It's a case of negotiating with the current owners, TBI, thrashing out a deal and working out exactly how many "tens of millions" the airport is worth.

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Since acquiring the airport in the mid nineties TBI has developed a global network of interests that stretches from Scandavia to south America.

BBC: French firm launches airports bid

Besides Cardiff International the TBI portfolio includes Belfast International and Stockholm Skavsta airports, and a controlling interest in London Luton airport, home of budget carrier EasyJet.

BBC: French firm launches airports bid

Sources said Vinci had made two previous approaches to TBI, the first before the collapse in the firm's shares, but gained a brusque response.

BBC: French firm launches airports bid

The first will involve a 40 million research project led by GE to better diagnose mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to predict the outcomes over time.

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