barclays final

7/31/2019 Barclays Final

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Warnotte 11 st March of 2012

Catherine

DCG (110 681)

Barclays' strategic position regarding new financial market

regulations.

1. Financial regulatory framework

More than a quarter century ago, financial architecture was characterized by tight regulation and

specialized financial intermediations. Afterwards, in the 1980s, commercial banks started to

assert that financial intermediaries should be driven by competitive and strategic considerations.

They were joined by economists who argued that market-driven financial structures would foster

both economies of scope and scale, which would eventually benefit public interest through

market discipline and appropriate corporate governance. Those arguments gradually spread over

the political sphere and eventually gave rise to massive trend of liberalisation. Many specialized

intermediaries disappeared to the benefit of financial conglomerates.

It seemed that markets provided an appropriate answer to increasingly exploit scale and scopeuntil large financial conglomerates began to dominate financial structures and to create negative

externalities. The breaking point occurred in 2007 when those dominant institutions inflicted

massive financial losses to market participants before contaminating the real economy and the

public finances. By demonstrating that there was no substitute for government in such event,

these turbulences allowed to test the limits of public policy and showed the need for a new

regulatory framework. Indeed, prior to the crisis, the reliance on market discipline as a

monitoring mechanism played an important part in the regulation of the all system. Subsequently to the crisis by the end of 2008 when the G-20 met in Washington, a series of reforms have been


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proposed to establish a comprehensive set of regulation policies into the current international

financial system.

Those regulatory initiatives covered a wide range of issues and were an attempt to narrow the

division of responsibilities existing between the 'public regulatory agencies and private market

actors in the regulation and supervision of financial markets. At the international level, they

particularly focused on capital requirement, regulation of the shadow banking sector, supervision

of systemically important financial institution, remuneration practices and regulation of over-the-

counter (OTC) and commodity derivatives. At the UK level, main initiative concerns the report

of the Independent Commission on Banking, which mainly addresses the separation of retail and

investment banking operations.

As we all know, the post-crisis reforms were driven by the need to modify rules in the advanced

economies. Although reforms proposals were discussed at international forum, most of the

agenda and deliberations were dominated by advanced economy concerns. Emerging economies

had a table in these international gatherings but they weren't able to meaningfully engage in the

debate since they had no related issues. Of course, the stability of the advanced economy

financial sector is important for all of the countries. As we live in a globalizing world, what

happens anywhere has impact everywhere. Yet, global standards are going to be applieduniformly while their implication for less advanced economies will impact differently financial

sector development given the different stages experienced and given the varied macroeconomic

circumstances observed. Consequently, new regulatory policies are also expected to generate

perspective for emerging economies on issues like growth, equity and stability.

1.1. European regulatory framework: Basel III and Capital requirement.

Before the crisis, banks were allowed to hold low levels of capital. This lack of capital did

worsen the crisis and did oblige national government to bail-out some financial institutions.

Since the lack of regulation regarding this field was seen as a major cause to the crisis, the G20

tasked the Basel Committee to enhance the capital standards of international banks. The new

initiative, named Basel III proposal, aims at significantly increasing the amount of capital held by

entities to such a point that risks of failure are minimized. The proposal came coupled with a

new liquidity ratio, which is supposed to strengthen the resilience of banks during financial crisis.

It suggests increasing from 2% to 8% the level of capital equivalent to risk-weighted assets thatinternational banks must hold. Note that Basel III not only requires more capital in amount, but


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also more capital in quality. Indeed, from now on, capital required is also expected to cover

banks' exposure to OTC derivatives as well as a number of transactions passed out of the

clearinghouse.

Turning to the liquidity issue, the Basel committee issued a proposed method of calculating a

ratio equivalent to the amount of capital held by the bank and divided by the amount of

exposure of the bank. Here again, the exposure not only includes the value of bank assets but

also the value of derivatives and off-balance sheet transactions. The implementation of the ratio

will be tested at a standard level of 3% by 2013 and until 2017. After that period, the level may

be changed depending on the effect on bank operations. Indeed, supervisors must still find the

right balance between the need to increase bank capital, which will in turn enhance financial

stability, and the reduction in bank lending that could cause a decrease of economic growth.

1.2. Systemically important financial institutions (SIFI)

SIFI regards banks that are so large that they pose a systemic risk to the world economy.

Consequently, they are subject to more attention from supervisors, the Basel Committee, as well

as they are submitted to more capital constrains. There are five elements to determine if an

institution is a SIFI; size, interconnectedness, cross-jurisdictional activity, complexity and

subsidiary. Banks that will be determined as SIFI will have to hold an additional amount of

capital proportional to their rating. The higher the rating, the higher the amount of capital the

bank must possess.

