Germany's Commerzbank is preparing staff cuts and revamped financial targets in its efforts to fend off tie-up advances by Italy's UniCredit , multiple people with direct knowledge of the plans told Reuters.

Commerzbank plans to lay off around 9% of its workforce in a bid to boost profitability and convince investors of its standalone prospects as it fends off an unwanted approach from Italy’s UniCredit.Germany’s leading lender for small and medium-size companies outlined a fresh strategy to defend its independence as UniCredit’s attempts to engineer a merger are slowed down by political opposition and pending elections.

UniCredit SpA Chief Executive Officer Andrea Orcel wants to decide at the end of this year whether he makes a takeover offer for Commerzbank AG, linking the decision to the next German government’s willingness to let the deal happen.