P111 ORACLE 111 Wjd29 Apr ITV 2129:32
                            1/2 
  REFER LLOYDS BID,             
  UNION TELLS HESELTINE         
                                        
 The banking union BIFU has written to  
 Industry Secretary Michael Heseltinj   
 urging him to refer Lloyds' bid for    
 Midland to the Monopolies Commission.  
                                        
 It warned the minister of "widespread  
 branch closures and many thousands of  
 job losses" in the event of Lloyds     
 possible £3.7bn offer being accepted.  
                                        
 The question of referral is seen as the
 key to whjthjr Lloyds will go ahead. If
 it is,it has indicated it may withdraw.
                                        
 "Wj are concerned at the effect on our 
 members and their livelihood," said    
 BIFU general secretary Leif Mills. >>>>
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   P111 ORACLE 111 Wjd29 Apr ITV 2129:18
                            2/2 
  LLOYDS BID NOT                
  RULED OUT BY MIDLAND          
                                        
 The Midland Bank confirmed its backing 
 for the takjovjr bid bz the Hongkong & 
 Shanghai Bank in its first response to 
 the bid proposal bz rival Lloyds.      
                                        
 But it did not rule out the higher     
 £3.7bn offer from Lloyds, which would  
 involve the loss of 20,000 jobs.       
                                        
 Midland directors met to consider the  
 Lloyds offer after recommending that   
 shareholders accept the HSBC offer of  
 £3.3bn offered earlier this month.     
                                        
 But they said: "The financial terms of 
 Lloyds' proposals indicate a value for 
 Midland shares above HSBC'u offer."    
                                   >>>>>
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