Neils Christensen has a diploma in journalism from Lethbridge College and has more than a decade of reporting experience working for news organizations throughout Canada. His experiences include covering territorial and federal politics in Nunavut, Canada.
Bettina Orlopp will take over as chief executive officer of Germany's Commerzbank in the near future, the bank announced on Tuesday.
UniCredit Chief Executive Andrea Orcel has succeeded in uniting Germany's political establishment in opposition to his stakebuilding in Commerzbank , the country's second largest lender.
Commerzbank's deputy chair voiced opposition on Tuesday to a takeover of the German bank by Italy's UniCredit ,
Stefan Wittmann, who is also a senior official at German trade union Verdi, told CNBC's Annette Weisbach that "we certainly hope we can avoid" a hostile takeover by the Italian bank. UniCredit believes substantial value can be unlocked within Commerzbank, Germany's second-largest lender, but it said that further action is required for that value to be "crystalized.
The potential takeover of Germany's Commerzbank by Italy's UniCredit has ignited a fierce political and economic debate, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz coming out firmly against the deal. As UniCredit raises its stake in Commerzbank from 9% to 21%, concerns over national sovereignty and economic independence have taken center stage.
UniCredit's attempt to participate in Commerzbank without consultation is an unfriendly act and is not appropriate in Europe and in Germany, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday.
Stefan Wittmann, a member of Commerzbank's supervisory board, on Monday condemned the buildup by UniCredit of its stake in German bank as a "completely inappropriate aggressive act".
In a strategic move reflecting confidence in Germany's banking sector, UniCredit, Italy's largest lender, has raised its stake in Commerzbank to 21%. The Italian bank, led by CEO Andrea Orcel, plans to increase its shareholding further, targeting up to 29.9%.
UniCredit on Monday said it's reached an agreement to further increase its stake in Commerzbank as the German government increasingly attempts to ward off an Italian acquisition of its number-two bank.
The Italian lender had earlier disclosed a 9% stake in its German peer, reviving speculation that it could pursue a tie-up.
UniCredit announced it had increased its stake in German lender Commerzbank to 21% and submitted a request to boost the holding to up to 29.9%.