The birth of the third banking hub: the placement of MPS

The recent placement of shares in Monte dei Paschi di Siena (Mps) by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Mef) marks a significant step towards the creation of a new banking hub in Italy. With the surprise participation of Banco Bpm and Anima, the market is preparing for a restructuring that could change the dynamics of the banking sector.

Placement Details

At market close, the Treasury announced the sale of 88.2 million MPS shares, corresponding to almost 7% of the bank’s capital. Despite initial uncertainty, the placement closed successfully, recording demand that exceeded the expected amount by more than double. The Minister of Economy, Giancarlo Giorgetti, enthusiastically welcomed the result: the sale generated proceeds of 1.1 billion euros, realizing a premium of 5% compared to the closing price of the shares on the stock exchange. After three placements, the total collected by the Mef amounts to 2.7 billion, while a further share of 11.7% of the capital remains, valued at around 800 million.

Surprisingly, Banco Bpm and Anima were the largest buyers of the shares. Banco Bpm bought a 5% stake, while Anima added a further 3%, thus reaching an aggregate total of 9%. This move positions the two entities as the second largest shareholder of MPS after the Treasury.

The reasons behind the acquisition

Banco Bpm’s decision was motivated by its acquisition strategy on Anima. Giuseppe Castagna, CEO of Banco Bpm, said that the purchase of MPS shares is consistent with plans to strengthen synergies between the two entities. Alessandro Melzi d’Eril, CEO of Anima, underlined the importance of the collaboration with MPS over the last 15 years and expressed optimism about future prospects. In Via XX Settembre there is great satisfaction for the outcome of the operation. Giorgetti highlighted how this initiative not only respects the European commitments for the privatization of the bank but also allows to raise crucial funds for the Italian public finances.

Future prospects

The outlook for Mps seems promising; in fact, the bank’s shares have reached historic highs on the stock exchange thanks to positive quarterly results and favorable ratings from analysts. With the new shareholder structure and the interest shown by key players such as Banco Bpm and Anima, an interesting phase opens for the future of the Italian banking sector. This placement not only represents an important financial transaction but could also lead to new strategic alliances in the national banking landscape.