Catering division goes to Aurelius
The Deutsche Lufthansa AG is selling the remaining part of LSG Group to the private equity firm Aurelius. The airline already handed over the European activities of LSG Sky Chefs to the Swiss company Gategroup in 2019.
Regarding the signing of the contract with Aurelius, Remco Steenbergen, CFO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said, “We are pleased to have found the right investor for LSG Group, who also has the full support of the LSG Group management.”
Lufthansa: Focus on the Airline Business
According to Lufthansa, the sale of the catering division is part of the company’s strategy to concentrate more on the airline business. The company stated that it expects the transaction to have a positive impact on the operational margin (Adjusted EBIT) and the capital return (Adjusted ROCE) of the Lufthansa Group.
LSG Group: Approximately 19,000 Employees
Based on Lufthansa’s information, LSG Group has approximately 19,000 employees. The transaction, as stated in the press release, includes all traditional catering activities as well as the onboard retail and food commerce business. Additionally, all brands of the LSG Group are also included. It is expected that the transaction will be completed in the third quarter of 2023.
“This is the beginning of a new chapter for LSG Group,” says Erdmann Rauer, CEO of LSG Group. Further explanations from Rauer reveal that the strategy of LSG Group focuses on the following three pillars: airline catering, onboard retail, and food commerce.
Source: www.kloepfel-consulting.com