Joint venture between Swissport and Lufthansa: CMS obtains clearance from German and Austrian competition authorities

Brussels/Vienna – The Austrian Competition Authority has approved the formation of a joint venture between Swissport and DLH Fuel Company mbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. The German Federal Cartel Office gave its approval a few days previously. The joint venture will provide refuelling services at ten German and two Austrian airports. As part of the transaction, Swissport is acquiring a majority stake in AFS Aviation Fuel Services GmbH from Air BP and will exercise operational and financial control going forward.

A team headed by lead partner and Brussels-based competition law expert Dr Michael Bauer advised Swissport on the competition law aspects of the transaction. It also conducted and coordinated the required notification procedures in Germany and Austria. The Federal Cartel Office (Germany) and Federal Competition Authority (Austria) approved the application at the first stage.

Swissport is a world-leading provider of ground handling services and cargo handling at airports. With some 60,000 employees, Swissport operates at more than 270 locations in 48 countries across five continents, generating consolidated sales of CHF 3 billion. The joint venture will enable Swissport to expand its range of ground handling services and offer its customers an enhanced portfolio.

AFS has specialised in aircraft refuelling services and tank storage facility management at airports in Germany and Austria since 1986. It is the largest provider of into-plane fuelling services in Germany.

Lufthansa is the biggest German airline. The company operates scheduled flights and cargo transport services as well as offering related services. In 2014, Lufthansa carried 60 million passengers within a worldwide route network of 235 destinations in 78 countries. In the refuelling sector, Lufthansa holds a stake in several refuelling companies in Germany via its wholly-owned subsidiary DLH Fuel Company mbH.

CMS Hasche Sigle

Dr Michael Bauer, Partner
Dr Björn Herbers
Stefanie Hankiewicz, all Antitrust

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz

Dr Dieter Zandler, LL.M., Antitrust

Press Contact
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