Instead of a merger between the DTCC and LCH.Clearnet, that probably is more driven by the ego of people involved, a merger of post-trading infrastructures in the field of clearing/central counterparty services and in settlement services in Europe would make much more sense for the financial industry. This would mean a merger between Euroclear and LCH.Clearnet and would create in Europe a structure comparable to the DTCC in the US, that also offers both clearing/CCP services and settlement services.