Danish state buys back Copenhagen airport shares

Denmark’s government shifts gears and plans to reacquire about 98% of Copenhagen Airports, after selling shares for years. The deal involves buying 59.4% of shares from ATP for an expected 32 billion DKK, announced Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen. This strategic investment aims for robust development while maintaining operational independence. The majority ownership comes after 24 years, although the state intends to decrease its stake to 50.1% eventually. There’s political consensus, except the Conservatives don’t insist on state majority ownership. The airport is seen as critical infrastructure, especially given heightened security concerns. After the buyback news, the airport’s value surged to 38 billion DKK. The state had previously also helped rescue SAS airline. In 2023, Copenhagen Airports had a revenue of 4.1 billion DKK and a pre-tax profit of 398 million DKK.