**UniCredit Dismisses MPS Acquisition Speculation as Baseless and Premature**

Italian banking giant UniCredit has moved to quash ongoing market chatter regarding its potential acquisition of Montepaschi (MPS), characterizing the speculation as lacking substantive foundation and devoid of strategic merit.

**Setting the Record Straight on M&A Activities**

The bank emphasized that any merger or acquisition decision follows a rigorous framework centered on strategic alignment and financial performance. Rather than reactively responding to market rumors, UniCredit maintains a dedicated M&A team responsible for systematically evaluating a broad range of potential opportunities. This analytical process encompasses targets both within and beyond the bank's existing geographic footprint.

**The Reality Behind Corporate Assessment**

UniCredit clarified an important distinction between conducting due diligence and executing transactions. The bank's M&A team routinely engages in preliminary discussions, detailed assessments, and comprehensive analyses of various targets. However, such exploratory activities should not be interpreted as indicators that any particular transaction will materialize. The fact that UniCredit examines opportunities does not equate to commitment.

**Strategic Criteria Remain Paramount**

The institution underscored that any M&A pursuit must satisfy two fundamental criteria: strategic compatibility with UniCredit's direction and achievement of clearly defined financial return benchmarks. Speculation regarding alleged interests in acquiring other stakes, the bank stated, similarly lacks grounding and represents the type of unfounded market chatter that periodically surfaces in financial sectors.

This statement effectively signals to investors and analysts that recent speculative narratives warrant skepticism until UniCredit provides official confirmation of any actual transaction.