LONDON: J Sainsbury PLC has entered into an agreement for the sale of Sainsbury’s Bank plc’s personal loan, credit card and retail deposit portfolios to NatWest Group, one of the UK’s leading banks.

“We expect the Transaction to complete in the first half of calendar year 2025,” a press release noted.

This Transaction does not include Sainsbury’s Bank’s commission income businesses, including insurance, ATMs and travel money. These are capital-light and profitable businesses with a strong connection to Sainsbury’s core retail offer.

Argos Financial Services (“AFS”) is also not included in the Transaction. A further update on Sainsbury’s plans for this business will be provided at a future date.

“We expect Sainsbury’s Bank to return excess capital of at least £250 million to Sainsbury’s once the phased withdrawal from its Core Banking Business has been completed and the future model for Argos Financial Services is in place. Sainsbury’s intends to return this capital to shareholders”.

Core Banking Business customers are expected to transfer to NatWest in the first half of calendar year 2025. Sainsbury’s Bank customers do not need to take any action as a result of this announcement. Further information relating to the transfer of the Core Banking Business to NatWest pursuant to Part VII of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 will be sent in due course.

There will be no immediate changes to Sainsbury’s Bank customers’ existing terms and conditions.

Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s CEO said: “I am pleased to be announcing this news today. NatWest’s values and customer focus are a close fit with ours and as one of the UK’s leading banks, NatWest’s scale and financial services expertise will ensure our existing financial services customers continue to be well looked after. There will be no immediate change for our bank customers as a result of this announcement. Today’s news means we will focus all our time and resources going forward on growing our core retail business, delivering great quality and value, week in week out.”

Paul Thwaite, NatWest Group CEO said: “Following today’s announcement, we look forward to welcoming new customers to NatWest Group, where they will benefit from our expertise and award-winning digital banking offering. This Transaction is a great opportunity to accelerate the growth of our Retail banking business at attractive returns, in line with our strategic priorities. As well as a complementary customer base, the Transaction is expected to add scale to our credit card and unsecured personal lending business within existing risk appetite.  NatWest Group has a strong track record of successful integration, and we are focussed on ensuring a smooth transition for customers.”

Under the terms of the Transaction, Sainsbury’s Bank is expected to transfer a portfolio of capital-intensive assets and financial liabilities from the Sainsbury’s Bank balance sheet to NatWest, at an agreed £125 million discount to the balances of the assets and liabilities being transferred.

Taking into account £80 million of net provisions already recognised on the asset portfolios being sold, we expect the Transaction to result in a one-off write down on the net book value of the asset and liabilities being sold of approximately £45 million, excluding transaction costs.

The final consideration will reflect the value of assets and liabilities transferred at completion of the Transaction and will be subject to certain customary adjustments.

The transaction will be effected through a banking business transfer under Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as is typical in the transfer of UK banking businesses. Completion is conditional on court sanction and regulatory approval or non-objection. Prior to completion, customary arrangements are due to be finalised, including a transitional services agreement. Completion is expected to occur during the first half of calendar year 2025.

For the 52 weeks ended 2nd March 2024, the Core Banking Business generated £7 million of adjusted profit before tax3, in an environment where funding costs continued to rise. There is no change to the previously announced guidance for the expected trading profit for the Financial Services Division of between break even and £15 million for FY24/25.

Robert Mulhall, Chief Executive Officer, Sainsbury’s Bank, and Mike Larkin, Chief Financial Officer, Sainsbury’s Bank are each individuals who are deemed to be important to the Core Banking Business. Each of these individuals are expected to remain with Sainsbury’s Group post-completion and will support Sainsbury’s Group with the orderly wind-down / transfer of the remaining Sainsbury’s Bank PLC businesses and operations.