BofA merger creates No. 1 debt, equity underwriter

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bank of America's acquisition of Merrill Lynch creates the No. 1 underwriter of global debt and equity securities, bumping off JPMorgan from the top spot, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Banc of America Securities and Merrill Lynch underwrote $45.6 billion in equity worldwide year to date, compared to $39.7 billion for JPMorgan Chase. The two underwrote $331 billion of global debt, versus $325 billion for JPMorgan.

Prior to the merger, Banc of America Securities was No. 8 in equity underwriting, with $17.4 billion, and No. 10 in debt underwriting with $145.7 billion.

Bank of America and Merrill also move into second place for global syndicated lending, with $141.8 billion in loans, replacing Citigroup, now in third place with $132.1 billion. JPMorgan remains first in global syndicated lending at $234.6 billion, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Bank of America rises to fourth place in mergers and acquisitions with the Merrill acquisition. The two have advised on $455.6 billion in deals year to date, excluding duplicate credit where they both advised on the same mergers. Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and JPMorgan are the top three firms for mergers and acquisitions year to date, advising on a respective $741.8 billion, $561.6 billion and $547.9 billion in deals.

(Reporting by Dena Aubin, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama,)