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UniCredit Launches Voluntary Offer to Lift Commerzbank Stake Above 30%

The Italian lender casts the share-swap bid as a pragmatic fix to buyback-driven stake volatility.

Overview

  • UniCredit proposes an all-share offer it estimates at €30.8 per Commerzbank share—about a 4% premium—equating to roughly 0.485 UniCredit shares for each Commerzbank share.
  • Germany’s BaFin will determine the final exchange ratio, with UniCredit targeting a formal launch in early May followed by a four‑week acceptance period.
  • UniCredit currently holds about 26% of Commerzbank directly plus roughly 4% via instruments and aims to move beyond the 30% threshold without seeking control.
  • The bank says the step would remove the need to constantly adjust its stake as Commerzbank’s buybacks change the denominator and expects only a minimal capital impact if it does not gain control.
  • Berlin and Commerzbank’s leadership signaled opposition to the move, and UniCredit shares fell about 1.75% at the Milan open after the announcement.