Bayo Ogunlesi’s Global Investment Partners Acquire Edinburgh Airport for $1.3 billion

Global Investment Partners, a US buy-out firm, has acquired the Edinburgh Airport for $1.3 billion. The company won the bid against competition from other leading firms including 3i, Carlyle and United States teachers’ pension fund, TIAA–Cref.

In a statement released on Monday, Ogunlesi, the Chairman and Managing Partner of the $5.64 billion fund managers said: “Edinburgh Airport is a high quality infrastructure asset. Its acquisition is a landmark deal for GIP and represents the first investment by GIP II.”

Edinburgh airport is Scotland’s busiest airport and will be added to GIP’s holdings which already include Gatwick airport.

Prior to becoming Chairman of GIP, Ogunlesi was Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Client Officer of Credit Suisse’s Investment Banking Division with senior responsibility for Credit Suisse’s corporate and sovereign investment banking clients.

Between 2002 and 2004, he was Head of Credit Suisse’s Global Investment Banking Department, responsible for worldwide capital markets (debt and equity), mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and advisory, industry, country and regional banking businesses.

Before his journey into the world of investment banking, Ogunlesi   started from ground zero and once served Thurgood Marshall, the Honourable Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court as Law Clerk between 1980 and 1981 . He then worked his way to become an attorney with the New York law firm of Cravath , Swaine  & Moore. He also held other posts before his appointment as the Chairman of GIP.