European Event-Driven Analyst

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Commerzbank's Strong Standalone Outlook: The bank exceeded 2024 targets, announced a 100% payout ratio by 2028, and aims for €14.2 billion in revenue and 15% RoTE by 2028, reducing the urgency for a sale.</li>
<li>UniCredit's Takeover Strategy: UniCredit has secured a 28% synthetic stake in Commerzbank and plans to convert it into equity by mid-2025, with a potential &gt;€20/share bid expected late 2025/early 2026.</li>
<li>Political and Regulatory Challenges: The German government (12% owner), labor unions, and local politicians oppose the deal, citing financial sovereignty concerns, making a near-term takeover highly uncertain despite UniCredit's strategic push.</li>
</ul>


Commerzbank's Strong Standalone Outlook: The bank exceeded 2024 targets, announced a 100% payout ratio by 2028, and aims for €14.2 billion in revenue and 15% RoTE by 2028, reducing the urgency for a sale.
UniCredit's Takeover Strategy: UniCredit has secured a 28% synthetic stake in Commerzbank and plans to convert it into equity by mid-2025, with a potential &gt;€20/share bid expected late 2025/early 2026.
Political and Regulatory Challenges: The German government (12% owner), labor unions, and local politicians oppose the deal, citing financial sovereignty concerns, making a near-term takeover highly uncertain despite UniCredit's strategic push.


UniCredit/Commerzbank: Comerzbank's CMD, Update on Timeline and Challenges

<ul>
<li>UniCredit increased its economic exposure to Commerzbank to approximately 28%, aligning with its strategy to reach a 29.9% stake, pending ECB approval in early 2025.</li>
<li>Commerzbank’s operational inefficiencies and valuation at 0.56x tangible book value highlight challenges for independence, reinforcing the rationale for a potential UniCredit takeover. My core position would be long Commerzbank.</li>
<li>Projected synergies for a UniCredit-Commerzbank merger range from €705 million to €1.409 billion annually, with significant upside for Commerzbank’s share price if a takeover occurs.</li>
</ul>


UniCredit increased its economic exposure to Commerzbank to approximately 28%, aligning with its strategy to reach a 29.9% stake, pending ECB approval in early 2025.
Commerzbank’s operational inefficiencies and valuation at 0.56x tangible book value highlight challenges for independence, reinforcing the rationale for a potential UniCredit takeover. My core position would be long Commerzbank.
Projected synergies for a UniCredit-Commerzbank merger range from €705 million to €1.409 billion annually, with significant upside for Commerzbank’s share price if a takeover occurs.


UniCredit's Strategic Stake in Commerzbank and Implications for a Takeover

<ul>
<li>Commerzbank’s incoming CEO Bettina Orlopp announced talks with UniCredit on September 27 regarding a potential merger. Despite opposition from management and Chancellor Scholz, some investors support the discussions.</li>
<li>Since UniCredit's entry into Commerzbank on September 10, Commerzbank's stock has surged 30%, outperforming UniCredit's 9.2% rise and the European banking sector's 6.3% gain.</li>
<li>Buying Commerzbank is strategically and financially logical. In conclusion, I maintain my recommendation to buy Commerzbank speculatively.</li>
</ul>


Commerzbank’s incoming CEO Bettina Orlopp announced talks with UniCredit on September 27 regarding a potential merger. Despite opposition from management and Chancellor Scholz, some investors support the discussions.
Since UniCredit's entry into Commerzbank on September 10, Commerzbank's stock has surged 30%, outperforming UniCredit's 9.2% rise and the European banking sector's 6.3% gain.
Buying Commerzbank is strategically and financially logical. In conclusion, I maintain my recommendation to buy Commerzbank speculatively.


<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/unicredit-spa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21234:1" rel="noopener">UniCredit SpA (UCG IM)</a> has raised its <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/commerzbank-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21596:1" rel="noopener">Commerzbank AG (CBK GR)</a> stake to 21%; Chancellor Scholz called it "hostile takeover". UniCredit also filed to increase its stake up to 29.9%.</li>
<li>Commerzbank’s valuation multiples remain attractive, as despite a 21.3% rise in its stock, it still trades at a price-to-book ratio (P/B) of just 0.57x, compared to UniCredit’s 0.98x.</li>
<li>The conditions remain favorable for a potential premium acquisition by UniCredit, as acquiring Commerzbank makes both strategic and financial sense. Thus I recommend to buy Commerzbank speculatively.</li>
</ul>



UniCredit SpA (UCG IM) has raised its Commerzbank AG (CBK GR) stake to 21%; Chancellor Scholz called it "hostile takeover". UniCredit also filed to increase its stake up to 29.9%.
Commerzbank’s valuation multiples remain attractive, as despite a 21.3% rise in its stock, it still trades at a price-to-book ratio (P/B) of just 0.57x, compared to UniCredit’s 0.98x.
The conditions remain favorable for a potential premium acquisition by UniCredit, as acquiring Commerzbank makes both strategic and financial sense. Thus I recommend to buy Commerzbank speculatively.


