The Lufthansa Group wants to expand its sphere of influence to the south. For the renewed successor to the Alitalia, the crane has submitted an offer together with a multi-billion dollar shipping company.
Together with the major shipping company MSC, Lufthansa wants to take over the majority in the successor to the Italian airline Alitalia.
Together, the two companies submitted a binding offer for the Ita company to the Italian state, as Lufthansa confirmed on request. Italy wants to remain on board the greatly reduced airline with a minority even after the sale.
Sale is expected to be completed by the end of June
In the bidding process, which ended on Monday, the consortium of Lufthansa and the Swiss MSC was initially considered the favourite. Italy’s Finance Minister Daniele Franco said a few days ago that the sale should be completed by the end of June. It was initially unclear whether further bids were received. In addition to Lufthansa/MSC, the US aviation investor Indigo as well as Air France-KLM and the US giant Delta had delved into the Italian figures in the data room. The French are working with the financial investor Certares.
Lufthansa regards Italy as its most important foreign market in Europe. In Rome, CEO Carsten Spohr advertised the concept of his many hubs (multi-hub) and airline brands. The gradual takeover and integration of companies such as Austrian, Brussels Airlines and Swiss could become a model for Ita. Rome, like Zurich, could also remain an important air traffic hub. Lufthansa is initially aiming for a minority stake, the CEO had said.
Invest surpluses from sea freight sensibly
Lufthansa could keep the financial risk of an Ita takeover within limits in association with the major shipping company MSC, but quickly integrate the new company into its operational systems. Led by the Italian shipping family Aponte, MSC, like the competition from Maersk to Lufthansa’s major shareholder Klaus-Michael Kühne, is looking for logistics investments to strategically accommodate billions in surplus from sea freight. With CMA CGM, a multi-billion shipping company has also entered Air France as a major shareholder.
