Private investment firm Ardian, asset management company Finint Infrastrutture and Sviluppo 87 are to acquire Milione SpA, the parent company of SAVE SpA, which operates Venice Marco Polo Airport and other gateways across northern Italy.
The transaction follows the exclusivity agreement signed last May by Ardian and Finint Infrastrutture with the current shareholders of Milione SpA, and the subsequent due diligence period.
Finint Infrastrutture together with Sviluppo 87 and Ardian have reached an agreement for the joint acquisition of approximately 100% of Milione SpA, while confirming the intention to keep the company’s current management team.
The transaction is expected to be closed by the end of the year or in early 2026.
According to the new stakeholders, the transaction marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between Ardian and Finint Infrastrutture aimed at supporting the growth of both SAVE and its North-East Airport System, as well as at establishing a strategic operator to pursue new acquisitions as part of an external growth strategy.
The SAVE Group includes the airports of Venice, Verona, Treviso and Brescia in Italy, while it also has a stake in Brussels South Charleroi Airport in Belgium.
Enrico Marchi, founder of Finanziaria Internazionale Holding and president of SAVE Group said: “This transaction represents, for us, the next step of an infrastructure journey that we initiated with a clear vision twenty-five years ago, leading to the successful creation of the North-East Airport System as well as our participation in Charleroi Airport.
“Partnering with a leading international player such as Ardian allows us to share new growth ambitions, while reinforcing our commitment to the regions where we operate and to the social and economic communities we serve.
“I am confident that this deal, carried out alongside Finint Infrastrutture SGR – which is positioning itself as a new player in the national and European infrastructure investment scene – is fully aligned with the broader strategic framework of a sector that demands the strength of solid, long-term investors”.
While Monica Scarpa, CEO of SAVE Group, noted: “The Finanziaria Internazionale Group has gained extensive experience in the infrastructure sector beyond airports, having invested in multi-utilities and healthcare, as well as indirectly through SAVE in Centostazioni alongside Ferrovie dello Stato, and in the motorway sector.
“Through its direct infrastructure investment activities, Ardian has built significant experience in the airport sector, playing a key role in driving growth in Italy and Europe.
“Last July, Ardian completed the acquisition of an additional 10% stake in Heathrow Europe’s leading airport, increasing its total holding to 32.6%.
“In Italy, Ardian has been an indirect shareholder of the airports of Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Naples, Turin and Trieste.”
Between them SAVE Group’s airports handled around 29 million passengers in 2024, 18.3 million of total handled at Marco Polo, Treviso and Verona airports, which saw traffic numbers rise by a further 5.2% in the first half of 2025.
Some 10.5 million (+12%) passengers passed through Brussels South Charleroi Airport in 2024.