25/07/2001

Takeover rumours grow as Abbey National’s profits rise

UK mortgage bank, Abbey National says it is open to offers after it reported a 15 per cent rise in profits to more than £1 billion for the first six months of this year.

The move comes after the recent failure of a hostile takeover bid by Lloyds TSB, which was blocked by Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt who said the deal would be against the public interest.

On Wednesday the Abbey National reported that pre-tax profits had increased to £1.06bn for the first half of the year, up from £922m last year and in line with analysts’ expectations. Abbey's shares have also outperformed the UK banking sector by around seven per cent so far this year.

Since the Trade Seceratry’s ruling, there has been speculation that the Abbey National would seek an overseas partner or prey on some of the smaller players in the UK banking sector.

Speculation has already focused on both the Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland. (MB)

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