Notification of the Ring-fencing Transfer Scheme

Transcription

1 Notification of the Ring-fencing Transfer Scheme

2 Notification of the Ring-fencing Transfer Scheme Contents Part A Overview of the Ring fencing Transfer Scheme (RFTS) Notification of ring-fencing changes 4 What s happening? 4 If you have live derivative transactions with us 4 If you do not have live derivative transactions with us 5 How can I find out more about the RFTS? 5 When will the RFTS become effective? 5 What will be the immediate impact of the RFTS? 6 Part B Opt-Out Rights Description of Eligible Derivatives 7 Description of Ineligible Derivatives 7 Opt-Out Rights 7 Exercising your Opt-Out Rights 8 Who to contact if you have any questions about your Opt-Out Rights 8 Part C Key considerations Accounting considerations 9 Credit rating of NatWest Markets Plc 9 Netting 9 What is netting? 9 Which customers may be impacted by netting? 10 Impact of splitting Eligible Derivatives and Ineligible Derivatives 10 Operational considerations 10 Part D Contractual arrangements and litigation Changes to transferring and non-transferring agreements 11 Shared security 11 Stapled arrangements 11 Impact on contractual arrangements and litigation 12 Deposit Withdrawal Undertaking 12 Impact on Litigation customers 12 Tax 12 How to terminate derivatives master agreements with no live derivative transactions 13 How to terminate existing live derivative transactions or transfer them to a third party 13 Part E What happens next? What happens if the Court does not approve the RFTS? 14 What happens if you have other agreements with the RBS Group? 14 Ways to make your views known to the Court 14 2 NatWest Markets Ring-fencing NatWest Markets Ring-fencing 3

3 Part A Overview of the Ring-fencing Transfer Scheme (RFTS) Notification of ring-fencing changes On 30 September 2016, The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc announced the expected changes to the legal entity structure of the RBS group to comply with the UK ring-fencing legislation prior to 1 January Ring-fencing requires the separation of everyday banking services from investment banking services from 1 January In order to be compliant with its requirements, we need to reorganise the way the RBS Group is structured. To make these changes we re using two legal schemes called Ring-fencing Transfer Schemes. The first Ring-fencing Transfer Scheme became effective on 30 April 2018, and transferred certain personal, private, business and commercial businesses of NatWest Markets Plc (formerly known as The Royal Bank of Scotland plc) to The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (formerly known as Adam & Company PLC) or National Westminster Bank Plc ( NatWest Bank Plc ). This booklet relates to the second Ring-fencing Transfer Scheme, which will transfer the interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives business of NatWest Bank Plc to NatWest Markets Plc (the RFTS ). What s happening? NatWest Bank Plc and NatWest Markets Plc propose to use the RFTS to transfer the interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives over-the-counter business (with respect to derivative transactions that are maturing after 31 August 2018) of NatWest Bank Plc (the Transferring Business ) to NatWest Markets Plc. This is subject to, amongst other things, regulatory approvals and the approval of the Court of Session in Edinburgh (the Court ). This booklet provides further information about how the RFTS will work, when it is expected to take effect and where you can find more information about it. If you have live derivative transactions with us You are receiving this booklet because we believe that any interest rate or foreign exchange derivative transactions, as well as the beneficial interest in any related security (if applicable) and collateral you have with NatWest Bank Plc may transfer to NatWest Markets Plc if the Court approves the RFTS. Until the RFTS takes effect, you will not see any change. When the RFTS takes effect, customers with transactions transferring to NatWest Markets Plc will see a change to the legal entity they transact with. They may also need to make amendments to existing Standard Settlement Instructions ( SSIs ). We will be in contact in advance of the RFTS becoming effective to confirm any changes you may need to make. There will be no changes to the way you communicate with us or to the services you use. If you do not have live derivative transactions with us You may also be receiving this booklet if you have provided security on an all monies basis, which secures some or all of your liabilities to NatWest Bank Plc, including any derivative transactions entered into by you from time to time, but have no live derivative transactions which will be outstanding at 31 August If this applies to you, NatWest Bank Plc and NatWest Markets Plc also propose to use the RFTS to transfer your derivatives agreements which have been entered into with NatWest Bank Plc to NatWest Markets Plc ( Secured Empty Arrangements ). Such Secured Empty Arrangements will form part of the Transferring Business, and be subject to the shared security arrangements as described in Part D below. What is...? Court PRA RFTS Skilled Person The Court of Session in Edinburgh Prudential Regulation Authority a court approved Ring-fencing Transfer Scheme under Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 the independent person approved by the PRA to write a report on the