Pietro Salini: an M&A strategy to grow Salini Impregilo

PRESS NOTE

Milan, July 4, 2017 - 'M&A is important to sustain a company's fast growth like our own, but only when it follows a well-defined plan. Buying into the best opportunities that the market has to offer must also be accompanied by the sale of non-strategic assets,' said Pietro Salini, Chief Executive of Salini Impregilo, at 'Going Global: The Atlas of Italian M&A in the World', an event held on July 4 at Borsa Italiana.

'Salini Impregilo's successful effort to go global has a long history. It is the result of a long-term strategic vision with attention paid to market trends, the Group's financial stability and a strong governance system. There are also people whose skills make a difference, cohesive management that is focused on creating value,' he added.

Salini Impregilo's acquisition of Lane Construction, a U.S. leader in roads and highways, responded to the Group's need to grow and consolidate its position in the market where size can improve its business opportunities and where demand for complex infrastructure keeps rising.

The U.S. market represents for the Group $24 billion worth of opportunities that it intends to seize, taking advantage of the infrastructure plan being proposed by the Trump administration as well as the investments that each state makes every year. The Group aims to generate 30% of total revenues in the country by 2019. 'We have a long-term project that we will pursue thanks to one of the biggest investment programmes in the history of the United States of America, with the involvement of private investors and citizens. It is a programme based on a proposed $1 trillion over 10 years covered not only by public funds but also a big participation from private investors as well as a need for investment in infrastructure by 2040 estimated to be greater than $5.1 trillion.'

The event was an occasion to discuss the case history of Made in Italy entrepreneurs that have used M&A to quicken the growth of their companies. Also taking part in the event were FILA Chief Executive Massimo Candela, Adler Pelzer Chairman Paolo Scudieri, IMA Chief Executive Alberto Vacchi, ISPI Executive Vice President Paolo Magri, SIMEST Chief Executive Andrea Novelli and Borsa Italiana Chief Executive Raffaele Jersualemi.

'Among the keys to our success is keeping a balance between growth and risk, investing to grow, harboring an ability to grow while still generating cash, keeping a diversified portfolio and a strategic plan that attracts talent to grow alongside our best resources,' concluded Pietro Salini.