Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013
Abu Dhabi's airline Etihad Airways is considering acquiring some of Alitalia SpA's minority shares as part of a deal with Air France-KLM (AF.FR) which already owns 25% of the Italian carrier, French business newspaper Les Echos reports Tuesday, citing unspecified sources.
Air France-KLM is currently battling to restore its profitability in the face of tough economic headwinds and intensifying competition from low-cost airlines.
As soon as the Franco-Dutch airline's financial situation has improved, around 2014 or 2015, it would buy Etihad's shares in Alitalia in a cash or share swap transaction, Les Echos says.
No one at Etihad or Air France was immediately available to comment.
Alitalia's shareholder pact ends on Jan. 12.
Etihad is a commercial partner of Air France-KLM and has stakes in Air Berlin PLC (AB1.XE) and Aer Lingus Group PLC (EIL1.DB).
Monday, Air France KLM denied a report that it was in talks to buy out Italian investors in Alitalia.
"Air France-KLM confirms that there is no negotiation on the purchase of all or part of the shares held by Italian investors," an Air France-KLM spokeswoman said in an emailed statement.
Italian newspaper Il Messaggero Sunday reported that the French airline was working on a plan to buy Alitalia from local investors by the summer, without citing sources.
Newspaper Web site: http://www.lesechos.fr
Write to Geraldine Amiel at geraldine.amiel@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
08-01-13 0820GMT
