With consolidation on their minds, ambitious investment banks are picking their partners. No-one expects SBC-UBS to be the last big merger. Now Euromoney gives you the opportunity to pick your own dream team of banks which are hot in the merger stakes. Rules of the first ever fantasy bank M&A competition are as follows:
Each team will consists of nine "players": three each in defence, midfield and attack. In defence are banks which, either through supreme arrogance or lethargy, are perfectly content in their existing form. Midfield consists of institutions which you feel most likely to be on the receiving end of a takeover bid. In attack are those firms which will jump into bed with anyone, by force if necessary.
If, as the result of takeover or merger, one of your teams leaves the playing field, you may replace it with a substitute (French banks are very good at this role).
There are some restrictions. Only banks with recognized investment-banking capacity are eligible. You must select banks from three different countries in each of the three positions (though firms from the same country can play on the same team in different positions).