We are approaching, with steps that are anything but shipped, towards the conclusion of the Alitalia case. The dossier, as revealed by Ansa which cites sources from the Ministry of Economic Development, will be closed on Monday 15 July, with no further postponements. In fact, the deadline for submitting binding offers expires next Monday for the former national airline.
“On the future of Alitalia – explains the agency – we are moving towards the newco with the absolute majority of Fs and Mef confirmed". Simply speaking, Alitalia will once again be under state control, with the Treasury and Ferrovie jointly holding at least 50% plus one share in the new newco.
We recall that a few days ago the Mise had announced that the consortium from which the binding offer to purchase Alitalia's assets is expected would be made up "about 35% by Ferrovie dello Stato, for a share between 10 and 15 % by the American Delta and approximately 15% by the MEF”.
The roadmap to find by 15 July who will cover the remaining 40% - equal to 300 million euros - is tight. Meetings are planned with all the players in the field, from Delta and Railways al Toto group, passing through the Colombian entrepreneur, German Efromovich, majority shareholder of Avianca. However, the latter's intervention could make Delta turn up their noses, given that Avianca is part of Star Alliance, a direct competitor of the Sky Team alliance, to which the US company belongs.
E Claudio Lotito? The patron of Lazio last June 12 has formalized and filed an expression of interest to acquire shares in Alitalia, applying to join the newco together with FS and Delta Airlines, a move that had left the markets and ministries stunned. However, the Minister of Economic Development, Luigi Di Maio, speaking with the unions, asked that Lotito "present guarantees of financial solidity".
It should be underlined that, precisely because of the numerous doubts existing on the future of Alitalia, the trade unions have called a 4-hour strike for air transport on 26 July and a 24-hour strike for the group's pilots and flight attendants.
