Structured Debt Financing – Empowering NexusNovus to Scale Sustainable Infrastructure

About the Company
Founded by Rutger de Bruijn and co-led by Mark van Houten, NexusNovus is a global clean-tech infrastructure company focused on sustainable energy, waste-to-value, and biogas solutions. With operations spanning India, South Africa, and the Netherlands, NexusNovus is pioneering decentralized infrastructure models that integrate modular biogas technologies, IT-enabled project oversight, and digitally driven operational control systems. NexusNovus is guided by its mission to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral future by empowering communities and governments with scalable, low-emission power generation systems. Their technology stack and execution capabilities have positioned them as a leader in next-generation clean energy infrastructure.

Client Ask
With a robust project pipeline and global expansion plans, the client sought to raise project-linked structured debt for the rollout of multiple next-gen biogas plants. Despite a clear roadmap, they encountered significant resistance from traditional banks and NBFCs, who were reluctant to underwrite non-traditional renewable energy assets, often due to:
1. Limited internal technical expertise in biogas and waste-to-energy systems,
2. Risk-averse policies favoring solar and wind projects,
3. Misalignment between bank risk models and emerging cleantech dynamics.

Xpertiz Mandate
Xpertiz was appointed as the exclusive transaction advisor to structure and secure:
1. Low-cost, long-tenure debt funding,
2. Customized debt-to-equity (D/E) project structuring,
3. Term sheet negotiation with domestic and international lenders,
4. Project finance documentation support.

Challenges Faced
1. Complex project viability assessment due to non-traditional infrastructure models.
2. Absence of large-scale precedents for biogas in private-sector debt markets.
3. High perceived risk from lenders due to lack of mainstream comparables.
4. Need to present NexusNovus not just as a project developer, but a platform player with replicable tech and execution capability.

Xpertiz Value Addition

1. Investment Collateral Structuring:
Created a customized debt funding architecture using a holding-SPV model, enabling efficient capital deployment.
Structured a debt-to-equity ratio of 85:15, significantly optimizing equity dilution and project IRR.
2. Technical & Commercial Due Diligence Enablement:
Coordinated with external experts to build a project-grade techno-commercial model, which clearly demonstrated cash flow security and off-take economics.
Enabled underwriters to evaluate NexusNovus’s modular technology stack using benchmarking and global validation.
3. Global Lender Outreach:
Led a multi-jurisdictional outreach to lenders including development finance institutions (DFIs), impact investors, ESG-focused private credit funds, and green energy NBFCs.
Positioned the opportunity in the context of UN Sustainable Development Goals, impact metrics, and long-term policy tailwinds.
4. Term Sheet Negotiation:
Secured three competitive term sheets, each offering interest rates below 2%, tailored for high-impact, greenfield projects.
Enabled flexible drawdown structures and grace periods suited for infrastructure gestation cycles.
5. Stakeholder Management & Documentation:
Supported NexusNovus in navigating the entire negotiation lifecycle — from indicative term sheets to definitive loan agreements.
Helped align board and promoter expectations with lender covenants, interest rate resets, and repayment waterfalls.