RFTS How can I find out more about the RFTS? NatWest Bank Plc and NatWest Markets Plc have presented a petition to the Court for approval of the RFTS. A notice will be published in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes. The notice will also be published in The Scotsman, and the Financial Times (UK and international editions). An announcement has also been made on the London Stock Exchange. A document setting out the full terms of the RFTS (the Scheme Document ), a summary of the principal terms of the RFTS (the Scheme Summary ), the report of the Skilled Person on the RFTS and a summary of that report are all available, free of charge, on request from 250 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4AA. These are also available on our website at A supplementary report by the Skilled Person may be published on or around 20 July 2018 and will be available, free of charge, on request from 250 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4AA and on our website at When will the RFTS become effective? The first Court hearing was held on 15 May 2018 and the final Court hearing to consider approving the RFTS is expected to be held on 31 July If the Court approves the RFTS, we expect it will take effect on 13 August 2018 (the Effective Time ). Any change to the date of the final Court hearing or to the Effective Time will be announced on our website at 4 NatWest Markets Ring-fencing NatWest Markets Ring-fencing 5

4 Part B Opt-Out Rights What will be the immediate impact of the RFTS? Until the Effective Time, the Transferring Business, including derivative transactions and related contractual arrangements (including Secured Empty Arrangements), will remain with NatWest Bank Plc. At the Effective Time, the Transferring Business will be transferred to NatWest Markets Plc. We will provide further updates to you if, and when your derivative transactions and certain related contractual arrangements transfer to NatWest Markets Plc under the RFTS. It is expected that, as part of the RFTS, amendments will be made to the terms of certain agreements to give effect to the RFTS. These amendments are summarised in Part D. You may continue to enter into derivative transactions with NatWest Bank Plc up until the Effective Time. If you wish to execute a derivative transaction with NatWest Bank Plc on, or before, 18 June 2018, you will be able to trade with NatWest Bank Plc and will be able to exercise your Opt-Out Rights (as further explained in Part B below) in respect of your Eligible Derivatives only. If you wish to execute a derivative transaction with NatWest Bank Plc after 18 June 2018, but before the Effective Time, you will be able to trade with NatWest Bank Plc, but all such derivative transactions (irrespective of whether they are Eligible Derivatives or Ineligible Derivatives, as described in Part B below) that mature after 31 August 2018, will not be eligible for Opt-Out Rights and will transfer to NatWest Markets Plc under the RFTS. Any derivative transactions entered into with NatWest Bank Plc, that mature on or before 31 August 2018, will remain with NatWest Bank Plc and will not transfer to NatWest Markets Plc. Description of Eligible Derivatives Derivatives that are eligible to continue to be held by NatWest Bank Plc are described as Eligible Derivatives. These are typically simple derivative transactions that are permitted to be held by NatWest Bank Plc under the relevant ring-fencing legislation. Examples of Eligible Derivatives are simple interest rate swaps, caps and collars that do not reference RBS, or NatWest Base Rate, currency swaps, overnight index swaps, forward rate agreements, foreign exchange forward and swap transactions and certain European options, and swaptions, that are exercisable (i.e. bought) by you provided that such transactions comply with the relevant criteria of the ring-fencing legislation. Eligible Derivatives will also include certain interest rate derivative transactions that mature before 1 January These interest rate derivatives would otherwise constitute Ineligible Derivatives (as described below) but are capable of being managed on the NatWest Bank Plc infastructure after ring-fencing takes effect. Foreign exchange derivative transactions which constitute Ineligible Derivatives (as described below) that mature before 1 January 2021 do not constitute Eligible Derivatives. This is because NatWest Bank Plc will not have the infrastructure to manage certain complex foreign exchange derivative transactions after ring-fencing takes effect. If you would like to understand which of your derivative transactions might be Eligible Derivatives, please ringfencing@natwestmarkets.com Description of Ineligible Derivatives Derivatives that are not eligible to continue to be held by NatWest Bank Plc ( Ineligible Derivatives ) have additional features that result in the derivative transactions being prohibited from being held by NatWest Bank Plc under the relevant ring-fencing legislation. Examples of Ineligible Derivatives are (i) simple interest rate swaps, caps and collars that reference RBS or NatWest Base Rate, dual rate swaps, discount swaps, base rate geared collars, value collars, constant maturity swaps, trigger swaps, inflation linked derivatives and certain European options, and swaptions, that can be exercised (i.e. bought) by NatWest Bank Plc that mature on, or after, 1 January 2021 and (ii) foreign exchange time options, contingent forwards, ratio forwards, bonus forwards and target knock-out forwards. Ineligible Derivatives will also include certain foreign exchange derivative transactions that mature before 1 January 2021, for the reasons described above. If you would like to understand which of your derivative transactions might be Ineligible Derivatives, please ringfencing@natwestmarkets.com Opt-Out Rights Eligible Derivatives can continue to be held by NatWest Bank Plc as explained below. If you have any Eligible Derivatives, you have the option to exclude all of them from the RFTS so that they continue to be held by NatWest Bank Plc. This option is referred to in this booklet as Opt-Out Rights. 