Mediobanca shares surged over 8% after Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) confirmed plans to fully acquire the merchant bank and delist it from the stock exchange, ending weeks of uncertainty. The move follows MPS's 86% stake acquisition for roughly $19 billion last year, which significantly reduced Mediobanca's free float and raised questions about its continued public listing. MPS faced resistance from some investors, analysts, and Mediobanca's management, including directors linked to investor Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone, who opposed full integration. MPS did not reach the legal threshold for an automatic delisting, forcing it to weigh the costs of maintaining a separate listing against potentially buying out remaining investors at a premium.

Once completed, Mediobanca will merge into MPS, with a new unlisted entity housing private banking under the Mediobanca brand while retaining its 13% stake in Italian insurer Generali. MPS is expected to present its strategic plan for the enlarged group on February 27.