On July 28 Italian steelmaker Lucchini Group announced the sale of its Bari-based foundry Bari Fonderie Meridionali Spa (BFM) to Czech-based DT-Výhybkárna a strojírna for €45 million. BFM, like its Czech buyer, is focused on designing and producing railway infrastructures (in particular ferromanganese railroad frogs or common crossings).
Marcello Calcagni, CEO of Lucchini, stated, "The transaction guarantees BFM's development and consolidation and enables Lucchini to focus on the search for new strategic industrial partners for its other Italian assets in Piombino (Livorno), Trieste, Condove (Turin) and Lecco."
As previously reported by SteelOrbis, only about 10 days ago Lucchini's French subsidiary Ascometal, long special steel producer, was acquired by Apollo Global Management. In light of this latest transaction, it is likely that, following the debt restructuring plan imposed by credit institutions, the assets owned by Lucchini Group will be dismembered, as no players have shown interest in buying the entire company. Lucchini Group will have to face issues linked to its Piombino, Livorno-based steel mill, the major asset of the group, whose need for ugrading could discourage foreign capital investment.