A group of Banco BPM investors, holding 6.51% of the bank, expressed support for a plan focused on the bank's standalone growth, thereby signaling their opposition to a bid from UniCredit. Banco BPM, Italy's second-largest bank, has been considered a natural acquisition target for UniCredit, particularly due to its strong ties to Italy's affluent Lombardy region.
Among the supportive shareholders are ENPAM, the pension fund for Italian doctors, and the banking foundation Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca. They indicated their satisfaction with the "important dividends" distributed by the bank and have identified further growth potential for Banco BPM, citing its diversified strategy.