Ministers apply finishing touches to ‘Tell Sid’-style NatWest offer

Published

1 month ago

May 4, 2024

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Ordinary investors will be awarded ‘bonus’ shares in NatWest Group if they hold onto stock they acquire in the taxpayer-backed bank, under a plan expected to be finalised by ministers later this month.

Sky News has learnt key details of the options being explored by the Treasury for a multibillion pound retail offer of NatWest shares, including a likely £10,000 cap on applications from members of the public.

Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, announced in last year’s autumn statement that he would explore a mass-market share sale “to create a new generation of retail investors”.

Since that point, further buybacks by the bank and stock sales by the government have reduced the taxpayer’s stake to around 28% – worth about £7bn at NatWest’s current valuation.

The retail offer will be launched alongside an institutional placing of shares in the bank which could in aggregate lead to the Treasury’s stake falling to as low as 10%, sources indicated this weekend.

If investor demand turns out to be greater than expected, the reduction could be even more substantial, they said.

That would put the government within striking distance of returning NatWest to full private ownership 16 years after the lender was rescued from the brink of collapse with £45.5bn of public money.

This weekend, sources said that options under active consideration by Treasury officials included a minimum investment of £250, to encourage a wide participation in the retail offer.

A ceiling of £10,000 was “likely”, they said, mirroring a 2015 Treasury plan – which was subsequently abandoned – for a retail offering by the Treasury of Lloyds Banking Group shares.

The NatWest offer is also expected to award one bonus share for every ten bought by retail investors and retained for at least a year, the sources added, although they cautioned that final details such as the bonus share ratio and precise investment thresholds could still be amended by officials.

A modest discount to the bank’s prevailing share price will also be applied to encourage take-up.

People close to the decision-making process said that Mr Hunt and Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, were being kept closely informed on the plans.

Depending upon market conditions, they said an announcement to launch the offer could come in late May or early June.

The green light will be subject to any political turbulence in the aftermath of this week’s local elections, they added.

Shares in NatWest have risen by more than 20% over the last year despite the turbulence surrounding the debanking row involving Nigel Farage, the former UKIP leader.

Dame Alison Rose, the bank’s former boss, stepped down last year after it emerged that she had spoken to a BBC journalist about the closure of Mr Farage’s accounts.

She has since been replaced by Paul Thwaite, whose transition from interim to permanent boss of NatWest was confirmed earlier this year.

NatWest also has a new chairman, Rick Haythornthwaite, who replaced Sir Howard Davies at its annual meeting last month.

Mr Farage, who has threatened to launch legal action against the bank, recently declared his fight with the lender “far from over”.

“For a retail NatWest share sale to work – as outlined by Jeremy Hunt in the Budget – investors must have confidence in the bank,” he said.

“My debanking row with them is far from over.

“They acted in a politically prejudiced way against me and then deliberately tried to cover it up.

“Until they provide full disclosure and apologise for their behaviour, why should any retail customer trust them?”

The government’s stake in NatWest has been steadily reduced during the last eight years from almost 85%.

Sky News revealed earlier this year that ministers had drafted in M&C Saatchi – the advertising agency founded by the brothers who helped propel Margaret Thatcher to power – to orchestrate a campaign to persuade millions of Britons to buy NatWest shares.

NatWest, which changed its name from Royal Bank of Scotland Group in an attempt to distance itself from its hubristic overexpansion, was rescued from outright collapse by an emergency bailout that Fred Goodwin, its then boss, likened to “a drive-by shooting”.

A spokesperson for NatWest said “decisions on the timing and mechanic of any offer are a matter for the Treasury”.

Business

Melrose founders to list Rosebank in hunt for new industrial deals

Published

12 hours ago

June 15, 2024

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Melrose founders to list Rosebank in hunt for new industrial deals

The founders of Melrose Industries, one of Britain’s most prolific and lucrative investment groups, are preparing to list a new vehicle in London next month as they hunt a new wave of takeover targets.

Sky News has learnt that Simon Peckham is spearheading the launch of Rosebank Industries, with talks under way to raise more than £40m from institutional investors.

Citi and Investec have been appointed to work on the AIM market listing and fundraising.

The timing of Mr Peckham’s plans may make his new company the first to make its stock market debut in London after the general election.

Rosebank, whose name offers a nod to the original Melrose vehicle, has been assembled by six executives who spent a combined 108 years at their former company.

