Wellington International Airport Due Diligence for Airport Privatisation

UK airport development group and ABN-AMRO Bank

Wellington, New Zealand

For a UK airport development group and ABN-AMRO Bank, LEAPP carried out a technical due diligence for the purchase of a major share in the Wellington International Airport, New Zealand. This review involved carrying a physical and operational assessment of the airport, review of air traffic forecasts, proposed airport capital development programme, and a commercial evaluation and financial analysis. The project assessed the risks to the bidders for the privatisation arising from future airport upgrading requirements, such as installation of Runway End Safety Areas to bring about compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, airport capacity limitations arising from a constrained airport site, and the probable need for a new airport development within a reasonable period for return on investment to the bidders.