"We look with interest at all options relating to the entry of institutional investors, including all of our partners, to give stability to our shareholder base," Lovaglio told a general meeting.

"(An investment by AXA and Anima) can only happen on the terms envisaged for other investors. A potential revision of our commercial partnerships with them cannot but follow the usual rational for this type of accords, and in the best interest of the bank," he added.

(Reporting by Silvia Ognibene, Writing by Valentina Za, editing Federico Maccioni)