A Malaysian bank to top South-East Asia?

BIGGER is not necessarily better but there are some definite advantages to having heft. Better margins, for instance, and the ability to do deals, and to cut costs by downsizing after you have become big, all of which offer profit opportunities.

And then there is ego, the stature, standing and prestige which comes with being number one, even if it is only in terms of size. And often times it is ego too which will decide whether to do a takeover or not.