling better pricing for project debt. Irrevocable payment undertakings by government-linked entities—including pledges of tax revenues or user fees—further reinforce payment security. Meanwhile, NSF’s off-balance sheet financing options allow public sector sponsors to develop critical infrastructure while maintaining fiscal sustainability and compliance with national debt limits.

“NSF’s structures are designed not only to unlock funding but to align with each government's strategic priorities, fiscal frameworks, and compliance requirements,” Duke added. “This is more than just funding — it’s economic development with institutional-grade risk management.”

NSF’s operational reach and capital deployment strategies are made possible by its long-term investor relationships, primarily with pension funds, insurance companies, and sovereign wealth institutions. This network enables NSF to offer private capital solutions as a viable alternative to development banks and sovereign bond issuances. In doing so, the company fills a critical financing gap left by multilateral institutions constrained by policy, size, or sector-specific mandates.

Infrastructure projects under NSF’s current consideration include transport corridors in Sub-Saharan Africa, grid modernization in Southeast Asia, and national health infrastructure programs in Latin America. These initiatives rely on sovereign or sovereign-linked structures, ensuring that the underlying credit is supported by governmental guarantees or similar commitments. Additional transactions include restructuring sovereign-owned enterprise debt and large-scale public housing programs in the Middle East.

National Standard Finance’s expanded mandate also includes the application of bespoke off-balance sheet instruments such as infrastructure leasing and concession-based revenue arrangements. These tools provide fiscal and legal flexibility to government sponsors while preserving the economic utility of projects. The approach is particularly attractive for nations with constrained borrowing headroom or IMF-backed fiscal frameworks.

According to the company, its private credit platform enables long-duration project finance without the issuance of public bonds, offering borrowers fixed-income certainty while avoiding public market volatility. This format is advantageous for governments and agencies that seek rapid execution and simplified compliance relative to multilateral funding structures.

Duke emphasized the platform’s adaptability: “We are transforming how infrastructure is financed using private credit as an alternative to multilateral banks and bonds. Through disciplined underwriting and strong sovereign partnerships, we’re enabling governments to execute critical projects today — not decades from now.”

National Standard Finance’s value proposition is grounded in a partnership-driven model that emphasizes strategic alignment, long-term risk mitigation, and institutional trust. The company’s financing structures are created to integrate seamlessly into the financial ecosystems of host governments, with rigorous due diligence, policy compliance, and local engagement at the core of every transaction.

As public institutions and global financial markets face increasing pressure to address infrastructure needs amid constrained public finances, National Standard Finance presents a model of private credit-led development that is both scalable and sustainable. Its emphasis on credit structuring and sovereign alignment distinguishes it from traditional lenders and positions it as a critical actor in the future of global infrastructure finance.

For more information on National Standard Finance’s initiatives, visit National Standard Finance.