Qatar Airways’ Growing stake in IAG

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  • Anonymous
    Guest

    WillieWelsh
    Participant

    It seems Qatar now own 15.01% of IAG.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/05/17/qatar-airways-lifts-stake-in-british-airways-owner-iag/

    I wonder how Willie will enjoy having Al-Baker so much on his tail. You can guarantee he will want a sound return on his investment – more than that raised by removing food from short haul economy class!

    Apologies, I know this has been in another thread but I can’t find it.


    Kimi_CDG
    Participant

    + 10% of Heathrow owned by Qatar Holding. Maybe we’ll see soon QR planes in T5 🙂
    I am wondering the consequences for American Airlines and its dispute against the Gulfies. Probably something similar to IAG who left the Association of European Airlines after the arrival of his “Excellency” Akbar Al Baker in its board of directors.


    AndrewinHK
    Participant

    They are investing because they have the cash and they are getting a good dividend and obviously see promise. I have a suspicion they are going to continue to increase there holding, I already feel a little uneasy with there investment, but if they were to amass more than 25% I think Walsh should have a word and say we dont want you to hold anymore.


    Str8Talking
    Participant

    I’d say Al-Baker looks up to Walsh; I’ll be more concerned if Walsh gets replaced.


    BigDog.
    Participant

    The DT reports…
    …Concerns are growing about mounting Qatari influence at International Airlines Group after the Gulf state’s airline boosted its stake in British Airways’ parent company for the second time in the space of a few weeks.

    Industry sources said IAG was watching state-owned carrier Qatar Airways closely amid growing speculation that Qatar, which now owns 15pc of IAG, could “comfortably” push for a board seat.

    “For a FTSE 100 stock with no major shareholders, that’s a very serious number,” one source said, adding that Qatar airline’s intentions were “unclear”. “If they wanted to get [a board seat], it would be pretty straightforward.”….

    Though the DT does not explicitly state who is “uneasy” with the holding

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/05/21/unease-mounts-over-qatars-stake-building-in-iag/


    transtraxman
    Participant

    If Qatar pushed as hard as Delta in Virgin Atlantic to obtain something near 49%, I would be very reluctant to continue investing in IAG.

    Until we have a level playing field with the USA and the Arabian states as well as others I am strongly in favour of maintaining the 49% limit in investment in European companies as established by the EU.


    Edski777
    Participant

    Transtraxman +1

    In case of a Brexit and possibly losing the 49% limit rule in order to maintain attractiveness of UK stocks in the short term I’d be selling my IAG shares in no-time.

    I am absolutely convinced that the UK can’t manage to keep a level playing field on its own against the US and wealthy Arab sovereign funds.


    sparkyflier
    Participant

    How long could it be before Qatar “colonise” IAG and start saying no bacon for breakfast and no pork sausages..


    WillieWelsh
    Participant

    transtraxman – 21/05/2016 21:51 BST

    I’m sure Al-Baker will take your concerns in to account as he continues to up his stake in IAG.

    The Daily Telegraph article, I think accurately describes Walsh as “pugnacious.”

    Perhaps there won’t be room for two egos like that in IAG as the Qatar stake is increased.


    AisleSeatTraveller
    Participant

    as a branch of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, perhaps they see IAG as a good investment (just happens that strategically they feel it’s in their interests to park airline investments within a wholly owned airline for the benefit of both IAG and Qatar Airways)

    perhaps there is no devious motive (radical thought)


    transtraxman
    Participant

    The question for me is who pulls the strings,whether Qatar or IAG itself does, as I stated on my blog some months ago……..

    ” …… the decision will be made whether to become a strong airline holding company , or whether it becomes an investment vehicle in airlines. These two strategies are different. The first seeks to promote traffic between and through the participating airlines thus leading to profitability. The second is just orientated towards profit. This would mean investment in any activity in airlines or related to them – such as airport handling services, catering, engine and aircraft maintenance, or even in airports themselves among others. Then IAG would become a different animal and not just a group of airlines.”


    BigDog.
    Participant

    Edski777 – 21/05/2016 23:09 BST

    Don’t forget IAG is a Spanish company. IMO Brexit makes no difference whatsoever – UK govt have made a habit of allowing self-offs to EU and non-EU companies regardless of the position of the EU. (Who incidentally conveniently ignore French Government significant holdings in a range of “Utilities”.)

    Whether it is Qatar, Dubai (Ports), France (Rail and Power, India (Steel) – Bae next? – the UK govt appear quite sanguine in allowing its/our “strategic” assets to be purchased by other governments. Imo the Airline national flag carrier is the least important of “Strategic” Assets.


    AMcWhirter
    Participant

    Latest: A report today from Germany’s aero.de says that Qatar Airways will shortly announce it will increase its IAG stake from 15.7 to 20 per cent.

    Confirmation is awaited.

    http://www.aero.de/news-24669/Qatar-Airways-kontrolliert-bald-20-Prozent-der-IAG.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter


    PeterCoultas
    Participant

    Qatar is, for me, a reason to move away from One World and that unfortunately includes BA & QF – this is not an airline operating under fair commercial competition. That other One World airlines accept this is a reason to shift – sadly not to AF and their general strike ridden systems but to Star.

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