(ANSA) - Rome, February 8 - Industry Minister Carlo Calenda
said Thursday he was "less optimistic" on closing a deal for a
new buyer for Alitalia before the March 4 general election.
"I'll make every effort to close before the elections, the
electoral schedule is indifferent to me, but it isn't for
investors who have pulled back a little to wait and see how the
elections turn out," he said.
On January 24 the Italian government sent the EU notification
on Alitalia's bridge loan.
Sources said January 11 that the European Commission is
eyeing a 600 million bridge loan the Italian government gave
Alitalia in April 2017, later boosted by 300 million more, after
complaints from major rivals that it broke market regulations
against State aid.
Brussels was reportedly in contact with Italian authorities
over the loan, the sources said.
The EC was awaiting notification from the Italian government
so it could start assessing the case, they said.
EasyJet CEO Johan Lundgren said that the British low-cost
carrier is interested in buying "some parts" of Alitalia.
Lundgren was quoted as saying that "negotiations are taking
place with the (Alitalia) commissioners".
On January 19 French sources told ANSA Alitalia and Air
France representatives had a "very cordial" first meeting over a
possible takeover of the troubled Italian airline.
In the meeting, sponsored by Italian Ambassador Giandomenico
Magliano, it was decided to give Air France access to Alitalia's
data room "so that it may have access to information it did not
previously have" on the Italian airline.
On the basis of the acquisition of new data, sources said,
technical teams from both sides will meet shortly to discuss
various aspects of the talks.
It was recently reported that Air France had decided to
vie with Lufthansa for Italy's ailing former national carrier -
but Air France denied the report.
Air-France-KLM was reportedly ready to put in a rival bid for
the troubled Italian airline, alongside EasyJet, sources said.
Air France, again, denied this report.
The US Cerberus investment fund is believed to be the third
contender to take over Alitalia.
Alitalia's government-appointed commissioners met
Cerberus representatives in New York last Friday.
Lufthansa said earlier last month it would only consider
taking over Alitalia if "major" restructuring including job and
route cuts were made.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr sent a letter to Calenda telling
him that the German airline would only be willing to acquire
Alitalia after major restructuring.
"While recognising the valuable measures that have been
undertaken to date... we strongly believe that there remains a
considerable amount of work to be achieved before Lufthansa
would be in the position to enter comprehensively into the next
phase of the process," Spohr said in the letter.
Under Lufthansa control the company would be smaller in terms
of both staff and fleet, it said.
Alitalia was put into extraordinary administration last year
after workers voted against a restructuring plan.
Calenda has said the government is considering three offers
for the former flag carrier.
Less optimistic on Alitalia closing (3)
Investors biding their time says industry minister