FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank has given UniCredit approval to buy up to 29.9% of Commerzbank, the Italian bank said on Friday, adding it would likely wait until next year before deciding whether to pursue an acquisition.

1. The following are key metrics for the two banks.

2. Commerzbank's shares have soared since UniCredit began building its stake.

3. But Commerzbank shares are well off their highs before it was bailed out by the German government during the financial crisis.

(Reporting by Tom Sims and Valentina Za)