RBS preps for govt stake sale with shareholder vote

Laura Miller
clock

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is preparing shareholders for the government to sell down its 79% stake in the lender by asking them to vote on costs related to a sale at its annual general meeting.

Philip Hampton, the chairman, has written to investors asking them to support the ‘‘related party transaction'', which will mean RBS pays the cost of publishing any documents needed for the share sale. Hampton wrote that RBS should have held the vote and got the green light from shareholders when the government completed a £45bn bail-out in 2009 but this was "not obtained". He did not say why. The letter made clear that any sell-down of the government's stake is at the "sole discretion of HM Treasury", according to the Telegraph. But it said RBS believes the move is in the "best in...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Investment

How quality investing behaves through the cycle

How quality investing behaves through the cycle

Resilience when it matters more

Joseph Stephens and Laura Neill
clock 14 September 2026 • 4 min read
Why portfolios need to evolve, not revolve when it comes to client outcomes

Why portfolios need to evolve, not revolve when it comes to client outcomes

'As market structures evolve, so must portfolio construction'

Ed Senior
clock 11 September 2026 • 4 min read
What does 'quality' investing actually mean?

What does 'quality' investing actually mean?

Why persistence is the real test

Joseph Stephens and Laura Neill
clock 11 September 2026 • 4 min read