Polish Aviation Group to take over German airline Condor Air - PM

"Our country's accession to the advanced countries, to the developed markets (...) is no mistake," the prime minister said at a press conference. "Polish companies also take over powerful foreign firms."

Morawiecki described the takeover of Germany's dominant vacation airline as, "a very brave but at the same time balanced move by LOT Polish Airlines." 

"It is evidence of the strength of the Polish economy," he added. 

Saying LOT's expansion "inspires pride," Morawiecki told a press conference that over the last four years LOT had increased its passenger count from four million to almost 11 million a year, which he described as "phenomenal growth" made possible by expansion into markets including the Far East. "LOT is like the Polish economy," he said, adding that he was very pleased with the expansion of Polish companies, as this was conducive to building national savings and reducing dependency on foreign capital.

"Until now foreign companies have taken over valuable Polish assets - we're reversing this trend. (...) We're reaching for foreign assets, without complexes," he said. "We're in a position to pay as much for them as necessary."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Assets Jacek Sasin pointed out that over the last three years, PLL LOT has generated a PLN 700 million (EUR 164.8 million) profit while earlier over eight years, it had recorded losses of PLN 2 billion (EUR 471 million). "PLL is developing today," he said. "There are very many new connections, new aircraft, new investments."

"We have new Polish assets in Germany," Sasin added. 

PGL said in a Friday press release that the takeover should be completed by the end of April.

"The Condor takeover offer presented by PGL was recognised as the most beneficial to the company, its workers, partners, suppliers and customers," the release stated. "The transaction should be completed by the end of April 2020, after gaining the necessary consent of anti-monopoly bodies and Condor leaving protection procedures."

"The PGL investment will enable Condor to pay off its obligations regarding German development bank KfW in full and on time," the press release added. 

PGL President Rafal Milczarski told Friday's press conference that together with Condor Air, PGL will develop dynamically and work together with scheduled airlines as well as charter lines. "From my point of view, there is no better partner for LOT than Condor," he said. 

Condor Air has a 22-percent share of the German charter market, which - Minister Sasin pointed out - is the biggest in Europe.

According to unofficial information from sources "among those conducting negotiations," acquired by German press agency dpa, LOT beat several other investors bidding for Condor, including US fund Apollo and the UK's Greybull. 

The Frankfurt-registered Condor, which belonged to Thomas Cook since 2009, survived the travel agency's bankruptcy thanks to financial support from the German state to the tune of EUR 380 million. An important partner to German travel agencies, Condor employs around 5,000 people and operates about 60 aircraft.

PGL is 100-percent owned by the Polish State Treasury and is supervised by the prime minister. It is made up of LOT, LOT AMS, and LS Airport Services. (PAP)

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