Infrastructure Finance
Local authorities are facing dramatic changes in the level of
funding for, and the structuring of, capital projects in the UK.
The key drivers are spending cuts which have led to the
cancellation and curtailment of some projects, and the reform of
the PFI regime and wider public sector finance reform. The mix of
capital projects is also changing, with less social infrastructure
and more economic infrastructure.
In this challenging financial environment, our infrastructure
finance team works in partnership with public and private sector
clients, advising on the financial aspects of developing and
implementing major capital projects and programmes to deliver
public policy objectives. The bespoke solutions we create and
deliver, are testament to the depth of relationships we build.
We assist our public sector clients by developing business cases
and supporting procurement, from the development of invitations to
tender, through bid evaluation and negotiation with suppliers, to
the development of payment mechanisms, and on to the financial
close.
Alternatively, we work closely with the private sector drawing on our deep insight
into the market. On the delivery side, typically advising on:
- investment appraisal and business case development
- feasibility studies and risk analysis
- financial structuring advice supported by financial
modeling
- funding advice, including debt advisory and running funding
competitions
- commercial negotiation
- tax and accounting advice, drawn from across the firm
For operational projects, we provide specialist financial and
modeling advice to both the public and private sector to support
contract management. This includes refinancing, market testing and
benchmarking and variations, as well as expert advice in the case
of disputes.
We can also provide valuation and transaction support on
secondary market deals in project finance investments.
Our infrastructure finance clients benefit from the depth of our
sector expertise, which brings additional insight across a range of
projects, including:
For 2010 we were ranked the top financial adviser in
Infrastructure Journal's league tables for UK PPPs, UK Social
Infrastructure PPPs and UK Education PPPs.
Our clear understanding of credit markets, pricing and funding
structures, enables us to access finance solutions from UK and
international banks, capital markets, leasing companies, national
and supranational institutions, such as the Public Works Loan Board
and the European Investment Bank, infrastructure funds and
prudential borrowing for our clients. We often develop a bespoke
mix of several of these to provide a flexible source of funding for
our clients' needs.