Earlier this year Italy used foreign investment screening powers — or ‘golden power’ — to impose harsh conditions on UniCredit’s bid for BPM. UniCredit appealed the decision claiming that the conditions are disproportionate and effectively prevent it from doing the deal.
The court said on Saturday that the government should review two of the conditions imposed by Rome on UniCredit — on the loan-to-deposit ratio and on project finance — whilst it did not rule against two other key conditions under appeal regarding securities and UniCredit’s exit from Russia.
The Italian government welcomed the ruling, saying it largely legitimizes the use and structure of golden power rules, recognizing that economic security is part of national security, a government official told POLITICO.
Italy’s use of foreign investment screening rules to hamper a merger which is disliked by Giorgia Meloni’s government has raised eyebrows in Brussels, where the European Commission has opened two separate probes into the matter.
The Commission’s competition directorate cleared UniCredit’s deal with conditions on June 19 and is ready to warn Italy against overriding Brussels’ exclusive competences on large mergers.
The fate of the bid remains unclear as UniCredit’s formal offer for BPM expires on July 23.
UniCredit did not immediately have a comment.
This story is being updated.
