3i-led group hovering over capital airport
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3i is understood to have teamed up with Britain’s second biggest pension fund, the Universities Superannuation Scheme, and M&G Investments, with a view to launching a bid early in the new year when BAA publishes the sale prospectus.
Spanish-owned BAA is being forced to offload the airport – which has been valued at some £457 million – by the Competition Commission, and the asset has already attracted strong interest, including from Edinburgh investment banker Ben Thomson and former Edinburgh airport managing director Richard Jeffrey.
American buy-out heavyweight Carlyle Group and Noble Grossart are in talks with other possible Scottish investors about putting together a bid.