Four groups bid for Bulgarian airport concessions

Airline Industry Information, March 9, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The Bulgarian transport ministry said Tuesday (8 March) that four groups have submitted bids for a concession to run Bulgaria's Black sea airports in Varna and Burgas.

In February five groups were shortlisted to bid for the 35-year concession, but only four of them submitted final offers, said the ministry.

The four bidders are: a team led by Germany's Hochtief Airport GmbH and Bulgaria's Albena AD; a French consortium of Vinci Airports and Vinci Concessions; a consortium of Germany's Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide and Bulgaria's BM Star Ltd; and Denmark's Copenhagen Airports A/S.

The chosen investor will have to pay a EUR3m charge after signing the agreement and then 12% of income from all concession activities annually, or 12% of airport taxes, whichever is higher. The Bulgarian transport ministry also expects an investment of between EUR100m and EUR150m for the two airports.

The transport ministry is expected to choose the winner by 24 April.

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