(Chapter as reported in our “Annual Report 2007”).
  
To support its primary processes, the Port Authority has a shareholding in a limited number of participating interests. The Port Authority uses a number of criteria when entering into participating interests. The activities, for example, must be an extension of its own core tasks, be profitable, and the Port Authority must be able to actually exercise influence on the policy of the participating interest.

In accordance with the Stadshavens (City Ports) Cooperation Agreement between the municipality and the Port Authority, the liquidation of Ontwikkelings Maatschappij Stadshavens Rotterdam N.V. (Development Corporation CityPorts Rotterdam) was begun. This liquidation is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2008. For further development a consultative structure has been set up between the municipality and the Port Authority, supported by the Stadshavens Project Bureau. 

At the start of 2006, Warmtebedrijf N.V. was founded by the Municipality of Rotterdam, the province of Zuid-Holland and the Port Authority. The purpose of the Warmtebedrijf is to transport residual industrial heat to the nearby urban areas to be used as domestic and industrial heating. This saves fuel and reduces emissions, including CO2. In 2007 the company, together with its shareholders, concluded that the objectives of the projects based on the current business model could not be realized. Partly for this reason, the shareholder structure has been changed and the Port Authority has offered its interest to the Municipality of Rotterdam. The sale and transfer will take place in 2008. During the first half of 2007 the Port Authority wrote off € 8.7 million on this participating interest.

The Port Authority is 100% shareholder of Port infolink B.V., the company which further develops the port community system. 

The Port Authority works together with Zeeland Seaports in the Exploitatiemaatschappij Schelde Maas (ESM) for the development of the ports of Vlissingen and Terneuzen. The structure of this cooperation was improved in 2007 and has led, amongst other things, to the further development of the Scaldiahaven.

The Port Authority is part of a joint venture, named SIPC, with the Sultanate of Oman for the development of an industrial port in Sohar. The Port Authority provides mainly knowledge, while Oman provides the resources for developing the infrastructure. It has been agreed with Oman to extend the concession to 2042. These renewed agreements allow for investment in port-related projects. As part of this change, the parties will be setting up a new company in 2008 which will develop the port area further.

In 2006 the Betuweroute Exploitatiemaatschappij B.V. was set up in cooperation between the Port Authority, ProRail and the Port of Amsterdam. The name of this company was changed to Keyrail in 2007. 

On 16 June 2007 phase 1 was started. During this phase, Keyrail is the point of contact for clients and is responsible for the management of the Betuwe Route, but does not yet bear any of the financial risks. Any exceeding of the costs in this phase is the responsibility of central government. Phase 2, which will see the realization of a properly functioning transport system, is expected to begin in mid-2008. This operational phase will be at the account and risk of Keyrail, with the proviso that a (maximized) contribution from central government has been provided for during the operational period.
The participating interests together represent a total value (Financial fixed assets) of €12.5 million (consolidated).

A full list of group companies and participating interests can be found in Appendix C of our Annual report 2007