1.3. OTC Derivatives

Regulatory initiatives in this field are mainly an attempt to shift derivative markets from

predominantly OTC bilateral transactions, which were not regulated, to more centralisedclearinghouses or trading platforms, which are kept under the control of financial regulators who

have the power to introduce binding regulatory requirements. While this expansion of regulators

interventions was firstly seen as the creation of a 'visible hand' in the shadow market, initiatives

undertaken finally remain limited. For instance, the U.S. and the European regulatory reforms

still allow non-standardised derivatives to be traded over-the-counter - i.e. outside of regulatory

framework - instead of requiring the trading of all derivatives contracts. At the same time, they

try to improve the information available on these markets by requiring all OTC contracts to be


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registered by trade repositories, and by imposing higher prudential requirements for

counterparties in non-centrally cleared derivatives transactions.

Those additional requirements were adopted to create incentives to avoid shadow market and to

move OTC derivatives transactions to central clearinghouses. Nonetheless, repeated lobbying

from companies who used OTC methods to protect their commercial risks encouraged the U.S.

Congress and the European Commission to agree with the introduction of significant

exemptions to those mandatory exchanges of information. On the contrary, the Greek debt

crisis prompted several policymakers to ask for the banning of those 'naked' credit default swaps

as they allow the buyer of credit insurance to speculate on an asset it does not possess.

However, the proposal has been repeatedly rejected. This is why the US and the European

intervention do not go as far as introducing rules concerning the kind of derivatives allowed.

Consequently, regulatory initiatives from those agencies are criticized for remaining largely

limited so far.

1.4. UK regulatory measures: the Independent Commission on Banking's

(ICB) report.

In September 2012, the ICB published a report in which it was confirmed that UK banks had to

separate their retail banking operations from their riskier investment operations. It means that

'ring-fenced' banks would only take retail deposits, offer payment services and provide credit to

household and companies. There will be a separation between both activities within the same

corporate group. Thus, large amount of deposit placed within retail parts are supposed to be

converted in credit supply instead of risky investments. Such a reform is not only expected to

result in improved stability by providing large proportion of credit supply to households and

SME, but also to refrain activities from migrating outside of the regulated sector.

Strict benchmarks were set concerning that issue; ring-fenced bank and the rest of the group

should treat each other as third parties - i.e. the exact opposite to complex structures that tend to

operate both retail and wholesale/investment banking from one legal entity or a combination of

closely connected entities with limited restrictions on transactions between them. The

separation of different banking activities would, on the one hand, make it easier for the

authorities to insulate essential services from shocks of the global financial markets and, on the

other hand, would improve the discipline imposed on banks by the market, which will makeeventually banks easier to support when facing troubles.


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In addition to the ring-fencing proposal, the commission also advocated for the establishment of

extra-capital requirements to be put above the 7% already foreseen by Basel III. The crisis

revealed that large UK groups like Barclays were outrageously under-capitalised to such an

extent that a relatively small decrease of their assets value could directly threaten their solvency.

As a result, the Commission recommended large ring-fenced entities to have an additional equity

buffer of at least 3%. Investment branches are solely required to have credible resolution plans

that include loss-absorbing debts. They are not submitted to additional capital constrains since

divergences from international standards could threaten competitive position on global financial

markets.

The report already highlighted the private cost banks will have to endorse to comply with the

reform. They will arise from four sources:

- Operational costs from the subsidiarisation of ring-fenced banks.

- Higher funding costs caused by higher capital requirements and by decreased asset

diversification.

- Higher funding costs resulting from the restriction on transactions between ring-fenced

and non-ring-fenced entities.

- Higher funding cost associated with the limitation to the implicit government guarantee.Overall, analysts have estimated that those reforms would annually cost banks an amount that

ranges from 2 bn up to 10 bn.

1.5. The US regulatory landscape: the Dodd-Franck Act.

The Dodd-Franck Wall Street reform constitutes the most important expansion of regulation for

financial institutions since the Great Depression. Combined with Basel III, it covers an

unprecedented number of fields - i.e. regulatory structures, capital standards, securities/banking,

traditional banking, consumer's protection and prohibited banks activities. Although many

requirements remain to be specified, the provisions of the Dodd-Franck Act mainly focus on

five categories.


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- First, the act gives new responsibilities to federal regulators, with the ability to ban

potentially abusive financial products.

- Second, it puts limits on proprietary trading and OTC derivatives, notably with new

interchange fees and the obligation to hold 5% of many securitizations.

- Third, new risk management patterns, rapid resolution plans, increased public disclosure,

and investor protection schemes are made mandatory for annual stress test.

- Fourth, demanding prudential regulatory standards are to be observed regarding leverage

limits, liquidity requirements, etc.

- Fifth, the act introduces additional fees devoted to cover the liquidation costs of large

institution as well as the costs of legislation

In a number of cases, these changes will improve the current industry practices in risk, capital

and liquidity management and are going to make bank safer.

