The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has published the details of its investment in Moldova’s Giurgiuleşti International Free Port (Giurgiuleşti Port), one of the country’s key strategic assets.

The EBRD’s support for the project started in 1995, when it provided a US$ 27.5 million financing package, comprising debt and equity, to Terminal S.A., a joint entity that had entered into a concession agreement with the government of Moldova to construct and operate Giurgiulești Port.

The EBRD’s engagement continued with a series of complex financial restructurings to help the project overcome a number of difficulties, including the withdrawal of original investors. Since 2014, the port operator now called Danube Logistics SRL, its Dutch parent and, indirectly, the EBRD have been subject to various actions.

To safeguard port operations and to safeguard and protect its financial interests, the EBRD became the sole ultimate legal owner of the operator of Giurgiulești Port on 7 May 2021. Through its acquisition, the EBRD aims to support the port’s continued operation and will seek to attract international investors to support and develop this key infrastructure asset.

The EBRD is owned by 69 countries – including Moldova – as well as the European Union and the European Investment Bank. With cumulative investments of €1.4 billion in the country to date, the EBRD is the largest institutional investor in Moldova.

Source: https://www.ebrd.com/news/2021/ebrd-details-investment-in-giurgiuleti-international-free-port.html

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) acquired 100 per cent of the capital of the Danube Logistics Group of companies on 7 May 2021.

The EBRD thereby became the sole ultimate owner of Danube Logistics SRL, the operator of Giurgiulesti International Free Port. The change in ownership was registered by the relevant court in Moldova on 18 May 2021.

Through its acquisition, the EBRD aims to promote a continuation of the successful operation and development of Giurgiulesti International Free Port and will seek to attract international investors to further support and develop the port.

The EBRD has supported the construction and operation of Giurgiulesti International Free Port since 1995 and in 2013 replaced Credit Suisse as the primary economic beneficiary of the operation of the port following the refinancing of Danube Logistics’ outstanding loans by Credit Suisse.

As the port’s owner the EBRD expects the prompt fulfilment of all outstanding investment obligations stipulated in the Host Investment Agreement of 2004 signed between Danube Logistics, Bemol Refinery and Bemol Retail so as to benefit and boost the economic development of Moldova.

The EBRD is owned by 69 countries – including Moldova – as well as the European Union and the European Investment Bank. With cumulative investment of €1.4 billion in the country to date, the EBRD is the largest foreign investor in Moldova.

Source:  https://www.ebrd.com/news/2021/ebrd-takes-over-operator-of-giurgiulesti-international-free-port.html

Danube Logistics presents already the fifth release of its annual Carbon Footprint Report developed in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. As in previous years the Carbon Footprint Report sums up and analyses the CO2 and CO2 equivalent emissions (CO2e) resulting from last year’s business activities of Danube Logistics at the premises of Giurgiulesti International Free Port.

While in 2020 the total CO2e emissions increased by 5.4% compared to 2019, the CO2e emissions per ton of cargo transshipped further decreased by 3.8% compared to the previous year. This decrease reflects a more emission efficient use of port facilities and port equipment at increasing transshipment volumes and despite extensive use of fuel for transportation of material from dredging works. Overall, over the last five years the major drivers for the reduction of CO2e emissions per ton of cargo transshipped were the increased efficiency due to the volume increase and the replacement of conventional lighting with LED technology. Danube Logistics will continue to seek for further optimization potential in order to reduce CO2e emissions.

http://gifp.md/en/wp-content/files_mf/16207351512020_ReportonCarbonFootprint.pdf

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is enforcing rights under its financing and security documents with regards to Danube Logistics Holding BV’s shareholding in Danube Logistics SRL (Danube Logistics), the operator of Giurgiulesti International Free Port in the Republic of Moldova.

The EBRD’s enforcement action, which commenced on 18 March 2021, aims to ensure the uninterrupted operations and ongoing expansion of Giurgiulesti International Free Port and to safeguard the EBRD’s financial interests in the project.

The EBRD is seeking to prevent any attempt at redirecting funds out of Danube Logistics as a result of the external administration imposed on the company, due to concerns that it will put the company in severe financial difficulties.

The action is in response to the decision by a Moldovan bailiff on 25 February to appoint an external administrator of the assets of Danube Logistics, following a disputed claim against one of Danube Logistics Holding BV’s ultimate beneficiaries.

The EBRD considers this appointment an interference with the running of the company, having a direct negative impact on its ability to continue to operate and repay its debts, as well as conflicting with EBRD’s legitimate interests as a lender holding security over the shares in Danube Logistics and as an economic beneficiary of those shares.

The EBRD has supported Danube Logistics’ development of Giurgiulesti International Free Port since 2005. As of today, the EBRD is Danube Logistics’ largest creditor as well as the main beneficiary of Danube Logistics Holding BV’s shareholding in Danube Logistics.

Giurgiulesti International Free Port is the Republic of Moldova’s only sea-river port located on the river Danube. On average, the port facilitates the international trade of Moldovan companies with more than 50 countries every year.

Source: https://www.ebrd.com/news/2021/ebrd-seeks-to-safeguard-operations-of-moldovas-giurgiulesti-port.html