The Italian State invited expressions of interest for the purchase of (i) a shareholding of not less than 39.9% and no more than 49.9% in Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A. ("Alitalia") and (ii) 1,207,147,404 convertible bonds issued under the debenture loan known as "Alitalia 7.5% 2002-2010".  Non-binding offers were to be submitted by 16 April 2007.

Mayer, Brown Rowe & Maw and Italian co-counsel Tonucci & Partners, with which it has an established independent alliance, worked with Roland Berger, strategy consultants, to advise Aeroflot and its consortium partner, UniCredit Banca Mobiliare S.p.A.

Brussels based partners Kiran Desai and Edward Borovikov, assisted by Nunzio Bambara, led the team for Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, whilst Rome based partners Marco Nicolini and Giorgio Alù assisted by Andrea Rosi and Francesco Fiore based in Milan led the team for Tonucci & Partners.

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