Banks eye Alitalia stakes in Air One deal-source

(Reuters) - LONDON, July 11 - Banks including Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena , Morgan Stanley and Nomura could take stakes in Italian carrier Alitalia by joining rival Air One's bidding vehicle for the airline, a source familiar with the matter said Wednesday.



While they are already lending to the consortium, they are also in talks to play a more active part in any successful deal by AP Holding, said the source.


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Italian Stocks Fall on Rate Concerns, Paced by Intesa Sanpaolo, Alitalia

(Bloomberg) -- Italian stocks fell for the first day
in six, led by Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Italy's second-biggest bank,
on concerns interest rates will keep rising.

Alitalia SpA declined after Il Sole reported that some of
the banks funding Air One's bid for the national carrier may
drop out of the group.


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Aeroflot Drops Alitalia Bid, Says It Was Denied `Critical' Information

(Bloomberg) -- OAO Aeroflot, eastern Europe's
largest airline, abandoned a bid for the Italian government's
stake in Alitalia SpA, saying it was denied ``critical
information'' about the company.

``Aeroflot and its advisers have not had access to critical
information with respect to the commercial and operational
aspects of Alitalia's business to confidently formulate a well
supported business proposal to successfully restructure
Alitalia,'' the Moscow-based company said in a statement today.


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UPDATE 1-Italy allows U.S. fund into bidding for Alitalia

(Reuters) - ROME, June 19 - Italy has allowed U.S. private equity firm MatlinPatterson to re-enter the auction for airline Alitalia after fears arose that one of the two final bidders may quit.



The firm was earlier in a consortium with fellow U.S. private equity firm TPG [TPG.UL], which pulled out of the auction last month citing difficulties with the conditions imposed.


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