Commerzbank has asserted that its largest investors have maintained their positions in the Frankfurt-based lender, defying the ongoing takeover bid from Italy's UniCredit.
The German bank stated that its shareholder structure remains largely unchanged despite the pressure from the acquisition offer, suggesting that institutional support for the independent entity persists.
The claim serves as a direct counter to UniCredit's strategy, which relies on building sufficient shareholder support to force a merger.
By highlighting the loyalty of major investors, Commerzbank aims to complicate the path to a successful takeover and bolster the case for remaining an independent institution.
The dispute highlights the deepening rift between the two European banking groups as the battle for control intensifies.
This development adds a new layer to the protracted corporate struggle between the two lenders.