Deutsche Bank snaps up Credit Suisse dealmaker to head M&A

afr.com:

Deutsche Bank could be set to make a comeback to the Australian M&A scene after a well-heeled hire was announced to staff on Friday afternoon.

James Von Moltke, right, with Deutsche Bank Australia CEO Glenn Morgan. Oscar Colman

Street Talk understands the investment bank has tapped Credit Suisse dealmaker David Geddes to head M&A Down Under, reporting to head of investment banking Hugh Macdonald.

A notable name in dealmaking circles, Geddes has spent his entire career at Credit Suisse. He started as an intern in 2010 and rose to head of M&A by 2021.

There, he made a name for himself working on the demerger of United Malt from GrainCorp, Qube’s move on Asciano, and more recently, on defence for software company InfoMedia.

Deutsche Bank disappeared from M&A a few years ago after staff departures. But it has been active in debt deals, including paying a role in the biggest loan deal of 2023 — AirTrunk’s $4.76 billion deal done this month.

In its heyday, the bank advised New South Wales on its $US7.38 billion sale of TransGrid and Santos on its $2.5 billion rights issue and strategic review.

Geddes follows in the footsteps of investment banker Karla Wynne who left Credit Suisse in June to become Deutsche’s head of consumer, retail and healthcare for Australia and New Zealand. She is best known for running Bank of America’s equity capital markets team and floated Viva Energy, before joining the ASX-listed company as its head of strategy.

Deutsche also appointed Credit Suisse head of Southeast Asia M&A Zi-Kuan Lim as co-head of Asia-Pacific M&A in May and 27-year Credit Suisse veteran dealmaker William Mansfield as chair of M&A for EMEA in April.

Geddes will be looking to get some runs on the board as the investment bank