(ANSA) - ROME, JANUARY 24 - The MSC Group today expressed its interest to the Italian Government in acquiring a majority stake in Ita Airways. We read it in a note. The MSC group "aims to create a partnership with the Italian government and the Lufthansa company as an industrial partner of the project. Lufthansa has already expressed its interest in taking part in the initiative".
MSC and Lufthansa, "following today's expression of interest, require an exclusivity period of 90 working days and subject to regulatory approvals and due diligence".
Ita Airways confirmed today that it received the expression of interest from the MSC Group and Lufthans to acquire the majority of Ita Airways. The MSC Group has agreed with Lufthansa its participation in the partnership on terms to be defined during the due diligence. Both the MSC group and Lufthansa have expressed the desire that the Italian government retain a minority stake within the company.
The Ita board of directors will examine the details of the expression of interest itself at a forthcoming meeting. The airline says "satisfied that the work done in recent months to offer the best prospects to the company is starting to have the expected results, that is, a company recognized as valid for partners of international caliber in both passenger transport and cargo".(HANDLE).