Financing structures by ticket size
<US$ 2M: local bank + leasing, personal guarantee usually required. US$ 2–10M: local bank + IFC/EBRD SME line, or equipment leasing from OEM captive. US$ 10–60M: DFI direct (IFC, EBRD, AfDB, BID Invest), green bond, blended finance. US$ 60M+: syndicated senior + mezzanine + DFI anchor + political risk insurance.
Green loans & sustainability-linked
Cold storage with heat recovery, renewable share >30%, or natural refrigerant qualifies for EU Taxonomy alignment — unlocks 25–75 bps discount and access to green-bond markets. Sustainability-linked loans peg margin to kWh/m³·yr KPI.
Equipment-as-a-Service (EaaS)
OEM or 3rd-party financier owns the refrigeration plant; buyer pays €/pallet/month or €/kWh_cool. Removes CAPEX line, converts to OPEX. Best for expansions of existing tenants. Watch: buyout options, indexation clauses, exit fees.
Export credit agencies (ECA)
For imported European equipment (GEA, Johnson Controls, Danfoss, Bitzer, Alfa Laval): Euler Hermes, SACE, Bpifrance Assurance Export cover 85–95% of contract value. Reduces cost of capital and extends tenor to 10–15 years.
Blended finance in emerging markets
Grant / concessional layer from GCF, GEF, or bilateral (JICA, KfW, USTDA) blended with commercial senior debt — reduces effective cost 200–400 bps. Common for Africa, Southeast Asia, LatAm cold-chain-for-food-security projects.
Questions fréquentes
How much equity do DFIs expect?
Typical: 25–35% sponsor equity for greenfield. Lower (15–25%) for brownfield expansions with proven cash flow. Sponsor equity can partially come from in-kind land contribution at appraised value.
Is EaaS cheaper than owning?
Nominally 15–30% more expensive over 15 years, but zero CAPEX, faster deployment, and off-balance-sheet treatment often outweigh the premium — especially for 3PLs and expansion phases.
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