ABN AMRO What is the deal?

The news are everywhere, ABN AMRO (the bank where I am doing my internship) is being sold.

But the question that remains in the air, is who is going to buy it? Not because no one would have appetite for it, but all the contrary, there are at least 4 banks that have showed how starving they are for our businesses.

Last monday, it was announced that ABN AMRO and Barclays had come to a selling agreement, creating a new bank that would be owned 52% by Barclays and 48% by ABN AMRO, creating the biggest/strongest bank in the world. The offer was valued in €67.000 m. Additionally ABN agreed to sell La Salle bank, their bank in the United States, to Bank of America for $21 billion.

Until then fine... everybody thought that this was a fact and the sell was going to be completed, but as it was also expected the consortium formed by RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland), Santander and Fortis made his call.

They offered €72.000 m, but conditioned to include La Salle bank in the package (this is the most atractive piece for RBS). With this offer speculation increased and the certainty of who will get the bid, from one side Barclays represented the best option (supported by the management board) for the continuity and sinergy that it can bring to ABN, also shareholders were adviced that this would be the best option for them.

From the other side, the "consortium" is not giving up, and has offered the 70% of the offer in cash (very atractive for shareholders), and had threaten ABN to put in hands of shareholders (instead of the ones of the management board) the decision to buy,

So here my question would be, would shareholders go the easy way accepting short-term benefits (cash), regardless it would mean the break up of a bank that has stand strong during almost two centuries, OR will they be interested in creating long term value taking advantages of the sinergies that can be created with Barclays, walking the sustainability talk for which has been awarded and recognized during the last years?

Only time will answer this question, while the answer come, we can be nothing but spectators, hoping that decision makers could be concerned about other stakeholders different to the ones that owns the stocks and who will be greatly impacted by this decision.

Michoacan... a state that worths the visit!

Last eastern Mario and me travel to Michoacan (like 3 hours from DF), we stayed most of the time in Morelia, but we had the opportunity to visit Patzcuaro and Janitzio two unique places of Michoacan.

I found Morelia, very beautiful, it is a small city that conserves the colonial spirit and body, the historical centre is enriched by the many buildings that stay as if we were still living in the XVII century, but with most of the benefits of contemporary times.

I can't save adjectives for the people in Michoacan, they are so kind and helpful, and at the same time so proud of their history, although pretty conservative, they are open to welcome the tourist and offer them a great stay in their towns...

Some pics from the trip:
left: the hotel "La soledad"
right: Palacio Clavijero



Pics from Janitzio:
left: the island
right: street markets in Janitzio

More Carnival Stories... yo te ame con gran delirio!

April 1st, good day to celebrate Barranquilla's carnival in Mexico... why not???

When my friend lyz invited me to be part of the Carnival of Barranquilla that would be celebrated in Mexico, I did not think it twice, I said COUNT ME IN!!! I never danced in a carnival in the 21 years I lived in Barranquilla, and I knew that I'm not the best Cumbia dancer that could represent my city, but hey I was in Mexico, and they dance cumbia as salsa.. so WHO CARES!!!!

The idea was to bring the carnivals to the colombian community in Mexico, and of course to mexicans to give them a sense of what celebration of carnivals really is (read the story of Veracruz below). So sponsorship was got, and more groups were included, invitations were sent to other latin communities and some Bolivian, Venezuelan and Brazilean people joined us in our celebration.

We had dances, music, delicious food and hundreds of people dancing during daylight regardless the hot sun and then the rain that came over us during the afternoon... good times!

More pics: at the left with Cami and at the right with Mario

Unexpected visit!

Some weeks ago, Rita came to visit me in DF after attending the AXLDS (AIESEC conference) in Guanajuato, we were together about 18 hours in total, but we did all possible to update each other about the moves that our lives have taken since last time we met. Time can pass but our friendship stays firm and strong!

Here a pic of Rita and me in my office...

Carnivals in Veracruz...

