Has Barclays Bank missed a golden opportunity?
The announcement of impressive first-quarter figures from Barclays Bank has seen interest in the UK operation increase substantially over the last few days. After being "dead and buried" just a few months ago the shares are now back above £3 and investors appear to be warming to the recovery story in the press. However, there are growing concerns that the first-quarter profits of £1.4 billion, of which two thirds came from the acquisition of Lehman Brothers, could mark a short-term peak in the bank's profitability.
While Barclays Bank at this moment in time does not require further capital to replenish the balance sheet and improve capital ratios, there is a feeling that this would have been an opportune moment for a fundraising. As we hear news that 10 of the 19 major banks in the US have failed the recent stress test it seems inevitable that the UK sector will come under greater scrutiny in the short to medium term. While Barclays may not require additional capital at this moment in time, a war chest may come in useful for the current business and potential bolt on acquisitions. Whether the directors of Barclays Bank will live to rue this lost opportunity remains to be seen.
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