British bank Barclays' withdrawal from a takeover bid for ABN
Amro will not affect its partnership with China Development Bank
(CDB), analysts said yesterday.
Barclays withdrew its US$84 billion offer for ABN Amro Holding
NV last Friday after it failed to secure the necessary amount of
tendered shares to take over the Dutch bank. The withdrawal clears
the way for a US$100 billion bid from a consortium led by the Royal
Bank of Scotland.
CDB got on board the Barclays bid in July. The withdrawal
divests it of the opportunity to join the financial industry's
biggest takeover.
CDB has also lost its chance to increase its investment in
Barclays - the July agreement stipulated that if the bid for ABN
Amro failed, CDB would not be entitled to a further 7.6 billion
euros of Barclays' ordinary shares. This would have taken CDB's
total investment in Barclays to 5 percent.
The Chinese bank paid 2.2 billion euros for a 3.1 percent stake
in Barclays' existing share capital in August.
But analysts said yesterday that Barclays' withdrawal will have
little impact on its partnership with CDB.
"CDB's main focus in the July deal was forming a strategic
partnership with Barclays, rather than playing a part in ABN Amro,"
said She Minhua, an analyst with CITIC China Securities.
Li Yongsen, a professor at Renmin University of China, agreed
that Barclays' move would not affect cooperation between the two
banks.
Barclays began giving assistance and advice to CDB on risk
management, investment and other issues based on the July
agreement.
"Barclays' experience in fixed-assets investment and
macroeconomic research might help CDB overcome weakness in these
areas, as it tries to become a comprehensive financial
institution," said She.
(China Daily October 10, 2007)
