UK government’s Eurostar stake may attract bids from Ardian and Antin Infrastructure Partners
The 40% stake in Eurostar being sold by the UK government could attract bids from Ardian and Antin Infrastructure Partners, The Sunday Times reported.
The unsourced report said the two France-based, infrastructure investors are currently considering making offers for the stake in the Channel Tunnel rail operator.
The government has engaged UBS to find a buyer for the stake, which is believed to be worth in the region of GBP 300m (USD 479m), the report said. It noted that the remainder of the Anglo-French business is largely owned by the French national train group SNCF, with 5% controlled by the Belgium-based SNCB.
Although SNCF is thought to have pre-emption rights over the stake it is not believed to want to increase its existing holding, the report said.
Source Sunday Times