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Finance

Unicredit's direct stake in Commerzbank rises to 26.77%, filing shows

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 23, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: April 23, 2026

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Unicredit's direct stake in Commerzbank rises to 26.77%, filing shows

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FRANKFURT, April 23 (Reuters) - The Italian bank UniCredit now holds a slightly larger direct stake in Germany's Commerzbank at 26.77%, up from a previous 26.04%, a filing on Thursday showed. The two

UniCredit Increases Direct Stake in Commerzbank to 26.77% Amid Merger Talks

UniCredit’s Growing Stake and Merger Developments

Recent Stake Increase

FRANKFURT, April 23 (Reuters) - The Italian bank UniCredit now holds a slightly larger direct stake in Germany's Commerzbank at 26.77%, up from a previous 26.04%, a filing on Thursday showed.

Background: Merger Discussions

Standoff Since 2024

The two banks have been in a standoff since 2024, when UniCredit began building up a stake in the German lender and pressed for a merger.

Commerzbank’s Response

Commerzbank has been resisting its advances, aiming to remain independent.

Derivative Holdings

Stake Including Derivatives

Including derivatives, the stake is 32.64%, up from 29.34%, the filing showed.

Reporting Details

(Reporting by Tom SimsEditing by Madeline Chambers)

Key Takeaways

UniCredit’s direct stake rose by 0.73 percentage points, now at 26.77%, with total exposure climbing to 32.64% via derivatives (investing.com).
This latest increase reinforces UniCredit’s broader push for consolidation, following its March 2026 voluntary exchange offer aiming to surpass 30% ownership under German takeover law (unicreditgroup.eu).
Commerzbank continues to resist, highlighting concerns over independence and lack of a credible takeover premium, even as political voices urge clarity or rejection of UniCredit’s bid (commerzbank.de)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is UniCredit's current direct stake in Commerzbank?

UniCredit now holds a 26.77% direct stake in Commerzbank, up from 26.04%.

How much is UniCredit's total stake in Commerzbank including derivatives?

Including derivatives, UniCredit’s total stake is 32.64%, up from 29.34%.

Why is UniCredit increasing its stake in Commerzbank?

UniCredit has been building a stake in Commerzbank since 2024 in pursuit of a potential merger.

Is Commerzbank open to merging with UniCredit?

Commerzbank has been resisting UniCredit's advances, aiming to remain independent.

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Unicredit's direct stake in Commerzbank rises to 26.77%, filing shows

UniCredit Increases Direct Stake in Commerzbank to 26.77% Amid Merger Talks