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The Catalan highway and telecom company Abertis has closed a €291 million deal to buy the remaining 42.3% of the shares of the Rutas del Pacífico highway management enterprise. Abertis, which is a world leader in the highway management business, already controls 57.3% of the South American company and now it has bought Capital Riesgo Global, Grupo Santander and Inversora de Infrastructuras (Invin) the rest. The new operation will be completed in the second half of 2014, although the Catalan multinational will not have to pay the €291 million until August 2019. With this deal, Abertis will also take control of 50% of the Autopista Central highway company.

The Catalan highway, transport and telecommunication management company Abertis has accepted Tagus’ takeover of its shares in Brisa, which represent 15.02% of the Portuguese highway company. Abertis now wants to focus on projects that represent added value for its global strategic action. In addition, two days ago, Abertis’ board ratified last April’s agreement to acquire 9 highway concessions from OHL in Brazil. With this operation, the Catalan company becomes the largest group in the world managing highways, with more than 7,000 kilometres worldwide.

The Barcelona-based multinational will manage more than 7,500 kilometres of toll highways worldwide and will increase the company’s annual turnover by €1 billion. The Catalan company Abertis will become the world’s leader in the highway management sector after adding OHL’s concessions in Brazil and Chile. In exchange, OHL would buy ACS’s shares in Abertis, which represent 10% of the Catalan company. The operation is not fully closed yet, pending to be approved by the respective boards, but it has already been officially announced.