The merger consists of the acquisition by DIF Management BV of sole control over the public limited companies Autoestrada do Algarve - Via do Infante - Sociedade Concessionária e Auto-Estradas Norte Litoral (AENL).
According to the notice, the Dutch management company is an investor in greenfield projects and operational infrastructure assets located mainly in Europe, the Americas and Australasia, notably through DIF Infrastructure funds.
The A22 motorway links the Portuguese cities of Lagos and Vila Real de Santo António, while the Norte Litoral concessionaire owns the sections of IP9 Nogueira-Estorãos, IP9 Estorãos-Ponte de Lima, IC1 Viana do Castelo-Caminha, IP9 Viana do Castelo-Nogueira and IC1 Porto-Viana do Castelo, according to that notice.
The operation is now awaiting the decision of the AdC, which less than a week ago gave the 'green light' for the sale of the Douro Interior motorway concession to the Globalvía group, which already owns the highway sub-concession Autoestrada Transmontana and the Beira Interior Concession.
So no insight into the possible implications of this? Will it affect tolls and road maintenance? Is there some regulatory framework that protects the standards and accessibility of the motorways? What are the likely pros and cons of a takeover of this nature?
In short, some proper journalism please!
By BD Condell from Algarve on 26 Oct 2020, 05:56
So ends hopes for a toll-free motorway
By Glenis Vowles from Algarve on 26 Oct 2020, 06:27
Fund Manager companies are only out for one thing, profit both short term and long, so tolls will remain and probably increase for a long time to come if this is allowed to go ahead
By Donegal Art from Algarve on 27 Oct 2020, 13:43