Sacal takes off and implements a 270 million euro investment plan

LAMEZIA TERME The project for the development and relaunch of Calabria’s ports inevitably passes throughincrease in the commercial offering and strengthening of managementbut also from the implementation managing the commercial development plan extra aviation of the airports and from new positioning of Sacal as a regional reference for hospitality and tourism. And again, in record time compared to what was announced by the President of the Region Roberto Occhiuto (here the preview of the Courier of Calabria), Sacal has published an expression of interest intended to open up relevant scenarios for the future of the Lamezia airport: the activation of the Selection procedure for the sub-concession of spaces at Lamezia Terme airport.
A real revolution that translates into a multi-year plan of investments and organizational changes. The new vision of the company that manages the Calabrian airports materializes during the last meeting held on May 27, 2024, at the airport of Lamezia Terme. On this occasion, the vice-attorney of the State assumes the presidency of the meeting Ettore Figlioliathe notary from Cosenza Pierfrancesco Iorio draws up the minutes while all the shareholders holding the total 40,172 shares respond to the call: Fincalabra Spa, the Municipality of Lamezia Terme and that of Catanzaro, the Chambers of Commerce of Catanzaro, Vibo and Crotone and that of Cosenza, the province of Catanzaro, the Corap, Fgh Srl and the Calabria Region in video conference.

The industrial plan and the new commercial director

First item on the agenda, the approval of industrial plan of the Sacal group 2024-2028 and the proposal for the appointment of the commercial director. In relation to the first point (approved) the infrastructure investments are part of the approved Master Plans and foresee a cost of 270 million euros, 183 financed and a quota of 75 million, to be used for the capital increase. In the case of the new commercial director, as anticipated by Courier of Calabriathe winning candidate, first in the ranking, was found Mauro Bolla.

The Extraordinary Part, the new course with the three or five member Board of Directors

The commitment of the Sacal members does not end with the mere approval of the agenda items mentioned above, but continues with the discussion of an item of what is defined in the minutes as “Extraordinary Part“. AND’ Ettore Figliolia to propose to partially reformulate article 18 of the company statute and refers to a note sent to the members which provides for the “appointment of a member of the Board of Directors who will be designated in rotation by the other public members”. Figliolia himself asks the Calabria Region to register «the shareholders’ hope that the administrative form will change from a single director to a five-member board of directors. The sole director Marco Franchini takes note of this (is an exit looming for him?) and the assembly decides on the modification of article 18. According to which, the Company may be managed by a Board of Directors made up of three or five members.
In the first case, two members will be appointed, one by the Municipality of Lamezia Terme and one by the Calabria Region, in the case of a five-member Board of Directors: one appointment will be made by the Municipality of Lamezia Terme, one by the Calabria Region, one member will be designated in rotation by the other public shareholders, the remaining two appointed with the favorable vote of as many shareholders representing at least 60% of the shares. Obviously, the assembly will be responsible for electing a president and the administrative body will remain in office for three financial years.

The Extraordinary Part, the increase in share capital

The proposal (as per article 5 of the Sacal statute) to increase the share capital for a maximum amount of over 75 million euros is “considered the financial driver of the five-year strategic plan”. «In the last 10 years there has been no development strategy and the capital increase represents a strategy in this sense – we read in the minutes – and the newly issued shares will be offered to all shareholders, in proportion to the number of shares owned” with a deadline of 2 August 2024 and in between the dates of 28 June 2024 and 19 July 2024.
At the meeting, 86% of those present voted in favor while the abstention was noted Chamber of Commerce of Cosenza. In fact, during the discussion, representing the Bruzio Chamber of Commerce, the lawyer Giuseppe Politano asks for time to express a vote on the increase, while the sole director Marco Franchini responds by asserting that it is a mere resolution. Once the members’ interventions have been completed, the majority approves the increase in share capital aimed at financing the infrastructure investments envisaged in the industrial plan.

“Discontent” and the strike

But there is discontent around the work of the duo Marco Franchini and Andrea Falvo, head of the legal area. The latter evaluated and then chosen by the examining commission which expressed itself as follows: «demonstrates sufficient technical knowledge of administrative legislation, albeit with a generic presentation, while demonstrating deficiencies regarding some fundamental aspects of publicly held companies and uncertainties regarding the procurement and serious gaps regarding civil procedural law».
And again on the subject of widespread discontent, last February the Uiltrasporti – in a letter signed by the national secretary Viglietti and sent to Assaeroporti, Sacal Spa and Sacal Gh – had reported «the anomalous company regulation unilaterally produced and applied by Sacal» asking for «immediate intervention in order to restore compliance with the Ccnl and the laws that are clearly violated therein». Not only that. In recent days, the union Sata Orsa Transport has proclaimed a second protest which will involve all Calabrian airports, with an associated 24-hour strike scheduled for July 5th.
About that, Luciano Amodeo national secretary Orsa (Organization of autonomous and basic trade unions) Sata (autonomous air transport union), declares al Courier of Calabria: «We invite society to respect the rules and laws, respect that was lacking in the second level bargaining phase and in the phase of issuing the company regulation which bypasses with absurd certainty both the contractual rules and the legal provisions”, says Amodeo. Who then focuses on the work of Marco Franchini. «Doctor Franchini, as soon as he arrived in Sacal, publicly praised the workers, defining them as the company’s strong point. He probably forgot. Taking on the role of an iron sergeant is of little use if we consider the widespread and reported malaise in this union”, observes the secretary. Which he adds: «Franchini should definitely pay more attention to the company’s main resource, the workers who are not recognized for overtime. I understand that they are not paid». And Secretary Amodeo’s analysis does not spare criticism of the work of the legal area. «There are several disputes addressed to the labor inspectorate and won, Sacal appealed and lost it and, not happy, took the workers to court on rights already established and recognized by the labor inspector, after years of inspections and the documentation provided. There are requests and disputes open in the courts almost everywhere.” As Amodeo underlines, “in the previous months they also lost a sentence in the first instance relating to the attack on workers’ property rights”. Has anything changed in recent years? «Yes, there have been dismissals, many disciplinary measures, various disputes
on seasonal workers. Orsa has been to the prefect of Catanzaro twice to report a series of things, and in the coming days we will carry out other initiatives at the labor inspectorate”. ([email protected])