France's ADP, three other bidders appeal Sofia airport tender award (updated)

Copenhagen Airports A/S

29/07/2019 18:30

(Adds with appeal from a fourth bidder)
    SOFIA, July 29 (Reuters) - All losing contenders in the bid
to run and operate Sofia Airport, Bulgaria's main air transport
hub, have appealed the transport ministry's decision to award
the 35-year concession to a consortium led by asset manager
Meridiam.
    Data published on the website of the anti-monopoly regulator
showed that a consortium led by France's Aeroports de Paris
(ADP)  ADP.PA , which was ranked second, and Germany's Fraport
 FRAG.DE  have filed complaints against the ministry's decision.
    Britain's largest airport operator Manchester Airports
Group, which bid in a tie-up with China's construction firm
BCEG, has also appealed, data showed, as has the consortium led
by SSB Sauernwein & Schaefer with airport operator Copenhagen
Airports  KBHL.CO .
    The transport ministry picked the Meridiam-led consortium
for the concession earlier this month, although it offered the
lowest investment in Sofia airport compared to the four other
bidders. Its offer for annual concession fees came third.
    The winning consortium, which includes the operator of
Munich Airport, offered an annual concession fee of 24.5 million
euros ($27.23 million) or 32% of annual revenues. It also
pledged to invest 608 million euros in Sofia airport.
    The ministry said it took its decision after assessing the
credibility and the sustainability of the offered business and
financial models for the airport's development.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N24I3P1
    
($1 = 0.8998 euros)

 (Reporting by Angel Krasimirov and Tsvetelia Tsolova; editing
by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
 ((angel.krasimirov@thomsonreuters.com; +359 888 695 510;))