This year, Britain would start selling its Lloyds Banking Group stocks to pension funds and insurers. Sources from the industry said that Britain rebuffed private equity and sovereign wealth funds' interest.
According to the sources, the country was expected to sell up to a quarter of its 39% stake as soon as September. If the first half results of the bank were well received, the sale would take place earlier. Lloyds was also anticipated to give a report with an upsurge on profit. This would increase its hope in paying dividends for 2014. It would also raise its attractiveness to the capitalist.
The sale would be a milestone for Britain's revival from the crisis in 2008, according to the country's Conservative-headed coalition. In 2008, taxpayers were able to pump an aggregate of GBP66 billion equivalent to US$100 billion in to Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland. The government also wanted to prevent the possibility of selling the stake on a later date. Sources said that this would signify that the stake was sold too cheaply to foreign investors.
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