A CANADIAN airport operator is reported to be in talks to buy a substantial stake in Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s parent.
Last May, Peel Airports announced that it was looking for potential investors to realise some of the value from its portfolio and inject new capital into the business.
Peel owns JLA, Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, Durham Tees Valley Airport and City Airport on the outskirts of Manchester.
Last week, Peel announced annual losses had increased from £10.1m to £13.1m in the year to March, 2009.
Net debt increased from £86m to £105.4m during the year, mainly due to the to outlay on a new hotel and car park at JLA.
It is currently undertaking a £12m redevelopment of passenger and retail facilities at Liverpool.
However, Vancouver Airport Services is believed to have opened talks with Peel about investing in the business.
Vancouver Airport Services is based in Richmond, British Columbia.
It is one of North America’s leading global airport investment, management and development companies with a network of 18 airports over three continents which handled 29m passengers in 2008, up from 27m in 2007.
It also provides specialised consulting services to clients in around the world in the aviation sector and is jointly owned by Vancouver Airport Authority and Citi Infrastructure Investors.
However, when LDP Business contacted the company last night it declined to comment, saying: “Unfortunately, at this time Vancouver Airport Services has no comment on the story.”
Peel Airports also declined to comment about the talks or on reports that it was considering selling some of its individual airports.
Spokesman Robin Tudor said: “Any speculation that the Peel Airports Group or any of the group airports has been sold or is for sale is wrong.”
He added: “Peel Holdings confirmed several months ago that at the appropriate time it would consider the introduction of a co-investor into Peel Airports to provide further capital for the development and expansion of the airports group. This remains the case.”
He said each of the group’s airports has benefited from significant recent investment and expansion.
