(Reuters) – Italian lender Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA is considering a potential deal for investment bank Mediobanca, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
Monte Paschi is considering a move to acquire full or partial control of Mediobanca, the report said, adding that the announcement could come as soon as Friday.
Mediobanca has a market value of about 12.63 billion euros ($13.16 billion), according to LSEG data, while Monte Paschi’s valuation is about 8.9 billion euros.
Mediobanca may oppose the approach and consider various countermoves, according to the report.
Monte Paschi and Mediobanca did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Mediobanca missed its revenue estimates and cut its full-year net interest income forecast in November.
($1 = 0.9599 euros)
(Reporting by Angela Christy in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
