Bank of America Merrill Lynch has lost its place in a syndicate of lending banks working on 21st Century Fox's cash offer for the UK broadcaster Sky, after taking a role advising a rival bidder.

In a statement on Friday, Fox said it had requested the bank be removed from the roster of lending partners, which include Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and JPMorgan. BAML’s lending obligations have been transferred to Citi.