Barclays Bank is mulling asking UK regulatory authorities to coerce the Royal Bank of Scotland-led consortium to disclose more specifics as to how its bid for ABN Amro will be funded, according to a report in the Guardian.
The UK newspaper claims that Barclays may approach the UK Listing Authority to ascertain how Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) have found the $70 billion in cash that forms part of the consortium’s bid of $98 billion.
News of Barclays’ possible move comes as ABN Amro itself has tabled some 25 questions to be put to members of the consortium regarding funding and the group’s plans for the new venture.
Meanwhile, this week is expected to bring a ruling from a Dutch court to decide if Bank of America’s $21 billion acquisition of LaSalle – which is currently owned by ABN Amro – can be arrested.
Should the court opt to halt the sale, the consortium, which also includes Spanish bank Santander and Dutch Belgian bank Fortis, would be free to mount a rival bid for ABN Amro’s subsidiary.