HBOS may still make Abbey bid

British bank HBOS reiterated it may bid for Abbey National as it prepares to meet the British mortgage lender’s biggest shareholder.

A bid by HBOS might thwart an attempt by Santander Central Hispano, the biggest bank in Spain and Latin America, to enter Britain through Europe’s largest-ever cross-border banking takeover. Abbey last month agreed to be bought by Santander for stg£8.2 billion.

HBOS plans to meet Brandes Investment Partners LP next month to discuss its own earnings. California-based Brandes owns 8.5% of Abbey, as well as shares in HBOS.