“A marriage of German flair and Italian efficiency”
A commentator’s description of UniCredit’s $16 billion takeover of HVB Group in June 2005
 |
“OK, if there were a big credit event, and if it coincided with one of the dealers going down, there would be a problem. How many ‘ifs’ do they want?”
In January 2006, this credit derivatives banker took issue with a Fitch report arguing there was too much risk in the market. It turned out there were more than enough ‘ifs’
“Private equity has the liquidity, hedge funds have the brains – the only thing us banks have left is credibility...”
Not much has changed since an investment banker told us this in February 2006 – apart from the last bit perhaps
“Have you seen the share price this morning?” “No. Why?” “Looks like we’re bust again”
Two Royal Bank of Scotland bankers were overheard in a lift at the Bishopsgate HQ in November 2008