March 29, 2024 07:31 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
PM Modi has mastered art of manipulating democracy, hurting Constitution: Mallikarjun Kharge | Mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari dies of cardiac arrest at 63 | NIA arrests key conspirator in Bengaluru cafe blast case | Actor Govinda returns to politics after 14 years of 'vanvas', joins Eknath Shinde camp | 'To browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture': PM posts after 600 lawyers write to CJI
GVK divests 33% stake in Bangalore International Airport Limited to Fairfax Group

GVK divests 33% stake in Bangalore International Airport Limited to Fairfax Group

India Blooms News Service | | 28 Mar 2016, 07:12 pm
Hyderabad, Mar 28 (IBNS): GVK Power & Infrastructure Limited on Monday announced that it will divest 33% stake in Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) to Fairfax India Holdings Corporation and Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited , through their wholly-owned subsidiaries in Mauritius, for an aggregate investment of INR 21.49 billion (INR 2149 Crore) which is approximately $321 million at current exchange rates.

Upon completion of this transaction, there would be a reduction of debt burden of around Rs. 2,000 Crore and would also result in saving of interest cost to the extent of approximately Rs. 300 Crore per annum.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and third party
consents, including lender consents, and is expected to be completed by the middle of 2016.

GVK Airport Developers, a wholly owned subsidiary of GVK Power & Infrastructure, had initiated a financing process last year to reduce its debt obligations to its lenders. The infrastructure major received multiple offers, from which the Fairfax Group was selected.

Dr. GVK Reddy, founder Chairman and Managing Director, GVK commenting on this  development said in a statement, “This is an important and successful milestone in deleveraging our balance  sheet, and all proceeds from this stake sale shall be used to bring down our debt obligations to  our lenders. We chose Fairfax as a partner in BIAL as we have a long standing  relationship with its Chairman, Prem Watsa and we would look forward to partnering with them in  developing Kempegowda International Airport through its next stage of expansion as we develop a new world-class Terminal 2 and a new runway.”

"We have great admiration for GVK, led by Dr. GVK Reddy and G V Sanjay Reddy, in the outstanding work that they have done to develop Kempegowda International Airport to its current stature. This is a partnership between Fairfax and GVK. We will work closely with all stakeholders to manage our stake in BIAL going forward, and will support G V Sanjay Reddy to continue to lead the management team as Managing Director (MD) of BIAL and Dr GVK Reddy
will continue as Co Chairman of BIAL” said Prem Watsa, Chairman of Fairfax India, and Chairman and CEO of Fairfax.

Bangalore International Airport Limited owns and operates the Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (KIAB), under a 30+30 year concession agreement from the Government of India. KIAB has the distinction of being the first greenfield airport in India that was built to the highest international standards by the private sector under a public-private partnership.

The airport began operations in May 2008 and has been adjudged as the ‘Best Regional Airport in Central Asia’ by Skytrax in 2015.

GVK shall remain a long term investor and pioneer in airport assets in India. GVK is bullish on the airport sector in India and shall continue to build iconic assets for the country.

Goldman Sachs and DSP Merrill Lynch are the financial advisors to GVK and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas is the legal advisor to GVK.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.