SME Financing Neuchâtel

Neuchâtel, heart of the Jura Arc: watchmaking, microtech, med-tech and services

From the Neuchâtel coast to the Neuchâtel Mountains, the canton is home to demanding SMEs: watchmaking, micromechanics, microelectronics, med-tech, IT, logistics, tourism and trade. To invest, automate, export or transfer, they need fast, flexible and well-structured financing.
PrestaFlex designs and implements tailor-made solutions, from CHF 100,000 to over CHF 60 million, adapted to the life cycle and sector of each company.

PrestaFlex solutions for Neuchâtel companies

SME credit & working capital

  • Cash flow, revolving credit line, bridging loan to bridge a gap (major order, seasonality, growth).
  • CAPEX: machinery, assembly lines, robotics, clean rooms, fittings.
  • Commercial real estate: acquisition, construction, refinancing of workshops and mixed-use premises.

Leasing & sale-and-leaseback

  • Equipment leasing (NC machines, metrology, labs, IT, utilities).
  • Sale-and-leaseback to free up cash from existing assets while retaining their use.

Factoring & Supply Chain Finance

  • Factoring (B2B receivables Switzerland/Export), inventory financing, order pre-financing.
  • Improving working capital and reducing collection times in the watch and microtech chains.

Trade & Export Finance

  • Advances on export invoices, documentary credits, bid, performance and advance payment bonds.
  • Securing long cycles (prototyping, industrialization, pilot batches).

Asset-Based Lending (ABL)

  • Lines pledged against receivables, inventory and equipment to finance growth, a carve-out or a turnaround.

Mezzanine, unitranche & hybrid debt

  • Subordinated debt, convertibles, unitranche to accelerate automation, R&D, an MBO/MBI or an acquisition.

Private equity & fundraising

  • Equity/quasi-equity for scale-up, internationalization, sector consolidation, transmission.

Syndicated loans (up to CHF 60 M+)

  • Multi-lender structuring and syndication for industrial projects, corporate real estate parks, logistics platforms.

Neuchâtel by economic zones: needs & responses

  • Ville de Neuchâtel & Littoral (Marin, Hauterive, St-Blaise, Auvernier, Peseux, Colombier, Cortaillod, Boudry)
    → SME loans, business loans for services/commerce/IT, IT leasing & fittings, factoring for seasonal peaks, real estate loans for mixed surfaces.
  • La Chaux-de-Fonds (Les Éplatures, Crêt-du-Locle) & Le Locle
    → Watchmaking, micromechanics: machine leasing, ABL (receivables+stocks), export finance, mezzanine for robotization/qualif. processes.
  • Val-de-Travers (Fleurier, Couvet, Môtiers)
    → Components, subcontracting, agri-food: CAPEX and industrial real estate, supplier factoring, revolving lines.
  • Val-de-Ruz (Cernier and surrounding area)
    → Light industry, craftsmen: investment credit, utility leasing, consolidation/refinancing to optimize expenses.
  • Innovation clusters & incubators (Microcity, techno zones)
    → Private equity / development capital, hybrid debt, financing bridges between R&D milestones and ramp-up.

Examples of structures financed in Neuchâtel

  • cHF 180,000: revolving line + factoring for a watchmaking subcontractor in Le Locle.
  • cHF 950,000: leasing of high-precision machining equipment in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
  • cHF 4.2 million: ABL (receivables + inventories) for an assembler in the Littoral region, backed by an export contract.
  • cHF 12.5 M: mezzanine + mortgage for the extension of an industrial site in Val-de-Travers.
  • cHF 38-60 M: syndication for a multi-tenant workshop and laboratory park on the Littoral.

Our method: fast, structured, independent

  1. Express diagnosis: understanding flows, cycles, covenants, real needs.
  2. Structuring: term-sheet, collateral, drawdown schedule, covenant scenarios.
  3. Competitive bid ding: banks, funds, private lenders - obtaining the best terms.
  4. Closing & deployment: support through to first drawdown and performance monitoring.

PrestaFlex strengths: independence, multi-investor network, rapid execution, solutions CHF 100,000 → CHF 60 M+, strong expertise in watchmaking/microtech and industrial SMEs.

FAQ - SME Financing Neuchâtel

How to smooth the order-prototyping-industrialization cycle?
Combine factoring, revolving line and export advance; switch to ABL as soon as backlog and inventories rise.

How to finance robotization and quality control?
Mix machine leasing + mezzanine to preserve cash and accelerate ROI.

What if customer lead times get longer?
Switch to selective factoring and back your receivables/inventories with an ABL line.

Real estate project for workshops or mixed-use areas?
Operating mortgage + syndication over CHF 15-20 million.

Take action to finance your business in Neuchâtel

Are you an SME in Neuchâtel (Coast, Mountains or Valleys) looking for financing from CHF 100,000 to CHF 60 million+ to invest, export, automate or transfer?
PrestaFlex can design a structure to support your strategy. Let's talk about your project and get a tailor-made proposal today.

An article by Munur Aslan, Director of PrestaFlex

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