economy
Banco BPM invites MPS to $58 billion merger talks to form Italy's second-biggest bank
The announcement could kick-off a second wave of dealmaking in Italian banking after a burst of M&A activity last year.
TL;DR
- Banco BPM has formally invited Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) to discuss a potential merger.
- The combined entity would become Italy's second-largest banking group, overtaking UniCredit.
- The proposed merger is valued at approximately $58 billion.
- Banco BPM anticipates a 10% rise in earnings per share from the deal, with over $1.1 billion in annual pre-tax benefits.
- This move could signal a new wave of M&A activity in the Italian banking sector.
- Banco BPM became an investor in MPS in November 2024 after its reprivatization.
- A previous potential merger attempt was hindered by UniCredit's failed takeover bid for Banco BPM in July 2025.