The massive intervention of the European Investment Bank and Sace unlocks the maxi project financing of 1,6 billion Brebemi and the completion of the motorway by the deadline of the end of 2013. According to the Radiocor agency, the financial closing of the infrastructure, subject to further refinements, will be signed in the coming weeks and will lead the EIB to disburse a loan of around 800 million, while the other half will be covered by Cassa depositi e prestiti.
In this way, the Italian institutions – Intesa Sanpaolo, Unicredit, Centrobanca, Ubi, Mps and Credito Bergamasco, which in the last three years have supported the project with a bridge loan for a total of 540 million – will in fact transform themselves from lenders to intermediaries between Bei and Brebemi.
Another novelty is represented by the role of Sace, controlled by CDP and specialized in the insurance of Italian companies, which will act as guarantor of the capital made available by the EIB for the entire operation. Sace could also contribute, albeit with a limited intervention, to the actual loan.
Brebemi, the road that will shorten the motorway travel times between Milan and Brescia, sees Intesa Sanpaolo and Gavio among the main shareholders, which together own 55% of the shares. Thanks to the closing of the 1,6 billion euro project financing and the equity needs already satisfied by the shareholders for around 500 million, it will thus be the first infrastructure in the North to be completed in view of Expo 2015.
