MILAN, April 3 (Reuters) - Italy's Snam said on

Wednesday it had exercised its pre-emption right to increase

its stake in Adriatic LNG, Italy's biggest LNG terminal, to 30%

from 7.3%.

The move comes after ExxonMobil ( XOM ) and QatarEnergy sold

their stakes in Adriatic LNG to a consortium led by energy

infrastructure group VTTI last week. It confirms what sources

had told Reuters.

Upon closing the transaction, the corporate capital of

Adriatic LNG shall be held by VTTI at 70% and Snam at 30%, the

Italian group said in a statement.