The homeowners of Edinburgh Airport have picked bankers to launch an public sale subsequent 12 months that might draw bids of £2.5bn.
Sky News has learnt that Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) has employed HSBC and JP Morgan to orchestrate a sale of the Scottish capital’s aviation hub.
The course of, which is predicted to get underway sooner or later within the first half of 2024, will mirror the trade’s post-Covid restoration, and is predicted to draw curiosity from infrastructure traders from world wide.
GIP has owned Edinburgh Airport since 2012, when it purchased it from BAA, which on the time was the FTSE-100 airport infrastructure group behind Heathrow.
GIP was mentioned to have explored a sale in 2016 however was deterred by jittery funding linked to the Brexit vote that 12 months.
Stakes in Britain’s busiest airport have since modified arms on a comparatively frequent foundation, with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and French investor Ardian buying a considerable shareholding final month.
Reports have recommended that PIF needs to accumulate the Heathrow pursuits of different small shareholders and in the end find yourself with a controlling stake.
GIP additionally beforehand owned Gatwick, which is now French-controlled, whereas the UK’s different main airports are additionally owned by abroad traders.
Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports are a part of the identical group, known as AGS, whose homeowners are additionally anticipated to kick off a sale subsequent 12 months.
GIP declined to remark.
Source: information.sky.com”