May 8, 2008
Bilfinger Berger expands its strong position in the UK education sector:
Company gains new privately-financed college project in Northern Ireland
Bilfinger Berger, the construction and services Group, has added another education project to its UK concessions portfolio. In East Down and Lisburn, Northern Ireland, the Group, together with local partners, is to build and modernize four community education colleges and will subsequently operate them over a period of 25 years. The investment volume amounts to more than €80 million with an equity commitment from the Group of €4 million.
The United Kingdom is Bilfinger Berger’s most important market for concessions projects in the sector of public buildings. Within the UK, the Company is active in projects with an investment volume of €700 million and has committed equity of €49 million. These projects include six new major secondary schools under construction in the Scottish districts of Borders and Clackmannanshire. In addition, Bilfinger Berger operates nine schools in Bedford, Coventry and Kent. Around 20,000 students attend educational facilities operated by the Group. Bilfinger Berger is also a leading public sector partner in the UK health-care segment, operating hospitals and clinics in London, Liverpool and Gloucester.
Bilfinger Berger’s concessions portfolio currently comprises 20 projects in public sector construction and transport infrastructure with a total investment volume of over €3.5 billion. The portfolio with a committed equity capital of €175 million generates stable cash flows and an attractive return on equity. Due to its increasing maturity, a clear rise in the portfolio’s market value is anticipated in the years to come.