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The arrival of Alibaba, Chinese giant of online commerce, at the airport of Liege-Bierset would it lead in the wing? The case has in any case become electric in recent days and is at the center of a game of influence and pressure that exceeds the Walloon airport itself.
Blocking minority
Announced several times, the installation of the first European hub of Alibaba in Wallonia seemed yet acquired, even if no official act has been signed yet. It is up to us, however, with very good sources, that one of the shareholders of the airport of Liège is dragging its feet today to validate the arrival of Alibaba and to answer its requests in terms of infrastructures of reception. This shareholder is ADPm, the Aéroports de Paris Management company, a subsidiary of ADP which is none other than the world's third largest airport operator, behind which we find the Paris airports of Paris-Orly, Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle and Paris-Le Bourget.
Currently, the majority shareholding (50.3%) is in the hands of NEB Participations, a company behind which we find Nethys, Ethias and Belfius. The two other shareholders, Sowaer (Walloon Regional Airports Corporation) and ADPm (Aéroports de Paris management), each hold a stake of around 25%. ADPm therefore holds a blocking minority that allows it to block a decision at the Liege Airport Board of Directors.
ADP, the French lever of TNT / FedEx
At the last two boards of directors of the airport of Liege, the point relating to Alibaba has been postponed, we explain. According to our information, ADPm would have taken up the cause for TNT / FedEx, namely the first freight operator at the airport in Liege, which would see in Alibaba a competitor too embarrbading and a risk for its own future extension to Liege. .. A position that is explained when we know that TNT / FedEx has installed its "European hub" in the very heart of Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and therefore has arguments to make to the French shareholder of Liege Airport.
In this very tense climate, a new Liege Airport Board is scheduled for Thursday. The Alibaba point will be back on the agenda. On the side of Liege Airport, we did not wish to comment further on this file, simply stating that "Debates in the board of directors are confidential". But behind the scenes, it is up to us that tensions would be very strong between Liege Airport and its first client. To the point that TNT / FedEx, present on the tarmac of Liège since the end of the 90s, even put in the balance the maintenance of its activities in Liege in case of arrival of Alibaba. Hot, hot, so … "We are in a very powerful relationship of power"confirms an observer of the file, convinced that there is however room for Liege Airport and for Alibaba and for TNT / FedEx.
As far as Walloon politics are concerned, it is also preferable to diversify the Liege Airport customer portfolio – a third Russian cargo operator recently announced its arrival at Bierset – rather than risk being dependent on a single major operator.
"The deal will be made"
To listen to some of these observers, the "deal will be done" however sooner or later because it is supported by 75% of shareholders. In the absence of unanimity within Liege Airport's board of directors – and therefore a reversal of ADP's position – the Liege airport, which generates 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, will always be able to get out of the way. a last card: to go into force by convening a general meeting of shareholders where a vote on the deal Alibaba would bypbad the blocking minority of ADP. But with a double risk for the airport: that degrade its relations with one of its shareholders and to cheat his first client.
In short, it will be understood, it negotiates firm in this file to try to find a compromise and avoid taking the risk of having to choose between TNT / FedEx and Alibaba. The next few days will certainly be decisive …
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