Debt structuring and lender execution for UAE and cross-border projects with defined assets, contracts, risk allocation and repayment cash flows.
Overview
Senior secured and project finance is long-term debt secured on assets and cash flows, with limited recourse to the sponsor. Matchpoint arranges senior and project finance and coordinates the technical, legal and financial diligence lenders require.
As part of our Debt practice, Matchpoint Partners has originated and led $2+ billion of transactions across four continents, and every debt mandate is led by a partner, from first call to close.
Project finance is long-term debt repaid from the cash flows of a specific project, with limited recourse to the sponsor's balance sheet and security taken over the project's assets and contracts. Matchpoint Partners arranges senior and mezzanine project finance and coordinates the technical, legal and financial due-diligence workstreams lenders require.
A typical project-finance structure: lenders, sponsors, contractors and offtakers around a ring-fenced project company.
Build bankability from contracts and risk allocation
Decision
Size long-term debt to contracted or otherwise defensible project cash flow after construction, operating and reserve requirements.
Evidence
Lenders will test sponsor equity, permits, land and grid rights where relevant, EPC and O&M capability, completion support, offtake, insurance, technical performance, environmental and social requirements and downside debt-service coverage.
Execution
Create a complete risk-allocation matrix, integrated financial model and diligence plan; then align term sheet, project contracts and conditions precedent through financial close.
How Matchpoint helps
Our role on senior secured & project finance mandates
Long-term debt repaid from a specific project's cash flows, secured on its assets, limiting sponsor recourse.
Power, renewables, infrastructure, real estate, data centres and industrials.
Lenders look for an experienced sponsor, fixed-price construction contracts with credible contractors, contracted or highly visible revenues, all material permits, and a meaningful sponsor equity contribution. Independent technical, legal and insurance due diligence validates each element before credit approval, so early preparation of these workstreams materially shortens execution.
A typical package includes security over the project’s assets and land, a pledge over the shares of the project company, charges over project bank accounts, and assignment of key contracts and insurances. Because recourse to the sponsor is limited, lenders rely on this ring-fenced security and the project’s cash flows.
Lenders expect sponsors to fund a meaningful share of total project costs in equity before or alongside debt drawdowns, so that risk is genuinely shared. The proportion varies with sector, contract strength and revenue visibility — strongly contracted assets support higher gearing, while merchant or development-stage risk requires more equity.
Matchpoint originates senior, mezzanine, hybrid and structured debt from regional banks, international lenders and private credit funds, structured around your transaction. Tickets range from USD 5m to USD 500m+.
Private credit is non-bank lending from specialist funds, typically senior or unitranche, offering speed and flexibility. We maintain relationships with private credit funds active in the GCC and India.
Yes. We structure Sukuk and Shariah-compliant private credit, including blended structures pairing a Sukuk tranche with conventional debt.
Engagements ordinarily combine a retainer with a success fee. Terms are agreed in writing before work begins and calibrated to the mandate’s size, scope and complexity.
Most mandates reach a first term sheet within 30 days, depending on diligence readiness and structure; closing follows once terms are agreed.
A short, confidential scoping call and NDA; we structure the requirement and prepare materials, then run a competitive process across our 5,000+ investor and lender relationships, and negotiate to close — with a partner leading at every step.
Matchpoint Partners is based in the UAE and runs cross-border mandates across the UAE, KSA, India and the UK, with active deal activity in wider Europe, Singapore and the United States.
Matchpoint undertakes corporate finance, financing, M&A and fund-placement mandates from USD 5m upwards, subject to mandate fit, diligence, applicable regulation, capacity and a written engagement. The partner team has originated and led $2+ billion of transactions.
Use the enquiry form, email contact@matchpoint-partners.com, or call/WhatsApp +971 52 345 1119. Every mandate is led by a partner from the very first conversation.
Yes. Confidential information is handled under the engagement terms and any applicable non-disclosure agreement.
How do I prepare a UAE infrastructure project for project debt?
A project-finance request needs a defined asset, credible construction and operating plan, approvals pathway, contracted or supportable revenue, complete sources and uses, sponsor equity, downside-tested cash flows and an enforceable security package. Lenders also assess completion risk, counterparties, insurance, technical diligence and the project company's ability to service debt.
