Aeroflot has dropped out of the privatisation bid for its troubled Italian peer Alitalia, Russian news agency Interfax said, citing Aeroflot sources. Aeroflot was shortlisted in a consortium with Italian bank Unicredito Italiano SpA to bid for a 39.9 pct stake in Alitalia put up for sale by the Italian government.

In May, a consortium comprising Texas Pacific Group, Matlin Patterson and Mediobanca SpA pulled out of the tender.

If the Aeroflot withdrawal is confirmed, the only remaining bidder would be AP Holding, which controls the airline Air One.
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