The 11.7 million annual passengers passing through Nice Airport make it an attractive prospect for potential buyers. Several groups, investment funds, and airport operators are reportedly interested in acquiring it.
According to the Reuters news agency, which cites “sources close to the matter,” Paris Airports, the Vinci group – which already owns several French airports – and the insurer Predica (a subsidiary of Crédit Agricole) are eyeing Nice Airport. They will need to spend 900 million euros to take control of it.
Several foreign companies interested
But the suitors also come from abroad. Among the usual bidders: Macquarie, GIP funds (the London City operator) and Industry Funds Management (which holds minority stakes in the Vienna and Manchester airports), the Australian investment group Macquarie MQG.AX, Canadian pension funds like CPP, and Asian sovereign funds.
On the corporate side, the Spanish companies Ferrovial (Scottish and English airports) and ENAIRE (the Madrid and Barcelona airports), as well as the Italian Atlantia (Rome airport) are also interested. The Malaysia Airports group is said to be in the running as well.
None of these companies, however, wished to comment on this information.
Deadline on September 10
By the end of August, the Allianz group had already expressed interest in acquiring Nice Airport.
In any case, offers from investment bankers are expected before the deadline on September 10.
