Lufthansa is in talks with SAS AB about acquiring the Scandinavian airline’s 20 pct stake in UK carrier BMI British Midland, daily Handelsblatt reported citing company sources. Lufthansa, which already holds 30 pct minus one share in BMI, declined to comment.

The remaining 50 pct plus one share in BMI are held by Michael Bishop, who has a ‘put’ option to sell 10 pct of his shares to Lufthansa before the end of next year and the remaining 40 pct thereafter.

According to the report, Lufthansa is also interested in purchasing SAS’s 95 pct holding in Spanair.

SAS said yesterday, it will divest its holdings in Spanair, BMI and Air Greenland in order to concentrate on its core North European airline business.
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