By Veronica Gomez
MEXICO CITY, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Citigroup-unit Banamex sold
about half its stake in top Mexican airline Aeromexico
for about $172 million, and the head of major milk
company Lala picked up the shares, raising his holding in the
company.
Aeromexico said in a filing with the Mexican Stock Exchange
on Tuesday that a group of local businessmen, led by Eduardo
Tricio Haro, president of Mexico's Grupo Lala, had bought a
20.19 percent stake in the airline, boosting an existing stake.
Tricio now controls 20 percent of voting stock in the
company through his personal holdings and agreements with other
shareholders, Aeromexico said.
Grupo Lala, which is privately held and has not released
financial information, is believed to be among the world's top
milk producers.
Lala owns 18 milk factories in Mexico and 19 plants in the
United States as well as 253 distribution centers across North
and Central America, according to a 2011 report on its charity
contributions, the latest available on its website.
Banamex sold an 18.53 percent stake at a price of 16.50
pesos per share, Aeromexico said, worth about 2.193 billion
Mexican pesos ($172 million), according to Reuters calculations.
Banamex still holds a 17.91 percent stake in the airline, the
filing said.
Aeromexico's chief executive said last year that Citi could
sell its stake in the airliner as the U.S. financial services
giant continues to unload non-core assets.
Aeromexico shares were trading up 7.93 percent at 18.10
pesos.
(Additional reporting by Tomas Sarmiento)
Follow us on Twitter @ReutersLegal | Like us on Facebook