Richard Saywell

The upcoming float of livestock exporter Wellard is set to be the fifth biggest in Western Australia’s history, and will also stretch the market lead of investment bank UBS, according to research by Business News.

Competition in the state’s investment banking sector is hotter than ever despite a fall-off in takeover deals and capital raisings last year.

Local players in the corporate finance market faced more competition than ever before from big national and international firms, WA Business News’ 2011 survey has found.

It is not that Perth dealmakers are joining the dole queues, they have just had a little more time on their hands recently.