18 FEBRUARY 2013

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Article from BTNews 18 FEBRUARY 2013

Investors for Heathrow

Heathrow may not seem to be the favourite airport of Britain’s national media but is liked by investors.

Major shareholder, Spanish infrastructure group Ferrovial, has been reducing its interest and finding no problems in attracting new patrons.  It remains the largest shareholder although its stake has been reduced to 33.65%.

The two Qatari directors have taken their seats on the board following the Gulf state’s sovereign wealth fund purchasing 20% of the holding company for £900m last year.  With what would seem to be a clash of interests Qatar Airways’ outspoken CEO Akbar Al Baker has been appointed together with Ali Bouzarif, from Qatar Investment Authority.  Al Baker has previously criticised the UK Government for its failure to increase hub capacity with Heathrow “bursting at the seams”.

Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd, which changed its name from BAA Ltd in September last year, also owns Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports.  The company has sold Stansted to Manchester Airports Group for £1.5bn (due to complete before the end of the month) and Edinburgh to Gatwick’s owner, Global Infrastructure Partners, for £807.2m.

China Investment Corporation, the investment arm of the Chinese government also purchased a 10% stake in Heathrow for £450m in November, whilst the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) owns 11.88%. www.heathrowairport.com

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