UniCredit SpA has hired Deloitte LLP to advise Italy’s second-biggest bank on its takeover bid for Banco BPM SpA, people familiar with the matter said.

Italian lender Banco BPM on Tuesday said the unexpected takeover offer by domestic rival UniCredit does not reflect its profitability and could reduce its legal autonomy. UniCredit offered to snap up Banco BPM for roughly $10.

UniCredit's bid for BPM also throws a spanner in the works for Italy's government, which had advanced plans for a merger of BPM with rival Monte dei Paschi di Siena which it saw as strengthening its banking sector without harming competition.

Banco BPM SpA said the takeover bid it has received from UniCredit SpA wasn’t agreed in advance and isn’t in line with its performance.

The Italian Treasury has denied a report that it is drafting an emergency decree to counter UniCredit’s (OTCPK:UNCFF)(OTCPK:UNCRY) 10B euro ($10.6B) bid for Banco BPM, Reuters reported late Friday. UniCredit made the offer for the smaller rival on Monday,

The bid from the larger Italian lender "does not reflect in any way the profitability and further potential to create value for Banco BPM shareholders", it said in a statement.

Banco BPM gathers its board on Tuesday for an initial discussion on the 10 billion euro ($10.5 billion) unsolicited takeover offer that rival UniCredit has launched for Italy's third-largest

Italy reserves the right to use its golden power legislation aimed at shielding strategic assets in regards to UniCredit's plans to take over Banco BPM , Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said.

UniCredit's surprise bid for Italy's Banco BPM is hostile, a board member of the smaller lender told Italian newswire ANSA on Tuesday. He was speaking ahead of a Banco BPM board meeting for an initial discussion on the 10 billion euro ($10.