UK government concludes exit from NatWest Group
From Yahoo Finance: 2025-06-02 08:21:00
The UK government has fully sold its shares in NatWest Group, previously RBS, after a 17-year public ownership stint that began during the 2008 financial crisis. The government recouped £35bn of its £45.5bn bailout costs, resulting in a £10.5bn loss to taxpayers. Various methods were used for share disposal.
In 2017, the government sold its remaining stake in Lloyds Banking Group, returning it to private ownership and yielding £21.2bn for taxpayers, £894m more than the initial investment. Exchequer Chancellor Rachel Reeves highlighted the significance of NatWest’s return to private ownership, marking the end of a crucial period in the UK’s history.
NatWest Group CEO Paul Thwaite expressed pride in the bank’s transformation, thanking customers, colleagues, and shareholders for their support. With the UK government’s exit, the bank looks to the future with renewed confidence. Last month, NatWest acquired a minority stake in Yonder, a credit card platform, further expanding its reach in the financial sector.