Rivals say this is how Merrill Lynch won a big role in the record takeover of HCA, a health-care group, in July, for $33 billion including debt.

• 竞争对手说，在7月对HCA，一家医疗集团，的总额达330亿美元（含债务）的收购案中，美林公司就是用这种方式为自己赢得了大头。