Aponte’s group had presented an expression of interest for the Colombo in the tender with 777 Partners, Costa Crociere, Spinelli-Hapag Lloyd and Levorato Marcevaggi. The Municipality will probably ask for a share of the ADSP
Genoa – Surprise move for the shareholding structure of Genoa Airport: MSC will acquire the 15% share held by Aeroporti di Roma. The giant led by Gianluigi Aponte he was one of the five (the others were Costa Crociere, 777 Partners, Spinelli-Hapag Lloyd and Levorato Marcevaggi) to have expressed interest in starting strategic partnerships with Cristoforo Colombo by joining the Cristoforo Colombo team (60% Port System Authority of the Western Ligurian Sea, 25% Chamber of Commerce and, to date, 15% Adr). Now MSC is shuffling the tables and presenting a binding purchase offer.
The news arrives two days before the shareholders’ meeting of Aeroporto di Genova spa, called to approve a recapitalization of 4.8 million against a budget deficit of 3.5 million euros.
In reality, there was already a suitor for that 15%: the Municipality of Genoa had come forward to acquire it and the board of directors of Aeroporti di Roma had voted in favor of the sale. But several steps were still missing to close and the agreement that emerged between MSC and Adr took place with the “blessing” of the Municipality and that of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
“The operation – explains Adr – takes place in full synergy and coordination with the Municipality of Genoa which, in addition to being fully in agreement with the proposal to purchase the ADR shares by MSC, has actively promoted the operation, guaranteeing its constant presence and confirming, at the same time , the firm intention to decisively continue along the path of entry into the shareholder structure of the airport, which constitutes a strategic asset for the civic administration“.
A statement that would indicate Mayor Marco Bucci’s intention to take over part of the 60% share held by the Genoese ADSP.
The Genoa Airport company chaired by Alfonso Lavarello with a note it highlights that “the operation has aroused the appreciation of the Municipality and the MIT and confirms the great interest that the airport development project arouses”. Lavarello and the general director Francesco D’Amico explain: “The entry into the corporate structure of an operator at MSC level lays the foundations for synergies that can give a further boost to this development, regardless of the public partners’ program of research for an industrial partner through a competitive tender procedure. public evidence and the further opportunities that may arise from it”.
For the possible entry of other members or a possible growth of MSC at this point the most accredited hypothesis is that the Port System Authority may be the one to cede a piece of its share, but in this case the times will be much more long, we can probably talk about it next year.
In the meantime, the infrastructure works on Colombo continue: the expansion of the passenger terminal which will lead to a 40% increase in surface area with new and more modern services is nearing completion, the renovation of the older buildings of the airport which date back to 1985 will follow, already fully financed and “at the end of 2025 the train-airport intermodal system will be completed with the construction of the moving walkway and the new Airport railway station, in collaboration with the Municipality of Genoa and RFI”.
Meanwhile, on the operational front, the first signs of recovery are linked to the acquisition of new flights such as Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Munich and the reinstatement of connections with Olbia. And increases in weekly frequencies are expected for next autumn at the main airports on the north-south route. While Costa Crociere has announced the first direct flight to Genoa from the German market and MSC is expected to launch similar initiatives shortly.
“The study commissioned by the company to Pwc – finally recalls a note from Genoa Airport – indicates important profit prospects over the duration of the current concession, which will allow the shareholders, first of all, to recover the resources to be allocated to the capital increase (of approximately 5 million euros) necessary to satisfy the capitalization requirement established by law for airport companies”. And this is the game that will be played in the members’ meeting scheduled for Friday.
