Germany’s New Finance Minister Backs Commerzbank Independence

Germany backs Commerzbank AG as an independent firm, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said Friday, indicating that opposition to the bank’s potential takeover by UniCredit SpA won’t abate under the country’s new government.

“We are committed to Commerzbank’s independence,” Klingbeil said in a statement to the German newswire DPA on Friday that was confirmed by a finance ministry spokesperson.

“Unfriendly behavior such as that displayed by UniCredit is unacceptable,” he said. “This is particularly true in the case of a systemically important bank such as Commerzbank.”

The comments from the new finance minister are likely to dampen expectations that Germany’s new ...