(Bloomberg) -- Commerzbank AG’s Bettina Orlopp said she may seek approval to pay out more than 100% of the bank’s profit at some point as she seeks to bolster defenses against a potential takeover by UniCredit SpA.
Outlining how she plans to deploy excess capital, Orlopp highlighted bolt-on acquisitions, organic growth and investor distributions. Deals would have to enhance value and must not entail difficult integrations, she said Friday at a conference organized by JPMorgan Chase & Co. Distributions could entail increasing the payout ratio, if capital metrics allow it.
“We have also seen in the past players who were able to go beyond the 100% as long as they had a strong capital ratio, a strong profitability,” Orlopp said. “Then I think you also have a case with the regulatory authorities to discuss that.”
Orlopp is working to accelerate her strategy as she tries to convince shareholders they’re better off if Commerzbank doesn’t get bought by UniCredit SpA. She has stepped up profitability and payout targets, and said improving capital allocation will be a cornerstone of her new plan. She has promised to provide more details at an investor event in February.
Commerzbank on Thursday named Carsten Schmitt as chief financial officer, a crucial role that became vacant when Orlopp was promoted to chief executive officer in September, shortly after UniCredit disclosed a large stake in the German lender.
The Frankfurt-based lender will likely end up with a capital cushion that substantially exceeds the target, creating room for payouts and investment, Orlopp said on Friday. Commerzbank’s common equity tier 1 ratio, which is the most closely watch capital metric, will likely be 15% by the end of the year, compared with a minimum goal of 13.5%, Orlopp said.
(Adds Orlopp comments on CET1 ratio in final paragraph.)
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