Deals
Ryanair Buys Niki Lauda Airline in Rare Foray Into Dealmaking
- Irish carrier secures asset after collapse of Air Berlin
- Most recent acquisition was the U.K.’s Buzz 15 years ago
A Niki Luftfahrt aircraft, left, at Vienna International Airport
Photographer: Lisi Niesner/Bloomberg
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Ryanair Holdings Plc agreed to buy an Austrian airline from former Formula One motor-racing champion Niki Lauda, only the second acquisition in the Irish carrier’s history.
The low-cost giant will pay Lauda less than 50 million euros ($61.7 million) for a majority stake in LaudaMotion, which retook control of carrier Niki just two months ago following the insolvency of Air Berlin. The aviation entrepreneur paid about the same for the whole airline as Ryanair plans to spend on a 75 percent stake in the holding company.