MILAN, Sept 30 (Reuters) – Italy has extended until October 31 the deadline for exclusive negotiations with a consortium led by U.S. private equity fund Certares over a controlling stake in ITA Airways, two sources said on Friday. close to the file.
The talks were originally scheduled to expire on September 30.
Certares, backed by Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines Inc, is ready to pay 350 million euros ($344 million) for a 50% stake plus a share of the state-controlled airline, it said. the sources.
The offer also contemplates a capital raise of around 600 million euros, which would be launched sometime after the deal closes, but the exact timing has not yet been determined, the sources added.
Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM plan to become business partners of ITA, Alitalia’s successor company, but have no plans to take a stake in the carrier at this stage, they said in August. .
The consortium led by Certares was chosen by the outgoing Italian government in the face of a competing offer from the maritime group MSC and the German Lufthansa.
But Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the Brothers of Italy party who is expected to be appointed prime minister after this month’s election victory, said it was important to retain a standard bearer. She also asked the outgoing administration to suspend the sale.
The new government is expected to take office in mid-October. ($1 = 1.0188 euros) (Report by Elisa Anzolin Editing by David Goodman)
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