British Airways (BA) has revealed it is interested in Spanish airline Iberia after learning of a rival bid for the carrier.
Iberia announced in March that it had been approached about a possible takeover offer worth around €3.4 billion (£2.3 billion) from the US private equity company Texas Pacific Group.
BA has a ten per cent holding in Iberia. It announced it is considering making an offer for the airline – but only as part of a consortium.
"The airline has approached a number of private equity companies about making a consortium offer for Iberia. Any consortium bid would not involve further capital investment by BA," a statement from the UK-based airline read.
BA also added that alongside a private equity partner such a consortium would probably include one or more Spanish partners. However the airline was keen to stress that no final decisions had been made yet.
"BA has not made a final decision about the future of its shareholding in Iberia and continues to examine numerous options including full disposal. However, it has ruled out an independent bid for the airline."
Shares in the Spanish carrier have been massively boosted in the past few weeks due to circulating rumours of takeover interests.
German airline Lufthansa has also expressed an interest in the firm.
Digg 
Delicious 
Reddit 
StumbleUpon 
Google 
Technorati 
Netvouz