London, Feb 19, 2026, 08:24 GMT — Regular session
Shares of Schroders traded in a narrow band Thursday morning in London, edging up 0.1% to 586 pence. The stock had finished at 585.5 pence the previous session.
That’s the story: stability. After Schroders struck its cash deal with Nuveen, valuing shares as high as 612 pence apiece, the stock settled into classic merger-arb mode. Right now, investors are focused on the odds and timing of the takeover closing, not quarterly inflow numbers.
Fresh disclosures under the UK Takeover Code are shedding more light on shareholder positions. According to a new filing, Computershare Trustees (Jersey) Limited, acting as trustee for the Schroders Employee Benefit Trust, was holding 40.6 million shares in Schroders—roughly 2.52%—as of Feb. 17. The statement also notes a transfer of 455,204 shares to cover exercised awards.
Outside the bidding action, there’s a fresh example of margin-boosting tactics. Schroders’ wealth unit Cazenove will trim interest rates on client cash deposits starting May 1, according to Financial News. The publication estimates that could tack on over £20 million to profits, assuming client deposits don’t shift.
Long-standing investors were on the move, too. U.S.-based Harris Associates, which used to be among Schroders’ top shareholders, exited its full position just before the Nuveen transaction, according to Financial News.
Last week, Nuveen CEO Bill Huffman called the deal a “massive transformational step” in comments to Reuters. But Morningstar analyst Johann Scholtz pointed to a potential snag: with just 41% of shareholders giving irrevocable support so far, there’s still a risk of holdouts demanding better terms. Reuters
The move has thrown a spotlight on Europe’s asset-management industry, a sector already trailing big U.S. competitors and low-cost passive options. Schroders CEO Richard Oldfield, speaking to Reuters, called the deal “parking a very large tank on everyone’s lawn.” Speculation around potential mergers involving other listed managers is intensifying. Reuters
Schroders had already been showing progress before the takeover offer appeared. The firm logged record assets under management at 823.7 billion pounds. The board also stuck with its previous plan, proposing a final dividend of 15.0 pence per share.
Plenty of pitfalls remain. A drawn-out closing process opens the door to regulatory delays or jittery shareholders, not to mention a soft patch in markets that could blow out deal spreads. Over at Cazenove, dropping the cash rate isn’t risk-free either—clients might just yank their deposits rather than settle for slimmer returns.
Traders are eyeing Takeover Code disclosures as they come in, also looking for signals on when the shareholder meeting might land. They’re tracking how closely the stock price hugs the bid level whenever new headlines hit.
The dividend calendar offers a clue. According to Hargreaves Lansdown, Schroders is set to go ex-dividend on March 12, with shareholders looking at an April 23 payout.
