Benettons, Blackstone obtain Italy's green light on Atlantia takeover bid

MILAN – The Benetton family and U.S. fund Blackstone secured a green light from the Italian government for their takeover offer for infrastructure group Atlantia, their vehicle Schema Alfa said on Thursday.

“The Presidency of the Council of Ministers … has communicated to the Offeror its decision, adopted on June 22, 2022, to not exercise the special powers,” Schema Alfa, which launched the bid, said in a statement.

Rome has special “golden powers” it can use to block or set strict conditions on takeovers in strategic sectors, such as airports, defence, energy and banking.