HSH Nordbank: God’s gift to shipping
Saxo bank: Building on a bright idea
A world-wide local business: Rabobank
Smarter than bigger rivals: SEB
The world’s internet banker: ING Direct
THE TOP 10 banks in equity capital markets today command a global market share of more than 50%. A look at the broad league tables of bookrunners for bond deals or M&A advisory over the years will paint a similar picture of a growing consolidation of market share among the top tier banks. Pretty much the same picture emerges in the rankings of market share for fixed income and equity trading, and in FX too. In almost all areas of banking it seems that the world’s largest banks are tightening their grip and squeezing out smaller rivals.
Yet the broad picture obscures the fact that there are many smaller banks, particularly in Europe, that are succeeding in carving out strong niche businesses in which they not only give the world’s biggest banks a run for their money but beat them too.
While Société Générale Corporate and Investment Bank’s success in the equity derivatives market is perhaps the most obvious and eye-catching example, there are many more.