Ex-Barclays boss Diamond seeks comeback with £150m float

Bob Diamond, the former boss of Barclays who left in disgrace last year after the bank admitted its role in rigging Libor rates, is reportedly close to making a comeback with a new bank venture.

According to a report in the Sunday Times, Diamond is putting the final touches to Atlas Mara, a company he has set up with the billionaire entrepreneur Ashish Thakkar to buy a bank in Africa. The company has not yet zeroed in on a target, but Diamond is said to have lined up £150m in backing. The Sunday Times said he plans to list in London within a fort-night with the backing of Thakkar, the founder of Mara Group, a conglomerate with operations in 19 African countries. It is a remarkable turnaround for Diamond, who was last seen defending Barclays after the Libor scandal. He s...