Traveling to Veracruz last february I discovered a city that mixes colonial arquitecture, beach and carnivals, in my search for identification I thought of it as a combination between Cartagena in Barranquilla.. only that different :)

The city was VERY crowded, so I did not particulary relaxed during this time, but hey who is looking for relaxation in the middle of the carnival?? crazy me...

Carnivals in Veracruz, are really interesting, it consist of 3 days parades, only that they are exactly the same, same groups dancing, same cars, same all.. so I guess they do it to give people more opportunities to see them (or maybe it is just lack of creativity). Parades, are kind of similiar to the ones in Barranquilla, the distance that the parade marches is about 5 km, the streets are closed for cars, and people stay in each side of the road, giving space to the folckloric groups, costumes, and celebrities to take over the street with music and color.

Given the fact that for the next day we would see the same parade, and the beaches besides of not being very nice were completely packed we decided to go to the acquarium, which mexicans claim to be the biggest one in Latin america (btw, what is the thing/complex with brazileans and mexicans with size???). I don't know if it is but I really liked it, there were "rayas", sharks, nemos, and many other animals from the ocean.. but not dolphins :(

P.S: Mexicans be prepared for the next biggest acquarium in latin american project that will take place of course in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil... it seems like it is a neverending battle!!!

Some updates...

I just realized that I haven't written so much in my blog during my stay in Mexico, I guess is a combination of not having time in the office, and not being able to upload my pics, but this week I was able to overcome these two challenges, since my boss is out of the office (so I don't have to work 12 hours a day!) and my roomie bought a computer that I could use yesterday night to upload my pics, so.. here I go.

Bosque de Chapultepec

It claims to be the biggest green area in Latin America built in an urban zone, and it surely is. It has a lot of attractions: A very interesting zoo that keeps the animals in a habitat very similar to their original one, a big lake (artificial one), a very nice castle (where former presidents and independecy heroes used to live), a wonderful musuem (Museo Antropologico) that describes perfectly the old tribes that used to exist in different parts of the country, and lots and lots of green. I think every part of the bosque deserves its own post but I just wanted to give you a sense of how especial this place is.

This Bosque, is visited for some hundreds of thousand of mexicans and foreigners every weekend, unlike most parks in Brazil, people visit them not to make sports (like running, biking, skating, etc.), more likely mexicans will eat "tortas" (their version of sandwich), tacos, or yes.. fruits, only that their fruits will contain chile (in powder) and lemon! very unique!!

Tchauzinho querido...

When I arrived to mexico, the first familiar face I saw was him.. Filipe, who had arrived only 3 weeks before to Mexico city, and who would be my mate for trips, cinema, parties, and much more.

Yesterday in the airport, it was not easy to let you go, and even if it sounds like cliche, there is a big part of you with me (and it weights about 30 kilos!!!!) :) :)

I will treasure all the time we spent together my dear, I know life will put us together again in the same land, I wish you all the best, and be sure that I will miss you tons!
beijao enoooooorme!!!

The earth is moving... my first earthquake!

well.. I actually did not feel it, but while i was sleeping, I heard someone screaming downstairs: EVERYBODY LEAVE THE HOUSE!!!! so I had to wake up, since it was dark outside the window I only could see a shadow of someone running to the garage door, and I thought Oh sh.. we are being assalted!!! (again!! since I was already assalted here in Mexico, just one block from my house!)
I woke up my roomie and we went to meet the others, finding out that what really attacked us was a 6.3 earthquake that lasted 30 seconds but that thanks God it did not make major damages however it was enough to make people go to the streets in Pijama at midnight!
After the earthquake there were about 9 more, with a smaller intensity, and unfortunately I think I will have some more, since Mexico is very susceptible to this kind of incidents, however I only pray they are not as strong as the one in 85 that almost destroyed the city (high buildings, old houses, and sadly many people)... especially when they say that these events tend to be repeated every 20 years... (so.. maybe it is about time...)
Anyways, this is my quick update, I'm fine, happy, working, and living... the earth keeps on moving!