Spanish construction giant ACS has offered to buy a majority share in Italian motorway operator Autostrade per l'Italia (Aspi), valuing the firm at nine to 10 billion euros, an industry source said Thursday.

Infrastructure group Atlantia owns 88 percent of Aspi but has been under pressure to give up control since the 2018 deadly collapse of the Genoa bridge, which Aspi was in charge of maintaining.

In a statement, Atlantia said its board of directors had met on Thursday and noted "the expression of interest, received today from the ACS group, in acquiring a stake in Aspi in consortium with other Italian and international investors".

It did not disclose a price or any further details of the move that would see the Spanish group add Italy's toll roads to its global network run through Abertis, itself a joint venture with Atlantia.

ACS' offer is higher than an earlier binding offer for all of Atlantia's stake in Aspi by a consortium led by Italy's state-controlled investment fund, the source said.

Atlantia said its board would hold subsequent meetings in coming days "to take the necessary decisions on the matter" .

ACS declined to comment.

bh-ar/ams/rl

AUTOSTRADE MERIDIONALI

ABERTIS INFRAESTRUCTURAS

ATLANTIA