TheMoodieReport.com

TheMoodieReport.com: "AUSTRALIA. Sydney Airport has set a 7 December deadline for expressions of interest in its A$220 million duty free and tax free contract (click here to download the Expressions of Interest form).

It is Australia's largest duty free contract, and is likely to attract intense interest from around the world. The incumbent is The Nuance Group � which has vowed to defend its position spiritedly.

Dufry CEO Juli�n Diaz today confirmed that the Swiss travel retailer, which unveiled its IPO this morning, is entering the race. Other likely candidates include James Richardson and DFS Group. Aelia, Aldeasa, Alpha and King Power are all possibilities.

Interested parties are being asked to register their interest by 7 December. Selected parties will be issued with a Request for Proposals document in February, for response by April 2006.

A decision is targeted for June 2006 with the new contract starting in November.

Sydney Airport Corporation Executive Chairman & CEO Max Moore-Wilton said this is a premier duty free contract that will �no doubt� be attractive to local and global players in the duty free business.

Sydney Airport has a number of significant attributes that makes this a very attractive business, the corporation said. In the 2005 financial year it handled 26 million passengers, including 9.2 million international passengers � the latter up +8% on the previous year.

Sydney Airport is planning a A$200 million upgrade of its international terminal through its State of the Art Renewal (STAR) programme. The STAR programme will deliver a single, centralised outwards processing zone which will direct all passengers through the airside retail facilities.

A substantial duty free walk through store w"