Spanish builder ACS hikes stake in Germany's Hochtief as Qatar cashes out

FRANKFURT: Spanish builder ACS has bought a 5.8 percent stake in Hochtief to raise its holding in the German group to 66.54 percent.

The shares were part of a placement by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), which divested its Hochtief stake of around 10 percent as part of a portfolio reshuffle.

QIA placed 7 million shares in Hochtief for 77 euros apiece, fetching around 540 million euros ($614 million), it said in a statement.

Morgan Stanley had offered the shares in an accelerated bookbuilding with a guidance of 76.50 euros to the market close of 81.78 euros.

The QIA has been reviewing its investment strategy as a result of lower oil prices and following the appointment of a new chief executive in December.

It sold a 1.1 percent stake in French construction group Vinci last week.

($1 = 0.8793 euros)