Barclays Claims It Is Motivated by Shareholder Value. But We Suspect the Truth Is More About Ego and Politics Barclays Claims It Is Motivated by Shareholder Value. But We Suspect the Truth Is More About Ego and Politics' ; Is the Abn Amro Merger Bid Good Business, or Is the Chief Executive Just Trying to Impress His in-Laws?

Mail on Sunday › March 25, 2007

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Summary

The biggest cross-border banking deal Europe has ever seen could transform the industry in Britain. But is Barclays' audacious Pounds 80 billion plan to merge with Dutch bank ABN Amro all because its boss wants to impress the in-laws?

That is the astonishing suggestion made by top banking analyst James Eden of German investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort. In a damning critique, he says the idea is the result of 'ego and politics' on the part of Barclays chief executive John Varley.

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Barclays Claims It Is Motivated by Shareholder Value. But We Suspect the Truth Is More About Ego and Politics Barclays Claims It Is Motivated by Shareholder Value. But We Suspect the Truth Is More About Ego and Politics' ; Is the Abn Amro Merger Bid Good Business, or Is the Chief Executive Just Trying to Impress His in-Laws?

If that is true, it could also prove to be a massive misjudgment. This weekend, some analysts are casting doubt on whether Barclays can afford to buy ABN Amro and whether it might be beaten to the deal by a rival bank.

What is certain is that if Barclays fails t...

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