German regulators have established an April deadline for any initial approval regarding the potential acquisition of Commerzbank by UniCredit. Reports indicate that Commerzbank is implementing measures, referred to as 'poison pills,' which include extending the contracts of executives Schaufler and Mlnarsky and entering into a new lease agreement, thereby increasing costs for any prospective buyer. UniCredit's CEO has acknowledged the emergence of new challenges in banking mergers and suggested that a decision on the Commerzbank acquisition might not be reached until 2027. Additionally, it has been noted that Commerzbank has not engaged in discussions with UniCredit following the European Central Bank's approval for a stake in the bank. Meanwhile, Monte dei Paschi anticipates receiving the necessary approvals for its bid for Mediobanca by the end of June, according to its CEO.