Bisedge Logistics & Infrastructure, a green logistics and material handling company, has secured a €10 million ($11 million) long-term loan from Finnish development financier Finnfund to expand its electric material handling fleet across Africa, targeting growth in Nigeria and East Africa as businesses seek to improve efficiency and reduce operating emissions.

The financing follows an equity investment from Metier Private Equity, giving the green logistics company additional capital to expand its equipment base and service operations. The loan’s long-term structure is designed to match Bisedge’s multiyear customer contracts and the operating life of its material handling equipment.

Financing Africa’s electric transition

The facility will support the expansion of electric forklifts, reach trucks and tractors used in warehouses, factories and distribution centers. Bisedge aims to broaden its market coverage in Nigeria and East Africa, where businesses are looking for ways to modernize intralogistics operations without committing substantial upfront capital to equipment purchases.

Bisedge’s “Zero CapEx” model allows customers to access equipment and related management services without bearing the initial purchase cost. The approach is designed to help businesses upgrade their fleets with technology from Linde Material Handling while improving equipment uptime, controlling costs and reducing dependence on diesel-powered machinery.

Long-term capital backs expansion

Christian Wessels, Bisedge’s co-founder and CEO, said the loan would accelerate the electrification of intralogistics operations in Nigeria and East Africa while helping customers lower costs and emissions. He said the financing structure aligns with the company’s focus on long-term customer relationships and keeping clients’ operations running.

Justin Nthala, a senior investment manager at Finnfund, said Bisedge’s service-based model makes cleaner equipment more accessible to African businesses by removing upfront investment barriers. He said the company could help customers improve productivity, reduce emissions and create skilled local jobs as it expands its regional operations.

Regional network supports growth

Bisedge provides equipment-as-a-service solutions across sub-Saharan Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council region, supporting customers with equipment supply and management services. The company employs more than 1,350 people and focuses on improving operational efficiency as businesses transition from diesel-powered equipment to electric alternatives.

The company is the exclusive partner of Linde Material Handling in Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. Its relationship with the German equipment manufacturer gives Bisedge a platform to supply electric material handling technology to industrial and logistics customers seeking to modernize their operations.

Finnfund expands impact investments

Finnfund invests in businesses addressing development challenges, with a focus on clean energy, digital infrastructure, forestry, agriculture and financing for small and midsized enterprises through financial institutions.

The Finnish development financier has investments, commitments and investment decisions totaling about €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion), with roughly 100 employees based in Helsinki and Nairobi.

The Bisedge loan adds to Finnfund’s exposure to businesses seeking to combine commercial growth with environmental and economic benefits.

For Bisedge, the financing provides longer-term capital to expand its fleet and services as African companies weigh equipment costs, productivity gains and emissions reduction in their investment decisions.