France Selects Winning Bids For Nice, Lyon Airports

July 28, 2016

France has chosen the winning bidders for the sale of 60 percent stakes in Nice Cote d'Azur and Lyon–Saint-Exupéry airports and expects proceeds of almost EUR€1.8 billion.

Italy's Atlantia in cooperation with EDF was chosen for Nice airport, while a consortium of Vinci, state bank Caisse des Depots et Consignations and Credit Agricole's insurance arm Predica was picked for Lyon.

The government expects proceeds of EUR€1.22 billion for Nice and EUR€535 million for Lyon.

The economy ministry hopes to complete the sale in the autumn, following consultation with union representatives and antitrust authorities.

The sale of France's two biggest regional airports had been expected to yield up to EUR€1.6 billion for the government. The sale process had been delayed by the attack in Nice that killed 84 people on July 14.

(Reuters)