The decision by Barclays to raise capital privately, and the decision Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland and HBOS to make use of a government bailout has not brought the clear-cut advantages and disadvantages earlier predicted, The Financial Times reports.
Barclays raised capital mostly from investors in Abu Dhabi and Qatar, a move it thought would free it from government interference but prompted a backlash from investors. Lloyds, RBS and HBOS turned to the government’s incentives, but hasn’t been subjected to as much regulator scrutiny as was feared.