Italy’s UniCredit to merge with Societe generale, media say

Shutterstock

Italy's biggest bank, UniCredit SpA is exploring a merger with France's Societe General SA in a move that would see the European banks leading the way for banking mergers on the continent.

Belgrade media quoted the Financial Times (FT) report over the weekend saying senior executives representing both parties underlined planning was at an early stage.

The FT said Italy’s volatile political situation caused a delay in the timetable for a deal from the original plan of 18 months.

Sources told the FT that UniCredit’s French chief executive, Jean-Pierre Mustier, a former head of SocGen’s investment banking unit, has been developing the idea for several months now.

SocGen denied „any board discussion regarding a potential merger with UniCredit“, according to an emailed statement to Reuters.

UniCredit declined to comment on the FT report while saying their ‘Transform 2019’ turnaround plan is based on „organic assumptions“.