However, the proposal also includes some measures that could give rise to unexpected

consequences such as:

- A decrease of the industry profitability and flexibility particularly linked with higher

capital and liquidity requirements as well as related regulatory costs.

- A possible shift of capital whether banks decide to move to less-regulated markets where

they will no longer feel at a competitive disadvantage internationally.

- A decrease in the availability of credits for consumers and small enterprises that could

cause the long-term growth rate to remain moderate.

Coming regulation described above are just a sample of the regulations that are currently

discussed. Indeed, regulatory issues remain uncertain and are hardly predictable. According to

the Financial Services Roundtable, more than 200 new regulations and 67 reports are still to be

conducted by regulators over the two coming years. At the moment, financial institutions only expect those requirements to dramatically reshape the business of banking during the coming

years. Adding new restrictions - significantly increasing capital and placing new levies on

institutions - already ask for a completely new strategy able to respond to that new regulatory

landscape.


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2. Barclays' strategic position

Barclays took its root in the seventeenth century when a goldsmith business began in London.

Three centuries later, the institution established itself as one of the dominant banking group in

the country with offices and branches in British possessions around the world. Today, the group

describes itself as a major global financial services provider operating in more than 50 countries.

Divisions include Barclaycard, Barclays Capital, Barclays Corporate and Barclays Wealth.

Since the 1970s, while Barclays has constantly pursued some long-term goals - such as a 15%

annual return on shareholders funds - many important strategies proved to be more reactive

than proactive. At that time, top management followed a highly conservative strategy

framework whose objectives were not to maximize profits, but to make 'satisfactory' profits.However, from the 1980's, a series of changing competitive environments began to influence the

strategic behaviours of the British bank. By that time, it aspired to become a global and

universal player. First, the American competition had acquired quickly a growing role in

investment banking sectors. Second, the internationalisation of financial services with US

conglomerates into the European market and a similar response from their European

counterparts was emerging.

Barclays' management adopted a strategy of merger and acquisition along with an internal

organic growth to achieve these aims. Yet, Barclays' attempts to enter retail and institutional

banking markets produced poor results to such an extent that the sale of major US-based

businesses was forced. Nonetheless, the company stick to its strategy throughout the 1990's. By

that time, massive deregulation measures made possible for the institution to offer both wealth

and assets management services to the growing number of persons possessing considerable

personal wealth. In addition to that, the organisation developed operations in investment

banking for corporate clients, which gave the company access to equities trading. The financial

group initiated a strategy of market integration by proceeding to various diversification methods.

Unfortunately, intense diversification has led Barclays to overextend itself, both geographically

and in other ways. The wave of successive mergers, acquisitions, and restructurings operations

resulted in severe problems in sustaining profitability during the 1990s and early 2000s. Today

structures still demonstrate signs of excessive decentralisation and lower profit return. Overall,

Barclays experienced only one significantly radical strategic reorientation, with the creation of the


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one-bank strategy in 1985. It then proceeded to over-diversify during the heady 1990s, thereby

limiting its profit growth.

2.1. Barclays' current situation

In 2008, when the financial crisis hit banks worldwide, Barclays took a strategic move to remain

into private hands. While major British financial institutions like the Royal Bank of Scotland and

Lloyd TSB turned to the UK government to ask for some financial support, Barclays decided to

raise billions from investors in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, who now own one third of the bank.

Inside Barclays, opinion was that having the government as main shareholder would raise all

sorts of complications. Interestingly, this decision allowed the bank to keep control over the all-

running business, including the possibility to pay outstanding bonuses to top executives andinvestment bankers. Understandably, Barclays has been largely criticized in the media to choose

the 'unconstrained path'. In response, the financial institution has continuously made efforts to

restore its reputation with shareholders, customer and other stakeholders.

Yet, capital requirements, liquidity buffers and other various reforms likely to enhance reputation

come at a private cost for banks. Although a part of new requirements will eventually be passed

on customers, Barclays will still have to support additional costs estimated to an amount that

ranges from 4 to 7 billion for the year 2012. As predicted, the publication of the UK report

had a direct impact on Barclays shares that fell by approximately 4% during the same day.

Indeed, UBS analysts announced that Barclays Capital the international investment branch

wouldn't be able to make any profit as soon as the Basel III regime would be implemented. This

is why Barclays, which is an international group engaged in banking, investment banking and

asset management and which is regarded as a leading provider of global services to multinational

corporations worldwide, has launched various strategic programs to cope with the new

regulatory landscape.

2.1. Addressing the new regulatory landscape

2.1.1. Barclays' strategic direction towards market development

As we saw earlier, concerns over 'too big to fail' dominate the UK regulatory agenda. Yet,

Barclays' gross balance sheet represents 100% of UK GDP and 15% of EU GDP.

