Commerzbank is offering shares at a deep discount in a 2.5 billion euro ($3.3 billion) capital increase aimed at repaying funds it owes to the German government and insurer Allianz.
Germany's second-biggest lender said on Tuesday it was offering 556 million new shares at a subscription price of 4.50 euros per share, a discount of 55 percent to Monday's closing price of 9.94 euros.
That is equivalent to a 38 percent discount on the share price when excluding the value of subscription rights, set at 2.65 euros per share, and in line with expectations.
Current shareholders will be entitled to receive 20 new shares for every 21 shares they now hold. The subscription period starts on Wednesday and runs until May 28.
Commerzbank shares were indicated to open 2.6 percent lower in pre-market trade on Tuesday.
As part of the transaction, German bank bailout fund Soffin will sell Commerzbank shares worth 625 million euros, reducing its stake to roughly 17 percent from 25 percent.
Soffin's shares will likely be sold at a price near the theoretical ex-rights price of 7.28 euros, and the placement may start later on Tuesday, a source familiar with the transaction said.
In a 2008 bail-out, the German government took a 25 percent stake in Commerzbank and also granted it billions of euros in a debt-equity hybrid dubbed a silent participation.
By repaying the silent participation held by the state and insurer Allianz, Commerzbank will save annual interest expenses of roughly 200 million euros.
Commerzbank is joining a slew of European banks tapping shareholders for fresh money, including Germany's bellwether Deutsche Bank, Russia's second-largest bank VTB as well as Greek and Spanish banks.
The banks are taking advantage of bullish equity markets as European shares trade at five-year highs, while bank shares have returned to around the two-year high they had reached in late January.
Deutsche Bank, Citi and HSBC are organising the issue.