Monte dei Paschi sounds out merger partners; UBS fund eyes Indian fintech

S&P Global Market Intelligence presents In Play Today, a periodic summary of potential deal activity in the financial sectors of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. This summary, which is displayed according to the location of a target's headquarters, is based on information obtained by S&P Global Market Intelligence and may not be inclusive of all potential deal activity.

Europe

* Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA is sounding out Banco BPM SpA, BPER Banca SpA, Crédit Agricole Italia SpA and BNL Gruppo BNP Paribas as potential merger partners, Reuters reported.

* A fund managed by UBS Group AG's asset management arm is in talks to acquire a stake worth $400 million in Indian digital payment processor Paytm along with some of the Swiss bank's clients from several Paytm employees, sources told Bloomberg News.

* German financial services company MLP SE is in discussions to acquire insurance broker Rvm Versicherungsmakler Gmbh & Co. Kg and its key subsidiaries.

* British Motors d.o.o. launched a buyout offer for the remaining 12.49% stake it does not already own in Serbian insurer Globos osiguranje a.d.o., SeeNews reported. The Serbian car dealer intends to acquire the shares for 402 dinars per share, equivalent to about 68.8 million dinars, according to the report.

Middle East

* Israel-based investment manager Altshuler Shaham Provident Funds and Pension Ltd. is considering acquiring cross-town rival Psagot Investment House Ltd. from U.K. private equity firm Apax Partners LLP, Globes reported. Psagot is reportedly valued at between 1 billion shekels and 1.5 billion shekels.