Airlines news
AF-KLM tight-lipped on Alitalia
AF-KLM wants to join the Alitalia bidding, possibly via a link with Management & Capitali, one of the five potential buyers selected by the Italian government according to a report in Finanza & Mercati .
Without citing sources, the Italian daily said that AF-KLM was keen to enter the auction process following speculation that Lufthansa was preparing to join another of the five shortlisted bidders, Unicredit Banca Mobiliare.
AFX reports AF-KLM, which already owns 2% of Alitalia through a Jan 03 share swap, declined to comment on the Finanza & Mercati article, while Lufthansa reiterated that it did not intend to bid for the Italian carrier.
The newswire reported that Lufthansa was not interested in an entry at Alitalia quoting a spokesman for the German carrier. ‘We will not comment on this every week again. At the moment, absolutely nothing new is happening.’
Rome announced at the end of December that it was seeking buyers for a minimum 30.1% of Alitalia. The government, which currently owns 49.9%, intends to reduce its interest to 19.8% and has not ruled out selling its entire stake.
The five remaining bidders, who also include AP Holding, Texas Pacific and Matlin Patterson, must present non-binding offers and an Alitalia business plan to the government by the middle of April.
Report by Chitra Mogul
Chitra Mogul
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