© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The brand of infrastructure group Atlantia in Rome, Italy October 5, 2020. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane/File Photograph
By Francesca Landini and Valentina Za
MILAN (Reuters) -Italy’s Benetton household and U.S. funding fund Blackstone (NYSE:) have tabled a suggestion to purchase out buyers in Atlantia and take the airport and motorway operator personal, valuing it at 58 billion euros ($63 billion) together with debt.
The bid comes as Atlantia prepares to pocket 8 billion euros from the sale of its Italian motorway unit and draw a line underneath a political dispute sparked by the 2018 lethal collapse of a motorway bridge run by the group.
In a press release, the 2 companions stated they’d provide 23 euros a share, which represents a premium of 36.3% over Atlantia’s share value over the previous six months.
The shares closed up 0.8% at 21.89 euros every on Wednesday, having gained roughly a fifth over the previous 10 days.
The delisting would open a brand new chapter for Atlantia after the danger of being stripped of its motorway concession put its enterprise in danger over the previous 4 years, whereas the demise of 43 folks within the bridge catastrophe wrecked its repute.
The bidders stated they’d spend as much as 12.7 billion euros in money within the buyout provide, which targets 66.7% of Atlantia’s share capital.
Atlantia had debt of 38.6 billion euros on the finish of 2021, a determine which is able to fall when it completes the motorway unit sale.
Shareholders who tender their shares will nonetheless obtain a proposed dividend of 0.74 euros a share.
The Benettons and Blackstone stated they’d “absolutely help Atlantia’s long-term funding technique, present marketing strategy and sustainable development”, including they’d assist the group seize funding alternatives within the infrastructure and mobility sectors.
The Benettons, who personal 33% of Atlantia, final week stated they had been in talks with Blackstone after they rejected an method by funding funds International Infrastructure Companions and Brookfield to accumulate Atlantia and hand its motorway concessions to Spain’s Florentino Perez.
The Benettons’ holding firm Edizione, which has been led by scion Alessandro Benetton since January, could have 65% of the funding car launching the provide on Atlantia, with the U.S. agency holding the remainder.
Italian banking basis CRT, a long-time investor in Atlantia, has already agreed to tender its 4.5% stake underneath the provide, the bidders stated.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE:), Mediobanca (OTC:), Financial institution of America (NYSE:), JPMorgan (NYSE:), UBS, UniCredit are appearing as monetary advisers for the Benettons and Blackstone. Gatti Pavesi Bianchi Ludovici, Legance, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP are authorized advisers.
($1 = 0.9164 euros)
