For the privatization of Italy Airways a three-way competition opens. The deadlines for submitting expressions of interest have expired and the Treasury has not received any other applications for the acquisition of the airline. The three original participants therefore remain in the field: MSc-Lufthansa and US funds Indigo Partners (which invests in various low cost companies, including Wizz Air) e Certares (which proposes the commercial partnership with Air France-Klm and Delta Air Lines). In the coming days these subjects will be able to access the data room.
According to Corriere della Sera, Palazzo Chigi expects to receive a first binding offer between the end of April and the beginning of May. The goal is to sign a preliminary agreement between the 13 and the 17 June, then conclude the deal by December.
For the moment, he seems to be in pole position the draft offer put on the table by MSC and Lufthansa, which moreover is the only one to assign a value to Ita Airways (1,2-1,4 billion euros, also taking into account the 720 million already allocated by the government).
The public company will receive another 400 million from the state by April (the second tranche authorized by the European Commission). It is probable – ministerial sources explain al Courier – that the signing of the preliminary agreement in June provides for the payment of an advance of 400 million. MSC and Lufthansa, leaks from the Treasury, have already prepared a first draft of the 2023-2028 business plan with effective operational start-up on March 26, 2023.
