Equita says some shareholders received expression of interest for 12% stake

MILAN (Reuters) – A group of shareholders at Italy’s Equita received expressions of interest for a total of some 12% of the independent investment bank, the group said on Thursday.

The shareholders, who also act as managers, told the board the expressions of interest were put forward by “a group of families, entrepreneurs and institutions close to Equita,” the company said in a statement.

They added a potential deal would allow new investors to enter the share capital while keeping management’s role as a “key shareholder”.

Equita’s management and employees hold 54% of the capital, while free float totals 38% and treasury shares account for the remaining 8%.

(Reporting by Federico Maccioni, editing Maria Pia Quaglia)