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Portugal targets 2025 TAP sale as more than 12 potential purchasers reveal interest

Portugal's federal government prepares to resume the sale of flag provider TAP in 2025, the nation's. infrastructure minister stated, after receiving interest from more. than a dozen prospective buyers.

A previous Socialist administration authorized the. privatisation of a minimum of 51% of TAP in September 2023, but the. sale did not go ahead as Portugal held a snap election in March. which was won by a centre-right alliance.

We will start the procedure of privatising the company in. 2025 and, to that end, we have listened to all interested. celebrations, said Miguel Pinto Luz.

The facilities minister told a parliamentary committee. late on Thursday that TAP has also been strengthening itself in. financial terms, with operating results in line with or higher. than its European peers.

Whatever the final privatisation design, Pinto Luz stated,. TAP's brand and its Lisbon hub will be maintained, adding that. tactical routes to the Portuguese diaspora, which includes. Brazil, Angola, Mozambique and the U.S., would not be lowered.

Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, who had. previously insisted on an overall privatisation of TAP, indicated a. month ago that a partial sale was a possibility.

Pinto Luz stated there have actually been expressions of interest from. more than a dozen national and international interested. parties, including from outside Europe.

The government has confirmed conferences with Air France-KLM. , Lufthansa and British Airways-owner IAG.

Reuters reported in September that Lufthansa was. eyeing a 19.9%?? stake in TAP, below the 20% threshold that. would need European Commission approval.

And Air France-KLM is open to various options, including. acquiring a minority stake, Reuters reported.

(source: Reuters)