Deals
Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank Said to Have Held Merger Talks
- Executives decided to halt talks pending banks’ revamps
- Combination would improve lenders’ ability to compete
Wheeler: Deutsche Bank-Commerzbank Too Big a Deal
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Deutsche Bank AG and Commerzbank AG executives held talks about a potential merger earlier in August but decided against pursuing a transaction as the companies focus on restructuring their own businesses first, according to a person familiar with the discussions.
Exploratory talks involved Deutsche Bank Chief Executive Officer John Cryan and his counterpart at Commerzbank, Martin Zielke, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations were private. Deutsche Bank Chief Financial Officer Marcus Schenck led a group of executives examining the plan, the person said.