UniCredit and Commerzbank in Merger Talks - potential new EU BB?
After the German state reduced its stake in Commerzbank yesterday (which it has held since the financial crisis and the merger of Commerzbank and Dresdner Bank), it was also revealed today that UniCredit has secured nearly 10% of the shares in Commerzbank.
According to Reuters, Mergermarket and other sources, merger talks have already been initiated by UniCredit with Commerzbank management.
Together, UniCredit and Commerzbank would be on par internationally with Deutsche Bank and UBS in terms of their size.
How do you view the potential merger? Will there be a new European Bulge Bracket?
The implications for European investment banking could be significant, as Andrea Orcel (Unicredit CEO), being a former investment banker himself, has a strong affinity for this sector. Additionally, Commerzbank still has many former Dresdner Kleinwort investment bankers who have been waiting for years to be let off the leash again.
Leash is crazy
Future EBB, probably on par with its North American elite counterpart RBC
The restructured Commerzbank is a valuable asset for Unicredit. This could lead to the creation of a European powerhouse capable of competing with American banks.
To be an European BB like UBS/Barclays/DB you need an extensive S&T platform to support your ECM platform not sure if both of them have a credible platform even in Europe. On top of that you must have an international IB platform in the US and APAC which so far I know both don’t have… it would just become more of a BNP Paribas if anything.
I don't think BNP Paribas is a valid comparison given how strong their S&T franchise is
Exactly as a bank you need to be able to provide a global footprint and the full range of products (hedging, fx, etc) in order to be relevant in investment banking. Otherwise you go for the boutique business model
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