Banco BPM & UniCredit: A Battle of Values

If someone offered you a deal, and you thought it was a bit low – that's what's going on in the Italian banking world! Banco BPM is having a bit of a spat with UniCredit over a takeover bid. UniCredit comes knocking with a 10 billion-euro offer, but Banco BPM's board said, "Thank you, but no thanks. " They think the price is way too low for their bank's true worth.UniCredit's offer is about 6. 657 euros per share, which isn't much higher than the bank's Friday closing price of 6. 644 euros. Banco BPM feels their bank deserves more. Plus, they're worried UniCredit's main focus is Germany, and Italians might lose some say in how things run local. UniCredit had once eyed Germany's Commerzbank. It seems their plans might be shifting now, but Banco BPM isn't so sure it's happy about it. The fast pace of this deal could put Banco BPM's independence in trouble.