Commerzbank AG (CRZBY)

Germany denies report it is mulling law to protect banks from foreign takeovers

MILAN (Reuters) -Germany's finance ministry on Sunday denied that the country was considering introducing a law to protect domestic banks from cross-border takeovers as Italy's UniCredit seeks a merger with Germany's Commerzbank. Italian newspaper La Repubblica on Sunday cited a source close to the matter that the German government was considering a law preventing foreign lenders from buying 100% of any bank and requiring it remain listed in Germany. "We deny that," a spokesperson for the German finance ministry said.