MILAN, (Reuters) – Shares of Italy’s Atlantia rose over 3% after a report by Edizione & Blackstone that they could make a bid to buy the Italian road- and airport operator for around 24 Euros per share. This comes just a few days before Easter.

Edizione is the family holding company of Benetton, which holds 33% in Atlantia. Blackstone also declined to comment. Il Messaggero cited direct banking sources as a source for the report.

If the price were 24 Euros, it would put the entire group at 20 billion euros (or $21.7 billion). Atlantia shares trade at 21 Euros in Milan Friday.

Edizione stated that discussions are ongoing with Blackstone Group, NYSE:), for a deal to increase their control over Atlantia. However, she added that they had not reached an agreement.

Following a leak last week about an offer to buy Atlantia from Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), and Brookfield which specialize in infrastructure investment, it was revealed that Edizione may be making an Atlantia move.

Florentino Peruez’s ACS reached an agreement among the funds and Atlantia to enable the Spanish construction firm to take over a majority of Atlantia’s concessions for toll roads, if there were any offers.

Brookfield and GIP have been informed by the Benetton families that they are not interested in Atlantia’s takeover of funds. Atlantia has airports in Rome, southern France, and motorways throughout Europe and Latin America.

Il Messaggero reports that Edizione and Blackstone originally planned to make a 22 euro per share offer. However, they might increase it to 24 Euros per share after this week’s stock price jump of 8.6% on the possibility of a takeover.

A rival bid would need to be submitted from funds at approximately 26 euro per share for any chance to succeed, according to the report.

Deals involving Atlantia will require approval from the Italian government. This country has the right to veto any “golden power” that would affect strategic assets like the airports.

Analysts from Intesa Sanpaolo (OTC) stated in a research paper that a hostile bid would not be successful, but they expect the stock’s speculative appeal will sustain it in the short-term.

GIP and Brookfield work with Rothschild, another bank. Edizione and Blackstone enlist the assistance of Mediobanca OTC:, Goldman Sachs (NYSE :), JP Morgan and Bank of America NYSE :. Two separate sources informed Reuters Thursday. ($1 = 0.9211 euros)