24.03.2011
WOLF THEISS PUBLISHES GUIDE TO PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, CONCESSIONS AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN CEE & SEE
Vienna, 24 March 2011 – Although the pace of public-private partnership (PPP) projects has slowed due to the economic downturn, they continue to present attractive, but often challenging, investment opportunities.
To assist potential investors in understanding both the benefits and challenges to make their PPP projects work and in exploring untapped opportunities in CEE/SEE, Wolf Theiss has released its Guide to PPPs, Concessions and Public Procurement. The Guide provides a practical overview of the principal features of PPPs, concessions and related public procurement issues in the 12 jurisdictions where Wolf Theiss has offices – Albania, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine, as well as Poland, Turkey, Macedonia and Kosovo, where the firm also provides services.
Members of the Wolf Theiss projects practice have advised clients in the region on a large, and often groundbreaking, number of PPP projects in a variety of sectors, from transport and social infrastructure to renewable energy and utilities. The Guide reflects their expertise and regional knowledge and will serve as a valuable tool for clients considering investing in a PPP project in CEE/SEE.
"Our experience in the region in assisting sponsors, public authorities and financiers in the process of structuring, developing and financing PPP projects has been built up over the years by working on numerous transactions in a variety of sectors. We combine our local legal expertise, contacts and experience with international standards in large projects. Our aim is to overcome challenges such projects pose and get them completed to the satisfaction of our clients," says Andreas Schmid, Wolf Theiss partner and head of the firm's projects practice.
The Guide to PPPs, Concessions and Public Procurement provides an outline of the various legal frameworks and practical issues related to PPPs. Each chapter of the Guide focuses on one country and is divided into three parts: 1) Market Overview and Trends, 2) Legal, Regulatory and Institutional Framework and 3) Upcoming Projects.
Andreas Schmid maintains a positive outlook for large infrastructure projects in the region. "Throughout much of the region, a considerable portion of the existing infrastructure has reached the end of its lifecycle. The infrastructure needs to be both modernized and expanded to handle increased demand. Though it will differ from the one dating back to pre-crisis times, we are on the brink of a new wave of investments in infrastructure in CEE/SEE."
