Votes of our corporate clients
Many companies in Germany want an independent Commerzbank, as several independent surveys have shown. They reject a hostile takeover of Commerzbank. Many corporate clients of Commerzbank have also spoken up, some quotes are listed here.
"The German family-owned businesses need Commerzbank as an independent international bank that provides strong support and guidance to us abroad as well. This is where Commerzbank sets an exemplary standard. A takeover by UniCredit would certainly be counterproductive in this regard and would significantly weaken family-owned businesses in their expansion plans."
Frank Natus
Managing Partner of Natus GmbH & Co KG and Chairman of the Vereinigung Trierer Unternehmer
"An acquisition of Commerzbank would weaken Germany’s SME sector and Germany as a financial centre. With Commerzbank, a central and independent financing partner would be lost. We need a strong, independent Commerzbank that is fully focused on its customers and whose decisions continue to be made in Germany."
Arndt G. Kirchhoff
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Kirchhoff Group
"As an industrial nation, Germany needs strong banks with firm roots in the country. A takeover of Commerzbank by UniCredit would put this at risk and shift decision-making authority abroad."
"I don't see any benefit in a takeover of Commerzbank; I fear it could lead to less competition among banks, potentially reduced access to credit, and a weakening of the local economy."
Prof. Dr. Matthias Zieschang
Fraport Chief Financial Officer
"For us, Commerzbank has been a reliable partner for decades. It stands for the German Mittelstand like hardly any other bank, supports companies and enables sustainable growth, also internationally. That is precisely why it is crucial that Commerzbank preserves its independence."
Rana Matthias Nag
Managing Director pfenning logistics GmbH
"As a globally operating company, Dräger needs strong, reliable banking partners who understand and support our business and make quick credit decisions. Commerzbank is an important partner for us. Experience shows that after an acquisition, companies are predominantly occupied with internal matters and hardly focus on their customers. This would be bad for our business."
Stefan Dräger
Chairman of the Board of Management of Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
"Europe needs strong banks – but Mittelstand needs reliable credit lines and fast decisions. Consolidation is only progress if it measurably improves credit availability and client service – this is precisely the crucial point."
Alexander Pietschmann
CEO Adam Hall GmbH
"Commerzbank understands our business as a family-owned company and has always been a strong supporter of the German Mittelstand. Commerzbank has been an integral part of our core banking circle for 30 years. And that’s how it should remain."
Martin Herrenknecht
CEO Herrenknecht AG
"The German Mittelstand expects competent local advisory services and timely credit decisions within Germany. An independent Commerzbank ensures this nationwide today. This is something that should not be jeopardized, particularly in times of crisis."
Christian Manthey
CEO of PottHandwerker.de Group
"The biggest challenge and greatest value destroyer in bank mergers is IT integration. There are numerous examples in the market underscoring this issue. Commerzbank spent 10 years integrating the IT systems of Dresdner Bank in a protracted and highly complex process. Should HVB and Commerzbank now be forced onto a single platform, it would undermine both banks and the German Mittelstand."
Dirk Martin
CEO Serviceware SE and Member of the Federal Board of Familienunternehmer e. V.
"HVB and Commerzbank effectively operate in the same market segment. A merger would result in a significant reduction of the combined loan portfolio of both banks. This gap could only be filled, if at all, with considerably higher lending rates. And there is a risk, especially in times of crisis, that foreign banks, which would otherwise step in, may swiftly pull back from the market."
Michael C. Wisser
Chairman of the Board of Management of the family-owned WISAG Group
