Europe鈥檚 biggest construction firm expands into aviation sector

Airport

Europe鈥檚 biggest construction company Vinci has expanded into the aviation sector with the acquisition of Portugal鈥檚 state-owned airports group ANA, The Times has reported.

The 鈧3.1bn (拢2.55bn) deal will give Vinci control of ten airports in Portugal including Lisbon, Porto and Faro in the Algarve.

The successful bid - approved by the Portuguese government yesterday - follows two failed attempts by Vinci to expand into the aviation sector, after it missed out on attempts to buy the Turkish operator TAV and Hochtief鈥檚 German airports.

ANA handled 286,000 flights and 29.6 million passengers last year.

The Portuguese government has disposed of a number of state-owned assets over the past year to help it meet the terms of a 鈧78bn bailout agreed with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

On top of two big previous deals, the sale of ANA will bring Portugal鈥檚 total privatisation revnue over the past year to about 鈧6.4bn, surpassing a target to raise 鈧5.5bn by the end of 2013 under its bailout conditions, according to the Financial Times.