Rachel Lord, CEO EMEA of Black Rock arrives at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls 

Rachel Lord, CEO EMEA of Black Rock arrives at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls 

Rachel Lord, CEO EMEA of Black Rock arrives at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain January 11, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls 

Stones are seen on the bank of the River Thames during low tide in London, Britain January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth SEARCH "THAMES WERMUTH" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A man holds a 10 Brixton Pounds note, which is adorned with an image of Brixton native David Bowie in Brixton, south London, January 11, 2016. David Bowie, a music legend who used daringly androgynous displays of sexuality and glittering costumes to frame legendary rock hits "Ziggy Stardust" and "Space Oddity", has died of cancer. The Brixton Pound is an alternative currency which can be used in businesses in the south London neighbourhood. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

A man holds a 10 Brixton Pounds note, which is adorned with an image of Brixton native David Bowie in Brixton, south London, January 11, 2016. David Bowie, a music legend who used daringly androgynous displays of sexuality and glittering costumes to frame legendary rock hits "Ziggy Stardust" and "Space Oddity", has died of cancer. The Brixton Pound is an alternative currency which can be used in businesses in the south London neighbourhood. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

A man walks past the Bank of England in London March 5, 2015. British fraud investigators are looking into possible fraud related to liquidity auctions held by the Bank of England during the financial crisis in 2007 and 2008. The BoE, which was rocked by a scandal over the manipulation of foreign exchange markets last year, said it had referred information relating to the auctions to Britain's Serious Fraud Office in November after an inquiry commissioned by the Bank. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS CRIME LAW) 

Pedestrians walk past the Bank of England in London March 5, 2015. British fraud investigators are looking into possible fraud related to liquidity auctions held by the Bank of England during the financial crisis in 2007 and 2008. The BoE, which was rocked by a scandal over the manipulation of foreign exchange markets last year, said it had referred information relating to the auctions to Britain's Serious Fraud Office in November after an inquiry commissioned by the Bank. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS CRIME LAW) 

A pedestrians walks under an arch opposite the Bank of England in London March 5, 2015. British fraud investigators are looking into possible fraud related to liquidity auctions held by the Bank of England during the financial crisis in 2007 and 2008. The BoE, which was rocked by a scandal over the manipulation of foreign exchange markets last year, said it had referred information relating to the auctions to Britain's Serious Fraud Office in November after an inquiry commissioned by the Bank. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS CRIME LAW) 

Pedestrians walk past the Bank of England in London March 5, 2015. British fraud investigators are looking into possible fraud related to liquidity auctions held by the Bank of England during the financial crisis in 2007 and 2008. The BoE, which was rocked by a scandal over the manipulation of foreign exchange markets last year, said it had referred information relating to the auctions to Britain's Serious Fraud Office in November after an inquiry commissioned by the Bank. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS CRIME LAW) 

A Palestinian protester takes cover behind rocks during clashes with Israeli troops at a weekly protest against Jewish settlements, in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah September 5,2014. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

A dying bird covered in spilled oil lies on a rock on the banks of the San Juan river in Cadereyta August 26, 2014. An oil pipeline spill that contaminated the river in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon will take months to clean up, the country's top water authority said on Thursday. The 24-inch Madero-Cadereyta pipeline, owned by national oil company Pemex, was ruptured when thieves attempted to tap into it, the company said on Sunday. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril (MEXICO - Tags: ANIMALS DISASTER ENVIRONMENT BUSINESS ENERGY) 

A delivery driver drives a Co-operative Pharmacy delivery van in Brighton southern England February 26, 2014. Britain's Co-operative Group said on Wednesday it was selling its farming business and looking at offloading its pharmacies after a banking crisis that has sent its losses spiralling to the worst levels in its 170-year history.
The sales are part of a restructuring at the member-owned group, rocked in the past year by the discovery of a 1.5 billion pound ($2.5 billion) capital hole in its banking arm and a drugs scandal involving ex-chairman, Methodist minister Paul Flowers. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS HEALTH) 

