Commerzbank shares jumped on market open on Wednesday, after Italian bank UniCredit acquired a 4.5% stake in the Frankfurt-based lender from the German government. Commerzbank stock was up 17.5% at 9:37 a.m. London time. The stake acquisition marks the first step in Berlin's exit from its position in the German lender. The German government said it had sold around 53.1 million shares — or a roughly 4.49% tranche out of its 16.49% total shareholding — in Commerzbank for roughly 702 million euros ($775 million) to UniCredit. Also on Wednesday, the German lender said Commerzbank chief Manfred Knof will fulfil but not seek to renew his term after the end of his contract in December 2025.

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Persons: Commerzbank, Eva Grunwald, UniCredit, Manfred Knof Organizations: UniCredit, Bank, CNBC Locations: Frankfurt, London, Commerzbank, Berlin, Milan