The Carinthian state government is exceptionally unanimous when it comes to Klagenfurt Airport. The demands of majority shareholder Lilihill will not be met. In concrete terms, this means that the condition that the investor will only pay in his share of the capital increase if the public sector waives the call option is not accepted.
So far, the ÖVP and SPÖ have had different opinions. The first party mentioned, above all Deputy Governor Martin Gruber, have made several attempts to pull the call option. It was always overruled by the SPÖ, which provides the governor. However, there is now a consensus that Lilihill's latest request will not be met.
Peter Kaiser (SPÖ), Governor of Carinthia: “We are not the ones who have to deliver. It's time that what was in the room in terms of considerations for the airport was implemented". His deputy Martin Gruber (ÖVP) added: “Airport operations and the numerous jobs that come with them must not be endangered. Everything must be done to prevent the airport operating company from becoming insolvent.”
Now the tables are turned and Lilihill is given a deadline for paying in its share of the capital increase. If this does not happen, further measures will be taken. Theoretically, this could also lead to the so-called dilution of Lilihill's majority stake. In any case, another legal dispute seems to be inevitable.
In addition, according to Martin Payer, head of the Carinthian investment management K-BV, the management of the airport company has not yet made any statement about what happened to the funds already paid in for the capital increase of the state of Carinthia (via K-BV) and the city of Klagenfurt . Furthermore, the management committee of the airport is said to refuse to have them entered in the company register. Legal action will now be taken to ensure that it is registered and Lilihill pays its share. The alternative, according to Payer, would be to take the call option.
and 