Modernisation of Equipment Across Multiple Sites
A Swiss-based industrial services group operating four production and maintenance sites needed to modernise a wide range of equipment, including:
- specialised machinery
- vehicles and service units
- IT and monitoring systems
The total investment exceeded CHF 5 million.
Purchasing the equipment outright would have significantly reduced liquidity and limited the group’s ability to manage ongoing projects and seasonal fluctuations.
At the same time, the group faced additional complexity:
- uneven cash flow across sites
- different asset lifecycles and depreciation profiles
- existing bank covenants restricting further borrowing
- tight project timelines requiring fast implementation
Challenges
- High capital expenditure across multiple asset categories
- Need to preserve liquidity and respect bank covenants
- Different lease durations required for different asset types
- Coordination across several suppliers and delivery schedules
- Time-critical deployment to meet client contracts
PrestaFlex Approach
PrestaFlex conducted a comprehensive operational and financial analysis, including:
- cashflow forecasting across all sites
- asset segmentation by type, value, and lifespan
- review of existing financing constraints and covenants
Based on this, PrestaFlex designed a multi-layered equipment leasing structure:
- Separate leasing facilities for machinery, vehicles, and IT equipment
- Lease durations matched to asset lifecycles
- Staggered delivery and drawdown schedules
- Flexible repayment profiles aligned with seasonal revenues
- Coordination with multiple leasing partners specialised by asset class
A targeted tender was launched with selected Swiss and European leasing institutions experienced in complex, multi-asset structures.
Outcome
- CHF 5.2 million in equipment leasing secured
- Liquidity preserved for operations and project execution
- No breach of existing bank covenants
- Equipment deployed on schedule across all sites
- Improved operational efficiency and service quality
The group modernised its infrastructure while maintaining financial stability and flexibility.
Key Takeaway
This case illustrates how equipment leasing is not just financing assets, but a strategic tool to manage liquidity, risk, and operational growth when structured correctly.