According to an investor presentation seen by Sky News, the Rosebank team intends to recreate the ‘Buy, Improve, Sell’ model which saw Melrose acquire companies including GKN, the former FTSE-100 aerospace and automotive group.

It will seek to buy industrial and manufacturing companies headquartered in the UK, Europe or North America with an enterprise value of up to about $3bn (£?bn).

Notably, it will employ the same approach to executive remuneration as the one that saw Melrose’s top team receive windfalls worth hundreds of millions of pounds over two decades.

The most recent payout, confirmed last month, crystallised a £180m share-based bonanza for executives including Peter Dilnot, Melrose’s chief executive.

According to the investor presentation, Rosebank will set its annual bonuses “at a level below the normal market practice, with the focus of reward package to be on a shareholder-aligned long-term incentive plan, paid in shares”.

“The long-term incentive plan will be very similar to that used for Melrose, measuring value created over three-year performance periods, with the opportunity to share in 10% of the value creation once investment has satisfied an annual 8% return threshold.”

Rosebank will be incorporated in Jersey, with the initial fundraising proceeds used to fund due diligence and corporate expenses.

Once an acquisition is identified and executed, Rosebank intends to move to the main London market.

Mr Peckham had been deliberating over whether to shun the public markets for what had been dubbed Melrose 2.0, and is said to have held discussions with several large investment firms.

In an interview with The Sunday Times earlier this year, he warned that the London stock market was “in danger of being ordinary”.

Melrose listed in London in 2003, issuing more than £10bn in equity to finance its string of acquisitions.

Among the other industrial names that Melrose acquired were Nortek, Dynacast and Elster.

It was the £8bn takeover of GKN in 2018 which thrust Mr Peckham and his colleagues into the public spotlight as the target fought a bitter, and ultimately unsuccessful, battle for its independence.

GKN was eventually split into two companies, with the automotive division now listed in London under the name Dowlais, and Melrose transformed into a pure-play aerospace company.

On Saturday, a spokesman for Rosebank declined to comment

Business

Latitude, Download and Isle of Wight festivals no longer sponsored by Barclays

Published

1 day ago

June 14, 2024

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Latitude, Download and Isle of Wight festivals no longer sponsored by Barclays

Barclays will no longer sponsor Latitude, Download or Isle of Wight festivals after musicians and comedians dropped out in protest over the bank’s ties to the Israel-Hamas war.

Live Nation, the concert promoter, told Sky News: “Following discussion with artists, we have agreed with Barclays that they will step back from sponsorship of our festivals.”

Upcoming Live Nation festivals across the UK this summer include Latitude, Download and the Isle of Wight.

Barclays signed a five-year sponsorship deal with Live Nation in 2023. It’s not clear if the suspension will apply to all events up to 2028.

Comedians Joanne McNally, Sophie Duker, Grace Campbell, and Alexandra Haddow all announced they would be boycotting Latitude Festival last week.

Musicians including CMAT, Pillow Queens, Mui Zyu, and Georgia Ruth had also pulled out of the event.

Download Festival, which comes to Donington Park, Leicestershire this weekend, had seen acts including Pest Control, Ithaca, Scowl, Speed and Zulu pull out, also over the festival’s sponsorship.

‘Facilitating genocide’

In a statement on Instagram, Pest Control wrote: “We will not take part in an event whose sponsor profits from facilitating a genocide”.

Meanwhile, Ithaca wrote on X: “Whilst we hate letting anyone down, this moment of solidarity sends a powerful message to the organisers about where the younger generation of bands stand”.

A spokesperson for Barclays told Sky News: “Barclays was asked and has agreed to suspend participation in the remaining Live Nation festivals in 2024”.

Barclays calls on ‘leaders’ to ‘stand united’ against activist pressure

Palestine Action, a group whose members attacked 20 of the bank branches across England and Scotland last week, has accused Barclays of having financial interests in both Israel’s weapons trade and fossil fuels.

The UK-based Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called for a general boycott of the bank, while the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement has named Barclays as one of their “divestment and exclusion” targets.

Barclays’ statement went on: “The protestors’ agenda is to have Barclays debank defence companies which is a sector we remain committed to as an essential part of keeping this country and our allies safe.

“They have resorted to intimidating our staff, repeated vandalism of our branches and online harassment. The only thing that this small group of activists will achieve is to weaken essential support for cultural events enjoyed by millions.

“It is time that leaders across politics, business, academia and the arts stand united against this.”

Barclays has said while it provides financial services to “public companies that supply defence products to NATO and its allies” it does not directly invest in the firms.

