BAM-PGGM Iridium reaches financial close on N25 New Ross Bypass in Ireland

The €230 million (total investment) project involves the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of approximately 13.6 km of new dual carriageway (N25 & N30 routes) and 1.2 km of new/upgraded single carriageway (New Ross N30) route and various structures (junctions and road bridges), the most notable of which is the 887 m River Barrow crossing, a three tower extradosed bridge. The bridge will extend from Pink Point in Co. Kilkenny to Stokestown in Co. Wexford and will be the longest of its type in the world. The N25 road forms part of the comprehensive TEN-T (Trans European Transport) network.

Construction will be undertaken by a BAM Civil Ltd and Dragados Ireland Ltd joint venture and will commence on site in March 2016, with the project expected to support in the region of 2,600 jobs across Ireland. The Operations phase will commence in January 2019, followed by a 25 year concession period.

Funding for the transaction involves a combination of long term debt in the form of bonds, and equity, with the senior debt supported by the European Investment Bank’s (‘EIB’s’) project bond credit enhancement (’PBCE’) mechanism.  The bonds, rated provisional Baa1(stable) by Moody’s Investor Service, and to be listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, are pre-agreed to be sold to investors managed by Allianz Global Investors GmbH. Listing and a Definitive rating will take place post Financial Close. ProjectCo will issue €146 million fixed-rate senior secured debt in the form of fully amortising bonds, purchased on a deferred basis, and the New Ross N25 road is the first project in Ireland to benefit from the EIB’s PBCE initiative. BAM PPP PGGM Infrastructure Coöperatie U.A. and Iridium Concesiones de Infraestructuras S.A. are committing €17 million in equity to the Project.

Consultants include: Legal Advisers Ashursts (Sponsors) and Pinsent Masons (Lenders) as well as Financial Adviser PWC. TII was advised by Legal Advisers McCann Fitzgerald and Financial Advisers NDFA (National Development Finance Agency).

About BAM PPP

BAM PPP is responsible for Royal BAM Group’s involvement in the PPP market. Operating from offices in the Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Ireland and Germany, BAM PPP is active in the road, rail, education, healthcare, judicial and general accommodation sectors. BAM PPP has reached financial close on 44 projects, with a total capital value of over €7.2 billion.

About Iridium

Iridium Concesiones de Infraestructuras, S.A. (Iridium) the PPP arm of the ACS Group, has more than 40 years of experience in the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain (DBFOM) PPPs in highways, toll roads, railroads, bridges and MASH Sector. Iridium has ranked #1 on the list of the World’s Top Transportation for 15 years (according to Public Works Financing magazine), and it has been awarded over €14 billion PPP projects in the last 3 years in Europe, North America and South America. Iridium currently boasts a portfolio of 33 highway concessions spanning 10 countries, the majority of which are 30-year DBFOM contracts and amounts to almost €30 billion.

About PGGM

PGGM is a cooperative Dutch pension fund service provider. Institutional clients are offered: asset management, pension fund management, policy advice and management support. On December 31, 2015 PGGM had EUR 183.3 billion in assets under management. The PGGM cooperative has approximately 700,000 members and is helping them to realize a valuable future. Either alone or together with strategic partners, PGGM develops future solutions by linking together pension, care, housing and work.

www.pggm.nl

Further information:

• BAM
  
  BAM PPP: Vicki Harris, +44 (0)141 779 8634;
  
  Royal BAM Group - press: Arno C. Pronk, +31 (0)30 659 86 21;
  
  Royal BAM Group - analysts: Joost van Galen, +31 (0)30 659 87 07.
• Iridium
  
  Cristina Rives Ruiz-Tapiador, Business Development Director, +34 91 703 87 20, crivesr@iridium-acs.com
• PGGM
  
  Maurice Wilbrink, spokesman, +31 (0)30 277 15 00, maurice.wilbrink@pggm.nl