Banca Italease
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Finance leasing |
| Fate | Integrated into Banco Popolare in 2015 |
| Headquarters | Milan , Italy |
Area served | Italy |
| Parent | Banco Popolare |
Banca Italease S.p.A. was a Milan-based Italian company specializing in finance leasing. In 2009, it launched two distinct subsidiaries: Alba Leasing, which focused on small and medium-sized enterprises, and Release S.p.A., a "bad bank." The shares of Alba Leasing were allocated to the previous shareholders of Banca Italease, while both Banca Italease and Release S.p.A. became part of the Banco Popolare group. By 2015, Banca Italease was entirely integrated into Banco Popolare, functioning as its dedicated leasing division.
History
Initially established as Banca Centrale per il Leasing delle Banche Popolari S.p.A., the institution originated as a collaboration among Italy’s cooperative banks ().
In 1996, it incorporated Istituto Triveneto del Leasing into its operations.
As of 31 December 2000, the principal shareholders comprised Banca Popolare di Novara holding 25.52%, Banca Popolare di Bergamo – Credito Varesino with 15.37%, Banca Popolare di Verona – Banco S. Geminiano e S. Prospero at 11.31%, and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena owning 6.01%, among others. The company was listed on the Borsa Italiana, with notable stakes held by Reale Mutua Assicurazioni (6.99%), BMPS (3.34%), BPER (7.43%), BPSO (4.25%), and the Banco Popolare Group controlling 30.72% by mid-2009.
From mid-2009 onwards, Banca Italease became part of the Banco Popolare Group, which increased its ownership to 91.23%, compared to earlier holdings such as BPVN’s 38.16% in 2002 and a combined 30.72% by Banco Popolare and its subsidiaries in 2007. Alba Leasing, created in 2009, was primarily owned by former Italease shareholders: BPER (36.43%), BPSO (20.95%), and Banca Popolare di Milano (9.83%), while Banca Italease maintained a 32.79% share.
During this period, Banca Italease acted as a sub-holding entity for several companies including Factorit, Itaca Service, Italease Gestione Beni, Italease Network, Mercantile Leasing, Italease Finance (70% ownership), and Release S.p.A. (80.39%).
On 29 July 2010, Factorit was purchased by BPSO (60.5%) and BPM (30%) for €155.3 million; Banca Italease retained a minority stake of 9.5%. By the close of 2010, Banco Popolare Group had acquired full ownership (100%) of Banca Italease.
In 2011, both Itaca Service and Italease Gestione Beni were divested to Accenture and Cerved Information Solutions respectively; simultaneously, Mercantile Leasing was merged into Banca Italease.