Unicredit cleared by ECB to take control of Commerzbank

UniCredit, Milan - Copyright AP Photo Copyright AP Photo By euronews Published on 15/10/2026 - 20:45 GMT+2 The European Central Bank has ruled that UniCredit may exceed the 30 percent shareholding threshold in Commerzbank. From 2027 the Piazza Gae Aulenti lender will take control of the German bank. UniCredit has received authorisation from the European Central Bank to exceed the 30 percent threshold for its equity stake in Commerzbank and to further increase its holding, with no upper limit. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The completion of the remaining regulatory steps and the fulfilment of the conditions required to finalise the offer for Commerzbank are expected towards the end of the year. At that point UniCredit will hold around 50 percent of Commerzbank's voting rights and will be able to take control of the bank. The decision marks a key milestone in UniCredit's acquisition of Commerzbank, "confirming, the bank emphasised, the European Central Bank's positive assessment of the transaction and the confidence placed in UniCredit's solid fundamentals and its strong position within the European banking sector". Go to accessibility shortcuts Read more