The Board of Directors of Atlantia, the listed global operator of motorway and airport infrastructure, has accepted a binding offer by Allianz, EDF Invest and DIF to acquire a 5 percent stake in Autostrade per l’Italia, the largest Italian toll road network. The transaction is subject to signing of final contracts over the next days and fulfilment of the conditions precedent therein.

Autostrade per l'Italia is the largest toll motorway concession asset in Europe representing more than 50 percent of Italy's toll motorway network and 61 percent of kilometers travelled. Autostrade per l'Italia Group's network of around 3,000 km stretches across 16 Italian regions comprising 21 toll motorways, covering essential transport links mainly in the Northern part of Italy around the major economic urban areas as well as the two principal north-south routes, the A1 Milan-Naples and the A14 Bologna-Taranto.

The consortium is comprised of long-term infrastructure investors Allianz Capital Partners on behalf of the Allianz Group (74%), EDF Invest (20%) and DIF (6%) and it will also have a call option on a further 2.5% interest in Autostrade per l'Italia.

"By investing in a prime core infrastructure in the European toll road sector we will further diversify our infrastructure portfolio across sectors and regions", said Christian Fingerle, Chief Investment Officer, at Allianz Capital Partners. "We are very pleased to set up a new partnership amongst Allianz and Atlantia as leading international infrastructure operator and to work with them and other investors on the success of this company."

EDF Invest's Managing Director, Guillaume d'Engremont said: "ASPI stands out by the quality of its installations as well as its management. Besides, the network has potential for expansion through projects which are essential for the country. Our stake in ASPI will ideally complement our core infrastructure portfolio. We are very pleased to further strengthen our relationship with Atlantia, following our joint investment in Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur last year."

Wim Blaasse, Managing Partner of DIF, said: "DIF is very pleased to establish this long term relationship with Atlantia and to invest in this high quality and diversified operating toll road network, which is a very good complement to DIF's infrastructure portfolio."

The closing of the transaction is expected to occur by the end of July.

Allianz, EDF Invest and DIF to acquire 5% in Autostrade per l’Italia