Meridiana is buying a 29.9% stake in Italian leisure carrier Eurofly. Olbia-based Meridiana, which is majority controlled by Prince Karim al-Hussayni, the Aga Khan, is acquiring the shares from Spinneker Luxembourg. Milan-based Eurofly was established with a 45% shareholding by Alitalia in response to the flag carrier’s desire to develop the leisure travel market and launched operations in 1990. AZ acquired full control in 2000 and sold its stake to Spinneker in 2003. Eurofly was listed on the Milan Stock Exchange in December 2005, with Spinneker keeping a 44% stake. The carrier operates one A319, eight A320-200s and three A330-200s and emerged as launch customer for the A350-800 late last year (ATWOnline, Oct. 14, 2005), when it also ordered an additional two A330-200s.
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Italy’s Meridiana airline buys 29.9 pct stake in Eurofly rival – report
MILAN (AFX) – Italy’s Meridiana airline, owned by the Aga Khan, said it is buying a 29.9 pct stake in the quoted charter airline Eurofly SpA (Milan: EEZ.MI – news) from Eurofly’s 44 pct shareholder Spinnaker.
The sale is subject to approval by Italy’s antitrust authority and cancellation of the lock-up on Spinnaker selling shares, it said.
Spinnaker is owned by Banca Profilo (Milan: PRO.MI – news) and the Camuzzi family, it said.
Meridiana will have an option on Spinnaker’s remaining 14.2 pct stake in Eurofly, it said.
There have been reports that some politicians favour all the Italian airlines, including Alitalia SpA, merging to create one strong player.
http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/061222/323/gut0x.html
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