Recent Events - RBS
RBS Recent Developments
-Consortium Acquisition of ABN Amro
-2007 Record Group Operating Profit of £ 10.3 billion
-10% increase in dividend
-Sub-prime & Leveraged Loan Losses 2007 to 1st Qtr 2008 £ 8.080 billion
-£ 12 billion rights issue
Consortium Acquisition of ABN Amro
In October, 2007, a consortium led by RBS acquired ABN Amro. The consortium included Fortis Bank and Banco Santander. As part of the transaction, RBS acquired 38.4 % of the assets of ABN for a consideration of £ 10 billion (net of disposals and cash). RBS financed its share of the acquisition with 25% equity and 75% cash. Although, towards the closing of the transaction, the sub-prime credit market deterioration had begun to push share prices in financial institutions downwards, the RBS chairman subsequently confirmed that the Consortium was not able to renegotiate the offer price. The initial synergistic benefits were estimated to be £ 1.7 billion, subsequently increased to £ 2.3 billion at the 2007 results announcement.
2007 Group Operating Profit
On 28 February, 2008 RBS announced a record Group Operating Profit of £ 10.3 billion a 9% increase over the prior year. Profit after Tax rose 18% to £ 7.7 billion. Negative adjustments relating to sub-prime exposure were £ 1.895 billion. The Board increased the dividend by 10%. The Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 7.3% and Total Capital Ratio of 11.2%.
2008 Trading Update
In its trading update on 22 April 2008, RBS announced that it would take additional charges against its sub-prime and leveraged loan positions of £ 5.9 billion, bringing the total for 2007- 2008 year to date to £8.080 Billion (us$ 12.88 billion).
£12 billion rights issue
On the same day as its trading update announcement was made, RBS confirmed its plan for a fully underwritten rights issue with the net proceeds of £ 12 billion, (a record in the United Kingdom). Less than eight weeks earlier, the Group CEO had stated that the RBS Group “had no plans for any inorganic capital raising”. With underwriting fees expected to be 1.75%, the cost of the rights issue will exceed £ 200 million. The Group also said it had plans to dispose of certain assets with an expected benefit of £ 4 billion.