UniCredit gets ECB's nod for Commerzbank, says decision in 2026
MILAN (Reuters) -The European Central Bank has given UniCredit the green light to buy up to 29.9% of Commerzbank, the Italian bank said, adding it would likely wait until next year before deciding whether to pursue a full takeover. With Germany up in arms against the potential acquisition, UniCredit's CEO Andrea Orcel, a veteran dealmaker, has thrust his bank into fast-moving Italian consolidation and put on ice his ambitions for a pan-European tie-up. "Hostile takeovers in the banking sector are not appropriate, especially when it comes to a systemically important bank," Germany's finance ministry said on Friday.