The European banking industry has been supposedly on the verge of a flood of mergers and takeovers for at least a decade — and I’ve spent most of those years writing about why it wasn’t going to happen.

Germany will not subject any potential takeover of Commerzbank by Italy's UniCredit to an investment screening, a German government source said on Thursday.

Commerzbank has, like some other banks, had a rocky history with big mergers and acquisitions over the years. These are some of the key moments: The bank was founded in Hamburg and later moved to Berlin. It relocated to Frankfurt in 1970 as one of Germany's leading banks, focusing on retail and corporate customers.

Germany’s DekaBank has scored a major win, bagging a crypto custody license from BaFin, the country’s financial watchdog, and the European Central Bank (ECB).

Michael Kretschmer re-elected as state premier in Saxony, a former Assad-regime military leader is jailed, Germany approves massive defence purchase and more news on Thursday.

Major Italian bank UniCredit is expanding its stake in German lender Commerzbank through financial instruments, with the total position now amounting to around 28%, the Italian bank announced on Wednesday.

Italian bank UniCredit said Wednesday it had boosted its stake in Germany's Commerzbank, intensifying takeover speculation and sparking condemnation from Berlin of an "unfriendly" move at a time the country is in political limbo.

Germany has rejected UniCredit's latest Commerzbank stake increase as an "uncoordinated and unfriendly approach", strongly rebuking the Italian bank.

Unicredit, Italy's second largest bank, on Wednesday said it had increased its stake in Germany's Commerzbank from 21 percent to around 28 percent amid growing speculation of an attempted buyout.

Investors are watching whether UniCredit will proceed with a takeover venture of Germany’s Commerzbank or Italian peer Banco BPM.

Germany has rejected UniCredit's move to increase its stake in Commerzbank as an 'uncoordinated and unfriendly approach'. This strong rebuke comes amidst concerns about the Italian bank’s growing influence in Germany’s second-largest listed lender.