A Van Zanten comic for the economist magazine ESB, about the stock market launch of ABN AMRO shares. Roughly, the story is that after ABN AMRO bank was bought by three international banks, one of them (Fortis) faced a bankruptcy during the bank crisis of 2008. The belgian and dutch governments decided to nationalise the bank – the dutch state becoming owner of the ABN AMRO part. Tomorrow, 20 november, a first 20% of ABN AMRO shares will be sold in the stock market. My translation: 1) VZ: Are you going to buy ABN AMRO shares? 2) Miss: I already am a ABN AMRO shareholder, just like all dutch taxpayers. And even at the highest introduction price of the share, the dutch state will suffer a loss. 3) Miss: Why would I sell something I own to myself with a loss, only to have a small chance to make a little profit? 4) VZ: Suddenly, pin ball sounds like such a smart thing to do.
Een Van Zanten stripje voor het economenblad ESB, over de beursgang van ABN AMRO morgen, 20 november. Ik neem aan dat het verhaal van de nationalisatie van ABN AMRO genoegzaam bekend is.