Germany’s Bafin exempts Russia’s Mordashov from launching full TUI takeover

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Travel group TUI (LON:TUIT) on Monday said German regulator BaFin has exempted a consortium backed by Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov from making a compulsory takeover offer for the company, easing the path for a bailout of the travel operator.

In early December TUI secured a multibillion-euro bailout with the German government, private investors and banks after the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out its revenue.

Mordashov, who is already TUI’s largest shareholder, owning 25% of the company, backed capital measures which would raise his stake to 36% on the condition that BaFin, the German markets watchdog, exempted him from launching a full takeover.

The deal also paves the way for Germany’s economic support fund to take a non-voting stake in the form of a so-called silent participation.