The European Central Bank is leaning toward approving UniCredit’s takeover of Commerzbank after an internal review found "no grounds to object" on prudential grounds, though German supervisors and ECB officials have flagged governance, trust and integration risks ahead of a final decision expected in September or October. UniCredit has built a 48% stake in Commerzbank as part of a €43 billion hostile bid, while CEO Andrea Orcel is pressing the German lender to begin from January a restructuring based on €1.3 billion of cost cuts, fewer management layers and stronger revenue generation, with Commerzbank remaining separate from UniCredit’s German unit until 2029 to 2030.