Commerzbank and UniCredit Talks

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Commerzbank’s designated CEO, Bettina Orlopp, announced that the bank will engage in initial discussions with UniCredit on Friday, as the Italian bank seeks a potential merger.

These comments are Orlopp’s first since her appointment as the German bank’s next CEO, a pivotal moment in its 154-year history.

Earlier this month, UniCredit revealed that it acquired a 9% stake in Commerzbank, expressing intentions to purchase more shares while advocating for talks to explore a partnership.

Orlopp mentioned that Commerzbank is open-minded about the discussions, emphasizing that any potential synergies would need to be analyzed collaboratively.