Mercantile Discount Bank Ltd. seeks to acquire controlling interest in Dexia Israel Bank Ltd. (TASE:DXIL). Competition for the acquisition of the controlling interest in Dexia Israel Bank is heating up. Mercantile Discount Bank has announced to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) its intention of bidding for the acquisition of a controlling interest in Dexia Israel. "The Board of Directors at Discount Bank is considering the possibility of a merger between Dexia Israel and Mercantile Discount Bank and has authorized Discount Bank's management to contact you with a request for inclusion in any proceeding in this matter," Discount Bank Chief Executive Officer, Lilach Asher-Topilsky wrote in a letter to Levana Shifman, Chairperson of Dexia Israel. The letter continued, "We believe that the character of the Discount group's activity and its size and capabilities facilitate an optimal integration of Dexia Israel's unique activity with that of Discount Bank."