Air Czech purchase gets Alpha shareholder approval

Shortly before the start of this year’s International Travel Catering Association Conference, shareholders at Alpha approved the company’s purchase of Air Czech Catering, which was previously approved by board members at the Prague-based airline.

“Alpha and CSA Czech Airlines are committed to complete the sale by April,” said a release from Alpha.

The Alpha Flight division will be overseeing the new operation. The Air Czech unit joins Alpha units in Romania and Bulgaria that were purchased in 2005. “The emerging markets of Central Europe and are a key focus of Alpha’s business strategy,” said a release from the caterer.

A number of potential purchasers surfaced during the tendor process. According to Czech Airlines, a total of 67 potential buyers expressed interest in the unit and 17 submitted preliminary offers in January of last year. The number was further pared down to seven bidders. By October the number had fallen to two finalists before the decision to accept the bid of Alpha Overseas Holding. In accordance to the agreement, Czech Airlines is not allowed to disclose the other final bidder. “The bidder is a foreign strategic entity, ranking among the five largest airline catering providers,” said Daniela Hupáková a spokesperson for CSA Czech Airlines in a regional report on Europe in the January/February issue of PAX International.

A full story on the recent strategic purchases can be found in the January/February issue of PAX International.