Double green light from government for the banking risk, but with double standards. The executive has chosen to do not exercise il Golden Power on 'Bper's takeover bid for Banca Popolare di Sondrio, leaving the way open for aggregation. Different, however, is the position taken on the offer of Unicredit for Banco bpm: the green light has arrived, but bound by specific conditions, including exiting the Russian market and maintaining the branches.
In the meantime, the shareholders' meeting of Bper yesterday (Friday 18 April) approved by a large majority the proposal of the Board of Directors to proceed with a capital increase aimed at supporting the offerThe decision also includes the modification of the company statute, although it remains subject to the approval of the supervisory authorities.
Popolare di Sondrio puts up a wall: “Forward as independents”
On the other side, Banca Popolare di Sondrio confirms its position: the takeover bid is not convincing and the bank aims to maintain its autonomy. The line will also be reiterated on the occasion of theshareholders' meeting, set for the 30th April.
“Banca Popolare di Sondrio, in its role as a bank of the territories, today among the most important in our country, has shown with its behavior and numbers that it can compete in an integrated financial system without forgetting the multiple local dimensions in which it operates – declared the general manager and managing director of Banca Popolare di Sondrio, Mario Alberto Pedranzini –. Our new Industrial Plan is built on this awareness: forward in our own way, because this physiognomy of ours is not, as perhaps some superficially believe, a timeless affectation, but rather a constitutive factor of our entrepreneurial and financial success”.
Antitrust shines a spotlight on the operation
The game with the remains open on the tableAntitrust. On April 14, the Competition Authority started an investigation to evaluate the impact of the operation, reporting possible critical issues for the competition in local markets.
It will therefore be necessary, according to the Antitrust, "to proceed with further investigative investigations, in order to evaluate whether the operation is likely to significantly hinder effective competition in the local markets for loans to family producers-small businesses in the provinces of Varese, Como and Pavia".
