Press Releases 2006

February 16, 2006
Bilfinger Berger to eliminate traffic bottleneck in Belfast
Road concession project with a volume of €225 million

A consortium under the leadership of Bilfinger Berger has reached financial close on a 30-year concession project to develop, finance and maintain 60 kilometers of major traffic routes in Northern Ireland. As one part of the project, the consortium will design and construct a new alignment for the arterial Westlink highway, a currently notorious traffic bottleneck running through the heart of Belfast. The project volume amounts to €225 million, while Bilfinger Berger's equity commitment is around €12 million. During the 30-year operating phase, the company will receive a defined income from state authorities.

In a short period, Bilfinger Berger has further expanded its concessions business in the transportation infrastructure sector. Since reaching formal financial close in late 2005, Bilfinger Berger has been responsible for the development and operation of a 26 kilometer-long section of the Trans Canada Highway with a project volume of €100 million. Also in Canada, the Group was recently selected preferred proponent for a 32-year concession to design, build, finance and operate a major new bridge connection in the area of Vancouver. The new Golden Ears Crossing will have a project volume in excess of €500 million.

"In expanding our concessions portfolio, return on capital employed has always been our key measuring stick. We will continue to be guided by this principle in the future, in order to secure the success of our concessions business on a long-term basis", said Herbert Bodner, Chairman of the Executive Board at Bilfinger Berger. "Even today, as a relatively young business, our Concessions segment is already exceeding our cost of capital targets, and will, in the future, make an increasing contribution to the net profit of the Group".