Latitude Festival told Sky News: “Following discussion with artists, we have agreed with Barclays that they will step back from sponsorship of Latitude Festival”.

Comedians pull out en masse

Taskmaster star McNally, who had been set to close the Latitude Festival on Saturday wrote in an Instagram story last week: “I’m getting messages today about me performing at Latitude when it’s being sponsored by Barclays.

“I’m no longer doing Latitude. I was due to close the comedy tent on the Sunday night, but I pulled out last week.

“I’m on the old artwork but I haven’t been listed on the site since I pulled out a week ago.”

Comedian Duker had shared a photo of her at a previous Latitude Festival, and confirmed she would be boycotting the event.

She wrote: “I am committed to minimising my complicity in what I consider to be a pattern of abhorrent, unlawful violence”.

The 34-year-old comedian also said her pro-Palestinian stance “has gained me violent abuse, targeted pile-ons and death threats”.

Fellow comedian Grace Campbell, who is the daughter of Sir Tony Blair’s former spokesman Alastair Campbell, shared Duker’s post in an Instagram story, announcing she was also pulling out of the festival.

Meanwhile, comedian Alexandra Haddow said she too would no longer appear at Latitude, writing on Instagram: “I can’t in good conscience take the fee.”

In a post shared on her Instagram account last week, Irish singer-songwriter CMAT said she would boycott Latitude, writing: “I will not allow my precious work, my music, which I love so much, to get into bed with violence.”

Campaign groups celebrate victory

In response to the exodus of acts, Barclays previously defended its position, saying it recognised “the profound human suffering” caused by the Israel-Hamas war.

“We provide vital financial services to US, UK, and European public companies that supply defence products to NATO and its allies,” it said in a statement published online.

“Barclays does not directly invest in these companies. The defence sector is fundamental to our national security and the UK government has been clear that supporting defence companies is compatible with ESG considerations.

“Decisions on the implementation of arms embargos to other nations are the job of respective elected governments.”

Bands Boycott Barclays declares victory

In response to Barclays stepping away, campaign group Bands Boycott Barclays, which has been leading the protests, wrote on Instagram: “This is a victory for the Palestinian-led global BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement.

“As musicians, we were horrified that our music festivals were partnered with Barclays, who are complicit in the genocide in Gaza through investment, loans and underwriting of arms companies supplying the Israeli military.

“Hundreds of artists have taken action this summer to make it clear that this is morally reprehensible, and we are glad we have been heard.

“Our demand to Barclays is simple: divest from the genocide, or face further boycotts. Boycotting Barclays, also Europe’s primary funder of fossil fuels, is the minimum we can do to call for change.”

Last month, more than 100 acts dropped out of The Great Escape Festival in Brighton and Hove due to its ties to Barclays.

Climate campaigners also welcomed the move to suspend the Barclaycard sponsorship.

‘Rotten bank’

Joanna Warrington at Fossil Free London said: “Barclays is a rotten bank: artists, brands, clients, and customers are all abandoning Barclays because of the billions Barclays is ploughing into fossil-fuel companies like Shell and Israeli arms companies dropping bombs on innocent Palestinian children.

“This won’t stop until Barclays stops funding destruction.”

Greenpeace UK’s co-executive director Areeba Hamid said: “This bank is the biggest fossil-fuel funder in Europe, bankrolling oil and gas to the tune of billions of pounds, and has now been linked to arms companies involved in the conflict in Gaza.

“By putting an end to the greenwashing, festival organisers are sending a clear signal to Barclays that it’s time they took responsibility for the destructive industries they fund.”

Festival sponsors face growing scrutiny

Barclays has confirmed that despite no longer being associated with the festivals, their customers with tickets will not be affected and their tickets will remain valid.

In a similar turn of events, Hay Festival dropped its sponsorship with investment management firm Baillie Gifford last month, after numerous celebrities pulled out due to the company’s links with fossil fuels and businesses linked to the Israeli defence industry.

Activist group Fossil Free Books urged high-profile figures to distance themselves from the literary event, which saw performers including comedian Nish Kumar, singer Charlotte Church and Labour MP Dawn Butler pull out.

While in March many artists refuse to play SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas, due to the event’s connections to the US army and weapons companies linked with the conflict.

Download Festival will be held in Donington Park, Leicestershire this weekend.

The Isle of Wight Festival will be held in Seaclose Park, Newport, between 20 – 23 June, headlined by The Prodigy, Pet Shop Boys and Green Day.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend Latitude Festival at Henham Park in Suffolk, held from the 25-29 July.

