The Italian government is reportedly considering buying Euronext’s approximately 63% stake in MTS, a major electronic trading platform for Italian and other European government bonds. The move would aim to give Rome greater control over the main venue where its sovereign debt is issued and traded. Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Italy’s state-backed lender, could facilitate the purchase.
The Italian Treasury founded MTS in 1988. The platform joined Euronext’s portfolio after the company acquired Borsa Italiana in 2021.
Euronext has not commented on the reports. It considers MTS a strategic asset central to its fixed-income business, a significant growth area for the company.
A sale could raise questions about the neutrality of a platform owned by a government whose debt is priced on it.