Infrastructure deal: BBGI acquires stake in A7 highway operator Via Solutions Nord with Heuking
January, 2023 - Germany
A team led by Frankfurt-based Heuking partners Klaus Weinand-Härer and Dr. Till Naruisch comprehensively advised Luxembourg-based global infrastructure investment company BBGI Global Infrastructure S.A. on the acquisition of a 49% equity interest in A7 project company Via Solutions Nord GmbH & Co KG from HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions GmbH. BBGI Global Infrastructure prevailed in a bidding procedure.
Via Solutions Nord GmbH & Co KG had previously been commissioned by DEGES (Deutsche Einheit Fernstraßenplanungs- und -bau GmbH) with the expansion, maintenance, and management of the A7 federal highway section from Bordesholm to Hamburg under an availability model. The project includes 11 interchanges, six parking facilities, four rest areas, 79 civil engineering structures, 100,000 square meters of noise barriers, and a 550-meter noise enclosure tunnel. Widening of the 65-kilometer section of the A7 highway between Bordesholm and Hamburg to six and eight lanes was completed in 2019.
BBGI Global Infrastructure kept the purchase price confidential, but the investment is expected to rank in the company’s top six to ten investments.
Frank Schramm, Co-CEO of BBGI Global Infrastructure, said, “Our 56th availability-based infrastructure investment is our first road project in Germany and a great addition to our existing six projects in the country, further strengthening our Continental Europe exposure.”
Duncan Ball, Co-CEO of BBGI Global Infrastructure, said, “Our strategy is to remain disciplined and selective in our approach to acquisition opportunities by only investing in availability-based assets that also align with our ESG principles, and not in higher risk infrastructure asset classes.”
Frankfurt-based Tax partner Klaus Weinand-Härer regularly advises BBGI Global Infrastructure on issues of tax law relating to infrastructure projects and transactions. The team led by Corporate / M&A partner Dr. Till Naruisch and Financing partner Sandra Pfister had won a pitch and comprehensively advised BBGI Global Infrastructure on the transaction.
Counsel to BBGI Global Infrastructure
Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek:
Klaus Weinand-Härer (Transaction Control / Tax),
Dr. Till Naruisch, LL.M. (Corporate / M&A, both Lead), both Frankfurt,
Sandra Pfister, LL.M. (Financing), Hamburg,
Dr. H. Erdem Sismangil, LL.M. (Commercial),
Jörg Michelsen (Tax), both Frankfurt,
Beatrice Stange, LL.M. (Antitrust), Düsseldorf,
Christoph Hexel (Employment), Düsseldorf,
Wolfram Meven (Foreign Trade), Düsseldorf,
Sebastian Mangold (M&A, Financing), Hamburg,
Sebastian Eibich (Tax), Frankfurt
Counsel to HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions
Renzenbrink & Partner (Hamburg):
Dr. Ulf Renzenbrink (Corporate / M&A),
Eike Werner Rabenberg (Corporate / M&A) – known in the market
Irmgard Jonas (Head of Legal, HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions GmbH)
Christoph Boeninger (Legal, HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions GmbH) – known in the market