6 NatWest Markets Ring-fencing If you have any Ineligible Derivatives, they cannot continue to be held by NatWest Bank Plc and will transfer to NatWest Markets Plc under the RFTS. You will not be able to opt-out for your Ineligible Derivatives. NatWest Markets Ring-fencing 7 May 2017

5 Part C Key considerations However, if you choose to exercise your Opt-Out Rights for your Eligible Derivatives, they will be excluded from the RFTS. You will not be able to enter into new derivative transactions with NatWest Bank Plc after the Effective Time (or make any material changes to any existing derivative transactions that remain with NatWest Bank Plc). If you wish to enter into new derivative transactions with the RBS Group after the Effective Time, they will be with NatWest Markets Plc rather than NatWest Bank Plc as NatWest Bank Plc will no longer offer such products. NatWest Markets Plc will continue to offer the same products as you have today. Details of further key considerations you should consider when deciding whether or not to exercise your Opt-Out Rights can be found below: You cannot use your Opt-Out Rights to split your Eligible Derivatives, so that certain Eligible Derivatives transfer to NatWest Markets Plc and other Eligible Derivatives remain with NatWest Bank Plc. Therefore, if you decide to exclude any of your Eligible Derivatives from the RFTS, all such derivative transactions will need to remain with NatWest Bank Plc. All Eligible Derivatives and Ineligible Derivatives entered into with NatWest Bank Plc after 18 June 2018 (and that mature after 31 August 2018) will be transferred to NatWest Markets Plc and it will not be possible for these transactions to remain with NatWest Bank Plc. Any derivatives transactions entered into with NatWest Bank Plc, that mature on or before 31 August will remain with NatWest Bank Plc and will not transfer to NatWest Markets Plc. If you want to exercise your Opt-Out Rights, you need to follow the instructions in Exercising Your Opt-Out Rights below. If you successfully exercise your Opt-Out Rights, any legal proceedings (including litigation) which are related to your Eligible Derivatives will also remain with NatWest Bank Plc. Exercising your Opt-Out Rights If you would like to exercise your Opt-Out Rights in respect of all your Eligible Derivatives, you must notify us in writing by completing the enclosed Opt-Out Notification and sending it to ringfencing@natwestmarkets.com. The deadline for opting out is 17:00 UK time on 18 June If you have sent us a completed Opt-Out Notification, we will contact you shortly after 18 June 2018 to confirm which (if any) derivative transactions you have with us are eligible for the exercise of Opt-Out Rights. In the event that we have not received an Opt-Out Notification from you by 17:00 UK time on 18 June 2018, and if the Court approves the RFTS, all derivative transactions you have with NatWest Bank Plc (that mature after 31 August 2018), will transfer under the RFTS to NatWest Markets Plc at the Effective Time. Accounting considerations The transfer of some or all of your derivative transactions to NatWest Markets Plc may have implications for the regulatory and accounting treatment of those transactions. For example, the transfer of a derivative from NatWest Bank Plc to NatWest Markets Plc may be treated as a termination of the existing derivative transaction and the entry into a new transaction for accounting purposes. You may wish to consider any accounting implications, with regard to your accounting policies (such as those related to hedge accounting and Credit Valuation Adjustment (CVA)). If you think you would be adversely affected by this proposed transfer, you have Opt-Out Rights for all your Eligible Derivatives, as further explained in Part B. Credit rating of NatWest Markets Plc As of 3 May 2018, the long term senior unsecured credit rating of NatWest Markets Plc is BBB+/ Stable Outlook for Fitch, Baa2/Stable Outlook for Moody s and BBB+/Stable Outlook for S&P; this is 1 notch below the long term senior unsecured credit rating of NatWest Bank Plc assigned by Fitch, 3 notches below the long term senior unsecured credit rating of NatWest Bank Plc assigned by Moody s and we expect it will be 1 notch lower than the long term senior unsecured credit rating of NatWest Bank Plc assigned by S&P. As of 3 May 2018, NatWest Bank Plc and NatWest Markets Plc have the same rating, BBB+, and NatWest Bank Plc is on positive outlook. If you have uncollateralised derivative transactions, you may be exposed to the increased credit risk of NatWest Markets Plc as a result of your derivative transactions transferring to NatWest Markets Plc. If you think you would be adversely affected by this, you have Opt-Out Rights for all your Eligible Derivatives, as further