The German company Lufthansa and the Italian shipping group MSC proposed on Monday to acquire the majority of ITA Airways, born from the ashes of Alitalia, the Italian company announced in a press release.
The company “has today received an expression of interest from the MSC group and Lufthansa to acquire the majority of ITA Airways”, she said, adding that they had requested that “the Italian government retain a minority stake in the company.
MSC and Lufthansa have also requested “a period of 90 days of exclusivity” for their negotiations with the Italian company, 100% owned by the Italian state.
ITA Airways said it was “satisfied that the work done in recent months to give better prospects to the company is beginning to have the expected results, namely a company recognized as being up to par for international level partners both for the transport of passengers than goods”.
“The Board of Directors will review the details of the expression of interest at a future meeting,” the statement said.
MSC confirmed ITA Airways’ announcement by stating in a press release that “it had expressed to the Italian government its interest in acquiring a majority stake” in the Italian company.
Alitalia was placed under public administration in 2017, but Italy then struggled to find an investor to take it over.
The situation has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic which has grounded airlines around the world.
Lufthansa had long been touted as a potential partner, but a failed rescue attempt in early 2020.