Linklaters has advised the Lenders and Hedging Banks on a €474 million project financing denominated in euros and Czech koruna to a consortium comprising VINCI and Meridiam in connection with the first ever motorway PPP awarded in the Czech Republic.

Under a 28 year Concession Agreement granted by the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic, the project will involve designing, financing, building, operating and maintaining a new 32km motorway and widening of an existing 16km section.

Construction work will be carried out by VINCI subsidiary Eurovia. Operation and maintenance will be carried out by VINCI Highways, subsidiary of VINCI Concessions.

The new motorway will provide an improved road connection between Prague and rural South Bohemia, thereby fostering local economic and social development, and will also help improve traffic conditions on major commercial routes, particularly towards neighbouring Germany and Austria.