There’s a rumour circling that Standard Chartered will relinquish its status as an independent bank, after reports that 18 per cent of it is up for sale.
The Financial Times reported today that the Singapore investor Temasek could be selling its StanChart shareholding: a £6bn slice. There are no decisions yet, but the report send StanChart shares 2 per cent lower.
According to financial website thisismoney.com, the report has also brought up talk of a StanChart takeover:
The news has reignited takeover speculation, as it emerged that Santander and US investment bank JP Morgan have expressed interest in the stake.
The FT’s John Gapper was sceptical about any major transformation just yet however:
No doubt Standard Chartered will cease to exist as an independent bank one day, but I have heard speculation about it for 20 years, and it never quite seems to happen. It is like talk of the dollar losing its status as a reserve currency.
The recent dust-up with the New York State banking regulator over dealings with Iran, leading to it paying a $340m fine, was not enough to make it truly vulnerable. Maybe something will occur this time, but – famous last words – I am a sceptic.
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