Consequently, additional capital requirements expected from SIFI would directly fall upon thecompany. In the probability where those requirements are only to be made mandatory by UK or


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European regulatory bodies, Barclays may well consider moving to more unregulated states.

Henceforth, UK revenues only represent 40% of Barclays' global revenues. The institution has

difficulties in regarding itself as a simply UK bank, especially when the only appropriate UK

competitor remaining is HSBC.

Indeed, the rest of the UK sector is no longer an appropriate benchmark since the company

today looks more like a universal bank combining retail, commercial and investment banking

such as JP Morgan. Both institutions established their market positions on franchises and share

approximately the same balance sheet. Yet, the balance sheet of JP Morgan only represents 15%

of US gross GDP while the one of Barclays is equivalent to 100% of UK GDP. Therefore,

whatever their similarities, Barclays will have to face higher capital requirements than its

counterpart. This would clearly come at a disadvantage for Barclays when confronted to its

global competitors. This is why, some commentators have asserted that: 'maybe Barclays is too

large, but perhaps the UK is too small'. Moving to a more favourable geographical location of

activities could thus provide numerous advantages.

Feasibility assessment. Debates about the issue arguing that Barclays should be treated, as its

international peers become a real issue for London, once regarded as the financial centre in

financing international businesses. Barclays ruling bodies are already said to undertake carefulfeasibility analysis regarding the implications of switching main location to New York. That

being said, US regulations are also surrounded by areas of uncertainties, notably with the Dodd-

Franck Act proposal that would put banks derivatives exposures into separate subsidiary. This

reform could also prove to be a hurdle for the institution that prefers waiting until both

regulatory frameworks become more precise.

2.1.2. Barclays' agent-principal dilemma.

Barclays faces an agent-principal dilemma lately aggravated by the UK regulatory environment,more particularly by the Financial stability board principle on remuneration. With respect to the

UK remuneration standards, the relative distribution between agents (management) and

principals (shareholders) has been defined as an amount of 554 millions remunerations for the

Barclays staff and an amount of 653 millions of dividends for the shareholders who had

provided 51bn of total fund. Obviously, compensations for employees remain driven by

international comparisons, while the reward of shareholders is increasingly limited by national

regulations. Although company shareholders may accept a temporary difference in their profits,in the longer term, they are likely to put pressure on Barclays to relocate. This feeling would


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probably facilitate the acceptability of Barclays' new strategic direction towards market

development.

2.1.3. Barclays' shareholders model confronted to the difficulty of maximising

shareholder value. At the moment, Barclays hopes that beneficiaries will recognize the strain imposed on the

company. Managers plan to develop the relocation strategy because they believe it to be in the

best interest of the profitability of the business. However, careful analyses on financial feasibility

must be carried on prior to take action, which could take some times. There is the risk that

some fragmented group of shareholders would seek to influence the strategy in order to meet

their own aspiration.

Who are the shareholders? In terms of ownership, Barclays shareholders who are classified as

personal shareholders - those who own the shares in their own name and for their own benefit

- make up for 77.5% of the total population of shareholders, which may complicate the

acceptation of the relocation strategy. Fortunately, these individuals hold together only 7 to 13%

of the shares as opposed to the rise of institutional investors - such as pension funds and

insurance companies. From now on, they represent the largest shareholder category, with an

estimated 90% of the shares

2.1.4. Barclays' dynamic capabilities to meet new regulatory framework

Turbulence described above caused Barclays to recently concentrate on its core businesses,

which continues to be its extensive retail banking operations worldwide. In response to the

plethora of regulatory developments that have occurred in the UK, in Europe and in the US

lately, Barclays has decided, on the one hand, to reconsider the suitability of its international

partners, subsidiaries, and networks, and, on the other hand, to define dimensions of actions that

the institution should consider to undertake. The strategic change currently under considerationclaims to be of a revolution type. Managers argue that some change in culture would help to

cope with the leading changes that have recently occurred in the financial sector.

Evaluation of strategies. In order to respond to the various scenarios predicting how the global

financial system might develop in the coming 20 years, the group has decided to reinforce its

international strategy. The scenarios forecast by regulators give signs to the business leaders that

'business as usual' is not going to last anymore. First, the geo-economic power is going to shift


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quickly to Asia and other emerging markets. Second, the degree of international coordination in

the framework of banking regulation and financial policy is going to persistently increase.

2.1.5. Barclays' international strategy

In order to meet those challenge, Barclays' management want to increase the internationaldivisions of their existing multinational structure. The main idea is to define some strategic

changes that would be conducted by internationalisation drivers. Despite some market barriers

remaining, the company focus on the standardisation of market characteristics. Operating

internationally generally reduce cost. In the case of the banking sector, this not may be the case

as SIFI institutions are submitted to additional capital requirements. Hence, top managers

currently consider significant structural reforms by which Barclays will entry to - but also exit

from - specific markets in order to adjust to internal and external regulatory requirements.

