Poste Italiane is enhancing TIM’s value through an ambitious project, the scope and strategy of which investors have recognised. This was emphasised by CEO Matteo Del Fante in an interview with TG Poste, in which he expressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the first acceptance phase of the public exchange offer (OPAS), which saw Poste Italiane acquire a 66.6 per cent stake in the telecoms group. “If we reached this figure last Friday,” he said, “it is because the market has realised that the best course of action is to accept the offer.” This result was achieved following a significant acceleration last week. “Investors,” said Del Fante, “have realised that it no longer makes much sense to remain shareholders in a company that does not pay dividends and is merely a fraction of Poste Italiane, in a context where Poste is enhancing the value of TIM’s shares through a highly ambitious joint project, much to the satisfaction of all investors. “There has been a realisation,” continued Del Fante, “the markets call it F.O.M.O. – Fear Of Missing Out – the fear of missing out on the Poste Italiane bandwagon as it set off, and so everyone has been rushing to take part. “We believe this F.O.M.O. will also be present from 21 to 25 September,” he added. “At the end of the public takeover bid,” concluded the CEO of Poste Italiane, “we will hold a stake that will comfortably give us a controlling interest, and the integration of the two companies will begin.”
Poste Italiane among the major international players
Poste Italiane’s OPAS for TIM is a historic operation for the country and the region, and its success will help drive the digital transition through the creation of a major group capable of generating employment and competing with the major international players. This is what Giuseppe Lasco, General Manager of Poste Italiane, said when commenting on the conclusion of the first phase of the bid for TIM, which saw the company increase its stake to 66.6 per cent of the telecoms group. “It remains, and will remain, a historic transaction for our country,” said Lasco, “one that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. By expanding our scope to include TIM, we will bring even greater value to our country and our local communities. This integration will create a future for our people and for all our colleagues at TIM. We should feel proud to belong to this major Italian and international industrial group, which will be able to compete with the major international players to withstand the impact of innovation and digital transformation.” Lasco then commented on the future challenges that can be tackled thanks to the formation of the new Group. “Poste Italiane and TIM,” he said, “will be a driving force behind the launch and consolidation of the Artificial Intelligence infrastructure. Although AI will optimise resources, we will buck the trend, ensuring an advanced infrastructure whilst continuing to implement active labour market policies and create new jobs, as we have always done over the past nine years. We take pride in this,” concluded Lasco, “because we will be providing a future for them and for the next generations.”
