(Adds SNC-Lavalin comment, details)
VIENNA, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Vienna Airport VIEV.VI said it
bought Canadian SNC-Lavalin Group's SNC.TO indirect stake in
Malta International Airport MIA.MT for about 63 million euros
($69 million), betting on the island's attraction as a tourist
destination.
The deal will increase the Austrian company's stake in the
Maltese operator by 15.5 percentage points to more than 48
percent, Vienna Airport said in a statement on Monday.
The purchase price is equivalent to 3.00 euros per Malta
Airport share, it said, a nearly 30 percent discount to Friday's
closing price at 4.33 euros.
SNC-Lavalin, an investor in the operator since it was
privatised more than 13 years ago, said the sale was in line
with its strategy to monetise some of its mature infrastructure
concession investments.
Malta Airport handled about 4.6 million passengers in 2015
and posted a profit of 7.29 million euros in the first half of
last year.
The share purchase agreement is subject to certain closing
conditions by both parties.
($1 = 0.9178 euros)