UniCredit, Commerzbank CEOs briefly spoke but did not start merger talks, source says

FRANKFURT, Aug 6 (Reuters) - The CEOs of UniCredit and Commerzbank briefly met on the sidelines of a private event after the Italian bank secured 48% of its German rival in a takeover bid, but their exchange did not mark the start of any negotiation, a source close to UniCredit said.

"They discussed the necessary accounting and other steps related to UniCredit's taking control and consolidating Commerzbank. It was not the start of any negotiation," the person said.

UniCredit remains open to directly engage with Commerzbank stakeholders - especially the German government and workers' representatives - as well as the governing bodies of Commerzbank's Polish unit mBank, the person said.

(Reporting by Tom Sims, Writing by Valentina Za;)