UPDATE 2-Italgas signs $5.8 bln deal to buy smaller rival 2i Rete Gas Adds advisers for 2i Rete Gas' shareholders in paragraph 9 By Francesca Landini MILAN, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Italy's biggest gas distributor Italgas IG.MI said on Saturday it had agreed to buy smaller rival 2i Rete Gas in a 5.3 billion euro ($5.8 billion) deal, including debt. A merger would mark a major step in the consolidation of Italy's gas distribution sector and also create a leading player in Europe, Italgas CEO Paolo Gallo

UPDATE 2-Italy to sell further Monte Paschi stake this year, minister says Adds remarks from separate Treasury official in paragraphs 7-8, details and background throughout ROME, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Italy plans to sell a further stake in bailed-out bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena BMPS.MI by the end of this year, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Thursday.

Banco BPM, Iccrea, FSI create Italy's second largest payments business Oct 1 (Reuters) - Italy's Banco BPM BAMI.MI has finalised a partnership with Gruppo BCC Iccrea and domestic private equity fund FSI to create Numia, Italy's second largest player in the e-payments business, the three companies said in a joint press release on Tuesday. The partnership, which was announced in July and will have a domestic market share of more than 10%, has now obtained the legal and regulatory approvals needed

BRIEF-Banco BPM Finalises Payment Partnership With BCC Iccrea, FSI Oct 1 (Reuters) - Banco BPM SpA BAMI.MI : PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BANCO BPM, BCC ICCREA, AND FSI FINALIZED NUMIA GROUP OWNED 42.86% BY FSI, 28.57% EACH BY BANCO BPM AND BCC ICCREA AFTER TRANSACTION, BANCO BPM RECEIVED FOR CONTRIBUTED ASSETS A CONSIDERATION OF €500M, WITH UPFRONT CASH

EUROPE RESEARCH ROUNDUP-ASM International, Burberry, LVMH Oct 1 (Reuters) - Securities analysts revised their ratings and price targets on several European companies including ASM International, Burberry and LVMH on Tuesday. HIGHLIGHTS * ASM International ASMI.AS : Stifel cuts target price to EUR 740 from EUR 800 * Burberry Group BRBY.L : HSBC raises target price to 770p from 690p * Carlsberg CARLb.CO : Jefferies cuts target price to DKK 1,000 from DKK 1,100 * LVMH LVMH.PA : HSBC raises target p