asset-protection scheme

Royal Bank of Scotland is considering selling as much as 4 billion pounds ($6.5 billion) of shares to existing investors in a move that would reduce the overall stake handed to the government under its asset-protection scheme, according to published reports.

The bank is questioning investors on whether they would be interested in purchasing 3 billion to 4 billion pounds of B-shares following the strong rally in bank stocks over the past several months, The Wall Street Journal reported.