Bids undervalue Northern Rock
Updated on 19 November 2007
Rescue offers for the Northern Rock bank are all "substantially below" its market value, sending its share price plunging.
The Newcastle-based group is thought to have received bids from four suitors, including the Virgin Group and Olivant Advisers. Having been valued at more than £5bn in February, the bank is now worth just £558m.
And the beleaguered bank says potential buyers are only interested in buying parts of the group or injecting cash into the lender, rather than acquiring the entire business.
In another blow, a treasury statement this morning said that parties interested in Northern Rock should not assume that funding from the Bank of England will continue after February 2008 or beyond any future sale.
There is also concern that the treasury's support for the bank could constitute state aid under EU rules and therefore be illegal.
Northern Rock sought emergency funding from the Bank of England in September of this year after sharp increases in borrowing rates over the summer produced a credit squeeze, undermining the bank's business model and prompting cusomers to withdraw an estimated £2bn worth of savings.
Adam Applegarth, the bank's chief executive, announced his resignation on Friday.
