Man charged with racially abusing West Bromwich footballer

• Metro Bank has invited potential buyers to consider a takeover, although it says no active negotiations are under way
• Majority shareholder Jaime Gilinski Bacal could make an estimated £427m paper gain on his investment
• The lender has returned to profitability after cutting costs, reducing its workforce and shifting towards specialist lending

Metro Bank is looking for a buyer three years after a £925m rescue deal, opening the possibility of a lucrative exit for Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski Bacal, whose investment has risen sharply in value during the lender's turnaround.

The London-based bank announced on November 12 that it had begun a formal sale process as part of a wider strategic review. Its shares rose by around 7 per cent following the announcement, valuing the business at approximately £1.3bn during Thursday's trading.