Monte Paschi to Discuss Raising $18 Billion Mediobanca Bid (3)

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA called a board meeting on Monday to decide whether to raise its $18 billion bid for rival Mediobanca SpA, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing private information.

The bank may choose to add a cash component to the offer, Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported earlier, without saying how it obtained the information. Such a move would be aimed at ensuring that the firm obtains more than 50% of Mediobanca’s shares through its bid, according to the report.

Monte Paschi is currently offering 2.533 new ...