* Bank of Scotland sweetened its offer...

* Bank of Scotland sweetened its offer for National Westminster Bank to $44.4 billion, about 23% more than its original offer in September, after British Trade Secretary Stephen Byers announced the acquisition would not hamper competition in British banking. Bank of Scotland’s revised offer values NatWest at $41.2 billion. The Scottish bank also would pay a special dividend to NatWest shareholders equal to $3.2 billion, payable after the enlarged group divests three smaller banks. NatWest’s board rejected the new bid as inadequate.

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