A customer looks out the door of a Co-operative Pharmacy in Brighton in southern England February 26, 2014. Britain's Co-operative Group said on Wednesday it was selling its farming business and looking at offloading its pharmacies after a banking crisis that has sent its losses spiralling to the worst levels in its 170-year history.
The sales are part of a restructuring at the member-owned group, rocked in the past year by the discovery of a 1.5 billion pound ($2.5 billion) capital hole in its banking arm and a drugs scandal involving ex-chairman, Methodist minister Paul Flowers. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS HEALTH) 

People pass a Co-operative Bank in Brighton in southern England February 26, 2014. Britain's Co-operative Group said on Wednesday it was selling its farming business and looking at offloading its pharmacies after a banking crisis that has sent its losses spiralling to the worst levels in its 170-year history.
The sales are part of a restructuring at the member-owned group, rocked in the past year by the discovery of a 1.5 billion pound ($2.5 billion) capital hole in its banking arm and a drugs scandal involving ex-chairman, Methodist minister Paul Flowers. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS HEALTH) 

A woman passes a Co-operative Bank in Brighton, southern England February 26, 2014. Britain's Co-operative Group said on Wednesday it was selling its farming business and looking at offloading its pharmacies after a banking crisis that has sent its losses spiralling to the worst levels in its 170-year history.
The sales are part of a restructuring at the member-owned group, rocked in the past year by the discovery of a 1.5 billion pound ($2.5 billion) capital hole in its banking arm and a drugs scandal involving ex-chairman, Methodist minister Paul Flowers. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS HEALTH) 

A woman passes a Co-operative Bank cash machine in Brighton southern England February 26, 2014. Britain's Co-operative Group said on Wednesday it was selling its farming business and looking at offloading its pharmacies after a banking crisis that has sent its losses spiralling to the worst levels in its 170-year history.
The sales are part of a restructuring at the member-owned group, rocked in the past year by the discovery of a 1.5 billion pound ($2.5 billion) capital hole in its banking arm and a drugs scandal involving ex-chairman, Methodist minister Paul Flowers. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS HEALTH) 

A logo at a branch of Virgin Money bank is seen in the City of London March 6, 2013. Virgin Money bought troubled British bank Northern Rock in 2012 for 747 million GBP. REUTERS/Toby Melville (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS) 

A logo at a branch of Virgin Money bank is seen in the City of London March 6, 2013. Virgin Money bought troubled British bank Northern Rock in 2012 for 747 million GBP. REUTERS/Toby Melville (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS) 

A man pans for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Stringer (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES) 

Boys play water as their parents pan for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Stringer (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES) 

People pan for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES) 

A woman makes her way back home after she pans for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES) 

People make their way home after panning for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES) 

A woman pans for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES) 

A man pans for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES) 

People pan for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES) 

People pan for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES) 

A girl pans for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State, February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES) 

A boy plays in the water as his parents pan for gold on a rocky bank of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar's northern Kachin State, February 24, 2012. About 100 gold prospectors work along the river at this site on the outskirts of the state capital Myitkyina earning anywhere from $3-12 a day. There are no large nuggets of gold in the rocks and sand of the Irrawaddy. Rather, the prospectors laboriously sift and filter their way down to a fine black silt in which minute flecks of gold can sometimes be found. At the end of the day they process the silt with chemicals to remove the gold. A day's work yields an amount of gold roughly the size of a grain or two of rice.REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun (MYANMAR - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS COMMODITIES) 

Richard Branson poses in a Newcastle United football jersey during a media conference as Virgin Money take over Northern Rock in Newcastle, northern England January 9, 2012. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS) 

Richard Branson poses in a Newcastle United football jersey during a media conference as Virgin Money take over Northern Rock in Newcastle, northern England January 9, 2012. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS SPORT) 

Virgin Money CEO Jayne-Anne Gadhia poses during a media conference as Virgin Money take over Northern Rock in Newcastle, northern England January 9, 2012. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS) 

Richard Branson (2ndL) poses with Newcastle United players (L-R) Mike Williamson, Sammy Ameobi and Davide Santon during a media conference as Virgin Money take over Northern Rock in Newcastle, northern England January 9, 2012. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS SPORT) 

Signs are seen on the front of the Virgin Money office in Norwich, south east England November 19, 2011. Britain will sell nationalised lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin group, in a loss-making deal that starts the government's exit from the banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Darren Staples (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS) 

