Italy’s Banco BPM makes first move in new insurance strategy

MILAN, April 12 (Reuters) – Banco BPM (BAMI.MI)is to accumulate full possession of itslife insurance coverage partnership with France’s Covea, in a transfer that will lead the Italian financial institution to strengthen industrial ties with its new high investor Credit score Agricole.

French financial institution Credit score Agricole (CAGR.PA) final week purchased a 9.2% stake in Italy’s No.three financial institution, and mentioned the funding aimed to broaden the scope of their strategic partnerships – presently centred on shopper finance. learn extra

Banco BPM mentioned it anticipated to spend 310 million euros ($337 million) to purchase the 81% stake within the Bipiemme Vita life insurance coverage partnership held by French associate Covea.

Bipiemme Vita in turns controls in full non-life three way partnership Bipiemme Assicurazioni.

After the closing, Banco BPM will obtain 120 million euros from the insurance coverage unit as a particular dividend, it mentioned.

Banco BPM had mentioned it might carry insurance coverage in home to drive payment earnings beneath a standalone technique by CEO Giuseppe Castagna, following fruitless makes an attempt to strike a merger with a same-size peer.

Castagna had introduced ahead to 2022 from end-2023 the choice to finish the Covea partnership.

He has secured an choice to exit early, from Jan. 1 2023, one other insurance coverage joint-venture Banco BPM has with Cattolica, which is now a part of insurer Generali (GASI.MI).

POTENTIAL PARTNERS

Banco BPM’s insurance coverage technique has drawn curiosity from potential new companions, bankers say. The bankers mentioned Credit score Agricole, which is a serious insurance coverage and asset administration participant, most likely moved on Banco BPM to thwart rivals – with AXA (AXAF.PA) additionally eager to broaden its distribution in Italy.

Each Credit score Agricole and AXA declined to remark.

Whereas Banco BPM’s plan envisages operating its insurance coverage operations alone, it could take into account different choices together with a sale of a stake within the enterprise to a brand new associate as soon as it has full possession, two individuals acquainted with the matter mentioned.

An individual acquainted with Credit score Agricole’s pondering has mentioned the rationale of its funding in Banco BPM is to broaden enterprise strains in its largest market outdoors France.

If Banco BPM launches a aggressive course of for a brand new insurance coverage associate Credit score Agricole might be within the operating, the 2 individuals mentioned.

Nonetheless, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine derailed greater rival UniCredit’s (CRDI.MI) takeover plans for Banco BPM earlier this 12 months, Credit score Agricole’s transfer has additionally stoked hypothesis of a full acquisition.

Following a gradual stakebuilding since 2018, Credit score Agricole final 12 months took over small Italian financial institution Creval, reaching some 90 billion euros in property within the nation.

The French financial institution has mentioned it has not requested regulatory approval to cross the 10% threshold in Banco BPM and the particular person acquainted with its pondering mentioned there have been no plans to take action.

Banco BPM mentioned it might search regulatory approval for the helpful therapy of banks’ stakes in insurers, referred to as the “Danish compromise”, including 5 foundation factors to its core capital ratio.

($1 = zero.9193 euros)

Further reporting by Valentina Za; Enhancing by David Evans and Jane Merriman

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