The Abertis group, the motorway operator on which Atlantia has launched a takeover bid, announced a 17% jump in core profit in the first half of 2017, with a gross operating margin of 1,76 billion. The group is at the center of the battle between Atlantia and the Spanish Acs, both interested in the acquisition.
Revenue rose to €2,7 billion, up 20% on the same period last year.
Atlantia presented a takeover bid for Abertis worth more than 16,3 billion euros, which would create the largest motorway operator in the world, with more than 13.000 kilometers in France, Spain, Italy and Latin America.
Criteria, the main reference shareholder of Abertis, with a stake of 22,3%, has yet to say whether or not it accepts the offer, seen with some perplexity by the Spanish authorities.
Meanwhile Acs, a company active in the construction of large infrastructures, has announced that it is studying a counter-offer for Abertis, although sources close to the situation have warned that any move is not imminent.
