PARIS, France, Jan 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The European Central Bank (ECB) has lifted the 20-percent threshold on Credit Agricole's stake in Italian competitor Banco BPM, the French bank said on Monday. That ruling, made January 9, comes half a year after Credit Agricole had submitted a request to have the limit removed in early July. Banco BPM, Italy's third-largest bank, has been embroiled in the aftermath of a hostile takeover bid since November 2024 by second-ranked UniCredit. UniCredit withdrew its offer for Banco BPM in July after Meloni's administration blocked the bid. Giuseppe Castagna, Banco BPM's CEO, had expressed a preference for a Credit Agricole merger in an interview in September.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha January 13, 2026 05:07 UTC