UniCredit is pursuing an all-share takeover of Banco BPM, with regulatory approval secured from Consob, the European Central Bank, and the Bank of Italy. The offer involves swapping 0.175 of UniCredit's shares for each of Banco BPM's 1.5 billion shares, signaling a strategic move to strengthen its position in the European banking sector.Meanwhile, Crédit Agricole has increased its stake in Banco BPM to 19.9% using derivatives, aligning with its long-term partnership strategy while avoiding a full takeover bid. Despite these developments, shares of UniCredit and Banco BPM have dipped by 1%, reflecting cautious market sentiment amidst these significant shifts in the banking landscape.