Ontario Teachers fund invests in two European airports

The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (Teachers’) announced Tuesday that they will add to their current airport holdings with new investments in Brussels and Copenhagen Airports.

“We believe that Brussels and Copenhagen Airports are excellent opportunities that strongly reflect our investment criteria and our long-term investment horizon,” said Stephen Dowd, senior vice-president of the Teachers’ Infrastructure Group.

The pension plan reached an asset-swap agreement with Australia’s MAp Airports (formerly Macquarie Airports) in which Teachers’ will get 39% of the Brussels Airport and 30% of the Copenhagen Airport in exchange for 11% of Sydney Airport and a cash payment.

In addition to the shares of Sydney Airport, according to a press release by MAp, the pension fund will pay the Australian company $849 million.

MAp will refocus their activities on Sydney Airport, of which they will own 85% after the transaction.

Teachers’ already has investments in Birmingham Airport and Bristol Airport in Britain.

With $113 billion in assets as of the end of 2010, Teachers’ is the largest single pension plan in Canada.