Comment: NAB takeover revival
Will ANZ today revive its 2008 takeover bid for NAB?It was a badly needed fix then and is no less appealing now.Four pillars is fiction if the coordination of efficient, low cost banking services and the enrichment of society is anybody's goal.Two great banks in Australia would be fine.Sadly, the Tom and Jerry show at the bank's results today will more than likely skip the opportunity.One of ANZ's overlapping CEOs, Mike Smith or Shayne Elliot, should get the ball rolling once more.There's nothing like a 'tell em like it is' flourish to finish with - and it would be an entertaining conclusion to the Smith era.Or how about a shift in ANZ HQ and ANZ taxes to a credible, lower cost Asian money centre?Or just pal up with the big bank or banks the David Gonski patrolled ANZ board most desires to align with.Get the biggest conversations in banking front and centre, and if there are costs to detonate make a plan and get it done.Many great Australian banking jobs must remain and grow.This morning two leaders strut their stuff; ANZ an easy leader in the bank profit season launched amid much horror yesterday by NAB.When the comparison is the worst the industry has to offer, ANZ walk on with a real story of Asian promise and a decisive point of difference.Smith and Elliot also boast BlueNotes and the best investor relations in the business.Although BlueNotes is gathering no great global reach, like many other niche industry media publishers, ANZ is striving to build a valuable global audience.