Commerzbank Plans Job Cuts to Counter UniCredit's 28% Stake and German Government's Opposition

Jan 18, 2025, 04:56 PM

Commerzbank, Germany's second-largest private bank, is considering cutting thousands of jobs as part of a strategy to fend off a potential takeover by Italy's UniCredit, according to the Financial Times. The move is aimed at demonstrating to shareholders that the bank can remain competitive and profitable independently. The bank plans to present these strategies, including job cuts and possibly moving roles outside Germany, at a capital markets day on February 13. This comes after UniCredit increased its stake in Commerzbank to 28%, prompting concerns about a hostile takeover. The German government has expressed opposition to UniCredit's approach, and the bank's management is under pressure to improve profitability and shareholder returns to maintain its independence.