10.03.2008 08:28
Austria open to selling Austrian Airlines to Lufthansa - report
FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - The Austrian government</u> is changing is its policy on Austrian Airlines (News) (AUA) and will allow a takeover by a foreign competitor</u>, Financial Times Deutschland reported citing government sources.
Deutsche Lufthansa AG</u> (News/Aktienkurs) is said to be interested in acquiring AUA</u>, according to previous media reports.
While the Austrian government had previously ruled out selling AUA, state-owned industry holding OIAG now explicitly reserves the right to sell the airline to an international rival in the medium term, the report said.
OIAG holds 42.5 pct in AUA. Today the holding will decide about a participation of Saudi Arabian billionaire Sheikh Mohammed Bin Issa Al Jaber who plans to acquire 20 pct in AUA for about 150 mln eur.
'Should it turn out that AUA is not successful with Al Jaber, we are leaving all options open,' sources close to OIAG's supervisory board told the paper.
judith.csaba@thomson.com
jcs/wj
COPYRIGHT
Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.
DaV
Austria open to selling Austrian Airlines to Lufthansa - report
FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - The Austrian government</u> is changing is its policy on Austrian Airlines (News) (AUA) and will allow a takeover by a foreign competitor</u>, Financial Times Deutschland reported citing government sources.
Deutsche Lufthansa AG</u> (News/Aktienkurs) is said to be interested in acquiring AUA</u>, according to previous media reports.
While the Austrian government had previously ruled out selling AUA, state-owned industry holding OIAG now explicitly reserves the right to sell the airline to an international rival in the medium term, the report said.
OIAG holds 42.5 pct in AUA. Today the holding will decide about a participation of Saudi Arabian billionaire Sheikh Mohammed Bin Issa Al Jaber who plans to acquire 20 pct in AUA for about 150 mln eur.
'Should it turn out that AUA is not successful with Al Jaber, we are leaving all options open,' sources close to OIAG's supervisory board told the paper.
judith.csaba@thomson.com
jcs/wj
COPYRIGHT
Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.
DaV