Barclays in 'no bonuses' move to pacify investors.

Byline: Peter McCusker

BARCLAYS executive directors will not receive an annual bonus this year as the bank seeks to pacify investors over its pounds 7bn fundraising.

The bank also announced all board members, including chief executive John Varley and investment banking boss Bob Diamond, are to be put up for re-election at its AGM next April.

The announcement follows criticism of Barclays' plan to raise money from Middle East investors, which is seen as more costly than accepting Government cash. Barclays announced the scheme to raise funds through Middle East investors at the end of last month as it sought to avoid part-nationalisation under the Government's scheme.

It is bringing on board Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan - a member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family - and gaining additional support from the Qatari Investment Authority and Challenger, which represents Qatar's ruling family.

The Association of British Insurers - which represents around a fifth of UK shareholders - has slapped a provisional "amber" top warning on the deal. And institutional investors, such as Legal & General, are said to have been putting pressure on Barclays to change the terms of its deal after being left angry at the cost involved and lack of greater opportunity to participate.

But in a further concession to shareholders, Barclays said yesterday its Middle Eastern investors would allow ordinary shareholders to buy as much as pounds 250m of the preferred stock they have agreed to purchase from Barclays. The proposals will be put before shareholders on November 24.

CAPTION(S):

MOVE Barclays has tried to pacify investors.