EU Sets November 16 Deadline for UniCredit’s Commerzbank Takeover Review

Italian lender UniCredit has sought European Union antitrust approval for its proposed takeover of German banking group Commerzbank, with the European Commission setting November 16, 2026, as the deadline for its decision, according to a filing published on Friday. The proposed acquisition comes amid growing consolidation in Europe’s banking sector.

The deal highlights Italian banks’ increasing interest in mergers and acquisitions, as European regulators support cross-border deals aimed at creating stronger European banking champions. The German government holds a 13.3% stake in Commerzbank, while UniCredit has already secured nearly half of the German lender’s share capital.

The European Commission, the EU’s competition regulator, can approve the transaction with or without concessions during its preliminary review. However, if it identifies serious competition concerns, it could launch a full-scale investigation. The European Central Bank was leaning towards approving UniCredit’s takeover bid, Reuters reported in August, although the final outcome will depend on the regulatory review.

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