DJ Tirrenia Gets Many Bids For Tirrenia Privatization -Minister

ROME (Dow Jones)--There have been "many" expressions of interest for the privatization of Italian ferry company Tirrenia di Navigazione SpA, allowing for the process to stick to its Sept. 3 deadline, Transport Minister Altero Matteoli said Friday.

In a statement, Matteoli said Friday was the last day for expressions of interest to be lodged. The number of requests is "excellent news."

Tirrenia is owned by holding company Fintecna SpA, and operates ferries between the Italian peninsula and Sardinia, Sicily, Albania and other destinations.

With a fleet of nearly 100 ferries, Tirrenia transports some 13 million passengers and 2 million cars each year.

Tirrenia Web site: http://www.tirrenia.it

-By Liam Moloney, Dow Jones Newswires; +39 06 6976 6924; liam.moloney@dowjones.com

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 19, 2010 11:42 ET (16:42 GMT)

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