Singapore's largest lender DBS and Standard Chartered were considered as potential merger targets for U.K. bank Barclays.

The news comes as the British bank prepares comprehensive contingency plans in response to pressure from an activist investor. Speculative unions with other banks have also been discussed by Barclays’s directors, including Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse according to a «Financial Times» report.  

Theoretical mergers are being considered by the British bank following news that activist investor Edward Bramson emerged as one of Barclays largest shareholders in March. The founder of Sherborne Investors is reportedly seeking more cuts to the trading arm of Barclays investment bank.

Investigation of CEO

Addressing the potential merger targets the Financial Times reported a Barclays insider as saying it had been «scanning the horizon» like all bank boards do on a regular basis.

The British bank has not helped its own case. Under fire Barclays boss Jes Staley recently made unwelcome headlines after his involvement in a whistleblowing scandal. Staley was ordered to hand over more than 1.1 pounds sterling out of his own pocket over the matter.