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Nuance to bid for Sydney Airport concession

Analysis

Zurich (Nuance) - Following the announcement of Sydney Airport that they will issue a "Request for Proposals" for the duty-free concession at Sydney Airport, Nuance prepares to be among the retailers who offer new approaches to structuring this significant contract and looks forward to a new era.

Sydney Airport's announcement that they will issue a "Request For Proposals" for the Duty Free Concession at Sydney Airport is in line with the expected timetable in the lead up to the expiry of the concession currently operated by The Nuance Group.

The concession expires at the end of October 2006. Downtown Duty Free has operated the concession since 1991.

The Nuance Group acquired the Downtown Duty Free business in 1995 and has operated the Sydney Airport Concession since then with considerable success and repeated industry recognition for its innovative approach to retailing. Roberto Graziani, President & CEO The Nuance Group, welcomed the comments by Max Moore-Wilton, Chairman and Chief Executive of Sydney Airport Corporation, which describe the relationship with Nuance as "excellent" and as having brought about "significant innovations and developments and as a result created a world-class duty and tax free shopping environment for passengers".

The Nuance Group CEO Australia & New Zealand, Christian Strang said, "The expiry date of the concession at Sydney has been known for a long time and it does not come as a surprise. We continue to work closely with Sydney Airport developing a vision for the future; we relish the challenges and opportunities that a market evaluation will provide. Having held the concession since 1991 it is entirely reasonable to expect that a new airport owner would want to establish a valuation of the concession on the open market."Roberto Graziani added, "The Nuance Group has a long partnership with Sydney Airport and has enjoyed a very productive working relationship with successive management teams through the transition from Government ownership to a Corporate structure and now in the post-privatisation era: We hope that this level of partnership and professionalism will continue into the new concession.

Whilst it is an opportunity for Sydney Airport to value the concession it is also an opportunity for a retailer to offer new approaches to structuring what is a significant contract, we will be one of many interested parties and we look forward to a new era". The latest development at Sydney Airport by SACL and The Nuance Group, the Pier B departures store, was recognised with the accolade of "Best New Store In Asia Pacific" 2005 by Raven Fox.

The Nuance Group is committed to working closely with SACL in the lead up to both the Request For Proposals and the expiry of the concession.

The Nuance Group - The Nuance Group is the world's largest travel retailer, operating 330 shops at 55 airports in 18 countries and providing 4,700 full-time jobs (for 5,300 employees).

Nuance is a CAPA Member. For more information on the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation's membership service, please click the icon below.

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