Barclays Capital has taken advantage of the disruption at ABN Amro to launch a big push into the corporate finance and advisory sector with the hire of about 40 bankers from its Dutch rival.

The hiring began yesterday with Barclays Capital announcing the appointments of five senior bankers from ABN Amro. The bank is understood to have recruited a further 35 staff, taking advantage of the disruption at the Dutch bank following its acquisition by a Royal Bank of Scotland-led consortium last year, said two sources familiar with the situation.