THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP PLC
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc to issue USD denominated Additional Tier 1 securities
30 July 2015
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc ("RBSG") intends, subject to market conditions, to issue securities that qualify as Additional Tier 1 capital under Capital Requirements Directive IV (2013/36/EU) and the Capital Requirements Regulation (575/2013) ("CRD IV / CRR"). The intended issuance is expected to further strengthen RBSG's capital base.
The intended issuance will be in the form of USD denominated Perpetual Subordinated Contingent Convertible Additional Tier 1 Capital Notes (the "Contingent Capital Notes"). The Contingent Capital Notes will be subject to full conversion into ordinary shares of RBSG in the event its CET1 capital ratio falls below 7.0% (the "Conversion Trigger Event").
The offer price, initial coupon, conversion price and final amount of the Contingent Capital Notes sold will be determined at the conclusion of the offering process and will be announced in a separate press release. There will be no adjustment to the conversion price of RBSG's B shares upon issuance of the Contingent Capital Notes. Instead, a determination as to whether such adjustment is necessary will be made following a Conversion Trigger Event, if applicable, based on the price of RBSG's ordinary shares at that time.
Any offering of Contingent Capital Notes will be made pursuant to RBSG's registration statement on Form F-3 which became immediately effective upon filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
RBS Securities Inc. has been appointed as Global Co-ordinator and Structuring Advisor, Joint Bookrunner and Joint Lead Manager and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC have been appointed as Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Managers.
For further information:
RBS Investor Relations
Matthew Richardson
Head of Debt Investor Relations
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7678 1800
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitation, statements that include the words "intends", "expects", "anticipates", "targets", "plans", "estimates" and words of similar import. These statements concern or may affect future matters, such as RBSG's future economic results, business plans and current strategies. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that might cause actual results and performance to differ materially from any expected future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences in current expectations include, but are not limited to, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments, competitive conditions, technological developments, exchange rate fluctuations and general economic conditions. These and other factors, risks and uncertainties that may impact any forward-looking statement or RBSG's actual results are discussed in RBSG's UK Annual Report and materials filed with, or furnished to, the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, RBSG's Reports on Form 6-K and most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as of the date of this announcement and RBSG does not assume or undertake any obligation or responsibility to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.
The securities referred to in this press release are not intended to be sold and should not be sold to retail clients in the European Economic Area, as defined in the rules set out in the Temporary Marketing Restriction (Contingent Convertible Securities) Instrument 2014 or the Product Intervention (Contingent Convertible Instruments and Mutual Society Shares) Instrument 2015 (together, the "MR Rules"), as amended or replaced from time to time, other than in circumstances that do not and will not give rise to a contravention of those rules by any person.
Notice to U.S. persons: The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in the registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer or any underwriter participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling RBS Securities Inc. toll-free at 1-866-884-2071, calling Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC toll-free at 1-800-221-1037, contacting Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at 222 Broadway, New York, NY 10038, Attn: Prospectus Department (email: dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com) and calling Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC toll-free at 1-866-718-1649.
Notice to U.K. persons: This communication has not been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) ("FSMA"). Accordingly, this communication is only for distribution to and directed at: (i) in the United Kingdom, persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) (the "Order") and high net worth entities falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order; (ii) persons who are outside the United Kingdom; and (iii) any other person to whom it can otherwise be lawfully distributed (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. Persons who are not Relevant Persons should not take any action based upon this communication and should not rely on it.
Other Jurisdictions Outside the United States: No action may be taken in any jurisdiction other than the United States that would permit a public offering of the securities referred to in this press release or the possession, circulation or distribution of this document or the prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, such securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither this document, the prospectus nor any other offering material or advertisements in connection with such securities may be distributed or published in or from any country or jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with any applicable rules and regulations of any such country or jurisdiction.