Italian highways firm and airport holding company Atlantia has been chosen as the final partner in a four-way rescue consortium tasked with reviving the country’s flag carrier Alitalia.
Atlantia will hold a 40% stake under the new arrangements, Italian state rail company Ferrovie dello Stato 35%, the Italian economic ministry 15%, and US carrier Delta the remaining 10%.
It follows a lengthy tender process led by Ferrovie, which has been placed in charge of turning Alitalia’s fortunes around. Ferrovie confirmed it received four offers for the 40% stake.
Earlier this month, it was reported former Avianca chairman German Efromovich was among several parties interested in taking a stake in Alitalia, alongside construction company Toto Holding and owner of Lazio football club Claudio Lotito.
Atlantia operates Italy’s motorway network, as well as Rome’s Fiumicino and Ciampino airports and others in France. One of its subsidiaries Autostrade per l’Italia was in charge of the upkeep of Genoa’s Morandi bridge, which collapsed last year killing 43 people.
EasyJet was initially among potential consortium partners, but confirmed in March it had ended its interest in Alitalia.