Another day, another HNA deal...

The Chinese travel conglomerate really does have a voracious appetite for deals involving any European travel-related companies.

Earlier this week, HNA unveiled a $1.5 billion takeover of Switzerland's airline catering company Gate Gourmet. That deal comes after HNA purchased baggage handler Swissport last year for £2.3 billion.

Is there a row brewing over £2 billion London City Airport sale?

Perhaps I spoke (wrote?) too soon.

According to Kleinman of Sky News, HNA submitted a higher for London City Airport - see below.

Mega consortium comes together for London City Airport; China's HNA also rumoured to have submitted first round offer - the end

It looks like the "mega" consortium has won the £2 billion auction for London City airport. Well, that's what the Financial Times is reporting this evening. Here is the link:

http://www.ft.com/fastft/2016/02/25/ontario-teachers-fund-wins-2bn-race-for-london-city-aiport/

Mega consortium in trouble?

The "mega" consortium chasing London City Airport might be, well, becoming a bit less "mega".

In case you don't recall, the consortium consists of an unusually large amount of constituents, including Borealis, Ontario's Teachers Pension Fund, AimCo, Hermes and Wren House, Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund. Here is a link to Betaville's original scoop on the "mega" consortium and also HNA's bid:

Quelle Surprise: Sky News exclusively reveals HNA is working with Barclays on a £2 billion bid for London City Airport

I see Mark Kleinman, who I once had the pleasure of working for at The Sunday Telegraph, of Sky News has unearthed a rather interesting story about China's HNA Group working with Barclays on a multi-million takeover bid of London City Airport, the British dealmakers' favourite airport that has been put up for sale by its private equity owners.

Regular readers of little old Betaville won't be surprised to learn about HNA's interest in purchasing London City Airport. Why? Well, back in December 2015 Betaville revealed China's HNA had submitted a first round offer for London City Airport. In case you don't recall, here is the link to that story:

Mega consortium comes together for London City Airport; China's HNA also rumoured to have submitted first round offer - part 3

This slipped under the radar yesterday thanks to some end-of-year merrymaking but I note that Ben Martin over at The Sunday Telegraph ran a story about a "mega consortium" coming together to mount a £2 billion bid for London City Airport.

Here is a link to Ben's piece:

Mega consortium comes together for London City Airport; China's HNA also rumoured to have submitted first round offer - part 2

The Australian appears to have ripped off one my news lines (well, the one about Macquarie dropping out as a principal bidder) from the London City Airport story I published earlier this week.

It's not the first time the Aussie newspaper has done that with one of my stories although I have to admit it's been quite a while since the news outlet has flattered me in such a manner.

Mega consortium comes together for London City Airport; China's HNA also rumoured to have submitted first round offer

I have a little update on the sale of every City dealmakers' favourite airport.

Ever since news of the £2 billion sale of London City airport broke in the Financial Times this summer bidders have been circling the asset.

PSP Investments and CPP said to be interested in London City Airport

London City Airport has already generated a fair degree of interest since it first emerged its owner Global Infrastructure Partners had put it up for sale for £2 billion a couple of months ago.

Indeed, it would appear three consortia have already emerged as likely bidders for the airport at the end of the Docklands Light Railway. Those consortia are: