Ardian and Finint Infrastrutture are acquiring Italian airport owner Milione SpA from DWS Infrastructure and InfraVia Capital Partners, with Sviluppo 87 remaining as an investor.
Ardian, Finint Infrastrutture have teamed up with existing investor Sviluppo 87, controlled by Finanziaria Internazionale, to acquire Milione, the parent company of airport operator Save SpA, for an undisclosed sum.
Save SpA is the operator behind a portfolio of Italian airports, most notably Venice Marco Polo Airport. The group’s holdings also include the airports of Verona, Treviso and Brescia, as well as a stake in Charleroi Airport in Belgium.
Mathias Burghardt, EVP, CEO of Ardian France and head of infrastructure, Ardian, said: “This transaction reflects our strong confidence in Save’s future and in the strategic role of the airports managed by the group, which serve both as a gateway and a showcase for the cities that are symbols of European culture and economy. It also reaffirms Ardian’s strong interest in both the Italian market and the sector.”
Rosario Mazza, senior MD and head of infrastructure Italy, Ardian, said: “We are particularly proud to have been part of a transaction of strategic importance for the Italian airport sector.
“Our goal, together with our partner Finint Infrastrutture, is to further strengthen and enhance Save’s position as a leading airport operator in Italy, with Venice Airport serving as a key driver for the tourism’s growth and for the local and national economy and in Belgium with the strategic shareholding in Charleroi.”
Fabrizio Pagani, president, Finint Infrastructure, said: “Finint Infrastrutture SGR emerges as a new player in Italy and Europe’s infrastructure investment landscape, starting with the airport sector and beyond. This transaction is the first significant step in a broader growth path, looking ahead with ambition and a clear industrial vision.”
Enrico Marchi, founder of Finanziaria Internazionale and president of Save Group, said: “This transaction represents, for us, the next step of an infrastructure journey that we initiated with a clear vision 25 years ago, leading to the successful creation of the North-East Airport System as well as our participation in Charleroi Airport.
“Partnering with a leading international player such as Ardian allows us to share new growth ambitions, while reinforcing our commitment to the regions where we operate and to the social and economic communities we serve.”
Monica Scarpa, CEO, Gruppo Save, said: “I am very pleased with this transaction, which, in continuity with what we have achieved so far, positions the group for growth process both in Italy and abroad, while reaffirming our strong commitment to environmental, economic and social sustainability in the regions where we operate.”
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