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US private equity firm eyes Rock | US private equity firm eyes Rock |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Private equity firm JC Flowers has stepped up efforts to take control of Northern Rock - putting together a management team in case a deal happens. | Private equity firm JC Flowers has stepped up efforts to take control of Northern Rock - putting together a management team in case a deal happens. |
The US firm said it would appoint former Marks and Spencer chairman Paul Myners as chairman of the bank. | |
Other high-profile executives have also been lined up for board positions. | Other high-profile executives have also been lined up for board positions. |
The news could ignite a bidding war for the UK lender after a consortium led by Richard Branson's Virgin Group proposed an offer earlier this month. | The news could ignite a bidding war for the UK lender after a consortium led by Richard Branson's Virgin Group proposed an offer earlier this month. |
There have been reports that JC Flowers had set aside £15bn to buy Northern Rock, the first major UK bank to be brought to its knees by the seizures in the credit markets which followed the crisis affecting US sub-prime home loans. | There have been reports that JC Flowers had set aside £15bn to buy Northern Rock, the first major UK bank to be brought to its knees by the seizures in the credit markets which followed the crisis affecting US sub-prime home loans. |
Other executives assembled by JC Flowers to run the bank if its offer was successful, include former Alliance and Leicester chief executive Richard Pym and Hugh Scott-Barratt, the ex-chief financial officer of ABN Amro. | Other executives assembled by JC Flowers to run the bank if its offer was successful, include former Alliance and Leicester chief executive Richard Pym and Hugh Scott-Barratt, the ex-chief financial officer of ABN Amro. |
As well as losing wholesale funding, Northern Rock has suffered a larger withdrawal by retail customers than the guesses circulating in the market Simon Ward, economist, New Star Asset Management See Northern Rock shares | |
Northern Rock's shares climbed cautiously in morning trade, up 0.75% to 188.9 pence, but still more than two-thirds below its price before it was forced to go to the Bank of England for emergency funding on 14 September. | |
'Potentially interested' | 'Potentially interested' |
Last week, Northern Rock said it was continuing to negotiate its position with a number of "potentially interested" suitors. | Last week, Northern Rock said it was continuing to negotiate its position with a number of "potentially interested" suitors. |
They include the Virgin-led consortium, also featuring US insurance company AIG, which has offered to buy a majority stake in the bank and inject "hundreds of millions of pounds" of money in exchange for taking control and rebranding the business as Virgin Money. | |
Any future owner of Northern Rock will need to pay back hefty loans to the Bank of England which it has borrowed in emergency funds. | Any future owner of Northern Rock will need to pay back hefty loans to the Bank of England which it has borrowed in emergency funds. |
Over the past week, the bank is likely to have borrowed a further £4.65bn, according to the latest Bank of England data. | Over the past week, the bank is likely to have borrowed a further £4.65bn, according to the latest Bank of England data. |
The figure appeared in the "other assets" category of the Bank of England's accounts, which includes any funds the Bank issues as "lender of last resort". | The figure appeared in the "other assets" category of the Bank of England's accounts, which includes any funds the Bank issues as "lender of last resort". |
Analysts believe it is highly likely that this money has gone to Northern Rock. | Analysts believe it is highly likely that this money has gone to Northern Rock. |
This would indicate that Northern Rock's borrowings are now likely to total in excess of £20bn. | |
Simon Ward, an economist at investment management firm New Star, said: "As well as losing wholesale funding, Northern Rock has suffered a larger withdrawal by retail customers than the guesses of several billion pounds circulating in the market. | |
He said that this view would fit with the record level of savings receipts reported by building societies in September. | |
"Building societies account for about 20% of all retail deposits and enjoyed an inflow of £2.8bn last month, up from £1bn in September 2006." |