Cintra, S.A. (Concesiones de Infraestructuras de Transporte, translated as Toll Transport Infrastructures) is one of the largest private developers of transport infrastructure in the world. Its assets are fundamentally toll roads and car parks, in which it has a total investment of €16billion. Formerly traded on the Madrid Stock Exchange and part of the Spanish benchmark IBEX 35 stock index, Cintra was reacquired by its former owner Ferrovial in December 2009.
Introduction
- The Company was founded in 1998 as a spin off from Ferrovial Group with the objective of focusing on Ferrovial‘s infrastructure development business. Initially Ferrovial‘s toll road assets were transferred to the new company and, subsequently, its car park assets were also transferred. A controlling stake continued to be owned by Ferrovial, which maintained a 66.88% shareholding. Cintra was reacquired in full by Ferrovial in December 2009. The deal was structured as a reverse takeover (despite both companies being publicly traded), resulting in Ferrovial taking Cintra’s stock market listing and ISIN code.
- Operating in 9 countries including Canada, Chile, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and the United States, the company currently manages 24 highways totaling 1,468 km. Its asset portfolio includes 6 North American highway concessions: a minority stake in the 407 Express Toll Route (407 ETR) in Ontario and majority stakes in the LBJ Express, the North Tarrant Express, North Tarrant Express 35W in Texas, the I-66 Express in Virginia and the I-77 Express in North Carolina; as well as various highways on the Spanish peninsula, such as Madrid’s M45, the Autema, Ausol 1 & II highways, and the Radial 4.
- In 2005, Cintra was named strategic partner of the State of Texas for the subsequent 50 years, in order to help develop the Trans-Texas Corridor. It was to be operated in a partnership with San Antonio, Texas based Zachry Construction Company. Widely seen as one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the United States, the project was eliminated as the scope and invasive nature of the project were exposed. Cintra continues working with the local administration to deliver infrastructure.