explained in Part B. Whether or not you have Opt-Out Rights, you also have the option to terminate any of your derivative transactions at market value or transfer the transactions to a third party, as further explained in Part D. Should you need help with this process, please ringfencing@natwestmarkets.com Netting What is netting? There are two types of netting: (i) Payment netting under an ISDA Master Agreement allows the parties to net amounts payable, and receivable, on the same day and in the same currency either in respect of the same transaction or two or more transactions; and (ii) Close-out netting under an ISDA Master Agreement is the process of calculating and netting the termination values of transactions following an Event of Default, or Termination Event, to produce a single amount payable between the parties, and this applies with respect to all transactions governed by an ISDA Master Agreement. Who to contact if you have any questions about your Opt-Out Rights If you would like to know more about Eligible Derivatives and Ineligible Derivatives, how to exercise your Opt-Out Rights, or have any other questions, please ringfencing@natwestmarkets.com 8 NatWest Markets Ring-fencing NatWest Markets Ring-fencing 9

6 Part D Contractual arrangements and litigation Which customers may be impacted by netting? Customers may be impacted by netting if they have two or more derivative transactions (where, upon early termination, at least one derivative transaction would result in a payment to the customer and at least one derivative transaction would result in a payment to the bank) governed by the same ISDA Master Agreement and Credit Support Annex (CSA) (if applicable). Impact of splitting Eligible Derivatives and Ineligible Derivatives If you choose to exercise your Opt-Out Rights in respect of all your Eligible Derivatives, you could potentially lose the benefit of payment and close-out netting in respect of Eligible Derivatives and Ineligible Derivatives as they will no longer be governed by the same ISDA Master Agreement and CSA (if applicable) as described above. As a consequence, this may limit your ability to obtain credit from NatWest Bank Plc as your credit lines will be fully utilised more quickly. If you also have a CSA, you could potentially lose the benefit of netting in relation to your collateral arrangements. This means that you may be required to post additional collateral to either NatWest Bank Plc and/or NatWest Markets Plc or we may be required to return collateral to you. This will depend on the mark-to-market position of the derivative transactions. You will also be required to manage independent collateral settlements with respect to both arrangements. If you have Eligible Derivatives and Ineligible Derivatives and you choose to exercise your Opt-Out Rights in respect of all your Eligible Derivatives, any existing related contractual arrangements will remain with NatWest Bank Plc and will continue to govern your Eligible Derivatives. In relation to your Ineligible Derivatives that will transfer to NatWest Markets Plc, the RFTS will replicate the terms and conditions of your existing arrangements with NatWest Markets Plc and these replicated terms and conditions will govern your Ineligible Derivatives. You may also wish to consider any payment and close-out netting implications to the extent that you have derivative transactions that transfer to NatWest Markets Plc under the RFTS, and you have derivative transactions that mature after the Effective Time but prior to 31 August 2018, and that remain with NatWest Bank Plc. See paragraph 8 of the Scheme Document for more information this can be found at Operational considerations If you are an Agile Markets user and you exercise your Opt-Out Rights, you will no longer be able to manage Eligible Derivatives via Agile Markets after the Effective Time. You will, however, continue to have access to historical information on Agile Markets relating to any matured or terminated transactions. Any requests or information required with respect to such transactions will be provided by the relevant sales team within NatWest Bank Plc thereafter. Changes to transferring and non-transferring agreements From the Effective Time, and subject to the exercise of any Opt-Out Rights as further explained in Part B, NatWest Markets Plc will be the entity providing your interest rate and foreign exchange derivative transactions and we, us and our and any references to NatWest Bank Plc, whether as Hedging Bank, Hedge Counterparty, Calculation Agent, Valuation Agent, Party A / Party B (as applicable), or Bank or any other term with a substantially similar meaning in the context of the Transferring Business in your existing documentation should be read as references to NatWest Markets Plc as the entity which provides the relevant derivative transaction(s). However, the terms (including rates and fees) of the existing contractual arrangements will continue to apply to derivative transactions that have transferred to NatWest Markets Plc from NatWest Bank Plc, unless we tell you otherwise in accordance with the existing contractual terms. Shared security Where you have provided security which secures liabilities which will transfer to NatWest Markets Plc under the RFTS and also liabilities which will remain with NatWest Bank Plc, the security will be shared by NatWest Markets Plc and NatWest Bank Plc after the Effective Time. Where you have provided security on