FILE PHOTO: FCA Chairman John Elkann speaks during an event at the Bocconi University in Milan, Italy May 27, 2019. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

TURIN, Italy (Reuters) - Italian carmaker Fiat Chrysler FCHA.MI will be able to "seize great opportunities" from a merger with Peugeot owner PSA PEUP.PA, its chairman John Elkann said on Friday.

The two automakers are planning to join forces in a 50-50 share merger to create the world’s fourth-largest automaker.

Answering a question on the merger being already a done deal, Elkann said a long time can pass between the announcement of a merger and getting it over the line.