Co-op chief admits Lloyds deal 'may not' happen

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The Co-operative Group's planned purchase of over 600 Lloyds branches has been thrown into further uncertainty after its chief executive conceded it "may not go ahead".

Co-op is in exclusive talks to buy the 632 branches that Lloyds is putting up for sale in order to comply with European rules on state aid. But the Co-op chief said regulatory hurdles could scupper the deal. "There are significant economic and regulatory issues that we have to address and that's what we're working towards," Co-op chief executive Peter Marks told BBC News. He added the deal is a "very complex transaction" and one the group will "take its time" examining. A decision will be announced within the next few weeks, he added. Recently it emerged NBNk - one of the ori...

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