SUSI Partners to finance sustainable micro-mobility solutions across Europe
- SUSI Partners, through its Energy Efficiency Fund II (SEEF II), signs a multi-country framework agreement with German-based nextbike GmbH for the delivery of full-service bike-sharing solutions to European cities
- The transaction marks SUSI’s first in the wider transport sector
Zug/Zurich, 8 June 2022 – SUSI Partners is partnering with TIER Mobility-owned nextbike for the rollout of bike-sharing infrastructure in European cities. As the European market leader in bike sharing, nextbike provides a full-service solution to municipalities and public transport companies looking for a sustainable inner-city transport option in an effort to reduce motorised traffic, improve air quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Under the agreement, SEEF II will provide funding for an initial portfolio of 15 projects in Germany, Austria, Sweden and Italy. Given nextbike’s strong market presence and near-term pipeline, the financing shall continuously be extended to further cities across Europe.
Founded in 2004, nextbike has established itself as the leading provider for bike-sharing solutions in Europe, having successfully installed and operated bike-sharing systems in more than 300 cities across 20 countries. Their full-service offering includes provision and maintenance of various types of bikes and relevant infrastructure, including docking stations and digital solutions facilitating rentals for end users. The financing provided by SEEF II will enable nextbike to cover capital expenditure needs while extending their offering to further cities.
Due to intense motorised traffic, particularly during rush hours, urban centres are often highly polluted areas suffering from hazardous levels of nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions. As an integral part of sustainable urban mobility concepts, bike sharing improves air quality and reduces noise pollution in densely populated areas, supports urgent climate action by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and offers positive health benefits by promoting physical activity.
The agreement signed with nextbike marks SUSI’s first transaction in the wider transport sector, underscoring the firm’s commitment to tackling not only the supply side of energy systems, but also supporting decarbonisation efforts on the demand side. It furthermore demonstrates the success of SUSI Partners’ credit platform in applying its structured financing solutions to a broad array of energy transition infrastructure themes across sectors and use cases.
