Francesca Landini & Giuseppe Fonte

ROME (Reuters). – Two sources familiar with the matter claimed that the Italian government was notified by the Benetton family (NYSE:), and the U.S. investment fund Blackstone (NYSE 🙂 about Atlantia’s takeover offer to Rome in order for the launch of Atlantia.

Rome can protect strategic assets such as digital infrastructure and airports with its “golden powers”, which are anti-takeover.

One source told Reuters that the bid valued Atlantia at 58.4 billion Euros ($60.4 Billion) plus debt. It was submitted last week to the government.

Sources said that the announcement was made just as two potential suitors had filed their bid prospectus at Consob (Italian market watchdog), Bank of Italy, and Bank of Spain in order to receive clearance to list the offer on Milan’s stock exchange.

Last week, three sources indicated to Reuters that bidders might launch formal offers by the end of the second quarter or early September.

According to a source, there is no reason for approval delays due to a change of name of investment vehicle after protests in support of victims of 2018 Genoa bridge collapse.

It was last week that Italy’s Infrastructure Minister said it was too early to predict whether the government will exercise its special veto power on the transaction. He also stated that the government wants to view the entire plan before making a decision.

Atlantia has the gold powers to its Aeroporti di Roma group, which runs Italy’s busiest airport Rome Fiumicino. Telepass is a digital toll-payment unit that handles traffic data and accounts for clients.

It can count on backing from the Edizione holding company, which is 33% owner of Atlantia, as well as the CRT Italian bank foundation, which has 4.5% stake in the infrastructure group.

Atlantia said Thursday it had selected BNP Paribas. (OTC:). Morgan Stanley (NYSE:) To advise the company on the bidding.

($1 = 0.9610 euros)