UniCredit Delays Commerzbank Takeover Decision Amid Strong Earnings

Italy's UniCredit plans to wait a year before deciding on a potential acquisition of Germany's Commerzbank, as both banks report better-than-expected quarterly results.

UniCredit CEO Andrea Orcel confirmed interest in Commerzbank but stated no decision on a takeover will be made for at least a year.
UniCredit has acquired a 21% stake in Commerzbank, sparking speculation and political opposition in Germany regarding a potential merger.
Commerzbank's third-quarter net profit fell by 6% to 642 million euros, yet the bank remains on track for a record annual profit of 2.4 billion euros.
UniCredit reported a third-quarter net profit of 2.5 billion euros, marking an 8.2% increase and raising its annual profit forecast to over nine billion euros.
Commerzbank is resisting the takeover attempt, launching a share buyback and planning to unveil a new strategy to boost profitability in February.

Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger