Old Halifax Shareholders could block Lloyds takeover

An article in the Mail Online, here, points out an interesting scenario. When the once respectable and honest Building Society The Halifax de-mutualised many members obtained shares which many still retain. Thus there are large numbers of small shareholders, estimated at two million in this article. A simple majority of shareholders are needed for the takeover by Lloyds to proceed - the large institutional shareholders under Government pressure to ram this deal through number only 1000 apparently, therefore ordinary people could put this sorry tale to a speedy end.