Global law firm Clifford Chance has advised VINCI Concessions on the approx. €130 million green loan financing for construction and operation of fast charging infrastructure in relation to the “Deutschlandnetz Regionallose” tenders. One of the biggest tenders in Europe, launched by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (“BMDV”) aims at ensuring a nationwide, demand-oriented and user-friendly fast-charging EV network throughout Germany.
VINCI Concessions has been awarded with three lots (“Lose”) of the “Deutschlandnetz Regionallose” tenders which comprise the construction and operation of 106 ultra-fast charging stations (400 kW power rating) with a total of 828 charging points in twelve of the sixteen federal states (“Bundesländer”). The total investment amounts to approx. €200 million.
The green loan financing was set up on a portfolio financing basis and includes bridge loan facilities in an amount approx. €60 million and a senior term loan facility of approx. €70 million and was set up in compliance with the LMA Green Loan Principles.
VINCI Concessions is already active in Germany through its subsidiary VINCI Highways, the leading motorway operator in the country with 5 public-private partnerships (PPPs) adding up to more than 200 km of motorways and federal roads currently in operation or under construction. The construction and operation of the ultra-fast charging stations will be taken out by eliso GmbH, a subsidiary of VINCI Concessions.
The Clifford Chance team was led by partner Beda Wortmann and comprised senior associate Philipp Borkowsky, associates Jannik flug and Johannes Melcher as well as senior legal support assistant Cornelia Lambert (all Global Financial Markets, Frankfurt).
Hedging advice on the green financing was provided by Counsel Radoslav Lolov (Global Financial Markets, Frankfurt) and associate Genevieve Wolfeil (Global Financial Markets, Munich).