Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Lufthansa) signed an agreement with private equity group AURELIUS for the sale of the remaining LSG Group business. The European LSG Sky Chefs activities were already sold in 2019 to gategroup.
“We are pleased to have found the right investor for the LSG Group going forward that also has the full support of the LSG Group management. We are confident that AURELIUS will enable the LSG Group to be well positioned in the years ahead. In turn, it enables us to focus even more on further improving the profitability and capital returns of the Lufthansa Group core business,” said Remco Steenbergen, Chief Financial Officer, Deutsche Lufthansa AG.
The divestment of the catering segment is part of the Lufthansa Group’s strategy to focus more on its airline business in the future. The transaction is expected to have a positive effect on Lufthansa Group’s operating margin (Adjusted EBIT) and capital return (Adjusted ROCE).
The carve-out transaction includes all classic catering, onboard retail and food commerce activities and brands of the LSG Group, with all 131 LSG Sky Chefs Customer Service Centers (CSCs) in the Americas (U.S. and Latin America), EMMA (Emerging Markets) and Asia-Pacific regions, plus onboard retail expert Retail InMotion (RiM), based in Europe, and SCIS Air Security Services in the U.S. It combines a total of around 19,000 employees worldwide and 36 joint ventures across the globe.
Once the deal is closed, the LSG Group will be able to concentrate on executing its ambitious three-pillar strategy in order to leverage growth opportunities and lead the market in innovation, with the support of its new owner.
“This is the beginning of a new chapter for the LSG Group,” said LSG Group CEO Erdmann Rauer. “With AURELIUS, we have found a trustworthy partner who buys into our global strategy, which focuses on the three pillars of airline catering, onboard retail and food commerce. We are excited about what the future holds for our company – especially for our employees – and the many business opportunities we plan to seize. With the support of AURELIUS, we are confident that we will drive decisive change within our industry.”
“This acquisition underlines AURELIUS´ position as a market leader for delivering very complex corporate carve-outs on a global scale. Our operational specialists will support the LSG Group in growing their market-leading position. AURELIUS will work with the LSG Group’s experienced management team to materialize the growth opportunities that are available to the company. We look forward to a close partnership with the LSG Group team and embarking on an exciting journey to becoming an even more successful stand-alone company”, states Dr. Dirk Markus, Founding Partner of AURELIUS.
The transaction is expected to close by Q3 2023, subject to relevant external approvals and internal carve-out activities.
