TNAG-2474-FCO40-3604-Business-matters-in-Hong-Kong-acquisition-of-Midland-Bank-by-1992 — Page 66

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

CPYTHU,070

REQUEST FROM LLOYDS BANK TO BE ALLOWED TO ACQUIRE SHARES IN

MIDLAND BANK: Q&A BRIEFING

Q1. Why has Lloyds Bank been given permission to buy shares

in Midland?

A1.

Q2.

A2.

Q3.

A3.

Lloyds Bank requested the President's consent to their

being allowed to acquire shares in Midland. The

President considered that a shareholding limited to less

than 10% of Midland's share capital would not give Lloyds

material influence over Midland or prejudice the outcome

of the MMC's current investigation.

Isn't this decision inconsistent with the decision to

refer Lloyds' possible offer for Midland to the MMC?

No.

The President considered that a merger of Lloyds and

Midland raised competition issues in the supply of

banking and associated services in the UK that merited

investigation by the MMC. He is satisfied that allowing

Lloyds and its associates to acquire a shareholding limited to less than 10% of Midland's share capital will

not give Lloyds material influence over Midland or

prejudice the outcome of the MMC's investigation.

Why does the consent restrict the amount of shares that:

Lloyds and its associates can acquire in Midland?

The request from Lloyds was to be allowed to acquire up

to 10% of Midland's shares. The President would not have

been prepared to agree to Lloyds and its associates

acquiring enough shares to have given it material

influence over Midland given the competition issues

raised by a merger between the two banks which are being

investigated by the MMC.

200

CADIMOD NOLI13dW00) 10

SS:60

26/90/50

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