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Italy puts ITA-Lufthansa deal on hold due to rate disagreement, says source

Italy's Treasury has put on hold the sale of a minority stake in ITA Airways to Lufthansa amidst distinctions with the German carrier over the agreed price, a source said on Tuesday.

The Treasury will not undersell ITA, the source, who is knowledgeable about the matter, stated.

Lufthansa won EU antitrust approval in July to buy 41% of state-owned ITA, the successor airline company to bankrupt Alitalia, for 325 million euros ($ 354.02 million), in a deal developed to increase its existence in the lucrative southern European market.

According to Italian day-to-day Corriere della Sera, which was the very first to report on the price disagreement, the Italian economy ministry and Lufthansa are arguing over a difference of 10 million euros.

A representative for Lufthansa stated the business would adhere to the regards to the contract for its financial investment in ITA, including that the airline company had signed the solutions use that was due to be sent to the European Commission on Monday.

The deal - needed to protect EU antitrust approval for the deal - consisted of ceding flight slots to rivals.

It was not sent to Brussels as foreseen due to the argument over price, the source stated.

(source: Reuters)