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Italy seen skipping autumn retail bond, crowded out by post office sale

Italy will skip its usual fall issuance of a bond aimed at little savers this year, 3 market sources stated, generally to prevent a clash with the planned sale of a stake in the stateowned postal service which is likewise focused on the retail sector.

The Treasury has a long-standing technique of attempting to increase normal Italians' holdings of its huge debt pile, raising around 230 billion euros ($ 248.42 billion) from the sector since the height of the euro zone debt crisis in 2012.

With the exception of 2015, it has actually constantly provided a retail bond in the October-November period.

This year, however, it wants to avoid a market excess that might threaten the success of the government's plan to float around 14% of Poste Italiane, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to the level of sensitivity of the matter.

2 sales aimed at the very same financier base would have competed with each other, stated among them, who has direct understanding of the Treasury's strategies

The Treasury, which generally reveals its retail bond plans. around three weeks before issuance, was not instantly available for remark.

Rome intends to raise around 2.3 billion euros from its postal service sale, making an incredibly limited contribution to lowering its debt amounting to nearly 3 trillion euros.

The government has stated it will provide priority to savers local in Italy, consisting of post workplace employees, encouraging their participation through incentives such as stock price discount rates.

Nevertheless, the prospects for the sale are still uncertain. The date of the flotation has yet to be set, and some Italian media have actually reported it might be delayed till next year and reframed to allow a greater role for institutional investors.

COOL RESPONSE

Italy's last retail bond, which was provided in May, received relatively muted demand, another consideration in the Treasury's. probable decision not to offer another one this year.

That cool response might have already prepared the ground. for a time out in the fall, a second source said.

A third element at play is that the Treasury is currently well. en route to satisfying its financing requires for this year and so has. no intense requirement for cash.

Today it sold 13 billion euros in a dual-tranche. syndicated issuance consisting of a brand-new 7-year BTP bond and a. tap of a 30-year bond. The success of the sale reduced the. possibility of a fall retail issuance, some analysts stated.

Based on a 2024 medium- to long-term gross financing. requirement of 350 billion euros, Italy will need to sell less. than 50 billion euros of bonds over the rest of the year,. according to computations by Italian bank UniCredit.

(source: Reuters)