Menzies, Swissport and Aviapartner eye SATA handling
Major European ground-handling groups are among 11 parties invited to bid for SATA’s Azores airport services business, part of an EU state-aid restructuring.
Menzies Aviation, Swissport and Aviapartner are among the companies invited to submit non-binding bids for SATA’s ground-handling business in the Azores, ECO has learned, in a sale that matters because it is part of the Portuguese airline group’s restructuring commitments linked to pandemic state aid.
SATA Holding said last Friday that the 11 parties that expressed interest in the asset have been asked to submit non-binding offers by October 21. Among them is Belgium’s Aviapartner, bidding in consortium with Gestavia, while Swissport and UK-based Menzies are also on the list. ECO reported that investment funds are also among the interested parties.
The separation and privatisation of the handling unit forms part of commitments made to the European Commission after state support granted to SATA during the pandemic. In May, the Azores regional government instructed SATA Holding to sell 100% of the business through a private negotiation process.
The selected bidders will move to due diligence before submitting binding offers, which must include a seven-year strategic plan. The tender rules say the buyer must keep ground-handling services running in the categories for which SATA Handling is licensed across the Azores’ nine airports and airfields, and cannot carry out collective layoffs or eliminate jobs for 30 months. SATA Holding’s headquarters and management must also remain in the Azores for 30 months.
SATA Holding is also running the privatisation of Azores Airlines and has invited five parties to submit binding offers.
Originally published at Eco.pt