Swedish government mum on report Lufthansa eyeing SAS

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The Swedish government on Friday declined to comment on a Reuters report Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) is examining a takeover of Scandinavian airline SAS (SAS.ST) in which the Nordic country owns a 21.4 percent stake.

"We never comment on rumors concerning the state companies," said Frank Nilsson, press secretary to Enterprise and Energy Minister Maud Olofsson.

Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters the German airline was examining a takeover of its smaller sector peer to bolster its position in Europe's consolidating airline industry.

Norway and Denmark each own 14.3 percent of SAS.