Italian airline Meridiana denies Qatar buying shares

(AGI) Olbia, Jan 6 - Italian airline Meridiana has deniedrumours that Qatar investors were trying to buy 20 percent ofthe shares owned by the company's founder, prince Karim AgaKhan. "This news has no foundation and has been disseminated bysomeone who wanted to muddy the water in what are complexnegotiations," said Marco Rigott, president of Alisarda andMeridiana Fly holding. "On several occasions we have explainedthe problem with Meridiana is not the shareholding issue, but atotal restructuring without which no shareholder would feelcomfortable with investing. As Meridiana stands now, withclaims by 1,643 extra staff, it seems impossible it could be ofinterest to anyone. It would translate into a condition thatwould be incompatible with the company's survival." Under adeal signed at the Labour Ministry on Dec. 27, 294 employeeshad to accept by Dec. 30 a package which included: an incentivebonus of 15,000 euros, social security payments for four to sixyears to cover about 80 percent of salary, no notice period andno right to discounted fares on Meridiana flights. Unions saidthe issue of overstaffing will be sorted out this month atmeetings at the Ministry for Economic Development. The companywant a new mobility procedure to settle the remainingoverstaffing issue. The next meeting has been scheduled forFriday, Jan. 9. (AGI) . .