Nomura flatly denies rumours of another very, very top level departure (Updated)

We are nearly at the point in time when much of Nomura's stable of European investment banking talent will be free to cantor off into the sunset, if it so wishes.

Nomura bankers without guarantees will have their 2009 bonuses announced this week, and paid in a couple of weeks' time. Former Lehman bankers with guarantees are already free to go: they were told their amounts a few weeks ago and the money is apparently already in their accounts.

All of this is predictably leading to rumours of senior level departures. After all, Nomura lost 11 or more senior Asian bankers, many of them ex-Lehman, after its Asian bonuses were paid earlier this year.

The latest departure rumours concern Christian Meissner, the former co-chief executive of Lehman Brothers International-turned deputy head of investment banking at Nomura.

Meissner is rumoured to be leaving Nomura and joining BofA Merrill Lynch, where he will (allegedly) become head of EMEA investment banking.

Nomura flatly denies Meissner's exit. Nor is BofA Merrill able to comment on his arrival, which suggests the rumours may be entirely spurious.

If, however, it transpires that Meissner is leaving, it will be another blow for Nomura, which is leaking senior staff associated with the Lehman purchase following the surprise resignation of Sadeq Sayeed as head of Europe earlier this month.

Moving Meissner may be easier said than done, however. His wife is reputedly an heiress, making him independently wealthy. According to Wealth Bulletin, it took two years for Lehman to prise him out of Goldman Sachs in 2004.

Update: Nomura's denials appear to have been wishful thinking. Meissner has indeed gone.