01
Who this route fits
Sponsors and asset owners financing infrastructure, power, water, industrial, data-centre or other ring-fenced projects.
02
Decisions before outreach
Recourse; construction risk; offtake; debt sizing; reserve accounts; covenants; sponsor support; and completion tests.
03
What to prepare
Financial model, feasibility and technical reports, contracts, permits, construction budget, timetable, sponsor evidence and risk allocation.
Qualification. Matchpoint undertakes project and corporate debt mandates from USD 5m upwards; sector and project-stage criteria apply.
Investment roles, structures and decision criteria
Explore the participants and transaction options relevant to this practice. Each entry sets out a discussion scope, decision checks, a paid engagement starting point and the specialist responsibilities to confirm.
Banks and Direct Lenders
Senior-Secured LendersCME-058 · Banks and Direct Lenders · Debt Lender
Ecosystem role
Debt Lender
Related asset class
Private credit
Instrument context
Senior debt
Mandate context: corporate, acquisition and working-capital financings. The structure and rights are established by the specific transaction documents.
Decision focus: Repayment capacity and financing conditions.
Borrower authority, debt and use of funds
Cash-flow repayment and covenant sensitivities
Security, ranking and approval conditions
Scope to discuss: Lender advisory, independent credit underwriting and financing execution.
Paid engagement entry point: independent credit-screening memorandum; followed by underwriting, structuring or portfolio monitoring.
Illustrative GCC scenario: An illustrative UAE acquisition loan can be screened using the borrower's cash-flow case, existing obligations, proposed security and the lender's credit-approval requirements. This is a hypothetical decision example.
What should be agreed before a mandate involving Senior-Secured Lenders?
Define the investment or transaction objective, the authorised decision-maker, the evidence available, the requested deliverables and the next approval. Use the decision checks above to identify gaps; agree the workplan, delivery responsibilities and fee terms in writing.
Delivery and specialist boundary: Confirm decision authority, evidence access, conflicts, scope and applicable jurisdiction-specific permissions before execution. Legal, tax, fund-marketing, securities and Shariah questions require the relevant appointed specialist. Capital availability, investment returns and execution dates remain subject to assessment.
Project-Finance LendersCME-073 · Real Assets and Project Finance · Debt Lender
Ecosystem role
Debt Lender
Related asset class
Project finance
Instrument context
Senior or project debt
Mandate context: real estate, construction, infrastructure and project funding. The structure and rights are established by the specific transaction documents.
Decision focus: Completion, operating cash flows and repayment.
Land, permits, contracts and project readiness
Construction, operating and offtake assumptions
Funding conditions, security and repayment sensitivities
Scope to discuss: Lender advisory, independent credit underwriting and financing execution.
Paid engagement entry point: independent credit-screening memorandum; followed by underwriting, structuring or portfolio monitoring.
Illustrative GCC scenario: An illustrative Oman infrastructure financing can map construction milestones, permits, contracted revenue and downside debt-service capacity to the proposed funding conditions. This is a hypothetical decision example.
What should be agreed before a mandate involving Project-Finance Lenders?
Define the investment or transaction objective, the authorised decision-maker, the evidence available, the requested deliverables and the next approval. Use the decision checks above to identify gaps; agree the workplan, delivery responsibilities and fee terms in writing.
Delivery and specialist boundary: Confirm decision authority, evidence access, conflicts, scope and applicable jurisdiction-specific permissions before execution. Legal, tax, fund-marketing, securities and Shariah questions require the relevant appointed specialist. Capital availability, investment returns and execution dates remain subject to assessment.
Senior Secured DebtCME-153 · Private Capital · Asset Class
Ecosystem role
Asset Class
Related asset class
Private markets
Instrument context
Equity or debt
Mandate context: equity, credit and private-company investment strategies. The structure and rights are established by the specific transaction documents.
Decision focus: Economic exposure and downside assumptions.
Underlying business or borrower evidence
Cash-flow rights, leverage and valuation
Liquidity, governance and exit or repayment routes
Scope to discuss: Private-markets portfolio strategy, manager selection, diligence and transaction access.
Paid engagement entry point: allocation and market-opportunity study; followed by manager or asset screening and diligence.
Illustrative GCC scenario: An illustrative GCC private-capital comparison can evaluate equity and credit exposures on a consistent set of cash-flow, governance and liquidity assumptions. This is a hypothetical decision example.
