Manchester Airports Group is being tipped as one of a group of potential suitors for the owner of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports.
MAG was reported by the Sunday Times to be competing with Luton airport’s Spanish owner Aena and Aeroports de Paris for AGS Airports, which was put up for sale earlier this year.
A collection of mainly Australian pension funds was also reported to be in pursuit of AGS, owned by Macquarie and Ferrovial.
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AGS is valued at £1.3 billion based on the latest financial data for the year to December 2022.
Aena and MAG, which declined to comment to the newspaper, had also been tipped as being in the running to acquire Edinburgh airport.
Gatwick and Belfast International owner Vinci Airports last week finalised the acquisition of a majority shareholding (50.01%) in Edinburgh airport alongside Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which manages the remaining 49.99%, under a model similar as Gatwick.
An Aena spokesperson reportedly said: “As the largest airport operator in the world, Aena always analyses all available opportunities with rigour.
“Aena’s strategic plan establishes the framework for the international growth of the company. The objective is always to generate value for shareholders.”