South AfricanReserve Bank Deputy Governor Kuben Naidoo said the central bank isconcerned about private equity companies becoming investors in banking sectorM&A in the country, Reuters reported May 3.

"As a regulator, we would not be comfortable withprivate equity play for any of the banks," Naidoo said, without citing anyspecific potential M&A deals.

Naidoo's comment followed reports from late April thatformer Barclays PlcCEO Bob Diamond's Atlas MerchantCapital LLC is partnering with U.S. private equity firm to prepare anoffer for Barclays Africa GroupLtd.