The accelerated bids for the sale of Athens International Airport 30% stake have attracted a significant international investment interest, according to ypodomes.com.
Interested parties are now getting ready in view of the Expression of Interest, initially set for October 29, 2019. The French company Vinci, which is already involved in major concessions in the country, is also expected to bid.
Among the contenders are the existing Canadian shareholders of «Eleftherios Venizelos», PSP pension fund, Copelouzos Group (holds 5% of AIA) and the Indian GMR, which is taking part in the joint venture for the new Kasteli Airport in Crete.
In a recent press event for the 15 years of Rio-Antirio Bridge, Dr. Panagiotis Papanikolas, Managing Director of Vinci Concessions S.A. Greece, has not officially announced the firm’s interest, but sources close to the process confirm it.
«As a company we have made a strategic shift towards airports, internationally. We are in the top 3 airport operators worldwide. We had submitted a bid for the 14 Regional Airports too. I don’t want to reveal much about ‘Eleftherios Venizelos’ Airport», he noted.
Nevertheless, it was implied that the interest of the French would have been even stronger if the State decided to sell its full 55% stake in order for the contractor to acquire AIA management. It is reminded that, in addition to the 30% stake of HRADF, another 25% is being held by the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations.
The sale of Athens International Airport 30% is calculated to bring in 1-1.2bn euros to the funds of the Greek Privatization Program. It is also noted that AIA’s passenger traffic in recent years has set the bar very high, leading to the doubling of the price for the 20-year extension of the concession, which reached 1.38bn euros (incl. VAT), based exactly on this outstanding performance.
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Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Leonid Mamchenkov
