Interview: AIB CEO confident of taking on Ulster Bank loans, but not its branches

AIB chief Colin Hunt said AIB was "very confident" it will be in a position to close the transaction, saying that any Competition Commission issues were "a matter for another day".

AIB chief executive Colin Hunt

AIB's agreement to acquire €4.1bn in corporate loans in the carve-up of Ulster Bank will not involve taking on its deposits or any of Ulster's 88 branches in the Republic, AIB chief executive Colin Hunt has said.

In an interview, Mr Hunt also said he expected about 300 Ulster staff to join AIB when the deal is clinched in the coming months, but said that he would not discuss what AIB will likely pay for the transaction, amid continuing due diligence over the purchase.