Which of the following is an example of a nationalised company?

• A. The UK Government bought shares in the Royal Bank of Scotland during the recession to stop it going bust.
• B. A privately owned bank expands into another country.
• C. A private retailer opens a new store.
• D. A charity runs a public service.

Answer: (A)

Nationalisation means the government takes ownership or control of a private company. When the government bought shares in the Royal Bank of Scotland during the recession to prevent it from going bust, it gained government ownership in a private firm. That makes it an example of nationalisation, because a state entity now owns part of a company that was previously privately owned.

The other scenarios don’t involve the state taking ownership: a privately owned bank expanding abroad remains private; a private retailer opening a new store is still private; a charity running a public service is not government-owned, even if it delivers public services.