Government drivers. The two main challenges are, on the one hand, to ensure revenue

generation and, on the other hand, to cope with regulatory compliances. Although both

elements are in conflict, the survival of the entity relies on its capability to please revenue earners

with business profits within the new regulatory framework. Therefore, Barclays has equipped

itself with legal and compliance team that keep managers and executives informed of the

regulatory shocks that will concretely affect the firm. Through intense regulatory analysis, they

were tasked to define overall regulatory changes impacts. Then, to conduct a cost benefit

analysis, keeping in mind that some options for implementation and compliance would be

offered.

2.1.6. Analysis of the operational models affected

To begin with, a thorough understanding of the implications for each line of business was

needed to detect business areas whose revenue model were more seriously affected. Analyzing

the income statement and balance sheet for each business line and customer group allowedrevising the revenue model by altering the value proposition to the customer. Specific

businesses affected were debit/credit cards, proprietary trading, securitization, OTC derivatives

and mortgage lending.

Changes to the OTC derivatives made it relatively less advantageous for large bank because

clearing houses will no longer differentiate providers according to their credit worthiness.

Consequently, Barclays' analysts suggest focusing on core strengths and becoming more

specialized in those areas were customer relationships and technological know-how provide high


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barriers to entry. For instance, by developing further the straight-through processing, which

allows customers to directly take orders, or by deepening derivatives evaluation tools.

With the requirement to retain at least 5% of mortgages, securitization will no longer be a major

funding mechanism for banks. A reduction in the volume for complex securitization has been

advocated for. Instead, the institution will take advantage of its branch network to generate fees

by selling loans that face fewer capitals constrains. Then, to respond to the coming trading rules

that refrain international banks not subject to US regulation to invest more than 3% of Tier 1

capital in hedge fund and private equity firms, analysts suggest identifying whether transactions

are related to the customer or to the bank own exposure by improving the network of

technology and management system. Similarly, they highlight the need to enhance customer

services. Therefore, some aspects of the front office model are currently under discussion and

might consider relocating key trading personnel to entities that are less affected by those

constrains. A shift of Barclays' key partners is appealing because hedge funds and other firms

not submitted to those regulations may be willing to take advantage of the move in market

dynamics to attract talents as well as capital from investors.

2.1.7. Reassessed profitability of each line of business

The process for estimating the capital impact on each line of business was operated following

several steps. First, revenues and costs impact were evaluated for each business, including

business responses, some of them where described here above. Second capital requirements

were calculated for each line of business. Third, profitability analysis were carried on to estimate

returns through the cycle, notably transfer pricing and interactions among businesses. Fourth,

businesses were ranked by return on capital as well as capital requirements to identify possible

capital constrains. Then, according to results, it was decided either to re-allocate capital to more

profitable business, or to optimize capital usage for businesses with marginal returns on capital.

Not surprisingly, returns of products that were implicated in the financial crisis are more directly

affected. It includes securitizations and resecuritizations, OTC derivatives, as well as subprime

products. Conversely, analysts determined three class of businesses, whose models are expected

to generate good returns in tough economic environment UKRBB, Barclaycard and BarCap.

They enjoy proven scale, leading technology and deep relationships with customers and clients,

which fit with recommendations made by analysts and described here above.


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Likewise, Barclays Wealth and Barclays Africa were selected as respective income grew in the

first half of 2011 by 8% for Barclays Africa and by 12% for Barclays wealth. Moreover,

additional opportunities are predicted, particularly in Wealth where the company want to build a

leading reputation for performance and client services. Conversely, strategic orientation analyses

show that much of the work would have to be done in Barclays Corporate outside the UK and

Europe.

Fifth, adequate responses were determined for each business. For those lines of business where

profitability was too low, capital has either been relocated into more profitable businesses or into

businesses where prospective returns are expected to be above the cost of capital. Businesses,

that regulation made unprofitable, are going to be shrunk in order to reduce related capital

requirements. For instance, new regulations made credit cards revenues much less appealing for

Barclays. Finally, those businesses, whose return on capital remains marginal even after

optimization, are going to be replaced by alternative products.

With regard to SIFI and additional capital levels required by regulators, Barclays' analysts warned

that less-constrained bank would try to make the most of their competitive advantage.

