Bank of China Ltd. (3988) requested details
about the tranche of more than 600 branches Lloyds Banking Group
Plc (LLOY) is obliged to sell, in advance of a possible bid for the
network, Sky News reported, without citing a source for the
information.

The state-owned Chinese bank, which is listed on the Hong
Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges, was one of ten companies that
were sent information on the sale of the branches yesterday, Sky
said. The bank may not actually make an offer for the branches,
Sky reported.

A Lloyds spokeswoman declined to comment by telephone
today.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Blanche Gatt in London at
bgatt@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Colin Keatinge at
ckeatinge@bloomberg.net.