LG Energy Solution Shares Slide After Ford Cancels EV Battery Supply Deal 
Volaris and Viva Agree to Merge, Creating Mexico’s Largest Low-Cost Airline Group 
Fed Meeting Sparks Division as Markets Brace for Possible Rate Cut 
Treasury Wine Estates Shares Plunge on Earnings Warning Amid U.S. and China Weakness 
Union-Aligned Investors Question Amazon, Walmart and Alphabet on Trump Immigration Policies 
UN Warns Gaza Humanitarian Aid at Risk as Israel Registration Rules Threaten NGO Operations 
Biren Technology Targets Hong Kong IPO to Raise $300 Million Amid China’s AI Chip Push 
Sanofi’s Efdoralprin Alfa Gains EMA Orphan Status for Rare Lung Disease 
Republicans Raise National Security Concerns Over Intel’s Testing of China-Linked Chipmaking Tools 
NSW to Recall Parliament for Urgent Gun and Protest Law Reforms After Bondi Beach Shooting 
Apple Opens iPhone to Alternative App Stores in Japan Under New Competition Law 
Oracle Stock Slides After Blue Owl Exit Report, Company Says Michigan Data Center Talks Remain on Track 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has downplayed the likelihood of Italy’s UniCredit launching a full acquisition of German lender Commerzbank (ETR: CBKG) in the near term. Speaking at a press conference in Rome after meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Merz confirmed that the current 28% stake UniCredit holds in Commerzbank remains below the legal 30% threshold that would mandate a formal takeover offer under German law.
UniCredit, which received approval from the European Central Bank in March to increase its stake to 29.9%, has stated the holding is purely a financial investment. The Italian bank has pushed any decision on a potential takeover of Commerzbank to 2026 or 2027, even while acknowledging that a full acquisition would be the most strategic outcome.
Merz reiterated that there are no immediate concerns or discussions between the two governments regarding a merger. “It is not foreseeable that this level will be reached or crossed,” he said, adding that no talks on Commerzbank took place during his meeting with Meloni. “We would only address the matter if circumstances change.”
The German finance ministry also dismissed recent media reports suggesting Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil might hold talks with his Italian counterpart over UniCredit’s ambitions. Merz has previously warned that a takeover of Commerzbank by UniCredit would be “devastating” for Germany, indicating Berlin’s clear stance against foreign acquisition of key national financial institutions.
The potential merger between UniCredit and Commerzbank continues to draw scrutiny as the Italian lender edges close to the critical threshold, yet political resistance and regulatory caution are likely to delay any concrete moves.
