Bank Intesa denies report of role in bid for Alitalia

ROME, April 19 (Reuters) - Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo (ISP.MI: Quote, Profile, Research) denied a newspaper report on Saturday that it was part of a consortium ready to bid for airline Alitalia (AZPIa.MI: Quote, Profile, Research).

Il Messaggero daily reported that Intesa was the leading bank in a consortium which comprised 40 percent banks, 20 percent other businesses and 40 percent Italian airline Air One.

A statement from the bank said the report of its involvement in a bid to counter one Alitalia has agreed with Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) was "devoid of any basis".

"As for the Alitalia affair, Intesa has nothing to add to what it has repeatedly declared," it said.

Chief Executive Corrado Passera has consistently denied it is involved in a bid. "There is zero, nothing on the table," he said.

Intesa and Air One had bid for Alitalia but Air France-KLM was selected for exclusive talks. The agreed Franco-Dutch takeover is now in question as prime minister-elect Silvio Berlusconi has said he was working for a consortium to come forward to ensure the flag carrier remains Italian.

The centre-right leader, who won a general election on Monday and should take office early next month has said he might accept a modified Air France-KLM bid.

"We have nothing against Air France-KLM, but we would like it to give birth to an international group with equal dignity," he said on Friday at a news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin who said Aeroflot (AFLT.MM: Quote, Profile, Research) was also ready to talk to Alitalia.

(Editing by Ruth Pitchford)