France's ADP, two other bidders appeal Sofia airport tender award

Copenhagen Airports A/S

29/07/2019 12:54

SOFIA, July 29 (Reuters) - Three out of the five contenders
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 as well as Germany's
Fraport  FRAG.DE  have filed a complaint against the ministry's
decision.
    Britain's largest airport operator, Manchester Airports
Group, in a tie-up with China's construction firm BCEG have also
appealed, data showed.
    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; editing by Emelia
Sithole-Matarise)
 ((angel.krasimirov@thomsonreuters.com; +359 888 695 510;))