Finance
Azerbaijan's oil fund SOFAZ invests $66 million in London's Gatwick airport
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on October 9, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on October 9, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Azerbaijan's SOFAZ invests $66 million in Gatwick Airport, partnering with Global Infrastructure Partners to enhance its European investment portfolio.
BAKU (Reuters) -Azerbaijan's sovereign wealth fund SOFAZ said on Thursday it would invest 50 million pounds ($67 million) in London's Gatwick airport, one of the largest infrastructure deals the fund has pursued in Europe.
Gatwick is the UK's second-busiest airport, serving more than 40 million passengers annually. SOFAZ said it partnered with U.S.-based Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock, in the investment deal.
"This landmark transaction is a clear signal of our strategy to partner with world-class institutions on assets that combine resilience, scale, and long-term value," said Israfil Mammadov, SOFAZ's chief executive officer.
"Gatwick Airport is not only a critical gateway for Europe but also a strong, sustainable investment that reflects SOFAZ's global vision."
VINCI Airports acquired a 50.1% stake in Gatwick from GIP in 2019.
Founded in 1999, SOFAZ has expanded its portfolio of investments in Europe in recent years, including the purchase in July of a 49% stake in Italian solar plants owned by U.S. renewable energy company Enfinity Global.
SOFAZ's total assets as of end-June amounted to $66.5 billion, according to official data.
($1 = 0.7480 pounds)
(Reporting by Nailia Bagirova in Baku; Writing by Lucy Papachristou in Tbilisi; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) is a sovereign wealth fund established to manage the country's oil revenues and invest in various sectors to ensure economic stability.
Infrastructure financing refers to the funding of large-scale public works projects, such as airports, roads, and bridges, often through public-private partnerships or investments from sovereign wealth funds.
A sovereign wealth fund is a state-owned investment fund that manages a country's reserves, typically derived from revenues generated by natural resources, to achieve long-term financial returns.
Sustainable investment involves allocating capital to projects or companies that prioritize environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, aiming for positive societal impact alongside financial returns.
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