We advised the European Investment Bank (EIB), SEB bank and Swedbank, which jointly provided EUR 369 million in loans to Merko Statyba, the developer of the second phase of the Rūdninkai military base.
The financing covers two parts of the project: for one part, the EIB and SEB each provided EUR 86 million (EUR 172 million in total); for the other, the EIB provided EUR 98.4 million and Swedbank EUR 98.5 million (EUR 196.9 million in total). The agreements were signed with UAB “VPSP B” and UAB “VPSP C”, the companies established for the construction and maintenance of the town.
The project is being developed as a public-private partnership (PPP) across a 190-hectare site in the Šalčininkai district. It aims to have the infrastructure ready to accommodate a German military brigade by the end of 2027, making it one of the most significant defence-infrastructure projects currently under way in Lithuania.
The Rūdninkai military base project is the largest PPP transaction in Lithuania. It covers not only the design and construction of infrastructure facilities but also their long-term maintenance and the provision of related services.
Our team and services
Our team advised the financiers on all Lithuanian legal matters relating to the project, including PPP legal regulation, legal due diligence, construction law, financing documentation and security arrangements.
The deal was led by counsel Vitalija Impolevičienė. The team also comprised partners Augustas Klezys and Asta Augutytė-Rapkevičienė, counsel Paulius Murauskas, senior associates Gabrielė Raižytė-Džulė and Linas Petronaitis, and associates Radvilė Karmonė, Dominykas Kulakas and Eglė Mikšytė.
