NatWest has announced the repurchase of 1 billion pounds ($1.29 billion) worth of its shares from the British government, marking a significant step in its ongoing transition to full private
ownership. This buyback forms part of the bank’s efforts to reduce state involvement, which began after its financial rescue during the 2008 global financial crisis.
UK Government Investments (UKGI), responsible for managing the government's shareholding in NatWest, confirmed that following the transaction, the government's stake in the bank will decrease from approximately 14% to around 11%. This move underscores NatWest’s commitment to regaining full independence and reflects the steady progress in unwinding the public ownership that has persisted for over a decade. Photo by Ardfern, Wikimedia commons.
