In contrast to Berlin’s stiff opposition, many family-owned businesses are pragmatic about a bid by UniCredit
Italian lender sidestepped bank ownership rules to build 21% position in German rival
Bloc’s officials say opposition to UniCredit’s move on German lender at odds with Berlin’s pro-EU stance
Banks getting bigger may be attractive, but there are significant drawbacks — especially for the taxpayer
German lender lays out standalone case as it lifts growth and profit targets
String of recent megadeals includes $36bn acquisition by Mars and $20bn takeover by Verizon
Support for open-minded talks with Italian bank comes despite hardening political opposition to potential takeover
Current chief financial officer is sceptical about case for combining Italian and German lenders
UniCredit chief faces stiff opposition from German government and irritation within the ECB
Plus, Murdoch vies for property listings group Rightmove and a private equity continuation fund’s collapse shows the vehicles’ pitfalls
Blocking a richly priced offer purely on ideological grounds could be tricky
Italian lender raised its stake in German rival from about 9 per cent to 21 per cent through derivatives
After advising on the disastrous break-up of ABN Amro, the banker appears to be positioning UniCredit for a takeover of its German rival
German bank says potential multibillion tie-up with Italian rival could hit lending to Mittelstand companies
Senior figures in German government believe Italian lender took ‘stealthy’ approach to stakebuilding
Deal is a textbook example of how not to create price tension in a capital markets offering
Opposition politicians riled by top government officials caught unaware of talks with Italian lender
German lender puts ‘everything under review’ after Italian rival builds 9% stake
Former UBS dealmaker has contemplated tie-up with state-backed German lender for years but Berlin may balk
Plus, Wall Street succeeds in bringing down new capital rules and Adnoc goes after a German chemicals giant
Italian lender’s purchase of 9% stake in German rival could signal start of long-awaited banking consolidation
Berlin ‘naive’ to put key lender to Mittelstand companies on the line, says Verdi
Regulators and politicians should, this time, allow the race to run its course
Departure comes as German state cuts its stake in the lender from 16.5% to 12%
Frankfurt-based lender seeks €600mn payout despite ‘burdens’ in Poland and Russia
