Qatar Airways raises stake in IAG to 20%

LONDON: Qatar Airways lifted its stake in British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (IAG) by about 4.34% to 20% but said yesterday that was its limit, buying shares worth about £375 million ($496.61 million) on what it called an attractive buying opportunity.

Shares in IAG have lost about a quarter of their value since Britain, the airline group’s biggest market, voted in June to leave the European Union.

British companies have also become 10 to 15% cheaper for overseas buyers due to the devaluation of the pound since the vote.

State-owned Qatar Airways said it had raised its stake to 20.01% from 15.67%, sticking to its oft-repeated intention to increase its holding over time. It first invested in the company in January 2015.

“The recent market valuation of one of the world’s leading airline groups has provided what we believe is an attractive opportunity to increase our shareholding in IAG,” Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker in a statement.

Qatar Airways said it had no plans to increase its shareholding further than the current level unless the situation changed materially.

Under current rules, foreign investors cannot own more than 49% of a European airline.

Qatar Airways said while its interest was purely financial, the investment reflected the strength of the commercial and strategic ties between the companies.

Al Baker has in the past said the company wanted to tap into IAG’s extensive American network through the tie-up.

Qatar Airways has been expanding its global reach in recent months, agreeing in July to acquire up to 10% of Chile-based LATAM Airlines and 49% of Italian carrier Meridiana.