NatWest completes £2.7bn Evelyn Partners acquisition
NatWest Group plc has completed its £2.7 billion acquisition of Evelyn Partners, creating what it describes as the UK’s leading Private Banking and Wealth Management business.
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
NatWest Group plc has completed its £2.7 billion acquisition of Evelyn Partners, creating what it describes as the UK’s leading Private Banking and Wealth Management business. Evelyn Partners had £69 billion of Assets Under Management and Administration at the end of 2025; combined with NatWest’s £59 billion at that date, this would have brought total AUMA to £127 billion and Customer Assets and Liabilities to £188 billion, around 20% of Group CAL.
The deal is expected to increase fee income by about 20% before revenue synergies and to be accretive to NatWest’s growth and Return on Tangible Equity in the first year of ownership. NatWest anticipates annual run-rate cost synergies of roughly £100 million, with about £150 million of costs to achieve. The transaction is expected to reduce the Group’s CET1 ratio by around 130 basis points, including a CET1 capital deduction of about £2.7 billion related to goodwill and intangibles, around £1 billion of operational Risk Weighted Assets recognised at completion and approximately £40 million of transaction costs in first-half 2026 other operating expenses.
NatWest will consolidate Evelyn Partners from 30 June 2026 and plans to update its full-year 2026 guidance at its interim results on 31 July 2026.
Positive
- Strategic scale in UK wealth: Acquisition of Evelyn Partners for £2.7 billion creates what NatWest describes as the UK's leading Private Banking and Wealth Management business, with illustrative combined AUMA of £127 billion and CAL of £188 billion at end‑2025.
- Earnings and synergy potential: Management expects around 20% higher fee income before revenue synergies, annual run‑rate cost synergies of roughly £100 million, and accretion to growth and Return on Tangible Equity in the first year of ownership.
Negative
- Capital ratio impact: The transaction is expected to reduce NatWest Group's CET1 ratio by about 130 basis points, including a £2.7 billion CET1 deduction for goodwill and intangible assets, around £1 billion of operational RWAs at completion and roughly £40 million of transaction costs.
Insights
Large UK wealth acquisition brings scale, synergies and a capital hit.
NatWest Group has closed the £2.7 billion purchase of Evelyn Partners, creating a much larger UK Private Banking and Wealth Management franchise. Pro forma end‑2025 figures indicate £127 billion of AUMA and £188 billion of Customer Assets and Liabilities, giving the combined PBWM business notable scale within the Group.
Management highlights an expected c.20% uplift in fee income before revenue synergies and targets about £100 million of annual run‑rate cost synergies, with £150 million of costs to achieve. They also state the deal should be accretive to growth and Return on Tangible Equity in the first year, which, if delivered, would support earnings quality over time.
The transaction is expected to reduce the CET1 ratio by roughly 130% basis points, driven by a £2.7 billion CET1 deduction for goodwill and intangibles, around £1 billion of operational RWAs and about £40 million of transaction costs in H1 2026. Investors will likely focus on updated full‑year 2026 guidance due at the 31 July 2026 interim results to see how these moving parts affect capital and profitability.
Key Figures
Key Terms
Assets Under Management and Administration financial
Customer Assets and Liabilities financial
CET1 ratio financial
Risk Weighted Assets financial
Return on Tangible Equity financial
goodwill and intangible assets financial
FAQ
What transaction did NatWest Group (NWG) announce in this Form 6-K?
How large is the combined NatWest Group and Evelyn Partners wealth business?
What financial benefits does NatWest Group expect from acquiring Evelyn Partners?
How will the Evelyn Partners acquisition affect NatWest Group’s capital ratios?
When will NatWest Group update its 2026 guidance after the Evelyn Partners deal?
Will there be immediate changes for Evelyn Partners and NatWest Group clients?
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.