Collection of information

We gathered relevant information from a number of sources including:

■  an extensive examination of the Department's papers, documentation prepared by advisers, and submissions by other participants;

■  interviews with the Department's relevant officials and advisers, on their strategy for the negotiations and their continued involvement in the process, including the selection of a new investor;

■  A meeting with the responsible Project Director of BAA plc;

■  Outputs from financial models and sensitivity analyses run by NATS at the request of their bankers and other stakeholders;

■  Business plans and performance reports by NATS;

■  monitoring of reports and commentary in specialist aviation industry websites and news "feeds", including public discussion boards used by NATS staff; and

■  contacts with the Civil Aviation Authority's Safety and Economic regulators.