UBS and the UK banks shake-up
Some cheering news on an otherwise tough day for UBS - the Swiss bank has bagged key roles for both Lloyds and RBS, as the two British banks agree to a massive shake-up that involves taking 31 billion pounds more of government money. As Victoria Howley and Daisy Ku wrote earlier:
“UBS AG (UBSN.VX) has taken key roles on two landmark deals to shore up British banks — landing the Swiss bank a welcome boost in fees and prestige on the same day it shocked the market with worse-than-expected results.
“UBS is working alongside Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAC.N) to raise 13.5 billion pounds ($22 billion) for Lloyds Banking Group Plc (LLOY.L) in the world’s largest rights issue.
“It is also working with Morgan Stanley (MS.N) to advise Royal Bank of Scotland Plc (RBS.L) on its participation in the UK government’s Asset Protection Scheme (APS). [ID:nL3540088]
“UBS’s advisory team is led by Alex Wilmot-Sitwell, co-chief executive of the investment bank, and Chris Fox, a managing director in the bank’s London financial institutions group.
“Lloyds is paying 500 million pounds in fees and expenses, of which 190 million pounds ($309 million) will go to the six banks underwriting the rights issue — UBS and Merrill alongside Citi (C.N), Goldman Sachs (GS.N), HSBC (HSBA.L) and JPMorgan Cazenove (JPM.N).
“As joint sponsors and global co-ordinators, UBS and Merrill are likely to earn more than the other four, implying payouts of more than 32 million pounds each.”
For the full story, click here.
For more on UBS honcho Wilmot-Sitwell, see this profile in the Times of London from April, with nuggets such as the fact his father is credited with inventing the “dawn raid”.
Elsewhere, Legal Week magazine has the skinny on the “Magic Circle” law firms working for RBS, Lloyds and the Treasury.





