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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Business
Simon Hunt

London Southend Airport in debt crisis as lender Carlyle demands urgent repayment of £200m loan

The future of Southend Airport has been plunged into uncertainty after its owner Esken faced abrupt demands to urgently repay a near £200-million loan, the firm warned today.

Southend could end up suspending operations, according to Esken chair David Shearer, if lender Carlyle pushes ahead with plans to force through repayment of a £194 million convertible loan within days when it had been set to mature in August 2028. Shearer said he was “doing everything I can” to avoid this  worst-case scenario unfolding.

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