The following factors could affect Italian markets on Wednesday.

Reuters has not verified the newspaper reports, and cannot vouch for their accuracy. New items are marked with (*).

For a complete list of diary events in Italy please click on IT/DIA.

POLITICS

Italy has released a senior member of Libya's judicial police who it had arrested on a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over war crimes accusations, an interior ministry source said on Tuesday.

COMPANIES

SNAM SRG.MI

(*) The Italian gas grid operator said on Wednesday it would invest 12.4 billion euros ($12.9 billion) net of grants in the next five years to boost its infrastructure and develop low-carbon businesses.

News conference with CEO Stefano Venier and CFO Luca Passa (1200 GMT).

UNICREDIT CRDI.MI, BANCO BPM BAMI.MI

CEO Andrea Orcel told Bloomberg on Tuesday he was optimistic about eventually finding a solution with Credit Agricole $(CA)$ CAGR.PA that "is respectful of the 'par condicio' for all the shareholders of BPM and works for most banks", when asked about whether CA would tender its 15% BPM stake under UniCredit's bid.

He said CA was a key partner for UniCredit, with Amundi AMUN.PA accounting for 70-80% of the bank's Italian assets under management and Caceis providing custody services in Germany.

Orcel said he saw a higher than 50% chance of UniCredit clinching at least one M&A deal by the end of the year, and that "the biggest thing" he hoped to gain from Germany's upcoming general election was the "ability to interact" with the new government over Commerzbank CBKG.DE.

(*) Banco BPM may raise dividends in its updated business plan, expected in March, to persuade shareholders to oppose Unicredit's bid, daily MF reported on Wednesday.

The lender could also improve its business plan targets once the regulatory authorities have approved Banco BPM's bid for asset manager Anima Holding, daily Il Sole 24 Ore reported.

(*) ENI ENI.MI

Non-biding offers for a 49% stake in Enibioch4in, the biogas company controlled by Eni's biofuel unit Enilive, are expected in early February, Il Sole 24 Ore reported on Wednesday. The sale process is expected to be completed by the summer, it added.

IVECO IVG.MI

The Italian commercial vehicles maker said on Tuesday that Domenico Nucera will take on a newly created role of Chief Quality & Operations Officer, while Claudio Passerini will take over as President, Bus Business Unit.

(*) RAI WAY RWAY.MI

A possible merger between Italian broadcasting tower companies Rai Way and EI Towers could happen by July and finalised by year-end, la Repubblica reported on Wednesday.

DIARY

Rome, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto addresses Chamber of Deputies on the extension of the authorisation for the transfer of vehicles, materials and equipment to Ukraine (0800 GMT).

Rome, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio addresses Senate(0900 GMT) Chamber of Deputies (1515 GMT).

Rome, Industry Minister Adolfo Urso addresses the Parliamentary Committee on disadvantages of Insularity (1300 GMT).

Rome, presentation of "Blue Crab Containment Plan" with Special Commissioner for Blue Crab Enrico Caterino, Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin (0800 GMT); followed by press point (0915 GMT).

Rome, Edison EDNn.MI CEO Nicola Monti and farming association Confagricoltura President Massimiliano Giansanti present "Energy and agriculture: a shared strategy to support decarbonisation and territorial development" report (0930 GMT).

Rome, Ryanair RYA.I CEO Eddie Wilson holds news conference (1040 GMT).

Brescia, A2A A2.MI, Milan Polytechnic University and MOST-National Centre for Sustainable Mobility hold event "In Brescia the first mile of the car sharing of the future; autonomous urban transport optimisation" with A2A CEO Renato Mazzoncini (1320 GMT).

Rome, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and state-lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti $(CDP)$ CEO Dario Scannapieco attend meeting "Entrepreneurship in Africa one year after the launch of the 'Mattei Plan' - Projects, opportunities and financial instruments" (1430 GMT).

((Milan newsroom, e-mail: reutersitaly@thomsonreuters.com))

For Italian market data and news, click on codes in brackets:

20 biggest gainers (in percentage).............PG.MI

20 biggest losers (in percentage)..............PL.MI

FTSE IT allshare index .FTITLMS

FTSE Mib index........ .FTMIB

FTSE Allstars index... .FTSTAR

FTSE Mid Cap index.... .FTITMC

Block trades.......... .BLK.MI

Stories on Italy...... IT-LEN

For pan-European market data and news, click on codes in brackets:

European Equities speed guide...................EUR/EQUITY

FTSEurofirst 300 index...............................FTEU3

DJ STOXX index.......................................STOXX

Top 10 STOXX sectors............................PGL.STOXXS

Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors.......................PGL.STOXXES

Top 10 Eurofirst 300 sectors....................PGL.FTEU3S

Top 25 European pct gainers........................PG.PEUR

Top 25 European pct losers.........................PL.PEUR

Main stock markets:

Dow Jones................DJI Wall Street report ......N

Nikkei 225..............N225 Tokyo report.............T

FTSE 100................FTSE London report............L

Xetra DAX..............GDAXI Frankfurt market stories.F

CAC-40..................FCHI Paris market stories....PA

World Indices.....................................0#.INDEX

Reuters survey of world bourse outlook.........EQUITYPOLL1

Western European IPO diary..........................WEUIPO

European Asset Allocation........................EUR/ASSET

Reuters News at a Glance: Equities...............TOP/EQE

Main currency report:...............................FRX/