Consequently, Barclays group considers taking action by adopting three initiatives related to their

capital management framework. First, current processes are going to be modify in order tocreate full transparency in capital management, including the transactions to reallocate capital

towards more advantageous lines of businesses. Second, capital wastes and leakages across

businesses are going to be minimized by ensuring that counterparties are rated, that collaterals

are managed tightly, and that risk models are used appropriately to ensure optimal capital and

risk-adjusted returns. Third, business models are going to be redefined. Each business activities

are going to be reviewed in the context of capital optimization. For that purpose, Barclays

analysts defined tools and data that enable ruling bodies to take decisions driven by the result of

the evaluation. Thanks to that process, traders' incentives will be aligned with capital

consumption, client portfolio will be reviewed to avoid additional capital waste and business

leaders will be compensate for low returns on capital.

With respect to the cost of regulatory changes, analysts expect them to fall partly on customers

through higher loan pricing and reduced availability of credit. However, they pointed out that a

major part of them would eventually fall on the entity through cost reduction on compensation

and consolidation among small banks.


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3. Personal view

Over the course of the last three years, European banking sector has experienced a series of

dramatic changes, providing interesting insights into the interactions existing between strategy,

structure, ownership and performance. Much in the framework of financial regulation reforms

has been done lately. First, the unprecedented Dodd !Frank Act passed by US Congress.

Second, the Basel III rules set by the Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) and the

Financial Stability Board (FSB). Third, the report containing the UK banking sector's structural

reforms published by the Vickers Committee. As a matter of fact, those significant

developments in the banking regulatory and supervisory context are going to considerably

impact banking and capital markets strategies over the coming decade.

3.1. Communication strategies under criticisms

The purpose of this paper was to provide an overview of Barclays' corporate strategy in the

framework of the new financial regulatory framework. The task was far from easy. First, the

thematic is complex - for banking institution as for me. For example, the Dodd-Franck Act is

long and complex with some 2, 307 pages, 16 titles and 540 sections. Second, companies prefer

to conserve their effective strategy undisclosed, whatever the issue under discussion. Althoughsome information were available online, it was most of the time superficial and pointless.

Similarly, Barclays' website provides few relevant facts, opinions and elements of strategy.

Broadly spoken, information available on the website are devoted to please the greatest number

of customers. It is used as an embellished shop window of the company. When it turns to the

challenges the bank will have to face in order to remain globally competitive, there are only some

superficial declarations asserting that : 'the company favourably welcome the new framework of banking

regulation '.

Barclays' official view on the issue looks much more appropriate in comparison with some top

executives feedbacks that can be found on the web. Interestingly, as soon as reforms were

announced, newspapers hurried to broadly comment on Barclays top executives' reproving

reactions. While managers have been reorganizing to comply with the new regulatory regime,

top managers relentlessly attempted to lobby regulators over the new set of regulations and,

most importantly, to the implementation of it. For instance, they complain that Dodd-Frank

Act leaves a lot of issues unresolved when it came to some of the biggest changes. While there is


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broad consensus that changes are inevitable, industry players and federal regulators have engaged

in complex debates about how to finalize some of the rules.

In my view, strategy communications should evolve from the domain of voluntary disclosure

towards more mandatory disclosure because greater disclosure of strategy would help reducing

information asymmetries between investors and corporations, increasing both stock prices and

the willingness of markets to fund long-term and innovative strategies. Especially when

government offers huge economic power to such large corporations as well as when we observe

that the threat of competitor exploitation of strategic disclosure is not necessarily obvious like

in Barclays' case.

That being said, universal banking groups are few and they must compete if they want to

preserve their global position, especially in those troubled time. This is why the current Barclays

CEO, Bob Diamond, insisted to say that the existing strategy traditionally relying on strong

trading flows of fixed income, currencies and commodities would broadly remain unchanged.

In my opinion, this statement was basically released to keep the changing patterns close to

Barlcays' chest. Obviously, some strategic elements must be changed. They cannot continue to

work on the basis of what the organisation has done in the past. The market is changing rapidly

and the organisation must keep line with those changes. It would make no sense to let thestrategy unchanged when the market is being modified dramatically insofar as the company

would be at risk of strategic drift.

Even though it poses challenges for managers, new strategic orientations must be considered. In

fact, the banking group is not only confronted to impressive environment changes but also to a

degradation of the customers relationship. For years, banking industry was a dominant sector to

be looked up in modern economies. With recent events, and most particularly state bail-outs,

that perception changed to such an extend that henceforth roles are inverted. As remedy,

Barclays plays with its communication tools to broadcast top management commitments in an

attempt to maintain reputation and to preserve customers confidence. I tend to think that

maintaining good relationship with customer must be seen as fundamental to the future success

of the organisation. Especially in the banking system, wherein banking operators only play a

role of intermediary that better allocate money between citizens. It means that any citizen must

be regarded as potential customer. Albeit Barclays did not beneficiate from state aids,


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relationships it maintains with customers becomes shackles. Indeed, the majority of them want a

financial system which works in the interests of wider society, not just the few.

