The largest salt pans in Europe are in Puglia, but they are about to become French. The news was given by Il Sole 24 Ore: the salt marshes of Margherita di Savoia, a protected natural area established in 1977 and with a surface area of 4.500 hectares (on a strip of land 20 km long), in the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, were acquired by the French Salins du Midi. The transalpine one is one of the global giants in the sector, which has already been present in Italy for some time: in 1981 it acquired Compagnia italiana sali (Cis), based in the province of Rovigo.
Il Sole reports that the official entry of Salins, expected between September and October, will take place not through the direct purchase of shares but by taking over a debt (backed by shares) that Atisale, controlled by Salapia, has accrued towards Monte Paschi di Siena. The operation has a value of 5,4 million, following the tender launched by Mps, with which the bank assigned credits for 16,7 million disbursed to Salapia-Atisale (Atisale is the spa controlled by Salapia Sale, concessionary until to 2029). Guarantees and pledges on 2011% of Atisale shares and 100% of Salapia shares were issued to guarantee the receivables. By executing the guarantees, Salins acquires control of the two companies because the credits put on the market by Mps are linked to shares of the two companies.
The salt pans of Margherita di Savoia, in addition to being a small naturalistic jewel, are also a salt mine with intense productivity: the average annual production of salt is about 6 million quintals.
