Analysts said the deal, which brings with it 70,000 Zebank clients, represented a solid foundation for Egg's European ambitions and offered great potential for Egg's core credit-card business. 'Zebank would give Egg a plug-and-play business in France, including all the relevant regulatory licences, staff and infrastructure,'said Merrill Lynch. 'The French credit card market is attractive and seems ripe for some new competition.'