New Zealand company Infratil has scotched speculation that it is looking to sell Kent International Airport.
The idea that Infratil might be looking to sell its site at Manston first arose when it sold Lübeck
airport in Germany for 25.5 million euros.
However, the company stressed that the sale was due to a unique agreement with the local authority which was due to expire.
It said the transaction had no bearing on its other European airport holdings, which include KIA and Glasgow Prestwick.
But the story has now resurfaced after the release of Infratil’s half-year results, with business website Stuff.co.nz reporting that the company could seek to specialise in energy investments while offloading non-core assets, including its European airports.
The Stuff.co.nz article, headlined “Infratil turns its focus on energy sectors”, said: “Infratil is expected to draw a line under its fraught foray into the European airport market and possibly New Zealand Bus business as it refocuses on Australasian energy sectors and lines up to buy Shell New Zealand.”
It continues: “Infratil chief executive Marko Bogoievski signalled at a half-year result last week that the company would reallocate capital with further investment in energy over the next year.”
Although Stuff.co.nz believes the airports might not be easy to sell in the depressed aviation market, it quotes one analyst, Rob Mercer, head of research at financial services company Forsyth Barr, as saying: “I would be surprised if they [Infratil] are still owning it over the next 12 months.”
Responding to the story, Matt Clarke, chief executive of Kent International Airport, said: “There was no suggestion during the half-year announcement that Infratil is trying to sell its European airports.
“In fact, when KIA was mentioned, the comment highlighted the progress being made in Kent and the strong year-on-year performance of the freight business.”
A statement from KIA’s media office said: “During the news conference, available as a webcast via Infratil’s website (
Infratil - Airports, energy, public transport and infrastructure.), [Mr Bogoievski] stated:
“Kent International Airport has performed well and that is really counter to the GDP trends and reflective of the business development that’s gone on inside that facility.”
POSTED: 02/12/2009 09:32:51