Italian Government Denies Support for Possible Bid on Autostrade per l’Italia

The Italian government has refuted a recent Bloomberg report suggesting its awareness and potential support for a bid on motorway operator Autostrade per l’Italia (ASPI). Sources from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office labeled the report as “completely groundless.” The Bloomberg article had cited anonymous sources claiming that Italian construction magnate Matterino Dogliani was considering a bid for a controlling stake in ASPI.

According to the report, Dogliani’s family company, Fininc, was exploring the possibility of partnering with an international investment firm to make a friendly offer of approximately eight billion euros ($8.40 billion). This bid would value ASPI at around 20 billion euros, including debt. Bloomberg also mentioned that the Italian government “might” support the bid, if it were to materialize.

However, the Italian government has firmly denied any knowledge or support for such a bid. ASPI, which manages approximately 3,000 kilometers of motorways in Italy, was acquired last year by a consortium led by Italy’s state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), along with international funds Macquarie and Blackstone, in a deal worth 9.3 billion euros.

The sale of ASPI came after the Benetton family’s Atlantia company faced severe criticism from the government following the 2018 collapse of a bridge in Genoa, resulting in the tragic deaths of 43 people. The government’s response led to the sale of the asset.

Both CDP and Macquarie declined to comment on the Bloomberg report. The Italian government’s denial indicates that the report’s claims are unfounded. As of now, there is no concrete evidence to suggest any imminent changes in ASPI’s ownership.

Please note that this article is based on information provided by Reuters and does not reflect any confirmed developments regarding ASPI’s ownership.