BSTDB committed EUR 83 million long-term financing to support the largest concession in Bulgaria’s transport sector and the first major PPP project in the country in the last decade: the concession of Sofia International Airport. BSTDB participates in this landmark transaction alongside EBRD, IFC and commercial banks.

The borrower is SOF Connect AD, a Special Purpose Vehicle majority owned by Meridiam Group, France, a well-established infrastructure investment firm.

The BSTDB financing will support the private sector involvement in the infrastructure sector in Bulgaria. In addition to the operation and maintenance of the airport for a period of 35 years, the project encompasses the modernisation and upgrading of this strategic airport for the country.

In the current COVID-19 pandemic critical circumstances for the aeronautic sector, the Bank’s loan is instrumental to ensure the payment of the upfront concession fee to the Government of Bulgaria and for the initial capital expenditure aimed to modernize and upgrade the airport. Sofia Airport is the largest airport of Bulgaria and the main international airport of the country, handling 7.1 million passengers in 2019.