Alliance & Leicester will announce tomorrow that it is in merger talks with Bank of Ireland, a move that could trigger a spate of counter offers for the former mortgage lender.
Royal Bank of Scotland, Prudential and Barclays all are thought interested in making an acquisition.
A BoI/A&L merger will be one of equals, producing an institution worth about £11bn.
Sunday Business 23/05/99 page 3
Sunday Times Business 23/05/99 page 1
Sunday Telegraph Business 23/05/99 page 1, 3, 5
Independent on Sunday Business 23/05/99