PLMJ advises Cape Verde Government on airport concession to VINCI

PLMJ provided legal support to the Government of Cape Verde throughout the concession process for the country's airport services. The process, which began in December 2019, was concluded this week with the handing over of all the airports and aerodromes to Cabo Verde Airports, the concessionaire company set up by VINCI Airports and by ANA Aeroportos de Portugal.

The concession for Cape Verde's airport services has been awarded to VINCI for the next 40 years and represents a cash inflow of €900 million for the country. PLMJ acted for the Government of Cape Verde from the outset, advising on the procedure for awarding the concession, the preparation of the concession agreement, the negotiation process and, after signing the agreement, the fulfilment of the conditions precedent to the start of the concession.

PLMJ's multidisciplinary team was led by Diogo Duarte Campos, partner and head of the firm's Public Law practice, and Carla F. Machado, a managing associate in the same practice, assisted by associate Catarina Paulino Alves. They were joined by two Corporate M&A lawyers, partner Inês Pinto da Costa and of counsel Saul Fonseca.

In July 2022, VINCI was chosen by the Cape Verde government to operate the concession and, over the past year, PLMJ has provided legal advice to the government on the fulfilment of all conditions precedent to the effective commencement of the concession and on the various technical, contractual, regulatory, legislative and financial components of the operation.