Alitalia, established in 1947, has been fighting a losing battle against low-cost competition and rising fuel prices. The company posted a 3.2-billion-euro loss in 1996-2006, including 380 million euros in 2006. Last fall, the Italian government decided to privatize the airline.
Earlier, a consortium of Russian flagship air carrier Aeroflot and Italy's UniCredit Bank, and also AP Holding in conjunction with Intesa Sanpaolo (controlled by Italy's AirOne owner Carlo Toto) stated they would participate in the tender for the controlling interest in Alitalia.
An international group comprising U.S. asset management group MatlinPatterson, U.S. private-equity Texas Pacific Group Europe, and Italian bank Mediobanca pulled out of the tender in late May.
According to the ministry, MatlinPatterson Global Advisers LLC has confirmed its interest in the tender for the acquisition of Alitalia.
Meanwhile, Aeroflot denied June 18 reports by the Italian press that it had pulled out of the tender, saying the matter would be addressed at an upcoming meeting of the company's board of directors.
