Advising on Liverpool Airport Take-off

Eversheds Sutherland advises Peel Group and Liverpool City Council on the sale of a 45% interest in Liverpool Airport

Eversheds Sutherland has advised Peel Group (Peel), one of the UK’s leading private real estate investment and infrastructure companies, and Liverpool City Council (LCC) on the sale of a 45% interest in Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Ancala Partners LLP (Ancala), the independent infrastructure investment manager, for an undisclosed sum.

Ancala purchased 35% from Peel and 10% from LCC. Peel and LCC retain 45% and 10% interests respectively.

Corporate Partner Alistair Cree led the Eversheds Sutherland team in delivering the deal. The team comprised Legal Director Jamie Partridge (corporate), Principal Associate Sarah Duignan (banking), Senior Associate Annika Unsworth (corporate), and Associate Sam Jones (corporate).

Liverpool John Lennon is the UK’s 12th busiest airport, serving over 5m passengers in 2018. In July 2019, LJLA was awarded the UK’s only five-star airport rating for flight punctuality, underlining its reputation as one of the UK’s best airports for efficiency, ease of use and quality of customer experience.

Alistair Cree said:

“On a personal level, I was very pleased to advise Peel and Liverpool City Council, two prominent North West clients, on what is a significant transaction for the region. The deal facilitates significant investment into a key infrastructure asset and should further enhance air travel from the North West.”

Robert Hough, Chairman Peel Airports Group, said:

“This was a complicated, multi-faceted, transaction, and one that we entrusted to the Eversheds Sutherland team to co-ordinate and deliver. We are delighted with the result and look forward to working with them in the future.”