ITALY | MULLS HIKING THRESHOLDS FOR MANDATORY TAKEOVERS > Reuters reports that Italy is considering raising the ownership thresholds that trigger mandatory takeover bids in public companies, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as part of plans to spur the country's underdeveloped capital market. NET-NET - currently mandatory bids currently need to be launched by a shareholder whose stake rises above a 25% threshold in large companies (in the absence of another shareholder with a higher shareholding) or 30% in an SME (sub Eu1bn mkt cap). The article specifically references Poste Italiane, which has a 24.8% stake in Telecom It (ie suggests that it could keep buying shares without having to take over the co.), though would clearly also have wider ramifications re stake-building and the various cross-holdings in Italian fins.