When the U.S finally sort the debt ceiling problem (which, in theory, has to be by 2nd Aug) the banks should bounce up very nicely. Looks to be a very good trading opportunity, just very tricky to guage a good entry point, particularly as Goldman Sachs have just downgraded the banks to neutral.

Is GS still in business. Last time I saw employees with large boxes they were starting to sell matches from under the Rly bridge (to keep 'em dry).



If so, who'd employ them, listen to their advice, etc.

I have a woeful inv. in LB - down from above 3 - still close to 90% Club. "How the mighty..."

"Is GS still in business."......Oh yes and if you wish you can start your career application on-line via their website! The meek are not going to inherit the earth, imo. They are gonna get trodden on by the bad guys who always seem to survive!

ahoj. then there would be no wild life and the planet will die
we need a virus to wipe out 75 % of the population

-anker are you sick or what, where's Dirty Harry?

hal. these planet is over populated 100 years ago 1.6b come nov this year 7b
and the planet is running out of water to turn sea water fit to use would course
even more damage itis time for govs to act and fast

-anker you are a serial scarer you must be a journo.

TANKER. If the bank is split in two, what's your view on the shareprice?

why split into just two you have TSB, C&G ,Halifax, Bank of Scotland etc.....

juan.
if they split it in to two banks with seperate management i would expect each company to start at around 43p each that is our good it would be then on to 230p each by 2013.

July 27, 2011 1:37 pm

Osmond joins bidding for Lloyds portfolio
By Sharlene Goff and Anousha Sakoui
Hugh Osmond, the entrepreneur known for his investments in pubs and pizza restaurants, has turned his attention to banking with an ambitious offer for 630 branches being sold by Lloyds Banking Group.

Mr Osmond is one of three firm bidders for the portfolio Lloyds is having to sell to comply with state aid rules, according to people familiar with the process.

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His offer came through a new acquisition vehicle which is set to be launched later this year. The structure, a successor to his first cash shell, Horizon, is aiming to raise up to 500m from investors including Sun Capital, Mr Osmonds investment firm.

Success with the Lloyds auction would hand Mr Osmond the UKs sixth largest bank, with almost 5 per cent of the current account market and a total of about 5m customers.

However he would have to raise considerably more than the 500m initially planned. The branches are expected to have a price tag of about 2bn, but any buyer would also have to raise large amounts of capital to back the assets and be able to fund the lending book, which is currently heavily skewed towards mortgages over deposits.

Analysts believed meeting these financial demands would be stretching, particularly for buyers looking to set up a bank from scratch.

As a new entrant to the industry, Mr Osmonds vehicle would need Lloyds to carve out the full architecture to run a bank and have to meet tougher regulatory demands.

His team is understood to be working with a technology partner based in India. Phoenix, the insurance company Mr Osmond created through a series of deals, outsourced services to the Indian IT company, Tata Consultancy Services.

Mr Osmond is going head to head with two other bidders for the Lloyds branches. NBNK, a new venture set up by Lord Levene, the chairman of Lloyds of London, and Co-operative Group, the UKs largest mutual lender.

Virgin Money and National Australia Bank have also had talks with Lloyds but have not yet made concrete offers for the branches.

Mr Osmond made his name with investments in companies such as Pizza Express and Punch Taverns.

While he does not have a track record in banking, he has experience in carving up businesses to create new companies.

Separation is the key to the whole deal. The cost of the split is hundreds of millions, said one person close to the sale process.

While Mr Osmond and the Sun Capital team are understood to be particularly keen on buying the Lloyds branches, it not the only target being considered for the new acquisition vehicle, according to people familiar with its plans.

Lloyds, Sun Capital and Mr Osmond all declined to comment on Wednesday.

dreamcatcher i backed you the other night you finished 3rd 5.1

Heres the lottery numbers Tanker, 3, 6 ,11, 23, 24, B2. LOL

it will win next timeback it

just back from a meal in THE DOWN nr bridgenorth 10 out 10 .

You are making me hungry.

i am going again next tuesday lunch

Got some very good eating places in Bishops Stortford, Herts.

dream the worst place to get a good meal is in wales. they penny pinch which destoys them people now take there own food even i do and hate that .they must even count the chips and peas . it is self defeating has people will never come back .
the meadow in ironbridge is good .but the rest are rubbish

my neighbours have just gone on holiday to wales. They are tight as ar-- holes,
so just sounds the place for them.lol. Do people go on holiday to wales?