Others have had to wait for a merger, or are still waiting.
This fact was actually the main reason for the merger.
The decision was taken in April 2009 for the merger to go ahead.
No one spoke for or against the merger, he said.
The original push for merger started in the late 1970s.
The defeat was the second for the merger in four years.
There is a case, as has been argued before, for merger.
But it had taken 15 months to get approval for the merger.
Both companies say they are still on course for a merger, but the marketplace isn't so sure.
Market players are, however, skeptical about the plans for a merger.