by Marcus Walker, Luciano Mondellini, Phillip Moore and Nick Kochan.
Vodafone's takeover of Mannesmann: The bid that couldn't fail
Some have it, the rest want it: the skills, track records and connections that help you win advisory mandates on Europe's high-profile deals. Advising on the very biggest transactions can send you shooting to the top of the M&A league table. You only have to look at the rankings since the euro came in: the six advisers to Vodafone AirTouch and Mannesmann occupy the top six places.
But in addition to the high profile sector of telecoms, advisory work continues across the board as investment banks fight to carve out a franchise in a pan-European and often global marketplace. The success of their overall investment-banking business may depend on it: winning corporate clients in other areas, especially primary capital markets, may hinge on being close...