an all monies basis, which secures some, or all, of your liabilities to NatWest Bank Plc, including any derivative transactions entered into by you from time to time (which would include any new derivative transactions entered into after the Effective Time), the security will also be shared by NatWest Markets Plc and NatWest Bank Plc after the Effective Time. This also applies if you have any Secured Empty Arrangements. In either case, under the RFTS, NatWest Bank Plc will be appointed to act as security trustee for all the shared security and will hold that security on trust for NatWest Bank Plc and NatWest Markets Plc for the payment or discharge of the relevant liabilities owed to NatWest Bank Plc or NatWest Markets Plc. To assist this sharing of security, limited amendments will be made by the RFTS to related documents. See paragraph 19 of the Scheme Document for more information. this can be found at Stapled arrangements NatWest Bank Plc is a party to certain arrangements which are so interlinked that they are said to be stapled (for example, loans and hedges). With effect from the Effective Time, these arrangements will be amended by the RFTS so that NatWest Markets Plc will be party to these arrangements to the extent they relate to agreements which are transferring to NatWest Markets Plc (for example, as hedging bank), and NatWest Bank Plc will remain a party to the extent they relate to agreements which are remaining with NatWest Bank Plc (for example, as lender). See paragraph 20 of the Scheme Document for more information this can be found at Further information and details in respect of the key considerations mentioned above, can be found in the Skilled Person s report on the RFTS. This can be found at 10 NatWest Markets Ring-fencing NatWest Markets Ring-fencing 11

7 Impact on contractual arrangements and litigation Deposit Withdrawal Undertaking The information in this section will only be relevant to you if you have existing deposits with NatWest Markets Plc and derivatives which transfer under the RFTS. Once the RFTS has taken effect, your derivative transactions and deposits will be within the same regulated bank. NatWest Markets Plc may legally be able to apply set-off rights to these products, as they will then be in the same legal entity. A set off right is the right of a bank, in certain circumstances, to use money you have deposited with it against a debt you also have with that bank that becomes repayable. NatWest Markets Plc will undertake not to exercise these set-off rights for a period of three months after the Effective Time if these rights arise solely as a result of the RFTS. If this applies to you, you will be entitled to withdraw affected deposit accounts without loss of interest or charge, at any time from the date of the final Court hearing until the date that is three months after the Effective Time, and we can help you find a suitable alternative account. How to terminate derivatives master agreements with no live derivative transactions If you do not have any live derivative transactions in place as at the date you receive this booklet and do not anticipate entering into any new derivative transactions going forward, please ringfencing@natwestmarkets.com for help with terminating your derivatives master agreement. How to terminate existing live derivative transactions or transfer them to a third party If you think you would be adversely affected as a result of the RFTS and do not wish for your derivative transactions to transfer to NatWest Markets Plc, you also have the option to terminate any of your derivative transactions at market value. You also have the right to transfer your derivative transactions to a third party who is willing to step into the transactions. In the event that you wish to do so, we will provide a standard form novation document to facilitate this process. If you would like help with this process, please contact ringfencing@natwestmarkets.com If you would like to know more or have any questions, please ringfencing@natwestmarkets.com Impact on Litigation customers The RFTS will also transfer to NatWest Markets Plc legal proceedings (including litigation) in England and Wales and Scotland (the Proceedings ) relating to (i) any derivative transactions that transfer to NatWest Markets Plc pursuant to the RFTS and (ii) any legacy derivative transactions entered into with NatWest Bank Plc that have since matured or been terminated. The Proceedings will be transferred to NatWest Markets Plc irrespective of whether NatWest Bank Plc is a respondent or a claimant in the Proceedings. If you are a party to any Proceedings, with effect from the Effective Time, the other party to the Proceedings will become NatWest Markets Plc. Legal proceedings (including litigation) which are related to Eligible Derivatives where Opt-Out Rights have been exercised will remain with NatWest Bank Plc. If you would like to know more or have any questions, please ringfencing@natwestmarkets.com Tax If you are in any doubt as to whether there is any tax, or other impact, on you as a result of the RFTS, please discuss such matters with your advisers. 12 NatWest Markets Ring-fencing NatWest Markets Ring-fencing 13

