Deutsche Bank and Singapore's Changi eye London Gatwick
20 Sep 2008
With UK airport operator, BAA, putting London's Gatwick Airport on sale offers have begun flooding in from German and Singapore infrastructure and asset management firms.
RREEF, an arm of Deutsche Bank, and one of the largest real estate and infrastructure managers in the world is considering a bid for the airport, according to reports.
Singapore's Changi Airports (CAI) has also stated it will bid for Gatwick, according to other reports.
Virgin Atlantic was first of the block and has already expressed its interest.
London Gatwick is UK'S second busiest airport and RREEF could offer over $3.65 billion to airports owner BAA to secure the deal.
BAA announced its decision to dis-invest London Gatwick on recommendations made by UK corporate monopolies watchdog, the Competition Commission, which has recommended in an interim report that Spanish-owned BAA ought to sell three of its seven UK airports, including two of London's Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, and one of either Edinburgh or Glasgow in Scotland.
A spokesman for BAA said the company welcomed all expressions of interest in Gatwick but had no comments to offer on specific approaches.
BAA, a unit of Ferrovial, has said it would challenge the Competition Commission ruling after the sale of Gatwick.
