IANS/EFE | 07 Feb, 2012
Brazilian-led consortiums obtained concessions to operate the country's busiest airport and two smaller terminals, the National Civil Aviation Agency said after Monday's auction at the Sao Paulo stock exchange.

The auction raised 24.53 billion reais ($14.22 billion), nearly 3 1/2 times what the government expected.

The 20-year concession for Guarulhos international airport, which serves Sao Paulo, went to a group led by Brazilian investment-fund manager Invepar and includes Airports Co. South Africa (ACSA).

ACSA already runs South Africa's three main air hubs and six years ago won a contract to manage the terminal in Mumbai, India.

The Invepar-ACSA consortium paid 16.21 billion reais ($9.4 billion), more than 370 percent of the minimum bid established by ANAC for the Guarulhos concession.

Triunfo Participacoes e Investimentos SA, a Brazilian construction firm, had the winning bid for a 30-year concession to run the airport in Campinas.

Another Brazilian builder, Engevix Engenharia SA, led the consortium that got a 25-year concession for the airport in Brasilia.

The 11 consortiums admitted to the auction presented a total of 22 proposals for the three concessions on offer.

The privatisation initiative aims to improve Brazil's air transport capability as the country gears up to host the 2014 soccer World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.

Besides the concession fees, the winning bidders pledged investments in modernizing and expanding the airports.