Strabag refinances Ireland’s N17/N18 project between Gort and Tuam

The European-based technology group for construction services, Strabag, has initiated and led the first successful refinancing of an Irish motorway public-private partnership (PPP) project. In a written statement, Strabag said that the N17/N18 project between Gort and Tuam “is benefiting from improved financial market conditions while still in the construction phase”. Refinancing was successfully achieved on 27 May. Total private sector investment in this project amounts to €400 million. Strabag said
June 2, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The European-based technology group for construction services, 945 Strabag, has initiated and led the first successful refinancing of an Irish motorway public-private partnership (PPP) project.

In a written statement, Strabag said that the N17/N18 project between Gort and Tuam “is benefiting from improved financial market conditions while still in the construction phase”.

Refinancing was successfully achieved on 27 May. Total private sector investment in this project amounts to €400 million. Strabag said that it has a stake in both the concession company DirectRoute (10%) – alongside the Marguerite Fund, John Sisk and Son (Holdings), 2340 Lagan Projects Investments, 5487 Roadbridge and HICL Infrastructure – as well as the construction consortium (25%).

Constsruction started following the financial close at the end of April 2014 and the motorway is to open to traffic in November next year. This will mark the start of the 25-year operation period for this section.

Last year the project was awarded the distinction of European PPP Deal of the Year by industry journal Project Finance International (PFI).
 
This section of the N17/N18 motorway is not the first PPP concession project for Strabag in Ireland: Together with the DirectRoute consortium, the company has completed the Limerick Tunnel and Fermoy PPP projects.
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