The takeover talks between ABN Amro and Barclays bank are ‘encouraging’, hedge fund TCI, which called on the Dutch bank to split up last month, is reported as saying by the financial press.

TCI reportedly said in a comment to Bloomberg that it hoped the exclusive nature of the talks with Barclays would not stop ABN Amro talking to other parties about an eventual offer.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Wouter Bos, who would have to give formal approval for a merger, said he would give careful consideration to such a request.
This would involve taking into account the ‘need to guarantee healthy and prudent financial management’, as well as the ‘stability of the financial sector as a whole’.