Corporate Profile

National Standard Finance, LLC, is a U.S.-based, privately owned multinational investment firm. As asset manager and owner of real estate and infrastructure portfolios, National Standard specializes in long-term investments in social and economic infrastructure and Public Private Partnerships.

National Standard's management team is led by Tavner Highsmith, Hugo Barreca, Russell Duke and Jan Petrenko. Mr. Highsmith is Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer of National Standard. Prior to National Standard, Mr. Highsmith was a leading player in the corporate sale-leaseback market, completing more than 100 sale-leaseback transactions, and has a distinguished background in commercial real estate lending with twenty years of commercial real estate finance experience. Mr. Barreca is President and Chief Operating Officer of National Standard and Chairs the firms Executive Committee. Mr. Barreca brings thirty years of experience to National Standard as a former CFO of two companies, General Counsel at a New York private equity firm, corporate executive at Time Inc., and a practicing corporate attorney prior to becoming President & COO at National Standard. Mr. Duke is Managing Principal of National Standard and a member of the firm’s Executive and Investment Committees. Mr. Duke was previously the former Chief Executive Officer of a global investment firm, and is an international investment/merchant banker and specialist in project finance, structured finance, infrastructure and international investing. Mr. Petrenko is a Principal of National Standard and Head of the firm’s Energy Group. Mr. Petrenko was a successful public/municipal finance banker prior to joining National Standard, originating and executing municipal tax-exempt and taxable bond financings for municipalities, government agencies and project financings.

National Standard was one of the few firms that predicted the enormous financial difficulties currently faced by municipalities and governments. National Standard saw an opportunity to create a new market, and to direct private investments into public assets as a dynamic private capital alternative to a troubled public bond market. The firm realigned its business from the corporate sector to the public sector in anticipation of the municipal crisis. The firm secured new capital and developed a high caliber pool of institutional investors, which now includes numerous life insurance companies, pension funds, institutional managed funds, sovereign funds and leading global U.S. and European financial institutions.

The firm expanded rapidly between 2008 and 2011 due to greater demand for private solutions to public sector needs. National Standard added professionals, developed close alliances with industry giants and expanded the firm's global presence through strategic planning and new joint ventures.

As of 2011 the firm included and maintained U.S. offices and representation in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, New York and San Francisco. International offices and local representation include New Zealand (Auckland), Australia (Sydney), South Korea (Seoul), Jordon (Amman), South Africa and United Kingdom (London).