High demand sees RBS increase Citizens share sale

RBS said that it could now sell up to 155m shares in the company, bringing in £2.5bn for the 80 per cent state-owned lender.

RBS originally laid out plans to sell £2.2bn of Citizens shares, or 115 million shares, in a bid to reduce its stake in the company to below 50 per cent and refocus on UK operations.

But in an announcement issued today, RBS said demand for the shares was stronger than expected, meaning it sold 135 million shares at $23.75 per share, with a potential 20.25 million over-allotment option, which, if exercised, could reduce RBS’s stake in Citizens to 42 per cent.

RBS will further cut the share later this year to below a third, using the capital to reinvest in the UK business.

The move comes only days after the expiry date for a lock-up period that had prevented RBS from selling any more of its 71 per cent stake in Citizens for six months from its initial public offering last September.

RBS had already sold down 29.5 per cent of its stake in Citizens during the second half of 2014 through an initial public offering.

The bank is reducing its stake in its US subsidiary in a bid to take the firm’s $60bn of risk-weighted assets off the balance sheet. By selling the firm, RBS will also dodge the new rules for foreign banks with more than $50bn in assets, for which it is currently given an exemption.

RBS chief executive, Ross McEwan(pictured) said: “The sale of Citizens is an integral part of the RBS capital plan. It will help us to create a stronger, safer, UK focused bank that can better serve the needs of its customers.”

“This successful sale keeps RBS on track to meet our obligations and complete the divestment of Citizens by the end of 2016.”