Signs are seen on the front of the Virgin Money office in Norwich, south east England November 19, 2011. Britain will sell nationalised lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin group, in a loss-making deal that starts the government's exit from the banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Darren Staples (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS) 

People pass a branch of Northern Rock bank in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

People pass a branch of Northern Rock bank in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

People pass a branch of Northern Rock bank in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

People pass a branch of Northern Rock bank in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

A woman passes a branch of Northern Rock bank in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

A general view of the Northern Rock's head office in Gosforth, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY) 

The iconic clock of a branch of a Northern Rock bank is seen in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY) 

A man speaks on a mobile phone outside a branch of Northern Rock bank in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY) 

The iconic clock of a branch of a Northern Rock bank is seen in Newcastle, northern England November 17, 2011. Britain has agreed to sell nationalized lender Northern Rock to Virgin Money, the banking arm of Richard Branson's Virgin empire, in a loss-making deal that marks the start of the government's exit from banks it bailed out in the 2008 crisis. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis (BRITAIN ENTERTAINMENT SOCIETY) 

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne looks on as Mervyn King (unseen), the Governor of the Bank of England, speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning(BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne (L) looks on as Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne (L) looks on as Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, speaks at the Mansion House Banquet in the City of London, June 15, 2011. UK Finance Minister George Osborne is aiming to find a buyer for Northern Rock, the bank that had to be fully nationalised after nearly collapsing during the credit crisis, by the end of 2011. Osborne will kick-start the sale timetable in his annual Mansion House speech on Wednesday. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

A member of the Samaritan sect sits on a rock atop Mount Gerizim during the traditional pilgrimage marking the holiday of Shavuot, near the West Bank city of Nablus early June 12, 2011. The Samaritans, who trace their roots to the biblical Kingdom of Israel in what is now the northern occupied West Bank, observe religious practices similar to those of Judaism. REUTERS/Nir Elias (WEST BANK - Tags: RELIGION) 

Pedestrians are reflected as they pass a branch of Northern Rock in the City of London March 9, 2011. Northern Rock Plc does not have to be profitable to return to the private sector, the state-owned British bank said when reporting a 2010 loss. Northern Rock said on Wednesday it was "on the right trajectory to profitability" and continued to prepare for life out of state ownership, when posting a 232 million pound ($375 million) loss. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS) 

A black cab drives past a branch of Northern Rock in the City of London, August 3, 2010. The companies born from the split of the old Northern Rock group, the nationalised British bank which was the UK's first major credit crisis victim, reported contrasting fortunes on Tuesday in their interim results. Northern Rock Asset Management -- the so-called "bad bank" bit of the old group -- posted a pretax profit of 349.7 million pounds ($553 million), boosted by lower bad det charges, compared with a loss of 724.2 million a year earlier. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

A black cab drives past a branch of Northern Rock in the City of London, August 3, 2010. The companies born from the split of the old Northern Rock group, the nationalised British bank which was the UK's first major credit crisis victim, reported contrasting fortunes on Tuesday in their interim results. Northern Rock Asset Management -- the so-called "bad bank" bit of the old group -- posted a pretax profit of 349.7 million pounds ($553 million), boosted by lower bad det charges, compared with a loss of 724.2 million a year earlier. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

A one way street sign is seen outside a branch of Northern Rock in the City of London, August 3, 2010. The companies born from the split of the old Northern Rock group, the nationalised British bank which was the UK's first major credit crisis victim, reported contrasting fortunes on Tuesday in their interim results. Northern Rock Asset Management -- the so-called "bad bank" bit of the old group -- posted a pretax profit of 349.7 million pounds ($553 million), boosted by lower bad det charges, compared with a loss of 724.2 million a year earlier. REUTERS/Andrew Winning (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) 

An arrow points down in the window of a branch of Northern Rock in London March 10, 2010. Nationalised mortgage lender Northern Rock's headline losses shrank in 2009, helped by rising net interest income and lower loan losses in the second half, though it said loan writedowns would stay high in 2010. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS) POLITICS) 

A pedestrian is reflected in a sign for Northern Rock's offices in London March 10, 2010. Nationalised mortgage lender Northern Rock's headline losses shrank in 2009, helped by rising net interest income and lower loan losses in the second half, though it said loan writedowns would stay high in 2010. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)