8 Part E What happens next? What happens if the Court does not approve the RFTS? We will contact you after the final Court hearing has taken place. You can keep up to date on developments on our website at What happens if you have other agreements with the RBS Group? You may have been, or may be, contacted by us separately in relation to changes to other agreements you have with the RBS group. If so, the impact of the RFTS on those specific products or services, along with the action you need to take, will be explained to you as part of that communication. Please note this is separate from the RFTS summarised in this booklet. If you are impacted by these separate changes then, until such time as they become effective, the daily operation and support for your business continues unaffected and you may continue to deal, and conduct business, with your local RBS teams as at present. Ways to make your views known to the Court C) the Prudential Regulation Authority, either: (i) by post or by hand to National Westminster Bank, Prudential Regulation Authority, Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AH; or (ii) by submitting it online at: If you do not do this by UK time on 11 July 2018, the Court may not consider your objection at the hearing to consider approving the RFTS. No fee is payable to the Court for objecting in this way. The Court is also likely to consider any objections made in writing or in person at the hearing to consider approving the RFTS, although it might not do so if you have not followed the process for objecting described above. We will contact you after that Court hearing has taken place to update you. If you think you would be adversely affected by the carrying out of the RFTS, you have two alternative ways of making sure the Court considers your views: 1. Lodging formal objections with the Court You have the right to lodge formal written objections (known as Answers) with the Court. If you wish to lodge Answers, you should seek independent legal advice. Answers are a formal Court document which must comply with the rules of the Court and are normally prepared by Scottish legal counsel. Answers must be lodged with the Court at Parliament House, Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RQ, within 42 days of the publication of the last of the notices relating to the RFTS, which is expected to be on or around 18 May The deadline for lodging Answers is 29 June In addition, Answers must be accompanied by a fee to the Court. 2. In writing or in person The Court will also consider any other informal objections to the RFTS which are made in writing or in person at the hearing to consider approving the RFTS. If you wish to object in writing or in person at that hearing, you need to send a written statement of your views to all of the following: a) the Court, by post or by hand to the above address b) National Westminster Bank Plc, either (i) by post or by hand to 250 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4AA; or (ii) by to ringfencing@natwestmarkets.com; and 14 NatWest Markets Ring-fencing NatWest Markets Ring-fencing 15

9 This material has been prepared by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc ( RBS ) and is for the use of intended recipients only and the contents may not be reproduced, redistributed, or copied in whole or in part for any purpose without RBS s prior express consent. No representation, warranty, or assurance of any kind, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this article and no member of RBS accepts any obligation to any recipient to update or correct any information contained herein. This material is published for information purposes only and does not constitute an analysis of all potentially material issues. Views expressed herein are not intended to be and should not be viewed as advice or as a recommendation. You should take independent advice in respect of issues that are of concern to you. This material does not constitute an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any investment, nor does it constitute an offer to provide any products or services that are capable of acceptance to form a contract. RBS accepts no liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential losses (in contract, tort or otherwise) arising in any way from the information contained in this pack. RBS final ring-fenced legal structure and operating model, as well as the proposed actions taken to achieve them, remain subject to, amongst other factors, additional regulatory, board and other approvals as well as employee information and consultation procedures. All proposed actions and their respective timings remain subject to change as a result of external and/or internal factors, including further corporate or regulatory developments, as well as the above mentioned approvals and procedures. NatWest Markets Plc is registered in Scotland No with limited liability. Registered Office: 36 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2YB. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. NatWest Markets N.V. is authorised and regulated by De Nederlandsche Bank and the Autoriteit Financiële Markten. It has its seat at Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and is registered in the Commercial Register under number Registered Office: Claude Debussylaan 94, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. NatWest Markets N.V. Branch Reg No. in England BR NatWest Markets Plc is, in certain jurisdictions, an authorised agent of NatWest Markets N.V. and NatWest Markets N.V. is, in certain jurisdictions, an authorised agent of NatWest Markets Plc. Copyright 2018 The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc. All rights reserved. May 2018 NONRFI