London, Feb 8, 2026, 08:45 GMT — The market is shut.
NatWest Group shares are likely to draw attention in London Monday, after Sky News reported the bank is nearing a deal to buy wealth manager Evelyn Partners for around 2.5 billion pounds ($3.4 billion). An announcement could come as soon as early next week. Reuters noted that NatWest would not comment on the story. The shares finished Friday at 659.4 pence, up 1.45%.
The report is significant—if accurate, it could nudge NatWest deeper into fee-based income, which typically reacts less to the ups and downs of lending margins. Wealth management might deliver more predictable revenue streams, though keeping prices in check and merging operations can be tricky.
Where NatWest directs its capital—between buybacks and growth—remains a key point for investors. On Friday, the bank disclosed it had purchased 797,428 shares at a volume-weighted average of 659.29 pence under its ongoing buyback plan. Those shares are set to be cancelled.
Evelyn manages roughly £65 billion in assets, according to Sky News, which noted that NatWest’s pursuit of the company would mark its largest acquisition since the 2008 bailout. The report also pointed out that NatWest, now fully privately owned as of last year, edged out Barclays for the deal in recent days.
NatWest is nearing a deal that could see it pay roughly £2.7 billion, Bloomberg reported, with an announcement potentially coming as early as Monday. Discussions are still in progress and there’s a chance the agreement might not go through, according to the report.
Here’s the basic risk: weekend headlines blow over, no agreement surfaces, and shares just slide back to where fundamentals say they belong. And if a deal is actually nailed down, investors will be quick to scrutinize its impact on capital buffers—and watch for any hit to buybacks.
The next big event is just ahead. According to NatWest’s investor page, the company plans to post its Annual Results at 7 a.m. GMT on Friday, Feb. 13. Management will host a presentation, with a separate fixed income session slated as well.
NatWest, in its Q3 disclosures, said it will roll out 2026 guidance and unveil fresh 2028 targets when it reports full-year figures.
Banks led gains going into the weekend. London’s FTSE 100 closed out Friday 0.6% higher, with strength in lenders countering losses in other sectors after the Bank of England indicated rate cuts might be on the table if inflation continues to ease, according to Reuters.
NatWest has already marked the calendar for its ongoing share repurchase. In a July filing, the bank stated the £750 million buyback is scheduled to wrap up by Feb. 13, though the window could stretch to March 13 if “usual trading” faces interruptions.
