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Lufthansa to take over Bmi

Published: 29/10/2008 - Filed under: News »

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Bmi’s chairman Sir Michael Bishop has ended months of speculation by exercising an option obliging Lufthansa to buy his majority stake in the airline.

The agreement will see Lufthansa take an 80 per cent share in Bmi. The German carrier already owned 30 per cent of Bmi, having originally purchased 20 per cent in 1999, before increasing its holding by a further 10 per cent in 2002. Bishop meanwhile currently holds a controlling 50 per cent plus one share in the airline, with Scandinavian carrier SAS owning the remaining 20 per cent. Under the terms of an agreement laid down in 1999, Bishop had until the end of 2008 to exercise an option to sell his shares to Lufthansa at a preset price.

According to Lufthansa’s third interim report January-September 2008, released today, “the completion of the exercise is expected to take place not before January 12, 2009”, and is subject to anti-trust requirements and regulatory approval. It is not clear at this stage how much Lufthansa has paid for Bishop’s shares, and Lufthansa said that "discussions regarding the future structure and options [of the airline] are ongoing between Lufthansa, Sir Michael Bishop and Bmi".

Bmi’s future has been subject to much speculation over the last few months, with Abu Dhabi-based carrier Etihad rumoured to have approached the carrier about a possible merger last month. Bmi owns over 10 per cent of take-off and landing slots at Heathrow, making it an attractive propostion for suitors.

When BA bought 51 slots from Bmi in March 2007, it paid about £30m. Since the Open Skies agreement was signed between the US and the EU, opening up Heathrow to all American and EU carriers, slots at the airport have increased in value - when Continental Airlines bought four take-off and landing slots at the airport in March this year, just before the Open Skies deal came into force, it reportedly paid £105m for them.

For more information visit flybmi.com, lufthansa.com.

Report by Mark Caswell

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COMMENTS » 

20-Horse - 29/10/2008 13:02

Bang goes Diamond Club - is the likelihood. Might be good for the airline, however - what will it do to the masses of faithful high milers that have stuck with BMI through thick and thin? There will be a great many worried BD*Gs and BD*Ss out there.

Of even more importance - what will it mean for the staff of BMI - many of whom have been there for years? For me, this consistency of staffing and knowledge is one of the major drivers to differentiate BMI from other offerings. The staff make the airline and most be very worried. They also make many regular flyers feel like part of the BMI family. You don't feel that with BA do you?

Is this another famous "British" name going east? Can't help feeling that is is a shame, but maybe that's just me.

I shall watch developments unfold with a healthy interest - I have quite a few miles invested in the outcome.

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