One of the sources said the bid could be announced before Saturday, as the two partners rush for taking the Italian infrastructure group private after an unsolicited approach by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and Brookfield. Benettons' holding company Edizione, which controls Atlantia with a 33% stake, and Blackstone are expected to set up a new company that will launch the offer for the infrastructure group, the sources said. In March, GIP, Brookfield and Spain's ACS (ACS.MC) approached the Benettons with a proposal to buy the infrastructure group, they said last week. "Edizione and Blackstone are not currently discussing any plan to involve GIP and Brookfield in their bid," one of the sources said. CRT declined to comment; GIC, Global Infrastructure Partners and Brookfield was not immediately available to comment.

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