US-EU Index Rebalances / Quantitative Researcher, ORTEX

Dimitris Ioannidis

US-EU Index Rebalances / Quantitative Researcher

Global Financial Data and Analytics Platform

ORTEX

ORTEX is a global financial data and analytics platform providing real-time securities lending and short interest data, index rebalance data, holdings and insider transactions, trading signals, corporate actions and news,  stock machine learning and factor scores and other analytics. The majority of the data are downloadable and accessible through APIs.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aib-group-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:43916:1" rel="noopener">AIB Group (AIBG IE)</a> is expected to experience an increase in free float from 75% to 80% in November 2024 due to the Irish Government reducing its stake this month.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/commerzbank-ag" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21596:1" rel="noopener">Commerzbank AG (CBK GR)</a> is forecasted to have a ~2% points free float <em>decrease</em> in Global and European Indices as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/unicredit-spa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21234:1" rel="noopener">UniCredit</a> bought more than what the German Government sold.</li>
<li>The UK Government continues slashing its stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/natwest-group-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21008:1" rel="noopener">NatWest Group (NWG LN)</a> with potential further free float increases coming in November and December 2024.</li>
</ul>



AIB Group (AIBG IE) is expected to experience an increase in free float from 75% to 80% in November 2024 due to the Irish Government reducing its stake this month.

Commerzbank AG (CBK GR) is forecasted to have a ~2% points free float decrease in Global and European Indices as UniCredit bought more than what the German Government sold.
The UK Government continues slashing its stake in NatWest Group (NWG LN) with potential further free float increases coming in November and December 2024.


European Governments' Bank Sell-Off: Boosting Confidence and Occasionally Free Float

Germany

Commerzbank AG attracts deposits and offers retail and commercial banking services.  The Bank offers mortgage loans, securities brokerage and asset management services, private banking, foreign exchange, and treasury services worldwide.

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Commerzbank AG (CBK GR)

UniCredit/Commerzbank: Comerzbank's CMD, Update on Timeline and Challenges

Commerzbank's strong performance and resistance to UniCredit's takeover bid create uncertainty despite ambitious growth targets.

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

UniCredit's Strategic Stake in Commerzbank and Implications for a Takeover

UniCredit increases stake in Commerzbank to 28%, eyeing potential takeover pending ECB approval in 2025. Synergies projected to boost share price...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Commerzbank Enters Talks with Unicredit

Commerzbank’s incoming CEO announced talks with UniCredit on September 27. Despite opposition from management and Chancellor Scholz, some investors...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Unicredit Is Moving Fast

UniCredit raises stake in Commerzbank to 21%. Commerzbank remains undervalued with attractive multiples, making it a potential target for...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

European Governments' Bank Sell-Off: Boosting Confidence and Occasionally Free Float

European governments are reducing stakes in AIB Group, Commerzbank AG, and NatWest, and triggering changes in free float percentages for European...

Dimitris Ioannidis

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

UniCredit/Commerzbank: Comerzbank's CMD, Update on Timeline and Challenges

​Commerzbank's strong performance and resistance to UniCredit's takeover bid create uncertainty despite ambitious growth targets.

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

UniCredit's Strategic Stake in Commerzbank and Implications for a Takeover

​UniCredit increases stake in Commerzbank to 28%, eyeing potential takeover pending ECB approval in 2025. Synergies projected to boost share price...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Commerzbank Enters Talks with Unicredit

Commerzbank’s incoming CEO announced talks with UniCredit on September 27. Despite opposition from management and Chancellor Scholz, some investors...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

Unicredit Is Moving Fast

​UniCredit raises stake in Commerzbank to 21%. Commerzbank remains undervalued with attractive multiples, making it a potential target for...

Jesus Rodriguez Aguilar

European Governments' Bank Sell-Off: Boosting Confidence and Occasionally Free Float

​European governments are reducing stakes in AIB Group, Commerzbank AG, and NatWest, and triggering changes in free float percentages for European...

Dimitris Ioannidis

Commerzbank's strong performance and resistance to UniCredit's takeover bid create uncertainty despite ambitious growth targets.

UniCredit increases stake in Commerzbank to 28%, eyeing potential takeover pending ECB approval in 2025. Synergies projected to boost share price...

UniCredit raises stake in Commerzbank to 21%. Commerzbank remains undervalued with attractive multiples, making it a potential target for...

European governments are reducing stakes in AIB Group, Commerzbank AG, and NatWest, and triggering changes in free float percentages for European...