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UBS and Credit Suisse could combine investment banks: investor

A tram drives past the building of Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse (R) at the Paradeplatz in Zurich January 15, 2015. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss bank UBS <UBSG.VX> could combine its investment banking arm with that of Credit Suisse <CSGN.VX> to create a top player, Eric Knight, head of activist investor Knight Vinke, was quoted as saying in an interview with a Swiss paper on Sunday.

Knight Vinke said last month UBS should look at spinning off or merging its investment bank so the group can focus on its wealth and asset management businesses.

Asked whether he thought UBS and Credit Suisse should combine their investment banks, Knight told Sonntagszeitung: "Such a combination could be an interesting way to reach critical mass and the shareholders of both groups could profit from large synergy effects.

"The fusion would create a top player. But there are other possible partners, for instance Deutsche Bank <DBKGn.DE>," he was quoted as saying.

Knight told Reuters last year he believed UBS would eventually follow his advice and split off its investment bank.

UBS will hold its shareholder meeting on May 7.

Knight, who could not immediately be reached for comment, has previously said he believes UBS's wealth management business would thrive on its own and took a roughly 1 percent stake last year in the group to campaign for a split.

(Reporting by Alice Baghdjian; Editing by David Holmes)