Airport operator, Vinci Airports, has finalised the financial arrangements to secure €60 million for the acquisition of seven airports in Cape Verde. The funds are certified under the Sustainability-Linked Financing (SLF) Framework.
To secure certification, the SLF Framework set two sustainability targets: one involving a progressive reduction in CO2 emissions, the other involving the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme. It marks the first financing arrangements of this kind for Vinci Airports and the first time the three development banks providing the funding – World Bank-IFC, Proparco (France) and DEG (Germany) have financed airports through a SLF.
In line with the agreement, Vinci Airports will take over the operation of the airports in Cape Verde effective immediately. Alongside its Portuguese subsidiary ANA-Aeroportos de Portugal which will hold 30% of the concession company, it will fund, operate, maintain, extend and modernise them over the next 40 years. The airport operator will also take over the 300-plus employees on the teams currently employed by the airports in Cape Verde.
Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of Vinci Concessions and President of Vinci Airports said: “We are proud of the confidence placed in us by the Cape Verdean government, which has entrusted Vinci Airports with the responsibility of supporting the country’s growth in tourism while ensuring the environmental transformation of the airports.”
In 2022, Cape Verde welcomed 2.2 million passengers (80% of the total welcomed in 2019). Vinci Airports’ plans to grow traffic and passenger numbers include opening new routes by promoting the archipelago’s features for tourists and its expanding hospitality sector. It will also roll out an environmental action plan including development of renewable energy production at airports.
