we receive e we publish the following press release issued by Ardian.
Ardian, a leading global private markets investment firm, today announces that it has completed theAcquisition of a 22,6% stake in FGP TopCo Ltd (TopCo), the holding company of Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd, by Ferrovial SE and certain other shareholders of TopCo (the Transaction).
At the same time, the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund PIF ha acquired 15% of TopCo by the same shareholders through a separate vehicle.
“We are extremely proud to be joining the Heathrow family. Heathrow is an iconic airport and a globally significant piece of infrastructure, so this is another significant milestone for Ardian. We are passionate about infrastructure and its role in enabling growth and supporting the transition to net zero. We look forward to supporting Heathrow’s management team to achieve both goals and grow the airport sustainably over the coming years.”
● MATHIAS BURGHARDT ● EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & HEAD OF INFRASTRUCTURE, Ardian
“The UK is a priority market for Ardian, and this transaction benefits from our 17-year track record of successful infrastructure investments in the country. Our investment in Europe’s leading airport and the UK’s international hub will leverage Ardian’s experience in the sector, including previous investments in London Luton Airport and significant holdings in six Italian airports. This is a further example of how we are executing Ardian’s strategy of investing in relevant infrastructure in our core markets. We are excited to be part of Heathrow’s future and support its sustainable growth.”
● JUAN ANGOITIA Grijalba ● CO-HEAD OF INFRASTRUCTURE EUROPE & SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR, Ardian
“Heathrow is a vital national asset, connecting the UK to the world and driving prosperity across the country. We are delighted to welcome Ardian and PIF as new shareholders and investors in Heathrow’s future. We have a Board of Directors of experienced infrastructure investors who are committed to our long-term development and growth, and who support our strategic journey to make Heathrow an outstanding airport, fit for the future.”
●Lord Deighton ● CHAIRMAN OF HEATHROW AIRPORT HOLDINGS LTD
“Our core mission is to drive economic growth across the UK to improve people’s living standards and attracting investment to our country helps us do that. This significant move for us is also a strong vote of confidence in the UK and comes on top of the £63bn of investment attracted from international investors earlier this year, confirming that Britain is once again a central player in the global economy.
●RT HON RACHEL REEVES ● CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
“This major investment in Heathrow is a huge show of confidence in our world-leading aviation sector. Seeing global investors pour billions into the UK economy shows that we are a prime investment destination. Our Plan for Change aims to attract further investment of this scale, to deliver stable, lasting growth, support highly skilled jobs and improve living standards across the country.
● RT HON Jonathan Reynolds ● SECRETARY OF STATE FOR BUSINESS AND TRADE
Advisor
Ardian team: Juan Angoitia Grijalba, Alexis Ballif, William Briggs, René Hauzeur, Philippe Tallon, Edouard Bertagna, Matthias Hübener, Aurea Alvarez,
M&A: Bank of America, RBC Goldman Sachs, Santander
Legal: Clifford Chance, DLA Piper
Financial Due Diligence: KPMG
Traffic Due Diligence: Infrared
Regulatory Due Diligence: BLACK
Ardian
Ardian is a world-leading private markets investment firm, with USD 176 billion of assets under management or advisory for over 1720 clients worldwide. Its broad expertise, which includes Private Equity, Real Assets and Credit, enables it to offer a wide range of investment opportunities and respond flexibly to the diverse needs of its clients.
Through Customized Solutions, Ardian creates personalized solutions that allow institutional clients to identify the asset mix best suited to their needs and to have access to the best third-party managed funds. Ardian also provides a specialized service to private banks and family offices worldwide through Ardian Private Wealth Solutions. As employees represent the majority of the share capital, Ardian places particular importance on the valorization of people and the promotion of a culture of sharing based on 'collective intelligence'. More than 1050 employees, spread across 19 offices in Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East, firmly embrace the principles of Responsible Investment and the belief that finance can be at the service of society. Ardian's objective is to offer excellent performance combined with high standards of ethics and social responsibility.
Through its direct infrastructure investment activities, Ardian has significant experience in managing European airports. In the UK, Ardian was a 49% shareholder of London Luton Airport from 2013 to 2018. Under Ardian’s ownership, a major redevelopment of the terminal, transport links and infrastructure was successfully completed, carried out in close collaboration with Luton Borough Council. In Italy, Ardian is an indirect shareholder of Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Naples and Turin airports, together with their respective regions and municipalities.
At Ardian we are deeply committed to building sustainable companies.