For that purpose, communication strategies have been reviewed and new reporting lines were

emphasized. For instance, additional seminars are organized as an attempt to meet shareholders

expectations. In my opinion, reports of those events constitute the best insight into the high

level strategy we can obtain. Although some details remain undisclosed, the strategic choices are

described to align investors and managers' incentives. Obviously, the content of the speech is

customer-oriented with a promise on higher future profits. More interestingly, it reveals that the

institution plans to take a lead in technological innovation. Actually, it plans to become one of

the five global banks with a strategic refresh of its Internet business. In my view, the purpose of

this emergent strategy is to exploit the new technological dynamic capabilities as means to meet

the needs of changing environments, notably by bringing innovative services prone to be

complacent with the new regulatory framework. That being said, there is no doubt that this

technology investment is also dedicated to help the seventh-largest bank in Europe by capital

assets to become one of the world's top five banks. Hence, the strategy described as the

outcome of political processes in at times serving a strategic leadership vision.

3.2. Strategies under scrutiny.

3.2.1. Relocation strategy

The report also informs that the strategic ambition of the group was concretized by a series of

acquisition such as Standard Life Bank in the UK and Lehman Brothers in the US. I think that a

merger and acquisition policy is not appropriate regarding new regulation policies. It is not in

Barclays' interest to become bigger than it already is. Eventually, they will have to respond to

additional capital and information requirements, which will make the institution less profitable.

Instead, I argue that a relocation strategy would be more adapted. They should outsource some

business functions to jurisdiction where regulation constrains are less demanding. Although I

argue that banking sector should be guided by more ethical values - which exclude tax evasion

and regulation avoidance I think that excluding the relocation would be a strategic mistake. As

global institution, Barclays comprises hundred of different entities which could be used to make

allocation of operations more efficient.


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3.2.2. Barclays' surprising interest for CSR.

In the report, they also claim that their execution priorities are Capital, Returns, Income Growth

and Citizenship. The three first priorities have been there for a long time while the fourth one

has lately gain new attention. According to them, citizenship is an approach to theresponsibilities they have regarding all the stakeholders. By those statements, Barclays is clearly

trying to make a move forward and to clean up the outstanding number of claims addressed.

Developing a strategy of corporate strategy is essential for such a company that enjoy global

reach and that has the potential to get significant influence. Yet, I regret that most of the time

and mostly when it concerns Anglo-Saxon ethics, corporate social responsibility statements

essentially reflect 'enlightened self-interest' stances.

For years, banking groups took minimum responsibilities towards its stakeholders. Suddenly,

CSR is supported by each of them. Obviously, the internal justification that motivate for social

actions is financial. Managers do not exploit CSR for ethical reasons but because they feel that it

can help them gaining a competitive advantage. Barclays very proudly recall that: " No one in the

financial services industry in the last three or four years has done a good job of explaining to our clients, our

customers, and people in our communities what we do to contribute to make their lives better ". They later

admit that: "Trust is the foundation of our brand and our reputation". The statement constitutes a clear

evidence that decisions taken by managers are strategically chosen to reflect the expectations of

stakeholders.

In my opinion, what stakeholders currently hope is risk appetite to be diminished. For that

purpose to be achieved, there are several modifications that must be required. Indeed, I think

that top managers should introduce into the operating strategy some rules to diminish risk taken.

This is the only way to eventually satisfy all stakeholder expectations and to gain better

reputation. It includes:- Lower volatility in profits

- Lower risk tolerance

- Lower concentrations, higher diversification

- Additional criteria's to the common expected profits

I agree that, in many cases, it is not possible to move directly to the ideal appetite so it is valuable

to set short-term limits and to define medium term targets. However, I think that universalbanks should ensure that risk appetite is an integral part of the annual planning process with


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regular performance reporting. As far as I am concerned, those regular reports would be

probably more efficient to gain new brand reputation. Instead, the banking group took the

strategic move to develop some CSR policies, including partnership with UNICEF, which has

absolutely nothing to do with their areas of business. In my opinion, CSR should be

implemented in the sector where the company is evolving.

3.2.3. A practical example of the shareholder's model drawbacks

Far from responding to the stakeholder expectations, Barclays has also lately increased the

dissatisfaction of the shareholders by conducting an inappropriate remuneration policy. As

explained earlier in this paper, the company, which is ruled out by a shareholder model, is lately

confronted to a 'principal agent issue'. Shareholders criticize the balance established between

return to shareholders, payments to employees and capital retention. Obviously, they complainabout excessive pay given to top managers at a time when returns have declined. In response to

those criticisms, CEO Bob Diamond has responded that bank' performances cannot be

measured purely in term of dividends. I tend to think that performance shouldn't only benefit to

shareholders, neither to top managers. A balance should be respected at any time. Especially

when top managers fail to take right decisions.

