Alitalia’s board recently released a shortlist of six potential buyers for the carrier following consultation with Citigroup and industrial adviser Roland Berger.
The list comprises Aeroflot, Air France KLM, AP Holding (Air One), Cordata Baldassarre, Lufthansa and TPG (formerly Texas Pacific Group). The Italian government wants to sell most of its 49.9 per cent stake in Alitalia and asked Chairman Maurizio Prato, who was appointed in July, to identify potential buyers after its own sell-off efforts failed.
“The board has resolved to carry out discussions to assess the interest” of the six identified parties, the carrier said, adding that it intends “to complete such discussions in the shortest possible time frame.”
Air France KLM is said to be interested in acquiring an initial 15-20 per cent stake in the loss-making airline through a share swap and would consider a full integration only if Alitalia’s earnings improve over the next 2-3 years.