What should be agreed before a mandate involving Senior Secured Debt?
Define the investment or transaction objective, the authorised decision-maker, the evidence available, the requested deliverables and the next approval. Use the decision checks above to identify gaps; agree the workplan, delivery responsibilities and fee terms in writing.
Delivery and specialist boundary: Confirm decision authority, evidence access, conflicts, scope and applicable jurisdiction-specific permissions before execution. Legal, tax, fund-marketing, securities and Shariah questions require the relevant appointed specialist. Capital availability, investment returns and execution dates remain subject to assessment.
Project FinanceCME-163 · Real Assets and Secondaries · Asset Class
Ecosystem role
Asset Class
Related asset class
Alternatives
Instrument context
Equity, debt or fund interests
Mandate context: real assets, project assets and secondary investments. The structure and rights are established by the specific transaction documents.
Decision focus: Asset economics and the terms of ownership.
Underlying asset, fund or portfolio evidence
Cash flows, valuation and capital commitments
Transfers, liquidity and specialist diligence
Scope to discuss: Private-markets portfolio strategy, manager selection, diligence and transaction access.
Paid engagement entry point: allocation and market-opportunity study; followed by manager or asset screening and diligence.
Illustrative GCC scenario: An illustrative Qatar real-asset or secondary investment can review valuation support, future capital commitments, transfer permissions and exit assumptions. This is a hypothetical decision example.
What should be agreed before a mandate involving Project Finance?
Define the investment or transaction objective, the authorised decision-maker, the evidence available, the requested deliverables and the next approval. Use the decision checks above to identify gaps; agree the workplan, delivery responsibilities and fee terms in writing.
Delivery and specialist boundary: Confirm decision authority, evidence access, conflicts, scope and applicable jurisdiction-specific permissions before execution. Legal, tax, fund-marketing, securities and Shariah questions require the relevant appointed specialist. Capital availability, investment returns and execution dates remain subject to assessment.
Mandate context: corporate, project, asset and acquisition financing. The structure and rights are established by the specific transaction documents.
Decision focus: Cash obligations and risk allocation.
Pricing, tenor and repayment obligations
Collateral, covenants and priority
Sensitivity to delays, cash shortfalls and refinancing
Scope to discuss: Capital-structure design, financing options analysis and execution support.
Paid engagement entry point: financing-options and term-sheet assessment; followed by lender or investor process execution.
Illustrative GCC scenario: An illustrative Saudi funding proposal can compare repayment, security, covenant and refinancing terms on common cash-flow assumptions before specialist documentation review. This is a hypothetical decision example.
What should be agreed before a mandate involving Senior Secured Debt?
Define the investment or transaction objective, the authorised decision-maker, the evidence available, the requested deliverables and the next approval. Use the decision checks above to identify gaps; agree the workplan, delivery responsibilities and fee terms in writing.
Delivery and specialist boundary: Confirm decision authority, evidence access, conflicts, scope and applicable jurisdiction-specific permissions before execution. Legal, tax, fund-marketing, securities and Shariah questions require the relevant appointed specialist. Capital availability, investment returns and execution dates remain subject to assessment.
Project FinanceCME-242 · Debt and Asset Finance · Funding Instrument
Ecosystem role
Funding Instrument
Related asset class
Private credit
Instrument context
Debt or asset finance
Mandate context: corporate, project, asset and acquisition financing. The structure and rights are established by the specific transaction documents.
Decision focus: Cash obligations and risk allocation.
Pricing, tenor and repayment obligations
Collateral, covenants and priority
Sensitivity to delays, cash shortfalls and refinancing
Scope to discuss: Capital-structure design, financing options analysis and execution support.
Paid engagement entry point: financing-options and term-sheet assessment; followed by lender or investor process execution.
Illustrative GCC scenario: An illustrative Saudi funding proposal can compare repayment, security, covenant and refinancing terms on common cash-flow assumptions before specialist documentation review. This is a hypothetical decision example.
What should be agreed before a mandate involving Project Finance?
Define the investment or transaction objective, the authorised decision-maker, the evidence available, the requested deliverables and the next approval. Use the decision checks above to identify gaps; agree the workplan, delivery responsibilities and fee terms in writing.
