Lufthansa Still Interested In Takeovers - Report
April 11, 2005
Lufthansa remains prepared to acquire rivals even after its takeover of Swiss but there is no deal in the offing, its finance head was quoted as saying in the Handelsblatt daily on Monday.
"We are financially strong and have a good base to move from. Our aggression is back," Lufthansa Chief Financial Officer Karl-Ludwig Kley was quoted as saying.
"There is nothing currently, but we're ready in case opportunities arise," he said, pointing out that the company had cash of EUR3.8 billion (USD$4.9 billion).
A Lufthansa spokeswoman confirmed Kley's comments.
Kley said that the airline, which owns 50 percent of travel company Thomas Cook, did not plan to buy the remaining shares from ailing retailer KarstadtQuelle if they were offered.
He also said that, in terms of the success of Lufthansa's core business, it was not necessary for LSG Sky Chefs, its catering unit, to have a presence outside Munich and Frankfurt.
(Reuters)
Cheers,
White Cap
