Abertis has closed the acquisition from Intesa, Astaldi and the Tabacchi family of 51.4% of the Italian industrial group, A4 Holding.

Its main assets are the A4 and the A31 toll roads. The transaction was completed for a total of €594 million (US$669 million), to be paid in 2023.

The deal closing was pending the endorsement given by the Italian government to the investment in a road corridor connecting the Astico, Sugana and Adige valleys, as part of a strategic investment plan for the country that will be developed by A4 Holding.

A4 Holding currently manages 235 kilometres of toll roads in the region of Veneto, one of Italy's most prosperous areas, with one of the country's highest levels of GDP and per-capita income. It is a strategic geographical area, forming part of the corridor connecting Italy's industrial North to Europe's economic centre.

The 146-kilometre, 3-lane section of the A4 toll road, known as "La Serenissima" connects Brescia with Padua. It is the country's third busiest toll road, with an Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of around 91,000 vehicles.

The 89-kilometre A31 (named "Autostrada della Valdastico") has an ADT of more than 12,000 vehicles and connects Piovene Rocchette with Badia Polesine.

The concession contract for both toll roads expires on 31 December 2026. This acquisition will enable Abertis to keep a good balance between mature concessions and others with longer-terms.

Francisco Reynés, Vice Chairman-CEO of Abertis, stresses the importance of this deal for the group:

"Our presence in legally-stable countries committed to concessional and well-established pay-per-use systems allows us to efficiently develop our long-term investment plan".

Carlos del Río, who will be appointed today as Executive Chairman of A4 Holding, states:

“The Group is committed to develop these concessions and expects to grow in the country through similar deals in the future”.