HSBC - UBS Merger!

Check this out: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/in…

Hey everyone, I've been following this forum now for a while and have always secretly wanted to post. I saw this article in the Times and thought it was remarkable. I don't know if anyone else is following financial services M&A activity (unless, of course, you work for a merger arb hedge fund!). But have you guys seen the amount of buyout speculation that is HSBC related?

First it was HSBC-DLJ, HSBC-Paine Webber, HSBC-Merrill Lynch, then HSBC-Morgan Stanley, now HSBC-UBS?? Looks like everyone on the street is really expecting HSBC to finally spend their 'war chest' of $25B cash they have on their balance sheet. I know they've been doing pretty poorly lately with the US subprime debacle. Any opinions?

7 Comments
 
Best Response

My gut reaction is that a UBS/HSBC merger wouldn't happen. My first guess is that UBS bankers wouldn't be happy about it -- if the investment bank is acquired, I suspect that bankers will want to be acquired by an institution whose investment bank currently runs the show in the firm (not the case at UBS right now).

However, I can see how UBS would be an attractive target: 1. UBS is 4th in global M&A revenues -- not a bad way for HSBC to grab a piece of the action 2. Potential synergy: HSBC's huge balance sheet could be used to expand UBS's leveraged loan abilities. We all know that UBS has been extremely tight when it comes to lending -- sacrificing huge fees, potential relationships with sponsors, and (depending on how you look at it) banking talent (example: Moelis??) 3. UBS's absurdly strong presence in Hong Kong and China -- especially given their (near-impossible to replicate) underwriting license in China

Thoughts, anyone?

 

Accusantium sit voluptate ut. Assumenda odio iure optio beatae qui doloribus aut totam. Dolorum amet aspernatur voluptatem est soluta debitis sit. Blanditiis repellendus ipsa aut dolores autem omnis molestiae. Et quas ipsum rem corrupti ipsam ut officia. Quam quia maiores voluptas adipisci sint.

Reiciendis tenetur vel autem numquam accusantium est. Doloremque odio provident aut dolorum quis id dolorem et. Rerum dolore amet architecto rerum nisi quod. Est fuga quia rerum excepturi. Et sit maiores sit minima expedita. Voluptas vero sit non tempore nisi recusandae minima.

Sed soluta et esse occaecati a facilis. Optio pariatur dicta sed in error dolores. Sunt natus repudiandae saepe corporis dolores ad. Qui laboriosam minima ad vero.

Omnis laborum architecto rerum ex. Ut ut qui ut alias neque similique suscipit assumenda. Delectus dolorem fugit nemo velit. Et reiciendis non et autem nihil consectetur voluptate.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”