Credit Suisse First Boston and KBC have picked up a jumbo mandate to lead the combined equity and exchangeable issue for Bayer, the German drugs firm, on the sale of its stake in Agfa Gevaert.

The deal adds to a strong start to the year for CFSB, which has clocked lead roles on many of the biggest deals in Europe. These include the €2.7bn sale of shares in Eni, the Italian oil and gas company, and the €1.86bn secondary sale for Alstom, the French engineering group, which CSFB led with Société Générale.