Subject category:
Finance, Accounting and Control
Published by:
International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
Version: 06.03.2010
Length: 30 pages
Data source: Published sources
Abstract
In a letter to ABN AMRO in February 2007, TCI, a British hedge fund with a small stake in ABN AMRO, stated: 'We believe that it would be in the interests of all shareholders, other stakeholders and ABN AMRO for the Managing Board of ABN AMRO to actively pursue the potential break up, spin-off, sale or merger of its various businesses (or as a whole)'. Eight months later, after a head-to-head battle with Barclays, the bank was finally sold to a Royal Bank of Scotland-led consortium, which included Banco Santander of Spain and Fortis, the Belgo-Dutch group. It was the largest financial services transaction ever and the first time that bidders had attempted to break up a large lender. This case looks at the events that led up to the takeover and examines some of the strategic decisions of the recent past which may have triggered the process. It discusses the financing and timing of the deal in the turbulent financial markets of 2007 and raises questions about the future. What were the risks of splitting the bank? Could this complex task be achieved successfully?
Time period
The events covered by this case took place in 2007.Geographical setting
Region:
Europe
Country:
The Netherlands
Featured company
ABN AMRO
Employees:
10000+
Turnover:
EUR 987 billion
Industry:
Financial services; Banking
Subject category:
Finance, Accounting and Control
Published by:
International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
Version: 26.08.2008
Length: 16 pages
Data source: Published sources
About
Abstract
In a letter to ABN AMRO in February 2007, TCI, a British hedge fund with a small stake in ABN AMRO, stated: 'We believe that it would be in the interests of all shareholders, other stakeholders and ABN AMRO for the Managing Board of ABN AMRO to actively pursue the potential break up, spin-off, sale or merger of its various businesses (or as a whole)'. Eight months later, after a head-to-head battle with Barclays, the bank was finally sold to a Royal Bank of Scotland-led consortium, which included Banco Santander of Spain and Fortis, the Belgo-Dutch group. It was the largest financial services transaction ever and the first time that bidders had attempted to break up a large lender. This case looks at the events that led up to the takeover and examines some of the strategic decisions of the recent past which may have triggered the process. It discusses the financing and timing of the deal in the turbulent financial markets of 2007 and raises questions about the future. What were the risks of splitting the bank? Could this complex task be achieved successfully?
Settings
Time period
The events covered by this case took place in 2007.Geographical setting
Region:
Europe
Country:
The Netherlands
Featured company
ABN AMRO
Employees:
10000+
Turnover:
EUR 987 billion
Industry:
Financial services; Banking
Related
Subject category:
Finance, Accounting and Control
Published by:
International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
Version: 26.08.2008
Length: 16 pages
Data source: Published sources