27 Apr 2009

Northern Rock to be 'sold by end of year'-report

5:16 am on 27 April 2009

The British government is reportedly going to sell Northern Rock by the end of the year in a bid to reclaim taxpayers' cash.

Without citing sources, The Sunday Times said Credit Suisse has started to draw up a sale plan, which is linked to moves to split the nationalised bank in two.

The bank's most toxic loans are to be siphoned off into a "bad bank" that will remain in government hands.

The paper said Virgin Money, National Australia Bank, Santander and private equity firms Blackstone and TowerBrook have all been sounded out about the deal.

The Treasury declined to comment on the report.