Ferrovial receives 3 bids for World Duty Free unit
LONDON Jan 22 (Reuters) - Spain's Ferrovial (FER.MC) has received three first-round bids of at least 400 million pounds
($775.8 million) for its World Duty Free airport retail business, people close to the matter said on Tuesday. Switzerland's Dufry (DUFN.S), France's Lagardere (LAGA.PA) and Aldeasa, a joint venture between Italy's Autogrill (AGL.MI) and Spain's Altadis ALT.MC bid last week, the sources said.
Ferrovial, a construction and services group, declined to comment. Nobody was immediately available for comment at Dufry, Lagardere or Autogrill.
A possible fourth bid was also expected, one of the people familiar with the deal said, declining to give further details.
A separate source said Nuance Group, an airport retailer owned by Italian companies Gruppo PAM and Stefanel (STEP.MI), was also interested in bidding. Nobody was immediately available for comment at Stefanel.
Ferrovial acquired British airport retailer World Duty Free when it took over airport operator BAA in 2006.
It is selling the business to help pay down debt before a delayed 10 billion pound refinancing.
(Reporting by Eleanor Wason and Mathieu Robbins in London; Additional reporting by Cristina Carlevaro in Milan; Editing by Quentin Bryar)
((eleanor.wason@reuters.com; +44 20 7542 8058; Reuters Messaging: eleanor.wason.reuters.com@reuters.net))
($1=.5156 Pound) Keywords: FERROVIAL/DUTYFREE =2 LONDON
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