SAHCOL: BPE Begins Evaluation of Proposals

The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) said that it will this week commence the evaluation of technical proposals harvested from prospective core investors for the privatisation of Skypower Aviation and Handling Company (SAHCOL).
The deadline for the submission of technical and financial proposals is Friday, May 22, 2009. It would be recalled that the data room for the enterprise which opened on April 6, 2009 was preceded by a pre-bid conference.
Meanwhile, BPE said it attention has been drawn to a story in The Guardian of Friday, May 22, which stated that Swissport International Limited has been chosen as the preferred investor for SAHCOL. The report smacks of mischief as it claims that an on-going process “has been concluded with the Swiss firm said to have won the bid.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, Swissport is not among the 14 bidders who participated in the data room process. Furthermore, the preferred bidder will emerge at the opening of financial bids which is usually broadcast live on national television and radio networks” Chigbo Anichebe, head public affairs of the BPE said
According to him, the Federal Executive Council had on May 23, directed that SAHCOL be released to the BPE for privatisation.  In order to ensure the confidence of all stakeholders, the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) on the 25th of August 2008 approved that the privatisation be jointly carried out by the BPE and the liquidators of Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL).
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) is therefore in the process of divesting 100% controlling shares and management control in SAHCOL and in a few years after take-over, it is expected that 49% will be divested to the Nigerian public under the supervision of BPE.
It would be recalled that at the deadline for expressions of interest by prospective investors, 20 consortia submitted their applications for pre-qualification.  After the evaluation, 17 bidders were pre-qualified for the issuance of bidding documents.  However 14 out of the 17 bidders were able to pay the non-refundable data room fee of US$10,000 and participated in the data room process.
The bidders are: Aviation Handling Partners Limited; ERASKORP Consortium; TAK Continental Limited; Danzas Express Services/Heavyweight Air Express; Industrial Ports Engineering Services; AHS/Menzies/Air Logistic Technical Consortium; Plural Holdings; Sifax Shipping Company; and Pan Express Services. Others are Redstar Consortium; More Associates Limited; D&M Aviation Handling Company Limited; Phoenix Capital Limited; and Dekit Construction Consortium.