The University of Girona will take over the management of the Girona Science Park when the sale of the production unit fails due to a lack of interested buyers.
The commercial court number 1 of Girona has issued this in an order that puts an end to a long bankruptcy process that began in 2015 and entered the liquidation phase in 2017. Given the lack of investors, the court has approved the reversal of the complex to the University of Girona, owner of the land whose surface rights were granted to a private foundation that had the objective of building and operating the center with the support of different patrons, including the UdG itself, the Girona City Council, the Chamber de Comerç and the Foeg employers' association.
According to the Roca Junyent office, which has been the legal advisor of the Scientific Park, the reversion of the surface right has been granted free of charge, since this was established in the title of the surface right. In this way, the UdG saves the repayment of a debt that amounts to 42 million euros. The main creditor – holder of 38 million – is the Central Administration, through the ministries of Economy, Industry and Finance. For years, they granted loans for the construction of the center, popularly known as “parquetazos.” But these turned out to be impossible to return since the business model – based on renting space to companies – recorded a low EBITDA and annual income that was around 2.5 million. It is for this reason, and because of the Government's refusal to refinance the debt, that the foundation was forced to file for bankruptcy.
Following the court order, which is final and will be effective as of October 31, the creditors – mainly the Ministry of Economy – will be able to recover 6.6 million euros of treasury that have been accumulated during the bankruptcy. This has been possible thanks to the sale of two buildings to the UdG and the Generalitat. The latter has acquired the H2O building, which is the headquarters of the Catalan Institute for Water Research.
Lawyer Josep Pujolràs indicates that the change of hands will be carried out through a new foundation promoted by the UdG. This time it will be public, so the park will not be able to submit a tender if the situation becomes unsustainable again. The court order also ensures the continuity of the dozen workers and the maintenance of the rental contracts of the hundred companies and institutions that occupy the complex. Thanks to the conclusion of the process, the thousand professionals who come to the park will be able to continue carrying out their work normally.
