Finance
Italy's BPER posts FY revenue beat, closes in on Pop Sondrio takeover
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 5, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 5, 2026
Quick Summary
BPER Banca exceeded revenue forecasts and is finalizing a merger with Banca Popolare di Sondrio, with a shareholder meeting set for March 12.
BPER Banca Exceeds Revenue Expectations, Moves Toward Pop Sondrio Merger
BPER Banca's Financial Performance and Acquisition Plans
Feb 5 (Reuters) - Italy's BPER Banca on Thursday reported revenue ahead of its full-year guidance, as it closes in on the acquisition of regional peer Banca Popolare di Sondrio .
Revenue and Profit Overview
In July, Modena-based BPER completed a 5.4 billion euro cash-and-share deal for Pop Sondrio, a move aimed at strengthening its position amid a wave of consolidation in Italy's banking sector.
Merger Timeline and Shareholder Meeting
BPER reiterated it expects to finalize the merger by end of April, while the Sondrio-based lender has called a shareholders' meeting for March 12 to approve the planned takeover.
Dividend Proposal and Payout Ratio
Its full-year total revenue came in at 6.6 billion euros ($7.8 billion), above the updated guidance of 6.4 billion euros it provided in November to include Pop Sondrio's contribution for 2025.
Fourth-quarter net profit came in at 346.0 million, while its net interest income (NII) grew 3.6% year-on-year, driven by the positive effect of interest rates.
BPER said it would propose an overall cash dividend of 0.65 euros per share, representing a payout ratio of 75%.
($1 = 0.8482 euros)
(Reporting by Enrico Sciacovelli, editing by Matt Scuffham)
Key Takeaways
- •BPER Banca reported higher-than-expected revenue.
- •The bank is finalizing its merger with Pop Sondrio.
- •BPER completed a €5.4 billion deal for Pop Sondrio.
- •A shareholders' meeting is set for March 12.
- •BPER proposes a 0.65 euro per share dividend.
Frequently Asked Questions about Italy's BPER posts FY revenue beat, closes in on Pop Sondrio takeover
1What is revenue?
Revenue is the total income generated by a company from its business activities, typically from the sale of goods and services, before any expenses are deducted.
2What is a merger?
A merger is a business combination where two companies join to form a single entity, often to enhance competitiveness and market share.
3What is a dividend?
A dividend is a portion of a company's earnings distributed to its shareholders, typically in cash or additional shares, as a reward for their investment.
4What is a payout ratio?
The payout ratio is the percentage of earnings distributed to shareholders as dividends, indicating how much profit is returned to investors versus reinvested in the company.
