TOP NEWS: NatWest buys back over GBP1 billion stock from UK government

(Alliance News) - The UK government on Friday said it has lowered its stake in blue chip lender ...

Alliance News 19 March, 2021 | 8:34AM
Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

(Alliance News) - The UK government on Friday said it has lowered its stake in blue chip lender NatWest Group PLC, raising over GBP1 billion.

UK Government Investments Ltd - which was set up by former UK Chancellor George Osborne to offload UK government-owned companies - cut its stake in NatWest to 59.8% from 61.7%.

NatWest said it agreed with the Treasury to make an off-market purchase of 590.7 million shares at Thursday's closing market price of 190.50 pence per share, worth GBP1.12 billion. The UK government now holds 6.92 billion of NatWest's 11.58 billion shares in issue.

NatWest was trading 1.6% higher in London on Friday morning at 193.50p each.

The buyback is equivalent to 4.86% of NatWest's total share capital and is therefore within the 4.99% maximum that it is allowed to purchase from the treasury in any given year.

In the summer of 2018, the government sold a 7.7% stake in the bank at a price of 271p each, raising GBP2.51 billion.

Speaking Friday, NatWest said it plans to cancel 390.7 million of the UK government shares it bought back and hold the remaining 200 million in treasury.

NatWest said the off-market purchase of shares required it to contribute GBP500 million to its main pension scheme, under an agreement announced back in 2018. After tax relief, the contribution will reduce tangible equity by GBP365 million, the bank said, of which GBP99 million will be cut from its CET1 ratio.

As result of the share purchase and pension contribution, NatWest said its CET1 ratio as at December 31 will be reduced by 72 basis points. The lender ended 2020 with a CET1 ratio of 18.5%, beating market consensus of 17.6%.

The UK government began building its majority stake in the bank from October 2008 during the financial crisis as it looked to inject funds into the banking system.

As a result, the government ended up holding an 81% stake in the lender - called Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC at the time - because of a hefty GBP45.5 billion bailout.

In mid-2020, in an attempt to escape the sins of the past under disgraced former boss Fred Goodwin, the bank changed its name to NatWest Group PLC.

By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Email Form Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS

Securities Mentioned in Article

Security Name Price Change (%) Morningstar
Rating
NatWest Group PLC 275.10 GBX -0.11

About Author

Alliance News

Alliance News provides Morningstar with continuously updating coverage of news affecting listed companies.

© Copyright 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Terms of Use        Privacy Policy        Modern Slavery Statement        Cookie Settings        Disclosures