The Generalitat has today published the tender documents for 80% of the shares of Idiada Automotive Technology, the company that controls the Santa Oliva automobile circuit, in Baix Penedès, specialized in research for the motor sector. The Government expects to earn more than 600 million euros with this operation.
The tender requires a minimum disbursement of 238 million for the purchase of the shares. The contract period is for 25 years and, at the end of this period, the successful bidder will return the titles to the Catalan Administration.
On the other hand, the Generalitat, which will retain 20% of the company's capital, plans to earn between 375 million and 400 million euros for the collection of a fixed annual fee of four million, another variable fee depending on the economic evolution of the company. and the payment of dividends.
Applus, currently immersed in a public takeover bid war, is the current holder of the concession. The company won the tender for 20 years and subsequently obtained an extension of the contract for another five years. The contract expires in September, so the Generalitat hopes to have the successor tied to the certification company during the summer. Interested parties may request to participate in the tender until May 2, 2024.
According to the text that has been published in the Official Gazette of the Generalitat (DOGC), the award criteria that will be applied are, mainly, objective criteria that represent 80 points out of a maximum score of 100. Specifically, the relative economic proposal The purchase price has a predominant weight, with a maximum score of 70 points, as well as the upward improvement in the amount of the minimum mandatory investments, with a maximum score of 10 points.
The remaining 20 points are based on criteria that aim to strengthen the impact of the activity carried out by Idiada on the business, scientific, technological, training and social fabric of Catalonia. Therefore, the assessment of these criteria has the sole purpose of preserving and reinforcing these positive impacts on the economy, the territory and society.
The Idiada complex, inaugurated in 1994, is an independent test circuit that has a series of facilities that allow simulating the behavior of vehicles in different conditions and carrying out testing, research, development, quality control, certification services. and others in the automotive sector.