As a matter of fact, shareholders clearly reaffirmed their desire to see board remunerations

curbed by relating them to performances. Instead of responding to those protests, Barclays

CEO promises a 13% return. '13% returns over times', here is basically the new strategic

mission statement. Far from reflecting the 'citizenship' values Barclays is pretending to pursue,

the statement constitutes an extreme example of the corporation greed. Here is a concrete

example of what was mentioned into the book 'Exploring strategy' in which it is asserted that

shareholders model has the disadvantage to foster top management greed. In addition, we

observe that investors are at a disadvantage. Indeed, bonuses paid last year greatly exceeded

dividends. Shareholders received 700m in dividends in 2011 while staff received 1.2bn inbonuses. Generally, whatever the scale of their protest, their vote is not being heard. Here, the

rejection against the remuneration plan was so starcke that they accept to review their

compensation methods.

3.2.4. Barclays' culture predicted to remain unchanged

Behaviour of that kind occurring when anger in the population is large does bring the bank into

disrepute. It makes me feel that the bank is not sincerely engaged in a revolutionary strategic

change. Indeed, revolutionary change asks for fast changes to adapt to new regulatory


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framework and cultural change to avoid excesses that conducted to the global downturn.

For that purpose, top managers should communicate a clear strategic direction. Obviously, for

that proposal to be taken seriously by shareholders, the CEO who provides such direction must

be credited with making a major difference. As explained earlier, shareholders have observed

that top management is not ready to abandon the culture of the greed. As a matter of fact,

Barclays current CEO could hardly become the symbol of a change towards more ethical

practices.

In a time where the industry is blamed for derailing the global economy, I think that it

constitutes a strategic mistake. Managers should have taken the necessary decisions for the

turnaround to be adopted. Financial restructuring and greater market focus are under way but

top management changes are still needed. Clearly, Barclays does not expect to radically change

its culture. They will continue to work with elements of the existing culture. In my opinion, it

would have been more honest from top managers to state that the strategic change is expected

to be more of an 'evolution' type.

Nonetheless, there is no doubt that the board and senior management have a good

understanding of regulatory impacts. Indeed, the impact assessment itself is a major task. They

are aware that policy-makers and regulators have decided to increasingly take a tough line. Atrend that is going to last. Nonetheless, I read few comments regarding the implication that

increased data transparency requirements will have on business. Concerns about governance has

grown to such a point that the information typically available to public institution is no longer

considered sufficient to judge the performance of banking institution. I guess that it demands

new data infrastructures to be adopted and additional information to be controlled.

Earlier, Barclays' managers were more concerned in explaining future strategy to shareholders.

From now on, they must define more appropriate approach to meet the need of various

stakeholders, long-forgotten. Typical accountancy methods are going to be disturbed. The UK

financial services Act and Basel III will impose a high degree of transparency on key metrics like

bank capital, liquidity, collaterals and counterparty risks. Managers consider new transparency

requirements as affecting their competitiveness. I think they are right because it will ask for a

new organisation of the all structure. Indeed, there is a high cost associated with the completion

of new regulatory requirements. They will have to find way to calculating those newly

introduced ratio in order to report them to regulators.


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As a matter of fact, managers already start to refine the shape of the organisation in those areas

exempted form uncertainties. They attempt to better align business with new capital regime.

For instance, they moved credit-card operations into new US entity built as a direct subsidiary of

Barclays home company. Hence, avoiding additional injection of capital. As I see it, it is

strategically well thought, but it should not exempt them from additional regulations. Instead,

they should find better long lasting solution. Similar regulations will soon fall upon the US

market causing their temporary competitive advantage to be dismissed. As I said earlier, the

degree of international coordination is going to increase persistently.

Although some elements of strategy are under preparation, my general feeling about the overall

strategy of Barclays is that they remain unsure about the impact of the regulations on banking

market. Consequently, they are stuck in a stage where elements that need to be changed have

already been identified, but where no implementation is yet possible. The situation is even worse

for the US market, where translation into regulation of Dodd-Franck Act elements are long time

coming. Regulators are expected to create 243 new rules, to conduct 67 studies and to issue 22

reports. Moreover, hundreds of new rules will require consultations with the industry before

being implemented. There is much uncertainty about how to adapt business entities and

operations to new regulation. At the moment, managers don't know if the firm will relocate,

outsource business functions or develop new utilities.

As largely commented in papers, I think they should proceed to a deep transformation of

essential sector such as financial control and risk management in order to move towards more

lasting solutions. Up to now, banks were indifferent to how their structure looked. Today,

regulators and citizens must be reassured that risk is minimized. They want to be sure that if

operations are transferred from one location to another, there is all the necessary capital and risk

management to do it. Transfer and location strategy should no longer be used as tax evasion and

regulation avoidance.


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barclays final

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