By Elvira Pollina and Giuseppe Fonte

MILAN (Reuters) – Italian state lender CDP is sounding out banks that might assist finance its provide for Telecom Italia (BIT:)’s landline grid whereas additionally talking to infrastructure funds although time is tight to recruit one other co-investor, sources near the matter stated.

CDP is in search of to finalise its bid after U.S. funding agency KKR final week filed its personal provide for a similar Telecom Italia (TIM) asset.

KKR, which already owns a minority stake within the former cellphone monopoly’s community, put ahead a non-binding proposal to accumulate a controlling stake in a brand new firm comprising the community in addition to TIM’s submarine cable unit Sparkle.

Two sources accustomed to the matter informed Reuters KKR’s strategy valued the enterprise at about 20 billion euros ($21.4 billion).

TIM, which has referred to as a board assembly for Feb.24 to determine on KKR’ s strategy, stated the U.S. fund has indicated Feb.28 because the deadline for its proposal, including it remained open to evaluate alternate options within the meantime.

Carving out and ceding management of TIM’s prized landline is a focus of TIM’s CEO Pietro Labriola technique to reshape the debt-laden group.

Treasury-owned CDP, which is a shareholder in TIM, was additionally learning a multi-billion provide for the community and nonetheless needs to bid for TIM’s grid after KKR’s transfer, folks accustomed to the matter informed Reuters.

Amongst others, CDP has been sounding out Blackstone (NYSE:), World Infrastructure Companions (GIP) and Brookfield for a job in its potential bid, the folks stated, declining to be named as discussions are non-public.

Blackstone declined to remark. GIP and Brookfield didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

The sources additionally stated CDP is tapping banks specialised in infrastructure financing to check their curiosity in funding a possible bid, together with UniCredit, Intesa Sanpaolo (OTC:), Bnp Paribas and Credit score Agricole (OTC:).

The banks had no rapid remark.

MACQUARIE ROLE

One of many sources stated CDP is prone to current a bid with Australian fund Macquarie solely, as there may be little scope for an additional fund becoming a member of the enterprise given the tight deadline.

The bid might come as early as subsequent week, the particular person stated, cautioning deliberations are nonetheless ongoing.

Macquarie is a minority investor in Open Fiber, a wholesale-only fibre optic unit managed by CDP and it has been concerned for months in a plan to mix the 2 community infrastructures.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni repeatedly stated her authorities needs to safe public management of TIM’s community.

However there is no such thing as a frequent floor but inside her administration on how you can attain such a aim and it was no clear whether or not a CDP bid would obtain the blessing of the Treasury.

Financial system Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti believes Rome has “a number of choices” to place TIM’s community beneath strategic authorities management, a separate supply stated, with out elaborating.

In its strategy for TIM, KKR has left the door open to a public entity to turn out to be a shareholder within the community firm, an individual briefed with the matter stated final week.

A sale of a majority stake within the community might allow cash-bleeding TIM to chop its 25.5 billion euro debt pile and assist selling heavy investments wanted to improve the infrastructure from previous to fibre.

($1 = 0.9359 euros)