SA.48171 | Complaints against alleged State aid to Alitalia

Author (Corporate)
Publication Date 23/04/2018
Content Type

Further information:

The European Commission announced on 23 April 2018 the opening of an in-depth investigation to assess whether Italy's bridge loan to Alitalia totalling €900 million constitutes State aid and whether it complies with EU rules for aid to companies in difficulty.

Background information:

Alitalia is an Italian airline owned by the consortium Compagnia Aerea Italiana - CAI (51% shares) and Etihad Airways (49%). Alitalia has been in financial difficulty for a number of years. On 24 April 2017 Alitalia's staff rejected a cost-cutting plan, which meant that the shareholders decided not to provide additional financing to Alitalia. As a result, Alitalia was placed under extraordinary administration under Italian bankruptcy law on 2 May 2017.

+ Alitalia faces bankrupcy, 2017

In order to ensure financing of Alitalia during the period of extraordinary administration, the Italian State granted a €600 million bridge loan to Alitalia in May 2017. In October 2017, this loan was increased by an additional €300 million. The extraordinary administrators also started a tender procedure aimed at finding a buyer for Alitalia's assets.

In January 2018, Italy notified the total €900 million State loan granted to Alitalia as rescue aid within the meaning of EU State aid rules, namely the Commission's Rescue and Restructuring Aid Guidelines. This followed a number of complaints received by the Commission in 2017, alleging that the loan constitutes State aid that it is not compatible with the applicable EU rules.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://ec.europa.eu/competition/elojade/isef/case_details.cfm?proc_code=3_SA_48171
Related Links
Deutsche Welle, 23.04.18: EU executive probes state loan for Alitalia http://p.dw.com/p/2wVEC
Reuters, 23.04.18: Alitalia loans may constitute illegal state aid: EU https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1HU15B
European Commission: Press Release, 23.04.18: Commission opens in-depth investigation into Italian State loan to Alitalia http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-3501_en.htm

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