ETS MSSZ: Financing a €10m Machinery Purchase in Côte d'Ivoire
Introduction Établissement Multi Services Soro Zié (ETS MSSZ) is a Building and Civil Engineering subsidiary of the SCHIBA Group, a leading construction firm in Côte d'Ivoire. The company specialises in new road construction, infrastructure maintenance, and the development of urban transport networks. To support the region's infrastructure growth, ETS MSSZ signed a contract with Dints in 2021 valued at €10m. The contract focused on supplying heavy machinery and spare parts to support the construction of five high priority road projects in the region.
The Challenge Locally financing spare parts for large-scale machinery is notoriously difficult. ETS MSSZ faced operational cash flow restraints and required a solution that would allow them to finance the machines over a medium-term timeframe of five years, rather than absorbing the costs upfront.
Our Strategy Dints acted as the project integrator, managing the process from initial quotation through to final order delivery. We brought together commercial parties, international suppliers, logistics partners, and the financing ecosystem into a coordinated, ECA-backed structure.
The strategy was designed to make UK and international supply highly accessible to ETS MSSZ. Simultaneously, it enabled suppliers to be paid as if they were selling directly into their domestic markets. This approach significantly reduced friction for the suppliers and unlocked the critical parts supply the project required
Measurable Outcomes & Sustainable Impact This transaction successfully unlocked the necessary medium-term financing, marking Dints' first UK Export Finance Standard Buyer Loan Guarantee (UKEF SBLG) for the client. Operationally, we managed the shipment of €10m worth of machinery, navigating and overcoming multiple logistical hurdles to ensure timely delivery.
Financial Structure The financial framework was critical to making the project viable.
- Contract Value: €10m total contract.
- Finance Support: A UK Export Finance (UKEF) loan guarantee.
- Financing Ecosystem: The transaction was supported by UKEF alongside Apple Bank.
- Commercial Model: A tailored structure that paid suppliers directly, making export supply accessible while supporting ETS MSSZ’s five-year plan.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-signals-west-african-expansion-at-africa-investment-conference