Delivery and specialist boundary: Confirm decision authority, evidence access, conflicts, scope and applicable jurisdiction-specific permissions before execution. Legal, tax, fund-marketing, securities and Shariah questions require the relevant appointed specialist. Capital availability, investment returns and execution dates remain subject to assessment.
Project-Finance RaisesCME-263 · Capital Raising and Financing · Transaction Route
Ecosystem role
Transaction Route
Related asset class
Private markets
Instrument context
Equity or debt raise
Mandate context: private financing, syndication and targeted investor outreach. The structure and rights are established by the specific transaction documents.
Decision focus: Readiness and capital-provider fit.
Mandate authority, funding requirement and materials
Capital-provider criteria and approach permissions
Diligence, term comparison and closing conditions
Scope to discuss: Transaction route assessment, process design and execution support.
Paid engagement entry point: transaction-route feasibility study; followed by process design and execution.
Illustrative GCC scenario: An illustrative GCC club financing can assign lender roles, information responsibilities, consent rules and funding conditions before coordinating the process. This is a hypothetical decision example.
What should be agreed before a mandate involving Project-Finance Raises?
Define the investment or transaction objective, the authorised decision-maker, the evidence available, the requested deliverables and the next approval. Use the decision checks above to identify gaps; agree the workplan, delivery responsibilities and fee terms in writing.
Delivery and specialist boundary: Confirm decision authority, evidence access, conflicts, scope and applicable jurisdiction-specific permissions before execution. Legal, tax, fund-marketing, securities and Shariah questions require the relevant appointed specialist. Capital availability, investment returns and execution dates remain subject to assessment.
Mandate context: capital raising, M&A, debt and special situations mandates. The structure and rights are established by the specific transaction documents.
Decision focus: A defined scope and a reviewable decision record.
Client authority, objective and required deliverables
Named delivery team, evidence and scope exclusions
Fees, conflicts, reliance and specialist handovers
Scope to discuss: Adviser selection, diligence coordination and transaction workstream management.
Paid engagement entry point: adviser-scope and diligence-workplan diagnostic; followed by coordinated workstream delivery.
Illustrative GCC scenario: An illustrative UAE acquisition advisory scope can define the transaction lead, decision gates, diligence providers, deliverable ownership and written fee terms. This is a hypothetical decision example.
What should be agreed before a mandate involving Infrastructure Advisers?
Define the investment or transaction objective, the authorised decision-maker, the evidence available, the requested deliverables and the next approval. Use the decision checks above to identify gaps; agree the workplan, delivery responsibilities and fee terms in writing.
Delivery and specialist boundary: Agree the provider, qualifications, independence, permission, reliance rights and scope before appointment. Matchpoint's scope can cover adviser selection and transaction coordination. Legal, tax, audit, engineering, insurance, custody, administration, ratings and other specialist conclusions require the appropriately qualified and appointed provider.
Mandate context: capital raising, M&A, debt and special situations mandates. The structure and rights are established by the specific transaction documents.
Decision focus: A defined scope and a reviewable decision record.
Client authority, objective and required deliverables
Named delivery team, evidence and scope exclusions
Fees, conflicts, reliance and specialist handovers
Scope to discuss: Adviser selection, diligence coordination and transaction workstream management.
Paid engagement entry point: adviser-scope and diligence-workplan diagnostic; followed by coordinated workstream delivery.
Illustrative GCC scenario: An illustrative UAE acquisition advisory scope can define the transaction lead, decision gates, diligence providers, deliverable ownership and written fee terms. This is a hypothetical decision example.
What should be agreed before a mandate involving Project-Finance Advisers?
Define the investment or transaction objective, the authorised decision-maker, the evidence available, the requested deliverables and the next approval. Use the decision checks above to identify gaps; agree the workplan, delivery responsibilities and fee terms in writing.
Delivery and specialist boundary: Agree the provider, qualifications, independence, permission, reliance rights and scope before appointment. Matchpoint's scope can cover adviser selection and transaction coordination. Legal, tax, audit, engineering, insurance, custody, administration, ratings and other specialist conclusions require the appropriately qualified and appointed provider.
Further reading on diligence, market frameworks and applicable requirements. These resources do not verify an individual mandate or Matchpoint permission.
