NatWest will conduct its final annual shareholder meeting this week before the government completes its exit from ownership, following a significant reduction of its stake from 40% to 2.99%. The bank’s transformation since its £46bn bailout in 2008 is evident, with a focus on a restrained banking approach under CEO Paul Thwaite, who aims to increase his maximum pay by 43% to £7.7m. Shareholders will vote on the new pay policy amidst hopes of full privatization and concerns over the government recouping only £25bn of the initial bailout investment.