WILMINGTON, Del. - Wednesday, 10. December 2025
70% of
finance professionals expect infrastructure to drive the strongest
growth, followed by renewables (48%) and TMT (43%).
53% now view private equity as a primary source of equity funding, signaling a major shift in capital dynamics.
80% cite KYC requirements as the top execution challenge amid rising deal complexity.
(BUSINESS
WIRE)--Global project finance is entering a transformative era, driven
by soaring demand for energy capacity, accelerated digitalization and
large-scale infrastructure upgrades, reshaping investment priorities
worldwide. These insights come from new research commissioned by CSC,
based on responses from 200 project finance professionals, revealing a
market shifting toward more complex, capital-intensive projects and a
greater reliance on private capital.
CSC’s latest report, Project
Finance at an Inflection Point: Adapting to New Realities1, reveals a
sector that is rapidly expanding in both scale and complexity driven by
capital increasingly targeting long-term, strategically critical assets.
Infrastructure
emerged as the strongest area for future growth, identified by 70% of
respondents, followed by renewables (48%), and technology, media, and
telecommunications (TMT) with 43%. Within renewables, wind tops
expectations at 50%, while renewable natural gas and green hydrogen each
stand at 41%, underscoring the accelerating momentum of energy
transition technologies.
Regionally, Europe leads the global
outlook, with 39% of respondents anticipating significant growth over
the next three years, followed by the U.K. (35%), Asia Pacific (32%),
and North America (31%), reflecting a broadly diversified global
investment pipeline.
Surging power consumption, driven largely by
data centers supporting artificial intelligence and rapid
digitalization, is reshaping investment priorities. Energy, TMT,
transportation and social infrastructure, along with critical minerals,
are poised to anchor the next wave of project finance activity.
“AI
will likely drive an unprecedented surge in project financing,
particularly for data centers and associated infrastructure,” said
Christian Oakley-White, managing director and Head of Project Finance at
CSC. “As data center usage shifts from cloud services to generative AI,
the requirements for computing power, energy, and financing will grow
exponentially. Unlike cloud infrastructure, which was largely funded
through Big Tech’s internal cashflows, the estimated $1.5 trillion gap
created by AI’s capacity demands will require a far broader investor
base and financing structures—from private equity and sovereign wealth
funds to bank loans, public debt markets, and private credit.”
Financing
sources are already diversifying. More than half of respondents (53%)
now identify private equity as a primary source of equity funding
alongside infrastructure funds and development finance institutions,
while 38% point to private credit as an increasingly important
contributor. On the debt side, private debt (45%) is closely aligned
with infrastructure platforms (48%) as well as both local (45%) and
international (42%) syndicated loans.
Accelerating activity is
bringing heightened execution pressures. KYC requirements are cited by
80% of respondents as the biggest challenge, followed by tight financing
deadlines (69%) and regulatory compliance (67%).
As a result,
respondents are placing greater value on operational support: 60% cite
innovative technology solutions offering real-time transparency as the
most critical capability in a trust and agency partner, while 58%
emphasize the importance of comprehensive administrative and bespoke
services to manage complex, cross-border, multi-stakeholder
transactions.
“The global demand for new energy, infrastructure,
and digital capacity is outpacing traditional financing channels,” said
Bryan Gartenberg, managing director, global sales head of Project
Finance and Loan Agency, CSC. “Private capital is stepping in to bridge
the gap, but today’s deals demand more than funding alone. Stakeholders
need partners with deep expertise and operational discipline to manage
complex, cross-border transactions. Outsourcing to experienced trust and
agency providers is becoming essential to deliver large-scale projects
with speed and confidence.”
To receive a copy of CSC’s Project
Finance at an Inflection Point: Adapting to New Realities report, please
download it at
cscglobal.com/service/resources/project-finance-report-2026
ENDS
1CSC,
in partnership with PureProfile, surveyed 200 project finance
professionals in the Americas, the U.K., Europe, and Asia Pacific to
understand their views on the trends shaping project finance and the
challenges.
About CSC
CSC is the leading provider of
business administration and compliance solutions, offering
industry-leading expertise and unmatched global reach to alternative
fund managers and capital markets participants. Leveraging deep
institutional experience and a tailored approach, CSC delivers a
comprehensive suite of fund administration, trust, agency, and
compliance services to support a wide range of private and public market
transactions, complex fund strategies, and scalable operations.
As
the trusted partner of choice for more than 70% of the PEI 300 and 90%
of the Fortune 500®, CSC helps clients navigate operational and
transactional complexities across more than 140 jurisdictions and
various asset classes. With extensive worldwide capabilities, our expert
teams provide solutions tailored to each client’s needs. Privately held
and professionally managed since 1899, we combine global reach, local
expertise, and innovative solutions to help our clients succeed.
We are the business behind business®. Learn more at cscglobal.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251210995702/en/
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Contacts
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Hassan Ali / Thomas Dalton
cscteam@cdrconsultancy.com
CSC
Katie Scott-Kurti
Head of Brand and Communications
katie.scottkurti@cscglobal.com
CSC News Room
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