Copenhagen Airport gains on ASUR sale, MAp to be next? Brisbane Airport credit rating downgraded
Shares in Denmark's Copenhagen Airports A/S (CPH) gained 1.9% yesterday in the wake of this week's announcement of an agreement to sell its 49% interest in Mexico's Inversiones y Técnicas Aeroportuarias, SA de CV (ITA) to CPH's local Mexican business partner, Fernando Chico Pardo. ITA is a consortium that owns 7.65% of Mexican airport operator, ASUR, whose investments include Cancun, Cozumel and Huatulco airports.
- Copenhagen Airports (CPH) has agreed to sell its 49% interest in Mexico's Inversiones y Técnicas Aeroportuarias (ITA) to its local Mexican business partner, Fernando Chico Pardo.
- ITA is a consortium that owns 7.65% of Mexican airport operator ASUR, which operates Cancun, Cozumel, and Huatulco airports.
- The transaction is subject to approval from Mexican authorities and will result in Chico Pardo owning 100% of ITA and all of ASUR's BB shares.
- CPH will no longer act as the Key Airport Partner in ITA, but the current Technical Service Agreement will continue in 2010.
- The sale is expected to have a positive impact on CPH's profit in 2010, with an expected effect on profit before tax of up to DKK400 million.
- Speculation has arisen regarding whether MAp Group, which holds a stake in ASUR and CPH, is also preparing to sell its stake in the Mexican airport operator. MAp welcomed CPH's sale of its interest in ITA, aligning with its strategy of realizing attractive values for non-core assets.
Upon completion of the transaction, which is subject to authorisation from authorities in Mexico, Chico Pardo will own 100% of ITA and all of Asur's BB shares. CPH will no longer have an agreement to act as Key Airport Partner in ITA, whereas the current Technical Service Agreement will be continued in 2010. CPH stated the effect on profit in 2010 will be in line with the forecast, while the expected effect on profit before tax is up to DKK400 million. The proceeds are expected to be used to pay down debt.
ASUR's shares fell 2.8% yesterday.
Speculation has now shifted to whether MAp Group, which holds a 16% stake in ASUR and 31% of CPH, is also preparing to sell its stake in the Mexican airport operator. MAp stated only this week that it "welcomed" CPH's sale of its interest in ITA and that the move was "consistent with CPH's overall strategy of seeking to realise attractive values for its non-core assets".
MAp shares slid 4.4% yesterday.
See CAPA Hot Issue profile on Airport Privatisation
Brisbane Airport credit rating downgraded
Elsewhere, unlisted Brisbane Airport's credit rating was downgraded yesterday by Moody's. The ratings agency stated the airport's long-term expansion program could reduce its financial capacity, while rising competition from Gold Coast Airport could impact Brisbane Airport's growth prospects.
Selected airports daily share price movements (% change): 24-Jun-2010
Source: Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation & Yahoo! Finance