Milestone Decision Clears Way For Modernization Of Caribbean's Busiest Airport

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (ASUR), the first privatized airport group in Mexico and operator of Cancun Airport and eight other airports in southeast Mexico, has announced that Aerostar Airport Holdings, LLC ("Aerostar") has won approval from the FAA to lease and operate the San Juan Luis Munoz Marin ("SJU") International Airport as a public-private partnership. Aerostar is a joint venture of Highstar Capital and ASUR. The approval paves the way for SJU to become the first major airport in the U.S. run by a private operator under the FAA's Pilot Privatization Program, which was signed into law in 1996. Aerostar will now begin to move forward with its plan to invest nearly $1.4 billion over the 40-year life of the lease to transform SJU into a world-class airport gateway.

"The FAA's decision is a historic milestone in unleashing entrepreneurs and engendering innovation at America's airports," said Christopher Lee, Highstar's founder and managing partner. "The U.S. at last joins a long and growing list of airports and seaports that are harnessing market forces to deliver first-class infrastructure, which America desperately needs to stay competitive in a global economy."

"We look forward to transforming SJU into a ... facility that fully meets the needs of both domestic and international travelers to further enhance its position as the busiest airport in the Caribbean," added ASUR's Chairman, Fernando Chico Pardo. "Safety, security and efficiency are our top priorities, and we will bring a 'customer first' orientation to all that we do."

"We are delighted by the FAA's decision and look forward to strengthening Puerto Rico's standing as a top cultural, commercial and tourism destination in the region," added Agustin Arellano Rodriguez, president of Aerostar. "We are committed to taking SJU to the next level to better serve the people of Puerto Rico and air travelers from around the world. We are grateful to the Governor of Puerto Rico and his team, along with the airlines, for their strong support and partnership as we begin to build together a new chapter in U.S. aviation history."

Aerostar made an upfront $615 million leasehold fee, with the goal of improving aviation services and the passenger experience while creating crucial jobs for Puerto Rico, followed by up to $240 million during the first three years of its lease to complete needed maintenance projects, improve passenger flow, upgrade roadways and technological infrastructure, reduce security wait times and improve and enhance airport retail offerings. As previously announced by the Puerto Rico Ports Authority ("PRPA"), Aerostar will operate SJU for forty years as a public-private partnership ("PPP"). It will immediately begin to operate the Airport, together with the PRPA, through a transitional process that will last several months.

SJU is the Caribbean's busiest airport, handling more than 8.4 million passengers in fiscal year 2012. According to the PRPA, SJU currently generates more than 8,000 direct and indirect jobs and recently opened the newly-constructed Terminal A, which is served by JetBlue Airways. Aerostar expects at least 1,500 direct and indirect construction-related jobs to be created through its near-term capital investment program, which will be one of Puerto Rico's largest construction projects. The transaction will create approximately 2,100 near-term direct jobs, once jobs in landscaping, cleaning and maintenance are included.

Aerostar's partners are industry leaders in revitalizing transportation and aviation infrastructure and managing PPPs throughout the world. The Puerto Rican government has estimated that it will receive more than $2.6 billion in revenues and other benefits from the PPP over the life of the lease.

(San Juan airport diagram provided by the FAA)

FMI: www.asur.com.mx