Answer given by Executive Vice-President Vestager on behalf of the European Commission
5.10.2021
The transaction between Gategroup and LSG (case number M.9546) was cleared by the Commission on 3 April 2020 following a thorough investigation and subject to certain conditions and obligations (divestments) as described in that decision[1]. The Commission has since been monitoring the implementation of these divestments.
Regarding the ongoing process concerning the sale of certain parts of the in-flight catering business by Gategroup, the Commission has confirmed Flight Delight Air Catering as the purchaser of the German Divestment Businesses (including Frankfurt) in 2020[2].
The purchaser has since taken over the operation of most of the active contracts contained in the German Divestment Business. In this regard, Flight Delight Air Catering is independent and fully responsible for the provision of services for all contracts but one. For this contract, the purchaser acts as a subcontractor to Gategroup, but controls the vast majority of the value added.
The Commission strictly controls the divestment process and verifies that the commitments made by Gategroup as part of the conditional clearance decision are being complied with.