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Co-op Group 'considered' resolution process for bank | Co-op Group 'considered' resolution process for bank |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Co-operative Group considered admitting its struggling bank into a Bank of England resolution procedure, the BBC's Robert Peston has learned. | |
Earlier this year the group was ordered to raise £1.5bn of capital in order to close a gap in Co-op Bank's financial resilience. | |
At that stage the Co-op considered putting the bank into an official process called "resolution". | At that stage the Co-op considered putting the bank into an official process called "resolution". |
But the group decided the move could do too much damage to the Co-op brand. | But the group decided the move could do too much damage to the Co-op brand. |
Instead, it came up with a compromise plan to raise £1bn of the capital - which banks are required to hold in order to protect savers and depositors from losses - and another £500m by forcing losses onto holders of the Co-op Bank's debt. | Instead, it came up with a compromise plan to raise £1bn of the capital - which banks are required to hold in order to protect savers and depositors from losses - and another £500m by forcing losses onto holders of the Co-op Bank's debt. |
While regulators have approved the rescue plan, putting it into place is proving a complicated and lengthy procedure. | While regulators have approved the rescue plan, putting it into place is proving a complicated and lengthy procedure. |
Depositors protected | Depositors protected |
Owners of the bank's debt and preference shares will be forced to take losses. | Owners of the bank's debt and preference shares will be forced to take losses. |
"Co-op Group's management regarded heaping losses on the holders of subordinated debt and preference shares as fair, given that, if Co-op Bank were to go into resolution, these investors would almost certainly incur much bigger losses," said our business editor. | "Co-op Group's management regarded heaping losses on the holders of subordinated debt and preference shares as fair, given that, if Co-op Bank were to go into resolution, these investors would almost certainly incur much bigger losses," said our business editor. |
If all goes to plan the refinancing should be completed by mid-November. | If all goes to plan the refinancing should be completed by mid-November. |
There is concern that if the process drags on, depositors might become nervous and start leaving the bank. | There is concern that if the process drags on, depositors might become nervous and start leaving the bank. |
The problems at Co-op Bank stem from its purchase of the Britannia Building Society in 2009, which turned out to have large amounts of bad debt. | The problems at Co-op Bank stem from its purchase of the Britannia Building Society in 2009, which turned out to have large amounts of bad debt. |
The situation was made worse when the regulator imposed more demanding requirements on all banks for the amount of capital they have to hold in reserve. | The situation was made worse when the regulator imposed more demanding requirements on all banks for the amount of capital they have to hold in reserve. |