German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung had reported, without citing sources, that LOT's Chief Executive Sebastian Mikosz and Lufthansa's CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber had already met to discuss a possible takeover.
A spokesman for the Polish treasury ministry said there were a few potential investors for LOT, but the privatisation process had not yet started. He declined to say whether Lufthansa was among the potential investors.
Lufthansa shares were up 1.0 percent at 9.82 euros at 1504 GMT, outperforming a 0.1 percent gain in Germany's blue-chip DAX index.
This is not the first time Lufthansa is reported to be interested in the Polish national carrier.
In January 2008, a Polish newspaper had cited Poland's Deputy Treasury Minister Zdzislaw Gawlik as saying Lufthansa was interested in buying a majority stake in LOT.
The report came as Poland's government was determined to relaunch the stalled privatisation of state companies, including LOT. The carrier, which celebrated its 80th anniversary this year, is about 68 percent owned by Poland's treasury.
Lufthansa, Germany's biggest airline, already has its hand full with other pending mergers and acquisitions.
It is in the process of taking over a majority stake of BMI British Midland, is buying Austrian Airlines and is awaiting European Commission approval of its purchase of Brussels Airlines.
(Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Additional reporting by Agnieszka Barteczko) Keywords: LUFTHANSA LOT/ (maria.sheahan@thomsonreuters.com; +49 69 7565 1286; Reuters Messaging: maria.sheahan.thomsonreuters.com@thomsonreuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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