Germany's Commerzbank has demanded a formal written proposal amid a potential takeover by Italian bank UniCredit. "We have always signalled our willingness to talk and would examine a proposal from UniCredit in the interests of all stakeholders,

Commerzbank on Wednesday defined UniCredit's approach for a potential tie-up as "hostile", and said there had been no discussion of it with the Italian bank in the past two years, despite UniCredit CEO Andrea Orcel saying there had.

UniCredit SpA Chief Executive Officer Andrea Orcel said he was surprised by the backlash in Germany over his efforts to acquire Commerzbank AG, saying his bank was invited to bid and communicated with all sides.

Commerzbank reiterated on Friday that it will not meet with UniCredit for formal discussions until it receives a specific proposal from the Italian bank, which has ruffled feathers in Berlin with its interest in a merger.