Business

Supermarket sandwiches, wraps and salads recalled due to E.coli risk

Published

1 day ago

June 14, 2024

admin

Supermarket sandwiches, wraps and salads recalled due to E.coli risk

Two sandwich makers supplying UK supermarkets have recalled products because of an E.coli risk, the Food Standards Agency has said.

It’s a precautionary step a week after the UK Health Security Agency said an outbreak had forced some people into hospital.

Products from Boots, Asda, Tesco, Co-op, Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Amazon are part of the recall, said the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Asda and Tesco stressed it was a precaution and said shoppers could return the products for a refund.

Greencore and Samworth Brothers Manton Wood are the companies that supplied the products.

It’s understood other manufacturers will issue their own recalls in the coming hours.

The FSA said it had narrowed the source “to a small number of salad leaf products that have been used in sandwiches, wraps, subs and rolls”.

Symptoms include “severe and sometimes bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever”, said Trish Mannes from the UKHSA.

However, some cases can cause serous complications that can lead to kidney failure.

People are being advised to follow NHS.uk guidance if they become unwell.

“Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using disinfectants to clean surfaces will help stop any further spread of infection,” said Ms Mannes.

People who might be infected also shouldn’t prepare food for others and avoid work or school until 48 hours after symptoms stop.

The UKHSA said cases had nearly doubled in the last week, with a further 98 bringing the total to 211.

Numbers are expected to rise as testing continues for more cases of the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).

Based on 160 cases, 42% of people have needed hospital treatment, the UKHSA added.

Last week, it said cases were linked to a “nationally distributed food item” but didn’t give further details.

E.coli bacteria are normally harmless and live in the intestines of humans and animals. However some strains, like STEC, can make people very ill.

Full list of recalled products:

Aldi Chicken Fajita Triple Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

by Amazon BLT Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

by Amazon Chicken & Bacon Layered Salad
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

by Amazon Chicken Salad Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

by Amazon Ploughman’s Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

by Amazon Prawn Layered Salad
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Asda Smoky Beans and Cheddar Cheese Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Asda Chicken Salad (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Asda Chicken & Bacon Club (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Asda Brie, Bacon and Chilli Chutney (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Asda BLT (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Asda Vegan No Chick’n Caesar Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Asda Tuna Crunch Sub Roll
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Asda Southern Fried Chicken Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Asda Southern Fried Chicken Triple Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 15 June 2024

Boots BBQ Chicken wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots BLT (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Cheddar Cheese Ploughman’s (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Chicken & Bacon Caesar Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Chicken Salad (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Chicken Triple (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Delicious Ham & Cheese Ploughman’s (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Halloumi & Greek Style Salad wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Ham & Egg Club (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Mixed Triple (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Southern Fried Chicken Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Spicy Bean & Cheese Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Vegan No Chicken Salad (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Vegan No Duck & Hoisin Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Boots Veggie Triple (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Co-op Vegan Gro Onion Bhaji (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Co-op Mexican Style Bean & Cheese Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Co-op Ham, Cheese & Pickle (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Co-op Ham & Cheese Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Co-op Chicken & Bacon Caesar Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 17 June 2024

Co-op Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Morrisons Chicken Salad (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Morrisons Chicken Salad PFS (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Morrisons Gluten Free Chicken Salad (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Morrisons Gluten Free Sandwich Platter
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

OneStop Tuna Crunch Sub
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

OneStop Chicken Salad Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 17 June 2024

OneStop Hoisin Duck Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 17 June 2024

OneStop Chicken Bacon & Lettuce Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 17 June 2024

Sainsbury’s Kitchen Deli Peri Peri Chicken Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Sainsbury’s Kitchen Deli BBQ Pulled Pork & Red Leicester Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Sainsbury’s Kitchen Deli Chicken, Bacon & Avocado Focaccia (Sandwich)
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Sainsbury’s Kitchen Deli Greek Style Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Sainsbury’s Kitchen Deli Jerk Halloumi Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Chicken Salad Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Chicken Salad Sub
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco BBQ Chicken Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Hoi Sin Duck Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco The Chicken Club Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Tuna Crunch Sub
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Spicy Bean Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Chicken Bacon & Lettuce Sandwich
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Fajita Chicken Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

Tesco Summer Edition Greek Style Chicken Gyros Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

The Gym Kitchen Peri Peri Chicken Chilled Wrap
Use by: All dates up to and including 16 June 2024

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Ministers apply finishing touches to ‘Tell Sid’-style NatWest offer

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