IFC Provides $60 Million to Develop Retail Sector in Latvia
Adriana Gomez
Phone: (202) 458-5204
Fax: (202) 974-4384
E-mail: agomez@ifc.org
Washington D.C., June 11, 2002—The International
Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector development arm of the World
Bank Group, will provide financing of up to US$60 million to the retail
developer Linstow Varner SIA, to support the development of three landmark
retail centers in Riga. This project will give Latvian consumers
a wider choice of high quality merchandise and service, at lower prices,
from over 500 local and international firms.
“This investment shows IFC’s commitment to support the development of
a strong and sound private sector in Latvia”, said Mr. Edward Nassim,
Director of IFC’s Central and Eastern Europe Department. “This
project fits well with IFC’s strategy to contribute to the modernization
of the retail sector in the country, that will help provide efficient facilities
to local and international retailers as well as to local consumers.”
The project involves the renovation of the Central Railway Station, including
the development of a new retail building in the station, the refurbishment
of an abandoned industrial site known as Alfa, and the expansion of an
existing retail center. All three projects will create modern retail
centers. The total project cost is US$146 million.
IFC’s financing includes a loan of $17 million and a subordinated loan
of $8 million for IFC’s own account, as well as a syndicated loan of $35
million for participating banks. The IFC successfully syndicated
the loan to the following commercial banks: Landesbank Schleswig-Holstein
Girozentrale, Vereins-und Westbank AG, Den norske Bank ASA, Norddeutsche
Landesbank Luxembourg S.A., Banque Générale du Luxembourg S.A., and Nordea
Bank Finland Plc.
IFC is also attracting an additional parallel financing of $10 million
from Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) as well as a loan facility of up to $25
million from a consortium of local banks, bringing the total external debt
package to $95 million.
IFC’s financing will demonstrate that longer-term financing is available
in Latvia on a project finance basis for non-export oriented projects,
and that transparent foreign direct investment can be successful in a challenging
business environment.
The renovation of the Riga Railway Station, in addition to its commercial
benefits, will also support the city’s public transport infrastructure,
by making the railway a more attractive means of transportation and helping
relieve traffic congestion. It is estimated that around 170,000 people
pass through the Riga Railway Station everyday.
Strengthening the retail sector in Latvia will also help improve transparency
and good corporate governance in the country, contributing to reduce the
informal, unreported sector of the Latvian economy, which currently represents
30-40 percent of the overall economy.
The sponsors of the project are Linstow AS of Norway (50 percent), a major
Scandinavian real estate development company; ICA Ahold AB, part of the
world’s 4th largest food retail group Royal Ahold; and Varner-Gruppen
AS of Norway, the largest clothing retailer in Norway.
Linstow Varner SIA owns and operates retail centers in Latvia, including
“Mols”, “Dole”, “Minsk”, and “Centrs.” Linstow has invested
over US$120 million in the Baltics over the past 5 years and is one of
the largest foreign investors in the region. Linstow, the Managing
Sponsor, has a strong business record and a thorough knowledge in terms
of successfully developing modern retail park concepts while supporting
the interests of city planners, neighbors, government entities and environmental
groups.
IFC’s mission (www.ifc.org) is to promote sustainable private sector investment
in developing countries, helping to reduce poverty and improve people's
lives. IFC finances private sector investments in the developing
world, mobilizes capital in the international financial markets, and provides
technical assistance and advice to governments and businesses.
Since its founding in 1956, IFC has committed more than $31 billion of
its own funds and arranged $20 billion in syndications for 2,636 companies
in 140 developing countries. IFC’s committed portfolio at the end
of FY01 was $14.3 billion.
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