Company confirms total provisions of €3.4bn to cover compensation previously agreed with Government on 14 July 2020
Rome, 15 October 2021 – Following on from the press release of 12 June 2021, concerning conclusion of the agreement for Atlantia’s sale of its entire stake in Autostrade per l’Italia SpA (“ASPI”) to the Consortium consisting of CDP Equity SpA, The Blackstone Group International Partners LLP and Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 6 SCSp (respectively, the “Transaction” and the “Agreement”), and the release of 6 August 2021, announcing clearance for the Transaction from the Cabinet Office (under the so-called Golden Power provision), Atlantia announces that it has been informed by Autostrade per l’Italia that the Settlement Agreement between the motorway operator and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility (the “MIMS”) has been signed. The signature, bringing to an end the dispute arising from the Grantor’s earlier allegations of breaches of the concession arrangement, following the tragic collapse of the Morandi road bridge, marks an important step towards fulfilment of the condition precedent provided for in the Agreement.
Whilst the total amount of €3.4bn to cover compensation, made available by ASPI, has been confirmed, the Settlement Agreement takes into account the outcome of talks between the motorway operator, government authorities, Liguria Regional Authority, Genoa City Council and the city’s Port Authority, earmarking more than €1.4bn for initiatives benefitting the local community in Liguria.
In particular, there are a series of specific measures benefitting the Liguria region, including:
- Construction of a tunnel under the Port of Genoa and the road network in the Val Fontanabuona.
- Delivery of mobility, logistics and digital projects in the Genoa area.
- Initiatives benefitting the Port of Genoa.
- Compensation payable to residents of the properties located beneath the Bisagno road bridge.
The Settlement Agreement will satisfy all claims for compensation from the Operator put forward by the Grantor - as it will any claims made by the above authorities in Liguria, once it has received final approval from the respective decision-making bodies - allocating specific funds for the Liguria region in line with the needs expressed by the local authorities.
The agreements were submitted to the Consortium acquiring the stake in ASPI for its prior approval.
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Finally, Atlantia announces that it has been informed by the Consortium acquiring the stake in ASPI that the condition precedent requiring confirmation, from the CONSOB, that the transaction does not oblige ASPI to launch a public tender off for Autostrade Meridionali has been fulfilled.
The final deadline for fulfilment of the conditions precedent (the “Long Stop Date”) is 31 March 2022.