UniCredit acquired the additional Commerzbank shares through financial instruments and has submitted a request to boost the holding to up to 29.9%. The German government, a major shareholder of Commerzbank,

With the 4.5% stake it had accumulated during the summer through derivates, the 4.5% stake it bought from the German government’s block sale of shares, and Monday’s announcement of an extra 11.5% position, UniCredit will control just under 21% of Commerzbank.

The UniCredit-Commerzbank takeover saga not only highlights the clash between cross-border consolidation and national interests, with German political opposition blocking UniCredit’s bid, but it is also risking diplomatic relations between Germany and Italy.