Spain: ACS mulling move to snatch Abertis sale from rival

Spanish construction group ACS has informed the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) that it is considering the possibility of snatching the purchase of highway-builder Abertis from its rival, Atlantia, considering a counter-offer of €16.5 (US$19.2) per share.

The Public Offer for Atlantia for 100% control of Abertis has placed the Spanish motorway group in the cross-sights of major national and international infrastructure groups. ACS has been working for a number of weeks in a Abertis purchase operation, for which it needs the necessary funds to out-bid Atlantia’s offer, which values ​​Abertis at €16.3 billion.

The government’s spokesman, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, has pointed out that the government is “aware” of this possibility, since Hispasat (in which Abertis has a stake) is a strategic asset for Spain. “We are facing management by private companies, they are the ones who have to make a decision, and this is a study announcement, we have to see what decision is finally made,” he said.

The acquisition of Abertis by ACS would give rise to a new global infrastructure construction giant with a combined turnover of €36.9 billion (US $ 42.9 billion), although it will also have to carry the burden of a debt of more than €16 billion (US $ 18.6billion ).

Full Content: El Economista

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