EU Clears Lufthansa's Takeover Of Bmi

European Union antitrust authorities on Thursday approved the takeover of British carrier bmi by Lufthansa.

"After examining the operation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it," the European Commission said in a statement.

The German carrier agreed to take control of bmi last October after founder Sir Michael Bishop exercised an option to sell it his 50 percent plus one share stake.

Lufthansa already had a 30 percent minus one share stake, while Scandinavian airline SAS has 20 percent.

In Germany, a Lufthansa spokeswoman said that with the approval one of the conditions for the takeover was met, "but not all". She declined to go into further detail.

The Commission is also investigating Lufthansa's proposed takeover of loss-making Austrian Airlines, having questioned the price and restructuring, and also its plan to buy Belgian rival Brussels Airlines.

"For the purposes of the present case, the Commission has therefore treated Brussels Airlines as a subsidiary of Lufthansa, which is however without prejudice to the outcome of the investigation by the Commission," the EU executive said.