On 14 August a highway bridge collapses in Genoa, Italy, during heavy traffic and rain. Fourty three people die. Amidst furious public reaction, Ministers point fingers to the bridge operator Autostrade per l’Italia. It also implies the family empire Benetton, a controlling shareholder in infrastructure holding company Atlantia that owns Autostrade. Edizione, a €12 billion Benetton family holding company, has a 30.25% stake in Atlantia. The populist Italian government launches a formal procedure aimed at revoking concessions held by Autostrade to operate toll highways. Experts estimate that if it revokes the concession, Government will have to pay Autostrade up to €20 billion in compensation for investments the firm has made. Shares in Atlantia falls more than 30% after the accident. Government intends to require concession holders in all infrastructures to invest more of their profits in maintenance and safety.
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