New Zealand's Auckland International Airport has backed a US$2.06 billion offer from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) for a controlling stake in the facility.

Under the offer, which values the whole of Auckland Airport at $4.44 billion, a new company will be created, in which DAE will have a controlling stake of between 51 percent and 60 percent.

However, a counter-offer could be forthcoming given the high level of interest in Auckland Airport.

The board of Auckland Airport, while backing the DAE deal, said it is not restricted from considering other offers.

Auckland Airport shareholders will be offered $1.85 per share in cash, a new stapled security in Auckland Airport and a special dividend of 5.5 cents per share. The offer gives an equivalent value of $3.01 a share.

The offer is conditional on 75 percent shareholder approval and will be voted on in November. However, the company also warned that its full-year profit was expected to be about 10 percent lower at between $72.22 million and $73 million because of higher staff incentive payouts.

Auckland Airport has been the subject of takeover speculation since May, with Australia's Macquarie Airports expressing interest.

DAE, based in the United Arab Emirates, is a private aerospace manufacturing and services company, and has previously said it plans to invest $15 billion in airport development and aeroplane leasing and servicing.