If a big French bank and a big British tank were talking of a merger, there would be scope for things to go awry if it's not clear who is running it. |
One motivation that could be at the back of European minds is the danger of the American banks coming in. |
So far there has been no doubt about who is taking over and who is running the show. It means that execution risk is kept at reasonably low levels. |
The commercial rationale for cross-border mergers (in banking) remains a little tenuous and the evidence is not conclusive that cost and revenue synergies can be achieved. |
With earnings so strong for the time being, there is pressure for money to be deployed either in share buybacks or special dividends or to go out and spend it. |