On March 1st he announced plans to make big French companies harder to take over, by increasing the shareholdings controlled by the state.The French furore is part of a disturbing pattern.
But a further capital injection would also increase the government's shareholding in banks or even bring them fully under government control.
The deals are seen as costly however: they substantially increase the government's shareholding and come with a number of conditions that include increased lending in Britain and pulling back from international markets.
Mr Darling hopes to force the two banks in which the government has large shareholdings, RBS and Lloyds Banking Group, to increase the gross amount that they lend to businesses by £94 billion–although previous efforts to influence their lending have failed.
Recent trends for JPFEs suggest that this conflict can be resolved by rethinking about public shareholding, namely by diversifying the mix of public partners including multiple local authorities so that the PPP can increase the level and amount of commissioning.
He has also unraveled complex cross-shareholdings, bought back millions of shares of stock and canceled more than 6 million shares to increase the company's market cap.
Last month, as Prime Minister Gordon Brown introduced the latest bailout of RBS, which increased the state's shareholding to 70percentt, he raged at the "irresponsible risks" of its bankers.
Recognising the increase in the shareholding by Rangers First, the fans' group that has purchased 2.25% of the stock, King said he is "excited about the prospect this offers to work, as partners, with the fan representatives immediately after the general meeting on the 6 March".
He added: "Let me make it very clear, I am not seeking to join the board or to increase my shareholding in the club.
