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 readLast updated: April 23, 2026
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UniCredit has increased its direct stake in Commerzbank to 26.77%, up from 26.04%, while its total exposure—including derivatives—stands at 32.64%, signaling renewed pressure amid a prolonged takeover tussle.
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 about Unicredit's direct stake in Commerzbank rises to 26.77%, filing shows
1What is UniCredit's current direct stake in Commerzbank?
UniCredit now holds a 26.77% direct stake in Commerzbank, up from 26.04%.
2How much is UniCredit's total stake in Commerzbank including derivatives?
Including derivatives, UniCredit’s total stake is 32.64%, up from 29.34%.
3Why is UniCredit increasing its stake in Commerzbank?
UniCredit has been building a stake in Commerzbank since 2024 in pursuit of a potential merger.
4Is Commerzbank open to merging with UniCredit?
Commerzbank has been resisting UniCredit's advances, aiming to remain independent.
