(Bloomberg) -- Italy’s state rail operator is open to foreign investors including private equity firms as Chief Executive Officer Stefano Donnarumma seeks capital for subsidiaries to fuel his growth and modernization plans.
Ferrovie dello Stato SpA is looking for investors “in a range of sectors, from energy, to our new international unit,” the CEO said in an interview at the firm’s Rome headquarters. He also detailed his strategy for telecommunications activities and relations with service providers.
Donnarumma took the top job in June and presented a strategic plan earlier this month that includes a new entity for the group’s high-speed rail network, which will be open to investors including Italian infrastructure funds.
But Ferrovie also runs an array of services other than railroads, and Donnarumma wants to rationalize those operations and open them to investors beyond Italian funds. That’s a new approach for a company 100% owned by Italy’s Finance Ministry, and it could create labor tensions if the investors include private equity groups, who are known for slashing costs.
The company now plans to create a renewable energy subsidiary, “likely in the first weeks of January,” Donnarumma said.
That unit will help produce power for the rail company, and Ferrovie is “looking for industrial partners and/or private financing of about €1 billion ($1.04 billion) in investments” in the next four to five years, he said.
Telecoms Plan
Ferrovie is also planning a telecoms subsidiary for services like onboard wifi, the CEO said, citing the need for infrastructure including antennas and fiber. The firm is looking to bring in partners for an estimated investment of €100 million to €200 million.
Another area where Ferrovie will seek financial backing is its new international unit, which will pool subsidiaries from countries including Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK and France, the CEO said. “Possible partners may include private equity funds, which could also invest in individual foreign units,” he said.
Finally, Ferrovie is looking to improve vertical integration, which could entail buying or taking minority stakes in suppliers and service providers, he said. Possible investment partners here could also include private equity players.
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